Sublimation transfer paper, method of making, and method for sublimation printing
Sublimation transfer paper is provided according to the present invention. The sublimation transfer paper includes a paper substrate having a first side and a second side, and a sublimable ink receptive coating composition on at least one of the first side or the second side of the paper substrate. The sublimable ink receptive coating composition can be applied to the paper substrate at a coat weight of about 1.5 lb./3000 ft 2 to about 6 lb./3000 ft 2 based on the dry weight of the coating composition. The sublimable ink receptive coating composition can include at least about 35 wt. % silica based on the dry weight of the coating composition, and at least about 5 wt. % binder based on the dry weight of the coating composition. Methods of sublimation printing and manufacturing sublimation transfer paper are provided.
1 . Sublimation transfer paper comprising:
(a) paper substrate having a first side and a second side; and
(b) a sublimable ink receptive coating composition on at least of one of the first side or the second side of the paper substrate at a coat weight of about 1.5 lb/3,000 ft 2 to about 6 lb/3,000 ft 2 based on a dry weight of the coating composition, the sublimable ink receptive coating composition comprising:
(i) at least about 35 wt. % silica based on the dry weight of the coating composition; and
(ii) at least about 5 wt. % binder based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
2 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the coating composition comprises about 40 wt. % to about 80 wt. % silica based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
3 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the coating composition comprises about 5 wt. % to about 40 wt. % binder.
4 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the coating composition further comprises filler comprising at least one of clay, calcium carbonate, or a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate.
5 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , further comprising a composition on the other of the first side or the second side of the base sheet, wherein the composition comprises a non-sublimable dye.
6 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 5 , wherein the non-sublimable dye identifies the grade of the sublimation transfer paper.
7 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the paper substrate has a basis weight of about 20 lb/3,000 ft 2 to about 200 lb/3,000 ft 2.
8 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the paper substrate comprises paper formed from fiber having a level of refining of about 100 CSF to about 800 CSF.
9 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the paper substrate comprises paper formed from fiber having a level of refining of about 300 CSF to about 500 CSF.
10 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the sublimable ink receptive coating is provided at a coat weight of about 3 lb./3000 ft 2 to about 5 lb./3000 ft 2 based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
11 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the sublimation transfer paper has a Hagerty Porosity of about 10 sec/100 ml air to about 1000 sec/100 ml air.
12 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the sublimation transfer paper has a Hagerty Porosity of about 50 sec/100 ml air to about 400 sec/100 ml air.
13 . Sublimation transfer paper comprising:
(a) paper substrate having a first side and a second side; and
(b) a sublimable ink receptive coating composition on at least of one of the first side or the second side of the paper substrate at a coat weight of about 1.5 lb/3,000 ft 2 to about 6 lb/3,000 ft 2 based on a dry weight of the coating composition, the sublimable ink receptive coating composition comprising:
(i) at least about 40 wt. % filler based on the dry weight of the coating composition, wherein at least about 30 wt. % of the filler comprises silica based on the weight of the filler; and
(ii) at least about 5 wt. % binder based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
14 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the coating composition comprises about 40 wt. % to about 95 wt. % filler based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
15 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the silica comprises amorphous silica.
16 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the filler comprises clay, calcium carbonate, or a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate.
17 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the paper substrate has a basis weight of about 20 lb/3,000 ft 2 to about 200 lb/3,000 ft 2.
18 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the paper substrate comprises paper formed from fiber having a level of refining of about 100 CSF to about 800 CSF.
19 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the paper substrate comprises paper formed from fiber having a level of refining of about 300 CSF to about 500 CSF.
20 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the sublimable ink receptive coating is provided at a coat weight of about 3 lb./3000 ft 2 to about 5 lb./3000 ft 2 based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
21 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the sublimation transfer paper has a Hagerty Porosity of about 10 sec/100 ml air to about 1000 sec/100 ml air.
22 . Sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the sublimation transfer paper has a Hagerty Porosity of about 50 sec/100 ml air to about 400 sec/100 ml air.
23 . A method of sublimation printing on a substrate, the method comprising:
(a) reverse printing an image on a sublimable ink receptive coating composition on sublimation transfer paper using a sublimable ink, the sublimable ink receptive coating comprising:
(i) at least about 35 wt. % silica based on the dry weight of the coating composition; and
(ii) at least about 5 wt. % binder based on the dry weight of the coating composition;
(b) combining the sublimation transfer paper and a printing substrate; and
(c) transferring the reverse printed image from the sublimation transfer paper to the printing substrate to provide the printing substrate having the image applied thereto.
24 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the substrate comprises textile.
25 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the textile comprises an article of clothing.
26 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the textile comprises a banner or sign.
27 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the substrate comprises an article having a surface for receipt of the image, wherein the surface comprises metal, glass, ceramic, or plastic.
28 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the coating composition comprises about 40 wt. % to about 80 wt. % silica based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
29 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the coating composition comprises about 5 wt. % to about 40 wt. % binder based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
30 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the coating composition further comprises clay, calcium carbonate, or a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate.
31 . A method according to claim 23 , further comprising a sizing composition on the other of the first side or the second side of the base sheet.
32 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the sizing composition comprises a non-sublimable dye.
33 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the paper substrate has a basis weight of about 20 lb/3,000 ft 2 to about 200 lb/3,000 ft 2 .
34 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein the sublimable ink receptive coating is provided at a coat weight of about 3 lb./3000 ft 2 to about 5 lb./3000 ft 2 based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
35 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the paper substrate comprises paper formed from fiber having a level of refining of about 100 CSF to about 800 CSF.
36 . A method according to claim 23 , wherein sublimation transfer paper according to claim 1 , wherein the paper substrate comprises paper formed from fiber having a level of refining of about 300 CSF to about 500 CSF.
37 . A method according to claim 23 , sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the sublimation transfer paper has a Hagerty Porosity of about 10 sec/100 ml air to about 1000 sec/100 ml air.
38 . A method according to claim 23 , sublimation transfer paper according to claim 13 , wherein the sublimation transfer paper has a Hagerty Porosity of about 50 sec/100 ml air to about 400 sec/100 ml air.
39 . A method for making sublimation transfer paper, the method comprising:
(a) manufacturing a paper substrate from a pulp mixture, wherein the paper substrate has a first side and a second side;
(b) applying an aqueous sublimable ink receptive coating composition on at least one of the first side or the second side of the paper substrate, wherein the aqueous sublimable ink receptive coating composition has a solids content of about 5 wt. % to about 70 wt. % and comprises:
(i) at least about 35 wt. % silica based on the dry weight of the coating composition; and
(ii) at least about 5 wt. % binder based on the dry weight of the coating composition.
40 . A method according to claim 27 , wherein the steps of manufacturing a paper substrate and applying the aqueous sublimable ink receptive coating composition to at least one of the first side and the second side of the paper substrate are steps that occur during a continuous paper making process.