An electrophotographic decalcomania transfer medium comprising a polymer resin film formed on the surface side of a base material essentially consisting of paper, in which the polymer resin film on the surface side comprises an adhesion layer and a transfer layer, and the back side of the base material is provided with a backing layer comprising a polymer resin. The backing layer is formed such that it partially covers the surface of the base material, instead of covering the entire surface thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic decalcomania 
transfer medium, from which a toner image obtained thereon can be 
retransferred to another final transfer medium in an apparatus, such as an 
electrophotographic apparatus and an electrostatic recording apparatus, 
forming images by using toner. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
Conventionally, decalcomania is widely known as a technique for 
three-demensionally transferring images. A method of transferring images 
by water pressure is known as an example of decalcomania and it proceeds 
as follows: a base material, such as paper, is coated with a water-soluble 
paste, such as dextrin; the required image is formed from acrylic ink by 
screen printing, etc.; the coated dextrin is dissolved by immersing the 
paper in water; and the acrylic-ink image floating in water is transferred 
to a three-dimensional object, such as earthenware, by water pressure. It 
is also known that the transfer paper used for the foregoing method can be 
directly applied to electrophotography. In this case, a transfer medium is 
prepared by forming a dextrin film on rice paper, and a toner image is 
formed on the surface of the dextrin film by an electrophotographic 
apparatus. Then, the transfer medium is passed through an organic solvent 
for softening the resin contained in the toner so that the toner image is 
allowed to adhere to a retransfer medium, and is arranged to be in close 
contact with the retransfer medium such that the correct image is put 
thereon. After that, water is added to the back side of the transfer 
medium so as to dissolve the dextrin film for transferring only the toner 
image to the retransfer medium. 
However, according to the foregoing transfer medium obtained by forming a 
water-soluble coating film on opaque paper, a large amount of expansion or 
shrinkage readily occurs because of the high sensitivity to the moisture 
contained in the atmosphere. Disadvantageous curling is thereby caused and 
seriously impairs paper running in the apparatus. 
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-361086 discloses a retransfer medium using, 
instead of dextrin, a polyvinyl alcohol which is a saponified compound of 
vinyl acetate. The retransfer medium is obtained such that an acrylic 
resin film is formed on paper coated with a silicone resin, and a 
polyvinyl alcohol containing a silicone antifroth agent is further applied 
thereon. After forming a toner image on the coating film by an 
electrophotographic apparatus, the polyvinyl alcohol film is peeled from 
the base material and put on the retransfer medium for retransferring such 
that the correct image is in contact therewith. 
For allowing the toner image to adhere to the retransfer medium, the resin 
contained in the image is softened by heating and pressing. After cooling, 
an 80% ethyl alcohol aqueous solution is added to the back side of the 
polyvinyl alcohol film so that the adhesion between the film and the toner 
image decreases to finish retransferring. 
According to the foregoing method, since the film which holds a toner image 
thereon and which is peeled from a base material is transparent, it 
becomes easier to correctly position the image to an object. 
However, since the polyvinyl alcohol used for the foregoing method contains 
partially saponified vinyl acetate, the resultant transfer medium is 
sensitive to the moisture in the atmosphere and readily occurs curling, as 
is similar to those using dextrin. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an 
electrophotographic decalcomania transfer medium which exhibits small 
curling and excellent paper running in an electrophotographic apparatus. 
Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an 
electrophotographic decalcomania transfer medium which exhibits excellent 
water-proofing. 
Furthermore, still another object of the present invention is to provide an 
electrophotographic decalcomania transfer medium which does not form 
blisters even if the transfer medium is in contact with an overheated 
portion inside an electrophotographic apparatus. 
The present invention is an electrophotographic decalcomania transfer 
medium comprising a polymer resin film formed on the surface side of a 
base material essentially consisting of paper, in which the polymer resin 
film on the surface side comprises an adhesion layer and a transfer layer, 
and the back side of the base material is provided with a backing layer 
comprising a polymer resin. 
According to an electrophotographic decalcomania transfer medium of the 
present invention, both sides of paper, which is used as a base material 
of the electrophotographic decalcomania transfer medium, are resin-coated. 
