Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Composite – Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-26
2001-04-03
Hess, Bruce H. (Department: 1774)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Composite
Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
C428S195100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210808
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to a novel ink-jet recording sheet exhibiting excellent water resistance and extremely high gloss. More particularly, the ink jet recording sheet comprises an ink receptive layer comprised of a radiation cured, water insoluble monomer and/or prepolymer, and water soluble polymer which is also preferably cured.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Ink jet ink printers are known for their speed and convenience due to smaller size and accuracy. The ink used in such printers is generally water-based, often causing many problems for conventional ink jet media.
Aqueous inks affect the media on which they are printed, usually a form of coated paper, in many ways. The ink adheres by absorbing into the medium. The wetness of the ink often leads to bleeding of the image, smearing and lack of waterfastness, as well as other problems such as curl. Further problems associated with aqueous inks include lack of penetration into the medium, insufficient depth of color and rubbing off of the pigment or ink due to abrasion. Both the aqueous inks and the media on which they are printed have been examined in order to solve these various problems.
One solution has been to heat the ink, media or both to cause the ink to dry faster. However, there are still problems with smearing and, due to the heat and tackiness of the ink, the printed media will stick together when stacked. Therefore, this solution does not work for any sizeable printing jobs or with high speed printers. Further, this does not improve the waterfastness or gloss of the printed image, two very desirable properties.
Heretofore, there has been no suitable means of producing a waterfast, high gloss and high resolution aqueous ink jet ink printing system acceptable to the industry. It would be of great advantage to the industry if such a waterfast medium for use in printing with aqueous ink jet inks was available. Such a medium would be waterfast, exhibit high resolution and high gloss.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording medium which exhibits excellent water fastness, as well as extremely high gloss.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a novel ink jet recording medium which can be coated from an environmentally friendly aqueous medium.
Still another objective of the present invention is to employ a radiation curable material in the coating of an ink jet recording medium, without having to employ organic solvents, but rather an environmentally friendly system.
These and other objectives of the present invention will become obvious to the skilled artisan upon a review of the following description, the FIGURE of the Drawing and the claims appended hereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides an ink jet recording medium which is waterfast, and provides a high resolution and glossy surface for printing. The ink jet recording medium comprises an ink receptive layer on a substrate, with the ink receptive layer being comprised of a water soluble polymer and a radiation cured, water insoluble monomer and/or prepolymer. Because the coating solution used to coat the ink receptive layer on the substrate is an aqueous mixture, there is no organic solvent to be removed. Further, the resulting ink jet recording sheet is waterfast, thereby preventing running and smearing of the ink during or after printing. This is important for normal printing of text and images, and vital for printing of photographic images. The coating further provides a glossy surface, ideal for photographic printing and desirable for printing, especially color printing, in general.
The ink receptive layer of the median is coated using an aqueous mixture which includes two phases, an aqueous phase and a non-aqueous phase. The non-aqueous phase includes a water insoluble monomer/pre-polymer together with a colloidal suspension of water insoluble particles, and the aqueous phase includes a water soluble polymer. The mixture remains stable over time and is easily coated by conventional means. Once coated, the water is removed and the solid coating subjected to radiation to cure the radiation curable, water insoluble monomer/prepolymer.
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Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis L.L.P.
Grendzynski Michael E.
Hess Bruce H.
Rexam Graphics Inc.
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