Patent ID: 6156442
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: B41M,B44C,B44F,B60R,G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
A thermal transfer article comprising a carrier having first and second major surfaces and a colorant layer on one of the major surfaces, said colorant layer comprising a solid residue of a thermally-crosslinkable thermoplastic composition comprising a dispersion of a color agent and a latent crosslinker in a copolymeric binder, said binder comprising the copolymerization product of an olefinic monomer and a second monomer having a pendant carboxyl group, the binder having the general formula: ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 is independently hydrogen or an alkyl group containing one to eight carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is H, an alkyl group containing one to six carbon atoms, --CN, an ester group, or --R.sup.3 --COOH wherein R.sup.3 is an alkyl group; X and Y are independently a residue of the olefinic monomer or a residue of the second monomer; n is a number selected such that the olefinic monomer provides 70 to 99 mole percent of the binder; and m is a number selected such that the second monomer correspondingly provides 1 to 30 mole percent of the binder; the formula including basic salts thereof.