Method of forming an image on a substrate
AssigneeDatalase Ltd.
InventorsAnthony N. Jarvis, Christopher Anthony Wyres, William Green, Martin Robert Walker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming an image on a substrate by applying energy, involves a substrate in or on which there are at least two different colour-change agents, i.e. a first colour-change agent capable of giving rise to at least two different colours; and a second colour-change agent capable of giving rise to at least one different colour than achievable with the first colour change agent. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a multi-layer laminate comprising, in order, a layer comprising the first agent, a barrier layer, and a layer comprising the second agent.
Claims28
A method of forming an image on a substrate in or on which there are at least two different colour-change agents, i.e.
- a first colour-change agent capable of giving rise to at least two different colours;
- and
- a second colour-change agent capable of giving rise to at least one different colour than achievable with the first colour change agent;
- and which comprises applying energy to the substrate so as to generate an image.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the second colour-change agent is capable of giving rise to yellow, cyan, magenta, black, and/or green colours.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the second colour-change agent comprises a thermal acid generator and a leuco dye.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the energy required to activate the first colour-change agent causes no or substantially no colour-change reaction in the second colour-change agent.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the energy required to cause the second colour-change agent to change colour, and causes the first colour-change agent to become essentially permanently deactivated with respect to any further colour-change reaction.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein an energy-absorbing agent is also included in or on the substrate.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second colour-change agents are in different layers on the substrate.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein there is in or on the substrate a third colour-change agent which is capable of forming a colour different from the first and second agents.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the energy comprises radiation having a wavelength in the range 100 nm to 32 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.