Abstract: There is provided a thermal transfer receiving sheet comprising a substrate, a barrier layer laminated on said substrate, and an image receiving layer laminated on said barrier layer, wherein said barrier layer and said image receiving layer are laminated on at least one side of said substrate, characterized in that the major components of said barrier layer are a swellable lamellar inorganic component and an adhesive, wherein said swellable lamellar inorganic component has a mean particle diameter of at least 0.1 ?m and not greater than 100 ?m, and an aspect ratio (ratio of mean particle diameter to thickness of the lamellar composite) of at least 100 and not greater than 5000.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an inkjet recording element comprising a support having thereon at least two ink receiving layers capable of accepting an inkjet image, at least one of said layers comprising porous polyester particles. The present invention also includes a method of forming an inkjet print comprising providing an inkjet recording element comprising at least two ink receiving layers capable of accepting an inkjet image, at least one of said layers comprising porous polyester particles and printing on said inkjet recording element utilizing an inkjet printer.

Abstract: An ink jet recording medium including an ink receiving layer disposed on at least one side of a support, wherein the ink receiving layer is formed by applying an ink receiving layer coating solution. The ink receiving layer coating solution includes a water-soluble resin and a fine silica dispersion that has been prepared by finely dispersing a preliminary silica dispersion. The preliminary silica dispersion includes fumed silica, a cationic polymer having an I/O value of 2.4 or less, and alcohol.

Abstract: An inkjet recording element comprising, over a porous, ink-receiving layer, a fusible, porous topmost layer comprising a film-forming, hydrophobic binder and fusible, polymeric particles of a non-segmented polyurethane, or salt thereof, comprising repeat units derived from a diisocyanate and a diol component comprising a mixture of diols, said diol mixture comprising: an anionically-substituted diol selected from carboxylic acid-, sulfonic acid-, and phosphonic acid-substituted diol and an ether containing short chain aliphatic diol, wherein the polyurethane has a Tg greater than about 70° C.

Abstract: A recording medium for ink, capable of rapidly absorbing large amounts of ink, showing excellent color forming ability and capable of suppressing image deterioration caused by dye displacement that occurs when an image is stored in humid conditions and image deterioration caused by light when a printed image is displayed, and providing a printed image showing excellent long-term stability. The invention also provides a recording medium for ink having at least one layer provided on a substrate, and an ink receiving layer containing alumina hydrate as an outermost layer. A surface of the substrate at least on the side of the ink receiving layer is subjected to a cationizing treatment. An undercoat layer is provided on the same side as the cationizing treatment, to obtain cations in a predetermined distribution. The outermost ink receiving layer is provided on the undercoat layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a recording medium with an excellent productivity is provided. The method provides a recording medium having excellent ink absorbency and coloring property and includes an ink-receiving layer in which a binder is restricted and controlled. The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a recording medium including the steps of: performing a surface treatment on a substrate; and forming an ink-receiving layer using at least a pigment, polyvinyl alcohol, and a coating liquid that contains at least one selected from the group consisting of boric acid and borate. In this method, the surface-treatment step includes a first surface treatment and a second surface treatment. In the first surface treatment, a coating liquid that contains at least one selected from the group consisting of boric acid and borate is applied followed by being dried and solidified.

Abstract: An ink jet recording medium and its manufacturing method are disclosed, the medium comprising a substrate and provided thereon, plural ink absorption layers including an upper layer containing inorganic pigment and thermoplastic particles, wherein the content by weight of the inorganic pigment is greater than that of the thermoplastic particles.

