Metallic Luster Thermal Transfer Sheets for Gloss-Preserving Transfer

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Insufficient application of thermal energy during transfer leads to cohesive failure in metallic luster layers, resulting in poor transferability and reduced gloss in thermal transfer sheets, particularly when transferring onto intermediate transfer media and transfer-receiving articles.

Innovation Solution

A thermal transfer sheet with a metallic luster layer having a 45-degree specular gloss between 30% to 80% is combined with an intermediate transfer medium, enhancing transferability and maintaining high gloss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thermal energy is insufficient during transfer, then the metallic luster layer maintains its structural integrity, but transferability deteriorates due to cohesive failure

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransferabilityVSAvoidthermal energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the metallic luster layer by controlling the 45-degree specular gloss to be 30% or more, which modifies the layer's thermal response characteristics. This parameter adjustment allows the layer to achieve adequate transferability with reduced thermal energy input, preventing cohesive failure while maintaining transfer integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high thermal energy is applied to improve transferability, then the metallic luster layer transfers effectively, but the gloss of the metallic luster layer deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransferabilityVSAvoidgloss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention establishes a specific parameter range for the metallic luster layer's 45-degree specular gloss (30% or more) that optimizes the balance between transferability and gloss retention. By controlling the gloss parameter within this range, the layer achieves effective transfer at lower thermal energies, thereby preventing gloss deterioration that would occur with excessive thermal input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If the metallic luster layer has high gloss, then the appearance quality improves, but transferability worsens due to increased thermal energy requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveglossVSAvoidtransferability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention identifies and implements an optimal parameter range for the metallic luster layer's 45-degree specular gloss (30% or more) that simultaneously satisfies both appearance quality and transferability requirements. This parameter optimization reduces the thermal energy threshold for effective transfer, allowing high-gloss layers to transfer reliably without requiring excessive thermal input that would cause cohesive failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 combination significantly improves transferability and maintains high gloss in the resulting printed material, ensuring effective transfer of the metallic luster layer onto transfer-receiving articles.

Implementation Method 1

heating the thermal transfer sheet with a thermal head of a thermal transfer printer to transfer the sublimation dye from the coloring layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a sublimation thermal transfer system has been widely used which includes superimposing a thermal transfer sheet including a coloring layer containing a sublimation dye

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSublimation: Sublimation

Implementation Method 3

heating the intermediate transfer medium, and transferring a transfer layer onto a transfer-receiving article

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

the transfer-receiving article and the transfer layer side of the intermediate transfer medium may face each other and may be thermally fused by heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal fusion: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4029701B1Thermal transfer sheet, combination of thermal transfer sheet and intermediate transfer medium, and method for producing a printed material
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO LTD
  • EP4029701B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4029701B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A thermal transfer sheet according to the present disclosure includes a first substrate and a metallic luster layer containing a metal pigment, the metallic luster layer having a 45-degree specular gloss in the range of 30% to 80%.