JPH10166746A - Thermal transfer sheet and printed matter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a printed matter as an illumination indicator having the good durability of an illumination indicator, an image quality with an excellent continuous gradation, and further having an appropriate light diffusivity and light permeability, and being fine in image appearances, and provide a thermal transfer sheet used in obtaining the printed matter, and further provide a recording method of obtaining the printed matter. In response to a desire of requiring the use of an illumination indicator recorded with characters or images of a variety of information. SOLUTION: The thermal transfer sheet has a white transfer layer capable of being transferred to an image receiving sheet in at least one region of the foundation sheet 3, and the white transfer sheet includes a multilayer structure consisting of a separation layer 4 and white ink layer 5 and, besides, its side having the separation layer 4 situated contacts the foundation sheet 3, and the white ink layer 5 contains at least one component selected from a group of a white pigment and filling agent, following which the separation layer 4 is broken near the middle portion in the thickness direction to separate from the foundation sheet 3 through cohesive failure, and the separation layer 4 transferred has an uneven surface in its exposed surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for forming an image by a thermal transfer method using a sublimable dye, and more particularly, to a printed material used as a display for electric decoration and a printed material used for the display. The present invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet used for obtaining the recording material and a recording method for obtaining a printed material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, characters and images are formed on a plastic film or the like by offset printing or gravure printing on a plastic film or the like, as a material used as an illuminated display. In such a case, a white ink is printed in a solid pattern on the printing portion to create a display for illumination. The characters and images formed in this case have unity information for each print lot. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing demand for recording characters and images of different information one by one for personal use and the like, and in response to this, a hydrophobic substance such as a plastic film is used to increase the absorbability of the aqueous ink. For this purpose, a receiving layer is provided with a filler and a highly absorbent resin, and an image is formed on the receiving layer by an ink jet method to produce a display for illumination. The characters and images formed in this case are, of course, variable information and meet the above demands. In order to appreciate the illuminated display, an illuminated device having a light diffusion layer that irradiates the illuminated display with light and diffuses light appropriately is required. In addition, a light diffusion layer is added to the display for illumination, and the appearance of the recorded image is further improved in combination with appropriate light transmittance.

In such a background, various recording methods are known as methods for recording the above-mentioned desired variable information other than the ink-jet method. A so-called sublimation thermal transfer system using a sublimable dye has attracted attention as a device that provides a full-color image comparable to a color photograph. The thermal transfer sheet used in the above-described sublimation thermal transfer system is formed by forming a dye layer comprising a sublimable dye and a binder on one surface of a base sheet such as a polyester film, and preventing adhesion to a thermal head. A sheet provided with a heat-resistant layer on the other side of a material sheet is generally used. By superposing the dye surface of such a thermal transfer sheet on an image receiving sheet having a receptor layer made of a polyester resin or the like, and heating the thermal transfer sheet in an image form with a thermal head from the heat-resistant layer side,
The dye in the dye layer is transferred to the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet, and a desired image is formed.

In such a sublimation thermal transfer system, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-77832 discloses an image-receiving transfer resin layer having a dye-receiving property, a dye-containing thermal transfer layer, and a thermal transfer layer. A thermal transfer sheet provided with a concealed white transfer layer for covering a transferred image is disclosed. Using this thermal transfer sheet, the image-receiving transfer resin layer is transferred onto the transparent support as needed, a transfer image is formed by the thermal transfer layer, and the concealed white transfer layer is further transferred so as to cover the image. A printed matter is obtained. However, in the above printed matter, the role of the white transfer layer is to reflect the light incident from the transparent support side on the white transfer layer and to increase the density of the image when the transferred image is observed from the transparent support side. However, the display of the illuminated display does not have the appropriate light transmittance and light diffusion, and the image is viewed as a reflection image.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As a display for illuminations,
What is created by offset printing or the like on a printing plate that has been created in advance is characters and images of unity in print lot units. There is a problem that it is not possible to fulfill the request to use. In order to respond to a demand for using an illuminated display body that records different information, an image is formed by an inkjet method to create an illuminated display body. However, there is a problem that the printed matter has poor durability such as water resistance and abrasion resistance, and does not have an excellent continuous tone property such as a color photograph in image quality.

The object of the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has been developed in response to a demand for using an illuminated display body in which characters and images of different information are recorded for personal use. It has excellent durability such as water resistance and abrasion resistance of decorative display body, has image quality with excellent continuous gradation like color photography, and has moderate light diffusion and light transmittance. An object of the present invention is to provide a printed matter as a display for illuminations having a good appearance, a thermal transfer sheet used for obtaining the printed matter, and a recording method for obtaining the printed matter.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, first, at least one area of a base sheet is provided with a white transfer layer which can be transferred to an image receiving sheet. A heat transfer sheet, wherein the white transfer layer has a multilayer structure including a release layer and a white ink layer, and the side where the release layer is located is in contact with the base sheet, and the white ink layer is white Containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of pigments and fillers, the release layer, at the time of thermal transfer, split near the middle of the thickness direction, peeled cohesive failure from the substrate sheet, and, The exposed surface of the transferred peeling layer has an uneven shape. This thermal transfer sheet may be an integrated thermal transfer sheet in which a dye layer and a white transfer layer are provided on the same plane of the base sheet in a plane-sequential manner, or the base sheet has only a white transfer layer. ,
A separate type having a dye layer on another base sheet may be used. The latter is a thermal transfer sheet with a white transfer layer,
It is necessary to use a combination with another substrate sheet having a dye layer, but the former need not be used.

In the thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention, an adhesive layer may be further laminated on the white ink layer of the white transfer layer, and the white transfer layer may have abrasion resistance, plasticizer resistance, etc. May be provided between the release layer and the white ink layer, or both may be used in combination. In the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention, the white transfer layer has a total light transmittance of 30 to 95% and a haze of 30 to 95%.
Preferably, the release layer contains at least 95%, and the release layer contains at least a binder resin having a glass transition temperature or a softening point of 100 ° C. or more and a release material of 200% by weight or less of the binder resin. Is preferred.

In the present invention, secondly, a printed matter produced by subjecting an image receiving sheet to thermal transfer and formed by transferring a dye from a dye layer of a thermal transfer sheet to a base material or a receiving layer of the image receiving sheet. And a white ink layer provided on the image forming section, and containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of a white pigment and a filler, provided on the white ink layer. And an exposed surface thereof is composed of a release layer having an uneven shape. Further, the printed matter of the present invention may have an adhesive layer between the image forming portion and the white ink layer, or may have a protective layer between the white ink layer and the release layer, You may use these both together.

