[0001] This invention relates to an ink jet recording element and printing method, more
particularly to an ink jet recording element containing a polymeric network.
[0002] In a typical ink jet recording or printing system, ink droplets are ejected from
a nozzle at high speed towards a recording element or medium to produce an image on
the medium. The ink droplets, or recording liquid, generally comprise a recording
agent, such as a dye or pigment, and a large amount of solvent. The solvent, or carrier
liquid, typically is made up of water and an organic material such as a monohydric
alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol or mixtures thereof.
[0003] An ink jet recording element typically comprises a support having on at least one
surface thereof an ink-receiving or image-receiving layer, and includes those intended
for reflection viewing, which have an opaque support, and those intended for viewing
by transmitted light, which have a transparent support.
[0004] An important characteristic of ink jet recording elements is their need to dry quickly
after printing. To this end, porous recording elements have been developed which provide
nearly instantaneous drying as long as they have sufficient thickness and pore volume
to effectively contain the liquid ink.
[0005] Porous inorganic particles, such as silica gel, precipitated silica and clays are
widely used in ink jet recording elements because of their highly absorptive properties.
For example, EP 0 739 747 A2 and U.S. Patents 5,965,244; 6,114,022 and 6,140,406 disclose
porous image-receiving layers containing silica gel and/or precipitated silica. However,
these types of image-receiving layers often have low mechanical strength or coating
integrity due to weak interactions between the porous particles and, therefore, the
image-receiving layer can be easily removed from the support upon which it was coated.
[0006] U.S. Patent 5,510,004 relates to the use of polymers and copolymers ofN, N-diallyl-3-hydroxyazetidinium
salts as agents for improving the wet strength of paper. However, there is no disclosure
of using these polymers in an image-receiving layer for an ink jet recording element.
[0007] U.S. Patent 6,409,334 discloses the use of an amino-silane compound combined with
a wet-strength polymer having a reactive azetidinium group in producing an image-receiving
layer for an ink jet recording element. However, there is no disclosure of using a
non-latex polymeric binder that would react with the azetidinium group such that the
integrity of the image-receiving layer would be greatly enhanced.
[0008] It is an object of this invention to provide an ink jet recording element that has
good image quality with excellent dry time. It is another object of the invention
to provide an ink jet recording element having an image-receiving layer of good integrity
and sufficient waterfastness.
[0009] Still another object of the invention is to provide a printing method using the above-described
element.
[0010] These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention which comprises
an ink jet recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving
layer comprising a polymeric network formed by a chemical reaction between a wet strength
polymer, amino-functionalized inorganic particles and a hydrophilic polymer other
than a wet strength polymer.
[0011] By use of the invention, an ink jet recording element is obtained that has a good
image quality with an excellent dry time. In addition, the ink jet recording element
can be made with a desired coating integrity and waterfastness.
[0012] Another embodiment of the invention relates to an ink jet printing method comprising
the steps of:
A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals;
B) loading the printer with the ink jet recording element described above;
C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition; and
D) printing on the ink jet recording element using the ink jet ink in response to
the digital data signals.
[0013] As noted above, the image-receiving layer contains a wet-strength polymer or resin.
These materials are well known in the paper and pulp industry. These polymers impart
wet strength to paper by crosslinking with cellulose, and subsequently self-crosslinking
with the fiber structure of the paper web. Useful wet-strength polymers are cationic
and water soluble, yet form a water insoluble network with cellulose. Wet-strength
polymers are capable of crosslinking with a variety of organic materials other than
cellulose and derivatives, including carboxylated and hydroxylated latexes, poly(vinyl
alcohol), amine-containing compounds, alginate, polyacrylates, gelatin, starch, and
then derivatives.
