Heat-Sensitive Transfer Sheet Lubricating Layer Talc Particle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat-sensitive transfer sheets face issues with image defects due to insufficient lubrication, leading to sticking and print cockle formation during high-speed printing, and there is a need for improved dye transfer density and fastness, especially with yellow dyes transferring to the lubricating layer, causing quality deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A heat-sensitive transfer sheet with a base film, a dye layer, and a heat-resistant lubricating layer containing talc particles, where the talc particles have a controlled average projected area and variation coefficient, and the lubricating layer also includes a compound represented by formula (P) and a multivalent metal salt of an alkyl carboxylic acid, enhancing lubrication and preventing dye transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heat-resistant lubricating layer is disposed on the heat-sensitive transfer sheet to prevent fusion and provide lubrication during high-speed printing, then the lubrication property and heat resistance are improved, but the dye involuntarily transfers to the lubricating layer during storage, causing stains and quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
An easy-adhesion layer is introduced as an intermediary between the heat-sensitive transfer sheet and the heat-resistant lubricating layer. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between the dye layer and the lubricating layer during storage, thereby blocking the involuntary dye transfer pathway while maintaining the lubrication function of the outer layer during printing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The structure is divided into separate functional layers: the heat-sensitive transfer sheet, the easy-adhesion layer, and the heat-resistant lubricating layer. This segmentation isolates the dye-containing layer from the lubricating layer, preventing harmful dye transfer while preserving the lubrication function where needed
2Productivity
If the thermal printer head contacts the heat-sensitive transfer sheet at higher temperature and higher speed for high-speed printing, then the printing speed is improved, but the sticking and print cockle defects occur due to insufficient lubrication
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-resistant lubricating layer is formulated as a composite material containing fluorinated resin and inorganic particles (such as talc or silica). This composite structure provides both high-temperature resistance and effective lubrication, enabling the system to handle high-speed printing conditions without causing sticking or print cockle defects
3Ease of manufacture
If the heat-sensitive transfer sheet is stored as a broad roll with the heat-resistant lubricating layer and dye layer in contact, then the storage convenience is improved, but the involuntary dye transfer occurs during storage and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The easy-adhesion layer serves as a protective intermediary that remains in place during broad roll storage and processing. This intermediate layer physically separates the dye layer from the lubricating layer, preventing involuntary dye transfer while allowing the sheet to maintain its rolled configuration for convenient storage and handling
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 reduces image defects, improves print quality by preventing sticking and cockle formation, and enhances dye transfer density and fastness, ensuring high-quality prints even after storage and extended use.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-sensitive transfer sheet (hereinafter also referred to as an ink sheet) containing dyes is superposed on a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet (hereinafter also referred to as an image-receiving sheet), and then the ink sheet is heated, for example, by a thermal head whose exothermic action is controlled by electric signals, in order to transfer the dyes contained in the ink sheet to the image-receiving sheet
Implementation Method 2
a heat-resistant lubricating layer containing talc particles as one kind of inorganic particle and a resin formed on the other side of the base film
Data Source
AI summary
A heat-sensitive transfer sheet, containing:a base film;a dye layer; anda heat-resistant lubricating layer containing talc particles;wherein, when a projected area corresponding to each of the talc particles in the heat-resistant lubricating layer is obtained from an electron beam image that is obtained by irradiating electron beams accelerated at 20 kV from a side of the heat-resistant lubricating layer of the heat-sensitive transfer sheet using a scanning electronic microscope, an average projected area of talc particles each having the projected area of 10 square μm or more is 80 square μm or less, and a variation coefficient that is obtained by dividing a standard deviation of the projected areas of talc particles each having the projected area of 10 square μm or more by the average projected area is 0.8 or less.