Abstract: The present invention features processes and compositions for producing a metallic-looking image on a substrate having a reflective or luminescent surface. The process utilizes an opaque coating composition containing an opaque coating agent comprising a mixture of a polyacid and a polybase. When applied to a light-emitting, reflective or luminescent substrate, the opaque coating composition at least partially masks the light-emitting reflective or luminescent surface of the substrate, but becomes increasingly translucent or transparent when contacted with a recording liquid such as an ink, revealing the light-emitting, reflective or luminescent surface.

Abstract: The present invention features novel methods and compositions for coating textile substrates, wherein the coating compositions are composed of a coating agent selected from one of (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, and (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. Textile substrates coated with the compositions provide high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent in the textile coating composition. Images printed on a textile substrate coated with a coating composition of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), detergent-resistant (e.g., detergent-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.

Abstract: The present invention features novel methods and compositions for coating textile substrates, wherein the coating compositions are composed of a coating agent selected from one of (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, and (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. Textile substrates coated with the compositions provide high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent in the textile coating composition. Images printed on a textile substrate coated with a coating composition of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), detergent-resistant (e.g., detergent-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.

Abstract: The present invention features compositions and methods for improving the quality of images printed on a substrate. The novel image-enhancing compositions contain an image-enhancing agent comprising a mixture of a polyacid and a polybase. When applied to a substrate, the compositions provide for high quality printed images when the treated substrate is printed on with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the image-enhancing agent. Images printed on a substrate treated with the image-enhancing compositions of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), and/or are characterized by enhanced chroma and hue.

Abstract: The present invention features coating compositions and methods for improving the quality of images printed on a paper substrate. The novel coating compositions contain a coating agent comprising a mixture of a polyacid and a polybase. When applied to a sized paper substrate, the coating compositions provide a coated paper substrate that provides high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent. Images printed on a paper substrate coated with the coating composition of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.

Abstract: The present invention features coating compositions and methods for improving the quality of images printed on a paper substrate. The novel coating compositions contain a coating agent selected from one of (a) an azetidinium polymer, (b) a guanidine polymer, (c) a mixture of an azetidinium polymer and a guanidine polymer, and (d) a copolymer of an azetidinium monomer and a guanidine monomer. When applied to a sized paper substrate, the coating compositions provide a coated paper substrate that provides high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the coating agent. Images printed on a paper substrate coated with the coating composition of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for the sizing of paper, to enhance the quality of images printed thereon. The novel sizing compositions contain as a sizing agent a mixture of a polyacid and a polybase. When applied to a paper substrate, such as in an internal or external sizing process, the sizing compositions result in a sized paper substrate that provides high quality printed images when printed with an ink containing a reactive dye having ionizable and/or nucleophilic groups capable of reacting with the sizing agent. Images printed on a paper substrate coated with the sizing compositions of the invention are bleed-resistant, water-resistant (e.g., water-fast), and/or are characterized by an enhanced chroma and hue.

Abstract: Water-based, water-fast ink compositions are provided. The compositions contain an aqueous liquid vehicle, a colorant, e.g., a pigment, dye or stain, and a binder material capable of ionically or physically entrapping the selected colorant. The binder material contains two ionically associated components which form a matrix, and comprises either a combination of a monomeric polyacid and a monomeric polybase, or a combination of a basic polymer and an organic acid.

Abstract: Water-based, water-fast ink compositions are provided. The compositions contain an aqueous liquid vehicle, a colorant, e.g., a pigment, dye or stain, and a binder material capable of ionically or physically entrapping the selected colorant. Certain novel polymers are provided as well.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided in which a coating is deposited onto a substrate by a process which includes the following steps: depositing a precursor onto the substrate in a desired pattern; depositing an appropriate ligand onto the substrate; and applying sufficient energy to transfer electrons from the ligand to the precursor, thereby decomposing the precursor to form a precipitate. In one aspect of preferred embodiments, the precursor comprises a metallic salt, and the precipitate comprises a metal. Especially preferred salts are carboxylates, halides, nitrates, and pseudo halides. In another aspect of preferred embodiments, the ligand comprises an amine, an amide, a phosphine, a sulfide, or any other ligand containing nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur or other donor atoms. In another aspect of preferred embodiments, the energy is supplied at least partially as radiant heat.