The resin coating layer provided on one side of the paper is used as an 
adhesion layer, and a transfer layer is formed thereon. The resin coating 
layer on the other side is used as a backing layer for decreasing curling 
which is caused by leaving the transfer medium at a low humidity. The 
resultant electrophotographic decalcomania transfer medium can thereby 
achieve further stable paper running. In addition, the backing layer is 
formed such that it partially covers the surface of the base material, 
instead of covering the entire surface thereof. Thus, even if contact 
occurs between an overheated portion of an electrophotographic apparatus 
and the transfer medium, the moisture contained in the base material is 
allowed to evaporate from the surface of the base material which is not 
covered with the backing layer. It becomes thereby possible to avoid 
blisters formed at heat-fused portions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention will be better understood from the following 
embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing a layer structure of an 
electrophotographic decalcomania transfer medium 1 of the present 
invention. As a base material 11 of the transfer medium 1, the following 
paper is used: plain paper having a high or moderate quality; and 
so-called coated paper or art paper obtained by coating one or both 
surface sides of the foregoing plain paper for fitting. The preferable 
paper weighing is 30 g/m.sup.2 or more and, more preferably, 45 g/m.sup.2 
or more. When the weighing is less than 30 g/m.sup.2, reliably paper 
running is impaired in an electrophotographic apparatus, even if the paper 
has a thick resin coating film. Further, the preferable paper weighing is 
200 g/m.sup.2 or less and, more preferably, 150 g/m.sup.2 or less. If the 
weighing is more than 200 g/m.sup.2, paper running readily deteriorates 
because of exceedingly high rigidity of base paper. For maintaining 
excellent image transferring in an electrophotographic apparatus, 
preferably, base paper contains 0.2 to 4% by weight of an inorganic salt, 
such as sodium chloride, and is adjusted to exhibit a volume resistance of 
10.sup.8 to 10.sup.10 .OMEGA..cm after being left for 24 hours at 
20.degree. C. and 65% RH. 
An adhesion layer 12 is provided for preventing a transfer layer 14, which 
will be later coated thereon, or both a separating layer 15 and a transfer 
layer 14 in the case of FIG. 2 described below, from readily peeling in an 
electrophotographic apparatus. An acrylic resin, polyester resin, or nylon 
(polyamide) resin is preferably used for forming the adhesion layer 12. 
Examples of these are an aqueous acrylic emulsion resin, a water-soluble 
acrylic resin, a water-soluble polyester resin, a 6.6 nylon resin, a 
polyacrylonitrile resin and an acrylic resin soluble to organic solvents. 
In addition, oil-absorbable amorphous silicon dioxide, i.e., so-called 
silica fine powder, may be mixed therewith, if required. The silica fine 
powder is used for improving the adhesion to the upper layer and, further, 
for absorbing the moisture which evaporates from the inside of coated 
paper. The particle size thereof is preferably from 0.5 to 10 .mu.m. 
When selecting materials for the transfer layer 14 and the adhesion layer 
12, it is necessary to consider the adhesive strength therebetween, which 
is evaluated as a strength required for peeling the transfer layer 14 in 
the direction of 90.degree. to the base material 11 fixed on a flat plate 
with adhesive means, such as an adhesive tape having adhesive coating on 
both surfaces thereof. The adhesive strength is preferably 4 g/cm or less 
to prevent the transfer layer 14 from tearing when the layer is peeled 
from the base material 11, and is preferably 1.5 g/cm or more to avoid 
peeling due to a carriage force in the electrophotographic apparatus. It 
is preferable to add a small amount of an organic silicone compound to the 
transfer layer 14 so as to fulfil the foregoing requirements. 
The transfer layer 14 is required to receive a toner image from the 
electrophotographic apparatus, retain the image at least until 
retransferring is started by heating, allow the toner image to readily 
separate therefrom for retransferring, and exhibit satisfactory 
water-proofing. In other words, it is necessary to have excellent water 
proofing while maintaining the solvent permeability for retransferring. 
Practically, the transfer layer 14 preferably contains water-soluble 
polymer and, more preferably, the water-soluble polymer is a polyvinyl 
alcohol. Examples of the preferable composition for the transfer layer 14 
are described below: A polyvinyl alcohol obtained by saponifying 90% or 
less of polyvinyl acetate is mixed with a polyvinyl alcohol obtained by 
saponifying 95% or more of polyvinyl acetate so as to prepare the transfer 
layer 14. Concerning the mixing ratio indicated as a ratio of the solid 
contents, that of the high saponified, i.e., 95% or more saponified, 
polyvinyl alcohol is preferably 10% by weight or more and, more 
preferably, 25% by weight or more. If the content is less than 10% by 
weight, the resultant layer becomes exceedingly water-soluble due to the 
characteristics of the low saponified, i.e., 90% or less saponified, 
polyvinyl alcohol. As a result, the surface of the transfer layer 14 melts 
at a high temperature, and members inside the electrophotographic 
apparatus may be thereby contaminated. When the high saponified polyvinyl 
alcohol content is 75% by weight or more, straight chain polymers 
composing the layer per se are arranged in a regular manner similar to a 
cellulose film, etc. Thus, the shrinkage of the layer may increase 
corresponding to changes in the moisture of the atmosphere. In other 
words, the particularly preferable solid content of the high saponified 
polyvinyl alcohol is 25% by weight or more and less than 75% by weight. 
