Thermal transfer image-receiving sheet and process for producing the same

A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet having a dye-receiving layer, which is excellent in reaction rate of a release agent, coating Strength of a release layer and releasability from a thermal transfer sheet. The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprises a substrate sheet and a dye-receiving layer provided on at least one surface of the substrate sheet, wherein the dye-receiving layer contains a release agent mixture comprising an addition-polymerizable silicone and a hydrogen-modified silicone or wherein the dye-receiving layer has on its surface a release layer comprising an addition-polymerizable silicone and a hydrogen-modified silicone. The present invention relates also to a process for producing the above thermal transfer image-receiving sheets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet 
and more particularly to a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet which 
exhibits an excellent releasability in the thermal transfer. 
Various thermal transfer printing processes are known in the art. One of 
them is a transfer printing process which comprises supporting a 
sublimable dye as a recording agent on a substrate sheet, such as a 
plastic film, to form a thermal transfer sheet and forming various full 
color images on a dye-receiving layer provided on paper, a plastic film or 
the like. 
In this case, a thermal head of a printer is used as heating means, and a 
number of color dots of three or four colors are transferred to the 
thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, thereby reproducing a full color 
image of an original by means of the multicolor dots. 
The above-described thermal transfer process have problems, such as fusing 
of the thermal transfer sheet and the thermal transfer sheet-receiving 
sheet to render peeling of both the sheets from each other difficult or to 
deteriorate the formed image, due to the nature of the process wherein, in 
the formation of an image, the thermal transfer sheet and thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet are put on top of each other with the dye layer of 
the thermal transfer sheet facing the dye-receiving layer of the thermal 
transfer image-receiving sheet and both the dye layer and the 
dye-receiving layer comprise a thermoplastic resin. 
In order to solve the above-described problems, a proposal has been made on 
the addition of a release agent to the dye-receiving layer to bleed out 
the release agent on the surface of the dye-image receiving layer, thereby 
forming a release layer. 
In this method, when use is made of liquid or wax release agents, they 
unfavorably contaminate other materials or give rise to discoloration of 
the image. For this reason, the use of a reactive curing release agent as 
the release agent has been proposed. 
According to this method after the formation of a dye-receiving layer, heat 
treatment is effected to bleed out a release agent contained in the 
dye-receiving layer on the surface of the dye-receiving layer to form a 
crosslinked thin film of the release agent on the surface of the 
dye-receiving layer. However, a long period of time is required for the 
crosslinking reaction, which lowers the productivity. Further, the coating 
strength of the crosslinked film is so low that the scratch resistance is 
unsatisfactory. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 87424/1991 describes 
examples of reactive silicones. In these reactive silicones, a reaction 
should occur between vinyl groups that unfavorably have a low reactivity. 
Moreover, an image-receiving material comprising an image-receiving layer 
and a particular silicone crosslinked film provided on the surface of the 
image-receiving layer is also known in the art (see Japanese Patent 
Laid-Open No. 116189/1987). This image-receiving material, however, is not 
always satisfactory. 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a thermal 
transfer image-receiving sheet having a dye-receiving layer which is 
excellent in reaction rate of the release agent, coating strength of the 
release layer and releasability of the thermal transfer sheet. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
The above-described object can be attained by the following present 
invention. Specifically, the first invention relates to a thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet comprising a substrate sheet and a dye-receiving 
layer provided on at least one surface of said substrate sheet, said 
dye-receiving layer containing an internally added release agent mixture 
comprising an addition-polymerizable silicone and a hydrogen-modified 
silicone. Further, another embodiment of the first invention relates to a 
thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprising a substrate sheet and a 
dye-receiving layer provided on at least one surface of said substrate 
sheet, said dye-receiving layer having on its surface a release layer 
comprising an addition-polymerizable silicone and a hydrogen-modified 
silicone. 
The use of a mixture of particular reactive silicones as a release agent 
can provide a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet having a 
dye-receiving layer which is excellent in reaction rate of the release 
agent, coating strength of the release layer and releasability from a 
thermal transfer sheet. 
The second invention relates to a composition for a release layer, 
comprising a liquid medium and, incorporated as indispensable components 
in said liquid medium, a reactive silicone, a reaction catalyst and a 
reaction retardant; a composition for a dye-receiving layer, comprising a 
liquid medium and, incorporated as indispensable components in said liquid 
medium, a dye-receiving resin, a reactive silicone, a reaction catalyst 
and a reaction retardant; and a process for producing a thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet using these compositions. 
When a dye-receiving layer or a release layer is formed, the use of a 
coating solution comprising a liquid medium and, incorporated therein as 
indispensable components, a reactive silicone, a reaction catalyst and a 
reaction retardant enables the reaction of the release agent to be 
sufficiently retarded when the release agent is in a coating solution 
form, while after the formation of the dye-receiving layer or release 
layer, there occurs a rapid increase in the reaction rate, so that not 
only the image-receiving sheet can be produced with a high efficiency but 
also it becomes possible to provide a thermal transfer image-receiving 
sheet having a dye-receiving layer which is excellent in coating strength 
of the release layer and releasability from a thermal transfer sheet. 
The third invention relates to a process for producing a thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet, comprising the steps of: forming a dye-receiving 
layer on at least one surface of said substrate sheet and forming a 
release layer on said dye-receiving layer, wherein said release layer 
comprises a catalyst-curing release agent and a curing catalyst, any one 
of said release agent and said curing agent is incorporated in a coating 
solution for a dye-receiving layer in the stage of forming the 
dye-receiving layer and, after said dye-receiving layer is formed by using 
said coating solution, any one of said curing catalyst and said release 
agent is coated on said dye-receiving layer to form said release layer; 
and a process for producing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, 
comprising the steps of: forming a dye-receiving layer on at least one 
surface of said substrate sheet and forming a release layer on said 
dye-receiving layer, wherein said release layer comprises a 
catalyst-curing release agent and a curing catalyst and, after the 
formation of said dye-receiving layer, any one of a coating solution 
containing said release agent and a coating solution containing said 
curing catalyst is coated on the surface of said dye-receiving layer 
followed by coating of any one of a coating solution containing said 
curing catalyst and a coating solution containing said release agent to 
form said release layer. 
In the formation of a release layer comprising a catalyst-curing release 
agent and a curing agent on the surface of a dye-receiving layer, when the 
release agent and the curing catalyst are used separately from each other, 
it becomes possible to produce a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet 
having a dye-receiving layer which is excellent in coating strength of the 
release layer and releasability of the thermal transfer image-receiving 
sheet from a thermal transfer sheet.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference 
to the following preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
First Invention 
There is no particular limitation on the substrate sheet used in the 
present invention, and examples of the substrate sheet usable in the 
present invention include synthetic paper (polyolefin, polystyrene and 
other synthetic paper), wood free paper, art paper, coated paper, cast 
coated paper, wall paper, paper for backing, paper impregnated with a 
synthetic resin or an emulsion, paper impregnated with a synthetic rubber 
latex, paper containing an internally added synthetic resin, fiber board, 
etc., cellulose fiber paper, and films or sheets of various plastics, such 
as polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, 
polystyrene, polymethacrylate and polycarbonate. Further, use may be made 
of a white opaque film or a foamed sheet prepared by adding a white 
pigment or filler to the above-described synthetic resin and forming a 
film from the mixture or foaming the mixture. 
Further, use may be made of a laminate comprising any combination of the 
above-described substrate sheets. Typical examples of the laminate include 
a laminate comprising a combination of a cellulose fiber paper with a 
synthetic paper and a laminate comprising a combination of a cellulose 
fiber paper with a plastic film or sheet. The thickness of these substrate 
sheets may be arbitrary and is generally in the range of from about 10 to 
300 .mu.m. 
When the substrate sheet is poor in the adhesion to a receiving layer 
formed on the surface thereof, it is preferred that the surface of the 
substrate sheet be subjected to a primer treatment or a corona discharge 
treatment. 
The dye-receiving layer formed on the surface of the substrate sheet serves 
to receive a sublimable dye moved from the thermal transfer sheet and to 
maintain the formed image. 
The dye-receiving layer may comprise a resin, and examples of the resin 
include polyolefin resins, such as polypropylene, halogenated polymers, 
such as polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl polymers, 
such as polyvinyl acetate and polyacrylic esters, polyester resins, such 
as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene 
resins, polyamide resins, copolymer resins comprising olefins, such as 
ethylene or propylene, and other vinyl monomers, ionomers, cellulosic 
resins, such as cellulose diacetate, and polycarbonates. Among them, vinyl 
resins and polyester resins are particularly preferred. 
The thermal transfer image receiving sheet of the present invention can be 
formed by coating at least one surface of the above-described substrate 
sheet with a suitable organic solvent solution or water or organic solvent 
dispersion of the above-described resin containing the following 
particular reactive silicone release agent mixture and other necessary 
additives, for example, by a gravure printing method, a screen printing 
method or a reverse roll coating method wherein use is made of a gravure 
print, and drying the resultant coating to form a dye-receiving layer. In 
this case, at least part of the release agent mixture contained in the 
dye-receiving layer is bled out on the surface of the dye-receiving layer 
upon heat drying of the coating solution, and the release agent mixture 
gives rise to some reaction within or on the surface of the dye-receiving 
layer to form a release layer on the surface of the dye-receiving layer. 
