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 thermal transfer layer that comprises a phosphor or fluorescent dye;    a light-to-heat conversion layer including a material that absorbs imaging radiation to convert the radiation into heat to produce an imaging temperature sufficient to enable transfer of the thermal transfer layer to a receptor; and    a temperature modulation interlayer coated between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the thermal transfer layer to modulate a temperature attained in the thermal transfer layer without transferring portions of the temperature modulation interlayer to the receptor as heat is transferred from the light-to-heat conversion layer to the thermal transfer layer,    wherein the temperature modulation interlayer comprises a crosslinked organic polymer.    
   
   
       2 . A thermal transfer element comprising: 
 a thermal transfer layer capable of being selectively transferred from the thermal transfer donor element when the thermal transfer donor element is exposed to imaging radiation, wherein the thermal transfer layer comprises a phosphor or fluorescent dye;    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 remains substantially intact when the thermal transfer element is exposed to imaging radiation to selectively transfer the thermal transfer layer, and    wherein the interlayer comprises a crosslinked organic polymer.    
   
   
       3 . A thermal transfer element comprising: 
 a substrate;    a thermal transfer layer that comprises a phosphor;    a light-to-heat conversion layer 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 transfer of the thermal transfer layer to a receptor without transferring significant portions of the interlayer, and    wherein the interlayer comprises a crosslinked organic polymer.