Furthermore, for improving the electrophotographic transferring, a 
cationic or nonionic antistatic agent may be added to the transfer layer 
14, if required. The amount of an antistatic agent is determined such that 
the target surface resistivity of 10.sup.8 to 10.sup.12 
.OMEGA./.quadrature. is achieved. Moreover, an inorganic white pigment, 
such as silica powder, may be mixed therewith for ensuring reliable paper 
running. Further, 0.5 to 7% by weight of an organic silicone compound is 
preferably added thereto for obtaining sufficient peeling properties. If 
the organic silicone content is less than 0.5% by weight, tearing readily 
occurs because of exceedingly high adhesion strength. Meanwhile, when the 
content exceeds 7% by weight, the primary fixation of toner is impaired. 
To avoid peeling or tearing, the thickness of the adhesion layer 12 is 
preferably small, i.e., from 2 to 10 .mu.m, both including. If the 
thickness is less than 2 .mu.m, uniform coating is not readily achieved. 
Meanwhile, when the thickness exceeds 10 .mu.m, peeling readily occurs 
within the layer. However, if silica powder is added to the adhesion layer 
12, the strength of the layer increases, thus no problem occurs even if 
the thickness thereof is 15 .mu.m. 
The preferable thickness of the transfer layer 14 is 8 .mu.m or more; and 
it decreased to 3 .mu.m or more when a separating layer is employed for 
the transfer medium. If the thickness is less than these values, problems, 
such as tearing of the transfer layer 14 peeled from the base material 11, 
readily occurs because of a shortage of the film strength. Further, the 
thickness is preferably less than 50 .mu.m. If the thickness is more than 
this value, the peeled film becomes hard so that it can hardly fit an 
curved surface at the time of retransferring. Therefore, the particularly 
preferable thickness of the transfer layer 14 is from 10 to 40 .mu.m, both 
including. 
Since the transfer layer 14 is composed of a water-soluble polymer, curling 
occurs due to expansion or shrinkage thereof according to the conditions 
in which the transfer medium is left. The backing layer 13 is provided for 
decreasing the curling and preferably composed of an acrylic resin, a 
polyester resin or a nylon resin. Both of thermoplastic and thermosetting 
resins soluble in organic solvents may be used. Examples of these are 
polyester, urethane, phenol, acrylic, epoxy, butyral, and polyvinyl 
chloride resins and a mixture thereof. The backing layer 13 can be 
uniformly formed over the base material 11. However, in an 
electrophotographic apparatus, overheating readily results from continuous 
toner image formation on a transfer medium. Thus, if contact occurs 
between an overheated portion and the transfer medium 1, blisters are 
formed on the transfer medium 1 because of the evaporation of the moisture 
contained in the base material 11. For preventing the above phenomenon, it 
is advantageous to form the backing layer 13 to be partially exposed on 
the surface of the base material 11, instead of being exposed on the 
entire surface thereof. FIG. 4 shows an example of the backing layer 13 
prepared according to the foregoing manner. The B side of the base 
material 11 is not completely covered with the backing layer 13 which is 
formed in the shape of a network. In other words, if the B side of the 
base material 11 is completely coated with a resin, the moisture contained 
in the base material 11 abruptly evaporates and causes blisters when the 
transfer medium 1 is heated by a heat fuser of an electrophotographic 
apparatus. For preventing this phenomenon, openings are formed on the back 
side of the transfer medium 1. The preferable opening rate indicated by 
the covering rate of the backing layer 13 to the base material 11 is 20% 
to 90%, both including, and, more preferably, 25 to 80%, both including. 
Each of the openings is required to have an area of 0.01 to 25 mm.sup.2, 
both including. If the area exceeds 25 mm.sup.2, curling cannot 
satisfactorily prevented. Meanwhile, when the area is less than 0.01 
mm.sup.2, it becomes impossible to smoothly release the moisture 
evaporating from the base material 11. 
