Abstract: An inkjet printing system, comprises an inkjet printer, an ink composition, and an inkjet recording media comprising a support, and coated on the support in order from the support, a porous base layer and a porous uppermost layer, each with particular limitations The inkjet recording media and printer system is manufacturable using low-cost materials in an efficient process requiring only a single coating and drying step and that gives images with excellent gloss, color density, and image quality.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system, comprises an inkjet printer, an ink composition, and an inkjet recording media comprising a support, and coated on the support in order from the support, a porous base layer, a porous intermediate layer, and a porous uppermost layer, each with particular limitations. The inkjet recording media and printer system is manufacturable using low-cost materials in an efficient process requiring only a single coating and drying step and that gives images with excellent gloss, color density and image quality.

Abstract: An inkjet recording element comprising an absorbent support, a porous base layer nearest the support and comprising precipitated calcium carbonate, a porous ink-receiving intermediate layer above the base layer and comprising hydrated alumina, and a porous ink-receiving upper layer above the intermediate layer and comprising a mixture of hydrated and fumed alumina. Also disclosed is an advantageous method of making such inkjet recording materials.

Abstract: An inkjet recording element comprising an absorbent support, a porous base layer nearest the support, a porous ink-receiving intermediate layer above the base layer, and a porous ink-receiving upper layer above the intermediate layer. The base layer and intermediate layers are each present in an amount of at least 25 g/m2 and the total dry weight coverage of the base layer, the intermediate layer, and the upper layer is 60 to 130 g/m2 in order to handle high fluxes of ink compositions during printing and to provide high gloss upon calendering. Also disclosed is an advantageous method of making such inkjet recording materials.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system, comprises an inkjet printer, an ink composition, and an inkjet recording media comprising a support, and coated on the support in order from the support, a porous base layer, a porous intermediate layer, and a porous uppermost layer, each with particular limitations. The inkjet recording media and printer system is manufacturable using low-cost materials in an efficient process requiring only a single coating and drying step and that gives images with excellent gloss, color density and image quality.

Abstract: An inkjet printing system, comprises an inkjet printer, an ink composition, and an inkjet recording media comprising a support, and coated on the support in order from the support, a porous base layer and a porous uppermost layer, each with particular limitations The inkjet recording media and printer system is manufacturable using low-cost materials in an efficient process requiring only a single coating and drying step and that gives images with excellent gloss, color density, and image quality.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to the field of inkjet recording media and inkjet printing methods. More specifically, the invention relates to a porous base layer of an inkjet recording element, the base layer comprising precipitated calcium carbonate having scalenohedral morphology.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the uniformity of a liquid curtain in a coating system comprising a lip of a slide die wherein the lip includes a front surface on which a liquid composition flows by gravity. The apparatus comprises a ledge having a first, second, and third surface portion. The first surface portion is disposed intermediate the second and third surface portions, and is substantially horizontal. The second surface portion is contiguous with the first surface portion and upwardly inclined. The third surface portion is contiguous with the first surface portion and downwardly inclined away from the first and second surface portions.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer of a polymeric network formed by a chemical reaction between a wet-strength polymer, amino-functionalized inorganic particles and a hydrophilic polymer other than a wet-strength polymer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for gravure coating a liquid reactive with the atmosphere onto a web. The gravure apparatus comprises an engraved gravure cylinder, an impression roller backing the web and pressing it onto the gravure cylinder to form a nip, a curtain or jet formation means to wet the surface of the gravure cylinder, and a doctor blade means for wiping excess coating liquid from the surface of the gravure cylinder prior to the nip. A shroud encompassing the gravure cylinder and the curtain or jet formation means creates a first zone between the nip and a partitioning baffle extending from the shroud, a second zone between the partitioning baffle and the doctor blade means, and a third zone between the doctor blade means and the nip. A gas non-reactive with the coating liquid is supplied to each zone by a gas distribution means such that the reaction rate of the coating liquid with the atmosphere is greatly reduced and the curtain or jet is not disrupted.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method having the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer of a polymeric network formed by a chemical reaction between a wet strength polymer, amino-functionalized inorganic particles and a hydrophilic polymer other than a wet-strength polymer; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition; and D) printing on the ink jet recording element using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element having a support having thereon a porous image-receiving layer with at least 30% by weight of particles and at least 30% by weight of a binder, the particles being a mixture of a) silica gel particles having an average particle size of greater than about 9 &mgr;m in diameter; and b) silica gel particles having an average particle size of between 1 and about 8 &mgr;m in diameter; wherein the ratio of the a) silica gel particles to the b) silica gel particles is from about 0.5 to about 5.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer of a polymeric network formed by a chemical reaction between a wet-strength polymer, amino-functionalized inorganic particles and a hydrophilic polymer other than a wet-strength polymer.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method having the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer of a polymeric network formed by a chemical reaction between a wet strength polymer, amino-functionalized inorganic particles and a hydrophilic polymer other than a wet-strength polymer; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition; and D) printing on the ink jet recording element using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element having a support having thereon a porous image-receiving layer with at least 30% by weight of particles and at least 30% by weight of a binder, the particles being a mixture of a) silica gel particles having an average particle size of greater than about 9 &mgr;m in diameter; and b) silica gel particles having an average particle size of between 1 and about 8 &mgr;m in diameter; wherein the ratio of the a) silica gel particles to the b) silica gel particles is from about 0.5 to about 5.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the uniformity of a liquid curtain in a coating system comprising a lip of a slide die wherein the lip includes a front surface on which a liquid composition flows by gravity. The apparatus comprises a ledge having a first, second, and third surface portion. The first surface portion is disposed intermediate the second and third surface portions, and is substantially horizontal. The second surface portion is contiguous with the first surface portion and upwardly inclined. The third surface portion is contiguous with the first surface portion and downwardly inclined away from the first and second surface portions.

