Thermal Transfer Receiving Sheet Pearly Designability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sublimation type thermal transfer methods lack the capability to produce prints with pearly designability, despite the increasing demand for such prints in various applications.
Innovation Solution
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is developed with a receiving layer on a support, where the inorganic pigment content and layer thickness are optimized to achieve a specific range of ΔL* between receiving angles of 110° and 15°, ensuring a flip-flop property that imparts pearly designability when light is incident at 45°, thereby enabling the production of prints with pearly designability using a sublimation type thermal transfer method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is used, then the sublimation type thermal transfer method can be applied, but pearly designability cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating inorganic pigments specifically in the receiving layer to create pearly designability only where needed, rather than modifying the entire sheet structure. The receiving layer contains inorganic pigments that provide the flip-flop property and pearly effect, while other components remain conventional.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining organic binder resins with inorganic pigments in the receiving layer. This composite structure enables both the sublimation transfer function and the pearly designability, resolving the contradiction between conventional manufacturing and new functionality.
2Illumination intensity
If the receiving layer thickness is increased to enhance pearly effect, then light reflection improves, but manufacturing precision becomes harder to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the receiving layer thickness to a specific range (1-5 μm) and controlling the inorganic pigment content at 1-50 parts by mass per 100 parts of binder resin. These parameter optimizations ensure sufficient light reflection for pearly effect while maintaining manufacturing precision through quantifiable specifications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If inorganic pigment content is increased to enhance pearly designability, then flip-flop property improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by defining specific ranges for inorganic pigment content (1-50 parts by mass per 100 parts binder resin) to achieve the desired flip-flop property. This quantified approach improves pearly designability while controlling composition complexity through clear manufacturing specifications.
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 thermal transfer image-receiving sheet effectively achieves pearly designability by varying lightness and hues based on viewing angle, enhancing the print's aesthetic appeal and designability within the specified ΔL* range of 25 to 50, which is not achievable with lower or higher values.
Implementation Method 1
when light is allowed to enter the surface on the side of the receiving layer at an incident angle of 45°, ΔL* between receiving angles of 110° and 15° with respect to the specular reflection angle of the incident light is 25 or more and 50 or less
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet capable of providing a print having pearly designability and a method for producing a print. A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet 100 including a layer constituted only by a receiving layer 2 or two or more layers including a receiving layer provided on one surface of a support 1, the receiving layer 2 being located on the outermost surface, wherein any one of layers constituting the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet contains an inorganic pigment, and when light is allowed to enter the surface on the side of the receiving layer at an incident angle of 45°, ΔL* between receiving angles of 110° and 15° with respect to the specular reflection angle of the incident light is 25 or more and 50 or less.