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.

Provided is a releasing member-integrated transfer sheet capable of improving both the conveyability on forming an image on a transfer layer and the transferability on transferring the transfer layer onto a transfer receiving article. A releasing member-integrated transfer sheet includes a releasing member including a first support and an adhesive layer provided on the first support, and a transfer sheet including a second support and a transfer layer provided on the second support, the transfer sheet being integrated with the releasing member such that the adhesive layer is opposed to the second support. The transfer layer is peelable from the second support, and the adhesive force between the second support and the adhesive layer is smaller than the adhesive force between the first support and the adhesive layer to thereby make the releasing member separable from the transfer sheet.

Provided is a seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet capable of providing a seal section having novel designability. A seal-type thermal transfer image-receiving sheet includes a release section and a seal section integrated. The seal section is provided peelably from the release section. The seal section has a layered structure in which a pressure-adhesive layer and a receiving layer capable of receiving a sublimable dye are layered in the order mentioned from the side of the release section. When the seal section is peeled off from the release section, a reference plate and the seal section peeled off are superposed together, and a reflection density of the reference plate is measured from the side of the seal section, the value of the reflection density is 15% or more, on the presupposition that the reflection density of the reference plate before the superposition with the seal section is set to 100%.

A direct thermal and thermal transfer label combination is provided. The label includes a substrate, and the substrate includes a thermal print coating applied to a front side of the substrate. The label also includes a liner attached to a backside of the substrate along a first side of the liner. Further, an aqueous resin-based thermal transfer coating is applied to a second side of the liner. The front side of the label is capable of being imaged through direct thermal printing while the second side of the liner represents an opposite side of the label that is capable of being imaged through thermal transfer printing.

A direct thermal and thermal transfer label combination is provided. The label includes a substrate, and the substrate includes a thermal print coating applied to a front side of the substrate. The label also includes a liner attached to a backside of the substrate along a first side of the liner. Further, an aqueous resin-based thermal transfer coating is applied to a second side of the liner. The front side of the label is capable of being imaged through direct thermal printing while the second side of the liner represents an opposite side of the label that is capable of being imaged through thermal transfer printing.

A thermal transfer ribbon comprising a dye layer and a transferable protective layer repeatedly formed on one surface of a substrate, the transferable protective layer having a first layer formed on the substrate, and a second layer formed on the first layer. The first layer comprises an acrylic resin (X) containing methyl methacrylate, an acrylic resin (Y) containing a styrene resin, and a polyester resin (Z). X has a weight average molecular weight of 120000 or more, the mass ratio of X and Y is within the range of 1:9 to 9:1, and the mass of Z is 1% or more and 3% or less of the total mass of X and Y.

A thermal transfer ribbon comprising a dye layer and a transferable protective layer repeatedly formed on one surface of a substrate, the transferable protective layer having a first layer formed on the substrate, and a second layer formed on the first layer. The first layer comprises an acrylic resin (X) containing methyl methacrylate, an acrylic resin (Y) containing a styrene resin, and a polyester resin (Z). X has a weight average molecular weight of 120000 or more, the mass ratio of X and Y is within the range of 1:9 to 9:1, and the mass of Z is 1% or more and 3% or less of the total mass of X and Y.

Provided is a releasing member-integrated transfer sheet capable of improving both the conveyability on forming an image on a transfer layer and the transferability on transferring the transfer layer onto a transfer receiving article. A releasing member-integrated transfer sheet includes a releasing member including a first support and an adhesive layer provided on the first support, and a transfer sheet including a second support and a transfer layer provided on the second support, the transfer sheet being integrated with the releasing member such that the adhesive layer is opposed to the second support. The transfer layer is peelable from the second support, and the adhesive force between the second support and the adhesive layer is smaller than the adhesive force between the first support and the adhesive layer to thereby make the releasing member separable from the transfer sheet.

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.