Photoelectrostatic Recording Member

Abstract

A photoelectrostatic copy sheet is prepared by using a paper base sheet having a roughness in the range of from 100 to 250 Sheffield units. Bonded to the rough surfaced paper is a photoconductive layer comprising zinc oxide and in another embodiment sub-millimicron sized particles of hydrophobic silica dispersed in a resin binder. The layer conforms to the rough fiber textured surface of the base sheet to provide a finished recording surface having a roughness in the range of from 70 to 250 Sheffield units and a gloss (75.degree., Gardner) not in excess of 20 percent. This sheet has the appearance, feel and handle of an uncoated piece of paper.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. application Ser. No., 664,958, filed Sept. 1, 1967 and now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates generally to an improved photoelectrostatic recording member and, more particularly, to a novel copy sheet which, despite being coated, has the general appearance, feel and handle of ordinary, uncoated bond paper.

Known photoelectrostatic recording members comprise a conductive base or substrate, ordinarily paper, and a photoconductive layer bonded to and supported by the substrate. The layer is a resinous substance having dispersed therein finely divided particles of photoconductive material, such as zinc oxide. Such members are imaged in accordance with the well known photoelectrostatic copying process, and developed using a pigmented thermoplastic powder that is attracted to the image areas and fixed to the recording surface of the sheet.

In accordance with the conventional method of preparing copy sheets of the photoelectrostatic type, the resin material is dissolved in an organic solvent medium, principally toluene, with photoconductive particles of zinc oxide being mixed with this liquid medium until a paint-like consistency is achieved. This mixture is applied as a coating to a paper base, and the solvent medium is then evaporated leaving a thin, homogeneous, photoconductive layer bonded to the support surface of the paper base.

In general, conventional copy sheets of this type do not look, feel or handle like ordinary uncoated writing or bond type paper, and for this reason have not enjoyed more widespread commercial success.

For example, known photoelectrostatic copy papers have a smooth recording surface which does not readily receive pencil markings or the like and tends to be glossy, reflecting illumination in a mirror-like fashion to produce glare. In fact, in the preparation of conventional copy sheets, care is taken to insure against producing a rough recording surface, since it has heretofore been considered important to have maximum recording surface smoothness in order to avoid mechanical entrapment of the developer powder in the background or non-imaged areas of the sheet. Thus, known recording members, although having a surface which does not tend to entrap developer powder, provide a surface that is somewhat difficult to read and is a poor medium on which to write with pen or pencil.

Known copy sheets suffer from a further disadvantage in that, as a result of employing a dense, low-bulk, supercalendered paper base which enhances the smoothness of the recording surface, the copy sheet, tending to be heavier than ordinary paper, feels limp. Such a sheet does not readily lend itself to vertical filing.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide an improved photoelectrostatic copy sheet prepared in accordance with organic solvent coating techniques which looks, feels, and handles like ordinary, uncoated writing or bond paper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved photoelectrostatic copy sheet which is easy to read being substantially glare-free, readily receives pencil markings or the like, and has the aesthetic qualities of bond paper.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a light weight, bond-like photoelectrostatic copy sheet prepared in accordance with organic solvent coating techniques having a semi-rough fiber-type recording surface which, although rougher than conventional copy sheets, will not mechanically entrap developer powder in background areas.

Contrary to what is generally accepted as desirable, a recording surface can have a limited degree of roughness and need not be as smooth as heretofore considered necessary for high quality copy. We have discovered that a recording surface having a roughness in the range of from about 70 to 250 Sheffield units and a gloss (75.degree., Gardner) of less than 20 percent provides a finish which does not entrap developer material and has an uncoated and substantially glare-free appearance. Moreover, even though it has this rough surface a sheet of this type can readily be converted into a lithographic master that produces excellent prints. Sheets having rough surfaces ordinarily do not function well as lithographic masters. Recording surfaces which have a roughness in the range of 125 to 175 Sheffield units provide even better results.

