U.S. patent application number 13/433412 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-03 for pre-treatment composition for inkjet printing.
The applicant listed for this patent is Raouf Botros, Yang Xiang. Invention is credited to Raouf Botros, Yang Xiang.
Application Number | 20130257988 13/433412 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49234400 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130257988 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Xiang; Yang ; et
al. |
October 3, 2013 |
PRE-TREATMENT COMPOSITION FOR INKJET PRINTING
Abstract
A coating composition for pre-treating a substrate prior to
inkjet printing thereon, and an inkjet receiving medium comprising
a substrate and having a topmost layer coated thereon, where the
coating composition and topmost layer comprise one or more
aqueous-soluble salts of multivalent metal cations, a cationic
polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties, and one or more second
polymer which is distinct from the cationic polyelectrolyte and
which is selected from the group consisting of a
polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a polyamine solution polymer, and a
waterborne or water-dispersible polyurethane. The topmost layer is
advantageously at a solid content of from 0.1 to 5 g/m.sup.2, and
comprises from 30-90 wt % of the one or more aqueous soluble salts
of multivalent metal cations, at least 0.01 g/m.sup.2 of the
cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties, and at least
0.005 g/m.sup.2 of the second polymer which is distinct from the
cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties.
Inventors: |
Xiang; Yang; (Dayton,
OH) ; Botros; Raouf; (Centerville, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Xiang; Yang
Botros; Raouf |
Dayton
Centerville |
OH
OH |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49234400 |
Appl. No.: |
13/433412 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
347/43 ;
428/32.1; 428/32.22; 524/590; 524/606; 524/612 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41M 5/5281 20130101;
B41M 5/0017 20130101; C09D 179/02 20130101; C09D 179/02 20130101;
B41M 5/52 20130101; B41M 5/5245 20130101; C09D 175/04 20130101;
C08G 73/0286 20130101; C08G 73/0611 20130101; B41M 5/5218 20130101;
B41J 2/2114 20130101; B41M 5/5263 20130101; C08L 79/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
347/43 ;
428/32.1; 428/32.22; 524/606; 524/612; 524/590 |
International
Class: |
B41J 2/21 20060101
B41J002/21; C09D 175/04 20060101 C09D175/04; C09D 179/02 20060101
C09D179/02; B41M 5/52 20060101 B41M005/52; C09D 177/00 20060101
C09D177/00 |
Claims
1. An inkjet receiving medium comprising a substrate and having a
topmost layer coated thereon, wherein the topmost layer comprises
one or more aqueous soluble salts of multivalent metal cations, a
cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties, and a second
polymer which is distinct from the cationic polyelectrolyte
comprising amidine moieties and which is selected from the group
consisting of a polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a polyamine solution
polymer, and a waterborne or water dispersible polyurethane.
2. An inkjet receiving medium of claim 1, wherein the topmost layer
coated thereon is at a solids content of from 0.1 to 5 g/m.sup.2,
and comprises from 30-90 wt % of the one or more aqueous soluble
salts of multivalent metal cations, at least 0.01 g/m.sup.2 of the
cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties, and at least
0.005 g/m.sup.2 of the second polymer which is distinct from the
cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties and which is
selected from the group consisting of a polyamide-epichlorohydrin,
a polyamine solution polymer, and a waterborne or water dispersible
polyurethane.
3. The inkjet receiving media of claim 2, wherein the topmost layer
comprises from 5-60 wt % of cationic polyelectrolyte comprising
amidine moieties and 1-60 wt % of the second polymer.
4. The inkjet receiving media of claim 3, wherein the topmost layer
comprises from 50-90 wt % of the aqueous soluble salts of
multivalent metal cations, from 5-40 wt % of cationic
polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties, and 1-45 wt % of the
second polymer.
5. The inkjet receiving media of claim 4, wherein the one or more
multivalent metal salts comprise a calcium salt.
6. The inkjet receiving media of claim 5, wherein the topmost layer
comprises calcium ion equivalent to at least 0.10 g/m.sup.2 of
calcium chloride.
7. The inkjet receiving media of claim 2, wherein the topmost layer
is coated at a solid content of from 0.1 to 3 g/m.sup.2.
8. The inkjet receiving media of claim 2, wherein the topmost layer
is coated at a solid content of from 0.2 to 2 g/m.sup.2.
9. The inkjet receiving media of claim 2, wherein the topmost layer
is coated at a solid content of from 0.3 to 1.5 g/m.sup.2.
10. The inkjet receiving media of claim 2, wherein the substrate is
hydrophilic and capable of adsorbing and transferring an aqueous
ink colorant to the substrate interior prior to being coated
thereon with the topmost layer.
11. The inkjet receiving media of claim 2, wherein the substrate
comprises a relatively hydrophobic surface prior to being coated
thereon with the topmost layer, and the topmost continuous layer
provides a continuous relatively hydrophilic surface in comparison
to the relatively hydrophobic substrate surface prior to being
coated.
12. The inkjet receiving media of claim 2, wherein the substrate is
a coated offset paper.
13. The inkjet receiving medium of claim 2, wherein the second
polymer is a polyamide-epichlorohydrin.
14. The inkjet receiving medium of claim 13, further comprising a
silanol-modified polyvinyl alcohol.
15. The inkjet receiving medium of claim 2, wherein the second
polymer is a polyamine solution polymer.
16. The inkjet receiving medium of claim 2, wherein the second
polymer is a waterborne or water dispersible polyurethane.
17. The inkjet receiving media of claim 2, wherein the one or more
multivalent metal salts comprises a cation selected from Mg.sup.+2,
Ca.sup.+2, Ba.sup.+2, Zn.sup.+2, and Al.sup.+3.
18. The inkjet receiving media of claim 2, wherein the one or more
multivalent metal salts comprise CaCl.sub.2,
Ca(CH.sub.3CO.sub.2).sub.2, MgCl.sub.2, Mg(CH.sub.3CO.sub.2).sub.2,
Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2, or Mg(NO.sub.3).sub.2, or hydrated versions of
these salts.
