JP2002019293A - Laser thermal transfer recording material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser thermal transfer recording material, which has high sensitivity, wide abrasion point and correct exposure range, with which uniform images free of uneven banding due to a laser head can be obtained and which is excellent in productivity and preservability. SOLUTION: In the laser thermal transfer recording material having a polyamic acid-containing photothermal conversion layer and an ink layer including a thermoplastic resin and a coloring agent, the photothermal conversion layer includes an infrared absorbing coloring matter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laser thermal transfer recording material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the field of graphic arts, a set of color separation films is produced from a color original using a squirrel film, and printing plates are printed.
Prior to the actual printing (actual printing operation), a color proof is prepared from a color separation film, and an error in a color separation step, a necessity of color correction, and the like are generally performed. As a material for the color proof, it is considered preferable to use printing paper from the similarity with actual printed matter, and to use a pigment as a coloring material, and to provide a high resolution which enables high reproducibility of a halftone image. Realization and high process stability are also desired. Further, there is a high demand for a dry-type proof production method that does not use a developer.

Further, with the recent widespread use of computerized systems in the pre-printing process (prepress field), there has been an increasing demand for materials and recording systems for producing color proofs directly from digital signals. In an electronic system, it is particularly necessary to produce a color proof of high image quality, and it is generally necessary to reproduce a halftone image of 150 lines / inch or more. In order to record a high-quality proof from a digital signal, it is necessary to use a laser beam which can be modulated by the digital signal and can narrow down the recording light as a recording head. For this reason, it is necessary to develop a recording material that exhibits high recording sensitivity to laser light and high resolution that enables high-definition halftone dots to be reproduced.

Conventionally, as a recording material used in a transfer image forming method using a laser beam, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H5-58
No. 045, a photo-thermal conversion layer that absorbs laser light to generate heat and an image-forming layer made of a pigment dispersed in components such as a hot-melt wax and a binder are described. Or a hot-melt transfer sheet
-104882 or JP-A-4-208496, image formation comprising a photothermal conversion layer that absorbs laser light and generates heat on a support, and a sublimable dye dispersed in a binder Sublimable dye transfer sheets having layers in this order are known. In the image forming method using these recording materials, the heat generated in the light-to-heat conversion layer in the region irradiated with the laser beam causes the image forming layer corresponding to the region to be thermally fused in the former case, and in the latter case in the latter case. By sublimation of the sublimable dye, the dye is transferred onto an image receiving sheet laminated on the transfer sheet, and a transfer image is formed on the image receiving sheet.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-501552 discloses an example of a recording material using a laser beam having a high resolving power capable of reproducing a high-definition halftone dot on a transparent support. A heat-fluid image-forming surface layer and a porous or particulate image-forming substance layer are arranged, and a laser beam is applied to the layer to fix the image-forming substance layer at the irradiated portion to a support. There is known a method of forming a replica image of an image forming substance on the surface of a support by stripping off a portion not irradiated with a laser beam.

In the above image forming method, the image is formed on a transparent support as it is, so that the support is limited.
Further, it is not suitable for the production of a color proof where it is desirable to form a multicolor image on a printing paper or the like because no consideration is given to the formation of a multicolor image. For this reason, an image forming method which can be used for the purpose of forming a multicolor image on a printing paper has been developed.

JP-A-6-219052 discloses that a light-to-heat conversion layer containing a light-to-heat conversion substance, a very thin layer (0.
A heat-release layer having a thickness of from 0.3 to 0.3 μm) and an image-forming layer containing a colorant are provided in this order, and the heat-release layer is interposed between the image-forming layer and the light-to-heat conversion layer. An image forming method for forming a high-definition image on an image receiving sheet laminated on the thermal transfer recording material using a thermal transfer recording material whose bonding force is reduced by irradiation with a laser beam is described. The image forming system used in this image forming method is a system using so-called "ablation", and specifically, the thermal peeling layer partially decomposes and vaporizes in a region irradiated with laser light, This utilizes a phenomenon in which the bonding force between the image forming layer and the light-to-heat conversion layer in that region is weakened, and the image forming layer in that region is transferred to an image receiving sheet laminated thereon. An image forming method utilizing this ablation can use a printing paper sheet provided with an image receiving layer (adhesive layer) as an image receiving sheet material, and produce images of different colors and superimpose them on the image receiving sheet one after another. Therefore, there are many advantages such that a multi-color image can be easily obtained, and a high-definition image can be easily obtained. In particular, a color proof (DDCP: direct digital color proof) or a high definition It can be said that this method is useful for producing a simple mask image.

Each layer of the thermal transfer recording material used in the above image forming method is formed by using a multilayer coating method.
It is desired that the coating liquid for each layer be easily applied and formed into a film. The light-to-heat conversion layer is a layer composed of a light-to-heat conversion substance (usually a dye capable of absorbing laser light) and a binder. The binder has a high dispersibility with the light-to-heat conversion substance, and in particular, is irradiated with a laser. When this layer is formed, the layer is required to have an excellent heat resistance since the temperature becomes extremely high. Conventionally, as a binder of the light-to-heat conversion layer, for example, JP-A-5-58045 or JP-A-6-58045.
No. 219052, homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic monomers such as acrylic acid,
Cellulose polymers such as cellulose acetate, polystyrene, vinyl chloride / vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl polymers such as polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl alcohol, condensation polymers such as polyester and polyamide, and rubber polymers such as butadiene / styrene copolymer Thermoplastic polymers, polyurethanes, polyimides, epoxy resins, and urea / melamine resins. Among these, polyimide resins have excellent heat resistance, but there is a problem that, in practice, when forming a photothermal conversion layer by coating, the resin is extremely poor in solubility in a solvent and is difficult to use. For this reason, at present, polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, and polyester are preferably used.