In the formation of the above-described dye-receiving layer, pigments or 
fillers, such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, kaolin clay, calcium 
carbonate and finely divided silica, may be added for the purpose of 
improving the whiteness of the dye-receiving layer to further enhance the 
sharpness of the transferred image. 
Although the thickness of the dye-receiving layer thus formed may be 
arbitrary, it is generally in the range of from 1 to 50 .mu.m. The 
above-described dye-receiving layer may be in the form of either a 
continuous coating formed by coating the dispersion and then heating the 
resultant coating to a relatively high temperature, or a discontinuous 
coating formed by using a resin emulsion or a resin dispersion. 
In the present invention, one of the release agents comprises a silicone 
compound having an addition-polymerizable group for the purpose of 
imparting releasability to the dye-receiving layer, and one example of 
such a silicone compound include compounds represented by the following 
formula: 
##STR1## 
In the above formula, R is mainly a methyl group but may represents other 
alkyl groups or aryl groups, such as a phenyl group, or any combination 
thereof. 1+m+n is an integer of 1 or more, and the respective siloxane 
units may be located at random. At least one of X, Y and Z represents an 
addition-polymerizable group, such as a vinyl group, an allyl (--CH.sub.2 
CH.dbd.CH.sub.2) group or a (meth)acryloyl group, and R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 
represent a single bond or an alkylene group. 
The molecular weight of the addition-polymerizable silicones is not 
particularly limited. In general, however, it is preferably in the range 
of from 3500 to 20,000. These addition-polymerizable silicones may be 
commercially available and can be easily used in the present invention. 
The hydrogen-modified silicone used in combination with the 
addition-polymerizable silicone according to the present invention may be 
represented by the same general formula as described above, except that at 
least one of --R.sup.1 --X, --R.sup.2 --Z and --R.sup.3 --Y represents a 
hydrogen atom. Other substituents, arrangement of siloxane units and the 
molecular weight are the same as those described above in connection with 
the above general formula. It is preferred that the addition-polymerizable 
silicone and hydrogen-modified silicone are modified with an aryl group 
such as a phenyl group. The introduction of the aryl group generally 
improves the compatibility of these silicones with thermoplastic resins, 
which leads to an advantage that, when they are mixed with a resin for use 
of the mixture as a dye-receiving layer or a release layer, the 
composition for forming the dye-receiving layer or release layer is less 
likely to cause problems, such as occurrence of clouding or separation and 
cissing, so that a good coated surface can be easily provided. Further, 
since they are mixed with the resin to a suitable extent, the strength Of 
the resultant coating can be advantageously improved. 
Moreover, since the affinity for a disperse dye is also improved, the 
inhibition of dyeing is less likely to occur. In particular, when the 
composition is coated on a dye-receiving layer, it is possible to attain a 
combination of a satisfactory releasability with a satisfactory dyeing 
density. 
Still preferred addition-polymerizable silicones and hydrogen-modified 
silicones are represented by the following respectively structural 
formulae. 
Addition-polymerizable silicones: 
##STR2## 
wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 each independently represent a 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 or --CH.sub.3 group, provided that at least one of 
X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 represents a--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 group, 1+m+n is 
an integer of 1 or more and the respective siloxane units may be located 
at random. 
Hydrogen-modified silicones: 
##STR3## 
wherein Y.sub.1, Y.sub.2 and Y.sub.3 each independently represent a 
hydrogen atom or a--CH.sub.3 group, provided that at least one of Y.sub.1, 
Y.sub.2 and Y.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom, 1+m+n is an integer of 1 
or more and the respective siloxane units may be located at random. 
The diphenyl siloxane unit content is preferably in the range of from 5 to 
50% by mole based on the whole siloxane unit. When it is less than 5% by 
mole, the compatibility with the resin for forming the dye-receiving layer 
becomes so unsatisfactory that the composition for forming the 
dye-receiving layer is likely to cause unfavorable phenomena, such as 
clouding, separation, etc., which makes it impossible to provide a 
homogeneously coated surface or gives rise to a lowering in coating 
strength of the dye-receiving layer. Further, in this case, since bleedout 
of the silicone becomes excessive, the coefficient of friction of the 
surface of the dye-receiving layer is remarkably lowered, so that there is 
a possibility that printing under some conditions gives rise to a problem 
such as oblique motion during printing or misregistration during 
three-color printing. 
The proportion of the addition-polymerizable silicone and the 
hydrogen-modified silicone used is determined depending upon the molar 
ratio of reactive groups contained respectively in both the silicones. The 
molar ratio of the reactive group contained in the addition polymerizable 
silicone to the reactive group contained in the hydrogen-modified silicone 
is preferably in the range of from 4:1 to 1:4, particularly preferably in 
the range of from 1:1 to 1:3. When the molar ratio is outside this range, 
there occur a lowering in releasability, a lowering in coating strength 
and a deterioration in storage stability due to the presence of the 
reactive group remaining unreacted, so that the performance of the 
resultant thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is unsatisfactory. It is 
preferred to use the release agent mixture in an amount in the range of 
from about 2 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the 
resin for forming the dye-receiving layer. 
When use is made of the above-described release agent mixture, it is also 
possible to use a curing catalyst suitable for use in combination with the 
adopted release agent. The curing catalyst is also commercially available, 
and various radical generation polymerization catalysts, platinum-based 
catalysts, etc. are usable. Among them, the platinum-based catalysts are 
particularly suitable. The amount of the catalyst used is preferably in 
the range of from about 5 to 200 parts by weight based on 100 parts by 
weight of the reactive silicone release agent. The use of these catalysts 
is not essential, and some release agents can give rise to a reaction 
simply by heating without use of any catalyst. It is also possible to 
further add an epoxy-modified silicone or the like for the purpose of 
improving the lubricity of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, a dye-receiving layer is 
once formed without adding the above-described release agent mixture to 
the coating solution for forming the dye-receiving layer, and a coating 
solution containing the above-described release agent mixture (and 
optionally a curing catalyst) is coated on the surface of the 
dye-receiving layer to form a coating that is then dried and cured by 
heating to form a release layer. 
In this case, as described above, the addition-polymerizable silicone and 
the hydrogen-modified silicone should be modified with an aryl group, such 
as a phenyl group, for the purpose of enhancing the coatability of the 
composition to prevent cissing or the like in the formation of a release 
layer, the adhesion between the release layer and the surface of the 
dye-receiving layer after the formation of the release layer and the 
penetration of the sublimable dye transferred from the thermal transfer 
sheet during printing. The use of the silicone modified with the aryl 
group contributes to an improvement in the affinity for the resin used in 
the dye-receiving layer and the sublimable dye transferred from the 
thermal transfer sheet. Further, it is also possible to use a 
thermoplastic resin as a resin binder in an amount of about 1 to 50 parts 
by weight based on one part by weight of the release agent mixture for the 
purpose of improving the film formability and strength of the release 
layer and, at the same time, improving the penetration of the dye. 
Although the resin used as the binder is not particularly limited, it is 
preferably selected from the above-described resins for forming the 
dye-receiving layer. 
With the consideration of the adhesion of the release layer to the 
dye-receiving layer and the coated surface, the binder resin for the 
release layer is preferably the same as at least one resin component of 
the dye-receiving layer. Further, even when use is made of a resin binder, 
the use of the aryl-modified silicone is preferred form the viewpoint of 
the affinity for the resin used in the dye-receiving layer and the 
sublimable dye transferred from the thermal transfer sheet. 
With respect to the formation of the release layer, coating of the coating 
solution for the release layer, drying and heating of the resultant 
coating, aging, etc. may be effected in the same manner as that used in 
the formation of the dye-receiving layer, and the thickness of the release 
layer is preferably in the range of from 0.01 to 20 .mu.m. 
The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention can be 
applied also to various applications where thermal transfer recording can 
be conducted, such as image-receiving sheets, cards and sheets for 
preparing transparent originals, by properly selecting the substrate 
sheet. 
Further, in the image-receiving sheet of the present invention, a cushion 
layer may be optionally provided between the substrate sheet and the 
dye-receiving layer, and the provision of the cushion layer enables an 
image less susceptible to noise during printing and corresponding to image 
information to be formed by transfer recording with a good 
reproducibility. 
The cushion layer may comprise, for example, a polyurethane resin, an 
acrylic resin, a polyethylene resin, a butadiene rubber or an epoxy resin. 
The thickness of the cushion layer is preferably in the range of from 
about 2 to 20 .mu.m. 
It is also possible to provide a lubricant layer on the back surface of the 
substrate sheet. The lubricant layer may comprise a methacrylate resin, 
such as methyl methacrylate, or a corresponding acrylate resin, a vinyl 
resin, such as a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, or the like. 
Further, the image-receiving sheet may be provided with a detection mark. 
The detection mark is very convenient for registration of the thermal 
transfer sheet with the image-receiving sheet. For example, a detection 
mark detectable with a phototube detection device can be provided on the 
back surface of the substrate sheet or other place by printing or the 
like. 
