Abstract: A method for improving the stability of a color print formed by dye-diffusion thermal transfer printing, comprises placing against the print a panel of transfer coat comprising a dye-absorbant binder which is substantially free from any thermally transferable materials, and heating at least those areas of the print to which one or more dyes have been transferred, thereby to cause absorption by said panel of dye molecules at the surface of the print. This may conveniently be carried out as part of the printing operation by using a dyesheet having a transfer coat comprising a plurality of uniform panels containing different colored thermally transferable dyes held in a dye-absorbant binder, and further panels comprising a dye-absorbant binder which is substantially free from any thermally transferable materials.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing sheet comprising a substrate having a coating comprising a mixture of dyes of 20-50% of Formula I and of 80-50% of Formula II. ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-12 -alkyl;x is halogen; andR.sup.2 is aryl or C.sub.1-4 -alkyl unsubstituted or substituted by C.sub.1-4 -alkoxy, C.sub.1-4 -alkoxy-C.sub.1-4 -alkoxy or aryl.

Abstract: A dyesheet for thermal transfer printing comprises a substrate supporting a transfer coat comprising a plurality of uniform panels containing different colored thermally transferable dyes, and a further panel in which instead of a colored dye there is a thermally transferable colorless absorber of ultraviolet radiation. Using such a dyesheet, a layer of UV absorber can be applied very simply as an extension of the printing process, by causing the receiver to pass through the printer once more, in contact with the further panel, essentially as though the UV absorber were merely a further color to be added to the print.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing sheet suitable for use in a thermal transfer printing process, comprising a substrate having a coating comprising a binder and an anthraquinone of the Formula I: ##STR1## or a mixture of an anthraquinone dye of the Formula I and a disazo dye of Formula II:A-N=N-B-N=N-E IIwherein:Z is hydrogen or an optionally substituted aliphatic or an optionally substituted aryl radical;A is the residue of a diazotizable phenylamino or naphthylamine, A-NH.sub.2, carrying no more than one unsaturated electron-withdrawing group;B is an optionally substituted thiophen-2,5-ylene or thiazol-2,5-xylene; andE is the residue of an aromatic coupling component E-X wherein X is an atom or group displaceable by a diazotized aromatic amine.

Abstract: A receiver for dye diffusion thermal transfer printing comprises a substrate supporting a receiver coat comprising a dye-receptive material and a dye permeable release agent, characterized in that the receiver coat also contains dissolved or dispersed therein a Bisphenol A-based unsaturated polyester adhesive, to reduce printing adhesion.

Abstract: For a thermal transfer dyesheet, a protective backcoat is provided by polymerizing acrylic functional groups in a composition comprising: an organic resin comprising at least one polyfunctional material having a plurality of pendant or terminal acrylic groups per molecule available for cross-linking, at least 10% by weight of the polyfunctional material having 4-8 such acrylic groups per molecule; at least one linear organic polymer soluble or partially soluble in the resin, and comprising 1-40% by weight of the resin/polymer mixture; a slip agent selected from derivatives of long chain carboxylic or phosphoric acids, long alkyl chain esters of phosphoric acid, and long alkyl chain acrylates; an antistatic agent soluble in the resin, and a solid particulate antiblocking agent less than 5 .mu.m in diameter.

Abstract: (i) A compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is H, a metal or a group containing a tetravalent N atom;X is ##STR2## R.sup.1 is NO.sub.2, CN or COOY; Y is H, C.sub.1-4 -alkyl, a metal or a group containing a tetravalent N atom;R.sup.2 & R.sup.3 are each independently H or a non-hydrophilic aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group containing up to 30 carbon atoms;R.sup.4 & R.sup.5 are each independently H or a non-hydrophilic aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group containing up to 30 carbon atoms;and R.sup.6 & R.sup.7 are each independently H or a non-hydrophilic group containing up to 4 carbon atoms;or R.sup.4 & R.sup.6 together comprise ring fused to Ring A and R.sup.5 & R.sup.7 are as hereinbefore defined;or R.sup.5 & R.sup.7 together comprise ring fused to Ring A and R.sup.4 & R.sup.6 are as hereinbefore defined;or R.sup.2 & R.sup.4 together with the N atom to which R.sup.2 is attached from a ring fused to Ring A and R.sup.3 & R.sup.5 are as hereinbefore defined;or R.sup.3 & R.sup.

