Image transfer material and polymer composition

Abstract

Provided is an image transfer material, comprising a support, optionally at least one barrier layer, a melt transfer layer, and an image receiving layer. Also provided is a process for preparing the image transfer material. Further provided is a heat transfer process using the disclosed material. In the heat transfer process, after imaging, the image receiving layer and melt transfer layer are peeled away from the optionally barrier-coated support material and placed, preferably image side up, on top of a receptor element. A non-stick sheet is then optionally placed over the imaged peeled material and heat is applied to the top of the optional non stick sheet. The melt transfer layer then melts and adheres the image to the receptor element. A composition comprising: at least one self-crosslinking polymer; and at least one dye retention aid.

1 . An image transfer sheet, comprising: 
 a support having a first and a second surface;    optionally at least one barrier layer on said first surface of said support;    a melt transfer layer on said optional at least one barrier layer; and    an image receiving layer on said melt transfer layer;    wherein    said image receiving layer is capable of heat sealing an image upon the application of heat up to 220° C.    
     
     
         2 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said image receiving layer comprises a self-crosslinking polymer.  
     
     
         3 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 2 , wherein said self-crosslinking polymer is a self-crosslinking ethylene vinyl acetate polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 2 , wherein said image receiving layer further comprises at least one dye retention aid.  
     
     
         5 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 4 , wherein said dye retention aid is a cationic polymer.  
     
     
         6 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 2 , wherein said image receiving layer further comprises a cationic polymer, a nylon copolymer, silica and EVA.  
     
     
         7 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 2 , wherein said image receiving layer further comprises an opacifying agent.  
     
     
         8 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 1 , which further comprises an antistatic layer on the second surface of said support sheet.  
     
     
         9 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said melt transfer layer is an extruded melt transfer layer.  
     
     
         10 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said melt transfer layer is a laminated melt transfer layer.  
     
     
         11 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said melt transfer layer comprises polyurethane.  
     
     
         12 . A kit comprising: 
 an image transfer sheet according to  claim 1;  and    optionally at least one of instructions for using said transfer sheet or a non-stick sheet.    
     
     
         13 . A process for preparing an image transfer sheet, comprising: 
 providing a support having a first and a second surface;    optionally applying at least one barrier layer to said first surface of said support;    applying a melt transfer layer on top of said at least one barrier layer; and    applying an image receiving layer on top of said melt transfer layer.    
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein said melt transfer layer is applied by extrusion coating.  
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein said melt transfer layer is applied by lamination.  
     
     
         16 . A process for preparing an image transfer sheet, comprising: 
 providing a support, which is optionally coated with a barrier layer;    applying a melt transfer layer to one side of said optionally barrier-coated support; and    applying an image receiving layer on top of said melt transfer layer.    
     
     
         17 . A process for heat transferring an imaged area from a transfer sheet to a receptor element, comprising the steps: 
 (a) providing an image transfer sheet according to  claim 1;     (b) imaging the surface of said image receiving layer opposite said melt transfer layer;    (c) peeling said imaged image receiving layer and said melt transfer layer away from said optionally barrier-coated support;    (d) placing the imaged image receiving layer and melt transfer layer on top of a receptor element, imaged side facing away from the receptor element;    (e) optionally placing a non-stick sheet on top of said imaged image receiving layer and melt transfer layer;    (f) applying heat to the peeled image or to the top of the non-stick sheet, if present.    
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein said heat is applied at a temperature from about 110 to 220 ° C.  
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein said heat is applied through said non-stick sheet to drive said imaged image receiving layer and melt transfer layer into said receptor element.  
     
     
         20 . A composition comprising: 
 at least one self-crosslinking polymer; and    at least one dye retention aid.    
     
     
         21 . The composition according to  claim 20 , wherein said self-crosslinking polymer is a self-crosslinking ethylene vinyl acetate polymer.  
     
     
         22 . The composition according to  claim 20 , further comprising at least one thermoplastic binder other than the self-crosslinking polymer.  
     
     
         23 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein said at least one thermoplastic binder is an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.  
     
     
         24 . The composition according to  claim 20 , wherein said dye retention aid is a cationic polymer.  
     
     
         25 . The composition according to  claim 20 , wherein said dye retention aid is at least one selected from the group consisting of a cationic polymer, a polyamide copolymer, silica and PVA.  
     
     
         26 . The composition according to  claim 20 , wherein said self-crosslinking polymer is present in an amount of 15-40% by weight based upon the dry solids weight of the formulation.  
     
     
         27 . The composition according to  claim 24 , wherein said cationic polymer is present in an amount of 1-10% by weight based upon the dry solids weight of the formulation.  
     
     
         28 . The composition according to  claim 20 , wherein said dye retention aid is a polyamide copolymer present in an amount of 5-40% by weight based upon the dry solids weight of the formulation.  
     
     
         29 . The composition according to  claim 22 , wherein said thermoplastic polymer other than the self-crosslinking polymer is present in an amount of 5-40% by weight based upon the dry solids weight of the formulation.  
     
     
         30 . The composition according to  claim 20 , wherein said dye retention aid is silica present in an amount of 5-60% by weight based upon the dry solids weight of the formulation.  
     
     
         31 . The composition according to  claim 20 , wherein said at least one dye retention aid is at least one selected from the group consisting of a cationic polymer, a polyamide copolymer, silica or PVA.  
     
     
         32 . The composition according to  claim 20 , further comprising an opacifying agent.  
     
     
         33 . The composition according to  claim 20 , comprising: 
 15-40% by weight of at least one self-crosslinking polymer;    5-40% by weight of at least one thermoplastic polymer other than said self-crosslinking polymer;    5-40% by weight of at least one polyamide copolymer;    1-10% by weight of at least one cationic polymer; and    5-60% by weight of silica,    wherein said % by weight is based upon a 100% total dry weight of the composition.    
     
     
         34 . The composition according to  claim 33 , comprising: 
 25-35% by weight of at least one self-crosslinking polymer;    10-30% by weight of at least one thermoplastic polymer other than said self-crosslinking polymer;    10-30% by weight of at least one polyamide copolymer;    1-4% by weight of at least one cationic polymer; and    10-40% by weight of silica,    wherein said % by weight is based upon a 100% total dry weight of the composition.    
     
     
         35 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one opaque layer between said melt transfer layer and said image receiving layer.  
     
     
         36 . An image transfer sheet, comprising: 
 a melt transfer layer;    an image receiving layer; and    at least one opaque layer between said melt transfer layer and said image receiving layer,    said image receiving layer is capable of heat sealing an image upon the application of heat up to 220° C.    
     
     
         37 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 36 , wherein said image receiving layer comprises a self-crosslinking polymer.  
     
     
         38 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 37 , wherein said self-crosslinking polymer is a self-crosslinking ethylene vinyl acetate polymer.  
     
     
         39 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 37 , wherein said image receiving layer further comprises at least one dye retention aid.  
     
     
         40 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 37 , wherein said dye retention aid is cationic polymer.  
     
     
         41 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 37 , wherein said image receiving layer further comprises an opacifying agent.  
     
     
         42 . The image transfer sheet according to  claim 1 , wherein said melt transfer layer comprises polyurethane.  
     
     
         43 . A kit comprising: 
 an image transfer sheet according to  claim 36;  and    optionally at least one of instructions for using said transfer sheet or a non-stick sheet.