Abstract: An image recording element having a support having thereon an image-receiving layer, the recording element containing core/shell particles wherein the shell of the particles is an oligomeric or polymeric aluminosilicate complex or an aluminosilicate particulate, the complex and the particulate having a positive charge and being counter balanced by an anion.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording sheet including a color material receiving layer on a substrate. The color material receiving layer contains a compound represented by the following general formula (I), In the general formula (I), R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, —COR3, —COOR4, —SO2—R5, or —N(R6)R7. R3 and R5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, a heterocyclic group, or —N(R8)R9. R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, or a heterocyclic group. R6 to R9 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group, an aromatic group, an acyl group, an alkoxy carbony group, an aryloxy carbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, an alkyl sulfonyl group, an aryl sulfonyl group, or a sulfamoyl group. R1 and R2 may link with each other so as to form a ring.

Abstract: An ink jet-printing medium comprising a substrate and an ink-receptive layer which has at least one layer and is formed on at least one major surface of the substrate, in which at least one layer of the ink-receptive layer contains fibrous fine powder as a pigment in an amount of at least 20% by weight of the total weight of the whole pigment contained in the layer which contains the fibrous fine powder. This medium can be produced at a low cost and has high printing quality while suppressing the discoloration or fading of the prints.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to obtain a double-side ink jet recording sheet at least one side of which has gloss surface and in which scratches caused by rubbing of sheets hardly occur. According to the present invention, there is obtained a double-side ink jet recording sheet comprising a support provided with at least one ink-receiving layer on each of both sides, wherein at least one side has a gloss surface having a 75° specular glossiness of not less than 40% and the ink-receiving layer on the side opposite to the side having gloss surface contains organic particles having an average particle diameter of 2–40 ?m. The outermost layer of the side having the gloss surface is preferably formed by subjecting to pressure-contact specular finishing by cast-coating method.

Abstract: A method of converting a recording element is provided. The method includes providing an imaged recording element having a convertible layer, the convertible layer comprising polymeric particles and a polymeric binder, the polymeric particles having a glass transition temperature Tg1, and the polymeric binder having a glass transition temperature Tg2; heating the convertible layer to a temperature Tp, Tp being greater than Tg1 and Tg2; and converting the heated convertible layer of the recording element by advancing the recording element through a pair of rollers, the first roller of the pair of rollers being maintained at a first temperature T1 and the second roller of the pair of rollers being maintained at a second temperature T2, T1 and T2 being less than Tp, the convertible layer of the recording element becoming a converted layer after advancing through the pair of rollers, wherein the converted layer has an exit temperature Tf, Tf being less than Tp.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink jet recording sheet which comprises a substrate and an ink accepting layer composed of at least two layers on the substrate, characterized in that the ink accepting layer comprises at least one cracked layer having cracks in lower layers other than a surface layer (the layer farthest from the substrate) and a contact layer in contact with the cracked layer, wherein part of the contact layer cuts into the cracked layer, and the cracked layer contains a hydrophobic resin (e.g. styrene-acrylics copolymer resin) as a binder, or wherein the contact layer is formed by coating with a coating solution having viscosity of at most 3000 mPa.s and a proportion of solid content in the range of 10 to 30% by weight. The above ink accepting layer is excellent in water resistance and strength of adhesion among the interlayers, whereby the ink jet recording sheet as a whole becomes excellent in scratch-abrasion resistance under wet conditions as well as image density.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording material having on a support at least one ink-receiving layer comprising pigment and binder, which further contains in the uppermost layer of the ink-receiving layers at least one water-soluble acidic or neutral salt selected from the group consisting of aluminum salts, magnesium salts, sodium salts, potassium salts and zinc salts, and thereby acquires suitability for an ink-jet recording process using pigment ink.

Abstract: A recording medium includes a substrate and an ink-receiving layer provided on the substrate, wherein the ink—receiving layer includes an alumina hydrate having a boehmite structure, an average particle thickness of 2.0 to 6.0 nm and a crystallite size of 5.0 to 8.0 nm in a direction of a (020) plane, and the recording medium has a degree of parallelization of 30 to 1,000.