Further, in the present invention, thirdly, there is provided a recording method for producing a printed matter by performing thermal transfer on an image receiving sheet, wherein a dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet is provided on a base material or a receiving layer of the image receiving sheet. To form an image, at least from the substrate sheet side, a white transfer layer obtained by laminating a release layer and a white ink layer in this order, when thermally transferring the release layer on the image forming portion, the release layer By splitting near the middle in the thickness direction and causing cohesive failure from the substrate sheet and peeling,
The exposed surface of the transferred release layer is formed in an uneven shape.

[0011]

When producing a printed matter using the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention, first, the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention and an image receiving sheet to be converted into a printed matter are prepared, and if necessary, a dye layer is formed. Prepare another provided thermal transfer sheet. next,
The dye is transferred from the dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention or another thermal transfer sheet provided with the dye layer to the base material or the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet by heating to form an image. Then, when the white transfer layer is heated and transferred from the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention onto the image forming portion of the image receiving sheet, the printed matter of the present invention is obtained. In this transfer process, the peeling layer causes so-called cohesive failure and peels off from the base sheet of the thermal transfer sheet. Here, the cohesive failure means that when the release layer is transferred, the release layer is split in the horizontal direction near the middle in the thickness direction and is separated from the base sheet of the thermal transfer sheet. For this reason, the exposed surface of the release layer located on the outermost surface of the obtained printed matter has an uneven shape and lacks smoothness.

The uneven shape on the surface of the release layer functions to improve the appearance of the display for illumination. In the printed matter obtained by the above process, a white ink layer is laminated directly or via an adhesive layer on the image forming portion formed on the base material or the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet, and the white ink layer On top of this, a release layer is laminated directly or via a protective layer. The white ink layer in the printed matter contains at least one component selected from the group consisting of a white pigment and a filler, and as shown in FIG. The light from the light source is appropriately transmitted and diffused at the same time, thereby improving the appearance of the display for illumination. However, if the light transmittance of the white ink layer is increased in an attempt to brighten the display, the light diffusion of the white ink layer is reduced, and the uniformity of the display is deteriorated. On the other hand, if the light diffusivity is increased in order to improve the uniformity of the display, the light transmittance of the white ink layer is reduced and the display becomes dark. Therefore, it is difficult to sufficiently satisfy both the light diffusing property and the light transmitting property of the printed matter only by adjusting the white ink layer.

In order to solve this problem, the release layer having an uneven surface functions. In other words, in the printed matter of the present invention, the surface of the peeling layer becomes uneven due to the cohesive failure of the peeling layer during transfer, and the unevenness diffuses the light emitted from the light source for illumination and reflects Let it. For this reason, the release layer having the uneven surface can replenish the light diffusivity of the white ink layer and impart excellent light diffusivity and excellent light transmittance to printed matter. Therefore, the printed matter according to the present invention can be used as an electric decoration display body having excellent light diffusing properties and light transmitting properties and displaying a good-looking image.

[0014]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention may be formed on the same plane of the base material sheet 3 as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), or each dye of black (not shown). This is an integrated thermal transfer sheet in which a layer 2 and a white transfer layer 1 are provided face-to-face. Also,
As shown in FIG. 2, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) or not shown on the base sheet 3,
It is possible to use a thermal transfer sheet in which each of the black dye layers 2 is provided in a plane-sequential manner, and a thermal transfer sheet in which only the white transfer layer 1 is provided on another base sheet 3. The layer configuration of the white transfer layer 1 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
On top of this, a release layer 4, a white ink layer 5, and an adhesive layer 6 are laminated in this order from the base sheet 3 side, and a heat-resistant layer 7 is provided on the other surface of the base sheet 3. . The white transfer layer 1 may have a protective layer between the release layer 4 and the white ink layer 5.

(Substrate Sheet) The thermal transfer sheet of the present invention comprises:
There are two types, one in which the dye layer and the white transfer layer are provided integrally as shown in FIG. 1 and the other in which they are provided separately as shown in FIG. 2. In each case, the same base sheet 3 is used. it can. That is, the base material sheet 3 may be any material as long as it has a conventionally known degree of heat resistance and strength, for example, 0.5 to 50 μm, preferably 3 to 1 μm.
Paper of about 0 μm thickness, various processed paper, polyester film, polystyrene film, polypropylene film, polysulfone film, aramid film, polycarbonate film, polyvinyl alcohol film,
Cellophane and the like are particularly preferable, and a polyester film is particularly preferable. When the base sheet as described above has a poor adhesion to a dye layer formed on its surface, it is preferable to apply a primer treatment (easy adhesion treatment) or a corona discharge treatment to its surface. Furthermore, in the present invention, the release layer of the white transfer layer is in a form in which the release layer is bonded to the base sheet of the thermal transfer sheet, and the release layer is subjected to cohesive failure during thermal transfer with the image receiving sheet. It is necessary to strengthen the adhesion of the substrate sheet, and it is particularly preferable to apply a primer treatment (easy adhesion treatment) or a corona discharge treatment to the surface of the base sheet.

(Dye layer) The dye layer 2 is formed by adding a dye, a binder resin and other optional components to an appropriate solvent.
Each component is dissolved or dispersed to prepare an ink for forming a dye layer, and an additive such as an organic filler is dispersed therein. it can. The dye to be used is not particularly limited, and any dye conventionally used in a thermal transfer sheet can be effectively used in the present invention. For example, some preferred dyes include, as red dyes, MS Red G, M
acrolex Red Violet R, Cere
s Red 7B, Samaron Red HBS
L, Resolin Red F3BS and the like,
Examples of yellow dyes include Holon Brilliant Yellow 6GL, PTY-52, and Macrolex Yellow 6G, and examples of blue dyes include Kayaset Blue 714, Waxolin Blue AP-FW, and Holon Brilliant Blue S-. R, MS Blue 100 and the like.