19. A method of printing in which the inkjet receiving media of
claim 2 is printed with an inkjet printer employing at least one
pigment-based colorant in an aqueous ink composition wherein the
pigment-based colorant is stabilized using anionic dispersants or
is self-dispersed.
20. The method of claim 19, comprising transporting the inkjet
receiving media by a continuous inkjet printhead applying the ink
composition onto the receiving medium, and subsequently
transporting the printed receiving medium through a drying
station.
21. The printing method of claim 20 in which the inkjet printer is
a continuous high-speed commercial inkjet printer and the inkjet
printer applies colors from at least two different print heads in
sequence in which different colored parts of an image printed on
the inkjet-receiving medium are registered.
22. A coating composition for pre-treating a substrate prior to
inkjet printing thereon, comprising one or more aqueous-soluble
salts of multivalent metal cations, a cationic polyelectrolyte
comprising amidine moieties, and one or more second polymer which
is distinct from the cationic polyelectrolyte and which is selected
from the group consisting of a polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a
polyamine solution polymer, and a waterborne or water-dispersible
polyurethane, and wherein the weight ratio of water-soluble salts
of multivalent metal cations to the combined weight of cationic
polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties and second polymer is
from 0.5:1 to 10:1.
23. A coating composition according to claim 22, wherein the weight
ratio of water-soluble salts of multivalent metal cations to the
combined weight of cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine
moieties and second polymer is from 1:1 to 7:1.
24. A coating composition according to claim 22, wherein the weight
ratio of cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties to
second polymer is from 0.1:1 to 10:1.
25. A coating composition according to claim 22, wherein the one or
more multivalent metal salts comprises a calcium salt.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the field of inkjet printing. In
particular the invention relates to a composition to be applied to
a receiver to enhance the quality of inkjet prints printed with
pigment-based ink, to inkjet recording media treated with such
composition, and to printing systems and methods using such
media.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed in part to overcoming the
problem of printing on glossy or semi-glossy coated papers or the
like with aqueous inkjet inks. Currently available coated papers of
this kind have been engineered over the years to be compatible with
conventional, analog printing technologies, such as offset
lithography, and may be designated as "offset papers." The printing
inks used in offset printing processes are typically very high
solids, and the solvents are typically non-aqueous. As a
consequence, the coatings that are currently used to produce glossy
and semi-glossy offset printing papers, such as those used for
magazines and mail order catalogs, have been intentionally designed
to be resistant to the absorption of water. In fact, when these
papers are characterized by standard tests as to their porosity
and/or permeability, they have been found to be much less permeable
than a typical uncoated paper.
[0003] In contrast to lithographic inks, inkjet inks are
characterized by low viscosity, low solids, and aqueous solvent.
When such coated offset papers are printed with inkjet inks that
comprise as much as 90-95% water as the carrier solvent, the inks
have a tendency to sit on the surface of the coating, rather than
penetrate into the coating and/or underlying paper substrate.
[0004] Because the inks printed on a water-resistant receiver must
dry primarily by evaporation of the water without any significant
penetration or absorption of the water into the coating or paper, a
number of problems are encountered. One such problem is that the
individual ink droplets slowly spread laterally across the surface
of the coating, eventually touching and coalescing with adjacent
ink droplets. This gives rise to a visual image quality artifact
known as "coalescence" or "puddling." Another problem encountered
when inks dry too slowly is that when two different color inks are
printed next to each other, such as when black text is highlighted
or surrounded by yellow ink, the two colors tend to bleed into one
another, resulting in a defect known as "intercolor bleed." Yet
another problem is that when printing at high speed, either in a
sheet fed printing process, or in a roll-to-roll printing process,
the printed image is not dried sufficiently before the printed
image comes in contact with an unprinted surface, and ink is
transferred from the printed area to the unprinted surface,
resulting in "ink retransfer."
[0005] In contrast to glossy offset papers, some coated papers for
offset lithography have matte surfaces that are very porous. While
high-solids lithographic inks remain on the surface, the colorant
of aqueous inkjet inks on the other hand tends to absorb deeply
into the paper, resulting in a substantial loss of optical density
and as a consequence, reduced color gamut.
[0006] Recently high speed continuous inkjet printing processes
have been developed that are suitable for high speed, mid-volume
printing and have become of interest to the commercial printing
industry. As commercial offset papers are manufactured in high
volume, it would be preferable to be able to use such offset papers
themselves for commercial inkjet printing purposes, to take
advantage of economies of scale. For the several reasons discussed
above, however, the standard preparation of substrates for offset
lithographic printing renders them unsuitable for printing with
aqueous inkjet inks. Thus the need arises for inkjet-printable
receivers providing the familiar look and feel as well as
economical cost of standard lithographic printing-grade offset
papers.
[0007] The requirements of commercial printing industry include,
among others, image quality in terms of high optical density, broad
color gamut, sharp detail, and minimal problems with coalescence,
smearing, feathering and the like. Operationally, the printing
process strives for low environmental impact, low energy
consumption, fast drying, and so forth. The resulting print must
exhibit durability, resisting abrasion when dry or if wetted.
[0008] Simply omitting the water-resistant coating of a glossy
lithographic offset paper does not enable high-quality inkjet
printing. Uncoated paper does not maintain the ink colorant at the
surface, but allows significant penetration of the colorant into
the interior of the paper, resulting in a loss of optical density
and a low-quality image. Moreover, ink penetrates non-uniformly
into the paper due to the heterogeneous nature of the paper, giving
rise to mottle, which further degrades the image.
