Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making a metal pattern with high conductivity comprising providing a patterned substrate comprising a patterned catalyst layer on a base substrate by a thermal imaging method followed by plating to provide the metal pattern. The metal patterns provided are suitable for electrical devices including electromagnetic interference shielding devices and touchpad sensors.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer recording ink sheet, containing a base material sheet and a dye-providing layer formed, wherein at least one kind of yellow dye contained in the dye-providing layer is an arylidenepyrazolone dye represented by formula (1): wherein X represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; Y represents a halogen atom; R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms; R2, R5 and R6 each represent a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom; and R3 and R4 each represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or an allyl group.

Abstract: This invention provides a thermal transfer image receiving sheet that, in forming an image, exhibits good slip properties between thermal transfer image receiving sheets and can particularly completely prevent transfer troubles such as double feed in a thermal transfer printer particularly in a low-temperature environment. The thermal transfer image receiving sheet comprises a receptive layer provided on at least one side of a base material sheet and is characterized in that the receptive layer is formed by coating a coating liquid comprising a binder resin, a release agent, and 0.05 to 5 parts by mass, based on 100 parts by mass of the binder resin, of a lubricant and drying the coating, and the lubricant is a silicone oil, of which one end of its main chain or both ends of the main chain has been modified, having a viscosity of 50 to 500 mm2/s at 25° C.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a two-sided thermal transfer ribbon comprising a substrate having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and respective first and second thermal transfer coatings supported on the respective first and second sides is provided. In further embodiments, the first thermal transfer coating is adapted to transfer to print media when heated to a first temperature, and the second thermal transfer coating is adapted to transfer to print media when heated to a second temperature different from the first temperature.

Abstract: A LTHC layer for use in radiation induced thermal transfer includes a modified pigment.

Abstract: In a method of making an organic electroluminescent device, a transfer layer is solution coated on a donor substrate. The transfer layer includes a polymerizable, amorphous matrix with a light emitting material disposed in the matrix. The transfer layer is then selectively patterned on a receptor. The polymerizable, amorphous matrix is then polymerized. Examples of patterning methods include laser thermal transfer or thermal head transfer. The method and associated materials can be used to form, for example, organic electroluminescent devices.

Abstract: A thermally sensitive recording medium characterized to be superior in writing aptitude, printing aptitude, causes less head debris, possesses good water resistance, causes less sticking and is excellent in preservative stability of developed color in nature environment such as heat, water, humid or light, to sebum when handled with hand, oils, plasticizers and solvents can be obtained by following method, that is, a method for preparation of a thermally sensitive recording medium possessing a coating layer formed by applying a coating (A) containing a binder and a coating (B) containing a crosslinking agent on a thermally sensitive recording layer, which is formed on a substrate, and said thermally sensitive recording layer contains a colorless or pale colored electron donating leuco dye and an electron accepting color developing agent comprising, forming an over coating layer by applying said coating (A) and coating (B) separately in accordance with a curtain coating method, wherein the formation of the ove

Abstract: There are described imaging compositions which include a copper phthalocyanine dye and an aminoanthraquinone dye and thermal imaging members and ink jet inks which utilize the imaging compositions. Thermal imaging methods utilizing the thermal imaging members and ink jet imaging methods utilizing the ink jet inks are also described.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording ink sheet comprising a substrate sheet and a color-carrying layer, wherein the dye-carrying layer comprises an anthraquinone dye of the following formula (1) to (4) and an azo dye of the following formula (5): wherein R1—R3, R5, R7, R8 represents alkyl etc. R4 represents cyano etc., R6 represents tert-butyl etc., Y is —S— etc.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ink sheet comprising, as formed on a support, a dye layer containing a thermal transferable dye in a resin binder, wherein the dye layer contains a polyvinyl acetal modified with at least one compound of the following formula [1]: wherein R1 is a substituted linear alkyl group, a substituted branched alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic group, and R2 is a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted linear alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted branched alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted cyclic group.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ink sheet comprising, as formed on a support, a dye layer containing a thermal transferable dye in a resin binder, wherein the dye layer contains a polyvinyl acetal modified with at least one compound of the following formula [1]: wherein one of R1 and R2 is a branched hydrocarbon group and the other is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group, or R1 and R2 are groups that bond to each other to form a cyclic hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A glass or ceramic dishware item having a contoured surface with an image disposed thereon is provided. The image is transferred to the contoured surface from a layered ink composite. The layered ink composite is created by depositing a first layer of thermoplastic ink onto a silicone substrate. A ceramic toner configured as an image is electrographically deposited onto the first layer of thermoplastic ink. A second layer of thermoplastic ink is then deposited onto the ceramic toner. The image is transferred, at ambient temperature, from the layered ink composite to the contoured surface of the dishware item by moving the second layer of thermoplastic ink and the contoured surface into contact. The dishware item is then fired.