The preferable thickness of the backing layer 13 is from 1 to 20 .mu.m. If 
the thickness is less than 1 .mu.m, sufficient rigidity cannot achieved; 
meanwhile, if it exceeds 20 .mu.m, paper running in the 
electrophotographic apparatus deteriorates because of excessively high 
rigidity. A thickness of 2 to 20 .mu.m is preferable to attain further 
stable rigidity. 
In addition, fine powder of amorphous silicon dioxide (silica) may be added 
to the backing layer 13. By mixing 2 to 5 parts by weight of silica fine 
powder, which preferably has a particle size of from 0.5 to 10 .mu.m, the 
stability of the layer is improved. 
FIG. 2 shows an example of another decalcomania transfer medium according 
to the present invention, which has the same structure as the decalcomania 
transfer medium shown in FIG. 1, except that a separating layer 15 is 
provided between a transfer layer 14 and an adhesion layer 12. The 
separating layer 15 is used as a primer layer of the transfer layer 14 and 
required to exhibit sufficient peeling properties at the interface with 
the adhesion layer 12. The thickness of the separating layer 15 is 
preferably from 2 to 6 .mu.m, both including. If the thickness exceeds 6 
.mu.m, curling readily occurs because of an increase in the shrinkage 
caused by the moisture of the layer. Meanwhile, when it is less than 2 
.mu.m, uniform coating is not readily achieved. 
An example of the preferable composition for the separating layer 15 is a 
polyvinyl alcohol obtained by saponifying polyvinyl acetate, which 
saponification is 95% or more, and, more preferably, 98% or more. In 
addition, when a polyvinyl alcohol of which polyvinyl acetate is 90% or 
less saponified is used, a small amount of a water-soluble silicone 
compound (generally, an active surface agent, such as an antifroth agent), 
as a parting agent, may be added. A polyvinyl alcohol of which polyvinyl 
acetate is 70% or less saponified is hardly used because of the 
insufficient water proofing properties thereof. However, if the foregoing 
silicone compound is mixed therein, the same composition as the transfer 
layer 14 can be applied to the separating layer 15 without complication. 
In addition, when selecting materials for the separating layer 15 and the 
adhesion layer 12, it is necessary to consider the adhesive strength 
therebetween, which is evaluated as a strength required for peeling a 
retransfer film layer, composed of the transfer layer 14 and the 
separating layer 15, in the direction of 90.degree. to the base material 
11 fixed on a flat plate with adhesive means, such as an adhesive tape 
having adhesive coating on both surfaces thereof. The adhesive strength is 
preferably 6 g/cm or less to prevent the retransfer layer from tearing 
when the layer is peeled from the base material 11, and preferably 1.5 
g/cm or more to avoid peeling due to a carriage force in the 
electrophotographic apparatus. 
Next, toner for electrophotography applicable to a decalcomania transfer 
medium of the present invention will be explained in detail as follows: 
Basically, toner prepared by adding a pigment, such as carbon black, 
yellow, cyan and magenta, to a binder resin essentially consisting of a 
material including styrene-acrylate copolymer, styrene-butadiene 
copolymer, epoxy resin and polyester resin, can be used. Among these, the 
color toner explained below is particularly suitable for achieving the 
advantages of a decalcomania transfer medium of the present invention. 
Toner used for a color electrophotographic apparatus is required to have 
excellent characteristics in melting and color mixing when heat is applied 
thereto and, further, to exhibit a low softening point and the sharp melt 
characteristics, i.e., a short melting time. 
By employing toner with the sharp melt characteristics, the color 
reproducibility range of an object becomes wider, resulting in an image 
faithful to the full-color original. 
To produce such toner having the sharp melt characteristics, a binding 
resin, such as a polyester resin and a styrene-acrylic resin, a coloring 
agent, such as a pigment or a sublimating pigment, a charging controlling 
agent and the like are dissolved and mixed together, followed by 
pulverization and classification. A process of adding a various kinds of 
additives may be employed if required. 
Considering the fixation and sharp melt characteristics, in particularly, a 
polyester resin is preferably used as the binder resin for color toner. 
