Method for producing recorded matter having three-dimensional image, device for producing recorded matter having three-dimensional image, and foam-promoting liquid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2026001260-A1
Application number	US-202519324566-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 10, 2025
Priority date	Nov 18, 2020
Publication date	Jan 1, 2026
Grant date	—

Abstract

A recorded matter having a three-dimensional image is produced by a method comprising the steps of: applying, to a recording medium including a substrate and a foaming layer provided thereon, a foam-promoting liquid containing water and a foam-promoting component; and heating the foaming layer. The foaming layer contains a binder resin and a foaming particle which foams as heated, while the foam-promoting component lowers a foaming start temperature of the foaming particle. The foaming particle includes a shell layer containing a thermoplastic resin and a volatile material encapsulated in the shell layer. The binder resin contains a water-insoluble resin, while the foam-promoting component contains a compound having no hydroxyl group.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . A method for producing a recorded matter having a three-dimensional image, comprising the steps of:
preparing a recording medium including a substrate and a thermally expandable layer provided on the substrate, the thermally expandable layer containing a thermally expandable particle and a water-insoluble resin; applying a liquid composition to a first region of the recording medium; and forming the three-dimensional image by heating the recording medium to which the liquid composition has been applied, wherein the thermally expandable particle is formed of a thermoplastic resin and encapsulating a hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of 120 or less, wherein the liquid composition contains (i) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and (ii) water, and wherein, in the step of forming the three-dimensional image, the recording medium to which the liquid composition has been applied is heated to a temperature that is equal to or more than a thermal expansion start temperature of the thermally expandable particle contacted with the at least one compound and less than a maximum thermal expansion temperature of the thermally expandable particle not contacted with the at least one compound, whereby a volume of the thermally expandable particle in the first region is more expanded in comparison with a volume of the thermally expandable particle in a second region of the recording medium to which the liquid composition has not been applied.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the hydrocarbon has a molecular weight of 50 to 120.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein a content of the thermally expandable particle in the thermally expandable layer is 5% by mass to 95% by mass based on a total mass of the thermally expandable layer.

5 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the water-insoluble resin is a non-water-absorbable resin.

6 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the water-insoluble resin is at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins and urethane resins.

7 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the water-insoluble resin is at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins having no ester group and urethane resins having no ester group.

8 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein a content of the water-insoluble resin in the thermally expandable layer is 10% by mass to 95% by mass based on a total mass of the thermally expandable layer.

9 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein a boiling point of the at least one compound is higher than the temperature at which the recording medium is heated in the step of forming the three-dimensional image.

10 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein a content of the at least one compound in the liquid composition is 10% by mass to 70% by mass based on a total mass of the liquid composition.

11 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein an absolute value (|SP 1 -SP 2 |) of a difference between a solubility parameter (SP 1 ) of the thermoplastic resin and a solubility parameter (SP 2 ) of the at least one compound is 3.5 or less.

12 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein an absolute value (|HSP 1 -HSP 2 |) of a difference between a Hansen solubility parameter (HSP 1 ) of the thermoplastic resin and a Hansen solubility parameter (HSP 2 ) of the at least one compound is 20 or less.

13 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the water-insoluble resin is a binder resin.

14 . A device for producing a recorded matter having a three-dimensional image, comprising:
a liquid composition applying unit configured to apply a liquid composition to a first region of a recording medium including a substrate and a thermally expandable layer provided on the substrate, the thermally expandable layer containing a thermally expandable particle and a water-insoluble resin; and a heating unit configured to heat the recording medium to which the liquid composition has been applied, to form the three-dimensional image, wherein the thermally expandable particle is formed of a thermoplastic resin and encapsulating a hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of 120 or less, wherein the liquid composition contains (i) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and (ii) water, and wherein the heating unit is configured to heat the recording medium to which the liquid composition has been applied to a temperature that is equal to or more than a thermal expansion start temperature of the thermally expandable particle contacted with the at least one compound and less than a maximum thermal expansion temperature of the thermally expandable particle not contacted with the at least one compound, whereby a volume of the thermally expandable particle in the first region is more expanded in comparison with a volume of the thermally expandable particle in a second region of the recording medium to which the liquid composition has not been applied.

15 . A liquid composition comprising (i) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and (ii) water,
wherein the liquid composition is suitable for use in a method for producing a recorded matter having a three-dimensional image, the method comprising the steps of: preparing a recording medium including a substrate and a thermally expandable layer provided on the substrate, the thermally expandable layer containing a thermally expandable particle and a water-insoluble resin; applying the liquid composition to a first region of the recording medium; and forming the three-dimensional image by heating the recording medium to which the liquid composition has been applied, wherein the thermally expandable particle is formed of a thermoplastic resin and encapsulating a hydrocarbon having a molecular weight of 120 or less, wherein, in the step of forming the three-dimensional image, the recording medium to which the liquid composition has been applied is heated to a temperature that is equal to or more than a thermal expansion start temperature of the thermally expandable particle contacted with the at least one compound and less than a maximum thermal expansion temperature of the thermally expandable particle not contacted with the at least one compound, whereby a volume of the thermally expandable particle in the first region is more expanded in comparison with a volume of the thermally expandable particle in a second region of the recording medium to which the liquid composition has not been applied.

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Shiba Tetsufumi
• Herlambang Olivia
• Nagase Yoshiyuki

Classifications

• B29C44/355

  Characteristics of the foam, e.g. having particular surface properties or structure · CPC title

• B29C44/3415 Primary

  Heating or cooling · CPC title

• B29C44/12

  Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements · CPC title

• B29C44/0407

  by regulating the temperature of the mould or parts thereof, e.g. cold mould walls inhibiting foaming of an outer layer · CPC title

• D06N2209/1657

  Printability · CPC title