[0009] Very high quality photopapers have been developed for
desktop consumer inkjet printing systems incorporating relatively
high laydown ink-receiving layers that are porous and/or permeable
to the ink. However, such coated photopapers are generally not
suitable for high-speed commercial inkjet printing applications for
a number of reasons. The thick coatings result in a basis weight
that is impractically heavy for mailing or other bulk distribution
means. Such receivers are not meant for rough handling or folding,
which would result in cracking of the coated layers. In general,
these coated photopapers are too expensive for high-speed inkjet
commercial printing applications, such as magazines, brochures,
catalogs, and the like. This is because such coated photopapers
require either expensive materials, such as fumed oxides of silica
or alumina, to produce a glossy surface or very thick coatings to
adequately absorb the relatively heavy ink coverage required to
print high quality photographs.
[0010] Multivalent metal salts are known to improve the print
density and uniformity of images formed on plain papers from inkjet
printers. For example, Cousin, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,181,
disclose the combination of a water-soluble salt of a polyvalent
metal ion and a cationic polymer at a combined dry coat weight of
0.1 to 15.0 g/m.sup.2, for improving the print density of images
printed by inkjet printers employing anionic dye-based inks. Low
coating coverages of layers comprising a polyamidine polymer
composition are not disclosed.
[0011] Varnell, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,258, discloses the use of
water-soluble salts of multivalent metal ions combined with a
polymeric sizing agent and a carrier agent in a size press to
improve the print density and uniformity of images formed on plain
papers from inkjet printers employing pigment colorants in the ink
set. The actual surface concentrations are not readily apparent
from the disclosure of the size-press application method.
[0012] Tanaka, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 7,199,182, disclose an
inkjet recording material comprising an impervious substrate coated
with at least 20 g/m.sup.2 of an aqueous resin composition
comprising a water soluble magnesium salt, an aqueous polyurethane,
and one or more of a cationic compound (such as a cationic
polymer), a nonionic water soluble high molecular weight compound
(such as acetoacetylated poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA acac)), and a
water soluble epoxy compound.
[0013] Tran et al (US 2011/0059272) describe anti-curl compositions
for inkjet receivers incorporating a water-soluble salt of a
multivalent metal ion and a cationic polymer typically applied in
the size press in combination with an amine oxide.
[0014] In contrast to incorporating surface modifying chemistry at
the size press during paper manufacturing, treatments may also be
applied as coatings on finished paper. Dannhauser et al (US
2011/0279554), e.g., describe an inkjet receiving medium including
a substrate and having a topmost layer coated thereon comprising an
aqueous soluble salt of a multivalent metal cation and a
cross-linked hydrophilic polymer binder, for example
acetoacetylated poly vinyl alcohol. Dannhauser et al further
disclose a coating solution comprising calcium chloride and a
dispersion, Patelacol IJ-26, believed to contain acetoacetylated
PVA, a polyurethane, and a polyamide epichlorohydrin resin.
[0015] A cationic polyelectrolyte KP7000 (Dia-Natrix Co. Ltd, JP)
is described as a polyamidine by Taki, et al., in US patent
application publication US2008/0053916.
[0016] Nigram, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,338 discloses a process of
providing a coated paper by utilizing a coating composition
containing one or more nitrogenous dye-fixing compound, which may
include a polyvinylamidine polymer or a salt thereof, and a film
forming binder, where the coating composition may also include an
organic or inorganic cross-linker, and where the coating
composition may be applied as a pretreatment (prior to printing),
simultaneously with printing, or as an after-treatment.
[0017] Pigmented inks have many advantages over dye-based inks when
they are printed on traditional paper designed for offset printing.
It has been a challenge, however, to produce water resistant images
with water-based pigmented inks so there will be no ink smearing
when end-users turn the pages of a book with wet fingers or water
is in contact with printed matter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] It is a primary objective of one embodiment of this
invention to enable the printing at high speed using aqueous inkjet
inks, of glossy, semi-glossy and matte coated lithographic offset
papers with high image quality, high optical density, and good
physical durability, including resistance to wet or dry abrasion,
water-fastness, and resistance to smearing from subsequent
highlighter marking.
[0019] The present invention in one embodiment provides a coating
composition for pre-treating a substrate prior to inkjet printing
thereon, comprising one or more aqueous-soluble salts of
multivalent metal cations, a cationic polyelectrolyte comprising
amidine moieties, and one or more second polymer which is distinct
from the cationic polyelectrolyte and which is selected from the
group consisting of a polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a polyamine
solution polymer, and a waterborne or water-dispersible
polyurethane, and wherein the weight ratio of water-soluble salts
of multivalent metal cations to the combined weight of cationic
polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties and second polymer is
from 0.5:1 to 10:1. In one specific embodiment, the second polymer
is water soluble cationic polymer, such as a
polyamide-epichlorohydrin or a polyamine solution polymer. In a
further embodiment, the coating solution further comprises a
silanol-modified polyvinyl alcohol.
[0020] In another embodiment, the present invention provides an
inkjet receiving medium comprising a substrate and having a topmost
layer coated thereon, wherein the topmost layer comprises one or
more aqueous soluble salts of multivalent metal cations, a cationic
polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties, and a second polymer
which is distinct from the cationic polyelectrolyte comprising
amidine moieties and which is selected from the group consisting of
a polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a polyamine solution polymer, and a
waterborne or water-dispersible polyurethane. In a specific
embodiment, the topmost layer is at a solid content of from 0.1 to
5 g/m.sup.2, and comprises from 30-90 wt % of one or more aqueous
soluble salts of multivalent metal cations, at least 0.01 g/m.sup.2
of the cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties, and at
least 0.005 g/m.sup.2 of a second polymer which is distinct from
the cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties and which
is selected from the group consisting of a
polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a polyamine solution polymer, and a
waterborne or water-dispersible polyurethane.
[0021] Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a
method of printing in which the above-described inkjet receiving
medium is printed with an inkjet printer employing at least one
pigment-based colorant in an aqueous ink composition, wherein the
pigment-based colorant is stabilized using anionic dispersants or
is self-dispersed.
[0022] In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a
printing method comprising transporting an inkjet receiving medium
of the invention by a continuous inkjet printhead applying an
inkjet ink onto the receiving medium comprising at least one
pigment based colorant in an aqueous ink composition, and
subsequently transporting the printed receiving medium through a
drying station.
[0023] Advantages of various embodiments of the invention include:
high printed image quality including high pigment density and color
gamut, and low grain and mottle; improved print durability to dry
rub, wet abrasion, and highlighter marking; ability to provide all
surface types including glossy, semi-glossy, and dull matte; and
extremely low coverage allowing easy application and low cost.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Inkjet receiving media in accordance with one embodiment of
the invention comprise a substrate and have a preferably continuous
topmost layer coated thereon, wherein the topmost layer comprises
one or more aqueous soluble salts of multivalent metal cations, a
cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties, and a second
polymer which is distinct from the cationic polyelectrolyte
comprising amidine moieties and which is selected from the group
consisting of a polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a polyamine solution
polymer, and a waterborne or water-dispersible polyurethane. The
invention further relates to a coating composition for pre-treating
a substrate prior to inkjet printing thereon to form such an inkjet
receiving medium, comprising one or more aqueous-soluble salts of
multivalent metal cations, a cationic polyelectrolyte comprising
amidine moieties, and one or more second polymer which is distinct
from the cationic polyelectrolyte and which is selected from the
group consisting of a polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a polyamine
solution polymer, and a waterborne or water-dispersible
polyurethane, wherein the weight ratio of water-soluble salts of
multivalent metal cations to the combined weight of cationic
polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties and second polymer is
from 0.5:1 to 10:1, more preferably from 1:1 to 7:1. In further
preferred embodiments, the weight ratio of cationic polyelectrolyte
comprising amidine moieties to second polymer is from 0.1:1 to
10:1, more preferably from 0.5:1 to 5:1.
[0025] The topmost layer may preferably be coated at solid content
of from 0.1 to 5 g/m.sup.2, and comprises from 30-90 wt % (more
preferably from 50-90 wt %) of one or more aqueous soluble salts of
multivalent metal cations, at least about 0.01 g/m.sup.2 (more
preferably at least about 0.05 g/m.sup.2) of the cationic
polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties, and at least about
0.005 g/m.sup.2 (more preferably at least about 0.01 g/m.sup.2) of
the second polymer which is distinct from the cationic
polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties and which is selected
from the group consisting of a polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a
polyamine solution polymer, and a waterborne or water-dispersible
polyurethane. The topmost layer preferably comprises from 5-60 wt %
(more preferably 5-40 wt %) of cationic polyelectrolyte comprising
amidine moieties and 1-60 wt % (more preferably 1-45 wt %) of the
second polymer, with the combined weight of cationic
polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties and second polymers
comprising from 10-70 wt % (more preferably 10-50 wt %) of the
topmost layer.
[0026] While the topmost layer of the receiving medium of the
invention is believed to improve the inkjet printing performance on
a wide variety of substrates, in a particular embodiment of the
invention the substrate is one of a glossy, semi-glossy or matte
coated lithographic offset paper. While such coated offset papers
are designed for printing primarily with non-aqueous solvent-based
inks, providing a topmost layer in accordance with the present
invention over such coated offset papers has been found to enable
inkjet printing with high image quality including reduced mottle,
high optical density, and good physical durability, including
resistance to wet or dry abrasion, water-fastness, and resistance
to smearing from subsequent highlighter marking. Such embodiment
employing a coated offset paper as the substrate of the inkjet
receiving medium of the invention thus enables advantageous inkjet
receiving mediums manufactured taking advantage of economies of
scale in preparation of the medium substrate.
[0027] Lithographic coated offset papers typically comprise a paper
base which has been coated with clay or the like and undergone
surface calendering treatment to provide a desired surface
smoothness. The invention applies to the use of both glossy and
matte coated offset papers. Advantageously, the relatively low
coating weight of the topmost layer of the inkjet receiving medium
of the invention helps maintain the relative glossy or matte
surface of the employed substrate. Such coated offset papers
employable as the substrate of the inkjet receiving medium of the
invention may be obtained from various commercial paper
manufacturers, including, e.g., International Paper, Sappi, New
Page, Appleton Coated, Abitibi--Bowater, Mohawk Papers, Verso,
Mitsubishi, Norpac, Domtar, and many others. Specific examples
include, e.g., STERLING ULTRA GLOSS paper (80 lb basis weight), a
coated glossy offset paper for lithographic printing manufactured
by NewPage, and UTOPIA BOOK (45 lb. basis weight), available from
Appleton Coated, a coated matte offset paper.
[0028] In various embodiments, the substrate can be readily
hydrophilic and capable of adsorbing and transferring ink colorant
to the substrate interior prior to being coated thereon with the
topmost layer of the invention, such as wherein the substrate may
be porous. Alternatively, the substrate can be substantially
impermeable to water or aqueous ink, such as a non-porous plastic
film. In a particular preferred embodiment, the invention is
particularly useful wherein the substrate comprises a relatively
hydrophobic coated surface prior to being coated thereon with the
topmost layer, and the topmost layer provides a continuous
relatively hydrophilic surface.
[0029] While the invention is in certain embodiments directed
towards the use of coated offset papers as the substrate, the
topmost layer of the invention may also be used in combination with
uncoated offset paper or other plain papers. Further, the invention
may also be used with any of those supports usually used for inkjet
receivers, such as resin-coated paper, polyesters, or microporous
materials such as polyethylene polymer-containing material sold by
PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. under the trade name of
TESLIN, TYVEK synthetic paper (DuPont Corp.), and OPPALYTE films
(Mobil Chemical Co.) and other composite films listed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,244,861. Opaque supports include plain paper, coated paper,
synthetic paper, photographic paper support, melt-extrusion-coated
paper, and laminated paper, such as biaxially oriented support
laminates.
