Thermal recording method and material

Abstract

An imaging process which comprises image-wise simultaneously exposing to heat and light or ultraviolet radiation an imaging material comprising a support having a layer of photosensitive microcapsules on the surface thereof, said microcapsules containing an internal phase including an image-forming agent and a photosensitve composition which undergoes a change in viscosity, melting point, softening point to heat and light or ultraviolet radiation but which remains essentially unchanged in the presence of either heat or light or ultraviolet radiation alone; assembling said imaging material with an image-receiving sheet and subjecting the assembly to a uniform transfer force such that said image-forming agent is image-wise transferred to said imaging material; wherein said photohardenable composition includes a free radical addition polymerizable or crosslinkable compound and an ionic dye-reactive counter ion compound, said ionic dye-reactive counter ion compound, said ionic dye-reactive counter ion compound being capable of absorbing light and producing free radicals which initiate free radical polymerization or crosslinking of said polymerizable or crosslinkable material in the presence of heat.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.