Abstract: The present invention features a multi-layer ink-jet recording medium, suitable for recording images with dye and pigmented inks and thereby providing light-emitting, reflective, glossy, metallic-looking or holographic images, comprising a substrate coated with at least two layers comprising: (a) a first transparent ink-receptive layer comprising a polymeric binder and a cross-linker and optionally having a plasticizer and pigment particles such as alumina and silica coated over the substrate, wherein the cross-linker comprises and azetidinium polymer or a salt thereof, and/or a polyfunctinal aziridine or a salt thereof or a polyfunctional oxazoline or a salt thereof; and (b) a second ink-receptive layer comprising an opaque or semi-opaque coating composition, wherein the opaque or semi-opaque coating composition is capable of accepting a printed image and thereby becoming semi transparent or clearly transparent from application of ink-jet printing ink or similar inks, while presenting a light-emitting, re

Abstract: A recording medium for an inkjet printer includes a substrate and an ink receiving layer formed thereon and has an ink absorbing layer having a pigment and a binder, and an ink fixation layer having the pigment, the binder and polyether siloxane copolymer. The recording medium has good coating surface properties by improving surface wetting, a leveling property and flowability by adding the polyether siloxane copolymer to the ink fixation layer during coating, as a component enhancing physical properties of the ink fixation layer.

Abstract: A recording material which comprises a polymeric substrate having two surfaces, wherein one surface is coated with a sealing layer comprising a particulate polymer having a film forming temperature of between 60° C. and 160° C. and an average particle size between 1 ?m and 50 ?m together with at least one binder, and at least one ink receiving layer; and the opposite surface is coated with an adhesive layer covered by a release liner. A related printing method whereby an image printed on the recording material is heated after printing to seal the sealing layer to provide a protected surface.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording sheet containing a support having the following layers in the order: (a) a porous layer; and (b) a surface porous layer containing an organic particle A or an organic particle B, the organic particle A being insoluble in water and soluble in or swollen in a water soluble organic solvent having a SP value of 18.41 to 30.69 (MPa)1/2 and a boiling point of not less than 120° C.; the organic particle B comprising a copolymer having a specific recurring unit in an amount of not less than 5 weight % based on the total weight of the copolymer; the organic particle A and the organic particle B each having an average particle size of not more than 100 nm and a glass transition temperature of not less than 70° C., wherein the porous layer or the surface porous layer contains a compound having a polyvalent metal element.

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 substrate having thereon: i) a subbing layer of a polymeric binder and a borate or a borate derivative, the borate or borate derivative being present in an amount of from up to about 3 g/m2, and the weight ratio of the polymeric binder to the borate or borate derivative is from about 0.2:1 to about 3:1; and ii) an image-receiving layer of inorganic particles and a cross-linkable polymer containing hydroxyl groups, the cross-linkable polymer being present in an amount of less than about 50 g/m2, and the weight ratio of the cross-linkable polymer to the inorganic particles is from about 5:95 to about 30:70; C) loading the printer with an inkjet ink composition; and D) printing on the image-receiving layer using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in an ink-jet recording material in which at least two ink-receptive layers containing inorganic fine particles and a hydrophilic binder are provided on a support, an ink-jet recording material wherein an ink-receptive layer (A) nearer to the support contains fumed silica, and an ink-receptive layer (B) apart from the support contains alumina or alumina hydrate is provided.

Abstract: An improved ink jet recording element is disclosed comprising a subbed polyester support, and an ink receiver layer containing a cationic compound, characterized in that between said support and said ink receiver layer there is an additional adhesion promoting layer present comprising a binder and a cationically modified silica.

Abstract: An ink jet inkjet receiver layer on a substrate consists of at least two layers of similar composition of binder and pigment, except that the layer next to the substrate has a smaller pigment/binder ratio versus the layer laid on top of it. Multiple layers making up the gradient are included.