[0030] Biaxially oriented support laminates are described in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,853,965, 5,866,282, 5,874,205, 5,888,643, 5,888,681,
5,888,683, and 5,888,714, the disclosures of which are hereby
incorporated by reference. These biaxially oriented supports
include a paper base and a biaxially oriented polyolefin sheet,
typically polypropylene, laminated to one or both sides of the
paper base. Transparent supports include cellulose derivatives,
e.g., a cellulose ester, cellulose triacetate, cellulose diacetate,
cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate;
polyesters, such as poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene
naphthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate),
poly(butylene terephthalate), and copolymers thereof; polyimides;
polyamides; polycarbonates; polystyrene; polyolefins, such as
polyethylene or polypropylene; polysulfones; polyacrylates;
polyetherimides; and mixtures thereof. The kind of paper supports
listed above include a broad range of papers, from high end papers,
such as photographic paper to low end papers, such as the kind used
for newsprint. In a preferred embodiment, commercial offset-grade
coated paper is used.
[0031] The topmost coating composition may be applied to both sides
of the substrate, or alternatively to only one side. The method
employed to accomplish this can be selected from a number of known
techniques, including but not limited to spraying, rod coating,
blade coating, gravure coating (direct, reverse, and offset),
flexographic coating, size press (puddle and metered), extrusion
hopper coating, and curtain-coating. After drying, the resulting
topmost layer can be calendered to improve gloss.
[0032] In one embodiment, in which paper is used as the support,
the topmost layer can be applied in line as part of the paper
manufacturing process. In another embodiment, the topmost layer may
be coated as a separate coating step subsequent to the paper (or
other substrate) manufacture. In a particular embodiment, the
topmost layer may be applied inline as part of the inkjet printing
operation, wherein such layer is applied to a substrate in a
pre-coating station prior to printing of inkjet inks. Such inline
application may be performed by the various coating processes
identified above, or alternatively by a printhead positioned inline
with the ink-applying printheads. When a printhead is used to apply
the coating solution, the option exists of covering only the
printed image area with the coating material, rather than the
entire area of the substrate. Pre-coat application provides the
advantage of eliminating color-to-color bleed during imaging, since
the colorants of the ink are fixed instantaneously as the ink
contacts the pre-coated substrate. Furthermore, with pre-coating,
images appear darker and have sharper edge definition, since the
coating minimizes ink penetration and allows more fixed colorant on
the surface. Finally, while the pre-coat material may optionally be
dried completely before image printing, complete drying of the
pre-coated substrate may not be necessary. Therefore, drying can
alternatively be applied once after imaging, resulting in
considerable savings in energy.
[0033] The topmost layer of the inkjet receiving medium of the
invention includes an aqueous-soluble salt of a multivalent metal.
Aqueous-soluble is herein defined as at least 0.5 g of the salt
capable of dissolving in 100 ml water at 20.degree. C. The salt is
preferably essentially colorless and non-reactive. More preferably,
the multivalent metal is a cation selected from Mg.sup.+2,
Ca.sup.+2, Ba.sup.+2, Zn.sup.+2, and Al.sup.+3, most preferably
Ca.sup.+2 or Mg.sup.+2 in combination with suitable counter
ions.
[0034] Examples of the salt used in the invention include (but are
not limited to) calcium chloride, calcium acetate, calcium nitrate,
magnesium chloride, magnesium acetate, magnesium nitrate, barium
chloride, barium nitrate, zinc chloride, zinc nitrate, aluminum
chloride, aluminum hydroxychloride, and aluminum nitrate. Similar
salts will be appreciated by the skilled artisan. Particularly
preferred salts are CaCl.sub.2, Ca(CH.sub.3CO.sub.2).sub.2,
MgCl.sub.2, Mg(CH.sub.3CO.sub.2).sub.2, Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2, or
Mg(NO.sub.3).sub.2, including hydrated versions of these salts.
Combinations of the salts described above may also be used. The
topmost layer preferably comprises calcium ion equivalent to at
least 0.05 g/m.sup.2 of calcium chloride, more preferably
equivalent to at least 0.1 g/m.sup.2 of calcium chloride.
[0035] The topmost layer of the receiving medium of the invention
further includes a cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine
moieties. Such cationic polyelectrolyte polymers may also
conventionally be referred to as polyamidine or polyvinylamidine
polymers, and are cationic macromolecules having the structural
unit shown by the general formula [1]:
##STR00001##
wherein R1 to R4 represent hydrogen atom of an alkyl group such as
methyl group. The cationic macromolecule having the structural unit
represented by general formula [1] can be prepared by
copolymerization of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile with
N-vinyl-carboxylic acid amine, N-isopropenylcarboxylic acid amide,
N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide or N-isopropenylcarboxylic acid amide,
followed by hydrolysis of the obtained copolymer to obtain an
amidine. There is the possibility that the polyvinylamidine
prepared as described above has additional units comprising, e.g.,
a cyano group derived from acrylonitrile or the like, carbamoyl
group formed by hydrolysis of cyano group, and amino group formed
by hydrolysis of N-vinylcarboxylic acid amide unit or the like in
addition to the structural unit represented by general formula [1].
DIAFLOC KP7000 manufactured by DIA-NITRIX Company is an example of
polyvinylamidine cationic polymer available as a commercial
product, which is reported to have the following structure:
##STR00002##
[0036] The topmost layer of the receiving medium of the invention
further includes one or more second polymer which is distinct from
the cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine moieties and which
is selected from the group consisting of a
polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a polyamine solution polymer, and a
waterborne or water-dispersible polyurethane.
[0037] Polyamide-epichlorohydrin polymers are water soluble
cationic polymers. A representative example of a
polyamide-epichlorohydrin polymer which may be used in the present
invention is POLYCUP 172, available from Hercules, Inc., which is
of the formula:
##STR00003##
[0038] Polyamine solution polymers are water soluble cationic
polymers. A representative example of a polyamine solution polymer
which may be used in the present invention is CATIOFAST 159(A),
available from the BASF company, which is of the formula:
##STR00004##
[0039] Waterborne polyurethanes are dispersions of fine
polyurethane particles in aqueous medium. Such polymer particles
may be of self-dispersable sizes and compositions, or otherwise be
treated with additional dispersing agents to be made dispersible. A
representative example of a waterborne polyurethane polymer which
may be used in the present invention is PRINTRITE DP-376, available
from Lubrizol, which is described by the manufacturer as an all
aliphatic waterborne polymer dispersion useful in textile,
nonwoven, and paper applications, and as a primer on various
substrates used for aqueous inkjet printing receivers to improve
hydrophilic character.