Abstract: Novel devices for providing shielding from and absorption of broadband electromagnetic radiation, and methods of manufacturing and using these devices, are disclosed. The device is comprised of a perforated electrical absorbing layer, containing conductive polymers, laminated to a metal plate. Additional layers may be incorporated into the device including one or more additional layers of electrical absorbing layers, magnetic absorbing layers and impedance matching layers.

Abstract: Water-based, water-fast ink compositions are provided. The compositions contain an aqueous liquid vehicle, a colorant, e.g., a pigment, dye or stain, and a binder material capable of ionically or physically entrapping the selected colorant. Certain novel polymers are provided as well.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for forming a layer of palladium on a substrate, comprising:preparing a solution of a palladium precursor, wherein the palladium precursor consists ofPd(OOCR.sup.1).sub.m (OOCR.sup.2).sub.nwhereinR.sup.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, --R.sup.3 COOH, alkyl from 1 to 5 carbons substituted with one or two hydroxyl groups,R.sup.2 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, --R.sup.3 COOH, alkyl from 1 to 5 carbon atoms substituted with one or two hydroxyl groups, --CHO,R.sup.3 is alkyl, and alkyl groups from 1 to 5 carbon atoms substituted with one or two hydroxyl groupsm and n are real numbers or fractions, and m+n=2;applying the palladium precursor to the surface of the substrate;decomposing the palladium precursor by subjecting the precursor to heat.

Abstract: Water-based, water-fast ink compositions are provided. The compositions contain an aqueous liquid vehicle, a colorant, e.g., a pigment, dye or stain, and a binder material capable of ionically or physically entrapping the selected colorant. The binder material contains two ionically associated components which form a matrix, and comprises either a combination of a monomeric polyacid and a monomeric polybase, or a combination of a basic polymer and an organic acid.

Abstract: There is provided an ink jet ink comprising a binder, a colourant, a liquid vehicle and an adhesion promoter, the adhesion promoter being an alkoxysilane polyalkylene-imine containing repeat units of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.5 represents a bond to another nitrogen atom and R.sup.4 represents a bond to another carbon atom or a hydrogen atom; a is from 1 to 8; b is 1 to 8; c is from 1 to 6; at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy group and any of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 which are not alkoxy groups are C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl groups and p is 1 or more, and x is 1-50.

Abstract: A composite of selectively removable layers of silk screen printing ink above a base layer serving as a substrate or receptor surface. The silk screen printing inks have compositions allowing them to be permanent, selectively removed with water and selectively removed with water and detergent as a washing compound. The composite is used for selectively altering the graphic or artistic presentation of a sales or promotional item so as to reveal a hidden message underneath or simply to alter or eliminate all or portions of the presentation.

Abstract: Novel polymers for rendering a nonconductive material conductive are disclosed. The polymers may be block copolymers comprised of a first block of polyoxazine or polyoxazoline and a second block comprising a thioether linkage-containing polyalkylene glycol or ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, X and P are as defined herein or an oxazoline polymer with pendant chains consisting of polyethylene oxide and polythioether. Composites of a nonconductive materials and the novel antielectrostatic polymers, uses of these composite materials, as well as methods for rendering nonconductive materials conductive by incorporating therein an antielectrostatic polymer are also disclosed.

Abstract: Fullerene-functionalized amine-containing polymers and polymerizable monomers are disclosed characterized by high temperature stability, i.e., capable of withstanding a temperature of at least about 300.degree. C., and in some instances as high as 650.degree. C., when in polymerized form. The fullerene groups are bonded to the polymers through the amine groups on the polymer. In some instances enhanced mechanical properties also result and, in the case of cross-linked polymers, a composite can be formed from such materials which is structurally reinforced at the molecular level, with the fullerene groups acting as the molecular level structural reinforcement.

Abstract: A reaction of the compound (A) having at least two 2-oxazoline groups with the compound (B) having at least two functional groups of one or a plural kind selected from the group consisting of an aromatic hydroxyl group, an amino group and a thiol group proceeds in a short period of time to produce a cured resin with superior mechanical strength, heat resistance and adhesion properties.