As the binder resin for supporting the heat transferable dye as described above, any of conventionally known binder resins can be used. Preferred examples thereof include ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, ethylhydroxycellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, and the like. Methyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, cellulose resins such as cellulose acetate butyrate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate,
Examples include vinyl resins such as polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and polyacrylamide, and polyesters. Further, in order to enhance the releasability from the image receiving sheet at the time of printing, a polysiloxane segment grafted to the main chain of an acrylic, vinyl, polyester, polyurethane, polyamide or cellulose resin, a fluorocarbon segment, And a graft copolymer having at least one releasable segment selected from long-chain alkyl segments may be used as a binder resin for supporting the heat transferable dye.

The organic filler contained in the dye layer may be any one which has good wettability with the ink for forming the dye layer. For example, as a polymer composition, a phenol resin, a melamine resin, a urethane resin, an epoxy resin, a silicone resin , Urea resin, diallyl phthalate resin, alkyd resin,
Acetal resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polyester resin, cellulose resin, starch and derivatives thereof, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, chlorinated polyethylene, fluororesin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetal, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, Polycarbonate, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketone, polyaminobismaleimide, polyarylate,
Polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyimide, polyamide imide, polyacrylonitrile, AS resin, ABS
Resin, SBR, and fillers of a composition mainly composed of these are mentioned.

As a typical combination having good wettability between the organic filler and the ink for forming a dye layer, there can be mentioned an organic filler such as polyethylene filler and Fischer-Tropsch wax using polyvinyl acetoacetal as a binder resin. The coating thickness of the dye layer is 0.
It is preferably 2 μm to 3 μm, more preferably 0.3 μm to 2 μm.
μm is more preferred. Such a dye layer is preferably prepared by adding the above-described sublimable dye, a binder resin and other optional components in an appropriate solvent, and dissolving or dispersing each component to prepare an ink for forming a dye layer. In this, an organic filler is dispersed, and is formed on the above-mentioned base sheet by, for example, a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, a forming method such as a reverse roll coating method using a gravure plate, and dried. can do.

(White Transfer Layer) The white transfer layer 1 mainly exerts a function of imparting appropriate light diffusion and light transmittance to a printed matter to which the white transfer layer 1 has been transferred, that is, a display for illumination. . As shown in FIG. 3, the white transfer layer 1 usually includes a release layer 4 for smoothly separating the white transfer layer 1 from the base sheet 3, and has a suitable light diffusing property and light transmittance. A white ink layer 5 is provided.
And an adhesive layer 6 for improving the adhesiveness of the image receiving sheet. The white transfer layer 1 essentially includes at least the release layer 4 and the white ink layer 5, but the adhesive layer 6 can be omitted as appropriate. May also serve as a role. Although not shown, a protective layer may be provided between the release layer 4 and the white ink layer 5 in order to improve the durability of the white transfer layer such as abrasion resistance and plasticizer resistance.

(Release Layer) The release layer 4 contained in the white transfer layer 1 prevents the two from being fused when heated from the thermal transfer sheet to the image receiving sheet by a thermal head or other means, and is thermally transferred. The base sheet 3 of the sheet is smoothly peeled off from the image receiving sheet, eliminating transfer unevenness and improving transferability. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present invention, when the white transfer layer is transferred from the thermal transfer sheet to the image receiving sheet, so-called cohesive failure occurs near the middle in the thickness direction, and the release layer 4 shifts to the image receiving sheet. Form the outermost surface of the printed matter. The surface of the release layer transferred to the printed matter by the transfer has an uneven shape. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a thermal transfer sheet provided with a white transfer layer and an image receiving sheet are overlapped so that the former adhesive layer 6 and the latter receiving layer 11 are in contact with each other, and are heated by a heating means such as a thermal head 40 or the like. Is transferred to the image receiving sheet, the release layer 4 undergoes cohesive failure immediately after the thermal transfer, and the outermost surface of the printed matter has an uneven shape.

On the other hand, the remaining portion 4 'of the release layer transferred to the image receiving sheet remains on the transferred thermal transfer sheet.
The arrows in the figure indicate the directions of movement of the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving sheet when they are superposed, heated by the thermal head 40 or the like, and then peeled off. The uneven surface of the release layer transferred to the printed matter has the function of diffusing and reflecting the light irradiated by the light source for illumination and replenishing the light diffusivity of the white ink layer included in the white transfer layer. . Therefore, the printed matter obtained by the present invention can be used as a display with good appearance, which has both good light diffusion and light transmittance.

Here, the relationship between the light diffusing property and the light transmitting property is as follows. When both characteristics are mainly exhibited by the white ink layer, the thickness of the white ink layer may be increased in order to further improve the light diffusing property. Although the content of the white pigment and / or the filler is increased, the light transmittance is reduced. Thus, it is difficult to satisfy both characteristics of light diffusion and light transmission. Therefore, the uppermost layer of the printed matter as described above, the release layer having a surface with uneven shape, without significantly impairing the light transmittance, replenishes and improves the light diffusivity, good image appearance. A printed matter as a certain display for illumination is obtained.

The release layer 4 is formed by adding a release material to the binder resin as required. Usable binder resins include thermoplastic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, and acrylic resins such as polybutyl acrylate, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyvinyl alcohol. Examples include vinyl resins such as butyral, cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, and cellulose acetate, and polyester resins and polyurethane resins. The release layer is composed of a composition comprising one or more of the above resins. be able to. The binder resin preferably contains a resin having a Tg or a softening point of 100 ° C. or higher in order to prevent fusion with the base sheet during thermal transfer. Further, by combining with an appropriate release material, a resin composition having a Tg or a softening point of less than 100 ° C. is also possible.

As the releasing material, inorganic fine particles such as waxes, talc and silica, and organic fine particles can be used. However, it is preferable that the release layer be separated at the interface between the release material and the binder resin in order to easily cause cohesive failure during thermal transfer. The release material is preferably added in an amount of 0.1 to 200% by weight based on the binder resin. More preferably, it is 10 to 100% by weight. In the case where a release material is not used in the release layer, it is preferable to use two or more of the above-mentioned binder resins, the compatibility between the binder resins is low, and the release is performed at the interface between the binder resins. In addition to the above materials, an ultraviolet absorber, an antioxidant, a fluorescent whitening agent (such as a stilbenzene or pyrazoline) for improving weather resistance may be added to the release layer. Further, a white pigment and / or a filler may be added to the release layer. In this case, if an appropriate binder resin, release material, white pigment and / or filler are selected, the release layer and the white ink layer can also be used, and the white pigment and / or filler is added. The light-diffusing property and the light-transmitting property can be supplemented by the release layer. The release layer is
It can be formed by the same method as the above-mentioned dye layer, and its thickness is preferably 0.1 to 5.0 μm after coating and drying.