The thermal transfer sheet for use in the case where thermal transfer is 
conducted through the use of the above-described thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet of the present invention may comprise a paper or a 
polyester film and, provided thereon, a dye layer containing a sublimable 
dye, and any conventional thermal transfer sheet, as such, may be used in 
the present invention. 
Means for applying a thermal energy at the time of the thermal transfer may 
be any means known in the art. For example, a desired object can be 
sufficiently attained by applying a thermal energy of about 5 to 100 
mJ/mm.sup.2 through the control of a recording time by means of a 
recording device, for example, a thermal printer (for example, a video 
printer VY-100 manufactured by Hitachi, Limited). 
Second Invention 
An object of the second invention is to provide compositions for a 
dye-receiving layer and a release layer and a process for producing a 
thermal transfer image-receiving sheet using the compositions, which 
compositions enable the reaction of the release agent to be sufficiently 
retarded when the release agent is in a coating solution form, while after 
the formation of the dye-receiving layer or release layer, heating gives 
rise to a rapid increase in the reaction rate, so that not only the 
image-receiving sheet can be produced with a high efficiency but also it 
becomes possible to provide a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet 
having a dye-receiving layer which is excellent in coating strength of the 
release layer and releasability from a thermal transfer sheet. 
The composition for a release layer according to the present invention is 
characterized by comprising a liquid medium and, incorporated therein as 
indispensable components, a reactive silicone, a reaction catalyst and a 
reaction retardant. 
The composition for a dye-receiving layer according to the present 
invention is characterized by comprising a liquid medium and, incorporated 
as indispensable components in said liquid medium, a dye-receiving resin, 
a reactive silicone, a reaction catalyst and a reaction retardant. 
Preferred examples of the reactive silicone used in the present invention 
include modified silicone oils such as epoxy-modified, alkyl-modified, 
amino-modified, carboxyl-modified, alcohol-modified, fluorine-modified, 
alkylaralkylpolyether-modified, epoxy-polyether-modified, 
polyether-modified, addition-polymerizable and hydrogen-modified 
silicones. 
These reactive silicone oils are preferably used in the form of a 
combination of compounds reactive with each other, for example, a 
combination of an amino-modified silicone oil with an epoxy-modified 
silicone oil. However, it is also possible to use them in such a manner 
that the same kind of silicone oils, for example, amino-modified silicones 
or alcohol-modified silicones, are reacted with each other though a 
crosslinking agent such as a polyisocyanate. A combination of an 
addition-polymerizable silicone with a hydrogen-modified silicone is 
particularly preferred. 
In the present invention, one example of particularly preferred 
addition-polymerizable silicone include compounds represented by the 
following formula: 
##STR4## 
In the above formula, R is mainly a methyl group but may represents other 
alkyl groups or aryl groups, such as a phenyl group, or any combination 
thereof. 1+m+n is an integer of 1 or more, and the respective siloxane 
units may be located at random. At least one of X, Y and Z represents an 
addition-polymerizable group, such as a vinyl group, an allyl (--CH.sub.2 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2) group or a (meth)acryloyl group, and R.sup.1 to R.sup.3 
represent a single bond or an alkylene group. 
The molecular weight of the addition-polymerizable silicones is not 
particularly limited. In general, however, it is preferably in the range 
of from 3500 to 20,000. These addition-polymerizable silicones may be 
commercially available and can be easily used in the present invention. 
The hydrogen-modified silicone used in combination with the 
addition-polymerizable silicone according to the present invention may be 
represented by the same general formula as described above, except that at 
least one of --R.sup.1 --X, --R.sup.2 --Y--Z and --R.sup.3 --Y represents 
a hydrogen atom. Other substituents, arrangement of siloxane units and the 
molecular weight are the same as those described above in connection with 
the above general formula. These addition-polymerizable silicones are 
commercially available and can be easily used in the present invention. 
The proportion of the addition-polymerizable silicone and the 
hydrogen-modified silicone used is determined depending upon the molar 
ratio of reactive groups contained respectively in both the silicones. The 
molar ratio of the reactive group contained in the addition polymerizable 
silicone to the reactive group contained in the hydrogen-modified silicone 
is preferably in the range of from 4:1 to 1:4, particularly preferably in 
the range of from 1:1 to 1:3. When the molar ratio is outside this range, 
there occur a lowering in releasability, a lowering in coating strength 
and a deterioration in storage stability due to the presence of the 
reactive group remaining unreacted, so that the performance of the 
resultant thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is unsatisfactory. It is 
preferred to use the release agent mixture in an amount in the range of 
from about 2 to 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the 
resin for forming the dye-receiving layer. 
When the use of the reactive silicones alone is unsatisfactory for the 
reaction, it becomes necessary to use a catalyst for sufficiently reacting 
them with each other. The curing catalyst used in combination with the 
above-described release agents is preferably compatible with the selected 
reactive silicones or a combination thereof. For example, various radical 
generation polymerization catalysts, platinum-based catalysts, etc. are 
usable. Among them, the platinum-based catalysts are particularly 
suitable. The amount of the Catalyst used is preferably in the range of 
from about 5 to 200 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the 
reactive silicone. 
When the above-described reactive silicones are present together with the 
catalyst, they are reacted with each other even at room temperature. The 
progress of the reaction in the coating solution is causative of a 
lowering in the releasability, which leads to problems of storage 
stability, handleability of the coating solution, etc. In the present 
invention, in order to eliminate the above-described problems, use is made 
of a reaction retardant that has the effect of suppressing the reaction of 
the reactive silicones at room temperature and loses the effect during 
heat treatment. The reaction retardant used in the present invention 
comprises such a material as will suppress the action of the curing 
catalyst on the reactive silicones when it is in a solvent solution form 
but accelerate the action of the curing catalyst without suppressing the 
action when it is in a heated or dried state. Examples of such reaction 
retardants include silylation products of acetylenic alcohols. These 
reaction retardants are commercially available and can be used in the 
present invention. The amount of the reaction retardant used is preferably 
in the range of from about 5 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by 
weight of the reactive silicone. 
In the composition, the liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the 
above-described indispensable components may be any of organic solvents 
commonly used in compositions for gravure printing, and suitable examples 
thereof-include methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, xylene, ethyl acetate, 
cellosolves and methyl isobutyl ketone and mixed solvents comprising the 
above-described solvents. 
The composition for the release layer according to the present invention 
comprises the above-described indispensable components that generally 
occupy about 10 to 40% by weight in terms of solid matter content based on 
the whole composition. The composition for the release layer can be easily 
prepared by homogeneously mixing and dissolving individual components in 
the liquid medium. The coating composition will be hereinafter referred to 
also as "ink" according to the usual terminology practice in the art. 
In the above-described ink of the present invention, the above-described 
thermoplastic resin capable of receiving a dye can also be added in the 
amount of about 4 to 50 parts by weight based on one part by weight of the 
reactive silicone for the purpose of improving the film property of the 
release layer. Further, the ink can be used as an ink for forming a 
dye-receiving layer by adding as the binder component the resin capable of 
receiving a dye in a high concentration, for example, in an amount of 
about 100 to 5000 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the 
release agent component. In this case, not only the ink can be used for 
the formation of the dye-receiving layer but also good releasability can 
be imparted to the dye-receiving layer. 
Examples of the substrate sheet used for the production of the thermal 
transfer sheet according to the present invention include synthetic paper 
(polyolefin, polystyrene and other synthetic paper), wood free paper, art 
paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, wall paper, paper for backing, 
paper impregnated with a synthetic resin or an emulsion, paper impregnated 
with a synthetic rubber latex, paper containing an internally added 
synthetic resin, fiber board, etc., cellulose fiber paper, and films or 
sheets of various plastics, such as polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, 
polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polymethacrylate and 
polycarbonate. Further, use may be made of a white opaque film or a foamed 
sheet prepared by adding a white pigment or filler to the above-described 
synthetic resin and forming a film from the mixture or foaming the 
mixture. 
Further, use may be made of a laminate comprising any combination of the 
above-described substrate sheets. Typical examples of the laminate include 
a laminate comprising a combination of a cellulose fiber paper with a 
synthetic paper and a laminate comprising a combination of a cellulose 
fiber paper with a plastic film or sheet. The thickness of these substrate 
sheets may be arbitrary and is generally in the range of from about 10 to 
300 .mu.m. When the substrate sheet is poor in the adhesion to a receiving 
layer formed on the surface thereof, it is preferred that the surface of 
the substrate sheet be subjected to a primer treatment or a corona 
discharge treatment. 
The dye-receiving layer formed on the surface of the substrate sheet serves 
to receive a sublimable dye moved from the thermal transfer sheet and to 
maintain the formed image. The dye-receiving layer may comprise a resin, 
and examples of the resin include polyolefin resins, such as 
polypropylene, halogenated polymers, such as polyvinyl chloride and 
polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl polymers, such as polyvinyl acetate and 
polyacrylic esters, polyester resins, such as polyethylene terephthalate 
and polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, 
copolymer resins comprising olefins, such as ethylene or propylene, and 
other vinyl monomers, ionomers, cellulosic resins, such as cellulose 
diacetate, and polycarbonates. Among them, vinyl resins and polyester 
resins are particularly preferred. 