The polyester resin having the sharp melt characteristics has ester bonds 
at the principal chain of the molecular thereof obtained by synthesizing a 
diol compound and a dicarboxylic acid compound. Particularly, a polyester 
resin having the following structure is preferable because of its sharp 
melt characteristics: The diol compound and the dicarboxylic acid compound 
thereof are copolycondensed; the diol component thereof is a bisphenol 
derivative having the following formula I or a substituted compound 
thereof, 
##STR1## 
wherein R is an ethylene or propylene group, x and y are independently 
integers of at least 1, and the average value of x +y is from 2 to 10; and 
the carboxylic acid component thereof is a di- or higher carboxylic acid, 
an acid anhydride thereof, a lower alkyl ester thereof or the like. 
Examples of the preferable carboxylic acid component are fumaric acid, 
maleic acid, maleic acid anhydride, phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, 
trimellitic acid and pyromellitic acid. 
The softening point of the polyester resin having the sharp melt 
characteristics is preferably in a range of from 60.degree. to 120.degree. 
C. FIG. 2 shows the softening characteristic of the toner containing this 
type of a polyester resin as a binder resin. 
A plunger drop-temperature curve, hereinafter referred to as a softening 
sigmoid curve, is estimated by a Flow Tester CFT-500 (made by Shimazu 
Seisakusho K. K.) equipped with a die (nozzle) having a diameter of 0.5 mm 
and a thickness of 1.0 mm. After preheating for 300 seconds at an initial 
setting temperature of 80.degree. C., measurement is carried out under a 
load of 50 kg while rising the temperature at a constant rate of 5.degree. 
C./min. One to three g of finely powdered toner is accurately weighed out. 
In this measurement, the cross section of the plunger is 10 cm.sup.2. The 
softening sigmoid curve shown in FIG. 2 is obtained. After heating is 
initiated, the toner is gradually heated corresponding to the constant 
temperature rising and it starts melting and flowing, which is illustrated 
as the points A to B of the softening sigmoid curve in FIG. 2. The melted 
toner largely flows due to further heating, which is illustrated as the 
points B to C to D and, finally, the plunger drop is stopped, which is 
illustrated as the points D to E. 
The height H of the softening sigmoid curve means the total flow and the 
temperature To at the point C corresponding to a half of the H value 
indicates the softening point of the toner. 
In the present invention, toner having the sharp melt characteristics means 
satisfying the following formulae: 
EQU T.sub.1 =90.degree. to 150.degree. C.; and 
EQU .vertline..DELTA.T.vertline.=.vertline.T.sub.1 -T.sub.2 
.vertline.=5.degree. to 30.degree. C. 
wherein T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 are the temperatures when the melting viscosity 
is 10.sup.5 cp and 5.times.10.sup.4 cp, respectively. 
The toner having the foregoing temperature-sharp melt characteristics 
exhibits a significantly sharp decrease in viscosity due to heating. 
Excellent subtractive color mixing is thereby achieved because mixing 
between the top and bottom layers is appropriately proceeded at the 
fixation process and the transparency of the toner layer itself is rapidly 
increased due to the decrease in viscosity. 
Practical examples of the present invention will be described below. The 
terms "part" used in those examples represent a part by weight. 
EXAMPLE 1 
As base paper, so-called coated paper was prepared such that both sides of 
wood-free paper weighing 80 g/m.sup.2 was coated with a coating liquid, 
composed of starch and calcium carbonate, for filling. A transfer medium A 
was obtained as follows: 
&lt;Adhesion layer and Backing layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater, an adhesion layer and a backing layer were formed 
respectively at 6 g/m.sup.2 (6 .mu.m thick) and 4 g/m.sup.2 (4 .mu.m 
thick) by coating a coating liquid having the following composition: 
acrylic resin (trade name: Cover-Coat Resin LO-316, manufactured by Goo 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 100 parts 
toluene 100 parts 
&lt;Transfer layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater, a transfer layer of 16 .mu.m thick was formed on the 
adhesion layer by coating a coating liquid having the following 
composition: 
low saponified polyvinyl alcohol (saponification of 88%, trade name: 
Kasezole 05, manufactured by Nicca Chemical Co., Ltd.) having a solid 
content of 14%, 50 parts 
high saponified polyvinyl alcohol (trade name: Kuraray Vopal PVA110, 
manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) 50 parts 
water 5 parts 
antistatic agent (trade name: Cation AB, manufactured by NOF Corporation) 
2.5 parts 
silicone antifroth agent (trade name: KM73, manufactured by Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 4 parts 
The adhesion strength between the transfer layer and the adhesion layer of 
the transfer medium A was 2 g/cm, and the surface resistivity of the 
transfer layer was 10.sup.11 .OMEGA./.quadrature.. 