[0014] Preferred wet-strength polymers are polymers prepared by reacting a polyamine or
an amine-containing backbone polymer with an epoxide possessing a second functional
group, such as an epichlorohydrin, in water. The result is a polymer containing either
one or two highly reactive groups: the azetidinium and the epoxide. Such polymers
are well known in the art of polymer chemistry, and are available, for example, as
the Kymene® series from Hercules Inc. Especially preferred is Kymene® 557LX. The image-receiving
layer of the present invention contains the wet strength polymer in an amount of from
1 to 10% by weight.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the amino-functionalized inorganic particles
may be prepared by chemical bond formation between inorganic particles and amino-functionalized
silane coupling agents. This chemistry is well known in the art of organosilane chemistry,
and is described in, for example, "Silicon Compounds: Register and Review", 5th Edition,
available from United Chemical Technologies, Inc. This reference describes the theory
and methods for effecting chemical bond formation, and how to select the appropriate
inorganic particles and coupling agents for a particular use.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the amino-functionalized inorganic particles
are prepared by combining an amino-functionalized silane coupling agent and inorganic
particles in a ratio of from 1:5 to 1:100.
[0017] Inorganic particles which may be used to combine with the amino-functionalized silane
coupling agent include porous silica particles such as silica gel, precipitated silica,
silicates, nonporous silica particles, alumina, boehmite, clay, calcium carbonate,
titania, calcined clay, aluminosilicates, and barium sulfate. The particles may be
porous or nonporous, and may or may not be in the form of aggregated particles. In
addition, the particles must be able to form a chemical bond with silane coupling
agents as described below. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inorganic
particles are porous silica particles such as silica gel, precipitated silica, and
silicates.
[0018] In another preferred embodiment, the amino-functionalized silane coupling agent has
the formula:
(R
1)
xSi(OR
2)
y(R
3)
z
wherein:
each R1 independently represents an alkyl or aryl group, and at least one R1 is substituted with at least one amino group, such as NH2(CH2)3, NH2(CH2)4, NH2(CH2)5, NH2(CH2)6, NH2(CH2)2NH(CH2)2, NH2(CH2)3NH(CH2)2, NH2(CH2)2NH(CH2)3, NH2(CH2)3NH(CH2)3, NH2(CH2)2NH(CH2)(C6H4)(CH2)2, NH2(CH2)6NH(CH2)3, or NH2(CH2)3OC(CH3)2CH=CH;
each R2 independently represents an alkyl or aryl group, such as methyl, ethyl, 2-ethylhexyl,
methoxyethoxyethyl, or trimethylsilyl;
each R3 is an alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, propyl or isopropyl;
x is from 1 to 3;
y is from 1 to 3;
z may be 0, 1 or 2; and
the sum of x, y and z is equal to 4.
[0019] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling agent is 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane
or N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane. In another preferred embodiment
of the invention, between 1 and 20% by weight of the inorganic particles used in the
image-receiving layer are reacted with the amino-functionalized silane coupling agent.
[0020] The hydrophilic polymer other than a wet-strength polymer which may be used in the
invention may be poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), gelatin, a cellulose
ether, a poly(oxazoline), a poly(vinylacetamide), a partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl
acetate/vinyl alcohol), a poly(acrylic acid), a poly(acrylamide), a poly(alkylene
oxide), a sulfonated or phosphated polyester or polystyrenes, casein, zein, albumin,
chitin, chitosan, dextran, pectin, a collagen derivative, collodian, agar-agar, arrowroot,
guar, carrageenan, tragacanth, xanthan, or rhamsan.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic polymer other than a wet-strength polymer
is present in the image-receiving layer in an amount of from 30 to 70% by weight.
[0022] The ink jet recording element of the invention may also contain other particles such
as those described above which are used in preparing the amino-functionalized inorganic
particles. These other particles may be used in an amount of from 10 to 70% by weight
of the image-receiving layer. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ratio
of amino-functionalized particles to the other particles is from 1:5 to 1:100.
[0023] Also present in the image-receiving layer is one or more mordanting species or polymers.
The mordant may be water soluble or water insoluble such as a soluble polymer, a charged
molecule, or a crosslinked dispersed microparticle. The mordant can be non-ionic,
cationic or anionic. In one embodiment, the mordant is a water soluble cationic mordant.
In a preferred embodiment, the mordant is poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride).
The amount of mordant present is typically up to 10% by weight.
[0024] The dry thickness of the image-receiving layer may range from 5 to 30 µm, preferably
from 7 to 20 µm. The coating thickness required is determined through the need for
the coating to act as a sump for absorption of ink solvent and the need to hold the
dye or pigment colorant near the coating surface.
