Heat Resistant Slipping Layer for Thermal Transfer Sheets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal transfer sheets face issues with dye retransfer from the color material layer to the heat resistant slipping layer, leading to printing precision impairments, especially when stored in a wound state and during rewinding, due to increased heat energy and sensitivity of ink ribbons.
Innovation Solution
A thermal transfer sheet with a heat resistant slipping layer comprising a cellulose acetate butyrate resin with a butyryl group content of 50% or higher and a lubricant, along with additional resins like acrylic or polyvinyl acetal, which reduces dye retransfer and maintains excellent heat resistance and slip properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the thermal transfer sheet is stored in a wound state after printing, then the sheet can be conveniently stored and transported, but the color material layer is pressed against the heat resistant slipping layer causing dye transfer and retransfer that impairs printing precision
Solution Approach 1:
A release layer is introduced between the color material layer and the heat resistant slipping layer to prevent direct contact and dye transfer during wound-state storage. The release layer acts as an intermediary barrier that eliminates the harmful interaction while allowing the sheet to maintain its wound storage form.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful direct contact between the color material layer and heat resistant slipping layer is eliminated by separating them with a release layer. This extraction of the problematic interaction prevents dye transfer while preserving the beneficial wound storage capability.
2Productivity
If heat energy of the thermal head is increased to speed up printing, then printing speed is improved, but the possibility of transferring dye from the color material layer to the heat resistant slipping layer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release layer serves as a protective intermediary that prevents dye transfer to the heat resistant slipping layer even when high heat energy is applied during printing. This intermediary barrier allows high-speed printing with increased thermal head energy without the harmful side effect of dye contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The release layer is pre-applied to the heat resistant slipping layer before printing occurs, providing beforehand protection against dye transfer. This prior cushioning measure ensures that even when high heat energy is subsequently applied for fast printing, the dye cannot transfer to the slipping layer.
3Manufacturing precision
If a transfer protective layer is provided to avoid impairing image characteristics, then image quality is improved, but the transparent film allows dye retransfer to occur and emphasizes contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The release layer is positioned between the color material layer and the transfer protective layer to prevent dye retransfer to the transparent film. This intermediary barrier maintains the transparency and image quality benefits of the protective layer while eliminating the harmful retransfer effect.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively minimizes dye retransfer, maintains printing precision, and ensures stable color reproduction even after storage, by optimizing the composition of the heat resistant slipping layer with specific resin content and lubricants.
Implementation Method 1
a heat resistant slipping layer which contains a binder resin containing a cellulose acetate butyrate resin (A1) having a butyryl group content of 50% or higher and a lubricant (B)
Implementation Method 2
the heat resistant slipping layer includes a binder resin containing a cellulose acetate butyrate resin (A1) having a butyryl group content of 50% or higher and a lubricant (B)
Implementation Method 3
a sublimation dye transfer ink layer composed of a sublimation dye and a binder is provided on one surface of a base film as a color material layer
Implementation Method 4
a sublimation dye transfer ink layer composed of a sublimation dye and a binder
Implementation Method 5
a thermofusible transfer ink layer composed of a pigment and a wax
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal transfer sheet provided with a heat resistant slipping layer which reduces dye retransfer, has excellent heat resistance and slip properties, and prevents the defects of printed image from being generated due to wrinkles and the like during printing. A thermal transfer sheet comprising a base film, a color material layer on one surface of the base film, and a heat resistant slipping layer on the other surface of the base film, wherein the heat resistant slipping layer comprises a binder resin containing a cellulose acetate butyrate resin (A1) having a butyryl group content of 50% or more and a lubricant (B), the amount of the binder resin is 65 to 99% by weight of the total solid content of the heat resistant slipping layer, the amount of the cellulose acetate butyrate resin (A1) is 50 to 100% by weight of the binder resin, and the amount of the lubricant (B) is 1 to 30% by weight of the binder resin.