Intermediate Transfer Medium Receiving Layer Molecular Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intermediate transfer media fail to simultaneously achieve high-density thermal transferred images with suppressed printing unevenness and good foil cutting properties, especially when printing energy is increased to accommodate faster printers.
Innovation Solution
An intermediate transfer medium with a transfer layer containing a binder resin of 8000 to 32000 number average molecular weight and a release agent content of 6% or more, combined with a thermal transfer sheet having a heat sealing layer with a binder resin of 4000 to 32000 molecular weight, is used to form a high-density image while preventing printing unevenness and ensuring good foil cutting properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If printing energy is increased to accommodate faster printers, then productivity is improved, but printing unevenness occurs and manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of the binder resin to a specific range (8000-32000) and adjusts the release agent content (6% or more), which modifies the thermal and mechanical properties of the receiving layer. This enables the layer to withstand higher printing energy while maintaining uniform heat distribution and preventing printing unevenness, thus resolving the contradiction between increased productivity and maintained manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If binder resin molecular weight is increased to improve image density, then manufacturing precision is improved, but foil cutting properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the binder resin molecular weight to a balanced range (8000-32000) rather than using high molecular weight resins alone. This moderate molecular weight range provides sufficient binding strength for high-density image formation while maintaining adequate flexibility and adhesion for good foil cutting properties during transfer, thus resolving the contradiction between image density and foil cutting properties.
3Ease of operation
If release agent content is increased to improve transferability, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies a minimum release agent content of 6% based on total receiving layer mass, which ensures sufficient release properties for complete transfer while preventing excessive release that would cause printing unevenness. This optimized concentration balance allows easy transferability while maintaining manufacturing precision in the thermal transferred image.
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 enables the formation of high-density thermal transferred images with reduced printing unevenness and improved foil cutting properties, even under increased printing energy conditions, resulting in high-quality prints with enhanced adhesiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a transfer layer obtained by laminating a protective layer and a receiving layer in this order from a substrate side is provided on the substrate... using a thermal transfer sheet having a colorant layer, a thermal transferred image is formed on the receiving layer
Implementation Method 2
the receiving layer contains a binder resin having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 8000 or more and 32000 or less and a release agent
Data Source
AI summary
An intermediate transfer medium that allows formation of high-density images on a transfer layer while suppressing printing unevenness and provides good foil cutting properties of the transfer layer, a combination of the intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet, and a method for forming a print using the intermediate transfer medium. In an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer layer on a substrate, the transfer layer has a single layer structure including only a receiving layer or a layered structure including the receiving layer. When the transfer layer has the layered structure, the receiving layer is located furthest from the substrate among layers constituting the transfer layer. The receiving layer contains a binder resin having a number average molecular weight of 8000-32000 and a release agent. The content of the release agent based on the total mass of the receiving layer is 6% by mass or more.