Laser addressable thermal transfer imaging element with an interlayer

Abstract

A thermal transfer donor element is provided which comprises a support, a light-to-heat conversion layer, an interlayer, and a thermal transfer layer. When the above donor element is brought into contact with a receptor and imagewise irradiated, an image is obtained which is free from contamination by the light-to-heat conversion layer. The construction and process of this invention is useful in making colored images including applications such as color proofs and color filter elements.

1 . A thermal transfer element comprising: 
 a substrate;    a thermal transfer layer;    a light-to-heat conversion light disposed between the substrate and the thermal transfer layer; and    an interlayer coated between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the transfer layer, wherein the light-to-heat conversion layer absorbs imaging radiation to convert the radiation into heat to enable imagewise transfer of the thermal transfer layer to a receptor without transferring significant portions of the interlayer such that the interlayer remains substantially intact when the thermal transfer layer is transferred from the thermal transfer element    
     
     
         2 . The thermal transfer element of  claim 1 , wherein the interlayer comprises one of a crosslinked material, a polymeric material, or a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         3 . The thermal transfer element of  claim 1 , wherein the interlayer is coated between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the transfer layer by solvent coating.  
     
     
         4 . The thermal transfer element of  claim 1 , wherein the interlayer is coated between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the transfer layer by vapor deposition.  
     
     
         5 . A process for transferring an image onto a receptor comprising the steps of: 
 providing on a substrate a light-to-heat conversion layer, a thermal transfer layer and an interlayer coated between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the thermal transfer layer;    placing the thermal transfer layer in contact with a surface of the receptor; and    irradiating the light-to-heat conversion layer in an imagewise pattern with a light source to thermally transfer portions of the thermal transfer layer corresponding to the imagewise pattern to the receptor without transferring significant portions of the interlayer such that the interlayer remains substantially intact when the thermal transfer layer is transferred to the receptor.    
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the interlayer is coated between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the transfer layer by solvent coating.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the interlayer is coated between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the transfer layer by vapor deposition.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the receptor comprises one of glass, a transparent film, or a liquid crystal display substrate.  
     
     
         9 . A thermal transfer element comprising: 
 a thermal transfer layer capable of being selectively transferred from the thermal transfer element to a receptor when the thermal transfer element is exposed to imaging radiation;    a light-to-heat conversion layer comprising a material that absorbs imaging radiation to convert the radiation into heat; and    an interlayer disposed between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the transfer layer, wherein the interlayer comprises an organic material and reduces the transfer of material from the light-to-heat conversion layer to the receptor during transfer of the thermal transfer layer from the thermal transfer element to the receptor.    
     
     
         10 . The thermal transfer element of  claim 9 , wherein the interlayer does not visibly distort or decompose under imaging conditions.  
     
     
         11 . The thermal transfer element of  claim 9 , wherein the interlayer remains substantially intact when the thermal transfer layer is transferred from the thermal transfer element.  
     
     
         12 . The thermal transfer element of  claim 9 , wherein the thermal transfer layer is transferred from the thermal transfer element without transferring significant portions of the interlayer.  
     
     
         13 . A process for transferring an image onto a receptor, the process comprising the steps of: 
 providing on a substrate a light-to-heat conversion layer, a thermal transfer layer, and an interlayer disposed between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the thermal transfer layer, wherein the interlayer comprises an organic material;    placing the thermal transfer layer in contact with a surface of the receptor; and    irradiating the light-to-heat conversion layer in an imagewise pattern with a light source to effect a separation between the thermal transfer layer and the light-to-heat conversion layer and a thermal transfer of portions of the thermal transfer layer corresponding to the imagewise pattern to the receptor.    
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the interlayer does not visibly distort or decompose under imaging conditions.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the interlayer remains substantially intact when the thermal transfer layer is transferred from the thermal transfer element.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the thermal transfer layer is transferred to the receptor without transferring significant portions of the interlayer.  
     
     
         17 . A thermal transfer element comprising: 
 a thermal transfer layer capable of being selectively transferred from the thermal transfer element when the thermal transfer element is exposed to imaging radiation;    a light-to-heat conversion layer comprising a material that absorbs imaging radiation to convert the radiation into heat; and    an interlayer disposed between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the transfer layer, wherein the interlayer comprises an organic material and provides a surface for releasing the transfer layer for selective transfer when the thermal transfer element is exposed to imaging radiation.    
     
     
         18 . The thermal transfer element of  claim 17 , wherein the interlayer is absorbing at the imaging radiation wavelength.  
     
     
         19 . The thermal transfer element of  claim 17 , wherein the light-to-heat conversion layer comprises carbon black dispersed in an organic polymeric binder.