[0040] The topmost layer of the receiving medium of the invention
may include additional polymer binders in addition to those
specified above. In a further particular embodiment, e.g., a
silanol-modified polyvinyl alcohol polymer may additionally be
employed. A representative example of a silanol-modified polyvinyl
alcohol polymer which may be used in such further embodiment is
POVAL R-1130, available from Kuraray Co., which is of the
formula:
##STR00005##
[0041] To provide desired abrasion resistance and cohesiveness, the
topmost layer preferably comprises at least 0.05 g/m.sup.2 of the
combined weight of the cationic polyelectrolyte comprising amidine
moieties and the one or more second polymer selected from the group
consisting of a polyamide-epichlorohydrin, a polyamine solution
polymer, and a waterborne or water-dispersible polyurethane. In
accordance with further preferred embodiments of the invention, the
topmost layer is coated on the substrate at solid content of from
0.1 to 5 g/m.sup.2, preferably from 0.1 to 3 g/m.sup.2, more
preferably from 0.2 to 2 g/m.sup.2, and most preferably from 0.3 to
1.5 g/m.sup.2, and such layer comprises from 30-90 wt %, more
preferably 50-90 wt %, of one or more aqueous soluble salts of
multivalent metal cations. Such combination of relatively low total
solid laydown and relatively high multivalent metal salt
concentration in a topmost coating composition, along with use of
the specified combination of polymers, surprisingly has been found
to enable improved inkjet printing performance when printing
pigment-based aqueous inks on a variety of substrates, including
coated offset papers as discussed above.
[0042] The topmost layer coating formulation may further comprise
additional optional components, such as inorganic or organic
particles, though it is preferred that the coating solid laydown
and relative concentration preferences of the invention still be
met. These can include, but are not limited to, kaolin clay,
montmorillonite clay, delaminated kaolin clay, calcium carbonate,
calcined clay, silica gel, fumed silica, colloidal silica, talc,
wollastinite, fumed alumina, colloidal alumina, titanium dioxide,
zeolites, or organic polymeric particles such as Dow HS3000NA.
[0043] Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method of
printing in which the above-described receiver is printed with an
inkjet printer employing at least one pigment-based colorant in an
aqueous ink composition. Preferably, the pigment-based colorants
are stabilized using anionic dispersants. Such dispersants can be
polymeric, containing repeating sub-units, or may be monomeric in
nature. The present invention is particularly advantageous for
printing periodicals, newspapers, magazines, and the like. The
printing method may employ a continuous high-speed commercial
inkjet printer, for example, in which the printer applies colored
images from at least two different print heads, preferably
full-width printheads with respect to the media, in sequence in
which the different colored parts of the images are registered.
[0044] One type of printing technology, commonly referred to as
"continuous stream" or "continuous" inkjet printing, uses a
pressurized ink source that produces a continuous stream of ink
droplets. Conventional continuous inkjet printers utilize
electrostatic charging devices that are placed close to the point
where a filament of working fluid breaks into individual ink
droplets. The ink droplets are electrically charged and then
directed to an appropriate location by deflection electrodes having
a large potential difference. When no print is desired, the ink
droplets are deflected into an ink-capturing mechanism (catcher,
interceptor, gutter, etc.) and either recycled or disposed of. When
print is desired, the ink droplets are not deflected and allowed to
strike a print medium. Alternatively, deflected ink droplets may be
allowed to strike the print media, while non-deflected ink droplets
are collected in the ink capturing mechanism.
[0045] Typically, continuous inkjet printing devices are faster
than droplet on demand devices and produce higher quality printed
images and graphics. However, each color printed requires an
individual droplet formation, deflection, and capturing system.
Such continuous inkjet printing devices employ a high-speed inkjet
receiving medium transport system capable of transporting at least
one of roll-fed or sheet fed receiving medium, in combination with
a continuous inkjet printhead for image-wise printing of inkjet ink
onto the receiving medium and a drying station for drying of the
printed image. Use of a topmost layer in accordance with the
present invention in such a high speed continuous inkjet printing
device advantageously enables an aqueous pigment-based printed
inkjet image to be initially stabilized upon the surface of the
receiving medium until the printed image can be dried in the device
drying station to result in improved image quality, especially when
printing on substrates comprising relatively hydrophobic coated
offset papers or aqueous ink impermeable plastic films.
[0046] Examples of conventional continuous inkjet printers include
U.S. Pat. No. 1,941,001 issued to Hansell on Dec. 26, 1933; U.S.
Pat. No. 3,373,437 issued to Sweet et al. on Mar. 12, 1968; U.S.
Pat. No. 3,416,153 issued to Hertz et al. on Oct. 6, 1963; U.S.
Pat. No. 3,878,519 issued to Eaton on Apr. 15, 1975; and U.S. Pat.
No. 4,346,387 issued to Hertz on Aug. 24, 1982.
[0047] A more recent development in continuous stream inkjet
printing technology is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,410 to
Jeanmaire, et al. The apparatus includes an ink-drop-forming
mechanism operable to selectively create a stream of ink droplets
having a plurality of volumes. Additionally, a droplet deflector
having a gas source is positioned at an angle with respect to the
stream of ink droplets and is operable to interact with the stream
of droplets in order to separate droplets having one volume from
ink droplets having other volumes. One stream of ink droplets is
directed to strike a print medium and the other is directed to an
ink catcher mechanism.
[0048] The colorant systems of the ink jet ink compositions
employed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention may be
dye-based, pigment-based or combinations of dye and pigment.
