Curable sublimation toner and sublimation transfer process using same

1. A sublimation transfer printing method comprising:

applying a curable sublimation toner comprising at least one curable component and at least one sublimation colorant in a desired pattern onto a transfer substrate to form an image on the transfer substrate at a first temperature which is below a sublimation temperature of the sublimation colorant;

wherein the curable sublimation toner comprises a conventional toner or a chemical toner; and wherein the curable sublimation toner comprises at least one curable amorphous resin and optionally, a crystalline resin;

curing the image on the transfer substrate; and

bringing the transfer substrate into contact with a final image-receiving substrate, optionally applying pressure, and heating to a second temperature which is sufficient to cause the sublimation colorant to sublime and form a permanent image on the final image-receiving substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one curable amorphous resin is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, poly-functional epoxy resins, unsaturated polyester resins, carboxy-functional polyester resins, hydroxy-functional polyester resins, polyol resins, polycarboxylic acid resins, poly(epoxy-acrylic acid)-unsaturated polyimide resins, unsaturated polyamide resin, unsaturated polycarbonate resins, a polyester resin including one or more fumarate or one or more maleate groups, an epoxy functionalized resin, a polyol functionalized resin, an acid functionalized resin and an isocyanate functionalized resin, and mixtures and combinations thereof; and

wherein the at least one optional crystalline resin is a polyester selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene-adipate), poly(propylene-adipate), poly(butylene-adipate), poly(pentylene-adipate), poly(hexylene-adipate), poly(octylene-adipate), poly(ethylene-succinate), poly(propylene-succinate), poly(butylene-succinate), poly(pentylene-succinate), poly(hexylene-succinate), poly(octylene-succinate), poly(ethylene-sebacate), poly(propylene-sebacate), poly(butylene-sebacate), poly(pentylene-sebacate), poly(hexylene-sebacate), poly(octylene-sebacate), poly(nonylene-sebacate), poly(decylene-sebacate), poly(undecylene-sebacate), poly(dodecylene-sebacate), poly(ethylene-dodecanedioate), poly(propylene-dodecanedioate), poly(butylene-dodecanedioate), poly(pentylene-dodecanedioate), poly(hexylene-dodecanedioate), poly(octylene-dodecanedioate), poly(nonylene-dodecanedioate), poly(decylene-dodecandioate), poly(undecylene-dodecandioate), poly(dodecylene-dodecandioate), poly(ethylene-fumarate), poly(propylene-fumarate), poly(butylene-fumarate), poly(pentylene-fumarate), poly(hexylene-fumarate), poly(octylene-fumarate), poly(nonylene-fumarate), poly(decylene-fumarate), copoly(5-sulfoisophthaloyl)-copoly(ethylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfoisophthaloyl)-copoly(propylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfoisophthaloyl)-copoly(butylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(pentylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(hexylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(octylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(ethylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(propylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(butylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(pentylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(hexylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(octylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfoisophthaloyl)-copoly(ethylene-succinate), copoly(5-sulfoisophthaloyl)-copoly(propylene-succinate), copoly(5-sulfoisophthaloyl)-copoly(butylene-succinate), copoly(5-sulfoisophthaloyl)-copoly(pentylene-succinate), copoly(5-sulfoisophthaloyl)-copoly(hexylene-succinate), copoly(5-sulfoisophthaloyl)-copoly(octylene-succinate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(ethylene-sebacate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(propylene-sebacate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(butylenes-sebacate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(pentylene-sebacate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(hexylene-sebacate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(octylene-sebacate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(ethylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(propylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(butylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(pentylene-adipate), copoly(5-sulfo-isophthaloyl)-copoly(hexylene-adipate), and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curable sublimation toner comprises at least one low viscosity monomer, at least one high molecular weight monomer or oligomer, and, optionally, an initiator.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curable component is a thermally curable component or a radiation curable component.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curable component is an ultraviolet curable component.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sublimation colorant is a sublimation dye selected from the group consisting of azo dyes, anthraquinone dyes and phthalocyanine dyes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transfer substrate comprises a transfer sheet.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein curing is thermal curing or radiation curing.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the permanent image-receiving substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, natural cloth, synthetic cloth, carpet material, concrete, glass, metal, porcelain and ceramic.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the final image receiving substrate is a security imaging application substrate.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying comprises electrostatographic imaging, electrophotographic imaging, or xerographic imaging.

12. A sublimation imaging process comprising:

preparing an image with a xerographic device comprising a charging component, an imaging component, a photoconductive component, a developing component, a transfer component, and a fusing component;

wherein the development component comprises a developer prepared by mixing a carrier with a curable sublimation toner comprising at least one curable component and at least one sublimation colorant;

curing the image on the transfer component;

transferring the image to a final receiving substrate by heating to a temperature which is sufficient to cause the sublimation colorant to sublime and form a permanent image on the final image-receiving substrate.

13. The imaging process of claim 12 , wherein the process comprises a solvent free process.

14. The imaging process of claim 12 , wherein the curable sublimation toner comprises at least one curable amorphous resin and optionally, a crystalline resin.

15. The imaging process of claim 12 , wherein the curable sublimation toner comprises at least one low viscosity monomer, at least one high molecular weight monomer or oligomer, and, optionally, an initiator.

16. The imaging process of claim 12 , wherein the sublimation colorant is a sublimation dye selected from the group consisting of azo dyes, anthraquinone dyes and phthalocyanine dyes.

17. The imaging process of claim 12 , wherein the permanent image-receiving substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, natural cloth, synthetic cloth, carpet material, concrete, glass, metal, porcelain and ceramic.

18. A curable sublimation toner comprising at least one curable component and at least one sublimation colorant;

wherein the curable sublimation toner comprises a conventional toner or a chemical toner; and

wherein the curable sublimation toner comprises at least one curable amorphous resin and optionally, a crystalline resin.

19. The curable sublimation toner of claim 18 , wherein the sublimation colorant is a sublimation dye selected from the group consisting of azo dyes, anthraquinone dyes and phthalocyanine dyes.

20. The curable sublimation toner of claim 18 , wherein the curable sublimation toner comprises at least one low viscosity monomer, at least one high molecular weight monomer or oligomer, and, optionally, an initiator.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curable sublimation toner further comprises a non-sublimation pigment.

22. The curable sublimation toner of claim 18 , wherein the curable sublimation toner further comprises a non-sublimation pigment.