Thermal dye-transfer receiver element with microvoided layer
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsThomas M. Laney, Teh-Ming Kung
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Abstract
Disclosed is a thermal dye-transfer dye-image receiving element comprising a thermal dye-transfer receiver element comprising a dye-receiving layer 1; beneath layer 1, a microvoided layer 2 containing a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein a mixture of crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix; beneath layer 2, a substrate layer 3 comprised of a voided or non-voided polyester material; and beneath layer 3, a composite support 4. The invention provides a receiver exhibiting an improved combination of dye-transfer efficiency and robustness.
Claims38
A thermal dye-transfer receiver element comprising:
- (a) a dye-receiving layer 1;
- (b) beneath layer 1, a microvoided layer 2 containing a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein a mixture of crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix, said layer 2 having a void volume of at least 25% by volume;
- (c) beneath layer 2, a substrate layer 3 comprised of a voided or non-voided polyester material;
- and
- (d) beneath layer 3, a support 4.
A process for making a thermal dye-transfer receiving element comprising the following steps:
- a) coextruding to form a cast composite film comprising at least two layers, a first layer comprising a non-voided thermoplastic polymeric material and a second layer comprising a continuous phase polymer matrix having dispersed therein crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix;
- and
- b) stretching said cast composite film biaxially to reduce its thickness, thereby obtaining an oriented composite film comprising, as the first layer, a dye-receiving layer and, as the second layer, a microvoided compliant layer.
A process for making a thermal dye-transfer receiver element comprising the following steps:
- a) coextruding to form a cast composite film comprising at least three layers, a first layer comprising a non-voided thermoplastic polymeric material, a second layer comprising a continuous phase polymer matrix having dispersed therein crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix, and a third layer comprising a voided or non-voided thermoplastic material;
- and
- b) stretching said cast composite film to reduce its thickness, thereby obtaining an oriented composite film comprising, as the first layer, a dye-image receiving layer, as the second layer a microvoided compliant layer, and as a third layer, a microvoided or non-voided underlayer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.