Heat transfer material
A heat transfer material is provided. The heat transfer material includes a base layer, a release layer overlaying the base layer, and an image-receptive transfer film overlaying the release layer. The release layer includes a particulate material and provides cold-release of the image-receptive transfer film. The image-receptive transfer film adheres well to the release layer prior to application of the image-receptive transfer film to a substrate, yet the image-receptive transfer film is easily removed from the release layer after application of the film to a substrate.
1 . A heat transfer material comprising:
a base layer;
a release layer overlaying the base layer, which release layer comprises a particulate material; and
an image-receptive transfer film overlaying the release layer;
wherein the release layer and the image-receptive transfer film are adapted to provide cold release properties.
2 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the base layer is selected from the group consisting of films and cellulosic nonwoven webs.
3 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the base layer includes a latex-impregnated cellulosic nonwoven web.
4 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the release layer further comprises a polymer having essentially no tack at transfer temperatures of about 177 degrees Celsius.
5 . The heat transfer material of claim 4 , further wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymers and poly(vinyl acetate).
6 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the release layer further comprises a crosslinked polymer.
7 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the release layer further comprises an effective amount of a release-enhancing additive.
8 . The heat transfer material of claim 7 , further wherein the release-enhancing additive is selected from the group consisting of a divalent metal ion salt of a fatty acid, a polyethylene glycol, a polysiloxane surfactant, and mixtures thereof.
9 . The heat transfer material of claim 7 , further wherein the release-enhancing additive is selected from the group consisting of calcium stearate, a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of from about 2,000 to about 100,000, a siloxane-polyether surfactant, and mixtures thereof.
10 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the image-receptive transfer film comprises a film-forming binder.
11 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the image-receptive transfer film comprises a powdered thermoplastic polymer and a film-forming binder.
12 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the particulate material is non-meltable.
13 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the release layer further comprises from about 2 to about 50 percent by weight particulate material.
14 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , further wherein the particulate material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose particles, silica particles, clay particles, and mixtures thereof.
15 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , wherein the image-receptive transfer film comprises a meltable layer.
16 . The heat transfer material of claim 1 , wherein the image-receptive transfer film comprises an ink-compatible layer.
17 . The heat transfer material of claim 16 , wherein the ink-compatible layer comprises a film-forming binder and a powdered thermoplastic polymer.
18 . A cold-peel heat transfer material comprising:
a cellulosic nonwoven web; and
a release layer overlaying the cellulosic nonwoven web, which release layer comprises from about 10% to about 50% of a first polymer having essentially no tack at transfer temperatures of about 177 degrees Celsius and from about 2% to about 50% kaolin clay particles; and
an image-receptive transfer film overlaying the release layer, the image-receptive transfer film comprising a meltable second polymer;
wherein the release layer and the image-receptive transfer film are adapted to provide cold release properties.
19 . A method of applying an image to a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
a) applying an image to a heat transfer material, the heat transfer material comprising:
a base layer;
a release layer overlaying the base layer, which release layer comprises a particulate material; and
an image-receptive transfer film overlaying the release layer;
wherein the release layer and the image-receptive transfer film are adapted to provide the heat transfer material with cold release properties;
wherein the image is applied to the image-receptive transfer film;
b) positioning the heat transfer material adjacent a substrate with the image facing the substrate;
c) transferring the image and the image-receptive transfer film to the substrate.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the particulate material is non-meltable.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the release layer further comprises from about 2 to about 50 percent by weight particulate material.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the particulate material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose particles, silica particles, clay particles, and mixtures thereof.