Transfer medium

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a transfer medium, to the transfer media produced by this method and to transfer printing methods.

Claims

1. A process for manufacturing a transfer medium suitable for ink-jet printing, comprising the steps: (a) applying a first aqueous liquid to a front side of a base substrate to be printed, wherein the base substrate has a porosity of 0-1,000 ml/min before application of the first aqueous liquid, and the first aqueous liquid comprises at least one hydrophilic organic polymer or a salt thereof and at least one water-soluble alkaline salt, wherein the hydrophilic organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, and a copolymer comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an acrylic acid, and acrylic acid ester, and wherein the water-soluble alkaline salt comprises (hydrogen)carbonate and a silicate, and subsequent drying; and (b) optionally applying a second aqueous liquid to a reverse side of the base substrate and subsequent drying, the second liquid optionally comprising a hydrophilic polymer or a salt thereof.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the base substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, or metal.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic organic polymer is present in the first aqueous liquid from 1-50 wt. %, based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the hydrophilic organic polymer is polyacrylic acid or a salt thereof (polyacrylate), and is present in the first aqueous liquid from 2-20 wt. %, based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the first aqueous liquid further comprises at least one filler in nanoparticulate or microparticulate form.

6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the first aqueous liquid comprises from 0.2-10 wt. % of filler based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

7. The process according to claim 6, wherein the first aqueous liquid comprises from 1-5 wt. % of filler based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

8. The process according to claim 5, wherein the at least one filler is an inorganic oxide.

9. The process according to claim 8, wherein said inorganic oxide is SiO.sub.2 or TiO.sub.2.

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the second aqueous liquid comprises a hydrophilic polymer.

11. The process according to claim 10, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate, starch, cellulose and derivatives thereof.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the first and optionally the second aqueous liquid is applied to the base substrate in an amount of 10-40 g/m.sup.2.

13. The process according to claim 12, wherein the first and optionally the second aqueous liquid is applied to the base substrate in an amount of 15-25 g/m.sup.2.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein after drying of the first aqueous liquid, a coating having a dry weight of 0.2-25 g/m.sup.2 is obtained on the front side of the base substrate.

15. The process according to claim 14, wherein said coating has a dry weight of 0.2-5 g/m.sup.2.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein after drying of the first aqueous liquid, a coating layer having a porosity of greater than 100 ml/min is obtained on the front side of the base substrate.

17. The process according to claim 1, wherein the first aqueous liquid further comprises at least one polyhydric alcohol.

18. The process according to claim 17, wherein the at least one polyhydric alcohol is glycerol.

19. The process according to claim 17, wherein the at least one polyhydric alcohol is in an amount of 0.1-1.5 wt. % based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

20. The process according to claim 1, wherein said base substrate has a porosity of 0-200 ml/min.

21. The process according to claim 20, wherein said base substrate has a porosity of 0-100 ml/min.

22. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one water-soluable alkaline salt is present in the first aqueous liquid from 1-5 wt.-%, based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

23. The process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one water-soluable alkaline salt is present in the first aqueous liquid from 0.2-10 wt. % based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1

(1) Preparation of the First Aqueous Liquid

(2) 100 g of water, 10 g of aqueous colloidal SiO.sub.2 (SiO.sub.2 content: 30 wt.-%), 4 g of Na.sub.2SiO.sub.3, 1 g of NaHCO.sub.3, 40 g of aqueous polyacrylic acid (polyacrylic acid content: 25 wt.-%) and 30 g of water are mixed together at room temperature in the respective order to give a clear first aqueous liquid.

(3) Production of Transfer Paper

(4) The first aqueous liquid obtained above was applied to a base paper having a porosity of 81 ml/min and a grammage of 80 g/m.sup.2 (KRPA, Czech Republic). The first aqueous liquid was applied by using a 12 m rod and then dried at 100 C. The dry weight of the coating layer was determined to be 0.864 g/m.sup.2.

(5) In order to determine the porosity of the coating layer, the first aqueous liquid was applied in the same manner as described above on a base paper having a porosity of 710 ml/min (Lenzing, 70 g/m.sup.2) and dried under the respective conditions. The porosity according to ISO standard 5636-3 of the coated paper is 420 ml/min and can be regarded as the porosity of the coating layer itself.

(6) Ink-Jet Printing

(7) Multicolor patterns using sublimable dyes (Jtech) were applied to the above-produced transfer medium via an ink-jet printer (EPSON). After 60 seconds, the printed transfer medium was completely dried and was used for a transfer printing process.

(8) The printed transfer medium had very clear outlines and did not show any tendency towards smearing.

(9) Transfer Printing

(10) The printed transfer medium was contacted with a piece of polyester fabric and was treated at about 200 C. for about 45 seconds in a press at 4 bar. Following completion of the transfer print, a textile fabric with a mirror-inverted ink-jet pattern was obtained, the outlines of which were very clear.

(11) As shown above, the method as well as the transfer media of the present invention provide very convenient means for transfer printing.

Example 2

(12) Preparation of the First Aqueous Liquid

(13) 440 g of water, 100 g of aqueous colloidal SiO.sub.2 (SiO.sub.2 content: 30 wt.-%), 33 g of Na.sub.2SiO.sub.3, 14 g of NaHCO.sub.3 and 310 g of aqueous polyacrylic acid (polyacrylic acid content: 35 wt.-%) are mixed together at room temperature to give a clear first aqueous liquid.