However, according to the study of the present inventor,
When the light-to-heat conversion layer is formed using a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol as described above, generally the moisture resistance is poor, and when the pigment is aggregated when stored for a long time under high temperature and high humidity. was there. On the other hand, when the light-to-heat conversion layer is formed using polyvinyl butyral, a polyester resin, or the like, in which the above-described phenomenon is relatively unlikely to occur, a coating solution for forming a heat-sensitive release layer, which is then applied to the surface of the light-to-heat conversion layer, Alternatively, the light-to-heat conversion layer is immersed in a solvent contained in the coating liquid for forming an image-forming layer, and the dye contained in the light-to-heat conversion layer is transferred to the layers above them, and as a result, the performance (for example, sensitivity) of the light-to-heat conversion layer Was found to be reduced or fogging sometimes occurred. In addition, the above-mentioned polymers do not have sufficient heat resistance, and therefore are liable to undergo thermal decomposition and thermal fusion during laser recording, whereby part of the light-to-heat conversion layer is transferred together with the image forming layer, and a good image is obtained. It was also found that they could not be obtained or the transcription operation could be inhibited.

Therefore, there is a demand for a solution to the above problems.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a high sensitivity, a wide ablation point and a suitable exposure range, a uniform image free of banding unevenness caused by a laser head, and a high productivity. Another object of the present invention is to provide a laser thermal transfer recording material having excellent storage stability.

[0012]

The above objects of the present invention have been attained by the following items 1 to 7.

1. A laser thermal transfer recording material having a photothermal conversion layer containing a polyamic acid, an ink layer containing a thermoplastic resin and a colorant on a support, wherein the photothermal conversion layer contains an infrared absorbing dye. Recording material.

2. The light-to-heat conversion layer or the ink layer has a matting agent whose projection height with respect to the surface of the ink layer is 0.5 to 3.5 μm, and the matting agent is 400 to 400 μm.
^2. The laser thermal transfer recording material according to the above item 1, wherein the material has 0 / mm ² .

3. In a laser thermal transfer recording material having a photothermal conversion layer containing a polyamic acid on a support and an ink layer containing a thermoplastic resin and a colorant, a water-soluble resin or water is provided between the photothermal conversion layer and the ink layer. A laser thermal transfer recording material comprising an intermediate layer containing a dispersible resin as a main component.

4. 4. The water-soluble resin according to the item 3, wherein the water-soluble resin is at least one selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polyamide and modified products thereof. Laser thermal transfer recording material.

5. 5. The laser thermal transfer recording material as described in 3 or 4, wherein the water-soluble resin or the water-dispersible resin is a thermoplastic elastomer.

6. 6. The laser thermal transfer recording material according to the item 5, wherein the water-dispersible resin is a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer containing fluorine or silicone, respectively.

[7] 7. The laser thermal transfer recording material according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the ink layer contains a fluorine-based surfactant.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. The material constituting the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention will be described below.

The support for the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention is not particularly limited, and various support materials can be used according to the purpose. Preferred examples of such a support material include synthetic resin materials such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene-2,6-naphthalate, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer. Can be mentioned. Above all, biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate is preferable in consideration of mechanical strength and dimensional stability against heat. The support of the thermal transfer recording material is preferably formed of a transparent synthetic resin material that transmits laser light.

The photothermal conversion layer according to the present invention will be described. The light-to-heat conversion layer according to the present invention contains a light-to-heat conversion material and a polyamic acid, and an infrared absorption dye is used as the light-to-heat conversion material. The infrared absorbing dye according to the present invention has a wavelength of 760 n.
a dye or a pigment that effectively absorbs infrared rays having a wavelength of 760 nm to 120 nm.
A dye or pigment having an absorption maximum at 0 nm.

As the dye, commercially available dyes and known dyes described in literatures such as "Dye Handbook" (edited by The Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, published in 1970) can be used. Specifically, azo dyes, metal complex salt azo dyes, pyrazolone azo dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, anthraquinone dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, carbonium dyes, quinone imine dyes, methine dyes (including polymethine dyes),
Dyes such as cyanine dyes, squarylium dyes, pyrylium salts, metal thiolate complexes and the like can be mentioned.

Preferred dyes include, for example, those described in
JP-A-8-125246, JP-A-59-84356, JP-A-59-202829, JP-A-60-7
No. 8787, cyanine dyes described in JP-A-58-173696 and JP-A-58-18169.
No. 0, JP-A-58-194595 and the like, methine dyes described in JP-A-58-112793, JP-A-58-224793, and JP-A-59-4.
Naphthoquinone dyes described in JP-A-8187, JP-A-59-73996, JP-A-60-52940, JP-A-60-63744, etc .;
And squarylium dyes described in JP-A-112792 and cyanine dyes described in British Patent No. 434,875.

Also, a near infrared absorption sensitizer described in US Pat. No. 5,156,938 is preferably used, and a substituted aryl benzo (described in US Pat. No. 3,881,924) can be used. Thio) pyrylium salt; JP-A-57-1426
No. 45 (US Pat. No. 4,327,169)
Trimethinethiapyrylium salt described in JP-A-58-18
Nos. 1051 and 58-22143, 59
JP-A-41363, JP-A-59-84248, and JP-A-5-84248
Nos. 9-84249 and 59-146063,
Pyrylium compounds described in JP-A-59-146061; cyanine dyes described in JP-A-59-216146; pentamethine thiopyrylium salts described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,475; Tokuhei 5-1
Pyrylium compounds disclosed in JP-A-3514 and JP-A-5-19702 are also preferably used.

Further, as another preferred example of the dye, the compound represented by formula (I) described in US Pat. No. 4,756,993
Near-infrared absorbing dyes described as (II) can be mentioned.

Among these dyes, particularly preferred are cyanine dyes, squarylium dyes, pyrylium salts, and nickel thiolate complexes.

