In a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, the total thickness thereof is 250 μm or less, a seal portion has a layered structure in which a pressure-adhesive layer, a seal portion substrate, and a receiving layer are layered in this order from a release portion side. A release portion has a layered structure in which a surface resin layer, a release portion paper substrate, and a back face resin layer are layered in this order from a seal portion side. One or both of the seal portion substrate and the surface resin layer includes a layer made of polyethylene terephthalate is 50 μm or more. The sum of the thickness of the seal portion substrate and the thickness of the surface resin layer is four times or more the thickness of the back face resin layer, and the thickness of the back face resin layer is 20 μm or more.

In a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, the total thickness thereof is 250 μm or less, a seal portion has a layered structure in which a pressure-adhesive layer, a seal portion substrate, and a receiving layer are layered in this order from a release portion side. A release portion has a layered structure in which a surface resin layer, a release portion paper substrate, and a back face resin layer are layered in this order from a seal portion side. One or both of the seal portion substrate and the surface resin layer includes a layer made of polyethylene terephthalate is 50 μm or more. The sum of the thickness of the seal portion substrate and the thickness of the surface resin layer is four times or more the thickness of the back face resin layer, and the thickness of the back face resin layer is 20 μm or more.

[Problem] To provide a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that enables a high-density image to be formed on the receiving layer, has high easiness of cutting, and in addition, has high concave curl generation preventiveness.

[Solution] A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to the present invention is characterized by including a first extrusion resin layer, a substrate, a second extrusion resin layer, a porous layer, and a receiving layer, wherein the ratio of the total of the thickness of the second extrusion resin layer and the thickness of the porous layer to the thickness of the first extrusion resin layer (the total of the thickness of the second extrusion resin layer and the thickness of the porous layer/the thick of the first extrusion resin layer) is 1.05 or more and 1.40 or less, and the substrate has a bending resistance of 1600 mg or more and 2500 mg or less.

[Problem] To provide a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet that enables a high-density image to be formed on the receiving layer, has high easiness of cutting, and in addition, has high concave curl generation preventiveness.

[Solution] A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to the present invention is characterized by including a first extrusion resin layer, a substrate, a second extrusion resin layer, a porous layer, and a receiving layer, wherein the ratio of the total of the thickness of the second extrusion resin layer and the thickness of the porous layer to the thickness of the first extrusion resin layer (the total of the thickness of the second extrusion resin layer and the thickness of the porous layer/the thick of the first extrusion resin layer) is 1.05 or more and 1.40 or less, and the substrate has a bending resistance of 1600 mg or more and 2500 mg or less.

Dispersible record materials or media include a water-soluble or water-dispersible paper substrate, a printable layer carried by the substrate, and a base coat between the substrate and the printable layer. The printable layer may be a thermally responsive layer, e.g. containing a leuco dye and an acidic color developer, or an inkjet receptive layer. The binder material used in the base coat, and the base coat itself, are non-water-soluble, but nevertheless tailored in such a way that the record material as a whole is water-dispersible, i.e., it breaks apart under the influence of water with minimal agitation. The binder material of the base coat is preferably a non-resinous binder, a particulate binder, and/or a binder derived from a dispersion, such as latex. Use of such a binder material in a carefully selected concentration, with other elements, provides a base coat that allows for high quality images to be thermally printed at high print speeds on the thermally responsive layer.

Dispersible record materials or media include a water-soluble or water-dispersible paper substrate, a printable layer carried by the substrate, and a base coat between the substrate and the printable layer. The printable layer may be a thermally responsive layer, e.g. containing a leuco dye and an acidic color developer, or an inkjet receptive layer. The binder material used in the base coat, and the base coat itself, are non-water-soluble, but nevertheless tailored in such a way that the record material as a whole is water-dispersible, i.e., it breaks apart under the influence of water with minimal agitation. The binder material of the base coat is preferably a non-resinous binder, a particulate binder, and/or a binder derived from a dispersion, such as latex. Use of such a binder material in a carefully selected concentration, with other elements, provides a base coat that allows for high quality images to be thermally printed at high print speeds on the thermally responsive layer.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new polymer coating for low temperature plastics and plastic foams that allows for the application of disperse dyes in a sublimation process that preserves the original properties of the underlying plastic substrate. The composition includes an optically clear synthetic organic polymer base holding two layers, a first reflective layer supported by the low temperature plastic substrate that includes IR radiation reflecting additives, and a second layer supported by the first layer having light scattering particulate additives. The disperse dyes utilized in the invention may include additives to absorb IR radiation provided by an external IR source positioned above the disperse dyes causing the dyes to sublimate and diffuse quickly into the light scattering layer. The combination of these layers allows for diffusion of the disperse dye ink into the light scattering layer while protecting the low temperature plastic below.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new polymer coating for low temperature plastics and plastic foams that allows for the application of disperse dyes in a sublimation process that preserves the original properties of the underlying plastic substrate. The composition includes an optically clear synthetic organic polymer base holding two layers, a first reflective layer supported by the low temperature plastic substrate that includes IR radiation reflecting additives, and a second layer supported by the first layer having light scattering particulate additives. The disperse dyes utilized in the invention may include additives to absorb IR radiation provided by an external IR source positioned above the disperse dyes causing the dyes to sublimate and diffuse quickly into the light scattering layer. The combination of these layers allows for diffusion of the disperse dye ink into the light scattering layer while protecting the low temperature plastic below.

The invention relates to a method for transferring colored markings or labels onto plastic surfaces by means of a laser beam, to a transfer medium for carrying out said method and to articles, the plastic surfaces of which are laser-marked or laser-labeled by way of such a method.

Disclosed is a heat-sensitive recording material comprising an undercoat layer and a heat-sensitive recording layer in this order on a support, the undercoat layer containing hollow particles, a binder, and an inorganic pigment I, the heat-sensitive recording layer containing a leuco dye, a developer, and an inorganic pigment II, and the heat-sensitive recording layer containing an N,N′-diarylurea-based compound represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001## wherein R.sub.2s may be the same or different, and each represents C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.7-12 aralkyl, or C.sub.6-12 aryl, and the aralkyl and the aryl may be each substituted with C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.1-12 alkoxy, C.sub.6-12 aryl, or halogen; A.sub.1s may be the same or different, and each represents hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl, as the developer, and a pigment with an oil absorption of 130 ml/100 g or less as the inorganic pigment II.