Thermally-transferable polyester image-protecting layer
First Claim
1. A thermal transfer medium comprising a substrate bearing on at least part of one surface thereof a coating layer of a thermally transferable overlay material for transfer onto a thermal transfer image formed on a receiver material, wherein the coating layer comprises a hydroxy-terminated polyester having a Tg of at least 75°
- C. and a molecular weight ranging from 6,000 to 10,000, and wherein a cross-linked acrylic subcoat is present between the substrate and coating.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal transfer medium for use in mass transfer printing comprises a substrate bearing on at least part of one surface thereof a coating of an overlay material comprising polyester having a glass transition greater than 50° C. (preferably at least 75° C.) and a molecular weight in the range 6,000 to 10,000. The overlay material combines good transfer characteristics, barrier properties and durability and is highly transparent.
10 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A thermal transfer medium comprising a substrate bearing on at least part of one surface thereof a coating layer of a thermally transferable overlay material for transfer onto a thermal transfer image formed on a receiver material, wherein the coating layer comprises a hydroxy-terminated polyester having a Tg of at least 75°
- C. and a molecular weight ranging from 6,000 to 10,000, and wherein a cross-linked acrylic subcoat is present between the substrate and coating.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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10. A thermal transfer medium, comprising an elongate strip of substrate material having on one surface thereof a plurality of similar sets of thermally transferable dye coats and mass transfer layers, each set comprising a respective coat of dye colors, yellow, magenta and cyan, and a respective mass transfer layer for colorant and overlay, each coat or layer being in the form of a discrete stripe extending transverse to the length of the substrate, wherein each overlay material mass transfer layer comprises a coating of an overlay material comprising a hydroxy-terminated polyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) greater than 50°
- C. and a molecular weight ranging from 6,000 to 10,000, and wherein a cross-linked acrylic subcoat is present between the substrate and coating.
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16. The combination of a receiver material having an image-receiving surface comprising vinyl chloride/inyl acetate copolymer and a thermal transfer medium comprising a substrate bearing on at least part of one surface thereof a coating layer of a thermally transferable overlay material for transfer onto a thermal transfer image formed on the receiver material, wherein the coating layer comprises a hydroxy-terminated polyester having a Tg greater than 50°
- C. and a molecular weight ranging from 6,000 to 10,000, and wherein a cross-linked acrylic subcoat is present between the substrate and coating.
- View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of forming an overlay on a receiver material having an image-receiving surface comprising vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, comprising the steps of
superimposing a thermal transfer medium comprising a substrate bearing on at least part of one surface thereof a coating layer of a thermally transferable overlay material for transfer onto a thermal transfer image formed on a receiver material, wherein the coating layer comprises a hydroxy-terminated polyester having a Tg greater than 50° - C. and a molecular weight ranging from 6,000 to 10,000, and wherein a cross-linked acrylic subcoat is present between the substrate and coating; and
applying localized heating to the thermal transfer medium to form an overlay on the receiver material.
- C. and a molecular weight ranging from 6,000 to 10,000, and wherein a cross-linked acrylic subcoat is present between the substrate and coating; and
Specification