Stabilizer for infrared-absorbing cyanine colorant for laser-colorant transfer

A process of forming a laser thermal transfer image comprising imagewise-heating by means of a laser a colorant-donor element comprising a support having thereon a colorant layer comprising a colorant dispersed in a polymeric binder and transferring a colorant image to a colorant-receiving element to form said colorant transfer image, wherein said colorant layer has associated therewith an infrared-absorbing cyanine colorant having at least two sulfonic acid groups, said cyanine colorant having the following formula:

• wherein:
• each W independently represents the atoms necessary to form an optional 6-membered aromatic ring;
• each X independently represents sulfur or C(CH3)2;
• each Y independently represents an alkylene group having from about 2 to about 5 carbon atoms;
• Z is chlorine or an alkylsulfonyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• and
• each R independently represents an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms;
• and
• said colorant layer also containing a stabilizer comprising a phenoxy resin, a copolymer of vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate/maleic anhydride or a copolymer of styrene/4-vinylpyridine.

A laser thermal transfer assemblage comprising:

• a) a colorant-donor element comprising a support having thereon a colorant layer comprising a colorant dispersed in a polymeric binder, and
• b) a colorant-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a colorant image-receiving layer,
• said colorant-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with said colorant-donor element so that said colorant layer is in contact with said colorant image-receiving layer, wherein said colorant layer has associated therewith an infrared-absorbing cyanine colorant having at least two sulfonic acid groups, said cyanine colorant having following formula:
• wherein:
• each W independently represents the atoms necessary to form an optional 6-membered aromatic ring;
• each X independently represents sulfur or C(CH3)2;
• each Y independently represents an alkylene group having from about 2 to about 5 carbon atoms;
• Z is chlorine or an alkylsulfonyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms;
• and
• each R independently represents an alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms;
• and
• said colorant layer also containing a stabilizer comprising a phenoxy resin, a copolymer of vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate/maleic anhydride or a copolymer of styrene/4-vinylpyridine.