The pigment used in the present invention includes:
Commercial Pigment and Color Index (CI) Handbook, “Latest Pigment Handbook” (edited by Japan Pigment Technical Association, 1977)
Annual Publication), “Latest Pigment Application Technology” (CMC Publishing, 1986)
Pigments described in "Printing Ink Technology" (CMC Publishing, 1984).

Among the above infrared absorbing dyes, when the transmission density at the maximum absorption wavelength in a solvent is 1.0, 420
Dyes having a transmission density in nm of less than 0.03 are preferred, more preferably 0.025 or less, and particularly preferably 0.02 or less.

In the present invention, a dye (or a dye) having a transmission density of less than 0.03 at 420 nm when the transmission density at the maximum absorption wavelength is 1.0 in a solvent is defined as the dye having the maximum absorption wavelength in methyl ethyl ketone. A compound having a transmission density at 420 nm of less than 0.03 when the transmission density is 1.0. Further, the maximum absorption wavelength is preferably from 600 to 900 nm, and more preferably the maximum absorption wavelength is from 750 to 900 nm.

Such an infrared-absorbing dye not only has a high absorption efficiency and a high heat-to-heat conversion efficiency of an infrared laser, which is a recording light, but also has a visible portion even if ablation occurs because the light-to-heat conversion layer scatters due to rapid heating. Can be preferably used because the image does not cause color turbidity due to low absorption.

As described above, the dyes having a transmission density at 420 nm of less than 0.03 when the transmission density at the maximum absorption wavelength is 1.0 in a solvent are represented by the following general formulas (1) to (9). The compound represented by is preferably used.

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In the formula, A ₁ and B ₁ represent a substituent.

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In the formula, A ₂ and B ₂ represent a substituent.

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In the formula, R _{1 to} R ₄ represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. A ₃ , B ₃ , A _4, and B ₄ represent the original group when rotated by 180 ° around a line connecting the carbon atom and the bond point to the carbon atom represented by C in the general formula. Represents a group that can completely overlap with

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In the formula, R _{1 to} R ₄ represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. ZA3, ZB3, ZA4 and ZB4 represent an atomic group necessary for constructing a 6-membered hetero ring together with carbon atoms.

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In the formula, X ₁ and X ₂ each represent an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom or a tellurium atom, and R ₅ and R ₆ each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group.

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In the formula, X ₁ and X ₂ each represent an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom or a tellurium atom, and R ₅ and R ₆ each represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. R ₇ and R
₈ represents a monovalent group, and a plurality of R ₇ and R ₈ may combine with each other to form a ring. m and n represent the integer of 0-4.

[0045]

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In the formula, R _{1 to} R ₄ represent an alkyl group;
R ₅ and R ₆ represent a monovalent substituent. l and m represent an integer of 0 to 4.

The infrared absorbing dyes represented by the above general formulas (1) to (9) will be described in detail.

The infrared absorbing dyes represented by the general formulas (1) and (2) will be described. In the infrared absorbing dye represented by the general formula (1), A ₁ and B ₁ each represent a substituent.
Specific examples of ₁ and B ₁ include an alkyl group, an alkenyl group,
Represents a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group,
Preferred are an alkenyl group, an aryl group and a heterocyclic group, and particularly preferred is an alkenyl group.

In the infrared absorbing dye represented by the formula (2), A ₂ and B ₂ each represent a substituent. Specific examples of A ₂ and B ₂ include an alkyl group, an alkenyl group and a cycloalkyl group. , An aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, preferably an alkenyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, and particularly preferably an alkenyl group.

Next, the infrared absorbing dyes represented by the general formulas (3) and (4) will be described. In the formula, R _{1 to} R ₄ represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. A ₃ , B ₃ , A _4, and B ₄ are the same as those shown in the general formula when rotated by 180 ° around a line connecting the carbon atom to the point of bonding to the carbon atom, and It represents a group that can completely overlap with the group, but a monocyclic 6-membered ring group satisfying the requirements is preferable.

The infrared absorbing dyes represented by the general formulas (5) and (6) will be described. In the formula, R _{1 to} R ₄ represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. ZA3, ZB3, ZA
4, ZB4 represents an atomic group necessary for constructing a 6-membered heterocyclic ring together with a carbon atom. The heterocyclic ring to be constructed is a monocyclic 6-membered heterocyclic ring containing one heteroatom in the ring. Preferably, there is. As the hetero atom, a nitrogen atom and a sulfur atom are preferable.

Next, the dye represented by the general formula (7) will be described. In the formula, X ₁ and X ₂ each represent an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a selenium atom, or a tellurium atom, and R ₅ and R ₆
Represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. The general formula (7) shows only the mother nucleus of the dye, and may have an arbitrary substituent.

Next, the dye represented by the general formula (8)
State. In the formula, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom,
R or a tellurium atom; _FiveAnd R₆Is a hydrogen atom,
Or represents an alkyl group. R₇, R₈Is a monovalent substituent
Represents The monovalent substituent is not particularly limited, but may be an alkyl group.
Groups (eg, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl,
Shale butyl group, methoxyethyl group, methoxyethoxy
Siethyl group, 2-ethylhexyl group, 2-hexyldecyl
Group, benzyl group, etc.), aryl group (for example, phenyl
Group, 4-chlorophenyl group, 2,6-dimethylphenyl
And the like, and preferably an alkyl group.
More preferably, especially a tertiary butyl group
preferable. R₇, R₈May together form a ring.
m and n each represent an integer of 0 to 4, and may be 2 or less.
preferable.

Next, the general formula (9) will be described. In the formula, R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , and R ₄ each represent an alkyl group which does not substitute an acidic substituent, and R ₅ and R ₆ each represent a monovalent substituent.

