Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
  • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
  • B41M5/5227—Macromolecular coatings characterised by organic non-macromolecular additives, e.g. UV-absorbers, plasticisers, surfactants

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to recording sheets, such as transparency materials, filled plastics, papers, and the like. More specifically, the present invention is directed to recording sheets particularly suitable for use in ink jet printing processes.
• compositions and processes are suitable for their intended purposes, a need remains for improved recording sheets.
• improved recording sheets suitable for use in ink jet printing processes.
• a need remains for recording sheets which exhibit rapid drying times when imaged with aqueous inks.
• recording sheets which enable precipitation of a dye from a liquid ink onto the sheet surface during printing processes.
• a need also remains for recording sheets which are particularly suitable for use in printing processes wherein the recorded substrates are imaged with liquid inks and dried by exposure to microwave radiation.
• recording sheets coated with a discontinuous, porous film There is also a need for recording sheets which, subsequent to being imaged with an aqueous ink, exhibit reduced curling.
• the present invention provides a recording sheet which comprises a substrate and a material selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.
• Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a printing process which comprises (a) providing a recording sheet which comprises a substrate, a material selected from the group consisting of monomeric alcohols, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof, an optional binder, an optional antistatic agent, an optional biocide, and an optional filler; (b) applying an aqueous recording liquid to the recording sheet in an imagewise pattern; and (c) thereafter exposing the substrate to microwave radiation, thereby drying the recording liquid on the recording sheet.
• the recording sheets of the present invention comprise a substrate and at least one material selected from the group consisting of monomeric alcohols, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and mixtures thereof.
• Any suitable substrate can be employed. Examples include transparent materials, such as polyester, with polyester such as MylarTM being preferred in view of its availability and relatively low cost.
• the substrate can also be opaque, including opaque plastics. Filled plastics can also be employed as the substrate, particularly when it is desired to make a "never-tear paper" recording sheet. Paper is also suitable, including plain papers such as Xerox® 4024, diazo papers, or the like.
• the substrate can be of any effective thickness. Typical thicknesses for the substrate are from about 50 to about 500 ⁇ m, and preferably from about 100 to about 125 ⁇ m, although the thickness can be outside these ranges.
• suitable alcohols include (I) aliphatic alcohols, such as (1) pentaerythritol C(CH2OH)4 (Aldrich P475-5); (2) dipentaerythritol (HOCH2)3CCH2OCH2C(CH2OH)3 (Aldrich D20, 320-3); (3) tripentaerythritol (HOCH2)3CCH2OCH2C(CH2OH)2CH2OCH2C(CH2OH)3 (Aldrich 10,764-6); (4) 1,2,7,8-octane tetrol -[CH2CH2CH(OH)CH2OH]2 (Aldrich 26,027-4); (5) D-erythrose HOCH2[CH(OH)]2CHO (Aldrich 12, 098-7); (6) threitol HOCH2[CH(OH)]2CH2OH (Aldrich 26,355-9, Aldrich 29,887-5); (7) meso-erythr
• aromatic alcohols such as (1) pyrogallol (also called 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene) C6H3(OH)3 (Aldrich 25,400-2); (2) phloroglucinol dihydrate (1,3,5-trihydroxy benzene dihydrate) C6H3(OH)3 ⁇ 2H2O (Aldrich P3, 800-5); (3) 1,1,1-trihydroxyphenyl ethane CH3C(C6H4OH)3 (Aldrich 32,684-4); (4) 2',3',4',-trihydroxyacetophenone (HO)3C6H2COCH3 (Aldrich T6, 440-8); (5) 2',4',6',-trihydroxyacetophenone monohydrate (HO)3C6H2COCH3 ⁇ H2O (Aldrich T6,460-2); (6) 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzaldehyde (HO)3C6H2CHO (Aldrich 26,084-3); (7) 2,
• heterocyclic alcohols such as (1) L-ascorbic acid (Aldrich A9,290-2), of the formula:
• monosaccharides are defined as compounds having one five- or six-membered ring saccharide moiety
• oligosaccharides are defined as compounds having from two to about ten five- or six-membered ring saccharide moieties.
• suitable monosaccharides include (1) 1,4-anhydroerythritol (Aldrich 34,092-8), of the formula:
• the monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof is present in any effective amount relative to the substrate.
• the monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 50 percent by weight of the substrate, preferably from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight of the substrate, although the amount can be outside this range.
• the amount can also be expressed in terms of the weight of monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof per unit area of substrate.
• the monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof is present in an amount of from about 0.8 to about 40 grams per square meter of the substrate surface to which it is applied, and preferably from about 4 to about 24 grams per square meter of the substrate surface to which it is applied, although the amount can be outside these ranges.
• the coatings employed for the recording sheets of the present invention can include an optional binder in addition to the monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof.
• binder polymers examples include (a) hydrophilic polysaccharides and their modifications, (b) vinyl polymers, (c) formaldehyde resins, (d) ionic polymers, (e) latex polymers, (f) maleic anhydride and maleic acid containing polymers, (g) acrylamide containing polymers, and (h) poly(alkylene imine) containing polymers, wherein alkylene has two (ethylene), three (propylene), or four (butylene) carbon atoms, and the like, as well as blends or mixtures of any of the above, with starches and latexes being particularly preferred because of their availability and applicability to paper.
• suitable binders are mentioned in U.S. application S.N. 08/196,922. Any mixtures of the above ingredients in any relative amounts can be employed.
