Method for producing sublimation-printed heat-sealable appliqués

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a non-discoloring thermal appliqué using a polyester fabric blank, printing a graphic image on the fabric blank by dye sublimation, and laminating by calendering or thermocompression a multilayer composite consisting of two opposing outer layer polyurethane adhesive surfaces having an intermediate layer of a die-blocking and absorbing polymer adhered to the non-printed surface of the printed fabric blank. The multi-zone composite includes a first layer of transparent or colored polyurethane adhesive, next, a layer of colored dispersed die-blocking and absorbing polymer, and a third transparent layer of polyurethane adhesive. The first of the three layers of adhesive is fused to the polyester blank under combined temperature and pressure until the first layer is impregnated into the fabric blank. Thereafter, the fabric blank is cut into individual finished appliqués.

Claims

1. Applique base fabric with one side printed with dye, A multilayer composite material of a heat-activated adhesive laminated on the opposite side of the base fabric, A transparent first adhesive layer containing a polyurethane adhesive having a melting point in the range of 110 to 135°C, A light-colored barrier layer, A dark-colored barrier layer, which is darker than the light-colored barrier layer, A transparent second adhesive layer containing a polyurethane adhesive having a melting point in the range of 110 to 135°C, A multilayer composite material formed by laminating the above-mentioned materials toward the base fabric in the order described above, Equipped with, The thermal adhesives of the light-colored barrier layer and the dark-colored barrier layer have a higher melting point than the adhesives of the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer, and have a melting point in the range of 155 to 210°C. The first adhesive layer is adherable to a substrate on the opposite side from the base fabric, The second adhesive layer is directly fused to the non-printed surface of the base fabric, and separates the light-colored barrier layer, the dark-colored barrier layer, and the first adhesive layer from the base fabric, The light-colored barrier layer and the dark-colored barrier layer prevent the transfer of dye from the base fabric to the substrate and from the substrate to the base fabric. Heat-sealable appliqué.

2. The heat-sealable appliqué according to claim 1, wherein the light-colored barrier layer and the dark-colored barrier layer comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyolefin, and polyaramid.

3. The heat-sealable appliqué according to claim 1, wherein the dark-colored barrier layer comprises a dye-absorbing material.

4. The heat-sealable appliqué according to claim 1, wherein the dark-colored barrier layer contains activated carbon.

5. The heat-sealable appliqué according to claim 1, wherein the light-colored barrier layer comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, and calcium carbonate.

6. The heat-sealable appliqué according to claim 1, wherein the light-colored barrier layer comprises titanium dioxide particles suspended in a polymer.

7. A method for producing a heat-sealable appliqué, The process involves printing a graphic onto one side of the appliqué base fabric using dye sublimation printing, A step to obtain a multilayer composite adhesive film in which a first adhesive layer containing a polyurethane adhesive having a melting point in the range of 100 to 140°C, a light-colored light-colored barrier layer, a dark-colored dark-colored barrier layer, and a transparent second adhesive layer containing a polyurethane adhesive having a melting point in the range of 110 to 135°C are laminated in the order described above. The steps include: directly fusing the second adhesive layer of the multilayer composite adhesive film to the non-printed surface of the base fabric such that the light-colored barrier layer, the dark-colored barrier layer, and the first adhesive layer are separated from the base fabric; Includes, The thermal adhesives of the light-colored barrier layer and the dark-colored barrier layer have a higher melting point than the adhesives of the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer, and have a melting point in the range of 155 to 210°C. The light-colored barrier layer and the dark-colored barrier layer prevent the transfer of dye from the base fabric to the substrate and the transfer of dye from the substrate to the base fabric. Method for making heat-sealable appliqués.

8. The method for producing a heat-sealable appliqué according to claim 7, wherein the light-colored barrier layer contains titanium dioxide particles suspended in a polymer, and the dark-colored barrier layer contains activated carbon particles suspended in a polymer.

9. The method for producing a heat-sealable appliqué according to claim 7, wherein the step of directly fusing the second adhesive layer of the multilayer composite adhesive film to the non-printed surface of the base fabric includes the step of applying pressure.

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