Abstract: A print medium having a heat-sealable layer comprised of a first component and a second component. The first component and the second component have different particle sizes and different glass transition temperatures. A method of producing the print medium is also disclosed. The print medium is used to produce a photographic-quality image by applying inkjet ink to the print medium. The heat-sealable layer of the print medium is sealed by exposing the layer to a temperature above the glass transition temperatures of the two components. An inkjet printer used to apply inkjet ink to the print medium may include a radiant heater.

Abstract: An ink recording element having a support having thereon a hydrophilic absorbing layer, an inner layer of a poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer, and a polymeric overcoat layer of a cellulose ether.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording material comprising a support material and at least a lower and an upper pigment-containing layer wherein the pigment of the upper layer is present in two particle size distributions (A, B) and one particle size distribution (A) is in the range of 10 to 100 nm and the other particle size distribution (B) is in the range of 1,000 to 3,000 nm, and wherein the pigment of the upper layer is different from the pigment of the lower layer and wherein the average particle size of the pigment of the upper layer is different from the average particle size of the pigment of the lower layer.

Abstract: The present invention describes a transfer system of images produced by an ink jet printer to a textile substrate, comprising a backing and mounted thereon at least one melt transfer ink absorption layer with a matrix comprising at least one meltable polymer material into which fine particles of a filler capable of ink absorption have been embedded.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording paper is disclosed. The ink-jet recording paper has a support and a porous ink receiving layer comprising fine filler particles having an average particle diameter of from 5 to 100 nm, and the ink receiving layer contains a polymer particle dispersion of a cationic or nonionic polymer having a glass transition point of from ?30° C. to 40° C. and an average particle diameter of from 1 nm to 50 nm.

Abstract: Ink-receiving print media products capable of producing high quality printed images which are light-fast, humid-fast, have low coalescence (graininess) levels, and are characterized by other beneficial attributes. The print media products have at least one ink-receiving layer supported by a substrate. The ink-receiving layer includes a binder blend designed to achieve the aforementioned goals, namely, gelatin, a poly(vinyl alcohol-polyethylene oxide) copolymer, and a poly((styrene)-(n-butyl acrylate)-(methyl methacrylate)-(2-(tert-butylamino) ethyl methacrylate)) copolymer. One or more optional pigments and/or additional binders can also be included within the ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer may optionally be employed in combination with one or more additional material layers thereover or thereunder which can contain, for example, one or more pigments and/or binders.

Abstract: In a recording medium for a printer having a dye fixation layer mainly composed of an interlayer compound for receiving and holding a water-soluble dye by an intercalation reaction, and a binder, the ink is to be improved in ink absorption, fixation, water-proofness and bleeding characteristics to enable image formation to a high resolution. A dye fixation layer, mainly composed of an interlayer compound for fixing and holding the water-soluble dye by the intercalation reaction derived from the ion exchange action and the binder is formed as an outermost layer on a substrate 2. The binder of the dye fixation layer contains an urethanated polyvinyl alcohol resin having an urethanation ratio of 1 to 20 mol %.

Abstract: A recording sheet adaptable to print an image using pigment ink, on which a smear is hardly generated, is provided. A recording sheet includes an ink permeable layer prepared by adding 3-30 parts by weight of a nonionic surfactant including an amine compound as a main component to 30 parts by weight of a water-insoluble component including an inorganic filler and a binder as main components. Ink applied on such an ink permeable layer is directly absorbed into the layer in a depth direction without dispersing in a lateral direction. Therefore, any smear (banding) is hardly generated on a printed image formed on the recording sheet using ink.

Abstract: An ink jet recording medium comprising a water-impermeable substrate, a first porous layer formed on the substrate, and a second porous layer formed on the first porous layer, wherein the psychometric lightness (L*) at a black solid printed portion with a black dye ink is at most 5.0.

