Media for cold image transfer

• US 20030170429A1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Samdahl, Lisa M., Graham, Paul D., Farooq, Omar, Kitchin, Jonathan P., Engle, Lori P., Tweeten, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,974,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/195.1
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/006 Patterns of chemical products used for a specific purpose, e.g. pesticides, perfumes, adhesive patterns; use of microencapsulated material; Printing on smoking articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/025 by transferring ink from the master sheet
• 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 5/504 Backcoats
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/508 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/52 Macromolecular coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/529 characterised by the use of fluorine- or silicon-containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/17 Dry transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/1737 Decalcomanias provided with a particular decorative layer, e.g. specially adapted to allow the formation of a metallic or dyestuff on a substrate unsuitable for direct deposition
• 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 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]

Abstract

Image transfer media and methods of transferring images are provided. The image transfer media comprise a sheet having a nonporous micro-embossed surface topography comprising cavities on one major surface of the sheet and an ink release coating on the embossed surface, wherein said major surface has a surface energy of about 43 dyne/centimeter or less. A method of transferring an image to a substrate comprises the steps of (a) printing a selected image onto an imaging surface of an image transfer medium of the invention; (b) contacting the imaged micro-embossed surface with the substrate using pressure; and (c) removing the micro-embossed surface of the image transfer medium from the substrate.

Claims

1. An imaged transfer medium comprising a sheet having a nonporous micro-embossed surface topography comprising micro-embossed elements on one major surface of the sheet and an ink release coating on the micro-embossed surface, wherein said major surface has a surface energy of about 43 dyne/centimeter or less and having a material deposited on the microembossed surface.

2. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the micro-embossed elements are cavities and the cavities have a depth of at least about 25 micrometers.

3. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the micro-embossed surface comprises a pattern over the area of the major surface wherein the pattern is regular, random, or combination.

4. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the micro-embossed surface has a topography to protect printed material from abrasion from items contacting the micro-embossed surface.

5. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the ink release coating comprises fluorinated surfactants, silicone surfactants, silicones, fluorochemicals, polymers of silicones, polymers of fluorochemicals, and combinations thereof.

6. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein each cavity holds at least 10 pL of ink.

7. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein each cavity has a volume of about 1 to about 10,000 pL.

8. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the cavities have an aspect ratio of about 0.01 to about 2.

9. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the cavities have a depth of from about 5 to about 100 micrometers.

10. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the sheet is transparent, translucent, or opaque, wherein the sheet is clear or tinted, wherein the sheet is optically transmissive, or combinations thereof.

11. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the sheet is a polymeric film selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, poly(vinyl chloride), copolymers of ethylene with vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol, polycarbonate, norbornene copolymers, reactive silicones, fluorinated thermoplastics such as copolymers and terpolymers comprising hexafluoropropylene, vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, or vinyl fluoride, and surface modified versions thereof, poly(ethylene terephthalate) and copolymers thereof, polyurethanes, polyimides, acrylics, and filled versions thereof.

12. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises two or more layers.

13. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 further comprising an adhesive layer on a major surface opposite the micro-embossed surface.

14. The imaged transfer medium of claim 13 further comprising a release liner protecting the adhesive layer.

15. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the material is jettable.

16. The imaged transfer medium of claim 15 wherein the jettable material is selected from the group consisting of inks, adhesives, biological fluids, pharmaceuticals, chemical assay reagents, particulate dispersions, waxes, and combinations thereof.

17. The imaged transfer medium of claim 15 wherein the jettable material is a pigmented ink.

18. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 further having an ink receptive medium on the micro-embossed surface.

19. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the ink release coating is a result of surface energy modifying additives in the sheet.

20. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the micro-embossed elements are posts.

21. The imaged transfer medium of claim 1 wherein the micro-embossed elements are a combination of cavities and posts.

22. The imaged transfer medium of claim 18 wherein the ink receptive medium is a co-polyester.