Thermotransfer process for printing synthetic fibre materials with multi-color effects, and carrier for performing the process

Claim 1

A thermal dry transfer printing process for printing synthetic fibre materials with multi-colour effects, in which process an intermediate carrier is printed, in any chosen sequence, (1) in places with a reserve printing paste or reserve printing ink, and (2) with a printing paste or printing ink for printing the ground, the reserve printing paste or ink (1) containing (a) 10 to 25 percent by weight of a reserving agent which is pentamethylolmelaminetetramethyl ether or hexamethylolmelaminehexamethyl ether, (b) 0.2 to 15 percent by weight of a thickener, (c) 0 to 10 percent by weight of a non-reservable, sublimable disperse dye, which is a nitro-dye of the aniline series; an azo dye of the benzene series; or an anthraquinone, quinoline, pyrazolone, triazole, pyridone or styryl dye, each being convertable to the vapour state at 160° to 220° C., (d) 0 to 2.5 percent by weight of a curing catalyst and (e) 50 to 90 percent by weight of water or an organic solvent and the printing paste or ink (2) for printing the ground containing (b) 0.2 to 15 percent by weight of a thickener, (e) 40 to 98 percent by weight of water or an organic solvent, (f) 0 to 5 percent by weight of a binder and (g) 1 to 20 percent by weight of a reservable dye which is a nitro dye of the aniline series; an azo dye of the benzene series; or an anthraquinone, quinoline, pyrazolone, triazole, pyridone or styryl dye which is convertable into the vapour state at 160° to 220° C.; said non-reservable dye, (c) being devoid of an amino or hydroxyl group capable of reacting with the component (a) at 160° to 220° C. or contains a hydroxyl group, a secondary amino group or a primary amino group, each of which is bound to an aromatic nucleus and is inert to the component (a) the hydroxyl group being capable of forming adjacent carbonyl, azo or nitro groups, a hydrogen bridge with the primary amino group being sterically hindered by a substituent in the o-position and in which the reservable dye (g) contains as a reactive amino or hydroxyl group, capable of reacting with the component (a) at 160° to 220° C. a hydroxyl group or an amino group each bound to an aromatic nucleus, or a secondary amino group present as a member of a pyrazolone, triazole or pyridone ring, the hydroxyl group being free from adjacent carbonyl, azo or nitro groups, and the primary amino group being free from substituents in the o-position, the intermediate carrier is dried, brought into contact with the fibre material to be printed, and both are then subjected to a heat treatment at elevated temperature, optionally with the application of pressure, until the unreserved dyes are transferred from the intermediate carrier to the fibre material, the intermediate carrier being thereupon separated from the printed fibre material.