Direct thermal printable media with side chain crystalline polymer material coating
AssigneeZebra Technologies Corporation
InventorsMarielle K. SMITH, Mohannad ABDO, Brian S. HUFFMAN, Sakhi K. SHAH
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Abstract
Direct thermal print media comprising side chain crystalline material are disclosed. The print media are substantially free of bis-phenols, and can retain color when subjected to light and/or temperatures ranging from, for example, −15° C. to 45° C. for long durations.
Claims34
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The method of claim 27, wherein the heat-sensitive polymer is selected from a side chain crystalline (SCC) polymer, or a side chain liquid crystal polymer (SCLCP).
The method of claim 27, wherein the heat-sensitive layer changing irreversibly to transparent or translucent at the selected locations is a result of a change in crystallinity of the heat-sensitive polymer.
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The method of claim 27, wherein the heat-sensitive layer has an optical transparency, prior to the heat exposure, sufficiently low to mask the pigmented layer.
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The method of claim 32, wherein the pigmented adhesive comprises carbon black in an amount sufficient to allow a dark color to be visible at the selected locations through the transparent or translucent substrate and the heat-sensitive layer after the heat-sensitive layer changes to transparent or translucent at the selected locations.
The method of claim 32, wherein the pigmented adhesive comprises about 1% to about 25% of pigment by weight.
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A method for preparing a thermal print media comprising:
- receiving a transparent substrate;
- coating a heat-sensitive layer comprising a heat-sensitive polymer and a binder on between 80% to 100% of a first surface of the substrate;
- coating a pigmented layer on between 80% to 100% of a second surface of the substrate, opposite the first surface;
- and
- wherein, the heat-sensitive layer prevents viewing of the pigmented layer after coating of both layers is completed, and in response to heat exposure above a predetermined threshold temperature applied at selected locations on the thermal print media, the heat-sensitive layer changes irreversibly to transparent or translucent at the selected locations, thereby revealing the pigmented layer's color at the selected locations.
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A method of producing a thermal print media, comprising:
- receiving a substrate having a pigmented surface,
- coating a heat-sensitive layer comprising a heat-sensitive polymer and a binder on the substrate,
- wherein, the heat-sensitive layer is opaque after the coating is completed, obscuring the pigmented surface, and in response to heat exposure above a predetermined threshold temperature applied at selected locations on the thermal print media, the heat-sensitive layer changes irreversibly to transparent or translucent at the selected locations, thereby revealing the pigmented surface's color at the selected locations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.