In preparing a copy sheet having the proper recording surface smoothness, two techniques were developed.

a. The first technique calls for applying a zinc oxide resin binder coating to a paper base having a critical support surface roughness in the range of from 100 to 250 Sheffield Units. The resinous coating, upon distributing itself over the rough support surface in conformity with the contours of the fibrous structure of the base provides a recording surface which has the same or substantially the same degree of roughness as the support surface. Thus, a recording surface is formed which is sufficiently smooth to avoid mechanical entrapment of the developer powder, but has numerous irregularities acting to scatter or diffuse incident light rather than reflect the light in an orientated or mirror-like fashion. Resins which enhance or re-enforce the surface effect of light scattering are preferred. The thickness of the photoconductive layer lies within the range of from 0.1 to 0.5 mil, and is preferably within the range of from 0.2 to 0.4 mil. Microscopic examination of the recording surface reveals that a layer of this thickness conforms substantially to the fiber texture of the base.

b. The second technique calls for dispersing in the resin binder, in addition to the zinc oxide, particles of hydrophobic silica. When applied to a relatively smooth base having a support surface roughness as low as 40 Sheffield units, a coating containing this type of silica forms a recording surface which has a roughness of about 100 Sheffield units. Preferably, silica/zinc oxide/binder coatings are applied to a base sheet having a roughness in the range of from 100 to 250 Sheffield units.

Ordinarily, the addition of silica to a photoconductive coating interferes with the photoconductive properties of the sheet. We have discovered, however, that when hydrophobic silica is added to the photoconductive coating in small amounts, usually not more than 5 percent by weight of the zinc oxide, the photoconductive properties of the copy sheet are not impaired, and, surprisingly, print density is generally improved. The preferred amount of silica is from 0.2 percent to 1.5 percent by weight of the zinc oxide. If the resin binder comprises from about 0.1 percent to 10 percent by weight of a silicone resin, and silica is incorporated into the coating, the surface roughness of the copy sheet is further enhanced. The addition of a small amount of a silicone resin to the binder also improves the performance of the sheet at high humidity conditions.

A preferred hydrophobic silica is sold by the Pigments Division of the Degussa Corporation of New Jersey under the trade name Aerosil R972. This silica has a very fine particle size of approximately 0.20 millimicrons. Treatment of raw silica with an oil or the like in accordance with standard processing techniques imparts to the R972 silica a hydrophobic character. Why this type of silica does not interfere with the photoconductive properties of the copy sheet is not clearly understood. However, it is believed that because water is not absorbed by this type of silica, the coating will remain free of this aqueous contamination which interferes with the electrical properties of the sheet. It is clear that the silica must have a hydrophobic character. This is critical. It is believed that the small particle size may be important, however, particle size does not seem to be per se critical.

We have also found that, in order for a copy sheet to handle like uncoated paper, it is necessary for the sheet to be light weight, have a high degree of bulk, and have the proper degree of stiffness. In accordance with another feature of this invention, an uncalender paper base having a relatively low basis weight and high degree of stiffness is employed. Using such a base having the proper support surface roughness, a copy sheet is provided which handles like ordinary paper.

The following table lists the preferred physical properties, other than roughness, of the uncoated base as well as the finished copy sheet of this invention: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE 1

Paper Base Copy Sheet (optimum range) __________________________________________________________________________ Basis weight (lbs. per 17 inches .times. 22 12-20 15-25 inches -500 ) Caliper (mil) 2.4-4.0 3.0-4.5 Stiffness (mg, Gurley at 72.degree. F. and 50% relative humidity) Machine direction 50-150 100-200 Cross Machine direction 25-100 50-125 __________________________________________________________________________

Before the base sheet is coated the support surface is usually treated with a solvent holdout precoat, care being taken to insure that the critical roughness of the support surface is kept intact. Examples of suitable precoat materials are: polyvinyl alcohol, starch, casein, animal glue, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, styrenebutadiene latex, acrylic latex, polytetrafluoroethylene and algin. The polyvinyl alcohol has been found to be especially well suited for this purpose.