The thermal transfer image receiving sheet of the present invention can be 
formed by coating at least one surface of the above-described substrate 
sheet with a suitable organic solvent solution or water or organic solvent 
dispersion of the above-described indispensable components in the ink for 
a dye-receiving layer and containing other necessary additives, for 
example, by a gravure printing method, a screen printing method or a 
reverse roll coating method wherein use is made of a gravure print, and 
drying the resultant coating to form a dye-receiving layer. In this case, 
at least part of the release agent mixture contained in the dye-receiving 
layer is bled out on the surface of the dye-receiving layer upon heat 
drying of the coating solution, and the release agent mixture gives rise 
to some reaction within or on the surface of the dye-receiving layer to 
form a release layer on the surface of the dye-receiving layer. 
In the formation of the above-described dye-receiving layer, pigments or 
fillers, such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, kaolin clay, calcium 
carbonate and finely divided silica, may be added for the purpose of 
improving the whiteness of the dye-receiving layer to further enhance the 
sharpness of the transferred image. 
Although the thickness of the dye-receiving layer thus formed may be 
arbitrary, it is generally in the range of from 1 to 50 .mu.m. The 
above-described dye-receiving layer may be in the form of either a 
continuous coating formed by coating the dispersion and then heating the 
resultant coating to a relatively high temperature, or a discontinuous 
coating formed by using a resin emulsion or a resin dispersion. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, a dye-receiving layer is 
once formed without adding the above-described indispensable components of 
the ink for the release layer to the coating solution for forming the 
dye-receiving layer, and the ink for the release layer is coated on the 
surface of the dye-receiving layer to form a coating that is then dried 
and cured by heating to form a release layer. 
With respect to the formation of the release layer, coating of the coating 
solution for the release layer, drying and heating of the resultant 
coating, aging, etc. may be effected in the same manner as that used in 
the formation of the dye-receiving layer, and the thickness of the release 
layer is preferably in the range of from 0.01 to 20 .mu.m. 
The image-receiving sheet of the present invention can be applied also to 
various applications where thermal transfer recording can be conducted, 
such as image-receiving sheets, cards and sheets for preparing transparent 
originals, by properly selecting the substrate sheet. 
Further, in the image-receiving sheet of the present invention, a cushion 
layer may be optionally provided between the substrate sheet and the 
dye-receiving layer, and the provision of the cushion layer enables an 
image less susceptible to noise during printing and corresponding to image 
information to be formed by transfer recording with a good 
reproducibility. 
The cushion layer may comprise, for example, a polyurethane resin, an 
acrylic resin, a polyethylene resin, a butadiene rubber or an epoxy resin. 
The thickness of the cushion layer is preferably in the range of from 
about 2 to 20 .mu.m. 
It is also possible to provide a lubricant layer on the back surface of the 
substrate sheet. The lubricant layer may comprise a methacrylate resin, 
such as methyl methacrylate, or a corresponding acrylate resin, a vinyl 
resin, such as a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, or the like. 
Further, the image-receiving sheet may be provided with a detection mark. 
The detection mark is very convenient for registration of the thermal 
transfer sheet with the image-receiving sheet. For example, a detection 
mark detectable with a phototube detection device can be provided on the 
back surface of the substrate sheet or other place by printing or the 
like. 
The thermal transfer sheet for use in the case where thermal transfer is 
conducted through the use of the above-described thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet of the present invention may comprise a paper or a 
polyester film and, provided thereon, a dye layer containing a sublimable 
dye, and any conventional thermal transfer sheet, as such, may be used in 
the present invention. 
Means for applying a thermal energy at the time of the thermal transfer may 
be any means known in the art. For example, a desired object can be 
sufficiently attained by applying a thermal energy of about 5 to 100 
mJ/mm.sup.2 through the control of a recording time by means of a 
recording device, for example, a thermal printer (for example, a video 
printer VY-100 manufactured by Hitachi, Limited). 
Third Invention 
The third invention will now be described. 
Examples of the substrate sheet used for the production of the thermal 
transfer sheet according to the present invention include synthetic paper 
(polyolefin, polystyrene and other synthetic paper), wood free paper, art 
paper, coated paper, cast coated paper, wall paper, paper for backing, 
paper impregnated with a synthetic resin or an emulsion, paper impregnated 
with a synthetic rubber latex, paper containing an internally added 
synthetic resin, fiber board, etc., cellulose fiber paper, and films or 
sheets of various plastics, such as polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, 
polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polymethacrylate and 
polycarbonate. Further, use may be made of a white opaque film or a foamed 
sheet prepared by adding a white pigment or filler to the above-described 
synthetic resin and forming a film from the mixture or foaming the 
mixture. 
Further, use may be made of a laminate comprising any combination of the 
above-described substrate sheets. Typical examples of the laminate include 
a laminate comprising a combination of a cellulose fiber paper with a 
synthetic paper and a laminate comprising a combination of a cellulose 
fiber paper with a plastic film or sheet. The thickness of these substrate 
sheets may be arbitrary and is generally in the range of from about 10 to 
300 .mu.m. When the substrate sheet is poor in the adhesion to a receiving 
layer formed on the surface thereof, it is preferred that the surface of 
the substrate sheet be subjected to a primer treatment or a corona 
discharge treatment. 
The dye-receiving layer formed on the surface of the substrate sheet serves 
to receive a sublimable dye moved from the thermal transfer sheet and to 
maintain the formed image. The dye-receiving layer may comprise a resin, 
and examples of the resin include polyolefin resins, such as 
polypropylene, halogenated polymers, such as polyvinyl chloride and 
polyvinylidene chloride, vinyl polymers, such as polyvinyl acetate and 
polyacrylic esters, polyester resins, such as polyethylene terephthalate 
and polybutylene terephthalate, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, 
copolymer resins comprising olefins, such as ethylene or propylene, and 
other vinyl monomers, ionomers, cellulosic resins, such as cellulose 
diacetate, and polycarbonates. Among them, vinyl resins and polyester 
resins are particularly preferred. 
In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one surface of the 
above-described substrate sheet is coated with a suitable organic solvent 
solution or water or organic solvent dispersion of a mixture comprising 
the above-described resin for a dye-receiving layer and, added thereto, 
any one of a catalyst curing release agent and a curing catalyst as an 
indispensable component and other necessary additives, for example, by a 
gravure printing method, a screen printing method or a reverse roll 
coating method wherein use is made of a gravure print, the resultant 
coating is dried and heated to bleed out the catalyst curing release agent 
or curing catalyst on the surface of the dye-receiving layer, and a 
coating solution containing a curing catalyst or a catalyst curing release 
agent is coated on the surface of the catalyst curing release agent or 
curing catalyst bled out from the dye-receiving layer to form a cured 
release layer on the surface of the dye-receiving layer. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, after a dye-receiving layer 
is formed on the surface of a substrate sheet in the same manner as that 
used in the prior art, a coating solution containing a catalyst curing 
release agent or a coating solution containing a curing catalyst is coated 
on the surface of the dye-receiving layer followed by coating of any one 
of a coating solution containing a curing catalyst and a coating solution 
containing a release agent to form a release layer. 
In the prior art, since both the catalyst curing release agent and the 
curing catalyst are added to the coating solution for the dye-receiving 
layer, the stability of the coating solution is poor. Further, in this 
case, since the catalyst curing release agent and the curing catalyst are 
reacted with each other during the formation of the dye-receiving layer, 
the bleedout of the release agent on the surface of the dye-receiving 
layer is unsatisfactory. The present invention can solve these drawbacks 
of the prior art. 
Although the thickness of the dye-receiving layer may be arbitrary, it is 
generally in the range of from 1 to 50 .mu.m. Further, although the 
dye-receiving layer preferably comprises a continuous coating, it may be 
in the form of a discontinuous coating formed by using a resin emulsion or 
a resin dispersion. 
In the formation of the above-described dye-receiving layer, pigments or 
fillers, such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, kaolin clay, calcium 
carbonate and finely divided silica, may be added for the purpose of 
improving the whiteness of the dye-receiving layer to further enhance the 
sharpness of the transferred image. 
The catalyst curing release agent may be any one used in the art, and 
preferred examples thereof include modified silicone oils such as 
epoxy-modified, alkyl-modified, amino-modified, carboxyl-modified, 
alcohol-modified, fluorine-modified, alkylaralkylpolyether-modified, 
epoxy-polyether-modified, polyether-modified, addition-polymerizable and 
hydrogen-modified silicones. Among them, a combination of an 
addition-polymerizable silicone with a hydrogen-modified silicone is 
particularly preferred. 
These reactive silicone oils are preferably used in the form of a 
combination of compounds reactive with each other, for example, a 
combination of an amino-modified silicone oil with an epoxy-modified 
silicone oil. However, it is also possible to use them in such a manner 
that the same kind of silicone oils, for example, amino-modified silicones 
or alcohol-modified silicones, are reacted with each other though a 
crosslinking agent such as a polyisocyanate. 
