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 invention relates to a composition comprising a polyester copolymer that comprises (a) recurring dibasic acid derived units and polyol derived units, at least 50 mole % of the dibasic acid derived units comprising dicarboxylic acid derived units each containing an alicyclic ring, (b) 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units containing an aromatic ring not immediately adjacent to each hydroxyl group of the corresponding polyol, (c) 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units of the polyester are non-aromatic, and (d) at least 0.1 mole percent, in sum total, of units derived from a multifunctional polyol having more than two hydroxy groups and/or units derived from a polyacid having more than two carboxylic acid groups and derivatives thereof. The invention is also directed to shaped articles, especially extruded films, made from such compositions. Examples of such extruded films are image-receiving layers for use in an image-recording element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image-receiving layer comprising a polyester, or a polyester blend, which exhibits excellent lightfade and high dye transfer efficiency, as well as low materials cost. In particular, the invention relates to an image recording element comprising a support having on one side thereof an image-receiving layer comprising a polyester comprising at least 0.1 mole percent of a multifunctional polyol having more than two hydroxy groups and/or a polyacid having more than two carboxylic acid groups, including derivatives thereof, based on the total acid derived units. The invention is useful, for example, as a dye-receiver element for thermal dye transfer having on one side of the support a dye-image receiving layer. The polyester is especially advantageous for use in dye-receiving layers that are extruded instead of solvent-coated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image recording element comprising a support having on one side thereof an image-receiving layer, wherein the image-receiving layer comprises a polyester comprising (a) recurring dibasic acid derived units and polyol derived units, at least 50 mole % of the dibasic acid derived units comprising dicarboxylic acid derived units each containing an alicyclic ring comprising 4 to 10 ring carbon atoms, which ring is within two carbon atoms of each carboxyl group of the corresponding dicarboxylic acid, (b) 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units containing an aromatic ring not immediately adjacent to each hydroxyl group of the corresponding polyol; and (c) 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units of the polyester contain an alicyclic ring comprising 4 to 10 ring carbon atoms. Image recording elements of the invention are especially useful for thermal dye transfer printing or electrophotographic printing of images with dyes, pigments, or toner materials.

Abstract: A dye-receiver element for thermal dye transfer includes a support having on one side thereof a dye image-receiving layer characterized in that a release agent is present in the dye-image receiving layer which release agent comprises a siloxane-containing polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 150,000 and a viscosity in the range of 10 million mm2/sec to 50 million mm2/second. The invention also relates to a process of making a dye-receiver element for thermal dye transfer from a dye-donor element, said dye-receiver element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer made by a process comprising forming a melt of a thermoplastic material comprising the release agent, extruding or coextruding the melt as a single-layer film or a layer of a composite (multilayer) film; and applying the extruded film or composite film to a support for the dye-receiver element.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making an image-recording element, for example a dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer, that includes a support having on one side thereof a image-receiving layer and, between the image-receiving layer and the support, a tie layer comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) forming a first melt of a polymer for the surface layer and a second melt comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer in a polymeric binder; (b) coextruding the two melts onto a polyolefin support; (c) stretching the coextruded layers to reduce the thickness; and (d) applying the coextruded melts to a support while simultaneously reducing the temperature below the Tg of the composition of the surface layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of making an image-recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer, wherein the process comprises forming a melt of a polyester material, extruding the melt, and applying the extruded melt to the support for the image-receiving element. The polyester material used for the extruded melt comprises a polyester comprising recurring dibasic acid derived units and polyol derived units, at least 50 mole % of the dibasic acid derived units comprising dicarboxylic acid derived units containing an alicyclic ring, and at least 30 mole % of the polyol derived units containing an aromatic ring not immediately adjacent to each hydroxyl group of the corresponding polyol, 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units of the polyester are non-aromatic, and at least 0.