The effectiveness of the barrier coating holdout may be tested in accordance with conventional techniques using an I.G.T. printability tester which is manufactured by the Institute of Graphic Techniques, Amsterdam Holland. The I.G.T. tester consists of a pendulum having a sector to which a test specimen is clamped, and a printing disc. A test dye solution, applied to the test specimen by means of the printing disc, is used to stain the specimen. The solution comprises a blend of the binder resin, toluene, and Irisol dye (General Aniline and Film Corporation). The viscosity of this solution is about 14.5 seconds when measured at 74.degree. F. using a No. 2 Zahn Cup. A drop (0.005 cc.) of the solution is applied to the disc and the pendulum is permitted to swing freely. When the pendulum and disc come into contact during the swing of the pendulum the dye solution is spread over the test specimen staining it. The longer the stain on the specimen, the better the holdout. Test results indicate that the length of the stain must exceed 60 mm. and preferably should exceed 100 mm.

The photoconductive coating which is applied to the substrate is prepared in accordance with standard techniques. The resin, silica and zinc oxide are blended together in an organic solvent medium and applied to the support surface using conventional coating equipment. As the solvent is evaporated, the resinous coating conforms to the fibrous support surface to form a rough, irregular layer. The coating weight and weight of the base are controlled in order to keep the weight of the copy sheet in the preferred range of 15 to 25 lbs. per ream (17 inches .times. 22 inches - 500 sheets).

A variety of suitable resins are available, the preferred resins being: multipolymers containing vinyl acetate as the major monomeric component, polyvinyl acetate resins, polyester resins, copolymers of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate, phenoxy resins, acrylic resins styrenated acrylic copolymers and copolymers of styrene-butadiene. It has been found that resins containing a polyvinyl acetate component as the major polymeric constituent of the resin are particularly well suited for the purposes of this invention, since they tend to dry to a dull finish, more so than the other resins.

As a result of our discoveries, two types of bond-like photoelectrostatic recording members are provided:

a. The first type of member comprises a light weight, stiff, precoated paper base having a rough support surface, and bonded to the support surface a thin, solvent laid photoconductive layer which conforms to the rough support surface. The roughness of the fiber textured support surface is within the range of from about 100 to 250 Sheffield units, preferably in the range of from 125 to 175 Sheffield units. The photoconductive layer comprises finely divided particles of zinc oxide dispersed in an insulating resin binder. This layer on conforming to the support surface provides a recording surface having a roughness in the range of from 70 to 250 Sheffield units, preferably from 125 to 175 Sheffield units, and a gloss (75.degree., Gardner) not in excess of 20% preferably in the range of 7 percent to 15 percent.

b. The second type of member comprises a light weight, stiff, precoated paper base having either a smooth or, preferably a rough support surface, and bonded to the support surface a thin, solvent laid zinc oxide/resin binder photoconductive layer containing submillimicron size particles of hydrophobic silica. As a result of the silica, the photoconductive layer formed on a relatively smooth base has a rough character and low gloss (75.degree., Gardner), i.e., less than 10 percent. When a layer containing silica is formed on a rough base, an even greater bond-like surface appearance is achieved.

As a result of the recording surface roughness of the recording member, a copy sheet is provided which greatly resembles ordinary uncoated paper in general appearance, the ability to accept pencil markings, and reading quality.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is disclosed in further detail by means of the following examples which are provided for purposes of illustration only. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications in barrier coatings, relative proportions of binder materials and operating conditions can be made within the disclosure of this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE I

PAPER BASE SUPPORT: __________________________________________________________________________ Bleached Sulfite (Fitchburg Paper Company, Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Basis weight (lbs./17 inches .times. 22 inches - 500) 14 Caliper (mils) 2.9 Stiffness (mg., Gurley) Machine direction 70 Cross Machine direction 39 __________________________________________________________________________

Using such conventional coating means as an air knife applicator, an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol is applied to the support surface of the base. A suitable polyvinyl alcohol is sold by the DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc. under the tradename ELVANOL 5105. The base is then dried by slowly passing it through an oven maintained at a temperature of 200.degree. F. The preferred barrier coating weight is in the range of from 0.3 to 0.6 lb. per 3,000 square feet, with the optimum barrier coat being 0.5 lb. per 3,000 square feet. Such a thin coating has sufficient solvent holdout strength to prevent the penetration of the solvent and resin into the base. Since the barrier layer is thin, the rough, fibrous character of the support surface remains intact and is not masked or --------------------------------------------------------------------------- otherwise materially altered.