The resultant transfer medium A was subjected to color image copying by a 
CLC700 color copying machine (manufactured by Canon Inc.). An excellent 
color image was obtained without peeling of the coating film. Then, the 
transfer medium A was left at 23.degree. C. and at a low humidity of 5% 
for 5 min. while keeping the transfer layer facing up. As a result, the 
edge of the transfer medium A curled and lifted approximately 5 mm; 
however, the paper running of the color copying machine was not impaired 
by using the curled transfer medium A. 
The transfer layer having the toner image thereon was peeled from the 
transfer medium A; allowed to be in close contact with coated board paper 
such that the correct toner image was put thereon; heated to 110.degree. 
C.; and pressed. Then, an 80% ethyl alcohol aqueous solution was applied 
to the transfer layer from the back side thereof. The polyvinyl alcohol 
film thereby expanded without dissolving, and separated the toner image 
therefrom to complete the decalcomania. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE 1 
A transfer medium B was prepared according to the same method as example 1, 
except that the backing layer was omitted. 
After leaving the resulting transfer medium B at 23.degree. C. and 5% 
humidity for 5 min. while keeping the transfer layer facing up, the edge 
of the transfer medium B lifted approximately 20 mm. A paper running test 
performed similarly to example 1 using the CLC 700 copying machine 
revealed paper jamming due to obstruction of the electrostatic absorption 
to a transfer drum caused by exceedingly large curling. 
EXAMPLE 2 
As base paper, so-called coated paper (weighing 127 g/m.sup.2) was prepared 
such that both sides of wood-free paper weighing 104 g/m.sup.2 was coated 
with a coating liquid, composed of styrene-butadiene rubber, starch, 
kaolin, and calcium carbonate, for filling. A transfer medium C was 
obtained as follows: 
&lt;Adhesion layer and Backing layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater, an adhesion layer and a backing layer were formed 
respectively at 4 g/m.sup.2 (4 .mu.m thick) and 2 g/m.sup.2 (2 .mu.m 
thick) by coating a coating liquid having the following composition: 
acrylic resin (trade name: Cover-Coat Resin LO-316, manufactured by Goo 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 100 parts 
toluene 100 parts 
&lt;Transfer layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater, a transfer layer of 16 .mu.m thick was formed on the 
adhesion layer by coating a coating liquid having the following 
composition: 
low saponified polyvinyl alcohol (saponification of 88%, trade name: 
Kasezole 05, manufactured by Nicca Chemical Co., Ltd.) having a solid 
content of 14%, 75 parts 
high saponified polyvinyl alcohol (trade name: Kuraray Vopal PVA110) having 
a solid content of 14%, 25 parts 
water 5 parts 
antistatic agent (trade name: Cation AB, manufactured by NOF Corporation) 
2.5 parts 
silicone antifroth agent (trade name: KM73, manufactured by Shin-Etsu 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 4 parts 
The adhesion strength between the transfer layer and the adhesion layer of 
the resultant transfer medium C was 3 g/cm, and the surface resistivity of 
the transfer layer was 10.sup.11 .OMEGA./.quadrature.. 
The resultant transfer medium C was subjected to color image copying by the 
CLC700 color copying machine (manufactured by Canon Inc.). An excellent 
color image was obtained without peeling of the coating film. Then, the 
transfer medium C was left at 23.degree. C. and at a low humidity of 5% 
for 5 min. while keeping the transfer layer facing up. As a result, the 
edge of the transfer medium C curled and lifted approximately 3 mm; 
however, the paper running of the color copying machine was not impaired 
by using the curled transfer medium C. 
The transfer layer having the toner image thereon was peeled from the 
transfer medium C; allowed to be in close contact with coated board paper 
such that the correct toner image was put thereon; heated to 110.degree. 
C.; and pressed. Then, an 80% ethyl alcohol solution was applied to the 
transfer layer from the back side thereof. The polyvinyl alcohol film 
thereby expanded without dissolving and separated the toner image 
therefrom to complete the decalcomania. However, the polyvinyl alcohol 
film of the transfer layer dissolved to some extent at portions to which a 
large amount of the aqueous ethyl alcohol solution was applied. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE 2 
A transfer medium D was prepared according to the same method as example 2, 
except that all of the polyvinyl alcohol used for the transfer layer was 
composed of low saponified polyvinyl acetate. 