Abstract: A catch pan apparatus for starting and stopping coating is disclosed for coating a downwardly moving receiving surface by curtain coating. The catch pan device includes an intercepting pan that intercepts the curtain when coating is stopped and a substantially horizontal intercepting surface that intercepts the curtain only when the catch pan moves to start or stop coating. The intercepting pan and horizontal intercepting surface intersect to create a volume that retains in the catch pan excess liquids that would otherwise spill onto the coating receiving surface as the catch pan is retracted to a non-intercepting position. The catch pan is controllably retracted at high speed through the curtain using linear servomotors such that the releasing edge of the horizontal intercepting surface passes close to the coating receiving surface at the point of curtain release. Flushed edge guides maintaining curtain width are positioned outside the lateral edges of the catch pan.

Abstract: An improved method of thin film coating is taught that uses a multi-slot coating apparatus to apply multiple liquid layers to a moving substrate. The lowermost layer contacting the substrate is comprised of an organic solvent. The lowermost layer may be a single organic solvent or a blend of several organic solvents. Whether comprised of a single organic solvent or a blend of organic solvents, the viscosity of the lowermost layer is less than 1 cp and the wet thickness of the lowermost layer is not more than about 5 &mgr;m. Additional liquid layers are applied to the moving substrate on the top of the lowermost layer. This method allows for application of coatings at high substrate speeds. This method also allows for the reduction of coating artifacts caused by contamination of the surface of the die.

Abstract: A catch pan apparatus for starting and stopping coating is disclosed for coating a downwardly moving receiving surface by curtain coating. The catch pan device includes an intercepting pan that intercepts the curtain when coating is stopped and a substantially horizontal intercepting surface that intercepts the curtain only when the catch pan moves to start or stop coating. The intercepting pan and horizontal intercepting surface intersect to create a volume that retains in the catch pan excess liquids that would otherwise spill onto the coating receiving surface as the catch pan is retracted to a non-intercepting position. The catch pan is controllably retracted at high speed through the curtain using linear servomotors such that the releasing edge of the horizontal intercepting surface passes close to the coating receiving surface at the point of curtain release. Flushed edge guides maintaining curtain width are positioned outside the lateral edges of the catch pan.

Abstract: A method is taught for that allows for controlling and optimizing the level of adhesion between a multilayer composite applied to a support web. The method comprises the steps of selecting the support web with or without a subbing layer applied thereto; selecting an organic solvent that is substantially free of other constituents as a carrier layer; forming a multilayer composite including the carrier layer, the carrier layer being the lowermost layer thereof; applying the multilayer composite to the support web or the subbing layer; drying the multilayer composite on the support web, the carrier layer evaporating from the multilayer composite; testing the adhesive strength between the support web or subbing layer and the multilayer composite after drying; and repeating these steps until a desired level of adhesion is found.