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: A recording sheet for use on a digital press includes either insoluble aluminium trihydrate in the base paper or magnesium sulphate at the surface. According to a second aspect of the invention, the recording sheet includes a paper substrate having a surface treatment including a water soluble cationic substance and a water soluble binder substance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaged article comprising a substrate having a primed surface layer. The primed surface layer is comprised of a base polymer having a solubility parameter, molecular weight (Mw) and glass transition temperature within a specified range. The presence of the primer improves the overall image quality by improving at least one property including ink uptake, dot gain, color density and/or ink adhesion. Preferred primer compositions are soluble at least in part in the ink composition resulting in an increase in ink layer thickness that further improves the durability and/or day/night color balance. A variety of substrates may be primed including various sheeting for traffic control signage and commercial graphic films for advertising and promotional displays.

Abstract: A white biaxially oriented polyester film for use as a base film for receiving an ink jet printer image and a base film for receiving an ink jet printer image which satisfy the following requirements (1) to (4): (1) the content of titanium oxide particles having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.5 ?m in the polyester film is 5 to 20 wt %; (2) the polyester film has an average glossiness of 65 to 95%; (3) the polyester film has an X-ray diffraction intensity ratio (F-1/F-2) represented by the following formal (1): 0.05?F-1/F-2?0.15 (1) ?wherein (F-1) is an X-ray diffraction intensity on a plane (1{overscore (1)}0) parallel to the surface of the film and (F-2) is an X-ray diffraction intensity on a plane (100) parallel to the surface of the film; and (4) the polyester film has a static friction coefficient of 0.3 to 0.6. The base film for receiving an ink jet printer image of the present invention is excellent in adhesion, glossiness, opacifying properties and transportability.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising cationic colloidal silicas and ink jet recording sheets prepared from such coatings is described. The coating comprises binder and polydispersed cationic colloidal silica. The cationic colloidal silica preferably has an average particle size in the range of about 1 to about 300 nanometers. It has been discovered that if a cationic polydispersed colloidal silica is employed in a glossy coating formulation, the coating provides a specular gloss of at least 30 at 60° C., even at a relatively high silica solids to binder solids ratio of 1:1 or greater, but also a coating having good to excellent printability characteristics.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising a relatively low alkali-containing colloidal silica and glossy ink jet recording sheets prepared from such coatings is described. The coating comprises binder and colloidal silica, e.g., having an average particle size in the range of about 1 to about 300 nanometers. The low alkali colloidal silica of this invention comprises ammonia, polydispersed colloidal silica, or both. Polydispersed silicas having a particle size distribution such that the median particle size is in the range of 15 to 100 nanometers and 80% of the particles span a range of at least about 30 to about 70 nanometers are preferred. It has been discovered that coatings prepared from such colloidal silica and applied to conventional ink jet recording sheet supports have a specular gloss of at least 30 at 60° C., and excellent printability at silica solids to binder solids ratio of 1:1 or greater.

Abstract: An ink jet recording sheet is provided which on recording produces an image with excellent gloss, and which is capable of producing a vivid full color image with a high print density. The ink jet recording sheet comprises a support, and an ink receiving layer containing ?-alumina provided on top of this support, wherein the ink receiving layer contains at least 20% by weight of ?-alumina. The ink receiving layer may also contain ?-alumina and/or ?-alumina. Furthermore, the ink receiving layer preferably contains from 65 to 97% by weight of the alumina mixture.

Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording sheet suitable for outdoor use, the recording sheet giving rise to no blurring of an image, being provided with an ink receiving layer and a print portion having high water-resistance and excellent abrasive resistance in a wet condition while maintaining color developing ability and ink-fixing ability and having excellent color reproducibility and light resistance.

Abstract: A substrate for ink-jet printing which is coated or impregnated with a water dissipatable nitrile polymer having a Mn of less than 25,000 comprising 5 to 70% w/w of nitrile monomers. Also processes for ink-jet printing and printed substrates.

