Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for ink jet printing. The method includes providing a wetting enhancement coating on a transfer member. The wetting enhancement coating (WEC) includes water, an acid treated, waxy maize cationic starch, a humectant and a surfactant. The wetting enhancement coating is dried or semi-dried to form a film. Ink droplets are ejected onto the film to form an ink image on the film. The ink image is dried and the ink image and film are transferred to a recording medium.

Abstract: A process for preparing a coated image and a recording medium with a coated image thereon. The coated image includes a solid ink image prepared with solid ink and an overcoat that at least partially covers the solid ink image. An aqueous overcoat composition for application to a solid ink image containing at least one latex emulsion, at least one polymer wax or wax emulsion, and at least one co-binder.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sacrificial coating compositions comprising at least one polymer chosen from polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, a wax emulsion comprising at least one wax, at least one surfactant, at least one hygroscopic agent, and water. In certain embodiments, the at least one wax in the wax emulsion has a melting point approaching but just below the ink transfer temperature, such as, for example, a melting point ranging from about 50° C. to about 150° C. Also disclosed herein is a blanket material suitable for transfix printing comprising a sacrificial coating composition, as well as an indirect printing process comprising a step of applying a sacrificial coating composition to a blanket material.

Abstract: A transfix surface member for use in aqueous ink jet printer comprises a substrate. A conformance layer is disposed on the substrate layer. A surface layer comprising a siloxane polymer network is on the conformance layer. The siloxane polymer network comprises a plurality of diphenylsiloxane moieties and a plurality of polar moieties, the diphenylsiloxane moieties and polar moieties being bonded to the siloxane polymer network by one or more siloxane linkages. An indirect printing apparatus employing the transfix surface member is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sacrificial coating composition for an image transfer member in an aqueous ink imaging system. The sacrificial coating composition comprises a latex comprising polymer particles dispersed in a continuous liquid phase; at least one hygroscopic material; at least one surfactant; and water.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition including an amorphous compound; a crystalline compound; a polyester polymer, wherein the polyester has a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 8,000 and a polydispersity index of from about 1.0 to about 8.0; an optional synergist; an optional dispersant; and a colorant. A process including (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus the phase change ink composition; (2) melting the ink; and (3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate. An ink jet printer stick or pellet including the phase change ink composition.

Abstract: A transfix blanket for a printer may include a substrate layer. A conformance layer may be disposed at least partially on the substrate layer. An adhesive layer may be disposed at least partially on the conformance layer. At least one of the conformance layer and the adhesive layer may include a plurality of infrared reflective pigments. A topcoat layer may be disposed at least partially on the adhesive layer. The topcoat may include an infrared absorptive material.

Abstract: According to an embodiment a method of making a fuser member is described. The method includes, obtaining a silicone layer disposed on a substrate and coating a primer composition including an aqueous dispersion of a fluorelastomer and a curing agent on the silicone layer. A topcoat composition is coated on the primer composition which includes a fluoroplastic dispersion. The primer composition and the topcoat composition are heated to form the fuser member.

Abstract: Provided is a coating composition for an image transfer member in an aqueous ink imaging system. The coating composition can include at least one hydrophilic polymer, at least one of hygroscopic plasticizer, at least one surfactant, and water.

Abstract: A coating composition for an image transfer member in an aqueous ink imaging system is disclosed. The coating composition comprises: at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of i) polyvinyl alcohol and ii) a copolymer of vinyl alcohol and alkene monomers; at least one hygroscopic material; and at least one surfactant. An indirect printing apparatus and an indirect printing process employing the coating composition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A transfix surface member for use in aqueous ink jet printer comprises a substrate. A conformance layer is disposed on the substrate layer. A surface layer comprising a siloxane polymer network is on the conformance layer. The siloxane polymer network comprises a plurality of diphenylsiloxane moieties and a plurality of polar moieties, the diphenylsiloxane moieties and polar moieties being bonded to the siloxane polymer network by one or more siloxane linkages. An indirect printing apparatus employing the transfix surface member is also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for ink jet printing. The method includes providing a wetting enhancement coating on a transfer member. The wetting enhancement coating (WEC) includes water, an acid treated, waxy maize cationic starch, a humectant and a surfactant. The wetting enhancement coating is dried or semi-dried to form a film. Ink droplets are ejected onto the film to form an ink image on the film. The ink image is dried and the ink image and film are transferred to a recording medium.