[0025] The support for the ink jet recording element used in the invention can be any of
those usually used for ink jet receivers, such as resin-coated paper, paper, polyesters,
or microporous materials such as polyethylene polymer-containing material sold by
PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 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. Patent 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. Biaxially oriented
support laminates are described in U.S. Patents 5,853,965; 5,866,282; 5,874,205; 5,888,643;
5,888,681; 5,888,683; and 5,888,714. 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 glass, 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 papers listed above include a broad range
of papers, from high end papers, such as photographic paper to low end papers, such
as newsprint.
[0026] The support used in the invention may have a thickness of from 50 to 500 µm, preferably
from 75 to 300 µm. Antioxidants, antistatic agents, plasticizers and other known additives
may be incorporated into the support, if desired.
[0027] Coating compositions employed in the invention may be applied by any number of well
known techniques, including dip-coating, wound-wire rod coating, doctor blade coating,
gravure and reverse-roll coating, slide coating, bead coating, extrusion coating,
curtain coating and the like. Known coating and drying methods are described in further
detail in Research Disclosure no. 308119, published Dec. 1989, pages 1007 to 1008.
After coating, the layers are generally dried by simple evaporation, which may be
accelerated by known techniques such as convection heating.
[0028] To improve colorant fade, UV absorbers, radical quenchers or antioxidants may also
be added to the image-receiving layer as is well known in the art. Other additives
include adhesion promoters, rheology modifiers, biocides, lubricants, dyes, optical
brighteners, matte agents, antistatic agents, etc.
[0029] The coating composition can be coated so that the total solids content will yield
a useful coating thickness, and for particulate coating formulations, solids contents
from 10-60% by weight are typical.
[0030] Ink jet inks used to image the recording elements of the present invention are well
known in the art. The ink compositions used in ink jet printing typically are liquid
compositions comprising a solvent or carrier liquid, dyes or pigments, humectants,
organic solvents, detergents, thickeners, preservatives, and the like. The solvent
or carrier liquid can be solely water or can be water mixed with other water-miscible
solvents such as polyhydric alcohols. Inks in which organic materials such as polyhydric
alcohols are the predominant carrier or solvent liquid may also be used. Particularly
useful are mixed solvents of water and polyhydric alcohols. The dyes used in such
compositions are typically watersoluble direct or acid type dyes. Such liquid compositions
have been described extensively in the prior art including, for example, U.S. Patents
4,381,946; 4,239,543 and 4,781,758.
[0031] Although the recording elements disclosed herein have been referred to primarily
as being useful for ink jet printers, they also can be used as recording media for
pen plotter assemblies. Pen plotters operate by writing directly on the surface of
a recording medium using a pen consisting of a bundle of capillary tubes in contact
with an ink reservoir.
[0032] The following example further illustrates the invention.
Element 1 of the Invention
[0033] A coating composition was prepared by mixing together 100 g of 6 µm silica gel Gasil®
23F (INEOS Silicas) and 420 g of water in a glass container. Then, 10 g of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane
(United Chemical Technologies, Inc.) was added under vigorous stirring. After stirring
for one hour, 170 g of poly(vinyl alcohol) Gohsenol® GH-03 (Nippon Gohsei Co. Ltd.)
as a 30% by weight solution was added, followed by 14 g of wet-strength polymer Kymene®
557LX (Hercules Inc.) as a 12.5% by weight solution. Finally, 14 g of mordant poly(diallyldimethylammonium
chloride) Nalco CP-261 (Nalco Corp.) was added as a 40 wt.% by weight solution. The
mixture was diluted with water to give 25% by weight total solids.
[0034] The coating solution was coated on paper at 25°C using a hand-coating device with
a Meyer rod so that the final dry thickness of the image-receiving layer was about
10 g/m
2. The paper was Carrara White Nokoosa Solutions Smooth, Grade 5128, Color 9220, (Georgia
Pacific Co.) having a basis weight of 150 g/m
2. After the composition was coated, it was immediately dried in an oven at 60°C.
Element 2 of the Invention
[0035] This element was prepared the same as Element 1 except that N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane
(United Chemical Technologies, Inc.) was used instead of3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane.
Comparative Element C-1 (no amino-silane or wet-strength polymer)
[0036] This element was prepared the same as Element 1 except that 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane
and Kymene® 557LX were not used.
