Ink-jet printable transfer papers for use with fabric materials

• US 20020192434A1
• Filed: 04/19/2001
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arkwright Advanced Coating Incorporated (Diatec Holding S.p.A)
• Original Assignee: Arkwright Incorporated (Andritz AG)
• Inventors: Sa, Sathuan K., Yuan, Shengmei, Xu, Zhong
• Granted Patent: US 6,667,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/32.35
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0256 the transferable ink pattern being obtained by means of a computer driven printer, e.g. an ink jet or laser printer, or by electrographic means
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/502 characterised by structural details, e.g. multilayer materials supports, backcoats or intermediate layers for thermal dye transfer donor and receiver sheets B41M5/41, B41M5/42
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/003 Transfer printing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 Polymeric or resinous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention relates to ink-jet transfer papers that can be printed with images using ink-jet printers. The ink-jet printable transfer papers comprise a support paper having a surface coated with layer (a) and ink-receptive layer (b). Layer (a) comprises a polyurethane binder and inorganic pigment, and layer (b) comprises a polyurethane binder and organic polymeric particles. The printed image can be heat-transferred to fabric materials particularly dark-colored fabrics such as black T-shirts.

Claims

1. An ink-jet printable transfer paper, comprising a support paper having a surface coated with layer (a) and ink-receptive layer (b), wherein layer (a) comprises a polyurethane binder and inorganic pigment, and layer (b) comprises a polyurethane binder and organic polymeric particles.

2. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1, wherein the polyurethane binder comprising layer (a) has a softening point in the range of 120°

to 190°

C.

3. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1, wherein the inorganic pigment comprising layer (a) is selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, zinc oxide, antimony oxide, barium sulfate, and calcium carbonate.

4. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 3, wherein the pigment is titanium dioxide.

5. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1, wherein the polyurethane binder comprising layer (b) has a softening point in the range of 50°

to 190°

C.

6. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 5, wherein the polyurethane binder comprising layer (b) contains cationic groups.

7. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1, wherein the organic polymeric particles comprising layer (b) are selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins, and polyesters.

8. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 7, wherein the thermoplastic polymeric particles are polyamide particles having a particle size in the range of 5 μ

m to 50 μ

m and a surface area in the range of 10 m²/g to 40 m²/g.

9. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1, wherein the total weight of layers (a) and (b) is in the range of 50 to 100 grams per square meter.

10. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the support paper is in the range of about 2 mils to about 10 mils.

11. An ink-jet printable transfer paper, comprising a support paper having a surface coated with a release layer, layer (a), and ink-receptive layer (b), wherein the release layer comprises silicone, layer (a) comprises a polyurethane binder and inorganic pigment, and layer (b) comprises a polyurethane binder and organic polymeric particles, said layer (a) overlaying the silicone layer and said layer (b) overlaying layer (a).

13. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 12, wherein the second layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins, polyesters, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl acetate), polyacrylates, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and copolymers and mixtures thereof.

14. The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 13, wherein the second layer comprises ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the protective paper is a transparent silicone-coated paper.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the imaged coated layers are placed on the fabric material so that the image faces upwards.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the fabric material is a black colored T-shirt.

12. An ink-jet printable transfer paper, comprising a support paper having a surface coated with:

a) a first layer comprising silicone,

b) a hot-melt second layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer, said second layer overlaying the first layer,

c) a third layer comprising a polyurethane binder and inorganic pigment, said third layer overlaying said second layer, and

d) a fourth layer comprising a polyurethane binder and organic particles, said fourth layer overlaying said third layer.

15. A method for applying an image to a fabric material, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an ink-jet printable transfer paper, comprising a support paper having a surface coated with layer (a) and ink-receptive layer (b), wherein layer (a) comprises a polyurethane binder and inorganic pigment, and layer (b) comprises a polyurethane binder and organic polymeric particles,

b) printing an image on the coated layers with an ink-jet printer,

c) removing the support paper from the imaged coated layers,

d) placing the imaged coated layers on a fabric material,

e) placing a protective paper over the imaged coated layers on the fabric material, and

f) ironing the protective paper, whereby the image is transferred to the fabric.