Examples of the alkyl group represented by R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ include, for example, methyl group, ethyl group, isopropyl group, tert-butyl group, methoxyethyl group, methoxyethoxyethyl group, 2-methoxyethyl group, Examples thereof include an ethylhexyl group, a 2-hexyldecyl group, and a benzyl group. In the present invention, the acidic substituent means a sulfonic acid group, a carboxylic acid group, a phosphonic acid group, SO ₂ NHSO ₂ R or CONH.
SO ₂ R (R represents a lower alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a phenyl group), a sulfonic acid group represents a sulfo group or a salt thereof, a carboxylic acid group represents a carboxyl group or a salt thereof, and phosphonic acid represents The group means a phosphono group or a salt thereof, respectively.

R₁, R_Two, R_Three, R_FourIs an alkoxy group
A substituted alkyl group or an alkyl group having 5 or more carbon atoms.
Is preferred because of its improved solubility in organic solvents.
No. R _Five, R₆The monovalent substituent represented by
But not an alkyl group (eg, R₁Alkyl represented by
Group), an aryl group (for example, a phenyl group,
Enyl group, 2,6-dimethylphenyl group, etc.), hydro
Xyl group, amino group, acyl group (for example, acetyl group,
And the like), an alkyl group, an aryl group,
More preferably a hydroxyl group, easy to synthesize
In terms of obtaining a preferred spectral absorption spectrum in
Most preferably, it is a sil group.

R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ and R ₆ may form a ring together, for example, R ₁ , R ₂ and R ₅ form a julolidyl group together. May be. l and m are each 0
It represents an integer of 4, and is preferably 0 or 1 from the viewpoint of easy synthesis of the dye and the like, and particularly preferably 1 from the viewpoint of spectral absorption characteristics.

The infrared absorbing dyes represented by the above general formulas (1) to (9) are, for example, thiopyrylium squarylium compounds, thiopyrylium croconium compounds, pyrylium squarylium compounds or pyrylium croconium compounds , Selenapyrylium squarylium compound, selenapyrylium crokonium compound, telluropyrylium squarylium compound, and telluropyrylium croconium compound are thiopyrylium nucleus, pyrylium nucleus and squarylium nucleus, croconium nucleus, selenapyrylium nucleus, telluropyrylium nucleus. Compounds.

The compound having a squarylium nucleus refers to 1-cyclobutene-2-hydroxy- in the molecular structure.
The compound having a 4-one and the compound having a croconium nucleus are compounds having 1-cyclopentene-2-hydroxy-4,5-dione in the molecular structure. Here, the hydroxyl group may be dissociated.

The following formulas (1) to (9)
The infrared absorbing dye represented by the following formula is exemplified, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

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In addition to the infrared absorbing dyes described above, dyes (eg, pigments) that can generally absorb laser light
Can be used as a photothermal conversion material. For example, black pigments such as carbon black, pigments of macrocyclic compounds having absorption in the visible to near-infrared region such as phthalocyanine and naphthalocyanine, organic dyes used as laser absorbing materials for high-density laser recording such as optical disks ( Organic metal compound dyes such as cyanine dyes such as indolenine dyes, anthraquinone dyes, azulene dyes, phthalocyanine dyes) and dithiol nickel complexes. In order to increase the recording sensitivity, the light-to-heat conversion layer is preferably as thin as possible. Therefore, it is desirable to use a cyanine dye, a polymethine dye, a squarylium dye, or a phthalocyanine dye which exhibits a large absorption coefficient in a laser light wavelength region. Note that an inorganic material such as a metal material can be used as the laser light absorbing material of the light-to-heat conversion layer. The metal material is used as particles (for example, blackened silver).

The polyamic acid used in the light-to-heat conversion layer of the present invention is obtained by an addition reaction between tetracarboxylic dianhydride and diamine. Examples of tetracarboxylic dianhydride used for producing polyamic acid include the following. 1,2,4,
5-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 1,2,3
4-benzenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 1,4-bis (2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene dianhydride, 1,4-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)
Benzene dianhydride, 1,3-bis (2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene dianhydride, 1,3-bis (3
4-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene dianhydride, 1,
2,4,5-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride,
1,2,5,6-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,3,6,7-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3, 3 ', 4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,2', 3,3'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, 4,4'-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) diphenyl Dianhydride, bis (2,3
-Dicarboxyphenyl) ether dianhydride, bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) ether dianhydride,
4,4'-bis (2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy) diphenyl ether dianhydride, 4,4'-bis (3,4-
Dicarboxyphenoxy) diphenyl ether dianhydride, bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) sulfide dianhydride, 4,4′-bis (2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy) diphenyl sulfide dianhydride, bis (3,4
-Dicarboxyphenyl) sulfone dianhydride, 4,4 '
-Bis (2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy) diphenylsulfone dianhydride, 4,4′-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) diphenylsulfone dianhydride, 3,
3 ', 4,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,2', 3,3'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,3 ', 3,4'-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid Dianhydride, 4,4-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzophenone dianhydride, bis (2,3-dicarboxyphenyl) methane dianhydride, bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) methane dianhydride Anhydrous,
1,1-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenol) ethane dianhydride, 1,2-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) ethane dianhydride, 2,2-bis (2,3-di Carboxyphenyl) ethane dianhydride, 2,2-bis (3,4
-Dicarboxyphenyl) ethane dianhydride, 2,2-bis [4- (2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy) phenyl] propane dianhydride, 4- (2,3-dicarboxyphenoxy) -4 ′-( 3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) diphenyl-2,2-propane dianhydride, 2,2-
Bis [4- (3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) -3,
5-dimethylphenyl] propane dianhydride, 2,3
4,5-thiophenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,
3,4,5-pyrrolidinetatracarboxylic dianhydride,
2,3,5,6-pyrazinetetracarboxylic dianhydride,
1,8,9,10-phenanthrenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,2-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride Anhydride, 1,3-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride, 1,1-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) -1-phenyl-2,2,2-tri Fluoroethane dianhydride, 2,2-bis [4- (3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) phenyl] hexafluoropropane dianhydride, 1,1-bis [4- (3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) Phenyl] -1-phenyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethane dianhydride, 4,4′-bis [2-
(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoroisoisopropyl] diphenyl ether dianhydride, 2,3
5-tricarboxycyclopentylacetic dianhydride, cyclopentanetetracarboxylic dianhydride, cyclobutanetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 5- (2,5-dioxotetrahydrofuryl) -3-methyl-3-cyclohexenedicarboxylic dianhydride Anhydrides, bicyclo [2,2,2] -oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,5,6-tricarboxynorbornane-2-acetic acid dianhydride, Tetrahydrofurantetracarboxylic dianhydride. Of the above, aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides are preferred.