Comparative Element C-2 (no wet-strength polymer)
[0037] This element was prepared the same as Element 1 except that Kymene® 557LX was not
used.
Comparative Element C-3 (no amino-functionalized silane coupling agent)
[0038] This element is the same as Element 1 of the invention except that no amino-functionalized
silane coupling agent was used.
Printing
[0039] Images were printed on the above elements using a Hewlett-Packard Deskjet® 970 printer
with ink cartridges 51645A (black) and C6578DN (color). The images comprised a series
of rectangles of cyan, magenta, yellow, black, green, red and blue patches. Each rectangle
was 0.8 cm in width and 20 cm in length.
Density Test
[0040] Densities of the above patches were measured using an X-Rite® densitometer. There
was no significant difference between the densities printed on Elements 1 and 2 of
the Invention and Comparative Elements C-1, C-2 and C-3.
Coating Strength Test
[0041] The strength of the image-receiving layer was tested by placing a piece of Scotch
tape on the coating surface, and then pulling the tape off the coating gently with
a consistent force. The coating strength was rated as follows:
Good = no material was taken off by the tape, or the tape could not be removed from
the coating without tearing the paper
Fair = small amount of material was taken off by the tape
Poor = large amount of material was taken off by the tape
Waterfastness Test
[0042] The waterfastness test was performed by placing one drop of water onto various color
patches, waiting for 60 seconds, and then removing the water with a piece of tissue.
The waterfastness was rated as follows:
Good = little or no color density change
Fair = slightly noticeable change in color density
Poor = large change in color density
The results are shown in the Table below.
Table
Element |
Coating Strength Rating |
Waterfastness Rating |
1 |
Good |
Good |
2 |
Good |
Good |
C-1 |
Poor |
Poor |
C-2 |
Fair |
Fair |
C-3 |
Fair |
Fair |
[0043] The above results show that the Elements of the invention had better coating strength
and waterfastness as compared to the Comparative Elements.
1. An ink jet recording element comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving
layer comprising a polymeric network formed by a chemical reaction between a wet strength
polymer, amino-functionalized inorganic particles and a hydrophilic polymer other
than a wet-strength polymer.
2. The recording element of Claim 1 wherein said image-receiving layer contains other
particles.
3. The recording element of Claim 3 wherein said inorganic particles comprise silica
gel, precipitated silica, or silicates.
4. The recording element of Claim 1 wherein said wet-strength polymer contains at least
one highly reactive group comprising an azetidinium or an epoxide.
5. The recording element of Claim 1 wherein said amino-functionalized inorganic particles
are obtained by chemical bond formation between inorganic particles and an amino-functionalized
silane coupling agent.
6. The recording element of Claim 8 wherein said amino-amino-functionalized silane coupling
agent has the formula:
(R
1)
xSi(OR
2)
y(R
3)
z
wherein:
each R1 independently represents an alkyl or aryl group, and at least one R1 is substituted with at least one amino group;
each R2 independently represents an alkyl or aryl group;
each R3 is an alkyl group;
x is from 1 to 3;
y is from 1 to 3;
z may be 0, 1 or 2; and
the sum of x, y and z is equal to 4.
7. The recording element of Claim 9 wherein said coupling agent is 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane
or N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane.
8. The recording element of Claim 1 wherein said hydrophilic polymer other than a wet
strength polymer is poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), gelatin, a cellulose
ether, a poly(oxazoline), a poly(vinylacetamide), a partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl
acetate/vinyl alcohol), a poly(acrylic acid), a poly(acrylamide), a poly(alkylene
oxide), a sulfonated or phosphated polyester or polystyrenes, casein, zein, albumin,
chitin, chitosan, dextran, pectin, a collagen derivatives, collodian, agar-agar, arrowroot,
guar, carrageenan, tragacanth, xanthan, or rhamsan.
9. An ink jet printing method comprising the steps of:
A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals;
B) loading said printer with an ink jet recording element comprising a support having
thereon an image-receiving layer comprising a polymeric network formed by a chemical
reaction between a wet strength polymer, amino-functionalized inorganic particles
and a hydrophilic polymer other than a wet-strength polymer;
C) loading said printer with an ink jet ink composition; and
D) printing on said ink jet recording element using said ink jet ink in response to
said digital data signals.