A thermal transfer sheet, a combination of an intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet, method for producing a printed material using the thermal transfer sheet, and a decorative material, wherein the thermal transfer sheet includes a transfer layer on one surface of a substrate, the transfer layer having a single layer structure consisting only of a heat seal layer or a multilayer structure including a heat seal layer, and in a case where the transfer layer has the multilayer structure, the heat seal layer among the layers constituting the transfer layer is positioned closest to the substrate. The heat seal layer contains one or both of (i) a polyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 55° C. or more and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 15000 or less, and (ii) a polyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than 55° C.

A thermal transfer sheet, a combination of an intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet, method for producing a printed material using the thermal transfer sheet, and a decorative material, wherein the thermal transfer sheet includes a transfer layer on one surface of a substrate, the transfer layer having a single layer structure consisting only of a heat seal layer or a multilayer structure including a heat seal layer, and in a case where the transfer layer has the multilayer structure, the heat seal layer among the layers constituting the transfer layer is positioned closest to the substrate. The heat seal layer contains one or both of (i) a polyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 55° C. or more and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 15000 or less, and (ii) a polyester having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than 55° C.

The present invention further relates a sublimation printing process of a multilayer system comprising a polyester top layer and at least one heat sensitive polymer layer whereby a temperature gradient is applied during sublimation printing such that the heat sensitive polymer layer is maintained at a temperature below its melting temperature and the polyester top layer is maintained at a temperature above its glass transition temperature to allow diffusion of a sublimation dye into the polyester top layer. The temperature gradient is maintained by using a heat sink element beneath the heat sensitive polymer layer. The temperature gradient can also be maintained by cooling the heat sink element. The cooling preferably occurs with a circulating coolant. The heat sink element comprises a polymer, a ceramic or a metal. The invention further relates to a sublimation printed multilayer system comprising a polyester top layer and at least one heat sensitive polymer layer. The present invention also relates to the multilayer system in the manufacturing of textile, tents, outdoor gear, apparel, clothing, bags, jackets, gloves.

The invention relates to a self-adhesive, heat-sensitive recording material, comprising a carrier substrate, a heat-sensitive, color-forming layer that is applied on one side of the carrier substrate and contains at least a non-phenolic color developer in and at least one color former, a siliconized layer on the upper side of the heat-sensitive, color-forming layer that is applied on the carrier substrate, as well as an adhesive layer on the side of the carrier substrate facing away from the heat-sensitive, color-forming layer.

A thermosensitive recording medium includes a support; a first underlayer disposed on or above the support; a second underlayer disposed on or above the first underlayer; and a thermosensitive recording layer disposed on or above the second underlayer. The second underlayer and the thermosensitive recording layer are formed by simultaneous curtain coating. Surface smoothness of a surface of the thermosensitive recording medium is 1,000 s or greater.

A thermal transfer image receiving sheet includes: a substrate made of paper; a polyolefin resin layer formed on a first surface of the substrate; an adhesive layer formed on a second surface of the substrate facing away from the first surface; a porous layer formed on the adhesive layer; a foundation layer formed on the porous layer; and an image receiving layer formed on the foundation layer. A surface of the substrate, as defined in JIS B 0601:2001, has a maximum valley (undulation) depth Wv of 2.00 μm or less and a root mean square slope for the waviness WΔq of 0.013 or less. The porous layer has a thickness of 25 μm or more, and a thickness of the polyolefin resin layer is 0.2 to 3.0 times the thickness of the porous layer.

A heat-sensitive recording material has a web-shaped substrate, having a front side and a reverse side opposite the front side, a heat-sensitive recording layer disposed to the front side of the web-shaped substrate, including at least one dye precursor and at least one (color) developer reactive with this at least one dye precursor. A front-side surface of the heat-sensitive recording material is formed dehesively with respect to layers of adhesive applied to the reverse side of the web-shaped substrate. The dehesive front-side surface includes a furnish which is disposed above the heat-sensitive recording layer and comprises at least one release agent. A diffusion layer is formed between the furnish and the heat-sensitive recording layer. A method for producing a heat-sensitive recording material of this kind, and possibilities for its use.

A heat-sensitive recording material has a web-shaped substrate, having a front side and a reverse side opposite the front side, a heat-sensitive recording layer disposed to the front side of the web-shaped substrate, including at least one dye precursor and at least one (color) developer reactive with this at least one dye precursor. A front-side surface of the heat-sensitive recording material is formed dehesively with respect to layers of adhesive applied to the reverse side of the web-shaped substrate. The dehesive front-side surface includes a furnish which is disposed above the heat-sensitive recording layer and comprises at least one release agent. A diffusion layer is formed between the furnish and the heat-sensitive recording layer. A method for producing a heat-sensitive recording material of this kind, and possibilities for its use.

A set of laminates includes an outer laminate and an inner laminate, wherein the outer laminate includes a transparent polymeric support including on a first side of the support a color laser markable layer containing an infrared dye having an absorption maximum λ.sub.max(IR-1) in the infrared region; wherein the inner laminate includes a transparent polymeric support including on, a first side of the transparent polymeric support, a color laser markable layer containing an infrared dye having an absorption maximum λ.sub.max(IR-2) in the infrared region and, on a second side of the transparent polymeric support, a color laser markable layer containing an infrared dye having an absorption maximum λ.sub.max(IR-3) in the infrared region; and the conditions a) and b) are satisfied:
λ.sub.max(IR-1)>λ.sub.max(IR-2)>λ.sub.max(IR-3); and  a)
λ.sub.max(IR-1)>1100 nm and λ.sub.max(IR-3)<1000 nm.  b)

A set of laminates includes an outer laminate and an inner laminate, wherein the outer laminate includes a transparent polymeric support including on a first side of the support a color laser markable layer containing an infrared dye having an absorption maximum λ.sub.max(IR-1) in the infrared region; wherein the inner laminate includes a transparent polymeric support including on, a first side of the transparent polymeric support, a color laser markable layer containing an infrared dye having an absorption maximum λ.sub.max(IR-2) in the infrared region and, on a second side of the transparent polymeric support, a color laser markable layer containing an infrared dye having an absorption maximum λ.sub.max(IR-3) in the infrared region; and the conditions a) and b) are satisfied:
λ.sub.max(IR-1)>λ.sub.max(IR-2)>λ.sub.max(IR-3); and  a)
λ.sub.max(IR-1)>1100 nm and λ.sub.max(IR-3)<1000 nm.  b)