Abstract: This patent relates to an imaging member comprising a vacuous polymer base having adhered thereto an image formed on a transparent polymer sheet, wherein said vacuous polymer base has a density of less than 0.7 grams/cc and a modulus to density ratio of between 1500 and 4000 and wherein said image is in contact with said vacuous polymer base.

Abstract: A phosphor screen comprises an inorganic phosphor capable of absorbing X-rays and emitting electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength greater than 300 nm. The phosphor is disposed on a support that has a reflective substrate comprising a continuous poly(lactic acid) first phase and a second phase dispersed within the continuous poly(lactic acid) first phase. The second phase contains microvoids that in turn contain barium sulfate particles. This support provides improved reflectivity particularly at shorter wavelengths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material comprising a web wherein said web comprises at least one surface layer comprising polyether polymeric antistat, extrudable polymer, and compatibilizer wherein said surface layer has a roughness of greater than 0.3 Ra.

Abstract: Processes for making a pragmatic label, a receiver sheet for making such a pragmatic label, and intermediates thereof are described. The receiver sheet comprises a pragmatic pre-label sheet, a lower strippable carrier, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer between said lower strippable carrier and the pragmatic pre-label sheet. The pragmatic pre-label sheet is made by coextruding a first melt for a polymeric image-receiving layer with one or more other melts for forming a single-layer or multiple-layer pragmatic polymer sheet, wherein said other melts includes a second melt comprising an orientable thermoplastic polymeric material for forming a microvoided layer, said coextruded melts forming a multilayer composite film that is subsequently subjected to stretching. The pragmatic labels and receiver sheets of the present invention can advantageously be made without the use of solvent coating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal dye-transfer receiving element comprising a dye-image receiving layer on its top surface and, beneath the dye-image receiving layer, a microvoided layer containing a continuous phase polymer matrix having dispersed therein crosslinked organic microbeads, wherein the microbeads exhibit a glass transition temperature Tg that is below 80° C. Also disclosed is a method for making such thermal dye-transfer receiving elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coextruded film comprising a transparent polymeric inner core layer of thickness less than 250 &mgr;m and two peelable outer polymeric layers wherein the inner layer constitutes a low enough proportion, less than 40%, of the total film thickness and exhibits a low enough melt flow index value to achieve a birefringence of not more than 1×10−4 nm/nm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material comprising a web wherein said web comprises at least one surface layer comprising polyether polymeric antistat, extrudable polymer, and compatibilizer wherein said surface layer has a roughness of greater than 0.3 Ra.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal dye-transfer receiving element comprising a dye-image receiving layer on its top surface and, beneath the dye-image receiving layer, a microvoided layer containing a continuous phase polymer matrix having dispersed therein crosslinked organic microbeads, wherein the microbeads exhibit a glass transition temperature Tg that is below 80° C. Also disclosed is a method for making such thermal dye-transfer receiving elements.

Abstract: An image recording element, useful as a receiver for thermal dye transfer or other printing techniques includes a support and, on one side of the support, an image-receiving layer wherein between the image receiving layer and the support is a tie layer comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer and an optional polyolefin-containing binder. In one embodiment, the tie-layer composition exhibits a viscosity that is not more than 10 times or less than {fraction (1/10)} that of the image-receiving layer during coextrusion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal dye-transfer dye-image receiving element comprising a thermal dye-transfer receiver element comprising a dye-receiving layer 1; beneath layer 1, a microvoided layer 2 containing a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein a mixture of crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix; beneath layer 2, a substrate layer 3 comprised of a voided or non-voided polyester material; and beneath layer 3, a composite support 4. The invention provides a receiver exhibiting an improved combination of dye-transfer efficiency and robustness.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for making an image-recording element, for example a dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer, that includes a support having on one side thereof a image-receiving layer and, between the image-receiving layer and the support, a tie layer comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) forming a first melt of a polymer for the surface layer and a second melt comprising a thermoplastic antistat polymer in a polymeric binder; (b) coextruding the two melts onto a polyolefin support; (c) stretching the coextruded layers to reduce the thickness; (d) applying the coextruded melts to a support while simultaneously reducing the temperature below the Tg of the composition of the surface layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inkjet recording element comprising a microvoided layer comprising a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix of said microvoided layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal image recording element comprising a microvoided layer comprising a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix of the microvoided layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a coextruded film comprising a transparent polymeric inner core layer of thickness less than 250 &mgr;m and two peelable outer polymeric layers wherein the inner layer constitutes a low enough proportion, less than 40%, of the total film thickness and exhibits a low enough melt flow index value to achieve a birefringence of not more than 1×10−4 nm/nm.

Abstract: This patent relates to an imaging member comprising a vacuous polymer base having adhered thereto an image formed on a transparent polymer sheet, wherein said vacuous polymer base has a density of less than 0.7 grams/cc and a modulus to density ratio of between 1500 and 4000 and wherein said image is in contact with said vacuous polymer base.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical element comprising a polymer film containing a dispersion of minute layered particulates and microvoids.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising an image layer and a base material wherein said base material comprises at least one oriented sheet laminated to a core sheet comprising a vacuous composite of polyolefin and polyester having a density of less than 0.7 g/cc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nacreous polymer sheet comprising voided polyester polymer wherein said sheet has voids of a length to height ratio of greater than 9:1, voids of a length of between 10 and 100 micrometer and a number of voids in the vertical direction is greater than 6.

Abstract: This patent relates to an imaging member comprising a vacuous polymer base having adhered thereto an image formed on a transparent polymer sheet, wherein said vacuous polymer base has a density of less than 0.7 grams/cc and a modulus to density ratio of between 1500 and 4000 and wherein said image is in contact with said vacuous polymer base.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image recording element a microvoided layer comprising a continuous phase polyester matrix having dispersed therein crosslinked organic microbeads and non-crosslinked polymer particles, wherein the non-crosslinked polymer particles are immiscible with the polyester matrix of the microvoided layer.