Patent ID: 6853394
Filing Date: 2005-02-08
Classification: B41J,B41M,C09D

Abstract:
1. A method of thermal transfer printing comprising: providing a thermal transfer printer, an ink ribbon having an ink layer with radiation-curable components and a receiving article to be printed; positioning between the print head of said printer and said receiving article said radiation-curable ink ribbon; establishing contact between said ribbon and said print head; elevating the temperature of selected portions of said ribbon to effect transfer of said ink layer to said receiving article; and curing the radiation-curable components of said transferred ink layer, wherein the ink layer comprises about 1 to 90% by weight of at least one radiation-curable monomer or oligomer, about 1 to 15% by weight of a photoinitiator, and about 1 to 25% by weight of at least one coating additive, and wherein said ink layer can be thermally dried prior to printing and the radiation curable monomer or oligomer remains in the uncured state until after printing, at which time exposure of the monomer or oligomer to actinic radiation will result in a thermoset structure which will not flow when heated and is of enhanced durability.