Abstract:
A thermally imageable laminar composite comprising a pair of opposed sheets confining therebetween a frangible layer of image-forming substance partitionable to the respective sheets on separation of the sheets after thermal imaging is protected against premature stress-induced delamination by the heat bonding of the opposed sheets to one another through said image-forming substance at the periphery of said composite, said bonding being at a strength substantially greater than that required to separate said sheets in the expansive thermally imageable region confined by said periphery. A method for preparing individual units of an imageable composite, including the steps of establishing a band-like heated zone in a supply web of laminate, corresponding to the boundaries of a unit to be cut therefrom, and cutting a unit from within said band-like zone is described.