Thermal transfer element

摘要

A thermal transfer element is capable of improving transfer characteristics because transfer is performed at a low temperature. The thermal transfer element includes: a base substrate as a support substrate; a light-to-heat conversion layer formed on the base substrate to convert incident light to thermal energy; a transfer layer formed on the light-to-heat conversion layer to form an image; and a release layer formed between the base substrate and the light-to-heat conversion layer to facilitate delamination of the light-to-heat conversion layer from the base substrate. The release layer includes a silicon polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 25° C. or less, and low surface energy. In a further embodiment, the thermal transfer element includes an interlayer formed between the light-to-heat conversion layer and the transfer layer to protect the light-to-heat conversion layer.