A light to heat conversion layer which has visible light permeability, excellent near infrared absorption characteristics, and which can improve the transfer accuracy of an organic electroluminescent element using laser irradiation; and a donor sheet using the light to heat conversion layer. The light to heat conversion layer contains near infrared absorption particles and a binder component. The near infrared absorption particles are composite tungsten oxide microparticles wherein if the value for the XRD peak intensity of the face of a silicon powder standard sample (manufactured by NIST, 640c) is defined as 1, the value for the ratio of XRD peak top intensity is at least 0.13, and the light transmissivity is at least 45%.

There are disclosed methods for producing curable elastomeric compositions comprising carbon black particles, as well as their corresponding cured products. Such compositions, once cured, can be used for the preparation of numerous articles of wide industrial applicability.

A thermal transfer recording medium includes a base, a release layer disposed on or above the base, and a thermally fusible ink layer disposed on or above the release layer. The release layer includes wax and ethylene-propylene-ethylidene norbornene rubber.

A thermal transfer sheet is provided, which allows for forming an image favorable to any transfer objects having a poor smoothness or a high smoothness. The thermal transfer sheet according to the present invention includes a substrate, and a transfer layer. The transfer layer includes a release layer, a colorant layer and an adhesive layer. The release layer includes a polyethylene glycol having a number average molecular weight Mn in a range of 8000 or more to 23000 or less, and the colorant layer includes a colorant and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer.

A visual security feature is provided that is disposed on a target. The visual security feature includes two substantially transparent layers. At least one of the two substantially transparent layers is present in an image-wise pattern.

An object is to provide a thermal transfer sheet that can prevent the occurrence of layer detachment and has high transferability for preventing the occurrence of transfer defects such as delamination trace and tailing. The thermal transfer sheet of the invention is characterized in that it includes a substrate, a release layer, and a transfer layer in that order, and the release layer contains at least one of alumina and alumina hydrate, and a binder resin.

Pattern transfer sheets and methods are provided for printing paste patterns (e.g., thin fingers) with a high aspect ratio and for increasing throughput in pattern transfer printing. Trenches in the pattern transfer sheets, that are configured to be filled with printing paste and to enable releasing the printing paste from the trenches onto a receiving substrate upon illumination by a laser beam—are coated internally by a coating configured to disintegrate upon the illumination. The coating is configured to enhance the releasing of the paste—increasing throughput and printing accuracy. The receiving substrate may be cleaned after paste deposition by removing disintegration products of the coating therefrom. Alternatively or complementarily, laser absorbing dye may be mixed into the printing paste to facilitate its release from the trenches.

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.

Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system includes a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles-coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate. The transfer member includes on its rear side a body transparent to EM radiation and on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer.

A visual security feature is provided that is disposed on a target. The visual security feature includes two substantially transparent layers. At least one of the two substantially transparent layers is present in an image-wise pattern.