After leaving the resultant transfer medium D at 23.degree. C. and 5% 
humidity for 5 min. while keeping the transfer layer facing up, the edge 
of the transfer medium lifted approximately 15 mm. The paper running test 
performed similarly to example 1 using the CLC 700 copying machine 
revealed paper jamming due to obstruction of the electrostatic absorption 
to a transfer drum caused by exceedingly large curling. 
In addition, the polyvinyl alcohol contained in the surface layer started 
softening, after leaving the transfer medium D at 30.degree. C. and a 
humidity of 80% for approximately 1 week. 
EXAMPLE 3 
A transfer medium E was prepared according to the same method as example 1, 
except that the backing layer having a thickness of 15 .mu.m was formed 
from an epoxy resin. 
Similarly to example 1, the resultant transfer medium E was subjected to 
color image copying by the CLC700 color copying machine, resulting in an 
excellent color image and the paper running characteristics. However, the 
rigidity of the transfer medium E was so high that the medium nearly 
touched to a paper-carriage guide and bounded during paper carriage. 
EXAMPLE 4 
As base paper, so-called coated paper was prepared such that both sides of 
wood-free paper weighing 80 g/m.sup.2 was coated with a coating liquid, 
composed of starch and calcium carbonate, for filling. A transfer medium F 
was obtained as follows: 
&lt;Adhesion layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater, an adhesion layer having a thickness of 9 .mu.m was 
formed at 10 g/m.sup.2 by coating a coating liquid having the following 
composition: 
acrylic resin (trade name: Cover-Coat Resin LO-316) 100 parts 
toluene 100 parts 
silica (trade name: FPS-3, manufactured by Shionogi & Co., Ltd.) 4 parts 
&lt;Separating layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater, a separating layer of 4 .mu.m thick was formed on 
the adhesion layer by coating a coating liquid having the following 
composition: 
high saponified polyvinyl alcohol (saponification of 99%, trade name: 
Kuraray Vopal PVA110) aqueous solution having a solid content of 14%, 20 
parts 
water 100 parts 
&lt;Transfer layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater, a transfer layer of 7 .mu.m thick was formed on the 
separating layer by coating a coating liquid having the following 
composition: 
high saponified polyvinyl alcohol (saponification of 99%, trade name: 
Kuraray Vopal PVA110) aqueous solution having a solid content of 14%, 50 
parts 
low saponified polyvinyl alcohol (saponification of 88%, trade name: 
Kasezole 0-5) aqueous solution having a solid content of 14%, 50 parts 
antistatic agent (trade name: Cation AB) 2.5 parts 
silica (trade name: FPS-2, manufactured by Shionogi & Co., Ltd.) 6 parts 
water 5 parts 
&lt;Backing layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater and a 70% (opening rate of 30%) screen press plate, a 
backing layer having a thickness of 4 .mu.m was formed at 6 g/m.sup.2 on 
one side of the base paper opposite to the transfer layer by coating a 
coating liquid having the following composition: 
acrylic resin (trade name: Plus-Size LO-170, manufactured by Goo Chemical 
Co., Ltd.) 100 parts 
toluene 100 parts 
silica (trade name: FPS-3) 4 parts 
The covering rate of the coated layer was 75% and the area of each opening 
was 0.36 mm.sup.2. 
The adhesion strength between the adhesion layer and the separating layer 
of the resultant transfer medium F was 2 g/cm, and the surface resistivity 
of the transfer layer was 10.sup.11 .OMEGA./.quadrature.. 
The resultant transfer medium F was subjected to continuous color image 
copying by the CLC700 color copying machine (manufactured by Canon Inc.). 
An excellent color image was obtained without peeling of the coating film. 
Then, the transfer medium F was left at 23.degree. C. and at a humidity of 
5% for 5 min. while keeping the transfer layer facing up. As a result, the 
edge of the transfer medium C curled and lifted 5 mm on average; however, 
the paper running of the color copying machine was not impaired by using 
the curled transfer medium F. 
Further, the integrated film, composed of the transfer layer having the 
toner image thereon and the separating layer, was peeled from the transfer 
medium F; allowed to be in contact with coated board paper such that the 
correct toner image was put thereon; and pressed by an iron heated to 
110.degree. C. Then, an 80% ethyl alcohol aqueous solution was applied to 
the transfer layer from the separating layer. The polyvinyl alcohol film 
thereby expanded without dissolving and separated the toner image 
therefrom to complete the decalcomania. 