Compositions incorporating pigment are particularly useful.
Pigment-based ink compositions are used because such inks render
printed images having higher optical densities and better
resistance to light and ozone as compared to printed images made
from other types of colorants. A wide variety of organic and
inorganic pigments, alone or in combination with additional
pigments or dyes, can be in the present invention. Pigments that
may be used in the invention include those disclosed in, for
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,026,427; 5,086,698; 5,141,556; 5,160,370;
and 5,169,436. The exact choice of pigments will depend upon the
specific application and performance requirements such as color
reproduction and image stability.
[0049] Pigments suitable for use in the invention include, but are
not limited to, azo pigments, monoazo pigments, di-azo pigments,
azo pigment lakes, .beta.-Naphthol pigments, Naphthol AS pigments,
benzimidazolone pigments, di-azo condensation pigments, metal
complex pigments, isoindolinone and isoindoline pigments,
polycyclic pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, quinacridone
pigments, perylene and perinone pigments, thioindigo pigments,
anthrapyrimidone pigments, flavanthrone pigments, anthanthrone
pigments, dioxazine pigments, triarylcarbonium pigments,
quinophthalone pigments, diketopyrrolo pyrrole pigments, titanium
oxide, iron oxide, and carbon black. In accordance with one
embodiment of the invention, colorants comprising cyan, magenta, or
yellow pigments are specifically employed. The pigment particles
useful in the invention may have any particle sizes which can be
jetted through a print head. Preferably, the pigment particles have
a mean particle size of less than about 0.5 micron, more preferably
less than about 0.2 micron.
[0050] Self-dispersing pigments that are dispersible without the
use of a dispersant or surfactant can be used in the invention.
Pigments of this type are those that have been subjected to a
surface treatment such as oxidation/reduction, acid/base treatment,
or functionalization through coupling chemistry. The surface
treatment can render the surface of the pigment with anionic,
cationic or non-ionic groups such that a separate dispersant is not
necessary. The preparation and use of covalently functionalized
self-dispersed pigments suitable for inkjet printing are reported
by Bergemann, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,891 B2 and U.S. Pat.
No. 6,660,075 B2, Belmont in U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,739, Adams and
Belmont in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,432, Johnson and Belmont in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,803,959 and 5,922,118, Johnson et al in and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,837,045, Yu et al in U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,943 B1, and in
published applications WO 96/18695, WO 96/18696, WO 96/18689, WO
99/51690, WO 00/05313, and WO 01/51566, Osumi et al., in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,280,513 B1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,239 B1, Karl, et al., in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,311 B1, Yeh, et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,852,156
B2, Ito et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,753 B1 and Momose et al., in
EP 1,479,732 A1.
[0051] Pigment-based ink compositions employing non-self-dispersed
pigments that are useful in the invention may be prepared by any
method known in the art of inkjet printing. Dispersants suitable
for use in the invention in preparing stable pigment dispersions
include, but are not limited to, those commonly used in the art of
inkjet printing. For aqueous pigment-based ink compositions,
particularly useful dispersants include anionic surfactants such as
sodium dodecylsulfate, or potassium or sodium oleylmethyltaurate as
described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,138, U.S. Pat. No.
5,651,813 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,017.
[0052] Polymeric dispersants are also known and useful in aqueous
pigment-based ink compositions. Polymeric dispersants include
polymers such as homopolymers and copolymers; anionic, cationic or
nonionic polymers; or random, block, branched or graft polymers.
The copolymers are designed to act as dispersants for the pigment
by virtue of the arrangement and proportions of hydrophobic and
hydrophilic monomers. The pigment particles are colloidally
stabilized by the dispersant and are referred to as a polymer
dispersed pigment dispersion. Polymer stabilized pigment
dispersions have the additional advantage of offering image
durability once the inks are dried down on the ink receiver
substrate.
[0053] Preferred copolymer dispersants are those where the
hydrophilic monomer is selected from carboxylated monomers.
Preferred polymeric dispersants are copolymers prepared from at
least one hydrophilic monomer that is an acrylic acid or
methacrylic acid monomer, or combinations thereof. Preferably, the
hydrophilic monomer is methacrylic acid. Particularly useful
polymeric pigment dispersants are further described in US
2006/0012654 A1 and US 2007/0043144 A1, the disclosures of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
[0054] Inkjet inks printed onto inkjet receiving media in
accordance with the invention may contain further addendum as is
conventional in the inkjet printing art. Polymeric dispersed
pigment-based aqueous inkjet ink formulations suitable for use in
particular embodiments of the present invention include those
described, e.g., in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. US2011/0123714,
US2011/0122180, US2010/0302292, and US2010/0304028, the disclosures
of which are incorporated by reference herein in their
entireties.
EXAMPLES
[0055] Pretreatment coating compositions were tested on a glossy
coated paper Sterling Ultragloss (80 lb basis weight). As received
from the manufacturer, the receiver is already coated with a
coating designed for conventional offset printing. Samples of
Sterling Ultragloss were treated with aqueous compositions applied
by No. 2.5 wired rod and were dried with a hot-air gun to provide a
dry weight coverage of approximately 0.5 g/m.sup.2. The coated
samples were then printed with polymeric anionic dispersant
dispersed pigment-based KODAK PROSPER Inks with a No. 2.5 wired
rod. Printed samples were evaluated for image durability by dry rub
and wet rub evaluation procedures.
[0056] The dry rub test is performed as follows: A. Load the test
sample onto the bottom foam plate of a Sutherland rub tester. B.
