Heat-transfer label assembly and method of using the same

Abstract

A heat-transfer label assembly and method of using the same. In one embodiment, the assembly is adapted for decorating glass articles and comprises a carrier, the carrier comprising a paper substrate overcoated with a layer of polyethylene. The polyethylene layer is overcoated with a skim coat of wax. One or more heat-transfer labels are printed onto the skim coat and are spaced apart from one another. Each label consists of one or more ink design layers, each ink design layer comprising a binder resin, a pigment, a cross-linking resin and a catalyst. The catalyst is capable of causing the cross-linking resin to cross-link the binder resin within 1-2 minutes after the label has been transferred to a glass article that has been preheated to a temperature of about 250° F.-325 ° F.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heat-transfer label assembly, said heat-transfer label assembly comprising: 
 (a) a carrier;    (b) a wax skim coat deposited onto said carrier; and    (c) a heat-transfer label, said heat-transfer label being deposited onto said wax skim coat for transfer of said heat-transfer label from said carrier to an article under conditions of heat and pressure, said heat-transfer label comprising one or more ink design layers, each of said ink design layers being thermosetting within about 1-2 minutes after said ink design layer has been transferred to an article heated to a temperature of about 250° F.-325° F.    
     
     
         2 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said heat-transfer label consists of said one or more ink design layers.  
     
     
         3 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of said ink design layers comprises a binder, a colorant and a cross-linking system, said cross-linking system being adapted to effect cross-linking of the binder within about 1-2 minutes after said ink design layer has been transferred to an article heated to a temperature of about 250° F.-325° F.  
     
     
         4 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said binder comprises one or more resins selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyester/vinyl resins, polyamide resins, phenoxy resins, epoxy resins, polyketone resins, and acrylic resins.  
     
     
         5 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said binder additionally comprises a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate resin.  
     
     
         6 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate resin constitutes up to about 25%, by weight, of said binder.  
     
     
         7 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said binder comprises a copolyester resin having a high tensile strength and low elongation.  
     
     
         8 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said colorant is a pigment, said pigment being present in an amount ranging from about 50% to about 200%, by weight, of the total of said binder and said cross-linking system.  
     
     
         9 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said pigment is titanium dioxide.  
     
     
         10 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said cross-linking system comprises (i) a cross-linking resin for cross-linking said binder and (ii) a heat-activatable catalyst for catalyzing the cross-linking of said cross-linking resin to the binder within about 1-2 minutes after transfer of said heat-transfer label to an article heated to a temperature in the range of about 250° F.-325° F.  
     
     
         11 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said cross-linking resin is present in an amount constituting about 5%-10%, by weight, of said binder.  
     
     
         12 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said cross-linking resin comprises a melamine-formaldehyde resin.  
     
     
         13 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said cross-linking resin comprises a partially methylated melamine-formaldehyde resin.  
     
     
         14 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said heat-activatable catalyst is an amine-blocked sulfonic acid catalyst.  
     
     
         15 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said carrier comprises a paper substrate overcoated with a layer of polyethylene, said wax skim coat being deposited onto said polyethylene layer.  
     
     
         16 . A heat-transfer label assembly, said heat-transfer label assembly comprising: 
 (a) a carrier; and    (b) a heat-transfer label, said heat-transfer label being deposited onto said carrier for transfer of said heat-transfer label from said carrier to an article under conditions of heat and pressure, said heat-transfer label comprising one or more ink design layers, each of said ink design layers being thermosetting within about 1-2 minutes after said ink design layer has been transferred to an article heated to a temperature of about 250° F.-325° F.;    (c) wherein said carrier is made of a non-wax material that separates cleanly from said heat-transfer label with no visually discernible portion of said carrier being transferred to the article along with said heat-transfer label.    
     
     
         17 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said carrier comprises a polymeric film overcoated with a release coating made of a non-wax, non-silicone, thermoset release material, said release coating having a total surface energy of about 25 to 35 mN/m, of which about 0.1 to 4 mN/m is polar surface energy, and having a carbon content (by atomic %) of about 97% and an oxygen content (by atomic %) of about 3%, as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.  
     