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: Disclosed is a light management film containing a substrate, light shaping elements with a roughness average of at least 3 micrometers, and a layer capable of receiving a colorant density of at least 0.5.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light management film containing a substrate, light shaping elements with a roughness average of at least 3 micrometers, and a layer capable of receiving a colorant density of at least 0.5.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an image-receiving layer comprising a polyester, or a polyester blend, which exhibits excellent lightfade and high dye transfer efficiency, as well as low materials cost. In particular, the invention relates to an image recording element comprising a support having on one side thereof an image-receiving layer comprising a polyester comprising at least 0.1 mole percent of a multifunctional polyol having more than two hydroxy groups and/or a polyacid having more than two carboxylic acid groups, including derivatives thereof, based on the total acid derived units. The invention is useful, for example, as a dye-receiver element for thermal dye transfer having on one side of the support a dye-image receiving layer. The polyester is especially advantageous for use in dye-receiving layers that are extruded instead of solvent-coated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a polyester copolymer that comprises (a) recurring dibasic acid derived units and polyol derived units, at least 50 mole % of the dibasic acid derived units comprising dicarboxylic acid derived units each containing an alicyclic ring, (b) 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units containing an aromatic ring not immediately adjacent to each hydroxyl group of the corresponding polyol, (c) 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units of the polyester are non-aromatic, and (d) at least 0.1 mole percent, in sum total, of units derived from a multifunctional polyol having more than two hydroxy groups and/or units derived from a polyacid having more than two carboxylic acid groups and derivatives thereof. The invention is also directed to shaped articles, especially extruded films, made from such compositions. Examples of such extruded films are image-receiving layers for use in an image-recording element.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making an image-recording element, for example a dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer, that includes a support having on one side thereof a image-receiving layer and, between the image-receiving layer and the support, a tie layer comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) forming a first melt of a polymer for the surface layer and a second melt comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer in a polymeric binder; (b) coextruding the two melts onto a polyolefin support; (c) stretching the coextruded layers to reduce the thickness; (d) applying the coextruded melts to a support while simultaneously reducing the temperature below the Tg of the composition of the surface layer.

Abstract: An image recording element, useful as a receiver for thermal dye transfer or other printing techniques includes a support and, on one side of the support, an image-receiving layer wherein between the image receiving layer and the support is a tie layer comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer and an optional polyolefin-containing binder. In one embodiment, the tie-layer composition exhibits a viscosity that is not more than 10 times or less than {fraction (1/10)} that of the image-receiving layer during coextrusion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of making an image-recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer, wherein the process comprises forming a melt of a polyester material, extruding the melt, and applying the extruded melt to the support for the image-receiving element. The polyester material used for the extruded melt comprises a polyester comprising recurring dibasic acid derived units and polyol derived units, at least 50 mole % of the dibasic acid derived units comprising dicarboxylic acid derived units containing an alicyclic ring, and at least 30 mole % of the polyol derived units containing an aromatic ring not immediately adjacent to each hydroxyl group of the corresponding polyol, 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units of the polyester are non-aromatic, and at least 0.

Abstract: A dye-receiver element for thermal dye transfer includes a support having on one side thereof a dye image-receiving layer characterized in that a release agent is present in the dye-image receiving layer which release agent comprises a siloxane-containing polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 150,000 and a viscosity in the range of 10 million mm2/sec to 50 million mm2/second. The invention also relates to a process of making a dye-receiver element for thermal dye transfer from a dye-donor element, said dye-receiver element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer made by a process comprising forming a melt of a thermoplastic material comprising the release agent, extruding or coextruding the melt as a single-layer film or a layer of a composite (multilayer) film; and applying the extruded film or composite film to a support for the dye-receiver element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image recording element comprising a support having on one side thereof an image-receiving layer, wherein the image-receiving layer comprises a polyester comprising (a) recurring dibasic acid derived units and polyol derived units, at least 50 mole % of the dibasic acid derived units comprising dicarboxylic acid derived units each containing an alicyclic ring comprising 4 to 10 ring carbon atoms, which ring is within two carbon atoms of each carboxyl group of the corresponding dicarboxylic acid, (b) 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units containing an aromatic ring not immediately adjacent to each hydroxyl group of the corresponding polyol; and (c) 25 to 75 mole % of the polyol derived units of the polyester contain an alicyclic ring comprising 4 to 10 ring carbon atoms. Image recording elements of the invention are especially useful for thermal dye transfer printing or electrophotographic printing of images with dyes, pigments, or toner materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising an image layer and a support comprising at least one layer comprising an inorganic particle having an aspect ratio of at least 10 to 1, a lateral dimension of between 0.01 &mgr;m and 5 &mgr;m, and a vertical dimension between 0. 5 nm and 10 nm, and polymeric resin.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising an image layer and a support comprising at least one layer comprising an inorganic particle having an aspect ratio of at least 10 to 1, a lateral dimension of between 0.01 &mgr;m and 5 &mgr;m, and a vertical dimension between 0.5 nm and 10 nm, and polymeric resin.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging support comprising an impermeable bottom layer wherein said bottom layer comprises polyester and a permeable upper layer said upper layer comprising polyester having a dry time of less than 10 seconds.