Load a 4 lb weighted arm with unused Data Speed Laser MOCR paper
(manufactured by International Paper) making sure the paper is taut
over the foam section. C. Attach the 4 lb weighted arm to the
tester. Adjust the dial on the tester to 10 strokes. D. Press the
"Start" button. Remove the sample and color loss and staining are
evaluated by measuring optical density change before and after
test. The results were rated as follows:
[0057] Very Poor: above 30% ink removed from printed area
[0058] Poor: 21% to 30% ink removed from printed area
[0059] Moderate: 16% to 20% ink removed from printed area
[0060] Good: 11% to 15% ink removed from printed area
[0061] Very Good: 10% or less ink removed from printed area
[0062] The wet rub test is performed as follows: The wet rub test
is performed by placing a drop of water on the printed substrate
which was previously coated with one of the coating fluids
demonstrated in Table 1. The water drop is left twenty seconds on
the printed area before it is rubbed with finger ten times. Loss of
color in the drop area and color smear in the unprinted area are
evaluated by measuring optical density change before and after
test. The results were rated as follow: [0063] Very Poor: complete
ink removal in the drop and complete transfer of color to the
unprinted area [0064] Poor: 50% or more color removal from printed
area [0065] Moderate: 30% to 49% color removed from printed area
[0066] Good: 11% to 29% color removed from printed area [0067] Very
Good: 10% or less color removal from printed area
[0068] Treated samples were also printed on Kodak ESP7 All-in-One
printer for checking image quality (IQ) (graininess, mottle, line
raggedness, and color-to-color bleeding). The results were rated as
follow: [0069] Poor: severe mottle and graininess, poor line
raggedness and color-to-color bleeding [0070] Moderate: observable
mottle or graininess, noticeable line raggedness and color-to-color
bleeding [0071] Good: no observable mottle and graininess, good
line raggedness, and slight color-to color bleeding [0072] Very
good: no observable mottle and graininess, sharp color-to-color
definition
[0073] Sample coating compositions were made up in water as
detailed in Table 1, with components indicated as weight
percentages of coating solution.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Coating compositions KP- Other Image #
CaCl.sub.2 7000 Polymers Dry Rub Wet Rub Quality 1 7% 1% Poor
Moderate Good Comp 2 7% 3% Very Poor Moderate Comp Poor 3 7% 1%
CatioFast Good Very Good Inv 159(A) 2% Good 4 7% -- CatioFast Poor
Moderate Good Comp 159(A) 2% 5 7% 1% 0.24% Polycup Very Very Very
Inv 172; 0.9% Good Good Good Poval R-1130 6 7% -- 0.68% Polycup
Good Poor Very Comp 172; 4% Good Poval R-1130 7 7% 1.8% 0.36%
Polycup Moderate Moderate Moderate Inv 172 8 7% 1.22% 0.56%
Printrite Good Good Good Inv 376 9 7% -- 2% Printrite Poor Poor
Good Comp 376 10 -- -- -- Moderate Moderate Poor Comp 11 7% -- --
Very Very Good Comp Poor Poor KP-7000: polyamidine-based polymer
POLYCUP 172: polyamide-epichlorohydrin CATIOFAST 159A: polyamine
solution polymer POVAL R-1130: silanol-modified polyvinyl alcohol
(PVA) PRINTRITE 376: waterborne aliphatic polyurethane
dispersion
[0074] Untreated, the Sterling Ultra Gloss (SUG) substrate (Example
10, Table 1) provided moderate wet rub and dry rub durability, but
very poor image quality when printed with a set of aqueous,
pigment-based inkjet inks sold as KODAK PROSPER inks. Treating the
SUG with a comparative aqueous coating solution of CaCl.sub.2 salt
alone provided good image quality (IQ) on the glossy substrate
(SUG). However, wet rub and dry rub resistance were rated very poor
(Example 11).
[0075] While the present invention is not bound by any particular
theory, the present inventors suspect that the action of the
multivalent cation may be to "crash" the dispersed ink pigments at
the surface of the receiver. While providing higher density, the
pigment at the surface is subject to durability issues such as wet
and dry rub. A comparative aqueous coating fluid comprising 1% of a
polyamidine cationic polymer (KP-7000), in addition to the
CaCl.sub.2 slightly enhanced durability but the dry rub remained
poor (Example 1). Surprisingly, when the amount of KP-7000 was
increased to 3% in another comparative coating solution (Example
2), durability became worse.
[0076] A further comparative coating solution, comprising 2%
Catiofast 159(A), a cationic polyamine polymer and CaCl.sub.2
(Example 4) produced poor to moderate durability on the glossy
substrate (SUG). In example 3, a coating solution according to the
present invention comprising 1% KP-7000 in addition to the
components of the comparative coating solution of Example 4,
provided a coated substrate with good to very good durability while
maintaining good image quality. The combination of a polyamidine
with a second cationic polymer provided an unexpected improvement
compared to the substrates coated with CaCl.sub.2 and only a single
polymer as illustrated in Examples 1 and 4.
[0077] The synergy effect of a coating solution according to the
present invention comprising CaCl.sub.2, KP-7000 and another
cationic water-soluble polymer, Polycup 172, a
polyamide-epichlorohydrin polymer is demonstrated in Example 7
where durability and IQ were rated moderate. Comparative example 1
demonstrated poor dry rub performance and comparative example 6
showed poor wet rub performance.
[0078] Another synergy effect is shown in Example 8, wherein a
coating solution according to the present invention comprising
KP-7000 and Printrite DP-376, a polyurethane polymer in addition to
CaCl.sub.2, provided durability and IQ rated good across the board,
in contrast to the comparative coating solutions comprising only
the individual polymers in Examples 1, 2 and 9, wherein the
durability was rated very poor to moderate.
[0079] The synergy effect of a coating solution according to the
present invention comprising CaCl.sub.2, KP-7000, Poval R-1130, a
silanol-modified PVA and Polycup 172, a polyamide-epichlorohydrin
polymer, is demonstrated in Example 5 where durability and IQ were
rated very good which is better than the individual polymers
illustrated in Examples 1 and 6.
[0080] Coated glossy and matte papers were further tested with
coating compositions of the invention from bench draw down to
coating with in-line coater and printing with a commercial high
speed four-color CIJ inkjet press. Prints on pre-treated papers in
such further tests similarly showed excellent water resistance
measured with wet finger rub test, dry rub resistance, scratch
resistance, and image quality.
[0081] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *