Abstract: Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include fusible print media, methods of making fusible print media, and systems for preparing a fused ink-jet image. One exemplary embodiment of the fusible print medium, among others, includes a substrate and an ink-receiving layer disposed on the substrate. The ink-receiving layer includes a plurality of hollow polymer beads having substantially the same diameter.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present system and method, an inkjet recording medium includes a photobase layer, a layer of inorganic oxide dispensed on a first side of the photobase layer, and a layer of ink vehicle absorbing layer formed on a second side of the photobase layer.

Abstract: Fusible print media, systems for preparing a fused ink-jet image, and methods of preparing a fused ink-jet image, are provided. One exemplary fusible print medium, among others, includes a substrate and an ink-receiving layer disposed on the substrate. The ink-receiving layer includes a first layer having ultrafine polymer particles and a second layer having hollow beads.

Abstract: An ink set for ink-jet printing includes a medium cyan ink-jet ink, a magenta ink-jet ink, and a gray ink-jet ink. Each of the medium cyan ink-jet ink, the magenta ink-jet ink, and the gray ink-jet ink are configured to have a lightness at a predetermined/given number of drops per unit area of an image-receiving medium such that the lightness of each of the inks are substantially matched.

Abstract: A method of forming a print medium having porous and swellable properties. The method includes providing a coating formulation that has at least 50% by weight of crosslinked organic particles. The crosslinked organic particles have a particle size of less than approximately 1 ?m. The coating formulation is then applied to a substrate. The crosslinked organic particles may be formed from polyvinylalcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gelatin, polyester, polyamine, polyimide, starch, cellulose, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, and mixtures thereof. The crosslinked organic particles may be formulated to absorb at least two times their weight of water. A print medium utilizing the crosslinked organic particles is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of treating silica in an aqueous environment. The method can comprise steps of dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion; reversing the net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using a surface activating agent, thereby forming surface-activated silica particulates dispersed in the water; and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with organosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.

Abstract: An ink set for ink-jet printing includes a medium cyan ink-jet ink, a magenta ink-jet ink, and a gray ink-jet ink. Each of the medium cyan ink-jet ink, the magenta ink-jet ink, and the gray ink-jet ink are configured to have a lightness at a predetermined/given number of drops per unit area of an image-receiving medium such that the lightness of each of the inks are substantially matched.

Abstract: An ink-jet media sheet imparting superior image quality and permanence is disclosed. Such a sheet may comprise a substrate consecutively coated with a porous ink-absorbing layer and a porous ink-receiving layer, where the specific surface area of the particulates of the ink-absorbing layer is less than that of the ink-receiving layer, e.g., the particulates are generally smaller in the ink-receiving layer. The porous coating layers can comprise semi-metal or metal oxide particulates and may further include other surface treatment or reactive groups having functional moieties to promote fixing and localizing printed colorants. Images printed on these media sheets exhibit good fastness to water, ozone, and humidity as well as improved color gamut and black intensity.

Abstract: A media sheet can comprise a media substrate, an ink receiving layer applied as a coating to at least one surface of the substrate, and a UV protection layer applied as a coating to the ink receiving layer. The ink receiving layer can include hollow particulates, and the UV protection layer can include UV absorbing latex particulates. This media substrate can be used in a system wherein a dye-based ink-jet ink is printed thereon, and a fusion system is configured to fuse UV protection layer and the ink receiving layer after printing of the ink-jet ink, thereby forming an ink-jet image with high image quality, air fastness, and light stability.

Abstract: A method of security printing can comprise the steps of printing a transparent ink onto a portion of a coated substrate resulting in printed region and an unprinted region, where the transparent ink is devoid of dyes, pigments, ceramics, metallics, and fluorescents; illuminating both the printed region and the unprinted region of the substrate, where the printed region scatters more light than the unprinted region creating a contrast; and detecting the contrast with a sensor that is sensitive to detecting light scattering differences between the printed region and the unprinted region.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of treating silica in an aqueous environment. The method can comprise steps of dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion; reversing the net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using a surface activating agent, thereby forming surface-activated silica particulates dispersed in the water; and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with organosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of preparing a porous media substrate, comprising combining metal or semi-metal oxide particulates with a polymeric binder, wherein the metal or semi-metal oxide particulates are associated with at least one water soluble coating formulation additive. At least a portion of the water soluble coating formulation additive i) is in the form of unreacted additive, or ii) generates undesired electrolytes. Additional steps include removing at least a portion of the unreacted additive or undesired electrolytes, either before or after combining the metal or semi-metal oxide particulates with the polymeric binder, thereby forming a refined coating composition; and applying the refined coating composition to a media substrate to form an ink-receiving layer having a porous surface.

Abstract: An ink receiving substrate includes a substrate layer and organic modified silica dispensed on at least one surface of the support layer, wherein the organic modified silica includes inorganic particulates and silane coupling agents having guanidine or biguanidine functional groups.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present system and method, an inkjet recording medium includes a photobase layer, a layer of inorganic oxide dispensed on a first side of the photobase layer, and a layer of ink vehicle absorbing layer formed on a second side of the photobase layer.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present system and method, an ink receiving substrate includes a photobase layer, a layer of inorganic oxide dispensed on the photobase layer, and a layer of colloidal inorganic oxide formed on the layer of inorganic oxide.

Abstract: An ink set for ink-jet printing includes a medium cyan ink-jet ink, a magenta ink-jet ink, and a gray ink-jet ink. Each of the medium cyan ink-jet ink, the magenta ink-jet ink, and the gray ink-jet ink are configured to have a lightness at a predetermined/given number of drops per unit area of an image-receiving medium such that the lightness of each of the inks are substantially matched.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery that pre-treating mineral oxide particles with a silylated polymeric coupling agent prior to suspending the particles in a binder polymer increases the crack resistance and adhesion of particles to a inkjet printing substrate such as paper sheets. Such pretreatment also reduces the amount of binder needed to achieve acceptable performance, leading to improvements in production speed and image quality.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a print medium and a method of preparing the same. The print medium can include a media substrate and a porous ink-receiving layer coated on the media substrate. The porous ink-receiving layer can include metal oxide or semi-metal oxide including a first portion of amine-functionalized particulates and a second portion of epoxy functionalized particulates, wherein at least a portion of the amine functionalized particulates are covalently coupled to at least a portion of the epoxy-functionalized particulates. A binder can optionally be present in the porous ink-receiving layer as well.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a print medium and a method of preparing the same. The print medium can include a media substrate, a porous ink-absorbing layer coated on the media substrate, and a porous ink-receiving layer coated on the porous ink-absorbing layer. The porous ink-absorbing layer can include semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates and a first binder, and the porous ink-receiving layer can include organosilane-functionalized semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates and a second binder.

Abstract: Fusible print media, systems for preparing a fused ink-jet image, and methods of preparing a fused ink-jet image, are provided. One exemplary fusible print medium, among others, includes a substrate and an ink-receiving layer disposed on the substrate. The ink-receiving layer includes a first layer having ultrafine polymer particles and a second layer having hollow beads.