In addition, when a transfer medium the back layer of which had a covering 
rate of 94% was prepared according to this example, remarkable blisters 
were not observed at heat-fused portions. However, when copying 
continuously proceeded, metallic portions of the heat fuser was heated, 
and a potion of the transfer medium being in contact therewith formed 
small blisters, indicating the shortage of the opening area. 
EXAMPLE 5 
A transfer medium G was prepared according to the same method as example 1, 
except that the coverage rate of the backing layer was 25% and the coating 
amount thereof was 8 g/m.sup.2. 
Also in this example, excellent results were obtained from similar tests to 
example 4, for example, the average curling at a low humidity was as small 
as 6 mm because of the low coverage rate and the high coating amount. 
In addition, another transfer medium of this example was prepared such that 
the coverage rate of the backing layer was 15% and the coating amount was 
20 g/m.sup.2 (21 .mu.m thick), and subjected to similar tests to example 
4. As a result, wrinkles occurred over the whole transfer medium because 
of the exceedingly low covering rate, and paper running became impossible 
at a low humidity. 
EXAMPLE 6 
As base paper, so-called coated paper was prepared such that both sides of 
wood-free paper weighing 80 g/m.sup.2 was coated with a coating liquid, 
composed of starch and calcium carbonate, for filling. A transfer medium H 
was obtained as follows: 
&lt;Adhesion layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater, an adhesion layer having a thickness of 9 .mu.m was 
formed at 10 g/m.sup.2 by coating a coating liquid having the following 
composition: 
acrylic resin (trade name: Cover-Coat Resin LO-316, manufactured by Goo 
Chemical Co., Ltd.) 100 parts 
toluene 100 parts 
silica (trade name: FPS-3, manufactured by Shionogi & Co., Ltd.) 4 parts 
&lt;Transfer layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater, a transfer layer was formed to be 12 .mu.m thick on 
the adhesion layer by coating a coating liquid having the following 
composition: 
high saponified polyvinyl alcohol (saponification of 99%, trade name: 
Kuraray Vopal PVA110) aqueous solution having a solid content of 14%, 50 
parts 
low saponified polyvinyl alcohol (saponification of 88%, trade name: 
Kasezole 0-5 aqueous solution) aqueous solution having a solid content of 
14%, 50 parts 
antistatic agent (trade name: Cation AB, manufactured by NOF Corporation) 
2.5 parts 
silica (trade name: FPS-2, manufactured by Shionogi & Co., Ltd.) 6 parts 
silicone (trade name: KM73, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 4 
parts 
water 5 parts 
&lt;Backing layer&gt; 
Using a screen coater and an 80% screen press plate, a backing layer having 
a thickness of 5 .mu.m was formed at 7 g/m.sup.2 on one side of the base 
paper opposite to the transfer layer by coating a coating liquid having 
the following composition: 
acrylic resin (trade name: Plus-Size LO-170, Goo Chemical Co., Ltd.) 100 
parts 
toluene 100 parts 
silica (trade name: FPS-3, manufactured by Shionogi & Co., Ltd.) 4 parts 
The covering rate of the coated layer was 82% and the area of each opening 
was 0.25 mm.sup.2. 
The adhesion strength between the adhesion layer and the transfer layer of 
the resultant transfer medium H was 3 g/cm, and the surface resistivity of 
the transfer layer was 10.sup.11 .OMEGA./.quadrature.. 
The resultant transfer medium H was subjected to continuous color image 
copying by the CLC700 color copying machine (manufactured by Canon Inc.). 
An excellent color image was obtained without peeling of the coating film. 
Then, the transfer medium H was left at 23.degree. C. and at a humidity of 
5% for 5 min. while keeping the transfer layer facing up. As a result, the 
edge of the transfer medium H curled and lifted 3 mm on average; however, 
the paper running of the color copying machine was not impaired by using 
the curled transfer medium H. 
The transfer layer having the toner image thereon was peeled from the 
transfer medium H; allowed to be in contact with coated board paper such 
that the correct toner image was put thereon; and pressed by an iron 
heated to 110.degree. C. Then, an 80% ethyl alcohol aqueous solution was 
applied to the transfer layer from the back side. The polyvinyl alcohol 
film thereby expanded without dissolving and separated the toner image 
therefrom to complete the decalcomania to the coated board paper.