Abstract: A laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) donor film having a substrate, a light-to-heat conversion layer overlaying the substrate, and a transfer layer overlaying the light-to-heat conversion layer. A surface of the transfer layer includes microstructured or nanostructured features, in a continuous or discontinuous pattern, embossed or otherwise imparted in the transfer layer. The features provide break points to assist in release and transfer of portions of the transfer layer to a permanent receptor in a pattern defined by the features.

Abstract: To provide a coating material capable of making a coating surface smoother, improving glossiness and being suitably used especially as a thermosensitive recording material, and a method for producing the same. As a means for realizing the foregoing, there is a coating material produced by a multilayer simultaneous coating process, including: an outermost coating surface having moisture evaporation pores, wherein the moisture evaporation pores are 1.5 ?m or less in average diameter. And there is a method for producing the coating material, including: simultaneously depositing two or more types of coating solutions over a continuously running web, and drying the coating solutions, wherein a coating solution which constitutes a coating other than an outermost coating surface is formed of a dispersion solution, and dispersed particles contained in the dispersion solution are 1 ?m or less in average diameter.

Abstract: A transfer member includes a substrate sheet, a mold release layer of a belt-shaped pattern laminated on the substrate sheet, an ionizing radiation curing layer laminated all over a surface on mold release layer, a patterned layer laminated all over a surface or partially on the ionizing radiation curing layer, and an adhesive layer laminated on the patterned layer only partially in a portion where the adhesive layer overlaps with the mold release layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protective heat transferable overcoat element comprising a support having thereon a protective polymer layer of at least one benzoated phenoxy resin of Formula I. The present invention also relates to a thermal transfer dye donor element comprising a support having on one side thereof at least one dye layer and a protective polymer layer of at least one benzoated phenoxy resin of Formula I and a thermal transfer assemblage comprising at least one thermal transfer donor element comprising a support having on one side thereof a protective polymer layer of at least one benzoated phenoxy resin of Formula I. Finally, the present invention relates to a protected image reproduction comprising a support, an imaging layer containing an image, and a transferred protective heat transferable overcoat comprising a protective polymer layer of at least one benzoated phenoxy resin of Formula I.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of transfer printing on substrates that comprises the steps of printing a UV-curing substance onto a polymeric release layer of a transfer material at regions not intended for transfer to the substrate. This release layer has at least one image which is printed from conventional inks, or it is a colored film. The method further comprises at least partial transfer of the image or the colored film or a combination of the aforementioned to the substrate under the action of heat and pressure, and removal of the transfer material from the substrate. The regions of the polymeric release layer coated with the UV-curing substance are detached from the substrate, and the image-bearing regions of the polymeric release layer or the colored film regions, or the combination thereof, remain joined to the substrate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the production of a region-wise metallization on a carrier substrate, wherein the carrier substrate is at least region-wise provided with a soluble colored first layer which on its side remote from the carrier substrate is provided over its full area with a metal layer, as well as a transfer film with a region-wise metalization and the use thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal transfer sheet that can meet demands for increased printing speed in thermal transfer, higher density of thermally transferred images, and higher quality. The thermal transfer sheet comprises a substrate and an adhesive layer and a dye layer provided in that order on one side of the substrate, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a polyvinylpyrrolidone resin and a composition for suppressing hygroscopic properties of the polyvinylpyrrolidone resin.

Abstract: A thermal donor element having a dye layer on an extruded substrate, wherein the extruded substrate includes a polyester-containing material and a slip agent, but does not contain silica particles, is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal donor comprising a dye mixture and a urea light-stabilizing compound, wherein the light-stabilizing compound is represented by structure I: wherein: R1, R2 and R3 represent a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, alkenyl group, aralkyl group, aryl group or heterocyclic group, provided that at least one of R1, R2, and/or R3 is a hydrogen atom; R4-R8 represent a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, alkenyl group, aralkyl group, aryl group, heterocyclic group, aryloxy group, or alkoxy group; and R3 forms a heterocyclic ring with either R4 or R8, and an imaging system comprising a donor sheet having a layer containing a dye and an image receiving sheet having a dye receiving layer, wherein either the donor sheet or the image receiving sheet comprises a dye mixture and a urea light-stabilizing compound of structure I.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an image-recording material that may prevent a flocculation of a coating liquid for image-recording layer that contains a water-dispersible emulsion and a water-soluble polymer compound, and that may exhibit an enhanced stability, present an improved film-forming performance, and provide superior surface conditions. In order to achieve the object, an image-recording material according to the present invention is provided, in which the image-recording material comprises a support and at least one image-recording layer on the support, wherein the image-recording layer is formed from a water-dispersible emulsion of which volume-average particle size is 55 nm or more and a water-soluble polymer compound of which weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is 400,000 or less. Preferably, the water-dispersible emulsion is a polyester emulsion. Preferably, the water-soluble polymer compound is polyethyleneoxide.

Abstract: A coating composition for producing a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet comprising at least one receiving layer on a support, wherein the coating composition contains a polymer latex containing a repeating unit derived from a monomer represented by the following formula: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom or methyl group; L1 represents a divalent connecting group; and Z represents a C8-C50 straight-chain, branched or cyclic hydrocarbon group.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet comprising at least one receiving layer containing a polymer latex and at least one heat insulating layer containing a hollow polymer on a support, wherein the polymer latex contained in the receiving layer comprises a copolymer containing a repeating unit derived from an acrylic or methacrylic acid ester and the acrylic or methacrylic acid ester has an alcohol moiety having 8 or more carbon atoms.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet comprising at least one receiving layer containing a polymer latex and at least one heat insulating layer containing a hollow polymer on a support, wherein the polymer latex contained in the receiving layer comprises two or more dyable polymers having different glass transition temperatures.

Abstract: Processes for effecting thermal transfer of electroactive organic material are disclosed wherein unwanted portions of a layer of electroactive organic material supported by a donor element are removed or transferred from the layer by thermal transfer, particularly laser-induced thermal transfer, leaving a desired pattern of the electroactive organic material on the donor element. The electroactive organic material may be an organic material exhibiting electroluminescence, charge transport, charge injection, electrical conductivity, semiconductivity and/or exciton blocking. The layer of electroactive organic material may comprise more than one layer of different types of electroactive organic material. The exposure pattern is a negative image of the desired pattern. The electroactive organic material of the desired pattern is not, therefore, exposed to the heat which can cause decomposition.

Abstract: To provide a protective-layer thermal transferring film that can provide a protective layer having a superior sorting property. A protective-layer thermal transferring film which has a protective layer that comprises at least a peeling layer and a heat seal layer on at least one portion of one face of a substrate film, and can be thermally transferred, and when the protective layer is thermally transferred on an image-receiving member, the image-receiving member is allowed to have a surface coefficient of friction of 0.4 or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a receptor element for use in thermal transfer imaging. The receptor element includes a coating having a polymeric binder and a biguanide bleaching agent. The biguanide bleaching agent is capable of bleaching an infrared-absorbing dye when the biguanide bleaching agent and the infrared-absorbing dye are in contact. A particularly suitable biguanide bleaching agent is 1-(o-tolyl)biguanide. The invention also provides compositions and methods for manufacturing a receptor element. Also provided by the invention is an imaging system for thermal transfer imaging. The imaging system includes a color-bearing element and a bleaching element, wherein the bleaching element includes a coating having a polymeric binder and a biguanide bleaching agent. The invention further provides methods useful in the production of integral proofs.

Abstract: A magenta dye combination having improved lightfastness and keeping properties is described, wherein the magenta dye combination can be used in thermal printing.

Abstract: Methods of forming a dye donor layer of a dye-donor element for a thermal dye transfer system are described. The methods include coating colored particles in a compressed carrier fluid on the substrate of the dye-donor element.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording medium is provided wherein the thermal transfer recording medium has a substrate; a separation layer on the substrate, wherein the separation layer contains a resin and a wax; and an ink layer on the separation layer, wherein the ink layer contains a colorant and a metal salt of an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, and, optionally, one or more diols or diol derivatives containing an acetylene group, a thermal transfer recording method using the medium, and a recorded medium and recorded label prepared therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protective transparent overcoat comprising a protective polymer and a surfactant compound having multiple non-end-group hydrogen bonding groups directly or indirectly bonded to the backbone chain of the surfactant compound. The coating enables simplified manufacturing of a thermal sublimation dye transfer donor of high quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides a security element which is low in cost, is difficult to forge or alter, and can be applied to objects where a high level of security is required. The security element comprises at least a substrate and a fluorescent colorant layer provided on the substrate, wherein the fluorescent colorant layer comprises N species of fluorescent colorants Fn, wherein N is an integer of 2 or more and n is an integer of not less than one and not more than N, in the same layer, and the fluorescent colorant Fn absorbs light with a wavelength of ?n and emits fluorescence with a wavelength of ?n+1.

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.

Abstract: Thermal transfer ribbons which employ a reflective sensor marker of a small size for detecting the end of the ribbon and also thermal transfer ribbons which employ a reflective sensor marker and a transparent sensor marker for detecting the end of the ribbon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a donor for thermal imaging including a base and dye layer, wherein said dye layer includes yellow dye and binder in a ratio of about 0.63, and said base has a thickness of between 4 to 4.75 micrometers.

Abstract: The invention relates to consumer product packages having impact promotional items printed directly on the package and methods for manufacturing such product packages. An image constituting the impact promotional item is printed using blended printing inks and sublimation dyes onto a paperboard blank, which is folded to form a product package. The printed image has a visual appearance substantially unchanged from a conventional printed image. The sublimation dyes present in the printed image supply a transferrable image component that, following transfer to a substrate such as a fabric article, accurately reproduces the printed image viewed by the consumer on the product package. Printing ink and sublimation dye blends for printing the image are also disclosed, as are methods for transferring the transferrable image component to an article, such as a fabric article or textile.

Abstract: A multicolor image forming material comprising: an image receiving sheet comprising an image receiving layer; and at least five heat transfer sheets different in color each comprising a substrate, a light-heat conversion layer and an image forming layer, each of the heat transfer sheets being adapted to be superposed on the image receiving sheet with the image forming layer facing the image receiving layer and irradiated with laser light to transfer the irradiated area of the image forming layer to the image receiving layer to record an image on the image receiving sheet, wherein the area of the recording has a size of 515 mm by 728 mm or larger, and at least one of the heat transfer sheets comprises titanium oxide as a colorant in the image forming layer thereof.

Abstract: A heat activatable printable material for the ink-jet printing process comprising a support and a heat-activatable polymer layer. The polymers of the polymer layer is a mixture of nonionic water soluble polyethylene oxide polymers with the general formula H—[—O—CH2—CH2—]nOH, and an aliphatic polyester type polyurethane resin. The polymer layer is ink-jet printed and heat activated to adhere to a substrate with the support remaining on the polymer layer after adhesion of the polymer layer to the substrate.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ink is provided, which includes: at least one dye (a); at least one dye selected from the group including dye (b), dye (c) and a mixture thereof; and a medium; wherein (a) is a dye having a pyrazolone methine skeleton, (b) is a dye having a quinophthalone skeleton, and (c) is a dye having an aminopyrazole azo skeleton.

Abstract: The present invention provides a selectively thermally transferable blend capable of forming the emissive layer of an organic electroluminescent device. The blend includes a light emitting polymer and an additive selected to promote selective thermal transfer of the blend from a donor element to a proximately located receptor substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat transferable protective overcoat comprising a hydroxyphenyl triazine compound in a polymeric binder. Such an overcoat provides UV protection without degrading sunlight protection.