In the present invention, platinum-based catalysts, radical generation 
catalysts, etc. may be used as the curing catalyst. Among them, 
platinum-based catalysts are particularly preferred. 
The amount of the release agent used is preferably in the range of from 2 
to 30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin for 
forming the dye-receiving layer, and the amount of the curing catalyst 
used is preferably in the range of from 4 to 120 parts by weight based on 
100 parts by weight of the release agent. 
In the present invention, when the catalyst curing release agent is 
incorporated in the coating solution for the dye-receiving layer, a 
coating solution containing a curing catalyst is coated on the release 
agent bled out on the surface of the dye-receiving layer to react the 
catalyst curing release agent with the curing catalyst, thereby forming a 
cured release layer. In the coating solution, the liquid medium for 
dissolving or dispersing the curing catalyst may be any organic solvent 
commonly used in coating solutions for the gravure printing method, and 
preferred examples thereof include methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, xylene, 
ethyl acetate, cellosolves and methyl isobutyl ketone and mixed solvents 
comprising the above-described solvents. In preparing these coating 
solutions, the above-described resin for forming the dye-receiving layer 
may be used as a binder or a film forming assistant in such an amount as 
will not be detrimental to the releasability of the resultant release 
layer. 
In the present invention, when a curing catalyst is incorporated in the 
coating solution for the dye-receiving layer, a coating solution 
containing a catalyst curing release agent is coated on the curing 
catalyst bled out on the surface of the dye-receiving layer to react the 
curing catalyst with the catalyst curing release agent, thereby forming a 
cured release layer. The organic solvents described above in connection 
with the liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the curing catalyst 
may be used also as the liquid medium for dissolving or dispersing the 
catalyst curing release agent. Further, as with the coating solution 
containing the catalyst curing release agent, the above-described resin 
for forming the dye-receiving layer may be used as a binder or a film 
forming assistant. 
In another embodiment of the present invention, after a dye-receiving layer 
is once formed, a cured release layer is formed by using the coating 
solution containing a release agent and the coating solution containing a 
curing agent in the above-described manner. In this case, the individual 
coating solutions may be the same as those described in the 
above-described embodiment. 
In the above-described method for forming a release layer, a release layer 
having an excellent releasability can be formed by coating of a coating 
solution containing a curing catalyst or a catalyst curing release agent, 
drying and heating of the resulting coating, aging, etc. The thickness of 
the release layer is preferably in the range of from 0.01 to 20 .mu.m. 
The image-receiving sheet of the present invention can be applied to 
various applications where thermal transfer recording can be conducted, 
such as image-receiving sheets, cards and sheets for preparing transparent 
originals, by properly selecting the substrate sheet. 
Further, in the image-receiving sheet of the present invention, a cushion 
layer may be optionally provided between the substrate sheet and the 
dye-receiving layer, and the provision of the cushion layer enables an 
image less susceptible to noise during printing and corresponding to image 
information to be formed by transfer recording with a good 
reproducibility. 
The cushion layer may comprise, for example, a polyurethane resin, an 
acrylic resin, a polyethylene resin, a butadiene rubber or an epoxy resin. 
The thickness of the cushion layer is preferably in the range of from 
about 2 to 20 .mu.m. 
It is also possible to provide a lubricant layer on the back surface of the 
substrate sheet. The lubricant layer may comprise a methacrylate resin, 
such as methyl methacrylate, or a corresponding acrylate resin, a vinyl 
resin, such as a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, or the like. 
Further, the image-receiving sheet may be provided with a detection mark. 
The detection mark is very convenient for registration of the thermal 
transfer sheet with the image-receiving sheet. For example, a detection 
mark detectable with a phototube detection device can be provided on the 
back surface of the substrate sheet or other place by printing or the 
like. 
The thermal transfer sheet for use in the case where thermal transfer is 
conducted through the use of the above-described thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet of the present invention may comprise a paper or a 
polyester film and, provided thereon, a dye layer containing a sublimable 
dye, and any conventional thermal transfer sheet, as such, may be used in 
the present invention. 
Means for applying a thermal energy at the time of the thermal transfer may 
be any means known in the art. For example, a desired object can be 
sufficiently attained by applying a thermal energy of about 5 to 100 
mJ/mm.sup.2 through the control of a recording time by means of a 
recording device, for example, a thermal printer (for example, a video 
printer VY-100 manufactured by Hitachi, Limited). 
EXAMPLES 
The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference 
to the following Reference Example, Examples and Comparative Examples. In 
the Reference Example, Examples and Comparative Examples, "parts" or "%" 
is by weight unless otherwise specified. 
Details of addition-polymerizable silicones and hydrogen-modified silicones 
used in the Examples are given in the following Tables A1 and A2. 
TABLE A1 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
(Addition-Polymerizable Silicone) 
Content of 
Content of 
siloxane 
siloxane 
Content of 
unit having 
unit having 
dimethyl 
Molecular 
vinyl group 
phenyl group 
siloxane unit 
Position of 
No. 
weight 
(mol %)* 
(mol %)* 
(mol %)* 
vinyl group 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
A 7,000 
13 30 57 End + side chain 
B 20,000 
6 15 79 End + side chain 
C 15,000 
8 30 62 Both end + 
side chain 
D 7,000 
13 30 57 Both ends 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Note: 
Methylsiloxane, phenylsiloxane and addition polymerizable siloxane units 
in the side chain are located at random. 
*Proportion based on the whole siloxane unit. 
TABLE A2 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Content of 
Content of 
siloxane 
siloxane 
Content of 
unit having 
unit having 
dimethyl 
Molecular 
hydrogen atom 
phenyl group 
siloxane unit 
Position of 
No. 
weight 
(mol %)* 
(mol %)* 
(mol %)* 
hydrogen atom 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
a 7,000 
13 30 57 Side chain 
b 15,000 
8 20 72 End + side chain 
c 7,000 
8 30 62 Both ends + 
side chain 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Note: 
Methylsiloxane, phenylsiloxane and hydrogensiloxane units in the side 
chain are located at random. 
*Proportion based on the whole siloxane unit. 
EXAMPLE A1 
Synthetic paper (Yupo-FRG-150 having a thickness of 150 .mu.m; manufactured 
by Oji--Yuka Synthetic Paper Co., Ltd.) was used as a substrate sheet, and 
a coating solution having the following composition was coated by means of 
a bar coater on one surface of the synthetic paper so that the coverage on 
a dry basis was 5.0 g/m.sup.2, and the resultant coating was dried with a 
drier and then heat-treated in an oven at about 130.degree. C. for 30 sec 
to form a dye-receiving layer, thereby providing a thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet of the present invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution: 
______________________________________ 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
80 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Release agent No. A 2 parts 
Release agent No. a 4 parts 
Epoxy-modified silicone 6 parts 
(X22-3000T manufactured by The Shin- 
Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
3 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
400 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A2 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A1, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A1 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution: 
______________________________________ 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
80 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Release agent No. B 2 parts 
Release agent No. a 4 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
3 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
400 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A3 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A1, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A1 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution: 
______________________________________ 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
75 parts 
(#1000GK manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 25 parts 
(Vylon 200 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Release agent No. C 2 parts 
Release agent No. b 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
4 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
400 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A4 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A1, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A1 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution: 
______________________________________ 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
75 parts 
(#1000GK manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 25 parts 
(Vylon 200 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Release agent No. D 3 parts 
Release agent No. c 9 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
8 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
400 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A5 
Synthetic paper (Yupo-FRG-150 having a thickness of 150 .mu.m; manufactured 
by Oji--Yuka Synthetic Paper Co., Ltd.) was used as a substrate sheet, and 
a coating solution for a dye-receiving layer and having the following 
composition was coated by means of a bar coater on one surface of the 
synthetic paper so that the coverage on a dry basis was 2.5 g/m.sup.2, and 
the resultant coating was dried to form a dye-receiving layer. 
