Propellant-containing thermal transfer donor elements

US5278023A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company · US

Inventors

• Richard E. Bills · San Jose, US
• William V. Dower · Windom, US
• Thomas A. Isberg · Minneapolis, US
• Stanley C. Busman · Minneapolis, US
• Jeffrey C. Chang · Stillwater, US
• Minyu Li · Oakdale, US
• Hsin-hsin Chou · Woodbury, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 1992
• Grant date: Jan 11, 1994
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S430/165
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Laser-addressable thermal transfer materials for producing color proofs, printing plates, films, printed circuit boards, and other media are disclosed. The materials contain a substrate coated thereon with a propellant layer wherein the propellant layer contains a material capable of producing nitrogen (N.sub.2) gas at a temperature of preferably less than about 300.degree. C.; a radiation absorber; and a thermal mass transfer material. The thermal mass transfer material may be incorporated into the propellant layer or in an additional layer coated onto the propellant layer. The radiation absorber may be employed in one of the above-disclosed layers or in a separate layer in order to achieve localized heating with an electromagnetic energy source, such as a laser. Upon laser induced heating, the transfer material is propelled to the receptor by the rapid expansion of gas. The thermal mass transfer material may contain, for example, pigments, toner particles, resins, metal particles, monomers, polymers, dyes, or combinations thereof. Also disclosed is a process for forming an image as well as an imaged article made thereby.