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.

A stratified support item for printing on a surface with sublimation inks is disclosed. The surface may include, for example, clothing items, such as T-shirts, sweatshirts or the like. The stratified support item includes a thermo-adhesive layer configured to adhere to the surface and at least one finish layer configured to receive said sublimation inks. The finish layer includes a powder, which is comprised of at least one from the group of (i) a polyester powder, and (ii) a polyamide powder, incorporated in a matrix of polymeric material.

The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet according to the present disclosure includes a receiving layer, a front substrate, a porous layer, and a rear substrate in this order and further includes a metal-containing layer interposed between the receiving layer and the front substrate or between the front substrate and the porous layer. The thermal conductivity of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet which is measured on the receiving layer-side is 0.38 W/m.Math.K or less. The Martens hardness of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet which is measured on the receiving layer-side is 10.0 N/mm.sup.2 or less. The 45-degree specular gloss of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet which is measured on the receiving layer-side is 800 or more.

A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present disclosure is characterized by including a substrate, a heat-sensitive recess-forming layer, and a receiving layer, in which the heat-sensitive recess-forming layer has a thickness of 40 μm or more, and a recess to be formed by application of an energy of 0.27 mJ/dot from a side of the receiving layer through a film including a 1-μm-thick back layer disposed on a poly(ethylene terephthalate) film having a thickness of 4 μm has a depth of 5 μm or more.

An intermediate transfer medium that allows formation of high-density images on a transfer layer while suppressing printing unevenness and provides good foil cutting properties of the transfer layer, a combination of the intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet, and a method for forming a print using the intermediate transfer medium. In an intermediate transfer medium having a transfer layer on a substrate, the transfer layer has a single layer structure including only a receiving layer or a layered structure including the receiving layer. When the transfer layer has the layered structure, the receiving layer is located furthest from the substrate among layers constituting the transfer layer. The receiving layer contains a binder resin having a number average molecular weight of 8000-32000 and a release agent. The content of the release agent based on the total mass of the receiving layer is 6% by mass or more.

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 thermally expandable sheet includes: a first thermally expansive layer that is formed on one side of a base and contains a first thermally expandable material and a first binder, the first thermally expansive layer having a first ratio of the first thermally expandable material with respect to the first binder; and a second thermally expansive layer that is formed on the first thermally expansive layer and contains a second thermally expandable material and a second binder, the second thermally expansive layer having a second ratio of the second thermally expandable material with respect to the second binder, wherein the first ratio is lower than the second ratio.

The present invention relates to a thermally printable paper article with an elastomeric underlayer, which imparts improved printing performance.

A printable structure is configured to create a temporary bind as one half of a hook and loop connection with another half of the hook and loop connection. The printable structure includes a substrate, an adhesive layer, and a print-receptive topcoat. The substrate has two opposing surfaces including a fastening surface that is one of a hook fastening surface and a loop fastening surface of the hook and loop connection and including a textured surface that is textured with surface relief in a direction parallel to a direction of thickness of the printable structure. The adhesive layer is coupled to the textured surface of the substrate. The print-receptive topcoat is coupled to the adhesive layer on a side opposite the substrate. The adhesive layer fills in the surface relief such that there are no un-filled gaps beneath the print-receptive topcoat to level the print-receptive topcoat.

This invention relates to a conductive thermal image receiver element that has an aqueous coatable dye-receiving layer. The dye-receiving layer comprises a conductive polymeric material, a dispersant, one or more surfactants, one or more antifoamers, a water-dispersible release agent, a crosslinking agent, and a polymer binder matrix consisting essentially of a water-dispersible polyester and a water-dispersible acrylic polymer. This invention also relates to a method for making this thermal image receiver element as well as method for using it to provide a dye image by thermal transfer from a donor element.