Polymeric composition and printer/copier transfer sheet containing the composition

• US 6,723,773 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jodi A. Schwendimann, Quality Image,Corp.
• Original Assignee: Foto-Wear, Inc.
• Inventors: Williams, Scott, Reid, Heather, Penk, Heather
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoon, Tae H.
• Application Number:
  US09/950,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20020058194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 524/62, 524/378, 524/591, 524/804, 428/195, 428/200
• US Class Current: 524/378
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/06 Lithographic printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/12 Stencil printing; Silk-screen printing
• 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 5/0355 characterised by the macromolecular coating or impregnation used to obtain dye receptive properties
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/287 using microcapsules or microspheres only
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/30 using chemical colour formers B41M5/34 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/504 Backcoats
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/506 Intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/508 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/52 Macromolecular coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5227 characterised by organic non-macromolecular additives, e.g. UV-absorbers, plasticisers, surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5254 characterised by the use of polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. vinyl polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5281 Polyurethanes or polyureas
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/1708 Decalcomanias provided with a layer being specially adapted to facilitate their release from a temporary carrier B44C1/172, B44C1/1741 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/003 Transfer printing
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/49845 Active additives, e.g. toners, stabilisers, sensitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 11/12 Stripping or transferring intact photographic layers
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 7/002 Organic components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 7/0026 being macromolecular
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 7/004 : obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 7/0046 : obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 7/0053 : Intermediate layers for image-receiving members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/914 : Transfer or decalcomania
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 430/165 : Thermal imaging composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24843 : with heat sealable or heat releasable adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31801 : Of wax or waxy material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31855 : Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31895 : Paper or wood
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31899 : Addition polymer of hydrocarbon[s] only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31906 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31935 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31938 : Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon

Abstract

A coated transfer sheet comprising a substrate having a first and second surface; optionally at least one barrier layer overlaying said first surface, at least one release layer overlaying said at least one barrier layer or, when the barrier layer is not present, said first surface of the substrate; and an optional image receiving layer comprising an ethylene acrylic acid co-polymer dispersion; wherein the coated transfer sheet exhibits cold peel and hot peel properties when transferred, and may be used in electrostatic printers and copiers or other devices in which toner particles are imagewise applied to a substrate. The addition of elastomeric polymers and polyurethanes help provide enhanced wash stability and chemical stability.

Claims

1. A polymeric composition comprising an acrylic dispersion, an elastomeric emulsion, a water repellant and a plasticizer.

2. The polymeric composition of claim 1, wherein said acrylic dispersion is an ethylene acrylic acid dispersion, said water repellant is a polyurethane dispersion and said plasticizer is a polyethylene glycol.

3. The polymeric composition of claim 2, wherein said ethylene acrylic acid dispersion comprises ethylene acrylic that melts in the range of from about 65°

C. to about 180°

C.

4. The polymeric composition of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric emulsion comprises an elastomer having a Tg in the range of from −

50°

C. to 25°

C.

5. The polymeric composition of claim 1, wherein said polyurethane dispersion comprises a polyurethane having a Tg in the range of from −

50°

C. to 25°

C.

6. The polymeric composition of claim 2, wherein said ethylene acrylic acid dispersion is present in an amount of from 46 to 90 parts by weight;

said elastomeric emulsion is present in an amount of from 1 to 45 parts by weight;

said polyurethane dispersion is present in an amount of from 1 to 7 parts by weight; and

said polyethylene glycol is present in an amount of from 1 to 8 parts by weight.

7. The polymeric composition of claim 2, wherein said ethylene acrylic acid dispersion is present in an amount of 86 parts by weight;

said elastomeric emulsion is present in an amount of 5 parts by weight;

said polyurethane dispersion is present in an amount of 4 parts by weight; and

said polyethylene glycol is present in an amount of 4 parts by weight.

8. The polymeric composition of claim 2, which further comprises a polyethylene glycol mono ((tetramethyl butyl) phenol) ester compound.

9. The polymeric composition of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric emulsion is selected from the group consisting of polybutadienes, polyurethanes, styrene-butadiene polymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene polymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene polymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers, acrylonitrile-ethylene-styrene polymers, polyacrylates, polychloroprene, ethylene-vinyl acetate polymers, and poly(vinyl chloride).

15. The polymeric composition according to claim 1, wherein said acrylic dispersion is present in an amount of from 46 to 90 weight % based on the total weight of the composition.

16. The polymeric composition according to claim 15, wherein said acrylic dispersion is present in an amount of from 70 to 90 weight % based on the total weight of the composition.

17. The polymeric composition according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric emulsion is present in an amount of from 1 to 45 weight % based on the total weight of the composition.

18. The polymeric composition according to claim 17, wherein said elastomeric emulsion is present in an amount of from 1 to 20 weight % based on the total weight of the composition.

19. The polymeric composition according to claim 1, wherein said water repellant is present in an amount of from 0.5 to 7 weight % based on the total weight of the composition.

20. The polymeric composition according to claim 19, wherein said water repellant is present in an amount of from 3 to 6 weight % based on the total weight of the composition.

21. The polymeric composition according to claim 1, wherein said plasticizer is present in an amount of from 1 to 8 weight % based on the total weight of the composition.

22. The polymeric composition according to claim 21, wherein said plasticizer is present in an amount of from 2 to 7 weight % based on the total weight of the composition.

10. A polymeric composition comprising a film forming binder, an elastomeric emulsion, a water repellant and a plasticizer, wherein said film forming binder is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylates, polyvinyl acetates, co-polymer blends of vinyl acetate and ethylene/acrylic acid co-polymers, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, polyolefins, and natural and synthetic waxes.

11. The polymeric composition according to claim 10, wherein said film forming binder is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyolefin and polyamide.

12. The polymeric composition according to claim 10, wherein said film forming binder is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylates, polyvinyl acetates co-polymer blends of vinyl acetate and ethylene/acrylic acid co-polymers, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, polyolefins, and natural and synthetic waxes.

13. The polymeric composition of claim 12, wherein the natural and synthetic waxes are selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, mineral waxes, montan waxes, petroleum waxes, polyethylene waxes and oxidized polyethylene waxes.

14. A polymeric composition comprising:

a film forming binder, an elastomeric emulsion, a water repellant and a plasticizer, wherein the elastomeric emulsion is selected from the group consisting of polybutadienes, polyurethanes, styrene-butadiene polymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene polymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers, acrylonitrile-ethylene-styrene polymers, polyacrylates, polychloroprene, ethylene-vinyl acetate polymers, and poly(vinyl chloride).