US5459016A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Nanostructured thermal transfer donor element
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1993-12-16
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Granted: 1995-10-17
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Expires: 2013-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Laser-addressable thermal transfer donor elements for producing color proofs, printing plates, films, printed circuit boards, and other media are disclosed. The thermal transfer donor elements include a substrate with a gas-producing polymer layer thereon, and an array of discrete nanostructured elements embedded within the gas-producing polymer layer. The gas-producing polymer layer has a thermally available nitrogen content of greater than about 10 weight percent. Each of the nanostructured elements includes an elongated structure conformally coated with a radiation absorbing material. A thermal mass transfer material (e.g., a metal or colorant such as a dye or pigment) is included in or over the gas-producing polymer layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark K. Debe
- 👤 William V. Dower
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 00:27
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/40; B41M5/42; B41M5/382; B41M5/38207; B41M5/38214; B41M5/46; B41M5/465; B41M2205/00; B41M2205/38; B41M5/385; B41M5/426; B41M5/44; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/165; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24521; Y10T428/24545; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24851; Y10T428/2486; Y10T428/24917; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/264; Y10T428/265; Y10T428/266; Y10T428/27; Y10T428/273
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A thermal transfer donor element, comprising: a) a substrate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; b) a gas-producing polymer layer on the upper major surface of said substrate, said gas-producing polymer layer having a thermally available nitrogen content of greater than 10 weight percent; c) a plurality of discrete nanostructured elements having a chemical composition which is different from the chemical composition of the substrate, each of said discrete nanostructured elements comprising an elongated structure coated with a radiation absorbing material, wherein at least some of the discrete nanostructured elements extend into said gas-producing polymer layer, one end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements contacting the upper major surface of said substrate; and d) a thermal mass transfer material in or over said gas-producing polymer layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A thermal transfer donor element, comprising: a) a substrate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; b) a gas-producing polymer layer on the upper major surface of said substrate, said gas-producing polymer layer having a thermally available nitrogen content of greater than 10 weight percent; c) a plurality of discrete nanostructured elements having a chemical composition which is different from the chemical composition of the substrate, each of said discrete nanostructured elements comprising an elongated structure coated with a radiation absorbing material, wherein at least some of the discrete nanostructured elements extend into said gas-producing polymer layer, one end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements contacting the upper major surface of said substrate; and d) a thermal mass transfer material in or over said gas-producing polymer layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said substrate is substantially transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said gas-producing polymer layer has a thermally available nitrogen content of greater than about 20 weight percent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The donor element of claim 3 wherein said gas-producing polymer layer has a thermally available nitrogen content of greater than about 30 weight percent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said gas-producing polymer layer contains a gas-producing polymer having the formula ##STR3## wherein: X represents a hydroxyl, azide, mercapto, or amino group; R represents a divalent monomer group, containing a N 3 group, derived from a cyclic ether, a cyclic sulfide, or a cyclic amine; L represents a mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-valent alkyl radical, and correspondingly, m represents 1, 2, 3, or 4; and n represents any integer greater than 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said gas-producing polymer layer contains a polyoxetane having recurring units of the formula ##STR4## wherein R 1 and R 2 each independently represent a thermally decomposable nitrogen-containing group.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said gas-producing polymer layer contains a block or random copolymer comprising units derived from at least two different monomers, at least one of said monomers containing an energetic nitrogen-containing group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said elongated structure comprises an organic compound wherein the molecules thereof are planar and comprise chains or rings over which π-electron density is extensively delocalized.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The donor element of claim 8 wherein said organic compound is selected from the group consisting of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic aromatic compounds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The donor element of claim 9 wherein said organic compound is selected from the group consisting of perylenes and porphyrins.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The donor element of claim 10 wherein said organic compound is N,N'-di(3,5-xylyl)perylene-3,4:9,10 bis(dicarboximide).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said radiation absorbing material is conformally coated on said elongated structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The donor element of claim 12 wherein said radiation absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, black metal, conducting polymers, semiconducting materials, and organic pigments and dyes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said radiation absorbing material is metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said nanostructured elements are embedded in a regular or random array within said gas-producing polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The donor element of claim 15 wherein each of said nanostructured elements has a first end in contact with the upper major surface of said substrate and a second end contained within said gas-producing polymer layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The donor element of claim 16 wherein the major axes of said nanostructured elements are substantially parallel with one another.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The donor element of claim 17 wherein said nanostructured elements are oriented such that their major axes are substantially normal to the upper major surface of said substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said nanostructured elements have an average aspect ratio ranging from about 3:1 to about 100:1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said nanostructured elements have an areal number density ranging from about 1-100/μm 2 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein each of said nanostructured elements has a substantially uniform cross-sectional dimension along their major axes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said thermal mass transfer material comprises a colorant.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The donor element of claim 22 wherein said colorant comprises a pigment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The donor element of claim 22 wherein said colorant comprises a dye.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The donor element of claim 1 wherein said thermal mass transfer material comprises a metal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
