Transfer paper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Nylon fabric's dimensional instability under heat and moisture during the transfer printing process leads to issues like partial detachment, blistering, and image quality deterioration, and the existing ink-receiving and adhesive layers make it difficult to remove the printed transfer paper smoothly without causing color unevenness or partial missing of the design.

Innovation Solution

A transfer paper with a substrate and nonaqueous resin layers, featuring an outermost coating layer comprising water-soluble polyester resin, carboxylic acid-modified polyvinyl alcohol resin, acrylic resin, starch, and amorphous silica, which allows for smooth heat and pressure application and subsequent removal without causing image quality issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heat and pressure are applied to transfer dye from printed transfer paper to nylon fabric, then dye transfer efficiency is improved, but dimensional instability of nylon fabric causes partial detachment, blistering, and wrinkling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedye transfer efficiencyVSAvoiddimensional stability of nylon fabric
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specifically designed ink-receiving and adhesive layer as an intermediary between the base paper and the printed surface. This layer contains adhesive agents that strongly bind to the nylon fabric during heat and pressure application, anchoring the transfer paper in place and preventing dimensional instability issues while allowing effective dye transfer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transfer paper employs a composite structure with multiple functional layers: a base paper providing structural support, an ink-receiving and adhesive layer containing both ink absorption capabilities and adhesive agents for fabric bonding, and surface properties optimized for dye transfer. This composite design allows simultaneous achievement of dimensional stability and dye transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the printed transfer paper is kept stuck to the nylon fabric during steaming, then dye fixation is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to partial detachment, blistering, and wrinkling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedye fixationVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The ink-receiving and adhesive layer serves as a mediator that maintains stable contact between the transfer paper and nylon fabric during steaming. The adhesive agents in this layer prevent relative movement and deformation, ensuring that the transferred design remains free from defects while the dye undergoes fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the printed transfer paper is removed from the nylon fabric after heat and pressure application, then productivity is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to partial missing, color unevenness, and color-development deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremoval speedVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating adhesive agents in the ink-receiving and adhesive layer that create strong bonding between the transfer paper and nylon fabric during the heat and pressure application. This preliminary strong adhesion ensures that when the transfer paper is subsequently removed, no dye or design elements are left behind, preventing partial missing and color unevenness while allowing efficient removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Strength

If the proportion of natural glue to water-soluble synthetic binder is increased in the ink-receiving and adhesive layer, then adhesion to textile material is improved, but removal of printed transfer paper becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion strengthVSAvoidremoval ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the proportion of natural glue to water-soluble synthetic binder within specific ranges (natural glue: 0.1-10 parts by mass, water-soluble synthetic binder: 90-90.0 parts by mass). This optimized composition achieves sufficient adhesion strength for dye transfer while maintaining ease of removal, preventing both poor adhesion and difficult removal issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 smooth removal of the printed transfer paper from the nylon fabric after design formation, preventing issues like partial missing, color unevenness, and color-development deterioration, while maintaining image quality.

Implementation Method 1

bringing the printed transfer paper into close contact with a textile material and applying heat and pressure thereon for dye transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

applying heat and pressure thereon for dye transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Compression

Implementation Method 3

the acrylic resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 0° C. to 45° C. and a minimum film forming temperature (MFT) of 0° C. to 50° C.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGlass transition:

Implementation Method 4

the amorphous silica having a volume-based average particle diameter of 27 μm to 40 μm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDimensional stability:

Implementation Method 5

the coating layer located outermost from the substrate, at least comprising a water-soluble polyester resin, a carboxylic acid-modified polyvinyl alcohol resin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 6

printing the design with a dye ink to prepare a printed transfer paper; bringing the printed transfer paper into close contact with a fabric and applying heat and pressure thereon to transfer the dye on the printed transfer paper to the fabric

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDye transfer:

Implementation Method 7

steaming the fabric

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSteaming:

Data Source

PatentUS11313076B2Transfer paper
Publication Date: 2022.04.26 MITSUBISHI PAPER MILLS LTD

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer paper which allows smooth removal of a printed transfer paper from a design-printed fabric before steaming; and is unlikely to cause problems such as partial missing, color unevenness, color-development deterioration, etc. of the design on the fabric.Provided is a transfer paper having a substrate and one or more coating layers, the substrate having a base paper and one or more nonaqueous resin layers on one side of the base paper, the one or more coating layers being located on the one or more nonaqueous resin layers,the coating layer located outermost from the substrate, that is, the outermost coating layer, at least comprising a water-soluble polyester resin, a carboxylic acid-modified polyvinyl alcohol resin, an acrylic resin, a starch, and a white pigment,the acrylic resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 0° C. to 45° C. and a minimum film forming temperature (MFT) of 0° C. to 50° C.