The light-to-heat conversion layer according to the present invention is prepared by preparing a coating solution comprising the above-mentioned light-to-heat conversion substance and a solution in which a polyamic acid obtained by reacting the above-mentioned tetracarboxylic dianhydride with a diamine is dissolved. Then, it can be provided by applying it on the support and drying it. As an organic solvent for dissolving the polyamic acid, for example,
N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N, N-
Examples include amide solvents such as dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), phenol solvents such as cresol and chlorophenol, and ether solvents such as diethylene glycol dimethyl ether. Coating and drying are normal coating,
It can be performed using a drying method. Drying is usually 3
Perform at a temperature of 00 ° C. or less. Preferably, the temperature is 200 ° C. or lower, and the temperature is more preferably in the range of 40 ° C. to 150 ° C., especially in consideration of the use of polyethylene terephthalate as a support. In addition, even at the above-mentioned drying temperature, a part of the reaction to polyimide proceeds depending on the polyamic acid used. Therefore, the light-to-heat conversion layer after drying is composed of a binder mainly composed of a polyamic acid having an imide structure partially.

The light-to-heat conversion layer according to the present invention comprises a light-to-heat conversion substance (a dye (dye or pigment)) and a binder in a solid content ratio of 1: 2 from the viewpoint of preventing color mixing and a decrease in sensitivity of an image.
It is preferably in the range of 0 to 2: 1 (photothermal conversion material: binder), and particularly preferably in the range of 1:10 to 2: 1.

The layer thickness of the light-to-heat conversion layer containing the above-mentioned light-to-heat conversion substance and the binder is preferably in the range of 0.03 to 0.8 μm, more preferably 0.05 to 0.8 μm.
0.3 μm. The light-to-heat conversion layer has a thickness of 700 to 200.
The maximum absorbance (optical density) in the wavelength range of 0 nm is in the range of 0.1 to 1.3 (more preferably, 0.2 to 1.
1).

The ink layer according to the present invention will be described.
In the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention, an ink layer is provided directly or via an intermediate layer on the light-to-heat conversion layer.
The ink layer contains a coloring agent for visualizing a recorded image and a thermoplastic resin as main constituent materials.

The colorant contained in the ink layer can be appropriately selected from dyes and pigments known in the art for hot-melt transfer recording materials. Such dyes include, for example, Disperse Red
1, Disperse Yellow 3, Dispe
rs Yellow 23 and Disperse Y
azo dyes such as yellow 60, Disperse
Violet 28, Disperse Blue
14, Disperse Blue 26, Dispe
rse Red 4, Disperse Red 60
And Disperse Yellow 13 and other anthraquinone dyes, and Disperse Yellow
ow 54, Disperse Yellow 61,
Disperse Yellow 82 and Dispe
dyes such as rsBlue20.

Pigments are generally classified into organic pigments and inorganic pigments. The former is particularly excellent in the transparency of the coating film, and the latter is generally excellent in the hiding property. When the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention is used for printing color proofing, yellow, magenta, cyan, or black generally used for printing inks,
Alternatively, an organic pigment having a similar color tone is preferably used. In addition, a metal powder, a fluorescent pigment, or the like may be used.
Examples of preferably used pigments include azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, antriquinone pigments, dioxazine pigments, quinacridone pigments, isoindolinone pigments, and nitro pigments. The following is a description of representative pigments classified by hue.

(1) Yellow pigment Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 5G, Hansa Yellow 10G, Hansa Yellow A, Pigment Yellow L, Permanent Yellow NC
G, permanent yellow FGL, permanent yellow HR. (2) Red pigment permanent red 4R, permanent red F2R, permanent red FRL, lake red C, lake red D, pigment scarlet 3B, bordeaux 5B, alizarin lake, rhodamine lake B. (3) Blue pigment phthalocyanine blue, Victoria blue lake, fast sky blue. (4) Black pigment carbon black.

The thermoplastic resin used in the ink layer includes, for example, cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose, ethylcellulose and cellulose triacetate, and acrylic acid monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylic esters and methacrylic esters alone. Polymers or copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, vinyl polymers such as polyvinyl formal, polystyrene, styrene polymers such as styrene-maleic acid copolymer, polybutadiene, rubber polymers such as polyisoprene, Polyethylene, ethylene-
Examples include polyolefins such as vinyl acetate copolymers and copolymers thereof, phenolic resins, ionomer resins and the like. Among the above resins, Tg (glass transition point) is 3
Those in the range of 0 to 120 ° C are preferred, for example,
Polyvinyl butyral and acrylic polymers are preferably used. Further, the average molecular weight of the thermoplastic polymer is desirably in the range of 5,000 to 100,000.
The mass ratio of the colorant to the thermoplastic resin in the melt transfer type ink layer is preferably in the range of 0.5: 1 to 4: 1.

In the present invention, the ink layer described above has a change in elastic modulus at 80 to 120 ° C. of 20%.
It is preferable to contain the following thermoplastic resin.

