Heat transferable laminate

In a heat transferable laminate of the type including a carrier support and a solvent-based release layer coated onto the carrier support and wherein the solvent-based release layer is dried to evaporate the solvent contained therein and an ink design layer applied over the dried release layer forming a heat transferable substrate comprising the dried release layer and ink design layer, the substrate transferable from the carrier support to a receiving article upon application of heat to the carrier while said receiving article contacts the transferable substrate, an improved solvent-based release composition prior to drying comprising:

• a montan wax component;
• a film-forming thermoplastic binder, comprising a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of a rosin ester and a hydrocarbon resin, said rosin ester comprising pentaerythritol ester of rosin and said hydrocarbon resin comprising the product resulting from polymerization and hydrogenation of hydrocarbon monomer;
• a plasticizer-binder comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer;
• and
• a liquid solvent;
• the montan wax, film-forming binder and plasticizer binder being dissolved in said solvent to form a homogeneous solution,
• said homogeneous solution having a gel point of between about 75.degree. F. and 100.degree. F., said gel point temperature achieved by subjecting the solvent-based release composition to a temperature above its dissolving temperature.

A method of preparing a solvent-based release composition for use as a release coating in heat tranferable laminates which comprises:

• (a) preparing a mixture comprising a montan wax component;
• a film-forming binder comprising a thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of a rosin ester and a hydrocarbon resin;
• a plasticizer-binder comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer;
• and a liquid solvent,
• (b) heating said mixture to a temperature above its dissolving temperature,
• (c) maintaining the mixture in step (b) at the temperature above the dissolving temperature for a period of at least five minutes forming a homogeneous solution, wherein said solution upon cooling has a gel point temperature of between about 75.degree. F. to 100.degree. F.