Abstract: An indirect printing apparatus can include an intermediate transfer member, at least one jetting nozzle of a printhead positioned proximate the intermediate transfer member for jetting sacrificial coating composition droplets imagewise onto the intermediate transfer member, a drying station, at least one ink jet nozzle positioned proximate the intermediate transfer member, an ink processing station, and a substrate transfer mechanism. The drying station can be configured for drying the sacrificial coating composition to form a sacrificial coating pattern on the intermediate transfer member. The at least one ink jet nozzle can be configured for jetting ink droplets onto the sacrificial coating formed on the intermediate transfer member. The ink processing station can be configured to at least partially dry the ink on the sacrificial coating formed on the intermediate transfer member. The substrate transfer mechanism can be configured for moving a substrate into contact with the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: Described herein is a transfer member for use in aqueous ink jet printer. The transfer member includes a surface layer of a cross-linked polydiphenylsiloxane network formed from a silanol terminated dialkylsiloxane-diphenylsiloxane copolymer and a trialkoxy- or trihydroxysilane terminated polydialkylsiloxane. The diphenylsiloxane moieties are from about 5 weight percent to about 80 weight percent of the network. The trialkoxy- or trihydroxysilane terminated polydialkylsiloxane are from about 1 weight percent to about 60 weight percent of the network. All silane molecules are bonded together via silicon oxide (Si—O—Si) linkages in a single system. The network is insoluble in solvents selected from the group consisting of: ketones, chlorinated solvents and ethers.

Abstract: A transfix blanket for a printer may include a substrate layer. A conformance layer may be disposed at least partially on the substrate layer. An adhesive layer may be disposed at least partially on the conformance layer. At least one of the conformance layer and the adhesive layer may include a plurality of infrared reflective pigments. A topcoat layer may be disposed at least partially on the adhesive layer. The topcoat may include an infrared absorptive material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printing system is described having a first printer including a fuser employing fuser oil, and a coater disposed upstream or downstream from the first printer and being configured to deposit a wax coating on a portion of the substrate. A corresponding method and a substrate also are described. The system, method and substrate are useful for preparing MICR encoded documents such as checks.

Abstract: A composition including a stimulus-responsive polymer, a base polymer and a catalyst, wherein the surface free energy of the stimulus-responsive polymer is reversibly adjustable from a first surface free energy state to a second surface free energy state when heated to an activation temperature, and wherein the base polymer does not include a platinum catalyst is described. A method of preparing the composition and a method of adjusting a surface free energy of the composition is also described.

Abstract: A composition including a stimulus-responsive polymer, a base polymer and a catalyst, wherein the surface free energy of the stimulus-responsive polymer is reversibly adjustable from a first surface free energy state to a second surface free energy state when heated to an activation temperature, and wherein the base polymer does not include a platinum catalyst is described. A method of preparing the composition and a method of adjusting a surface free energy of the composition is also described.

Abstract: A phase change ink composition is disclosed. The phase change ink composition comprises a crystalline component and an amorphous component. At a temperature ranging from about 40° C. to about 80° C., the phase change ink simultaneously exhibits (i) a static force ranging from about 2 N to about 4.5 N, and (ii) a storage modulus ranging from about 300 MPa to about 700 Mpa. The crystalline component is not a wax. A method of predicting spreading performance of a phase change ink is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes forming a film over a printed image on a substrate, the film includes a print overcoat composition having a binder that includes an aqueous vinylacetate-ethylene copolymer emulsion, (1) a particulate additive as a dispersion or emulsion, (2) a co-binder, or (3) both, and a surfactant, the film provides wear and scratch resistance to the printed image.