(White Ink Layer) The white ink layer 5 has a function of imparting an appropriate light diffusing property and light transmitting property to a printed matter transferred as a white transfer layer, and is mainly composed of a white pigment and / or a filler and a binder. It is made of resin. As the binder resin, any resin may be used, and preferred resins are an acrylic resin, a cellulose resin, a polyester resin, a vinyl resin, a polyurethane resin, a polycarbonate resin, or a partially crosslinked resin thereof. .
The white pigments and / or fillers are hard solid particles such as inorganic fillers such as silica, alumina, clay, talc, calcium carbonate, and barium sulfate; white pigments such as titanium oxide and zinc oxide; Resin particles (plastic pigment) such as a resin, an epoxy resin, a polyurethane resin, a phenol resin, a melamine resin, a benzoguanamine resin, a fluororesin, and a silicone resin. The titanium oxide includes rutile-type titanium oxide and anatase-type titanium oxide, and any of them may be used.

The white ink layer 5 may contain a fluorescent whitening agent in addition to the binder resin and the white pigment and / or the filler. As the fluorescent whitening agent, a known compound having a fluorescent whitening effect, such as a stilbenzene compound or a pyrazoline compound, can be used. Further, the white ink layer 5 may contain some coloring agents. The white ink layer 5 has an appropriate light diffusivity and light by adjusting the solid content ratio of the white pigment and / or filler and the binder resin, that is, the P / V ratio and the thickness of the white ink layer 5. It can have transparency. The P / V ratio between the white pigment and / or the filler and the binder resin is 0.5 to 3.0.
And the thickness of the white ink layer 5 is 0.5 to 0.5 in a dry state.
By setting the average light transmittance to about 2.0 μm, appropriate light diffusivity and light transmittance are provided. More preferably, total light transmittance and
The haze can be defined in a preferred range. That is, by setting the total light transmittance and the haze defined in JIS K7105 in the following ranges, an excellent display element for electric decoration having an appropriate haze (cloudiness value) can be obtained. In addition, haze (cloudiness value) is calculated by diffusion transmittance / total light transmittance. In the form of the thermal transfer sheet having the white transfer layer 1 including the white ink layer 5, the total light transmittance of the portion of the white transfer layer 1 is 30 to 95%, preferably 50 to 85%.
By setting the haze (cloudiness value) to 30 to 95%, preferably 50 to 90%, an excellent display for electric decoration can be obtained.

(Protective Layer) The protective layer improves the durability of the image, such as water resistance, scratch resistance, fingerprint resistance and plasticizer resistance, after the white transfer layer has been transferred to the dye image forming portion. The protective layer is composed of at least a binder resin, and a resin composition having good adhesion to the release layer and the white ink layer and giving excellent durability is selected. In general, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, polybutyl acrylate, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, Examples include vinyl resins such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl butyral, and thermosetting resins such as polyester resin and polyurethane resin. If the printed matter to which the white transfer layer has been transferred is particularly required to have abrasion resistance, chemical resistance, and stain resistance, an ionizing radiation-curable resin can be used as the protective layer resin. Further, an organic and inorganic filler, an ultraviolet absorber, an antioxidant, a fluorescent whitening agent, and the like may be added to the resin. The protective layer can be formed by the same method as the above-mentioned dye layer, and the thickness thereof is preferably 0.1 to 5.0 µm after coating and drying.

(Adhesive Layer) The adhesive layer 6 is preferably used when the adhesion between the white ink layer and the receiving layer is low. For the adhesive layer 6, a material having good adhesiveness with the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet is used. It is necessary to select an appropriate material according to the type of the receiving layer, but generally, a thermoplastic resin, a natural resin, rubber, wax, or the like can be used. For example, cellulose derivatives such as ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate butyrate, styrene copolymers such as polystyrene and poly α-methyl styrene, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, and polyethyl acrylate, polyvinyl chloride, and polyvinyl acetate ,
Synthetic resins such as vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl resins such as polyvinyl butyral, polyester resins, nylon resins, epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, ionomers, ethylene acrylic acid copolymers and ethylene acrylates, and adhesives Rosin as a imparting agent, rosin-modified maleic resin, ester rubber, polyisobutylene rubber, butyl rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene acrylonitrile rubber, polyamide resin, polychlorinated olefins, and the like. The adhesive layer 6 can be composed of two or more compositions.

Further, in addition to the above-mentioned materials,
Addition of a conventionally known fluorescent whitening agent having a fluorescent whitening effect such as stilbenzene or pyrazoline, or an organic filler mentioned in the dye layer or a white pigment or an inorganic filler of a filler given in the white ink layer. In addition, as the outermost surface layer of the white transfer layer, a treatment for preventing blocking may be performed in storage in a wound form. The thickness of the adhesive layer 6 is determined so that the adhesive performance with the receiving layer is good, but it is usually preferably 0.1 to 20 μm in a dry state. Further, the adhesive layer 6
It can be applied, dried and formed in the same manner as the dye layer described above.

(Heat-Resistant Layer) In the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention as described above, it is preferable to provide a heat-resistant layer 7 on the back surface of the thermal transfer sheet in order to prevent adverse effects such as sticking and print wrinkles due to the heat of the thermal head. The resin forming the heat-resistant layer 7 may be any conventionally known resin.
Polyvinyl butyral resin, polyvinyl acetoacetal resin, polyester resin, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer, polyether resin, polybutadiene resin, styrene / butadiene copolymer, acrylic polyol, polyurethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, polyether acrylate, epoxy acrylate , Urethane or epoxy prepolymer, nitrocellulose resin, cellulose nitrate resin, cellulose acetopropionate resin, cellulose acetate butyrate resin, cellulose acetate hydrodiene phthalate resin, cellulose acetate resin, aromatic polyamide resin, polyimide resin, polycarbonate Resins, chlorinated polyolefin resins, and the like.

Examples of the slipperiness-imparting agent to be added to or overcoated with the heat-resistant layer made of these resins include phosphate esters, silicone oils, graphite powders, silicone-based graft polymers, fluorine-based graft polymers, acrylic silicone-grafted polymers, acrylic siloxanes,
Examples thereof include silicone polymers such as arylsiloxanes. Preferably, the layer is a layer composed of a polyol, for example, a polyalcohol polymer compound, a polyisocyanate compound, and a phosphoric acid ester compound, and more preferably a filler is further added. The heat-resistant layer is the resin described above,
Slipperiness imparting agent, further filler, by a suitable solvent, dissolved or dispersed, to prepare an ink for forming a heat-resistant layer, this, on the other surface of the base sheet, for example, gravure printing, It can be formed by applying by a forming means such as a screen printing method or a reverse coating method using a gravure plate, followed by drying.

(Image-Receiving Sheet) An image-receiving sheet, which is a transfer-receiving member used for forming an image using the above-mentioned thermal transfer sheet, has an image-receiving surface having a dye-accepting property with respect to the above-mentioned dye. Any material may be used, and paper, metal, glass, ceramics,
In the case of a substrate such as a synthetic resin, a dye receiving layer may be formed on at least one surface thereof. Examples of the image receiving sheet that does not need to form a dye receiving layer include, for example, polyolefin resins such as polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride,
Halogenated polymers such as polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl polymers such as polyacrylesters, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins,
Copolymer resins of olefins such as ethylene and propylene and other vinyl monomers, ionomers, cellulosic resins such as cellulose diacetate, and fibers made of polycarbonate, etc., and substrates such as woven fabrics, films, sheets, and molded articles. Can be Particularly preferred is a sheet or film made of polyvinyl chloride, which may have a single-layer or multilayer laminate structure.

In the present invention, even if the recording surface is paper, metal, glass, polyester, polyarylate, polyurethane, polyimide, cellulose derivative, polyethylene, acrylic or other synthetic resin or other non-dyeing substrate, An image receiving sheet can be obtained by forming a dye receiving layer by applying and drying a solution or dispersion of a dyeing resin, or by laminating those resin films. In the above-mentioned base material, those made of synthetic resin, regardless of dyeing properties, non-dying properties, even a transparent sheet, a white film or a film formed by adding a white pigment or a filler to the synthetic resin or A foamed foam sheet can be used. Further, even with the above-mentioned dyeable base material, the dye-receiving layer may be formed on the surface thereof from a resin having better dyeability as described above.

The dye receiving layer thus formed may be formed from a single material or a plurality of materials, and may further contain various additives within a range not to impair the object of the present invention. Of course it is good. For example, a release agent can be added so that the thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving sheet are not fused by heat during printing. Examples of the release agent include vinyl-modified silicones and reaction-curable silicones such as amino-modified silicones and epoxy-modified silicones, and the amount thereof is preferably 0.5 to 20% by weight based on the resin. In addition, in order to improve the printing sensitivity of the receiving layer, phthalate ester, phosphate ester, polyester type plasticizer, etc., generally a plasticizer for vinyl chloride resin,
Low to high molecular weight ones can be added.
The addition amount is preferably 0.5 to 30% by weight based on the resin. To form the receiving layer, the resin described above, various additives are dissolved or dispersed in an appropriate solvent to prepare an ink for forming a receiving layer, and the ink is formed on the surface of the base material. For example, it can be formed by applying and drying by forming means such as a gravure printing method, a screen printing method, and a reverse coating method using a gravure plate.

The image receiving sheet may be provided with an antistatic layer on the front and / or back surface of the substrate, or on the receiving layer surface or the back surface of the image receiving sheet or on the outermost surface of both surfaces. The antistatic layer dissolves or disperses antistatic agents such as fatty acid esters, sulfate esters, phosphate esters, amides, quaternary ammonium salts, betaines, amino acids, acrylic resins, and ethylene oxide adducts. It can be formed by coating the applied material. The forming means may be the same as the above-described receiving layer. When the antistatic layer is provided on the outermost surface of the image receiving sheet, the coating amount of the antistatic layer is 0.001 to 0.001 when dried.
0.1 g / m ² is preferable, and when it is provided not on the outermost surface of the image receiving sheet but on the inside, it is 0.1 to 10 g / m ^2.
Is preferred. It is preferable that the antistatic layer is provided on both the outermost surface and the inner side of the image receiving sheet, because a more excellent antistatic effect appears.

An intermediate layer made of various resins can be provided between the base material of the image receiving sheet and the receiving layer. By giving the intermediate layer various functions, an excellent function can be added to the image receiving sheet. For example, by using a resin having a large elastic deformation or plastic deformation as a resin to impart cushioning property, for example, a polyolefin resin, a vinyl copolymer resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyamide resin, or the like, the printing sensitivity of the image receiving sheet is increased. It is possible to improve the image quality and prevent image roughness. Further, in order to impart an antistatic ability to the intermediate layer, the above antistatic agent is added to the resin for imparting the cushioning property, and a solution obtained by dissolving or dispersing in a solvent is applied to the intermediate layer. Can be formed. Further, a back surface layer can be provided on the back surface of the base material of the image receiving sheet for improving the transportability of the image receiving sheet and preventing curling. As the back surface layer, for example, a material obtained by adding an organic filler such as a fluorine resin or a polyamide resin to an acrylic resin or the like can be used.

(Recording Method) Next, the printed matter according to the present invention can be roughly classified into two types of recording methods. First, a dye layer and a white transfer layer are provided face-to-face on the same plane of a base sheet, and the white transfer layer is formed of an integrated thermal transfer sheet containing a white pigment or a filler, and an image receiving sheet. This is a recording method in which the dye is transferred to the base material or the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet by superposition and heating to form an image, and then the white transfer layer is heated and transferred to the image forming surface of the image receiving sheet. In this case, an integrated thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer and a white transfer layer is superimposed on an image receiving sheet, and a thermal head,
With a heating medium such as a laser, image information, for example, not a normal image, but energy corresponding to a mirror image is applied, and yellow, magenta, cyan, and black dyes are sequentially transferred to the base material or the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet. To form an image. Thereafter, a white transfer layer on the same plane as the substrate sheet provided with the dye layer is formed on the image forming surface of the image receiving sheet, by a thermal head at the time of image formation, or by another thermal head, The transfer can be performed by a heating medium such as a laser, a heat roll, and a xenon lamp. In the above, not a normal image but a mirror image is formed at the time of forming a dye image by printing a print obtained by the above recording method, for example, as shown in FIG. From, the light of the illumination light source 20 is irradiated,
The back of the image forming unit 30, that is, the back layer 1 of the image receiving sheet
This is because they are viewed from the four sides. However, as described above, the image at the time of forming the dye image is not limited to a mirror image, but a normal image,
The light of the light source for illumination may be irradiated from the back layer side of the image receiving sheet and viewed from the white transfer layer side.

