Tacky dye sublimation coating and method of makings and using the same
View Patent ↗Heat transfer sheets for dye sublimation are provided, along with methods of their formation and use. The heat transfer sheet for dye sublimation may include a base sheet and a dye sublimation coating on a surface of the base sheet. The dye sublimation coating generally includes a plurality of microparticles dispersed in a polymeric binder, with the plurality of microparticles including a mixture of tack-inducing microparticles and oxide microparticles.
1. A heat transfer sheet for dye sublimation, comprising:
a base sheet having a first surface and a second surface; and
a dye sublimation coating on the first surface of the base sheet, wherein the dye sublimation coating comprises a plurality of microparticles dispersed in a polymeric binder, and wherein the plurality of microparticles comprises a mixture of tack-inducing microparticles and oxide microparticles,
wherein the tack-inducing microparticles are capable of creating tack once heated to adhere the dye sublimation coating in place on a substrate.
2. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the oxide microparticles comprise silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, or a mixture thereof.
3. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tack-inducing microparticles comprises a polystyrene material, a polyacrylic material, a polyurethane material, a polyvinylacetate material, a polyvinyl material, a polybutadiene material, a polyolefin material, a polynitrile material, a polyamide material, a polyethylene oxide, epoxy materials, and mixtures thereof.
4. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprises about 0.1% to about 50% by weight of the tack-inducing microparticles.
5. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprises about 10% to about 40% by weight of the tack-inducing microparticles.
6. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tack-inducing microparticles have an average particle size of about 5 μm to about 80 μm.
7. The heat transfer sheet of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of tack-inducing microparticles have an average particle size of about 30 μm to about 50 μm.
8. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the oxide microparticles comprise silica microparticles having an average particle size of about 1 μm to about 10 μm.
9. The heat transfer sheet of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of silica microparticles have an average particle size of about 1 μm to about 6 μm.
10. The heat transfer sheet of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of microparticles consist essentially of the tack-inducing microparticles and the silica microparticles.
11. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the base sheet comprises a cellulosic nonwoven web.
12. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the base sheet comprises a polymeric film.
13. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tack-inducing microparticles comprises polystyrene.
14. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the dye sublimation coating is directly on the first surface of the base sheet.
15. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein an intermediate layer is between the dye sublimation coating and the first surface of the base sheet.
16. A method for transferring an image to a substrate, the method comprising:
providing a heat transfer sheet for dye sublimation according to claim 1 comprising a base sheet having a first surface and a second surface; and a dye sublimation coating on the first surface of the base sheet, wherein the dye sublimation coating comprises a plurality of microparticles dispersed in a polymeric binder, and wherein the plurality of microparticles comprises a mixture of tack-inducing microparticles and oxide microparticles, and
wherein the tack-inducing microparticles are capable of creating tack once heated to adhere the dye sublimation coating in place on a substrate;
applying an image onto the dye sublimation coating of the heat transfer sheet;
thereafter, positioning the dye sublimation coating adjacent to the substrate;
thereafter, applying heat and pressure to the heat transfer sheet such that the image is transferred to the substrate via dye sublimation; and
removing the heat transfer sheet from the substrate while leaving the image thereon.
17. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tack-inducing microparticles are derived from a thermoplastic polymer.
18. The heat transfer sheet of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tack-inducing microparticles are characterized in that they inhibit interaction between a dye sublimation ink and the tack-inducing microparticles.