Abstract: A method for making a porous ink jet recording element having a uniform, protective layer by coating on a support the following layers in order: a) a porous, image-receiving layer containing a diffusible coagulant; and b) a layer containing a dispersion of particles which are capable of forming a particle gel with a coagulant; c) the diffusible coagulant thereby diffusing into the layer containing the dispersion of particles, causing the layer to set to a particle gel; and d) drying the element to obtain a uniform, protective layer on top of the porous, image-receiving layer.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element, prior to image recording, comprising a substantially transparent support having thereon an image-recording layer comprising a polymeric binder, a colorant, and porous, colorless aggregates of particles having a primary particle size of from about 7 to about 40 nm in diameter and being aggregated up to about 300 nm.

Abstract: A method for correcting the performance of a continuous ink jet print head having a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzles each having an orifice, at least one of the nozzles being a malfunctioning nozzle, the method including: a) determining which nozzle of the nozzle plate is malfunctioning; b) applying a heat-activatable material over the surface of the nozzle plate; c) applying heat to the malfunctioning nozzle, thereby causing the heat-activatable material to flow into the orifice of the malfunctioning nozzle to block it; and d) removing any excess heat-activatable material.

Abstract: A microfluidic valve for controlling the flow of a material through a microfluidic channel comprising: a) a microfluidic channel comprising a passageway, b) a heater in contact with at least a portion of the microfluidic channel, c) a carrier fluid comprising the material and an amount of thermally-responsive material so that the carrier fluid can be thickened by heat from the heater to cause a reduction in flow of the carrier fluid through the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer comprising at least about 80% by weight of non-porous polymeric particles in a polymeric binder, the non-porous polymeric particles having a core/shell structure comprising a polymeric core covered with a shell of a water-soluble polymer.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method, comprising the steps of: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with ink-receptive elements comprising a substrate having thereon an image-receiving layer comprising an inorganic filler and coated particles comprising a polymeric hard core-polymeric soft shell latex, the Tg of the polymeric hard core material being greater than about 60° C., the Tg of the polymeric soft shell material being less than about 20° C., and the inorganic filler being present in the image-receiving layer in an amount of from about 50 to about 95% by weight; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition; and D) printing on the ink-receptive element using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer comprising non-porous polymeric particles in a polymeric binder, the non-porous polymeric particles being present in an amount of at least about 8 parts of particles per part of polymeric binder, and the non-porous polymeric particles having a degree of crosslinking of at least about 30 mole %.