Abstract: In one method of making an organic electroluminescent device, a transfer layer is solution coated on a donor substrate. The transfer layer includes an amorphous, non-polymeric, organic matrix with a light emitting material disposed in the matrix. The transfer layer is then selectively patterned on a receptor. Examples of patterning methods include laser thermal transfer or thermal head transfer. The method and associated materials can be used to form, for example, organic electroluminescent devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging element comprising a bichromophoric molecule comprising a first chromophore that exhibits a first absorption maximum above 700 nm and a second chromophore that exhibits a second absorption maximum different from the first absorption maximum, wherein the absorption of the first and second chromophores are substantially independent of each other, and a process for imaging using such a donor element. Elements of the invention eliminate unwanted absorptions in the final image.

Abstract: Processes for making a pragmatic label, a receiver sheet for making such a pragmatic label, and intermediates thereof are described. The receiver sheet comprises a pragmatic pre-label sheet, a lower strippable carrier, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer between said lower strippable carrier and the pragmatic pre-label sheet. The pragmatic pre-label sheet is made by coextruding a first melt for a polymeric image-receiving layer with one or more other melts for forming a single-layer or multiple-layer pragmatic polymer sheet, wherein said other melts includes a second melt comprising an orientable thermoplastic polymeric material for forming a microvoided layer, said coextruded melts forming a multilayer composite film that is subsequently subjected to stretching. The pragmatic labels and receiver sheets of the present invention can advantageously be made without the use of solvent coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging element having long term stability comprising at least one imaging layer and a support, wherein the support comprises at least one layer comprising polylactic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plate material made only of thermoplastic resin film by use of a polyester film so that an ink-penetrating opening can be thermally perforated without increasing the output of a thermal head. The film is a heat sensitive stencil plate material 12 for stencil printing having a predetermined thickness, and is composed of an extended PET film or a extended low melting temperature film produced by copolymerizing PET and PBT. Many minute recesses 14 are formed on one side of the film by templating. The templating can be carried out at a working pressure of 104×102(m-t)/(m-g) Pa or more, when the working temperature is t° C.; the melting point of the film is m(° C.) and the glass transition point of the film is g(° C.).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer recording medium, that can yield thermally transferred images which are excellent in various fastness properties even under severe service conditions, can transfer a protective layer on an image with good accuracy in a simple manner, and can provide an object with an image formed thereon which is highly difficult to be altered or forged, a process for producing the same, and a method for image formation. The intermediate transfer recording medium comprises: a sheet substrate provided with a resin layer; and a transparent sheet provided with a receptive layer, said transparent sheet provided with the receptive layer having been stacked on the sheet substrate provided with the resin layer, the transparent sheet portion including the receptive layer having been half cut, a hologram formation layer being stacked on the transparent sheet, the resin layer being separable from the transparent sheet.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in a thermosensitive transfer film F in which at least a fluorescent substance layer 3 and an adhesive agent layer 4 are deposited onto a base film 1, this adhesive agent layer 4 is produced by mixing at least a pigment corresponding to a color of the fluorescent substance layer 3, a thermosensitive agent and a photosensitizer. Also, a display device manufacturing method comprises the steps of forming patterning by exposure and development and using the adhesive agent layer 4 as a color filter layer after the fluorescent substance layer 3 and the adhesive layer 4 have been transferred onto the inner surface of the display panel from this thermosensitive transfer film F. Thus, in the thermosensitive transfer film in which layers are formed by the transfer process, work efficiency of the transfer process can be improved, and the sharp pattern can be formed.

Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet is provided that can yield thermally transferred images, which possess excellent various fastness or resistance properties even under severe service conditions, and comprises a transferable protective layer having good transferability. In a thermal transfer sheet comprising a substrate sheet and a thermally transferable protective layer on the substrate sheet, the thermally transferable protective layer comprises a scratch-resistant layer which is repeatedly provided one by one for each picture plane unit in the thermal transfer sheet. An area of the scratch-resistant layer for each picture plane unit is smaller than an area of an object in its transfer surface. By virtue of this construction, at the time of the transfer of a protective layer onto an object, layer cutting does not occur within the scratch-resistant layer but within other layer (such as peel layer or adhesive layer), and, consequently, the protective layer can be transferred with good transferability.