The ink layer according to the present invention may further contain a plasticizer, that is, in order to produce a multicolor image, a large number of image layers (an ink layer having an image formed thereon) may be formed on the same image-receiving sheet image. In the case of performing an operation of repeatedly overlapping the above), it is preferable to include a plasticizer in the ink layer in order to enhance the adhesion between the image layers. Examples of such plasticizers include dibutyl phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dinonyl phthalate, dilauryl phthalate, butyllauryl phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate, and the like. Fatty acid esters, aliphatic dibasic acid esters such as di (2-ethylhexyl) adipate and di (2-ethylhexyl) sebacate, and phosphate triesters such as tricresyl phosphate and tri (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate And polyol polyesters such as polyethylene glycol esters and epoxy compounds such as epoxy fatty acid esters. In addition to the general plasticizers described above, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,2,4-
Acrylates such as butanetriol trimethacrylate, trimethylolethane triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, and dipentaerythritol-polyacrylate are also suitably used depending on the type of binder used. You. Incidentally, two or more plasticizers may be used in combination.

The plasticizer is generally used in the ink layer in a mass ratio of the total amount of the coloring agent (or the sublimable dye) and the binder to the plasticizer of 100: 1 to 100: 3, preferably 100: 100. It is used in the range of 2 to 100: 15. A surfactant, a thickener, and the like are further added to the ink layer, if necessary, in addition to the above components. The thickness of the ink layer (dry layer thickness) can be changed depending on the purpose, but generally 10
It does not exceed μm and is usually adjusted within the range of 0.1 to 2 μm (preferably 0.1 to 1.5 μm).

If the ink layer is handled as it is in an exposed state, the ink layer is easily scratched. Therefore, storage, distribution, and image recording / forming operations are usually performed with an image receiving sheet laminated on the surface. However, it is also possible to perform storage and distribution and image recording without attaching an image receiving sheet. In such a case, a protective cover film (eg, polyethylene terephthalate sheet, polyethylene sheet, etc.) is provided on the surface of the ink layer. ) Can be added.

The matting agent according to the present invention will be described.
The material of the matting agent according to the present invention may be either an organic substance or an inorganic substance. Examples of the inorganic substance include silica described in Swiss Patent No. 330,158 and French Patent No. 1,296,995. The glass powder described, the alkaline earth metal described in British Patent No. 1,173,181 or the like, or a carbonate such as cadmium or zinc can be used as a matting agent. As organic substances, US Pat.
No. 22,037, etc., Belgian Patent No. 62
Starch derivatives described in US Pat. No. 5,451 and British Patent No. 981,198, polyvinyl alcohol described in JP-B-44-3643 and the like, polystyrene or polymethacrylate described in Swiss Patent No. 330,158 and the like, Organic matting agents such as polyacrylonitrile described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,079,257 and polycarbonate described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,169 can be used.

The matting agent according to the present invention has a projection height of 0.5 to 3.5 μm with respect to the surface of the ink layer, and is arranged at 400 to 4000 particles / mm ^{2 on the} surface of the ink layer. The protrusion height and the distribution of the matting agent on the surface of the ink layer can be measured using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), an optical method, or the like.

The shape of the matting agent may be either regular or irregular, but is preferably regular and spherical. The size of the matting agent is represented by a diameter when the volume of the matting agent is converted into a sphere. In the present invention, the particle diameter of the matting agent indicates the diameter converted into a sphere.

The matting agent according to the present invention has an average particle size of 0.1.
It is preferably 5 μm to 10 μm, more preferably 1.0 μm to 10 μm, and most preferably 1.5 μm to 10 μm.
μm to 8 μm. The matting agent has a coefficient of variation of the particle size distribution of preferably 50% or less, more preferably 40% or less, and particularly preferably 30% or less.

Here, the coefficient of variation of the particle size distribution is a value represented by the following equation. (Standard deviation of particle size) / (average value of particle size) × 100 The matting agent according to the present invention can be contained in any constituent layer, but is preferably photosensitive in order to achieve the object of the present invention. It is a constituent layer other than the layer, more preferably the outermost layer as viewed from the support.

The method for adding the matting agent according to the present invention may be a method of dispersing in a coating solution in advance and applying the solution.
A method of spraying a matting agent after the application liquid is applied and before the drying is completed may be used. When a plurality of types of matting agents are added, both methods may be used in combination.

The water-soluble resin and the water-dispersible resin according to the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention will be described. In the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention, by providing an intermediate layer containing a water-soluble resin or a water-dispersible resin as a main component, between the light-heat conversion layer and the ink layer, the effects described in the present invention can be preferably obtained. I can do it.

In the present invention, containing as a main component indicates that the content in the solid content constituting the intermediate layer is 50% by mass or more.

Specifically, at the time of heating, the releasability of the ink layer can be enhanced by evaporating water contained in the intermediate layer, or by thermally decomposing the material forming the intermediate layer. Further, at the time of producing the recording material, it is possible to avoid the problem that the dye in the light-to-heat conversion layer is dissolved by the solvent at the time of coating the ink layer.

As the water-soluble resin, for example, at least one resin selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polyamide and modified products thereof is preferably used. .

Examples of the water-dispersible resin include acrylic resins, polyester resins, rubbers, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinyl acetal, cellulose esters, and the like.
Polyurethanes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinylidene chlorides and the like may be dispersed in water, or polymer particles obtained by emulsion polymerization of the above polymerizable monomers may be used.

The water-soluble resin or the water-dispersible resin according to the present invention is preferably a thermoplastic elastomer having a breaking elongation of 120% to 1000% after film formation. The elongation at break is measured by a method specified in ASTM 0638. Further, it is preferable that the water-dispersible resin is a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer containing fluorine or silicone, respectively.

Next, the fluorine-based surfactant used in the ink layer of the photothermographic material of the present invention will be described.