Subsequently, the following coating solution for a release layer and 
having the following composition was coated on the surface of the 
dye-receiving layer so that the coverage on a dry basis was 2.0 g/m.sup.2, 
and the resultant coating was heat-dried to form a release layer, thereby 
providing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present 
invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
240 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. A 2 parts 
Release agent No. a 4 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
3 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
160 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A6 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A5, except that the 
following coating solutions were used instead of the coating solutions 
used in Example A5 to form a dye-receiving layer having on its surface a 
release layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
25 parts 
(#1000GK manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 25 parts 
(Vylon 200 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
200 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
(Coverage: 2.0 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
50 parts 
(#1000GK manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. C 2 parts 
Release agent No. b 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
3 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
200 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
(Coverage: 2.5 g/m.sup.2) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A7 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A5, except that the 
following coating solutions were used instead of the coating solutions 
used in Example A5 to form a dye-receiving layer having on its surface a 
release layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
80 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
400 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
(Coverage: 4.5 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Release agent No. A 2 parts 
Release agent No. a 4 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
2 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
30 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
(Coverage: 5.0 g/m.sup.2) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A8 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A5, except that the 
following coating solutions were used instead of the coating solutions 
used in Example A5 to form a dye-receiving layer having on its surface a 
release layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
50 parts 
(#1000GK manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 50 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
400 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
(Coverage: 4.5 gm.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Release agent No. B 3 parts 
Release agent No. a 6 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
3 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
50 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
(Coverage: 0.5 g/m.sup.2) 
______________________________________ 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE A1 
A comparative thermal transfer image-receiving sheet was provided in the 
same manner as that of Example A1, except that the following coating 
solution was used instead of the coating solution used in Example A1 to 
form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution: 
______________________________________ 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
80 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 200 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd. ) 
Amino-modified silicone 5 parts 
(KS-343 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Epoxy-modified silicone 5 parts 
(KF-393 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
8 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
400 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
______________________________________ 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE A2 
A comparative thermal transfer image-receiving sheet was provided in the 
same manner as that of Example A5, except that the following coating 
solutions were used instead of the coating solutions used in Example A5 to 
form a dye-receiving layer having on its surface a release layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
250 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
(Coverage: 2.5 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Amino-modified silicone 5 parts 
(KS-343 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Epoxy-modified silicone 5 parts 
(KF-393 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
3 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
150 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
(Coverage: 2.0 g/m.sup.2) 
______________________________________ 
Separately, a coating solution for forming a dye layer and having the 
following composition was prepared and coated by gravure printing on a 6 
.mu.m-thick polyethylene terephthalate film having a reverse face 
subjected to a treatment for rendering the face heat-resistant so that the 
coverage on a dry basis was 1.0 g/m.sup.2, and the resultant coating was 
dried to provide a thermal transfer sheet used in the present invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution: 
______________________________________ 
Kayaset Blue 714 5.50 parts 
(C.I. Solvent Blue 63 manufactured by 
Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.) 
Polyvinyl butyral resin 
3.00 parts 
(Eslec BX-1 manufactured by Sekisui 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
22.54 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
Toluene 68.18 parts 
______________________________________ 
Thermal Transfer Test 
The above-described thermal transfer sheet and the above-described thermal 
transfer image-receiving sheets of examples of the present invention and 
comparative examples were put on top of the other in such a manner that 
the dye layer and the dye-receiving surface faced each other. A cyan image 
was recorded by means of a thermal head from the back surface of the 
thermal transfer sheet under conditions of a head applied voltage of 12.0 
V, a step pattern in which the applied pulse width was successively 
reduced from 16.0 msec/line every 1 msec, and a 6 lines/mm (33.3 
msec/line) in the sub-scanning direction, and releasability between both 
the sheets. The results are given in the following table A3. 
TABLE A3 
______________________________________ 
Surface Coating 
Image property of 
strength of 
receiving dye-receiving 
dye-receiving 
sheet Curability layer layer 
______________________________________ 
Ex. A1 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
Ex. A2 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
Ex. A3 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
Ex. A4 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
Ex. A5 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
Ex. A6 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
Ex. A7 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
Ex. A8 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
Comp. Ex. 
X .DELTA. X 
A1 
Comp. Ex. 
X .largecircle. 
.DELTA. 
A2 
______________________________________ 
(1) Curability 
In preparing the image-receiving sheet, drying was effected at 120.degree. 
C. in an oven for 3 min, and the dried assembly was cooled at room 
temperature to observe the set to touch of the surface of the 
dye-receiving layer. 
O: Good 
X: Failure 
(2) Releasability 
The image-receiving sheet and the thermal transfer sheet were put on top of 
the other, and printing was effect by means of a thermal head. Thereafter, 
the adhesion between both the sheets was evaluated by peeling the thermal 
transfer sheet from the image-receiving sheet. The lower the adhesion, the 
better the releasability. Occurrence of heat fusing makes it difficult to 
peel the image-receiving sheet and the thermal transfer sheet from each 
other, which often results in breaking of the substrate. 
O: Good 
.DELTA.: Partial failure in peeling 
X: Failure 
(3) Scratching Resistance of Coating 
The surface of the image-receiving sheet was rubbed with gauze, and whether 
or not a scratch was caused by the rubbing was observed with the naked 
eye. 
O: Good 
.DELTA.: Slight scratch observed 
X: Failure 
(4) Coating Strength of Dye-receiving Layer 
The image-receiving sheet was folded into two with the surface of the 
dye-receiving layer facing inward, and the fold was observed under a 
microscope to evaluate the occurrence of cracking. 
O: Good 
.DELTA.: Slight cracking observed 
X: Failure 
Examples A9 to A21 
Addition-polymerizable silicones and hydrogen-modified silicones 
represented by the following general formulae were used in Examples A9 to 
A21, and details thereof are given in the following Tables A4 and A5. 
Addition-polymerizable silicones: 
##STR5## 
wherein X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 each independently represent a 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 or --CH.sub.3 group, provided that at least one of 
X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 represents a --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 group. In the 
above addition-polymerizable silicones, individual siloxane units are 
located at random. 
Hydrogen-modified silicones: 
##STR6## 
wherein 
Y.sub.1, Y.sub.2 and Y.sub.3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom 
or a --CH.sub.3 group, provided that at least one of Y.sub.1, Y.sub.2 and 
Y.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom. In the above hydrogen-modified 
silicones, individual siloxane units are located at random. 
TABLE A4 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
(Addition-Polymerizable Silicone) 
Content of 
Content of 
Content of 
siloxane unit 
diphenyl 
dimethyl 
Molecular 
having vinyl 
siloxane 
siloxane 
No. 
weight 
group (mol %)* 
unit (mol %)* 
unit (mol %)* 
X.sub.1 
X.sub.2 
X.sub.3 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
E 7,000 13 30 57 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.sub.3 
F 6,800 12 5 83 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.sub.3 
G 7,000 13 50 37 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.sub.3 
H 12,000 
15 24 61 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.sub.3 
I 3,600 6 30 64 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.sub.3 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
J 6,500 13 0 87 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.sub.3 
K 6,900 14 54 32 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.sub.3 
L 9,500 21 10 69 --CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
*Proportion based on the whole siloxane unit. 
TABLE A5 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
(Hydrogen-Modified Silicone) 
Content of 
Content of 
Content of 
siloxane unit 
diphenyl 
dimethyl 
Molecular 
having hydrogen 
siloxane 
siloxane 
No. 
weight 
atom (mol %)* 
unit (mol %)* 
unit (mol %)* 
Y.sub.1 
Y.sub.2 
Y.sub.3 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
d 7,000 13 30 57 H H --CH.sub.3 
e 3,700 8 22 70 H --CH.sub.3 
H 
f 6,800 13 50 37 H H --CH.sub.3 
g 7,300 15 0 85 H H --CH.sub.3 
h 6,900 12 55 33 H H --CH.sub.3 
i 5,600 20 26 54 --CH.sub.3 
H --CH.sub.3 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
*Proportion based on the whole siloxane unit. 
EXAMPLE A9 
A coating solution having the following composition was coated on 
Yupo-FRG-150 having a thickness of 150 .mu.m so that the coverage on a dry 
basis was 5.0 g/m.sup.2 in the same manner as that of Example A1 to form a 
dye-receiving layer, thereby providing a thermal transfer image-receiving 
sheet of the present invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(Denkalac #400 manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. E 5 parts 
Release agent No. d 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 5 parts 
(PLR-5 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
EXAMPLE A10 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A9, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A9 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(Denkalac #400 manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. F 5 parts 
Release agent No. g 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 5 parts 
(PLR-5 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
EXAMPLE A11 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A9, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A9 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(Denkalac #400 manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. G 5 parts 
Release agent No. f 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 5 parts 
(PLR-5 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
EXAMPLE A12 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A9, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A9 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
60 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. H 6 parts 
Release agent No. e 4 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 5 parts 
(PLR-5 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A13 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A9, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A9 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
60 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. I 5 parts 
Release agent No. e 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 5 parts 
(PLR-5 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A14 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A9, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A9 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(Denkalac #400 manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. J 5 parts 
Release agent No. g 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 5 parts 
(PLR-5 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
EXAMPLE A15 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A9, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A9 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd. ) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(Denkalac #400 manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. K 5 parts 
Release agent No. h 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 5 parts 
(PLR-5 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
EXAMPLE A16 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A9, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A9 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(Denkalac #400 manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. L 2.5 parts 
Release agent No. i 7.5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 5 parts 
(PLR-5 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
EXAMPLE A17 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A9, except that the 
following coating solution was used instead of the coating solution used 
in Example A9 to form a dye-receiving layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(Denkalac #400 manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. J 5 parts 
Release agent No. h 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 5 parts 
(PLR-5 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
EXAMPLE A18 
A coating solution for a dye-receiving layer and having the following 
composition was coated by means of a bar coater on one surface of the same 
synthetic paper as that used in Example A5 so that the coverage on a dry 
basis was 5.0 g/m.sup.2, and the resultant coating was dried to form a 
dye-receiving layer. Subsequently, the following coating solution for a 
release layer and having the following composition was coated on the 
surface of the dye-receiving layer so that the coverage on a dry basis was 
0.1 g/m.sup.2, and the resultant coating was heat-dried to form a release 
layer, thereby providing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the 
present invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(Denkalac #1000A manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(Denkalac #400 manufactured by Denki 
Kagaku Kogyo K.K.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
(Coverage: 5 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Polyester resin 30 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Release agent No. E 10 parts 
Release agent No. i 10 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
10 parts 
(PL-50T) 
Ethyl acetate Amount to 
bring solid 
content to 1 
wt. % 
(Coverage: 0.1 g/m.sup.2) 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
EXAMPLE A19 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A18, except that the 
following coating solutions were used instead of the coating solutions 
used in Example A18 to form a dye-receiving layer having on its surface a 
release layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 200 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
80 parts 
(weight ratio: 1/1) 
(Coverage: 5 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Polyester resin 30 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Release agent No. E 10 parts 
Release agent No. d 10 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
10 parts 
(PL-50T) 
Ethyl acetate Amount to 
bring solid 
content to 1 
wt. % 
(Coverage: 0.1 g/m.sup.2) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A20 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A18, except that the 
following coating solutions were used instead of the coating solutions 
used in Example A18 to form a dye-receiving layer having on its surface a 
release layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Water dispersion of polyester resin 
50 parts 
(Vylonal MD-1200 manufactured by Toyobo 
Co., Ltd.) 
