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US 6,624,118 B2Granted
Image transfer element
AssigneeRexam Graphics Inc.
InventorsYu Ying Tang, Douglas Cahill, John McCue
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image transfer element that is capable of forming a multicolored image on a variety of substrates using a variety of imaging devices and its method of use are disclosed. The image transfer element comprises a releasable support, and an image-receiving layer over the support. The image-receiving layer comprises (1) a film-forming polymeric binder and (2) particles of a thermoplastic polymer, in which the particles have a particle size of about 1 to about 150 microns and the thermoplastic polymer has a Tm of about 50° C. to about 200° C.
Claims43
An image transfer element comprising:
- a releasable support, and
- an image-receiving layer over the support;
- in which:
- the image-receiving layer comprises a film-forming polymeric binder and particles of a thermoplastic polymer;
- the thermoplastic polymer has a Tm of about 50° C. to about 200° C.;
- the particles of the thermoplastic polymer have a particle size of 80 microns to about 150 microns;
- and
- the film-forming polymeric binder comprises about 5 to about 30 vol % of the image transfer layer, based on the volume of the particles of the thermoplastic polymer present in the layer.
5 more elements
A method of forming an image on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) forming an image on a surface of an image-receiving layer of an image transfer element and producing an imaged surface, the image transfer element comprising:
- a releasable support, and
- the image-receiving layer over the support;
- in which:
- the image-receiving layer comprises a film-forming polymeric binder and
- particles of a thermoplastic polymer;
- the thermoplastic polymer has a Tm of about 50° C. to about 200° C.;
- the particles of the thermoplastic polymer have a particle size of 80 microns to about 150 microns;
- and
- the film-forming polymeric binder comprises about 5 to about 30 vol % of the image transfer layer, based on the volume of the particles of the thermoplastic polymer present in the layer;
- (B) laminating the image transfer element to the substrate;
- in which:
- the imaged surface of the image-receiving layer is laminated to a surface of the substrate, and
- laminating is carried out at a temperature above the Tm of the thermoplastic polymer;
- and
- (C) removing the releasable support.
13 more elements
An imaged substrate prepared by the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) forming an image on a surface of an image-receiving layer of an image transfer element and producing an imaged surface, the image transfer element comprising:
- a releasable support, and
- the image-receiving layer over the support;
- in which:
- the image-receiving layer comprises a film-forming polymeric binder and particles of a thermoplastic polymer;
- the thermoplastic polymer has a Tm of about 50° C. to about 200° C.;
- the particles of the thermoplastic polymer have a particle size of 80 microns to about 150 microns;
- and
- the film-forming polymeric binder comprises about 5 to about 30 vol % of the image transfer layer, based on the volume of the particles of the thermoplastic polymer present in the layer;
- (B) laminating the image transfer element to the substrate;
- in which:
- the imaged surface of the image-receiving layer is laminated to a surface of the substrate, and
- laminating is carried out at a temperature above the Tm of the thermoplastic polymer;
- and
- (C) removing the releasable support.
12 more elements
An image transfer element comprising:
- a releasable support, and
- an image-receiving layer over the support;
- in which:
- the image-receiving layer comprises a film-forming polymeric binder and particles of a first thermoplastic polymer and a second thermoplastic polymer;
- each of the first and second thermoplastic polymers has a Tm of about 50° C. to about 200° C.;
- the particles of the first thermoplastic polymer have a particle size of 80 microns to about 150 microns, and the particles of the second thermoplastic polymer have a particle size of about 10 microns, wherein a weight average particle size of
- the first and second thermoplastic polymers taken together is greater than about 68;
- and
- the film-forming polymeric binder comprises about 5 to about 30 vol % of the image transfer layer, based on the volume of the particles of the thermoplastic polymer present in the layer.
6 more elements
A method of forming an image on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) forming an image on a surface of an image-receiving layer of an image transfer element and producing an imaged surface, the image transfer element comprising:
- a releasable support, and
- the image-receiving layer over the support;
- in which:
- the image-receiving layer comprises a film-forming polymeric binder and particles of a first thermoplastic polymer and a second thermoplastic polymer;
- each of the first and second thermoplastic polymers has a Tm of about 50° C. to about 200° C.;
- the particles of the first thermoplastic polymer have a particle size of 80 microns to about 150 microns, and the particles of the second thermoplastic polymer have a particle size of 10 microns, wherein a weight average particle size of the first and second thermoplastic polymers taken together is greater than about 68;
- and
- the film-forming polymeric binder comprises about 5 to about 30 vol % of the image transfer layer, based on the volume of the particles of the thermoplastic polymer present in the layer;
- (B) laminating the image transfer element to the substrate;
- in which:
- the imaged surface of the image-receiving layer is laminated to a surface of the substrate, and
- laminating is carried out at a temperature above the Tm of the thermoplastic polymer;
- and
- (C) removing the releasable support.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.