Photoconductive Coating: % by Weight __________________________________________________________________________ Polyvinyl Acetate Copolymer 12.0 (78-3306, National Starch % Chemical Company) Zinc Oxide 31.7 (Photox 80, New Jersey Zinc Co.) Toluene 45.0 Methyl Ethyl Ketone 11.3 __________________________________________________________________________

The resins, pigments and solvents are milled together for about 1 hour to thoroughly disperse the pigment particles in the resin, insuring a uniform consistency. Using conventional roller coating equipment, the paint-like resinous blend is applied to the pretreated base support surface. Next, the solvent is volatilized at a temperature of about 115.degree. F. leaving on the support surface of the base a dried photoconductive layer about 0.3 mil thick which weighs about 15 lbs. per 3,000 square feet. The photoconductive layer has a paper-like finish and the copy sheet is light, weighing 19 lbs. per ream (17 inches .times. 22 inches - 500). This sheet has excellent photoconductive properties and provides a very dense image on being developed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE II

PAPER BASE SUPPORT: __________________________________________________________________________ Bleached Sulfite (West Virginia Pulpand Paper Company) Basis weight (lbs./17 inches.times..times. 22 inches - 500) 17.5 Caliper (mils) 3.1 Roughness of support surface (Sheffield units) 55 Stiffness (mg, Gurley) machine direction 100 Cross machine direction 50 __________________________________________________________________________

The support surface is treated as described in Example I with polyvinyl alcohol.

Photoconductive Coating: % By Weight __________________________________________________________________________ Polyvinly acetate copolymer 8.1 (78-3306, National Starch and Chemical Company) Silicone resin (SR82, General Electric Company) 0.3 Zinc Oxide (Photox 80, New Jersey Zinc Company) 32.6 Hydrophobic Silica 0.2 (Aerosil R972, Degussa) Tolulene 46.3 Methyl ethyl ketone 12.5 __________________________________________________________________________

The resins, pigments and solvents are milled together as described in Example I and applied to the precoated paper base which has a roughness of 55 Sheffield units. As a result of the silica, a roughness of about 100 Sheffield units is imparted to the recording surface formed. This sheet has excellent photoconductive properties and provides copies of superb contrast and print density.

EXAMPLE III

This example differs from Example I in the substitution of a different type of polyvinyl acetate copolymer, Resyn 26-1404, manufactured by National Starch, for resin 78-3306. The weights, mixing procedures and coating techniques are substantially the same as in Example II.

EXAMPLE IV

This example differs from Example II in the substitution of a polyvinyl acetate terpolymer, 5912 A manufactured by Midland Industrial Finishing Company of Waukegan, Illinois, for resin 78-3306. The weights, mixing procedures and coating techniques are substantially the same as in Example II. The member prepared in accordance with this example performs equally as well as that of Example II.

EXAMPLE V

This example differs from Example I in the substitution of a polyvinyl acetate, Vinac B-100, manufactured by Air Reduction Chemical and Carbide Company of New York for resin 78-3306. Pure methyl ethyl ketone is used in place of toluene as the solvent medium.

EXAMPLE VI

This example differs from Example II in the substitution of a polyvinyl acetate Daratak 9228, manufactured by Dewey and Almy Company of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for resin 78-3306. The weights mixing procedures and coating techniques are substantially the same as in Example II. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE VII

Photoconductive Coating % By Weight __________________________________________________________________________ Acrylic resin 33.3 (AT-56, Rohm & Hass) Zinc Oxide (Photox 80, New Jersey Zinc Co.) 6.7 Toluene 60.0 __________________________________________________________________________

The resin, pigments and solvents are blended together as described in Example I and applied in the same manner to the pretreated paper substrate having a roughness in the range of from 100 to 250 Sheffield units. The recording member of this example, upon being developed, has very good image density.

EXAMPLE VIII

This example differs from Example VII in the of a different acrylic resin, Bakelite 150, manufactured by the Union Carbide Corporation for resin AT-56. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE IX

Photoconductive Coating % Weight __________________________________________________________________________ Polyester resin 33.3 (S-705-45, manufactured by 1-SIS, Chemical Co. of Springdale, Conn.) Zinc Oxide 6.7 (Photox 80, New Jersey Zinc Co.) Hydrophobic Silica 0.1 (Aerosil R972, Degussa) Toluene 30.0 Methyl ethyl ketone 30.0 __________________________________________________________________________

These materials were blended together as in Example I and applied to the rough support surface of the paper base described in Example I. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE X

Photoconductive Coating % Weight __________________________________________________________________________ Phenoxy resin 32.0 (PKHS, manufactured by Union Carbide Company) Zinc Oxide (Photox 80, New Jersey Zinc Co.) 4.0 Methyl ethyl ketone 32.0 Toluene 32.0 __________________________________________________________________________

These materials are blended together and applied to the paper base support as described in Example I.

EXAMPLE XI

This example differs from Example I in the substitution of a styrene-butadiene copolymer, Pliolite CPR 1141A, manufactured by the Goodyear Company, for the polyvinyl acetate copolymer resin. 78-3306.

EXAMPLE XII

This example differs from Example I in the substitution of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, VAGH resin, manufactured by the Union Carbide Company for the polyvinyl acetate copolymer resin, 78-3306. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXAMPLE XIII

PAPER BASE SUPPORT __________________________________________________________________________ Bleached Sulfite (Weyerhauser Paper Company, Fitchburg, Massachusetts) Basis Weight (lbs/17 inches .times. 22 inches-500) 19 Caliper (mils) 3.9 Roughness of Support Surface 159 (Sheffield units) Stiffness (mg., Gurley at 72.degree. F. and 50% relative humidity) Machine direction 125.2 Cross machine direction 58.2 __________________________________________________________________________

Using such conventional coating means as a trailing blade applicator, an aqueous solution including polyvinyl alcohol is applied to the support surface of the base. The base is then dried by slowly passing it through an oven maintained at a temperature of about 200.degree. F. The preferred barrier coating weight is in the range of from 3.0 to 5.0 lbs. per 3,000 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- square feet.

Photoconducting Coating: % Weight __________________________________________________________________________ Styrenated acrylic copolymer resin 10.4 (DeSoto Chemical Co. E-041 45% resin) Zinc Oxide 36.9 (AZO 661, American Zinc, Lead and Smelting Co.) Chlorothene 22.8 Toluene 29.9 __________________________________________________________________________

The resin, pigment, etc., are milled together as described in Example I and applied to the precoated paper base which has a roughness of 159 Sheffield units, resulting in a recording surface having a roughness of 79 Sheffield units. This sheet has excellent photoconductive properties and provides copies with excellent contrast and print density.

The following table lists the physical properties of the novel copy paper prepared in accordance with Examples I, II and XIII standard bond paper and a typical prior art copy paper. This table, serving as a basis for comparison, illustrates the marked improvement in paper-like appearance and feel exhibited by the copy paper of this invention as compared to the like properties of the prior art material. The results of Examples I, II, and XIII are representative of all the examples. ##SPC1##

The values in Table II were obtained using well known standard test procedures with all samples being conditioned at 72.degree. F. and 50 percent relative humidity. All roughness measurements were made using a Sheffield Smoothness Tester manufactured by the Sheffield Company of Dayton, Ohio, a division of the Bendix Corporation. The smoothness and gloss values set forth hereinabove impart to the copy paper of this invention properties, such as a bond-like appearance and feel, similar to those of the standard bond paper. The relatively low gloss value of lack of glare also indicates that the sheet is of a good reading quality. The basis weight, caliper, and pencil take of the copy paper of this invention correspond to like properties in the standard bond sheet. The ratio of caliper to basis weight gives an indication of the bulkness of the sheet. As seen from Table II the sheet of this invention having a bulk even greater than that of bond paper is far superior to the prior art material. And, although the sheet of this invention is relatively light weight, it still has the same or substantially the same degree of stiffness as that of the bond paper.

Claims

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A photoelectrostatic recording member having improved visual readability properties comprising:

1. a paper base support having the following physical characteristics:

2.

2. a barrier coating applied to said base support providing a solvent holdout in excess of 60 mm;

3. a photoconductive layer covering and bonded to said base support comprising an organic solvent laid coating of zinc oxide dispersed in an insulating resin binder having the following physical characteristics:

said recording member having a basis weight in the range of from 15 to 25 lbs. per (17 inches .times. 22 inches - 500) and a caliper of 3.0 to 4.5

mils. 2. The recording member as defined in claim 1 wherein said layer additionally includes sub-millimicron size particles of a hydrophobic silica, said silica being present in an amount not exceeding about 5 percent by weight of the zinc oxide.

