Thermal Transfer Sheet Release Layer Silsesquioxane Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal transfer sheets face a trade-off between durability and peelability, where enhancing durability leads to decreased peel property, resulting in head untransfer issues, and reducing hardness for better peelability compromises durability, leading to variations in releasability performance.
Innovation Solution
A thermal transfer sheet with a substrate, a release layer containing silsesquioxane, and a transfer layer that is peelable from the release layer, where the release layer has a reaction product of silsesquioxane with an epoxy group and a resin having a carboxyl group, ensuring stable releasability and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the hardness of the transfer layer is enhanced to improve durability, then durability is improved, but peel property decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the system into two functional parts: a durable transfer layer (peel layer) and a release layer with controlled interaction. The release layer is segmented into specific functional components (wax content 1-10 parts by mass, specific resin combinations) that mediate between the durable transfer layer and substrate, enabling high durability (scratch hardness ≥200g) while maintaining peelability (initial breakage peeling-off force ≤49 N/m).
Solution Approach 2:
The release layer acts as an intermediary between the transfer layer and substrate. It contains specific components (wax, resin with carboxyl group, silsesquioxane) that provide controlled adhesion during transfer and controlled release during peeling. This intermediary layer allows the transfer layer to maintain high durability while achieving satisfactory peel property through the release layer's mediating function.
2Ease of operation
If the hardness of the transfer layer is lowered to improve peel property, then peel property is improved, but durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented so that the transfer layer maintains high durability (scratch hardness ≥200g) while the release layer contains the functional components responsible for peelability. The release layer includes wax (1-10 parts by mass) and specific resins that provide controlled adhesion and release, allowing the transfer layer itself to remain hard and durable without compromising peel property.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters of the release layer composition to achieve the desired balance. Specifically, it controls wax content (1-10 parts by mass), resin types (including those with carboxyl groups), and silsesquioxane content. These parameter changes in the release layer enable high peel property while the transfer layer maintains high durability through its own composition (ionizing radiation curable resin, scratch hardness ≥200g).
3Strength
If durability is imparted to the transfer layer, then durability is improved, but peel property at the peel head portion decreases causing head untransfer
Solution Approach 1:
The release layer serves as a mediator that ensures uniform peeling from the head portion. It contains wax (1-10 parts by mass) and specific resins that provide consistent adhesion control across the entire transfer interface. The silsesquoxane component (0.1-10 parts by mass) specifically enhances the uniformity of release, preventing head untransfer while allowing the transfer layer to maintain high durability (scratch hardness ≥200g).
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adjusts the parameters of the release layer to ensure uniform peel property across the entire surface. It controls the content of wax (1-10 parts by mass), resin with carboxyl group (acid value ≥10 mgKOH/g), and silsesquoxane (0.1-10 parts by mass). These parameter changes ensure that the initial breakage peeling-off force is ≤49 N/m uniformly across the head portion, preventing head untransfer while maintaining high durability of the transfer layer.
4Ease of manufacture
If the release layer uses conventional components, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but variation in releasability performance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies precise parameter ranges for the release layer components to reduce performance variation. It controls wax content (1-10 parts by mass), resin with carboxyl group (acid value ≥10 mgKOH/g), and silsesquoxane (0.1-10 parts by mass). These controlled parameters ensure consistent initial breakage peeling-off force (≤49 N/m) and stable releasability performance across production batches, while still using conventional manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The release layer uses a composite material system combining wax, resin with carboxyl group, and silsesquoxane. This composite provides synergistic effects that stabilize releasability performance. The wax provides base-level release, the resin with carboxyl group enhances adhesion control, and silsesquoxane provides uniformity and stability. Together, they reduce performance variation while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional coating and drying processes.
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 inhibits head untransfer and imparts durability to prints while stabilizing the releasability of the thermal transfer sheet, reducing variations in performance and improving peelability.
Implementation Method 1
the release layer contains a silsesquoxane... the release layer has a reaction product of silsesquioxane with an epoxy group and a resin having a carboxyl group
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a coating liquid for release layer with which a release layer having a small variation in the performance difference can be stably formed, to provide a method for producing a thermal transfer sheet using this coating liquid for release layer, and to provide a thermal transfer sheet having stable releasability. A thermal transfer sheet having a substrate, a release layer provided on the substrate, and a transfer layer provided on the release layer, wherein the transfer layer is provided peelably from the release layer, and the release layer contains a silsesquioxane.