Abstract: An asymmetric membrane formed from a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone has a salt rejection of at least 99%. Alternatively, a membrane has a good salt rejection and an acceptable water flux such that the ratio ##EQU1## has the value of at least 0.7. The membranes can be obtained using barium salts of the sulphonated polyarylethersulphone, with the proportion of barium being controlled to be at least 85%, preferably at least 86%, and not more than 91%, preferably not more than 90% of the barium required to react with the sulphonic acid groups on the sulphonated polymer.

Abstract: A receiver sheet for dye-diffusion thermal transfer printing, comprises a substrate which supports a receiver coat, the receiver coat comprising a dye-receptive material, such as an organic polymer, and a dye-permeable release agent which is a thermoset amino-modified-silicone organic-oligoepoxide resin. The thermoset combination of silicon and organic moieties in the release agent, gives good protection against adhesion between the dyesheet and receiver sheet when they are subjected to short high temperature pulses during printing, while also enabling sharp images of high optical density to be obtained. This balance of properties is best obtained by dispersing the release agent throughout the dye-receptive material, although they can also be applied to the substrate as separate layers.

Abstract: A thermal transfer dyesheet having a printing surface against which a receptor substrate may be held to receive a thermally transferable dye in response to thermal stimuli applied to the dyesheet, the dyesheet comprising a substrate supporting a dyecoat comprising the thermally transferable dye dissolved in or dispersed throughout a polymeric binder, characterized in that the polymeric binder comprises a thermoset silicon composition; a dyecoat composition for the dyesheet, processes for its preparation, and the use of a thermoset silicone composition in the dyecoat.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing sheet comprising a substrate having a coating comprising:(1) an anthraquinone dye of the formula: ##STR1## wherein each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, independently, represents hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 -alkyl and rings A and B are optionally substituted in the free positions by non-ionic groups, and(2) a monoazo dye of the formula: ##STR2## wherein each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, independently, represents C.sub.1-4 -alkyl optionally substituted by halogen, cyano, phenyl, C.sub.1-4 -alkoxy, C.sub.1-4 -alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1-4 -alkylcarbonyloxy, R.sup.6 CONH--, R.sup.6 NHCO-- or R.sup.6 NHCOO-- in which R.sup.6 represents C.sub.1-4 -alkyl or optionally substituted aryl;R.sup.5 represents hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-4 -alkyl, C.sub.1-4 -alkoxy, C.sub.1-4 -alkylthio, beta-cyanoethyl, C.sub.1-4 -alkylcarbonylamino or C.sub.

Abstract: (i) A compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is H, a metal or a group containing a tetravalent N atom;X is S, O, ##STR2## R.sup.1 is NO.sub.2, CN or COOY; Y is H, C.sub.1-4 -alkyl, a metal or a group containing a tetravalent N atom;R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently H or a non-hydrophilic aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group containing up to 30 carbon atoms;R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently H or a non-hydrophilic aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group containing up to 30 carbon atoms; andR.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are each independently H or a non-hydrophilic group containing up to 4 carbon atoms; orR.sup.4 and R.sup.6 together comprise ring fused to Ring A and R.sup.5 and R.sup.7 are as hereinbefore defined; orR.sup.5 and R.sup.7 together comprise ring fused to Ring A and R.sup.4 and R.sup.6 are as hereinbefore defined; orR.sup.2 and R.sup.4 together with the N atom to which R.sup.2 is attached form a ring fused to Ring A and R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 are as hereinbefore defined; orR.sup.3 and R.sup.

Abstract: A thermal transfer dyesheet having a printing surface against which a receptor substrate may be held to receive a thermally transferable dye in response to thermal stimuli applied to the dyesheet, the dyesheet comprising a substrate supporting a dyecoat comprising the thermally transferable dye dispersed throughout a polymeric binder, characterized in that the polymeric binder comprises a thermoset silicone composition as a continuous layer overlying the dyecoat, a process for its preparation, and the use of a thermoset silicone composition as a layer overlying the dyecoat.

Abstract: A process wherein solid particles are coated with either liquids or solids while the particles are moving as a uniform layer over the surface of a rotating body and subsequently discharged from the surface by centrifugal force. Two forms of coating apparatus designed to coat prills are shown, the preferred apparatus having a flexible conical disc carrying a layer of existing material which touches the rim of the rotating body from which the solid is discharged.

Abstract: A process wherein solid particles are coated with either liquids or solids while the particles are moving as a uniform layer over the surface of a rotating body and subsequently discharged from the surface by centrifugal force. Two forms of coating apparatus designed to coat prills are shown, the preferred apparatus having a flexible conical disc carrying a layer of existing material which touches the rim of the rotating body from which the solid is discharged.