     
         18 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said polymeric film is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyolefins and polyamides and wherein said release coating is made by (i) applying to the polymeric film in its amorphous or semi-oriented state a composition comprising (a) a functionalized α-olefin containing copolymer and (b) a crosslinking agent; and (ii) reacting said composition with the carrier during uniaxial or biaxial stretching and heat setting.  
     
     
         19 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said heat-transfer label consists of said one or more ink design layers.  
     
     
         20 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each of said ink design layers comprises a binder, a colorant and a cross-linking system, said cross-linking system being adapted to effect cross-linking of the binder within about 1-2 minutes after said ink design layer has been transferred to an article heated to a temperature of about 250° F.-325° F.  
     
     
         21 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said binder comprises one or more resins selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyester/vinyl resins, polyamide resins, phenoxy resins, epoxy resins, polyketone resins, and acrylic resins.  
     
     
         22 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said binder additionally comprises a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate resin.  
     
     
         23 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 22  wherein said vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate resin constitutes up to about 25%, by weight, of said binder.  
     
     
         24 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said binder comprises a copolyester resin having a high tensile strength and low elongation.  
     
     
         25 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said colorant is a pigment, said pigment being present in an amount ranging from about 50% to 200%, by weight, of the total of said binder and said cross-linking system.  
     
     
         26 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 25  wherein said pigment is titanium dioxide.  
     
     
         27 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 20  wherein said cross-linking system comprises (i) a cross-linking resin for cross-linking said binder and (ii) a heat-activatable catalyst for catalyzing the cross-linking of said cross-linking resin to the binder within about 1-2 minutes after transfer of said heat-transfer label to an article heated to a temperature in the range of about 250° F.-325° F.  
     
     
         28 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said cross-linking resin is present in an amount constituting about 5%-10%, by weight, of said binder.  
     
     
         29 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 27  wherein said cross-linking resin comprises a melamine-formaldehyde resin.  
     
     
         30 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said cross-linking resin comprises a partially methylated melamine-formaldehyde resin.  
     
     
         31 . The heat-transfer label as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said heat-activatable catalyst is an amine-blocked sulfonic acid catalyst.  
     
     
         32 . An ink formulation comprising: 
 (a) a binder resin;    (b) a colorant;    (c) one or more volatile solvents; and    (d) a cross-linking system, said cross-linking system being adapted to effect cross-linking of the binder resin within about 1-2 minutes after application of a dried, printed design made with said ink formulation to an article heated to a temperature of about 250° F.-325° F.    
     
     
         33 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said binder resin comprises one or more resins selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyester/vinyl resins, polyamide resins, phenoxy resins, epoxy resins, polyketone resins, and acrylic resins.  
     
     
         34 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 33  wherein said binder resin additionally comprises a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate resin.  
     
     
         35 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate resin constitutes up to about 25%, by weight, of said binder resin.  
     
     
         36 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 33  wherein said binder comprises a copolyester resin having a high tensile strength and low elongation.  
     
     
         37 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said colorant is a pigment, said pigment being present in an amount ranging about 50% to 200%, by weight, of the total of said binder resin and said cross-linking system.  
     
     
         38 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 37  wherein said pigment is titanium dioxide.  
     
     
         39 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 32  wherein said cross-linking system comprises (i) a cross-linking resin for cross-linking said binder and (ii) a heat-activatable catalyst for catalyzing the cross-linking of said cross-linking resin to the binder resin within about 1-2 minutes after application of a dried, printed design made with said ink formulation to an article heated to a temperature in the range of about 250° F.-325° F.  
     
     
         40 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said cross-linking resin is present in an amount constituting about 5%-10%, by weight, of said binder resin.  
     
     
         41 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said cross-linking resin comprises a melamine-formaldehyde resin.  
     
     
         42 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 41  wherein said cross-linking resin comprises a partially methylated melamine-formaldehyde resin.  
     
     
         43 . The ink formulation as claimed in  claim 41  wherein said heat-activatable catalyst is an amine-blocked sulfonic acid catalyst.  
     
     
         44 . A method of decorating a glass article, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a heat-transfer label assembly, said heat-transfer label assembly comprising: 
 (i) a carrier; and  
 (ii) a heat-transfer label, said heat-transfer label being releasably secured to said carrier for transfer of said heat-transfer label from said carrier to a glass article under conditions of heat and pressure, said heat-transfer label comprising one or more ink design layers, each of said ink design layers being thermosetting within about 1-2 minutes after said ink design layer has been transferred to a glass article heated to a temperature of about 250° F.-325° F.;  
   (b) providing a glass article;    (c) heating said glass article to a temperature of about 250° F.-325° F.; and    (d) while said glass article is at said temperature of about 250° F.-325° F., transferring said heat-transfer label from said carrier to said glass article.    
     
     
         45 . The method as claimed in  claim 44  wherein said heat-transfer label consists of said one or more ink design layers.  
     
     
         46 . The method as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said carrier comprises a paper substrate overcoated with a layer of polyethylene and wherein said heat-transfer label assembly further comprises a wax skim coat deposited on said layer of polyethylene, said heat-transfer label being deposited on said wax skim coat.  
     
     
         47 . The method as claimed in  claim 45  wherein said carrier comprises wherein said carrier comprises a polymeric film overcoated with a release coating made of a non-wax, non-silicone, thermoset release material, said release coating having a total surface energy of about 25 to 35 mN/m, of which about 0.1 to 4 mN/m is polar surface energy, and having a carbon content (by atomic %) of about 97% and an oxygen content (by atomic %) of about 3%, as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.  
     
     
         48 . The method as claimed in  claim 47  wherein said polymeric film is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyolefins and polyamides and wherein said release coating is made by (i) applying to the polymeric film in its amorphous or semi-oriented state a composition comprising (a) a functionalized α-olefin containing copolymer and (b) a crosslinking agent; and (ii) reacting said composition with the carrier during uniaxial or biaxial stretching and heat setting.  
     
     
         49 . The method as claimed in  claim 44  wherein each of said ink design layers comprises a binder, a colorant and a cross-linking system, said cross-linking system being adapted to effect cross-linking of the binder within about 1-2 minutes after said ink design layer has been transferred to a glass article heated to a temperature of about 250° F.-325° F.  
     
     
         50 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein said binder comprises one or more resins selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyester/vinyl resins, polyamide resins, phenoxy resins, epoxy resins, polyketone resins, and acrylic resins.  
     
     
         51 . The method as claimed in  claim 50  wherein said binder additionally comprises a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate resin.  
     
     
         52 . The method as claimed in  claim 50  wherein said binder comprises a copolyester resin having a high tensile strength and low elongation.  
     
     
         53 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein said colorant is a pigment, said pigment being present in an amount ranging from about 50% to 200%, by weight, of the total of said binder and said cross-linking system.  
     
     
         54 . The method as claimed in  claim 49  wherein said cross-linking system comprises (i) a cross-linking resin for cross-linking said binder and (ii) a heat-activatable catalyst for catalyzing the cross-linking of said cross-linking resin to the binder within about 1-2 minutes after transfer of said heat-transfer label to an article heated to a temperature in the range of about 250° F.-325° F.  
     
     
         55 . The method as claimed in  claim 54  wherein said cross-linking resin comprises a melamine-formaldehyde resin and wherein said heat-activatable catalyst is an amine-blocked sulfonic acid catalyst.  
     
     
         56 . A heat-transfer label assembly, said heat-transfer label assembly comprising: 
 (a) a carrier; and    (b) a heat-transfer label, said heat-transfer label being releasably secured to said carrier for transfer of said heat-transfer label from said carrier to an article under conditions of heat and pressure, said heat-transfer label comprising one or more ink design layers, each of said ink design layers being thermosetting within about 1-2 minutes after said ink design layer has been transferred to an article heated to a temperature of about 250° F.-325° F.    
     
     
         57 . The heat-transfer label assembly as claimed in  claim 56  wherein said heat-transfer label consists of said one or more ink design layers.