3. The recording member as defined in claim 2 wherein said resin binder is a mixture of at least two resins, one of said resins having vinyl acetate as the major monomeric component and the other resin being a silicone resin, said mixture comprising no more than 10 percent by weight of the silicone resin.

4. The recording member as defined in claim 1 wherein said resin binder includes a styrenated acrylic copolymer resin.

5. A photoelectrostatic recording member having improved visual readability properties comprising:

1. paper base support having the following physical characteristics

a. basis weight (pounds per 17 by 22 inches - 500 sheets) 12-20

b. caliper (Sheffield) (mils) 2.5--4.0

c. roughness (Sheffield) 40--250

d. stiffness (mg., Gurley, at 72.degree. F. and 50 percent relative humidity)

machine direction 100--200

cross direction 50--125

2. said base support providing a solvent hold-out in excess of 60 millimeters;

3. a photoconductive layer covering and bonded to said base support comprising an organic solvent laid coating comprising a resin binder having a finely divided photoconductive zinc oxide and sub-millimicron sized hydrophobic silica particles dispersed therein, said silica particles being present in an amount not exceeding about 5 percent by weight of the zinc oxide, and having the following physical characteristics:

a. roughness (Sheffield) 100--250

b. gloss (75.degree., Gardner) below about 10 percent said recording member having a basis weight in the range of from 15 to 25 pounds per (17 inches by 22 inches - 500).

6. The recording member as defined in claim 5 wherein the layer has a thickness in the range of from 0.1 to 0.5 mil.

7. The recording member as defined in claim 5 wherein the particle size of the silica is about 0.20 millimicrons.

8. The recording member as defined in claim 5 wherein said paper base is treated with a solvent barrier precoat to render said support surface resistant to the penetration of organic solvents, said precoat being selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, starch, casein, animal glue, carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, styrene-butadiene latex, acrylic latex, polytetraflouroethylene, and align.

9. The recording member as defined in claim 5 wherein said resin binder is selected from the group consisting of multipolymers containing vinyl acetate as the major monomeric component, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyester resin, copolymers of vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate, phenoxy resin, acrylic resin, and copolymers of styrene-butadiene.

10. A photoelectrostatic recording member having improved visual readability properties comprising:

1. a paper base support having the following physical characteristics:

a. basis weight (pounds per 17 inches by 22 inches - 500) 12--20

b. caliper (mils) 2.5--4.0

c. roughness (Sheffield) about 55

d. stiffness mg., Gurley, at 72.degree. F. and 50 percent relative humidity)

machine direction 50--150

cross direction 25--100

2. a barrier coating applied to said base support providing a solvent hold-out in excess of 60 millimeters;

3. a photoconductive layer covering and bonded to said base support comprising an organic laid coating of finely divided photoconductive zinc oxide and sub-millimicron sized hydrophobic silica particles dispersed in an insulating resin binder containing from 0.1 percent to 10 percent by weight of a silicone resin, and having the following physical characteristics:

a. roughness (Sheffield) about 100

b. gloss (75.degree., Gardner) below about 7 percent said recording member having a basis weight in the range of from 15 to 25 pounds per (17 inches .times. 22 inches - 500) and a caliper of 3.0 to 4.5 mils.

11. The recording member as defined in claim 10 wherein the remainder of said resin binder is a resin having polyvinyl acetate as the major component.

12. A photoelectrostatic recording member having improved visual readability properties comprising:

1. a paper base support having the following physical characteristics:

2. a barrier coating applied to said base support providing a solvent holdout in excess of 60 mm;

3. a photoconductive layer covering and bonded to said base support comprising an organic solvent laid coating of zinc oxide dispersed in an insulating resin binder having the following physical characteristics:

said recording member having a basis weight in the range of from 15 to 25 lbs. per (17 inches .times. 22 inches - 500) and a caliper of 3.0 to 4.5 mils.

13. The recording member as defined in claim 11 wherein said resin binder includes a styrenated acrylic copolymer resin.