Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet which can prevent a kick and a scumming, and can form a photographic tone color image of high quality with a continuous tone image by sublimation transfer; a coating liquid for colorant layer to be used for forming the colorant layer of this thermal transfer sheet; a method for manufacturing this thermal transfer sheet; and image forming method employing this thermal transfer sheet. The problem is solved by a thermal transfer sheet (1) in which at least a colorant layer (3) is layered on a substrate sheet (2), wherein the colorant layer (3) contains a predetermined solvent, a colorant (10x) dispersible in the predetermined solvent, a dispersant, and a binder resin, and the dispersant being one or more selected from the group consisting of polyether-based dispersants, graft type polymer dispersants, acryl-based block type polymer dispersants, urethane-based polymer dispersants and azo-based dispersants.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet which can prevent a kick and a scumming, and can form a photographic tone color image of high quality with a continuous tone image by sublimation transfer, while expanding the range of choices for colorants to be included in a colorant layer; a coating liquid for colorant layer to be used for forming the colorant layer of this thermal transfer sheet; a method for manufacturing this thermal transfer sheet; and image forming method employing this thermal transfer sheet.

Abstract: Provided is a support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, capable of obtaining a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that has favorable stability against curl and is excellent in the texture of a print surface in the case of print under the environmental conditions of high temperature and high humidity. A support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to the present invention includes a porous layer composed of a porous film, a first polyolefin resin layer, a substrate layer, and a second polyolefin resin layer that are layered in the order mentioned, in which the first polyolefin resin layer has a density of 0.93 g/cm3 or less; and the second polyolefin resin layer has a density of more than 0.93 g/cm3.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet which can prevent a kick and a scumming, and can form a photographic tone color image of high quality with a continuous tone image by sublimation transfer, while expanding the range of choices for colorants to be included in a colorant layer; a coating liquid for colorant layer to be used for forming the colorant layer of this thermal transfer sheet; a method for manufacturing this thermal transfer sheet; and image forming method employing this thermal transfer sheet.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet which can prevent a kick and a scumming, and can form a photographic tone color image of high quality with a continuous tone image by sublimation transfer, while expanding the range of choices for colorants to be included in a colorant layer; a coating liquid for colorant layer to be used for forming the colorant layer of this thermal transfer sheet; a method for manufacturing this thermal transfer sheet; and image forming method employing this thermal transfer sheet.

Abstract: Provided is a support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, capable of obtaining a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that has favorable stability against curl and is excellent in the texture of a print surface in the case of print under the environmental conditions of high temperature and high humidity. A support for a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to the present invention includes a porous layer composed of a porous film, a first polyolefin resin layer, a substrate layer, and a second polyolefin resin layer that are layered in the order mentioned, in which the first polyolefin resin layer has a density of 0.93 g/cm3 or less; and the second polyolefin resin layer has a density of more than 0.93 g/cm3.

Abstract: The purpose is to provide a protective layer transfer sheet and an intermediate transfer medium, in which a transfer layer has excellent foil tearing property during transfer and in which sufficient durability can be imparted to the thermally transferred image. The above problem is solved by a protective layer transfer sheet (100) in which a transfer layer (20) is provided on one surface of a substrate (1) so as to be peelable from the substrate (1), wherein the transfer layer (20) comprises a peeling layer (2) and a protective layer (3) which are layered in this order from the substrate; wherein the protective layer (3) includes an acrylic polyol resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of more than 80° C. or a polyester polyurethane resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not less than 50° C.; and wherein the peeling layer includes at least one selected from a group consisting of polyester resins, acrylic urethane resins, and epoxy resins.

Abstract: Provided is an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer medium includes a substrate, a protective layer and a receiving layer. The protective layer includes two or more binder resin varieties and a filler. A mixed binder resin which includes the two or more binder resin types has a storage elastic modulus G??1.0×105 Pa and ?1.0×109 Pa at 70° C.-90° C., and the storage elastic modulus G? of more than 1.0×109 Pa at 35° C. The mixed binder resin includes a binder resin having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of not less than 8,000 and not more than 30,000, and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not less than 36° C. and not more than 60° C.; The filler has a particle diameter of not less than 1 nm and not more than 200 nm.

Abstract: The purpose is to provide a protective layer transfer sheet and an intermediate transfer medium, in which the protective layer has excellent foil tearing property during transfer and in which sufficient durability can be imparted to the thermally transferred image. The above problem is solved by a protective layer transfer sheet in which a transferable protective layer (20) is provided on one surface of a substrate (1) so as to be peelable from the substrate (1), wherein the transferable protective layer (20) has a layered structure in which a first protective layer (3A), and a second protective layer (3B) which is in contact directly with the first protective layer (3A), are provided in this order from the substrate (1); the first protective layer contains an epoxy-cured resin in which a reactive resin having a functional group capable of reacting with an epoxy group and having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not less than 60° C.

Abstract: Disclosed are an intermediate transfer medium excelling in peel-off property on removing a transfer layer which include a protective layer with the aid of a peel-off layer of a thermal transfer sheet, and imparting a high durability to a print which is formed by transferring the transfer layer to a transfer receiving article, and retransferring the transfer layer onto the transfer receiving article easily, and a combination of the intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet. The intermediate transfer medium includes a substrate sheet, a protective layer and a receiving layer which are layered on a surface of the substrate sheet. The protective layer includes two or more binder resins with mutually different number average molecular weights. A sum total of products, each calculated by multiplying the number average molecular weight of individual binder resin and its content ratio in the blend together, is ?3000 and ?17000.

Abstract: The purpose is to provide a protective layer transfer sheet and an intermediate transfer medium, in which the protective layer has excellent foil tearing property during transfer and in which sufficient durability can be imparted to the thermally transferred image. The above problem is solved by a protective layer transfer sheet in which a transferable protective layer (20) is provided on one surface of a substrate (1) so as to be peelable from the substrate (1), wherein the transferable protective layer (20) has a layered structure in which a first protective layer (3A), and a second protective layer (3B) which is in contact directly with the first protective layer (3A), are provided in this order from the substrate (1); the first protective layer contains an epoxy-cured resin in which a reactive resin having a functional group capable of reacting with an epoxy group and having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not less than 60° C.

Abstract: The purpose is to provide a protective layer transfer sheet and an intermediate transfer medium, in which a transfer layer has excellent foil tearing property during transfer and in which sufficient durability can be imparted to the thermally transferred image. The above problem is solved by a protective layer transfer sheet (100) in which a transfer layer (20) is provided on one surface of a substrate (1) so as to be peelable from the substrate (1), wherein the transfer layer (20) comprises a peeling layer (2) and a protective layer (3) which are layered in this order from the substrate; wherein the protective layer (3) includes an acrylic polyol resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of more than 80° C. or a polyester polyurethane resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not less than 50° C.; and wherein the peeling layer includes at least one selected from a group consisting of polyester resins, acrylic urethane resins, and epoxy resins.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal transfer sheet capable of repressing residue that accumulates before insertion of a heating element of the thermal head. In the thermal transfer sheet, a heat-resistant lubricating layer is formed on a surface of the substrate, wherein the heat-resistant lubricating layer includes one or more of layers which include a back face layer, the back face layer is arranged at a position farthest from the substrate, at least one layer which composes the heat-resistant lubricating layer includes a binder resin and organic minute particles which each has a polygonal shape, and a portion of surfaces of the organic minute particles protrude from a surface of the back layer.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a thermal transfer sheet which can prevent a kick and a scumming, and can form a photographic tone color image of high quality with a continuous tone image by sublimation transfer, while expanding the range of choices for colorants to be included in a colorant layer; a coating liquid for colorant layer to be used for forming the colorant layer of this thermal transfer sheet; a method for manufacturing this thermal transfer sheet; and image forming method employing this thermal transfer sheet.

Abstract: Provided is an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer medium includes a substrate, a protective layer and a receiving layer. The protective layer includes two or more binder resin varieties and a filler. A mixed binder resin which includes the two or more binder resin types has a storage elastic modulus G??1.0×105 Pa and ?1.0×109 Pa at 70° C.-90° C., and the storage elastic modulus G? of more than 1.0×109 Pa at 35° C. The mixed binder resin includes a binder resin having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of not less than 8,000 and not more than 30,000, and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not less than 36° C. and not more than 60° C.; The filler has a particle diameter of not less than 1 nm and not more than 200 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed are an intermediate transfer medium excelling in peel-off property on removing a transfer layer which include a protective layer with the aid of a peel-off layer of a thermal transfer sheet, and imparting a high durability to a print which is formed by transferring the transfer layer to a transfer receiving article, and retransferring the transfer layer onto the transfer receiving article easily, and a combination of the intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet. The intermediate transfer medium includes a substrate sheet, a protective layer and a receiving layer which are layered on a surface of the substrate sheet. The protective layer includes two or more binder resins with mutually different number average molecular weights. A sum total of products, each calculated by multiplying the number average molecular weight of individual binder resin and its content ratio in the blend together, is ?3000 and ?17000.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal transfer sheet capable of repressing residue that accumulates before insertion of a heating element of the thermal head. In the thermal transfer sheet, a heat-resistant lubricating layer is formed on a surface of the substrate, wherein the heat-resistant lubricating layer includes one or more of layers which include a back face layer, the back face layer is arranged at a position farthest from the substrate, at least one layer which composes the heat-resistant lubricating layer includes a binder resin and organic minute particles which each has a polygonal shape, and a portion of surfaces of the organic minute particles protrude from a surface of the back layer.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal transfer sheet that, by virtue of flexibility and heat resistance imparted by a primer layer constituting the thermal transfer sheet, is less likely to be broken even upon exposure to a high level of thermal energy and is highly suitable for high-speed printing. The thermal transfer sheet has a thermally transferable colorant layer provided on one surface of a base material sheet, and a heat-resistant slipping layer provided on the other surface of the base material sheet through a primer layer. The primer layer contains at least a polyvinyl alcohol resin and a crosslinking agent.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal transfer sheet that, by virtue of flexibility and heat resistance imparted by a primer layer constituting the thermal transfer sheet, is less likely to be broken even upon exposure to a high level of thermal energy and is highly suitable for high-speed printing. The thermal transfer sheet has a thermally transferable colorant layer provided on one surface of a base material sheet, and a heat-resistant slipping layer provided on the other surface of the base material sheet through a primer layer. The primer layer contains at least a polyvinyl alcohol resin and a crosslinking agent.