As the fluorine-based surfactant used in the present invention, for example, British Patent Nos. 1,330,356 and 154
No. 2631, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,666,478, 3,888,678, 3,589,906, JP-B-52-26687, JP-A-48-43130,
JP-A-49-46733, JP-A-51-32322, JP-A-2-12145, JP-A-3-24657, and JP-B-3-2
No. 7099, etc., having one or more hydrocarbon chains, at least one of which is a hydrophilic hydrocarbon chain having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and at least one hydrophilic anion Or a hydrophilic nonionic group or a hydrophilic betaine group, wherein one or more hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbon chain are entirely or partially substituted with fluorine atoms. Agent.

Specific examples of the fluorine surfactant preferably used include perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid salts (F-110, F-116), perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acid salts (F-120), and perfluoroalkyltrimethyl salts. Ammonium salt (F-150), perfluoroalkylaminosulfonic acid salt (F-160), oligomer containing perfluoroalkyl group / hydrophilic group (F-17)
2), perfluoroalkyl group / lipophilic group-containing oligomer (F-173), perfluoroalkyl group (hydrophilic group / lipophilic group) -containing oligomer (F-177), perfluoroalkyl group-containing oligomer (F-178A) , F-1
78K, F-179), urethanes containing a perfluoroalkyl group / lipophilic group (F-183, F-184), perfluoroalkyl group phosphate (F-191), 15% solution of perfluoroalkyl carboxylate (F -81
2), Fluorosurfactant special compound (F-815, F
-824, F-823) and the like, all of which include fluorine-based surfactants manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.

The content of the fluorine-containing surfactant used in the present invention is preferably from 0.5 mg to 100 mg, more preferably from 1 mg / m ^{2 to} one side of a silver halide photographic material.
mg to 50 mg.

In the present invention, an undercoat layer may be provided on the support. The undercoat layer used in the present invention is
It preferably contains a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer having an elastic modulus at room temperature of 10 N / m ² or less, and the effect described in the present invention is more preferably provided by being provided between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the support. Obtainable.

As the thermoplastic resin used for the undercoat layer, the same thermoplastic resin used for the above-described ink layer can be used, and a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyamide resin, Polyvinyl acetate resin, polyolefin resin, vinyl chloride resin, (meth) acrylic resin, styrene resin, polycarbonate, polycaprolactone resin, epoxy resin,
Thermoplastic resins such as phenoxy resins and rubber-based resins are exemplified.

Examples of the thermoplastic elastomer used for the undercoat layer include, for example, natural rubber, natural rubber grafted with methyl methacrylate, styrene or acrylonitrile monomer, cyclized natural rubber, chlorinated natural rubber, isoprene rubber, transpolypropylene and the like. Isoprene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, halogenated butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate rubber, acrylic rubber, ethylene-acryl Rubbers such as rubber, urethane rubber and silicone rubber, polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene block copolymer (SBS), SEBS obtained by hydrogenating polybutadiene of SBS Polystyrene - polyisoprene -
Styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer such as polystyrene block copolymer (SIS), polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyester-based thermoplastic elastomer, polyamide-based thermoplastic elastomer, 1,2-polybutadiene-based thermoplastic elastomer, Heat of ethylene-vinyl acetate thermoplastic elastomer, polyvinyl chloride thermoplastic elastomer, natural rubber thermoplastic elastomer, fluoro rubber thermoplastic elastomer, trans-polyisoprene thermoplastic elastomer, chlorinated polyethylene thermoplastic elastomer, etc. And plastic elastomers. The undercoat layer made of a thermoplastic elastomer has an effect of improving the adhesiveness between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the support, preventing scattering of the light-to-heat conversion layer due to ablation, and improving recording sensitivity.

In the present invention, the elastic modulus described above is
It can be measured according to the method for determining the Young's modulus.

Further, in the undercoat layer used in the present invention, the surface of the undercoat layer has a matting agent having a protrusion height of 0.5 to 3.5 μm with respect to the surface of the ink layer described above, And 400 to 4000 matting agents / mm
It is preferable to have ² .

In the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention, an image receiving sheet described in JP-A-6-122280 and the like, and an image recording method can be used.

[0116]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following Examples, but it should not be construed that the invention is limited thereto.

Example 1 << Preparation of Thermal Transfer Recording Medium >> On a 75 μm transparent PET film, an undercoat layer, a light-to-heat conversion layer, an aqueous intermediate layer, and an ink layer were sequentially laminated to prepare a thermal transfer recording medium. still,
“Parts” in the description of the composition indicates parts by mass.

(Preparation of Undercoat Layer Coating Solution) Clayton D1117 (manufactured by Shell Japan, SIS) 7.5 parts Hymer SB150 (manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd., polystyrene) 2.5 parts MX200 (Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.3 μm of methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts of toluene 50 parts of the above composition was applied on PET by a wire bar and dried to prepare an undercoat layer having a dry film thickness of 1 μm.

(Preparation of Coating Solution for Producing Light-to-Heat Conversion Layer) PAA (polyamide acid, manufactured by Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc.) 2 parts Infrared absorbing dye (2) -1 1 part Phagent FT-251 (manufactured by Neos Corporation) (Fluorine-based surfactant) 0.05 part Methanol 15 parts Propylene glycol monomethyl ether 40 parts Methyl ethyl ketone 40 parts The above composition was applied on the undercoat layer by a wire bar, dried, and dried with an amount of 0.15 g / m ^2. And At this time, the absorption at 830 nm was 1.05. With this light-to-heat conversion layer composition, it is possible to coat an infrared absorbing dye having high absorption efficiency with high productivity.

(Preparation of Coating Solution for Aqueous Intermediate Layer) SM-15 (Shin-Etsu Chemical, methylcellulose) 3 parts Isopropyl alcohol 15 parts Pure water 80 parts The above composition was applied on a light-to-heat conversion layer by a wire bar, dried, and dried. An aqueous intermediate layer having an amount of 0.1 g / m ² was prepared.

