Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing the gas barrier properties of substrates such as materials used in packaging, by applying a composition comprising a vinyl alcohol/vinyl amide copolymer, a cross linker and, optionally, a diacrylate or other polyacrylate and a photo initiator to the material and curing the composition by irradiation with UV light, visible light, IR irradiation and/or electron beam or by exposure to heat. The method includes the optional step of subjecting the material to a low-temperature plasma discharge or a corona discharge prior to applying the composition. The method provides, for example, packaging materials, such as, flexible packaging materials such as plastic films producing packaging materials with excellent gas barrier properties, for example oxygen barrier properties, which are readily printed upon.

Abstract: The invention relates to poly(vinylalcohol)-co-poly(vinylamine) copolymers represented as formula (I), where B is greater than or equal to 1, L is independently of each other a chemical linking group which is —NH—, —N?, >N—, >N++<, —O— or —CO—, COPOLYMER is derived from a prepolymer of the formula (II) where R1 and R3 are independently H; 3-propionic acid or C1,-C6 alkyl ester thereof; or is 2-methyl-3-propionic acid or C1-C6 alkyl ester thereof, R2 and R4 are independently H or C1,-C6 alkyl, x+y+z is between about 3 and about 50 mole percent and q, n and m together make up the remainder of the mole percent, the indices x, y, z, n, m -and q independently may be 0, if q is not 0, b may also be 0.

Abstract: An ink jet recording media system is described which comprises at least one coating layer that comprises a zwitterionic polymer or oligomer. The media system exhibits excellent light fastness as well as good dry time and good image-forming properties.

Abstract: Provided is a UV-curable ink jet coating comprised of a copolymer or mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene oxide, and a water-soluble polymer which can act as an electron and/or proton donor, preferably containing at least one carbonyl group. The entire mixture is UV cured once coated onto a substrate thereby creating a matrix due to crosslinking between the water soluble polymer and the polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene oxide copolymer or mixture. The result is an ink receptive coating which will absorb many different ink jet inks very rapidly, while exhibiting high gloss. The ink jet medium thereby permits use with many different printers and inks.

Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording medium comprised of an ink jet receptive layer on a substrate. The ink receptive layer is comprised of a water soluble polymer and a radiation cured, water insoluble monomer and/or prepolymer. When both the water soluble polymer and the water insoluble monomer and/or prepolymer are cured, a coating is created which has a cage structure with the radiation cured, water insoluble monomer and/or prepolymer existing as a micelle within a water soluble polymer matrix. The resulting ink jet medium exhibits excellent water resistance and extremely high gloss.