Abstract: A recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer, said recording element containing core-shell particles wherein said core comprises an inorganic or organic particle and said shell comprises an organosilane or a hydrolyzed organosilane derived from a compound having the formula: Si(OR)aZb wherein R is hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; Z is an alkyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or aryl group having from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, with at least one of said Z's having at least one primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary nitrogen atom; a is an integer from 1 to 3; and b is an integer from 1 to 3; with the proviso that a+b=4; and with the further proviso that the amount of organosilane shell material is such that Ratio R, which is the number of micromoles of organosilane used to shell the core particle

Abstract: This invention related to an intermediate transfer member for electrophotography that includes a substrate; and a polymeric layer on said substrate wherein the polymeric layer comprises an organic titanate and a polymer selected from the group consisting of fluorosilicone, silicone, and a combination thereof.

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: The invention relates to articles comprising a substrate comprising an ink receptive layer and an ink-jet printed image as well as methods of ink jet printing. The ink receptive layer comprises certain urethane-containing polymers and blends.

Abstract: A transfix member comprising a heating member and a component film having a surface layer and a polymer matrix layer, wherein the polymer matrix layer contains a polymer and small molecules, and the polymer matrix layer is designed to allow the small molecules to diffuse through the polymer matrix to the surface layer upon the application of pressure or heat to the component film.

Abstract: A transfer capable of applying one- or multi-colored patterns to textiles under heat and pressure comprises a carrier sheet (1) having a non-binding surface which carries (a) a one- or multi-colored pattern (5) printed on the carrier sheet using a digitally controlled color printer; (b) a transparent (6) or white-pigmented (7) elastomer layer of a polymer having a high plasticizing point printed configuratively on the pattern (5); and (c) a heat-activatable thermoplastic polymeric glue layer (8) printed configuratively on the transparent (6) or white-pigmented (7) elastomer layer or a heat-activatable hot melt granulate sprinkled on the elastomer layer while said layer was still wet. An even better encapsulation of the colored pattern is obtained when the carrier sheet has printed thereon a first transparent elastomer layer of a polymer having a high plasticizing point, and the pattern is printed on this elastomer layer using a digitally controlled color printer.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to the thermal transfer overcoating of images printed on porous media, and methods of overcoating images printed on porous media. Upon use of the systems and methods of the present invention, a thermally coated print is generated that can comprise a porous media substrate having printed thereon a digitally produced image. The digitally produced image and the porous media substrate is thermally coated by an adhesive protective layer, wherein the adhesive protective layer has a tangent d that is greater than 1 and melt viscosity less than 1×105 Pa.·sec. as applied above its phase transition temperature. Thus, the voids in the porous media substrate can be substantially filled, and further, substantially no tags remain on the print.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a print medium with improved resistance to airfade. The print medium is coated with a high molecular weight additive having low volatility. The high molecular weight additive is a monomeric or oligomeric compound that has a molecular weight of greater than approximately 1000. The high molecular weight additive is a hindered amine light stabilizer or a fixative. The present invention also relates to a method of producing a print medium with improved airfastness. The method comprises coating a print medium with a high molecular weight additive having low volatility. An image is then printed on the coated print medium and subjected to at least one atmospheric gas. The airfastness of the printed image is measured and compared to the airfastness of an image printed on an uncoated print medium.

Abstract: The present method is drawn to the creation of fast-drying, photo-quality images with an ink-jet inks. The method comprises the steps of providing a inorganic porous media substrate, providing an aqueous ink-jet ink comprising an ink vehicle and an effective amount of a metallized dye having at least one heterocyclic nitrogen ring and an azo bond wherein the heterocyclic nitrogen is chelated or complexed to a transition metal, and jetting the aqueous ink-jet ink onto the inorganic porous media substrate.

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: Ink-receiving print media products having multiple capabilities including (A) minimal drying time; (B) improved smear-fastness; (C) a high level of water-fastness; (D) the ability to generate high-definition images; and (E) excellent ink compatibility. The media products have at least one ink-receiving layer on a substrate (e.g. paper pre-coated with one or more binders and/or pigments). The ink-receiving layer includes a pigment (boehmite, pseudo-boehmite, or mixtures thereof) optimally combined with a special binder blend [polyvinyl alcohol, a poly(vinyl acetate-ethylene) copolymer, and a poly(vinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate) copolymer]. Also included is a special dye fixative (namely, a cationic emulsion polymer) which provides enhanced water-fastness. This fixative is of a particular type (a quaternary amine) that also allows high pigment levels to be employed (at least about 65% by weight) which further promotes the foregoing benefits.