(14) Production of Transfer Paper

(15) The first aqueous liquid obtained above was applied to a base paper having a porosity of 150 ml/min and a grammage of 80 g/m.sup.2 (wood-free base paper). The first aqueous liquid was applied by using a 12 m rod and then dried at 100 C. The dry weight of the coating layer was determined to be 3 g/m.sup.2.

(16) The porosity according to ISO standard 5636-3 of the coated paper is 120 ml/min.

(17) The following items are also subject of the present invention:

(18) 1. A process for manufacturing a transfer medium, particularly for ink-jet printing, comprising the steps: (a) applying a first aqueous liquid to the front side of a base substrate to be printed, wherein the base substrate has a porosity of 0-1,000 ml/min, preferably 0-200 ml/min, more preferably 0-100 ml/min, and the first aqueous liquid comprises at least one hydrophilic organic polymer or a salt thereof, and subsequent drying; and (b) optionally applying a second aqueous liquid to the reverse side of the base substrate and subsequent drying, the second liquid optionally comprising a hydrophilic polymer or a salt thereof.

(19) 2. The process according to item 1, wherein the base substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, or metal.

(20) 3. The process according to item 2, wherein the base paper has a grammage of 20-120 g/m.sup.2, particularly of 35-90 g/m.sup.2.

(21) 4. The process according to any of items 1-3, wherein the hydrophilic organic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylester, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, a copolymer comprising at least one of an acrylic acid, acrylic acid ester, acryl amide and vinyl acetate or salts thereof, preferably polyacrylic acid or a salt thereof (polyacrylate).

(22) 5. The process according to item 1 or 2, wherein the first aqueous liquid comprises from 1-50 wt.-%, preferably 2-20 wt.-% of a hydrophilic organic polymer based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

(23) 6. The process according to any of items 1-5, wherein the first aqueous liquid further comprises at least one filler, e.g. in nanoparticulate or microparticulate form.

(24) 7. The process according to item 6, wherein the filler is an inorganic oxide, such as SiO.sub.2 or TiO.sub.2.

(25) 8. The process according to any of items 6 or 7, wherein the first aqueous liquid comprises from 0.2-10 wt.-%, preferably 1-5 wt.-% of filler based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

(26) 9. The process according to any of items 1-8, wherein the first aqueous liquid further comprises at least one alkaline salt, such as a (hydrogen)carbonate, silicate, aluminate, or phosphate salt.

(27) 10. The process according to item 9, wherein the first aqueous liquid comprises from 0.2-10 wt.-%, preferably 1-5 wt.-% of alkaline salt based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

(28) 11. The process according to any of items 1-10, wherein the second aqueous liquid comprises a hydrophilic polymer such as polyacrylate, starch, cellulose or derivatives thereof.

(29) 12. The process according to any of items 1-11, wherein the first and optionally the second aqueous liquid is applied to the base substrate in an amount of 10-40 g/m.sup.2, preferably 15-25 g/m.sup.2.

(30) 13. The process according to any of items 1-12, wherein after drying of the first aqueous liquid a coating having a dry weight of 0.2-25 g/m.sup.2, preferably 0.2-5 g/m.sup.2, is obtained on the front side of the base medium.

(31) 14. The process according to any of items 1-13, wherein after drying of the first aqueous liquid a coating layer having a porosity of greater than 100 ml/min is obtained on the front side of the base medium.

(32) 15. Use of an aqueous liquid which comprises at least one hydrophilic organic polymer, at least one filler and at least one alkaline salt for the production of a transfer medium, particularly for ink-jet printing.

(33) 16. Use of a base substrate, particularly a base paper, having a porosity of 0-1,000 ml/min, preferably from 0-200 ml/min, more preferably from 0-100 ml/min, for the production of a transfer medium, particularly for ink-jet printing.

(34) 17. A transfer medium, particularly for ink-jet printing, wherein the front side of a base substrate to be printed has a porosity of 0-1,000 ml/min, preferably 0-200 ml/mm, more preferably 0-100 ml/min, and is coated with a coating comprising at least one hydrophilic organic polymer.

(35) 18. A process for printing a transfer medium, wherein sublimable pigments are applied to the front side of a transfer medium according to item 17, for example by ink-jet printing.

(36) 19. A printed transfer medium for printing articles, in particular textiles, wherein sublimable pigments are applied to the front side of the transfer medium according to item 17.

(37) 20. A process for printing onto articles, in particular textiles, wherein the article to be printed is brought into contact with a printed transfer medium according to item 19 at increased temperature, such that sublimable pigments are transferred from the transfer medium to the article to be printed.

(38) 21. The process according to item 20, wherein the pigments are transferred to the article by means of roller printing, heat transfer roll press and/or heat transfer flat press.

(39) 22. The process according to any of items 1-14, wherein the first aqueous liquid further comprises at least one polyhydric alcohol, such as glycerol, preferably in an amount of 0.1-1.5 wt.-% based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.

(40) 23. The process according to any of items 1-14 and 22, wherein the first aqueous liquid further comprises at least one adhesive, such as blendex, preferably in an amount of 10-20 wt.-% based on the total mass of the first aqueous liquid.