107 words
A thermal transfer donor element, consisting essentially of: a) a substrate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; b) a thermal mass transfer material on the upper major surface of said substrate; and c) a plurality of discrete nanostructured elements having a chemical composition which is different from the chemical composition of the substrate, each of said discrete nanostructured elements comprising an elongated structure coated with a radiation absorbing material, wherein at least some of the discrete nanostructured element extend into said thermal mass transfer material, one end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements contacting the upper major surface of said substrate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
107 words
A thermal transfer donor element, consisting essentially of: a) a substrate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; b) a thermal mass transfer material on the upper major surface of said substrate; and c) a plurality of discrete nanostructured elements having a chemical composition which is different from the chemical composition of the substrate, each of said discrete nanostructured elements comprising an elongated structure coated with a radiation absorbing material, wherein at least some of the discrete nanostructured element extend into said thermal mass transfer material, one end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements contacting the upper major surface of said substrate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
136 words
A thermal transfer donor element, comprising: a) a substrate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; b) a gas-producing polymer layer on the upper major surface of said substrate, said gas-producing polymer layer having a thermally available nitrogen content of greater than 10 weight percent; c) a plurality of discrete nanostructured elements, each of said discrete nanostructured elements comprising an elongated structure coated with a radiation absorbing material, wherein at least some of the discrete nanostructured elements extend into said gas-producing polymer layer, one end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements contacting the upper surface of said gas-producing polymer layer and the other end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements do not contact the substrate; and d) a thermal mass transfer material in or over said gas-producing polymer layer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
136 words
A thermal transfer donor element, comprising: a) a substrate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; b) a gas-producing polymer layer on the upper major surface of said substrate, said gas-producing polymer layer having a thermally available nitrogen content of greater than 10 weight percent; c) a plurality of discrete nanostructured elements, each of said discrete nanostructured elements comprising an elongated structure coated with a radiation absorbing material, wherein at least some of the discrete nanostructured elements extend into said gas-producing polymer layer, one end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements contacting the upper surface of said gas-producing polymer layer and the other end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements do not contact the substrate; and d) a thermal mass transfer material in or over said gas-producing polymer layer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal transfer donor element of claim 27, wherein none of the discrete nanostructured elements contact the substrate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The thermal transfer donor element of claim 27, wherein the discrete nanostructured elements have a chemical composition which is different from the chemical composition of the substrate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal transfer donor element of claim 27, wherein none of the discrete nanostructured elements contact the substrate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The thermal transfer donor element of claim 27, wherein the discrete nanostructured elements have a chemical composition which is different from the chemical composition of the substrate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The donor element of claim 27 wherein the major axes of said nanostructured elements are substantially parallel with one another.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The donor element of claim 32 wherein the major axes of said nanostructured elements are substantially perpendicular to the upper major surface of said substrate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
112 words
A thermal transfer donor element, consisting essentially of: a) a substrate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; b) a thermal mass transfer material on the upper major surface of said substrate; and c) a plurality of discrete nanostructured elements, each of said discrete nanostructured elements comprising an elongated structure coated with a radiation absorbing material, wherein at least some of the discrete nanostructured elements extend into said thermal mass transfer material, one end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements contacting the upper surface of said thermal mass transfer material and the other end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements do not contact the substrate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
112 words
A thermal transfer donor element, consisting essentially of: a) a substrate having an upper major surface and a lower major surface; b) a thermal mass transfer material on the upper major surface of said substrate; and c) a plurality of discrete nanostructured elements, each of said discrete nanostructured elements comprising an elongated structure coated with a radiation absorbing material, wherein at least some of the discrete nanostructured elements extend into said thermal mass transfer material, one end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements contacting the upper surface of said thermal mass transfer material and the other end of said at least some discrete nanostructured elements do not contact the substrate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The donor element of claim 34 wherein the major axes of said nanostructured elements are substantially parallel with one another.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The donor element of claim 35 wherein the major axes of said nanostructured elements are substantially perpendicular to the upper major surface of said substrate.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
71 words
A process for forming a thermal transfer image, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a receptor surface with the layer of the donor element of claim 1 which contains said thermal mass transfer material; and b) imagewise irradiating said donor element with sufficient energy to produce gas from said gas-producing polymer, thereby transferring the thermal mass transfer material of said donor element to said receptor surface in the imagewise irradiated areas.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
11 words
An imaged article made according to the process of claim 37.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-16 | 1999-04-17 | 1999-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-16 | 2003-04-17 | 2003-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-04-17 | 2007-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |