Method of forming printed patterns

摘要

A print material pattern is formed on a receiver element using an elastomeric relief element having a relief pattern. A printable material composition is applied only to the uppermost relief surface of the elastomeric relief element and at least at least 50 weight % of a carrier liquid is removed. A receiver element has a print material receptive layer having a dry thickness of 0.05-10 μm and is heated. During contact of the print material composition on the uppermost relief surface and the heated receiver element, the elastomeric relief element is compressed to provide sufficient contact with the receiver element. The elastomeric relief element is then separated from the heated receiver element to leave a pattern of the functional material on the heated receiver element, wherein at least 70 weight % of the original print material is transferred to the heated receiver element.

主权项

1. A method for forming a pattern of a print material on a receiver element comprising a print material receptive layer, the method comprising:
providing an elastomeric relief element that comprises a relief pattern comprising (1) an uppermost relief surface, and (2) an average relief image depth of at least 50 μm relative to the uppermost relief surface and a shoulder angle greater than 25° and up to and including 85° from vertical, and (3) a modulus of elasticity of at least 2 megaPascals and up to and including 10 megaPascals, applying a printable material composition to the uppermost relief surface of the elastomeric relief element, the printable material composition comprising a print material and a carrier liquid, the printable material composition having a viscosity of at least 1 cps and up to and including 1500 cps, removing at least 50 weight % of the carrier liquid from the printable material composition that is disposed on the uppermost relief surface of the elastomeric relief element, leaving print material disposed on the uppermost relief surface, providing a receiver element comprising a print material receptive layer disposed on a substrate, wherein the print material receptive layer has a dry thickness of at least 0.05 μm and up to and including 10 μm when measured at 25° C., heating the receiver element to a heating temperature that is higher than the glass transition temperature (Tgl) of the print material receptive layer, to form a heated receiver element, contacting the print material disposed on the uppermost relief surface and the heated receiver element such that the elastomeric relief element is compressed and the print material disposed on the uppermost relief surface is in contact with the heated receiver element, and separating the elastomeric relief element from the heated receiver element to leave a pattern of the print material on the heated receiver element, wherein at least 70 weight % of the print material originally disposed on the uppermost relief surface of the elastomeric relief element is transferred to the heated receiver element.