IPA/water (1/1) 50 parts 
(Coverage: 5.0 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
As described in Example A19 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE A21 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example A18, except that the 
following coating solutions were used instead of the coating solutions 
used in Example A18 to form a dye-receiving layer having on its surface a 
release layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(#400 manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
(Coverage: 5.0 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Release agent No. E 10 parts 
Release agent No. i 10 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
10 parts 
(PL-50T) 
Ethyl acetate Amount to 
bring solid 
content to 1 
wt. % 
(Coverage: 0.1 g/m.sup.2) 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
Thermal Transfer Test 
Thermal transfer recording was effected under the following printing 
conditions to form a cyan image, and the releasability between the thermal 
transfer sheet and the image-receiving sheet and the like were examined. 
The results are given in the following Table 6. In this test, the thermal 
transfer sheet used was the same as that used in the above-described test. 
Specifications of Thermal Head 
Model: L-335 manufactured by TDK 
Heating element density: 6 dots/mm 
Average of resistance of heating element: 571 .OMEGA. 
Printing Conditions 
Printing speed: 5.5 msec/line 
Applied voltage: 15.7 V 
Applied Pulse Width 
16 step pattern wherein the pulse width is successively reduced from 4.4 
msec/line every 0.275 msec. 
Releasability 
: Good record provided with substantially no need of any force for peeling 
the thermal transfer sheet from the image 
receiving sheet and without occurrence of any problem attributable to heat 
fusing of the image-receiving sheet and the thermal transfer sheet to each 
other. 
: Good record provided without occurrence of any problem attributable to 
heat fusing of the image-receiving sheet and the thermal transfer sheet to 
each other although some force is needed for peeling the thermal transfer 
sheet from the image-receiving sheet. 
.DELTA.: Partial failure in peeling due to heat fusing 
X: Failure 
Scratch Resistance 
The surface of the image-receiving sheet was rubbed with gauze by 
reciprocating the gauze 5 times,-and printing was effected under the 
above-described conditions to evaluate the releasability. 
: Good releasability obtained without difference in releasability between 
the rubbed portion and the unrubbed portion 
.DELTA.: Heat fusing of some dye binder to the rubbed portion observed 
X: Complete heat fusing of the rubbed portion observed 
The other evaluation items were the same as those of Examples A1 and A2. 
TABLE A6 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Coating 
strength of 
Scratching 
dye-receiving 
Overall 
Ex. No. 
Curability 
Releasability 
resistance 
layer evaluation 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Ex. A9 
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.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A10 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A11 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A12 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A13 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A14 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.DELTA. 
.DELTA. 
.largecircle. 
Ex. A15 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A16 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A17 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.DELTA. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
Ex. A18 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A19 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A20 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
Ex. A21 
.largecircle. 
.circleincircle. 
.DELTA. 
.DELTA. 
.largecircle. 
__________________________________________________________________________ 
Thus, according to the present invention, the use of a mixture of 
particular reactive silicones as a release agent can provide a thermal 
transfer image-receiving sheet having a dye-receiving layer which is 
excellent in reaction rate of the release agent, coating strength of the 
release layer and releasability from a thermal transfer sheet. 
REFERENCE EXAMPLE B1 
______________________________________ 
Release agent No. E 5 parts 
Release agent No. d 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
0 or 6 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 0 or 2 parts 
(silylation product of acetylenic 
alcohol; PLR-5 manufactured by The 
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
The relationship between the reaction temperature and the reaction rate 
(under conditions as described in Example B1) was examined using the above 
composition with respect to three composition samples, i.e., a composition 
sample wherein use was made of the silicone, a composition sample wherein 
use was made of the silicone in combination with the reaction retardant 
and a composition sample wherein use was made of the silicone in 
combination with the reaction retardant and the catalyst. The results are 
shown in FIG. 1. 
EXAMPLE B1 
Synthetic paper (Yupo-FRG-150 having a thickness of 150 .mu.m; manufactured 
by Oji--Yuka Synthetic Paper Co., Ltd.) was used as a substrate sheet, and 
a coating solution having the following composition was coated by means of 
a bar coater on one surface of the synthetic paper so that the coverage on 
a dry basis was 5.0 g/m.sup.2, and the resultant coating was dried with a 
drier and then heat-treated in an oven at about 130.degree. C. for 30 sec 
to form a dye-receiving layer, thereby providing a thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet of the present invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution: 
______________________________________ 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
80 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Release agent No. E 5 parts 
Release agent No. d 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
10 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 0 to 10 parts 
(silylation product of acetylenic 
alcohol; PLR-5 manufactured by The 
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
The resultant thermal transfer image-receiving sheets were allowed to stand 
immediately after the completion of the production for a period of time 
specified in the following Table B1, inserted into a test printer (VY-P1 
manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) and allowed to stand at 40.degree. C. for 3 
hr. Then, 20 sheets of high-density solid printing were continuously 
effected at that temperature to determine the releasability between the 
thermal transfer sheet and the image-receiving sheet. The results are 
given in the following Table B1. 
TABLE B1 
______________________________________ 
Standing Amount of reaction retardant 
time (hr) 0 part 2 parts 10 parts 
______________________________________ 
0 .largecircle. .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
4 .largecircle. .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
8 X .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
24 X .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
100 X X .largecircle. 
______________________________________ 
Note: 
.largecircle. good releasability 
X poor releasability 
EXAMPLE B2 
Synthetic paper (Yupo-FRG-150 having a thickness of 150 .mu.m; manufactured 
by Oji--Yuka Synthetic Paper Co., Ltd.) was used as a substrate sheet, and 
a coating solution for a dye-receiving layer and having the following 
composition was coated by means of a bar coater on one surface of the 
synthetic paper so that the coverage on a dry basis was 2.5 g/m.sup.2, and 
the resultant coating was dried to form a dye-receiving layer. 
Subsequently, the following coating solution for a release layer and 
having the following composition was coated on the surface of the 
dye-receiving layer so that the coverage on a dry basis was 2 0 g/m.sup.2 
and the resultant coating was heat-dried to form a release layer, thereby 
providing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present 
invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. E 5 parts 
Release agent No. d 5 parts 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
10 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 0 to 10 parts 
(silylation product of acetylenic 
alcohol; PLR-5 manufactured by The 
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
The resultant alcohols were evaluated in the same manner as that of Example 
B1. The results are given in the following Table B2. 
TABLE B2 
______________________________________ 
Standing Amount of reaction retardant 
time (hr) 
0 part 2 parts 10 parts 
______________________________________ 
0 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
4 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
8 X .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
24 X .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
100 X X .largecircle. 
______________________________________ 
Note: 
.largecircle. good releasability 
X poor releasability 
EXAMPLE B3 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present invention was 
provided in the same manner as that of Example B2, except that the 
following coating solutions were used instead of the coating solutions 
used in Example B2 to form a dye-receiving layer having on its surface a 
release layer. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
25 parts 
(#1000GK manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 25 parts 
(Vylon 200 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
(Coverage: 2.0 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
50 parts 
(#1000GK manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Amino-modified silicone 5 parts 
(KS-343 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Epoxy-modified silicone 5 parts 
(KF-393 manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
3 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Reaction retardant 0 to 10 parts 
(silylation product of acetylenic 
alcohol; PLR-5 manufactured by The 
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
(Coverage: 2.5 g/m.sup.2) 
______________________________________ 
The resultant alcohols were evaluated in the same manner as that of Example 
B1. The results are given in the following Table B3. 
TABLE B3 
______________________________________ 
Standing Amount of reaction retardant 
time (hr) 
0 part 2 parts 10 parts 
______________________________________ 
0 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
4 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
8 X .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
24 X .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
100 X X .largecircle. 
______________________________________ 
Note: 
.largecircle. good releasability 
X poor releasability 
Thus, according to the present invention, when a dye-receiving layer or a 
release layer is formed, the use of a coating solution comprising a liquid 
medium and, incorporated therein as indispensable components, a reactive 
silicone, a reaction catalyst and a reaction retardant enables the 
reaction of the release agent to be sufficiently retarded when the release 
agent is in a coating solution form, while after the formation of the 
dye-receiving layer or release layer, there occurs a rapid increase in the 
reaction rate, so that not only the image-receiving sheet can be produced 
with a high efficiency but also it becomes possible to provide a thermal 
transfer image-receiving sheet having a dye-receiving layer which is 
excellent in coating strength of the release layer and releasability from 
a thermal transfer sheet. 
