Thermal Transfer Ribbon Protective Layer Resin Composition

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thermal transfer ribbons face challenges in achieving both durability and transferability of the protective layer, often resulting in burrs and chips due to excessive toughness or poor peeling, which affects the quality of the printed images.

Innovation Solution

A thermal transfer ribbon with a substrate having a dye layer and a transferable protective layer composed of specific resin combinations, including an acrylic resin with a weight average molecular weight of 120,000 or more, a styrene resin, and a polyester resin, which improves transfer performance and cold adhesion, thereby suppressing burrs and chips.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the protective layer is made excessively tough to improve durability, then durability is improved, but foil cutability deteriorates and burrs occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidfoil cutability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer uses a composite resin composition comprising a polyester resin (5-20 parts by mass), an acrylic resin (70-90 parts by mass), and a styrene resin (5-20 parts by mass). This composite structure combines the toughness of polyester with the processability and smoothness of acrylic and styrene resins, achieving both durability and good foil cutability without burrs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the resin composition, including the mass ratios of polyester (5-20 parts), acrylic (70-90 parts), and styrene (5-20 parts) resins. By controlling these parameters, the protective layer achieves optimal balance between toughness for durability and appropriate softness for foil cutability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the protective layer is made excessively tough to improve durability, then durability is improved, but chips occur due to poor peeling

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidpeeling quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer uses a composite resin composition comprising a polyester resin (5-20 parts by mass), an acrylic resin (70-90 parts by mass), and a styrene resin (5-20 parts by mass). This composite structure combines the toughness of polyester with the processability and smoothness of acrylic and styrene resins, achieving both durability and good foil cutability without burrs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the resin composition, including the mass ratios of polyester (5-20 parts), acrylic (70-90 parts), and styrene (5-20 parts) resins. By controlling these parameters, the protective layer achieves optimal balance between toughness for durability and appropriate softness for foil cutability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If a single resin is used to form the protective layer, then manufacturing is simple, but both durability and transferability cannot be achieved simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidprotective layer performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective layer uses a composite resin composition comprising a polyester resin (5-20 parts by mass), an acrylic resin (70-90 parts by mass), and a styrene resin (5-20 parts by mass). This composite structure combines the toughness of polyester with the processability and smoothness of acrylic and styrene resins, achieving both durability and good foil cutability without burrs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 protects thermal transfer images with a smooth, durable protective layer that prevents burrs and chips, ensuring high-quality prints with improved glossiness and plasticizer resistance.

Implementation Method 1

a resin to become the protective layer is melted or softened by the heat of the thermal head, and the protective layer is formed so as to cover the thermal transfer image

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

The ink of the thermal transfer ink layer is transferred to a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet by sublimation (sublimation transfer method) or by melting (melt transfer method) of the ink by application of heat from the thermal head of a printer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSublimation: Sublimation

Data Source

PatentUS11840108B2Thermal transfer ribbon

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

A thermal transfer ribbon comprising a dye layer and a transferable protective layer repeatedly formed on one surface of a substrate, the transferable protective layer having a first layer formed on the substrate, and a second layer formed on the first layer. The first layer comprises an acrylic resin (X) containing methyl methacrylate, an acrylic resin (Y) containing a styrene resin, and a polyester resin (Z). X has a weight average molecular weight of 120000 or more, the mass ratio of X and Y is within the range of 1:9 to 9:1, and the mass of Z is 1% or more and 3% or less of the total mass of X and Y.