Thermal transfer printing processes with multi-use transfer elements

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for forming images which comprises (a) incorporating into a thermal transfer printing apparatus a multi-use thermal transfer element comprising a substrate upon which is situated a porous sponge layer filled with ink; (b) applying heat imagewise to a portion of the substrate to heat the ink contained in the porous sponge layer, thereby enabling transfer of the ink in imagewise fashion from the porous sponge layer to a receiver sheet in contact with the porous sponge layer; (c) thereafter separating the receiver sheet of step (b) from the transfer element, (d) subsequently contacting the porous layer situated on the portion of the substrate heated in step (b) with a receiver sheet; and (e) thereafter applying heat imagewise to the portion of the substrate previously heated in step (b) to heat the ink contained in the porous sponge layer, thereby enabling transfer of the ink in imagewise fashion from the porous sponge layer to the receiver sheet of step (d). Also disclosed is a thermal transfer printing process with a multi-use thermal transfer element comprising a substrate and a porous sponge layer filled with ink, wherein the process employs resistive heating of the substrate of the transfer element by applying voltage to the substrate. In one embodiment, the ink contains a dye salt resulting from the reaction of a dye and a fatty acid.