EXAMPLE C1 
Synthetic paper (Yupo-FRG-150 having a thickness of 150 .mu.m; manufactured 
by Oji--Yuka Synthetic Paper Co., Ltd.) was used as a substrate sheet, and 
a coating solution for a dye-receiving layer and having the following 
composition was coated by means of a bar coater on one surface of the 
synthetic paper so that the coverage on a dry basis was 5.0 g/m.sup.2, and 
the resultant coating was dried with a drier and then heat-treated in an 
oven at about 130.degree. C. for 30 sec to form a dye-receiving layer. 
Subsequently, a 20% solution of a platinum-based catalyst PL-50T 
(manufactured by The Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) in a methyl ethyl 
ketone/toluene (1: 1) mixed solvent was coated on the surface of the 
above-described dye-receiving layer so that the coverage on a dry basis 
was 50% by weight based on the amount of the catalyst-curing silicone 
added to the dye-receiving layer, and the resultant coating was dried with 
a drier and then heat-treated in an oven at about 130.degree. C. for 30 
sec to provide a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present 
invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
80 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Release agent No. E 5 parts 
Release agent No. d 5 parts 
Epoxy-modified silicone 5 parts 
(X-22-3000T manufactured by The Shin- 
Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE C2 
A coating solution for a dye-receiving layer and having the following 
composition was coated by means of a bar coater on one surface of the same 
substrate sheet as that used in Example C1 so that the coverage on a dry 
basis was 2 5 g/m.sup.2 and the resultant coating was dried with a drier 
and then heat-treated in an oven at about 130.degree. C. for 30 sec to 
form a dye-receiving layer. Subsequently, a coating solution for a release 
layer and having the following composition was coated at a coverage on a 
dry basis of 2.5 g/m.sup.2 on the surface of the dye-receiving layer and 
dried in the same manner as that described above. Then, a 20% solution of 
a platinum-based catalyst PL-50T (manufactured by The Shin-Etsu Chemical 
Co., Ltd.) in a methyl ethyl ketone/toluene (1:1) mixed solvent was coated 
thereon so that the coverage on a dry basis was 50% by weight based on the 
amount of the catalyst-curing silicone added to the release layer, and the 
resultant coating was dried with a drier and then heat-treated in an oven 
at about 130.degree. C. for 30 sec to provide a thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet of the present invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. E 5 parts 
Release agent No. d 5 parts 
Epoxy-modified silicone 5 parts 
(X-22-3000T manufactured by The Shin- 
Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE C3 
A coating solution for a dye-receiving layer and having the following 
composition was coated by means of a bar coater on one surface of the same 
substrate sheet as that used in Example C1 so that the coverage on a dry 
basis was 4.5 g/m.sup.2, and the resultant coating was dried with a drier 
and then heat-treated in an oven at about 130.degree. C. for 30 sec to 
form a dye-receiving layer. Subsequently, a coating solution for a release 
layer and having the following composition was coated at a coverage on a 
dry basis of 0.5 g/m.sup.2 on the surface of the dye-receiving layer and 
dried in the same manner as that described above. Then, a 20% solution of 
a platinum-based catalyst PL-50T (manufactured by The Shin-Etsu Chemical 
Co., Ltd.) in a methyl ethyl ketone/toluene (1:1) mixed solvent was coated 
thereon so that the coverage on a dry basis was 50% by weight based on the 
amount of the catalyst-curing silicone added to the release layer, and the 
resultant coating was dried with a drier and then heat-treated in an oven 
at about 130.degree. C. for 30 sec to provide a thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheet of the present invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
65 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 35 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Release agent No. E 5 parts 
Release agent No. d 5 parts 
Epoxy-modified silicone 5 parts 
(X-22-3000T manufactured by The Shin- 
Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE C4 
A coating solution for a dye-receiving layer and having the following 
composition was coated by means of a bar coater on one surface of the same 
substrate sheet as that used in Example C1 so that the coverage on a dry 
basis was 4.5 g/m.sup.2, and the resultant coating was dried with a drier 
and then heat-treated in an oven at about 130.degree. C. for 30 sec to 
form a dye-receiving layer. Subsequently, a coating solution for a release 
layer and having the following composition was coated at a coverage on a 
dry basis of 0.5 g/m.sup.2 on the surface of the dye-receiving layer, and 
the resultant coating was heat-treated in an oven at about 130.degree. C. 
for 30 sec to form a release layer (thickness: 0.5 g/m2), thereby 
providing a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet of the present 
invention. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
______________________________________ 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
80 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
5 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Release agent No. E 5 parts 
Release agent No. d 5 parts 
Epoxy-modified silicone 5 parts 
(X-22-3000T manufactured by The Shin- 
Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE C5 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet was provided in the same manner as 
that of Example C4, except that a coating solution for a dye-receiving 
layer and having the following composition and a coating solution for a 
release layer and having the following composition were used at the 
following respective coverages instead of those used in Example C4. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Polyester resin 40 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
40 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl 
20 parts 
chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
(#400 manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Release agent No. E 2 parts 
Release agent No. d 2 parts 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
(Coverage: 5 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
Polyester resin 10 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Platinum-based curing catalyst 
10 parts 
(PL-50T manufactured by The Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Ethyl acetate Amount to 
bring solid 
content to 1 
wt. % 
(Coverage: 0.1 g/m.sup.2) 
______________________________________ 
It is noted that the use of a styrene-acrylic-modified vinyl chloride/vinyl 
acetate copolymer contributes to an improvement in drying property. 
EXAMPLE C6 
A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet was provided in the same manner as 
that of Example C4, except that a coating solution for a dye-receiving 
layer and having the following composition and a coating solution for a 
release layer and having the following composition were used at the 
following respective coverages instead of those used in Example C4. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Water dispersion of polyester resin 
50 parts 
(Vylonal MD-1200 manufactured by Toyobo 
Co., Ltd.) 
Emulsion of release agent No. E 
2 parts 
Emulsion of release agent No. d 
2 parts 
IPA/water (1/1) 50 parts 
(Coverage: 5 g/m.sup.2) 
Composition of coating solution for release layer: 
As described in Example C5 
______________________________________ 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE C1 
A coating solution for a dye-receiving layer and having the following 
composition was coated by means of a bar coater on one surface of the same 
substrate sheet as that used in Example C1 so that the coverage on a dry 
basis was 5.0 g/m.sup.2, and the resultant coating was dried with a drier 
and then heat-treated in an oven at about 130.degree. C. for 30 sec to 
form a dye-receiving layer, thereby providing a comparative 
image-receiving sheet. 
______________________________________ 
Composition of coating solution for dye-receiving layer: 
Vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer 
80 parts 
(#1000A manufactured by Denki Kagaku 
Kogyo K.K.) 
Polyester resin 20 parts 
(Vylon 600 manufactured by Toyobo Co., 
Ltd.) 
Release agent No. E 5 parts 
Release agent No. d 5 parts 
Epoxy-modified silicone 5 parts 
(X-22-3000T manufactured by The Shin- 
Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 
Methyl ethyl ketone/toluene 
Amount to 
(weight ratio: 1/1) bring solid 
content to 
20 wt. % 
______________________________________ 
EVALUATION EXAMPLE 
In the preparation of the above-described thermal transfer image-receiving 
sheets, the coating solutions for respective examples were allowed to 
stand for a given period of time and then used to prepare thermal transfer 
image-receiving sheets that were then subjected to evaluation of 
releasability as follows. The image-receiving sheets were inserted into a 
test printer (VY-P1 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) and allowed to stand at 
40.degree. C. for 3 hr. Then, 20 sheets of high-density solid printing 
were continuously effected to determine the releasability between the 
thermal transfer sheet and the image-receiving sheet. The results are 
given in the following Table C1. 
TABLE C1 
______________________________________ 
Standing 
Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Ex. Comp. 
time (hr) 
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 Ex. C1 
______________________________________ 
0 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
4 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.DELTA. 
8 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
X 
24 .largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.largecircle. 
.DELTA. 
X 
______________________________________ 
Note: 
.largecircle. Good 
.DELTA. Slightly poor 
X Failure 
As is apparent from the above Table C1, according to the present invention, 
the coating solutions used have a good stability, which eliminates the 
need of using the coating solution immediate after the preparation of the 
coating solutions, so that it becomes possible to continuously produce a 
thermal transfer image-receiving sheet for a long period of time. 
Thus, according to the present invention, in the formation of a release 
layer comprising a catalyst-curing release agent and a curing agent on the 
surface of a dye-receiving layer, when the release agent and the curing 
catalyst are used separately from each other, it becomes possible to 
produce a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet having a dye-receiving 
layer which is excellent in coating strength of the release layer and 
releasability of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet from a thermal 
transfer sheet.