Abstract: A process of forming a single color, ablation image having improved abrasion resistance having the following steps: a) imagewise-heating, by a laser, an ablative recording element having a support having thereon an image layer having a colorant dispersed in a polymeric binder, which causes the image layer to ablate imagewise, the image layer having a near infrared-absorbing material associated therewith to absorb at a given wavelength of the laser used to expose the element, the image dye or pigment absorbing in the region of from about 300 to about 700 nm; and b) laminating a coating having polymeric particles dispersed in a binder to the surface of the ablative image under heat and pressure so that the particles will fuse into a continuous overcoat layer.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process for improving the water-fastness of an ink jet image comprising: providing an ink jet recording element having a support having thereon an image-recording layer comprising a cross-linkable polymer of gelatin or acetoacetylated poly(vinyl alcohol) and a mordant; applying liquid ink droplets of an anionic, water-soluble dye on the image-recording layer in an image-wise manner; and applying an aqueous solution of a hardener to the image to cross-link the binder.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method, comprising 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 comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer comprising non-porous polymeric particles in a polymeric binder, the non-porous polymeric particles being present in an amount of at least about 8 parts of particles per part of polymeric binder, and the non-porous polymeric particles having a degree of crosslinking of at least about 30 mole %; 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: A nozzle plate for an ink jet printhead, the nozzle plate having the following layers in the order recited: a) a first monomolecular layer of an organic material having first and second functional groups, the first functional group of the first monomolecular layer being bound to the surface of the nozzle plate, and the second functional group of the first monomolecular layer being bound to a second monomolecular layer, and b) the second monomolecular layer of an organic material having first and second functional groups, the first functional group of the second monomolecular layer being bound to the second functional group of the first monomolecular layer, and the second functional group of the second monomolecular layer is an anti-wetting group.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process for improving the dye density and fixability of an ink jet image comprising: a) providing an ink jet recording element including a support having thereon an image-recording layer including a mixture of an anionic, addition polymer and a hydrophilic polymer; and b) applying droplets of a liquid ink on the image-recording layer in an image-wise manner, the ink including water, humectant and a water-soluble cationic or basic dye.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon at least one dye layer area comprising an image dye in a binder and another area comprising a transferable protection layer, the transferable protection layer area being approximately equal in size to the dye layer area, wherein the transferable protection layer comprises a binder and a UV-absorber comprising an oxide of antimony.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element including a support having thereon, in the order recited, a base layer including a hydrophilic material and a non-porous, ink-receptive top layer including a binder, mordant and polymeric particles, the particles having a particle size of less than about 0.5 &mgr;m and being present in an amount of from about 20 to about 50% by weight of the ink-receptive top layer.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process comprising the steps of; a) providing an ink jet printer in which a continuous stream of ink jet ink is emitted from a nozzle that is responsive to digital data signals; b) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element; c) loading the printer with an inkjet ink comprising a thermally-responsive polymeric material; and d) ejecting ink from a thermally-steered continuous ink jet print head onto one of the ink jet recording elements in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon at least one dye layer area comprising an image dye in a binder and another area comprising a transferable protection layer, the transferable protection layer area being approximately equal in size to the dye layer area, wherein the transferable protection layer contains inorganic particles, a polymeric binder and unexpanded synthetic thermoplastic polymeric microspheres, the microspheres having a particle size in the unexpanded condition of from about 5 to about 20 &mgr;m, and which expand to about 20 to about 120 &mgr;m upon application of heat during transfer of the protection layer to an image-receiving layer to provide a matte surface thereon, the microspheres comprising a mixture of low softening point microspheres and high softening point microspheres, the low softening point microspheres having a softening point less than about 105° C.

Abstract: An ink jet recording element comprising a support having thereon the following layers in the order recited: a) a hydrophilic absorbing layer comprising gelatin or poly(vinyl alcohol); b) an adhesion promoting layer comprising pectin or alginate; and c) a hydrophilic overcoat layer comprising hydroxyethyl cellulose.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process comprising the steps of; a) providing an ink jet printer in which a continuous stream of ink jet ink is emitted from a nozzle that is responsive to digital data signals; b) loading the printer with an ink jet recording element; c) loading the printer with an aqueous inkjet ink comprising water, a dye, a humectant, an organic solvent and a deflection-enhancing additive comprising a diethanolamine or 1-amino-2-propanol; and d) ejecting ink from a thermally-steered continuous ink jet print head onto one of the ink jet recording elements in response to the digital data signals.

Abstract: An ink jet printing process for improving the wet abrasion resistance of an ink jet image comprising: providing an ink jet recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-recording layer comprising a cross-linkable polymer of gelatin or acetoacetylated poly(vinyl alcohol) and a mordant; applying liquid ink droplets of a cationic, water-soluble dye on the image-recording layer in an image-wise manner; and applying an aqueous solution of an organic hardener or a sulfate of a trivalent metal to the image to cross-link the polymer.

Abstract: An ink jet printing method of the steps: A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals; B) loading the printer with ink-receptive substrates; C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition of from about 30 to about 90% by weight of water, from about 0.5 to about 30% by weight of a pigment, from about 0.125 to about 7.5% by weight of an anionic dispersant, from about 0.05 to about 2% by weight of an ethoxylated trimethylnonanol, and from about 10 to about 50% by weight of a humectant of a polyhydric alcohol; and D) printing on an ink-receptive substrate using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.