(Preparation of Coating Solution for Producing Ink Layer) MHI Red # 527 (Mikuni Pigment Co., Ltd., MEK dispersion of Carmine 6B) 6.67 parts Hymer SBM73F (Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd., styrene acrylic resin) 2.15 parts PEG300 (manufactured by Daiichi Kasei Kogyo, polyethylene glycol) 0.63 parts Perfluoroalkyl sulfonate (F-177: manufactured by Dainippon Ink Industries) 0.04 part Methyl ethyl ketone 39.3 parts propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate 19.3 parts The above composition was applied onto the aqueous intermediate layer with a wire bar, dried, and an ink layer having a drying amount of 0.62 g / m ² was applied to prepare a thermal transfer recording material 1 of the present invention.

In the thermal transfer recording material 1 of the present invention, since an aqueous intermediate layer is provided between the ink layer and the light-to-heat conversion layer, depending on the solvent used when applying the ink layer,
It was found that a dye having a high absorption efficiency was not eluted and stable coating was possible. Further, when the ink layer was applied without the aqueous intermediate layer, the absorption of the light-to-heat conversion layer was reduced, and the recording sensitivity was lowered.

<< Image Recording Evaluation Method >> Konica EV-las
er-Proofer, using image receiving film CD-1R, exposure surface power 100 mW, rotation speed 300-600
Test pattern is recorded at rpm, then EV-Las
The image was transferred to Mitsubishi art paper by er-Laminator to obtain the final image.

An image having an absorption at 830 nm of 0.95 was obtained. After storing this recording material at 55 ° C. and 20% RH for 3 days, the absorption at 830 nm was examined.
The sample had a density of 94 and showed almost no decrease in concentration due to aggregation of the dye.

The range where the solid density is constant is 350
The ablation point at which the light-to-heat conversion layer scatters and the image is blurred by the light-to-heat conversion layer is 350 rpm at ５550 rpm.
m, and a rotation range in which exposure was possible was obtained in a high range of 360 to 550 rpm. Also, no banding unevenness occurred in the solid image, and an extremely good uniform image could be obtained.

In the production of the thermal transfer recording material 1 described above, except that the undercoat layer was not provided, the thermal transfer recording material 2 produced in the same manner had a solid density range of 350.
510 rpm, the ablation point at which the light-to-heat conversion layer scatters is 410 rpm, and the rotation range where exposure is possible is 4
It became 20 to 510 rpm, which was slightly narrower.

At 480 rpm or higher, banding unevenness of the cycle of the multi-channel exposure head occurred in the solid image, and the solid image was inferior to the thermal transfer recording material 1, but had good image uniformity.

In the production of the thermal transfer recording material 1,
A comparative thermal transfer recording material 3 was prepared in the same manner except that the light-to-heat conversion layer had the following composition and the aqueous intermediate layer was not provided.

Compared with the thermal transfer recording materials 1 and 2 of the present invention, the comparative thermal transfer recording material 3 has a solid density range of 350 to 480 rpm, and the ablation point at which the light-to-heat conversion layer scatters is 420 rpm. It is clear that the possible rotation range is 420 to 480 rpm, and the ablation point and the proper exposure range are narrow. In addition, even under exposure conditions in which the light-to-heat conversion layer scatters due to ablation, the infrared-absorbing dye in the light-to-heat conversion layer has little absorption in the visible region, so that color turbidity hardly occurs and image quality hardly deteriorates. Furthermore, when foreign matter such as dust is present between the thermal transfer recording material and the image receiving film, abrasion is likely to occur due to the heat insulating effect, but it has been found that the thermal transfer recording material of the present invention hardly causes deterioration in image quality.

(Preparation of Coating Liquid for Producing Light-to-Heat Conversion Layer) RS-110 (manufactured by Kuraray, PVA) 3.5 parts CAB-O-JETT 300 (manufactured by CABOT, aqueous carbon black dispersion) 7.5 parts -251 (manufactured by Neos Co., Ltd., fluorine-based surfactant) 0.05 part Isopropyl alcohol 15 parts Pure water 80 parts The above composition was applied on a cushion layer with a wire bar.
It dried and the light-to-heat conversion layer of the amount with drying 0.67 g / m < ² > was produced.

[0131]

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a uniform image having high sensitivity, a wide ablation point and a suitable exposure range, no banding unevenness caused by a laser head, and excellent productivity and storage stability. A laser thermal transfer recording material could be provided.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A laser thermal transfer recording material having a photothermal conversion layer containing a polyamic acid and an ink layer containing a thermoplastic resin and a colorant on a support, wherein the photothermal conversion layer contains an infrared absorbing dye. Characteristic laser thermal transfer recording material. 2. The photothermal conversion layer or the ink layer has a matting agent having a projection height of 0.5 to 3.5 μm with respect to the surface of the ink layer, and the matting agent is 400 to 4000 μm.
^2. The laser thermal transfer recording material according to claim 1, wherein the number of the thermal transfer recording materials is 1. 3. A laser thermal transfer recording material having a light-to-heat conversion layer containing a polyamic acid and an ink layer containing a thermoplastic resin and a colorant on a support, wherein between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the ink layer, A laser thermal transfer recording material comprising an intermediate layer containing a water-soluble resin or a water-dispersible resin as a main component. 4. The water-soluble resin is at least one selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polyamide and modified products thereof. The laser thermal transfer recording material according to claim 3. 5. The laser thermal transfer recording material according to claim 3, wherein the water-soluble resin or the water-dispersible resin is a thermoplastic elastomer. 6. The laser thermal transfer recording material according to claim 5, wherein the water-dispersible resin is a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer containing fluorine or silicone, respectively. 7. The laser thermal transfer recording material according to claim 1, wherein the ink layer contains a fluorinated surfactant.