In another recording method, a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer provided on a base sheet is superimposed on an image receiving sheet, and the dye is transferred to the base material or the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet by heating to form an image. This is a recording method in which an image forming surface of the image receiving sheet and a white transfer layer containing a white pigment or a filler provided on another base sheet are overlapped, and the white transfer layer is transferred by heating. In this method, first, a thermal transfer sheet having a dye layer and an image receiving sheet are overlapped, and a thermal head, a heating medium such as a laser or the like, is used for image information, for example, energy corresponding to a mirror image instead of a normal image for the reason described above. Is applied to sequentially transfer the yellow, magenta, cyan or black dyes to the base material or the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet to form an image. Thereafter, an image forming surface of the image receiving sheet and a white transfer layer containing a white pigment or a filler provided on another base sheet are overlapped, and the thermal head during image formation or another thermal head is used. The white transfer layer can be transferred by a heating medium such as a laser, a heat roll, a xenon lamp, or the like.

(Printed matter) The printed matter is an image-formed, white-transferred layer transferred by using the above-described thermal transfer sheet and image-receiving sheet and obtained by the recording method described above. That is, on the substrate or the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet,
An image forming section with the dye transferred from the dye layer is arranged,
A white ink layer containing a white pigment or a filler and a release layer are laminated and transferred in this order on a base material or a receiving layer of the image receiving sheet, and the release layer is a printed material having an uneven surface. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, an antistatic layer 12 and an intermediate layer 1 are provided on a base 10 of an image receiving sheet.
3. A receiving layer 11 is provided in order, and a back layer 14 is provided on the other surface of the base material 10, and an image forming portion of the dye transferred from the dye layer 2 is arranged on the receiving layer 11. On the layer 11, an adhesive layer 6 as a white transfer layer, a white ink layer 5, and a release layer 4 are laminated in this order. However, the printed matter is not limited to the layer configuration shown in FIG.
Has the functions of each layer such as antistatic, cushioning or curling prevention, dye receptivity and transportability, it is not necessary to provide antistatic layer, intermediate layer, receiving layer, back layer, and antistatic If each layer of the layer, the intermediate layer, the receiving layer, and the back layer has the function of the other layer, the layer having the overlapping function can be appropriately reduced.

If the image of the printed matter is a mirror image,
As shown in FIG. 4, light is emitted from the release layer 4 side of the white transfer layer by the illumination light source 20, and the image 30 is observed and viewed from the back layer 14 side of the image receiving sheet. On the other hand, when the image of the printed matter is a normal image, the printed matter is irradiated with light from the back layer 14 side of the image receiving sheet and the image 3 is irradiated from the release layer 4 side.
Observe and appreciate 0. In this printed matter, the white ink layer containing a white pigment and / or a filler controls light diffusion and light transmission, and the light diffusion of the white ink layer is controlled by a release layer having an uneven surface. Since it is replenished, it has both an appropriate light diffusing property and a light transmitting property as a display for illumination. Further, the total light transmittance of the white transfer layer containing at least the white ink layer and the release layer is 30 to 95.
% And the haze is 30 to 95%,
The balance between light diffusion and light transmission is particularly good.

[0042]

The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to Examples and Comparative Examples. First, various coating liquids used in the construction of the thermal transfer sheet were adjusted according to the following composition. Dye layer coating liquid (yellow ink) Disperse dye: Holon Brilliant Yellow S-6GL 5.5 parts by weight Binder resin: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. 4.5 parts by weight Polyvinyl acetoacetal resin KS-5 Polyethylene wax 0.1 Parts by weight Methyl ethyl ketone 45.0 parts by weight Toluene 45.0 parts by weight (Magenta ink) Disperse dye, MS Red G 1.5
Parts by weight, Macrolex Red Violet R 2.0
Parts by weight are the same as the above yellow ink. (Cyan ink) Kayaset Blue 714
Is 4.5 parts by weight, and the others are the same as the above-mentioned yellow ink.

Coating liquid for heat-resistant layer : polyvinyl butyral resin: 3.6 parts by weight ESREC BX-1 polyisocyanate manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd .: 8.6 parts by weight Burnock D750 phosphate ester-based interface lubricity manufactured by Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd. Agent: 2.8 parts by weight PRISURF A208S manufactured by Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd. Talc: 0.7 parts by weight of Microace P-3 manufactured by Nippon Talc Co., Ltd. 32.0 parts by weight of methyl ethyl ketone 32.0 parts by weight of toluene

Coating liquid acrylic resin for release layer : 16 parts by weight LP-45M polyethylene wax manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd. (average particle size: about 1.1 μm) 8 parts by weight Toluene 76 parts by weight Coating liquid modified acrylic for white ink layer Resin: 20 parts by weight Acridic BZ-1160 titanium oxide (anatase type) manufactured by Dainippon Ink Co., Ltd .: 40 parts by weight TCA888 manufactured by Tochem Products Co., Ltd. Fluorescent whitening agent: 0.3 parts by weight of Uvitex OB manufactured by Ciba Geigy Toluene / isopropyl alcohol (weight ratio 1/1) 40 parts by weight Coating solution for adhesive layer Vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer resin: 20 parts by weight # 1000ALK silica manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. 1 part by weight Fluorescent brightener: 0.1% by weight of Uvitex OB manufactured by Ciba Geigy, Inc. Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight 1/1) for 80 parts by weight of the protective layer coating liquid Acrylic resin: 20 parts by Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd. LP-45M ethyl ketone / toluene (1/1 by weight) 80 parts by weight

Further, various coating liquids used for the construction of the image receiving sheet were prepared according to the following composition. Coating liquid for antistatic layer Cation / acrylic resin: 20.0 parts by weight Elecond PQ50B manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd. 80.0 parts by weight methanol / ethanol (weight ratio 1/1) 80.0 parts by weight Coating liquid for intermediate layer vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate Copolymer resin: 20.0 parts by weight # 1000GK manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 80.0 parts by weight Coating liquid for receptor layer Vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymer resin: 20 0.0 parts by weight # 1000A amino-modified silicone manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd .: 0.5 parts by weight KF-393 epoxy-modified silicone manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd .: 0.5 part by weight X-22-343 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. Methyl ethyl ketone / toluene (weight ratio 1/1) 80.0 parts by weight Acrylic polyol resin for coating liquid for back surface layer : 30.0 Parts by weight Acrydic 47-538 Isocyanate curing agent manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc .: 3.0 parts by weight Takenate A-14 manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Polyamide resin particles: 0.1 parts by weight MW manufactured by Shinto Paint Co., Ltd. -330 Catalyst: S-CAT24 manufactured by Sankyoki Gosei Co., Ltd. 0.1 part by weight methyl ethyl ketone / toluene / 70.0 parts by weight butyl acetate (weight ratio 3/3/1)

Example 1 A 6 μm-thick PET having one surface subjected to an easy adhesion treatment is used as a base sheet. On the other surface of the base sheet, the above-mentioned heat-resistant layer coating solution is applied and dried by a gravure printing machine in advance, and a heat-resistant layer having a coating thickness of 1 μm is provided in a dry state. 5
Heat aging in an oven for a day to perform a curing treatment. The coating solution for the dye layer is applied by a gravure printing machine to the surface of the base sheet to which the heat-resistant layer has been applied, and the coating is dried in a gravure printing machine. Was prepared. Further, another base sheet (thickness 6 μm) coated with a heat-resistant layer in the same manner.
m of PET), the above-mentioned coating liquid for a release layer is applied and dried by a gravure printing machine on the easily adhesive-treated surface, and a 0.6 μm-thick release layer is provided in a dry state. The above white ink layer coating solution was applied and dried by a gravure printing machine to obtain a coating thickness of 2.0 μm in a dry state.
Was provided to produce a thermal transfer sheet of the present invention. Next, using a transparent PET having a thickness of 125 μm as a base material,
The above-mentioned coating solution for an antistatic layer has a dry thickness of 2.
An antistatic layer is provided so as to have a thickness of 0 μm, and the above-mentioned coating liquid for an intermediate layer is dried on the antistatic layer to a thickness of 3.
The intermediate layer is provided so as to have a thickness of 0 μm.
A receiving layer is provided to have a thickness of μm. In addition, the other surface of the substrate is coated with the above-mentioned coating liquid for a back layer and has a dry thickness of 6.
An image receiving sheet was prepared by providing a back layer so as to have a thickness of 0 μm.

(Example 2) The thermal transfer sheet of the present invention was prepared by providing the release layer in Example 1 so as to have a coating thickness of 0.3 μm in a dry state. Otherwise, a thermal transfer sheet and an image receiving sheet were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. (Example 3) A peeling layer and a white ink layer were provided in the same manner as in Example 1, and the above-mentioned coating liquid for an adhesive layer was adhered on the white ink layer so that the thickness in a dry state was 0.6 μm. The layer was provided to prepare a thermal transfer sheet of the present invention. Others
A thermal transfer sheet and an image receiving sheet were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. (Example 4) A release layer was provided in the same manner as in Example 1, and a protective layer was provided on the release layer using the above coating liquid for a protective layer so that the thickness in a dry state was 0.5 μm. A thermal transfer sheet of the present invention was prepared by providing a white ink layer on the protective layer in the same manner as in Example 1. Otherwise, a thermal transfer sheet and an image receiving sheet were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. Example 5 A thermal transfer sheet of the present invention was prepared by providing a release layer, a protective layer, and a white ink layer in the same manner as in Example 4, and providing an adhesive layer on the white ink layer in the same manner as in Example 3. did. Otherwise, a thermal transfer sheet and an image receiving sheet were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative Example 1 Untreated PET with a thickness of 6 μm
Was used as a base sheet, a heat-resistant layer was provided in the same manner as in Example 1, and the other surface which had been subjected to the curing treatment was coated with the above-mentioned coating liquid for a protective layer so that the thickness in a dry state was 0.5 μm. Was provided with a protective layer, and a white ink layer was provided on the protective layer in the same manner as in Example 1 to prepare a thermal transfer sheet. Otherwise, a thermal transfer sheet and an image receiving sheet were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. (Comparative Example 2) A thermal transfer sheet was manufactured by providing a protective layer in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1 and providing an adhesive layer on the protective layer in the same manner as in Example 3. Otherwise, a thermal transfer sheet and an image receiving sheet were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. (Comparative Example 3) A protective layer was provided in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, and a white ink layer was provided on the protective layer with the above-mentioned coating solution for a white ink layer so that the thickness in a dry state was 3.0 μm. Thus, a thermal transfer sheet was prepared. Otherwise, a thermal transfer sheet and an image receiving sheet were prepared in the same manner as in Example 1.

Using a printer capable of controlling 256 gradations equipped with a thermal head having a linear density of 300 dpi, wherein the dye layers of the thermal transfer sheets of the above Examples and Comparative Examples and the receiving layer of the image receiving sheet are overlapped so as to be in contact with each other. A color image was formed with each color of yellow, magenta, and cyan. The printing conditions are as follows: printing speed is 10 ms / line, and applied energy at the maximum gradation is 0.65 mj / dot. Further, using the thermal transfer sheets of Examples and Comparative Examples each having a white transfer layer on the receiving layer having the obtained image, the white transfer layer was transferred by a thermal head to produce a printed matter. The energy applied during this transfer is
It is 0.55 mj / dot.

The glossiness of the layer (release layer) located on the outermost surface of the transferred white transfer layer was measured for the printed matter produced in each of the examples and comparative examples. Gloss is JIS Z87
A 60-degree specular gloss specified in 41 was used. Further, in the form of a thermal transfer sheet having a white transfer layer prepared in each of Examples and Comparative Examples, the total light transmittance and the diffuse transmittance of the portion of the white transfer layer were measured by the method specified in JIS K7105. Calculate haze from numerical values. Furthermore, each printed matter was installed in an electric decoration device, and the image quality as a display object for electric decoration was visually evaluated. The evaluation criteria are as follows. Evaluation standard of illumination image quality A : Very good appearance. ：: Appearance is good. Δ: Appearance is not very good.