Abstract: An image transfer assembly (12) receives an image printed from an ink jet printer. The assembly (12) provides a device to transfer the printed image onto an image-receiving surface. The assembly (12) has a flexible substrate (16) on one side, and an upper surface (20) on the other side that is substantially permeable to ink jet printer ink and that is non-tacky prior to printing. The assembly (12) has an adhesive or polymer layer (14) in between the upper surface (20) and the flexible substrate (16). After printing with a water-based ink jet printer ink, the user may apply the assembly (12) to a substrate, such as a window or other surface, and remove the flexible substrate (16), thereby leaving the layer (14) that bears the image on the substrate. In one of several alternative embodiments, the layer (14) is divided into discrete zones that are separated from one another along boundaries.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element having a support having thereon in order: a) at least one porous, ink-retaining layer; and b) a fusible, porous ink-transporting layer of a film-forming, hydrophobic binder and fusible, polymeric particles of a cellulose ester.

Abstract: The invention provides a porous resin film having a good absorption of water content as a solvent for aqueous ink or aqueous paste and a recording medium comprising the porous resin film. The recording medium is characterized by the capability of absorbing an ink without density unevenness even during ink jet recording if the ejected amount of ink is great. The invention lies in a porous resin film comprising: a thermoplastic resin in an amount of 30 to 90% by weight; and an inorganic and/or organic finely divided powder in an amount of 10 to 70% by weight, wherein the inorganic and/or organic finely divided powder is surface-treated with a surface treating agent (A) made of a copolymer of diallylamine salt or alkyl diallylamine salt (a1) with a nonionic hydrophilic vinyl monomer (a2) and an anionic surface treating agent (B), and the porous resin film has a liquid absorption capacity of not smaller than 0.5 ml/m2 as measured by “Japan TAPPI No. 51-87”.

Abstract: High gloss ink jet recording media are produced without need for calendering or supercalendering. The media are comprised of a substrate, such as paper, an ink carrier vehicle absorptive coating on the substrate and an ink-receptive coating overlying the absorptive coating. The absorptive coating is made up in major part of a pigment component that is comprised in major part, i.e., 60-100%, and preferably 100%, of calcined clay. The absorptive coating is applied to the substrate at a thickness sufficient to provide a smooth and level surface. The ink receptive coating is porous and made up of constituents that provide requisite ink holdout and print quality functions and that, when applied to the absorptive coating, also provide a high gloss print surface without calendering or supercalendering. The recording media have exceptionally quick ink drying times and provide excellent high-gloss print quality.

Abstract: The present invention provides an amorphous porous inorganic substance having small particle sizes and uniform pores, a process for synthesizing the same, and use of the same. The invention provides an amorphous porous inorganic substance having pores of a uniform pore diameter, which has an average particle size DL of 10 to 400 nm as measured by a dynamic light scattering method and a specific surface area difference, SB−SL, between a conversion specific surface area SL calculated from DL and a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area SB obtained by the BET method, of 250 m2/g or more. A process for synthesizing the same and use of the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides a gloss-coated electrophotographic paper with superior runnability and print quality in colour and monochrome copiers and printers. The coated paper product comprises a paper substrate coated on at least one side with a pigmented coating. The pigment coating consists of a mixture of at least three different pigments and a binder. The coating may further include a lubricant. Optionally, the coating formulation may contain an optical brightening agent, a defoamer and a thickener. In addition, the gloss coated electrophotographic paper of this invention provides a superior toner adhesion in colour and monochrome electrophotographic imaging applications.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording sheet comprising a support and an ink-absorbable layer is disclosed. The ink-absorbable layer is a void layer containing fine inorganic particles having a dispersion degree of no more than 2 and a hydrophilic binder. The ink-jet recording sheet has a specular gloss specified by JIS Z8741, of at least 20 percent at 60 degrees of the surface of said ink absorbable layer, and exhibits the specular gloss such that 60-degree specular gloss of an ink-recorded part is 3 percent more than that of a nonink-recorded part.

Abstract: Provided is a recording medium provided with an ink-receiving layer on at least one surface of a substrate, wherein said ink-receiving layer is composed of a porous layer comprising pigment particles and mutually fused thermoplastic resin particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink-jet printing sheet which comprises a support and at least one ink-receptive layer provided on the support, wherein at least one of the ink-receptive layer contains silica fine particles having an average primary particle diameter of 20 nm or less and at least one water-soluble polyvalent metal compound.

Abstract: An inkjet recording element having a support having thereon in order: (I) a base layer of at least about 50% by weight of inorganic particles; and (II) an image-receiving layer of: (a) colloidal, inorganic oxide particles having a mean particle size of from about 10 to about 500 nm; and (b) water-insoluble, cationic, polymeric particles having a benzyldimethyl benzylammonium moiety.

Abstract: An ink jet recording medium is provided which can be excellent in the ink-absorbing property, showing a high coloring property of images, and capable of printing images of a high image quality without causing color unevenness even by bidirectional printing using a high-resolution printer. An ink jet recording medium in the case of carrying out bidirectional printing using a printer of a serial system wherein inks of at least two colors are mounted in carriages and the nozzle row is disposed in parallel with the main scanning direction of a head, wherein the recording medium comprises a base material and an ink-receiving layer, the ink-receiving layer has an average ink-absorbing capacity of from 10 to 30 cc/cm2, and the contact angle of the uppermost surface layer of the ink-receiving layer is from 20 to 60 degree to an ink having a surface tension of from 25 to 72 dyn/cm, is also provided.

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: The present invention comprises an ink recording element comprising a support having thereon at least one ink receiving layer, the layer comprising wrinkled particles. The present invention also includes a method of forming a print comprising providing an ink recording element comprising at least one ink receiving layer capable of accepting an ink image, the layer comprising wrinkled particles and printing on the ink recording element utilizing a printer.

Abstract: A thermal transfer image-receiving sheet is provided which can realize composite recording on both sides of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet by image formation respectively by means of a sublimation dye thermal transfer method and, in addition, by printing means different from the sublimation dye thermal transfer method. The thermal transfer image-receiving sheet comprises: a substrate; a first recording layer provided on one side of the substrate, an image being formable on the first recording layer by a sublimation dye thermal transfer method; and a second recording layer provided on the other side of the substrate and comprising a combination of two or more layers, the second recording layer permitting recording to be made by printing means other than the sublimation dye thermal transfer method, whereby composite recording can be made on both sides of the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet respectively by a plurality of types of image forming means.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording medium having, on a base material, a porous resin layer containing water-dispersible resin particles B having a minimum film-forming temperature of not lower than 0° C., and water-dispersible resin particles A having a minimum film-forming temperature higher than the film-forming temperature of the water-dispersible resin particles B and having an average particle size larger than the average particle size of the water-dispersible resin particles B.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element having a support having thereon in order: a) at least one porous, ink-retaining layer, and b) a fusible, porous ink-transporting layer of fusible, polymeric particles and a film-forming, hydrophobic binder.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording medium comprising a base material and an ink-receiving layer provided thereon. The ink-receiving layer comprises an upper layer containing an aluminum-based pigment and a lower layer containing an aluminum-based pigment having a BET specific surface area larger than that of the aluminum-based pigment contained in the upper layer.

Abstract: Ink-receiving print media products capable of producing high quality printed images which are light-fast, humid-fast, have low coalescence (graininess) levels, and are characterized by other beneficial attributes. The print media products have at least one ink-receiving layer supported by a substrate. The ink-receiving layer includes a binder blend designed to achieve the aforementioned goals, namely, gelatin, a poly(vinyl alcohol-polyethylene oxide) copolymer, and a poly((styrene)-(n-butyl acrylate)-(methyl methacrylate)-(2-(tert-butylamino) ethyl methacrylate)) copolymer. One or more optional pigments and/or additional binders can also be included within the ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer may optionally be employed in combination with one or more additional material layers thereover or thereunder which can contain, for example, one or more pigments and/or binders.