(Evaluation Results) The evaluation results are shown in Table 1. (Below)

[0052]

[Table 1]

Comparing Example 1 and Example 2, the thickness of the release layer is different from 0.6 μm and 0.3 μm, and Example 2 is slightly glossier than Example 1. However, as compared with Comparative Example 1 and the like which do not have such a peeling layer which causes cohesive failure, they have a sufficiently matte feeling and supplement light diffusivity. Note that Comparative Examples 1 to 3 are different from those of Examples and are separated and transferred at the interface between the base material sheet and the protective layer. For this reason, the surface after transfer is a very smooth surface derived from the base sheet,
Very shiny. Examples 3 to 5 are cases in which an adhesive layer and a protective layer are provided in addition to the release layer and the white ink layer. Without impairing the transmittance, the adhesive layer can impart excellent durability to the image receiving sheet, and the protective layer can provide excellent durability such as plasticizer resistance.

On the other hand, in Comparative Example 1, only the white ink layer provided light diffusion and light transmission. Although the image quality is generally satisfactory, the haze is lower than that of the embodiment, the light diffusion is slightly poor, and the image is slightly inferior to the embodiment. In Comparative Example 2, since the white ink layer was not provided, it was very clear, the haze was low, the base of the printed portion and the non-printed portion was transparent, and the unevenness of the brightness of the light source could be seen as it was. Further, the density is poor and the image becomes weak, and as a display for illumination, the embodiment has better appearance. As in Comparative Example 3, when trying to obtain the same light diffusivity as in the example using only the white ink layer,
Since the total light transmittance is low and the image is dark, the example of the display for illumination is better in appearance.

[0055]

According to the present invention, as described above,
For personal use, etc., we responded to the desire to use an illuminated display that recorded characters and images of different information, and the illuminated display has excellent durability such as water resistance and abrasion resistance. With excellent image quality with excellent continuous gradation, and with appropriate light diffusion and light transmission, printed matter as an illuminated display body with good image appearance is obtained, and the printing It is possible to provide a thermal transfer sheet used for obtaining a product, and a recording method for obtaining the printed material. Further, in the present invention, the white transfer layer is a thermal transfer sheet provided with a white transfer layer on a base sheet, wherein the white transfer layer has at least a release layer and a white ink layer laminated in this order from the base sheet side. The layer contains a white pigment and / or a filler, and the release layer undergoes cohesive failure at the time of thermal transfer, so that the outermost surface of the obtained printed matter is a release layer having an uneven shape. Thus, it is possible to obtain a display for illumination with excellent durability such as fingerprint resistance. Further, in the thermal transfer sheet provided with the white transfer layer of the present invention, since the release layer only needs to undergo cohesive failure at the time of thermal transfer, the adhesiveness between the release layer and the base sheet, and between the release layer and the white ink layer (or the protective layer). Is very good,
It is a heat transfer sheet with good foil durability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a thermal transfer sheet of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example of the thermal transfer sheet of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the white transfer layer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a printed matter of the present invention and a positional relationship between the printed matter and a light source for illumination.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a peeled state of the white transfer layer thermal transfer sheet and the image receiving sheet of the present invention immediately after thermal transfer.

[Description of Signs] 1 White transfer layer 2 Dye layer 3 Substrate sheet 4 Release layer 5 White ink layer 6 Adhesive layer 7 Heat resistant layer 10 Substrate 11 Receptive layer 12 Antistatic layer 13 Intermediate layer 14 Backside layer 20 Illumination light source 30 image forming unit 40 thermal head

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A thermal transfer sheet provided with a white transfer layer capable of being transferred to an image receiving sheet in at least one region of a base sheet, wherein the white transfer layer has a multilayer structure including a release layer and a white ink layer. And, the side where the release layer is located is in contact with the base sheet, the white ink layer contains at least one component selected from the group consisting of a white pigment and a filler, the release layer, A thermal transfer sheet, wherein the thermal transfer sheet is divided near the middle in the thickness direction during thermal transfer, is cohesively fractured from the substrate sheet, and is peeled off, and the exposed surface of the transferred peeling layer is uneven. 2. The heat transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer sheet is an integrated heat transfer sheet in which a dye layer and a white transfer layer are provided on the same plane of the base sheet in a face-sequential manner. . 3. The white transfer layer according to claim 1, wherein the white transfer layer has a multilayer structure in which a release layer, a white ink layer, and an adhesive layer are laminated in this order from the substrate sheet side. 2. The thermal transfer sheet according to 2. 4. The white transfer layer according to claim 1, wherein the white transfer layer has a multilayer structure in which a release layer, a protective layer, and a white ink layer are laminated in this order from the substrate sheet side. 2. The thermal transfer sheet according to 2. 5. The above-mentioned white transfer layer has a multilayer structure in which a release layer, a protective layer, a white ink layer, and an adhesive layer are laminated in this order from the substrate sheet side. The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1. 6. The white transfer layer having a total light transmittance of 30.
The thermal transfer sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the thermal transfer sheet has a haze of 30 to 95%. 7. The release layer contains at least a binder resin having a glass transition temperature or a softening point of 100 ° C. or more and a release material of 200% by weight or less of the binder resin. The thermal transfer sheet according to claim 1, wherein 8. A printed matter produced by subjecting an image receiving sheet to thermal transfer, comprising: an image forming portion formed by transferring a dye from a dye layer of a thermal transfer sheet to a base material or a receiving layer of the image receiving sheet; A white ink layer provided on the image forming portion, and containing at least one component selected from the group consisting of a white pigment and a filler, provided on the white ink layer, and Printed matter characterized in that the exposed surface is composed of a release layer having an uneven shape. 9. The printed matter according to claim 8, further comprising an adhesive layer between said image forming section and said white ink layer. 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a protective layer between said white ink layer and said release layer.
Printed matter described in. 11. An image forming apparatus comprising: an adhesive layer between the image forming section and the white ink layer; and a protective layer between the white ink layer and the release layer. The printed matter according to claim 8, wherein 12. A recording method for producing a printed matter by applying thermal transfer to an image receiving sheet, wherein an image is formed by transferring a dye from a dye layer of the thermal transfer sheet to a base material or a receiving layer of the image receiving sheet. At least from the substrate sheet side, when thermally transferring a white transfer layer formed by laminating a release layer and a white ink layer in this order onto the image forming portion, the release layer is split near the middle in the thickness direction. A cohesive failure from the substrate sheet to peel off the exposed surface of the transferred peeling layer, thereby forming a concave-convex shape.