• the binder can be present within the coating in any effective amount; typically the binder and the monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof are present in relative amounts of from about 10 percent by weight binder and about 90 percent by weight monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof to about 99 percent by weight binder and about 1 percent by weight monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof, although the relative amounts can be outside of this range.
• the coating of the recording sheets of the present invention can contain optional antistatic agents. Any suitable or desired antistatic agent or agents can be employed, such as quaternary salts and other materials.
• the antistatic agent can be present in any effective amount; typically, the antistatic agent is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 5 percent by weight of the coating, and preferably in an amount of from about 1 to about 2 percent by weight of the coating, although the amount can be outside these ranges.
• the coating of the recording sheets of the present invention can contain one or more optional biocides.
• suitable biocides include (A) non-ionic biocides, (B) anionic biocides, (C) cationic biocides; and the like, as well as mixtures thereof. Specific examples of suitable biocides are mentioned in U.S. application S.N. 08/196,922.
• the biocide can be present in any effective amount; typically, the biocide is present in an amount of from about 10 parts per million to about 3 percent by weight of the coating, although the amount can be outside this range.
• the coating of the recording sheets of the present invention can contain optional filler components.
• Fillers can be present in any effective amount, and if present, typically are present in amounts of from about 1 to about 60 percent by weight of the coating composition.
• examples of filler components include colloidal silicas, such as Syloid 74, available from Grace Company (preferably present, in one embodiment, in an amount of about 20 weight percent).
• Other suitable fillers are mentioned in U.S. application S.N. 08/196,922.
• the coating containing the monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof is present on the substrate of the recording sheet of the present invention in any effective thickness.
• the total thickness of the coating layer is from about 1 to about 25 microns and preferably from about 5 to about 10 microns, although the thickness can be outside of these ranges.
• the monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof or the mixture of monomeric alcohol, monosaccharide, oligosaccharide, or mixture thereof, optional binder, optional antistatic agent, optional biocide, and/or optional filler can be applied to the substrate by any suitable technique, such as size press treatment, dip coating, reverse roll coating, extrusion coating, or the like.
• the coating can be applied with a KRK size press (Kumagai Riki Kogyo Co., Ltd., Nerima, Tokyo, Japan) by dip coating and can be applied by solvent extrusion on a Faustel Coater.
• the KRK size press is a lab size press that simulates a commercial size press.
• This size press is normally sheet fed, whereas a commercial size press typically employs a continuous web.
• the substrate sheet is taped by one end to the carrier mechanism plate.
• the speed of the test and the roll pressures are set, and the coating solution is poured into the solution tank.
• a 4 liter stainless steel beaker is situated underneath for retaining the solution overflow.
• the coating solution is cycled once through the system (without moving the substrate sheet) to wet the surface of the rolls and then returned to the feed tank, where it is cycled a second time. While the rolls are being "wetted", the sheet is fed through the sizing rolls by pressing the carrier mechanism start button.
• the coated sheet is then removed from the carrier mechanism plate and is placed on a 12 inch by 40 inch (30x100cm) sheet of 750 ⁇ m thick Teflon for support and is dried on the Dynamic Former drying drum and held under restraint to prevent shrinkage.
• the drying temperature is approximately 105°C. This method of coating treats both sides of the substrate simultaneously.
• liquid coating composition In dip coating, a web of the material to be coated is transported below the surface of the liquid coating composition by a single roll in such a manner that the exposed site is saturated, followed by removal of any excess coating by the squeeze rolls and drying at 100°C in an air dryer.
• the liquid coating composition generally comprises the desired coating composition dissolved in a solvent such as water, methanol, or the like.
• the method of surface treating the substrate using a coater results in a continuous sheet of substrate with the coating material applied first to one side and then to the second side of this substrate.
• the substrate can also be coated by a slot extrusion process, wherein a flat die is situated with the die lips in close proximity to the web of substrate to be coated, resulting in a continuous film of the coating solution evenly distributed across one surface of the sheet, followed by drying in an air dryer at 100°C.
• Recording sheets of the present invention can be employed in ink jet printing processes.
• One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a process which comprises applying an aqueous recording liquid to a recording sheet of the present invention in an imagewise pattern.
• Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a printing process which comprises (1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus containing an aqueous ink a recording sheet of the present invention, and (2) causing droplets of the ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto the recording sheet, thereby generating images on the recording sheet.
• Ink jet printing processes are well known, and are described in, for example, US-A-4,601,777, US-A-4,251,824, US-A-4,410,899, US-A-4,412,224, and US-A-4,532,530.
• the printing apparatus employs a thermal ink jet process wherein the ink in the nozzles is selectively heated in an imagewise pattern, thereby causing droplets of the ink to be ejected in imagewise pattern.
• the substrate is printed with an aqueous ink and thereafter the printed substrate is exposed to microwave radiation, thereby drying the ink on the sheet. Printing processes of this nature are disclosed in, for example, US-A-5,220,346.
• Recording sheets of the present invention exhibit reduced curl upon being printed with aqueous inks, particularly in situations wherein the ink image is dried by exposure to microwave radiation.
• cur refers to the distance between the base line of the arc formed by recording sheet when viewed in cross-section across its width (or shorter dimension - for example, 8.5 inches (21.6cm) in an 8.5 ⁇ 11 inch (21.6x27.9cm) sheet, as opposed to length, or longer dimension - for example, 11 inches (27.9cm) in an 8.5 ⁇ 11 inch (21.6x27.9cm) sheet) and the midpoint of the arc.
• a sheet can be held with the thumb and forefinger in the middle of one of the long edges of the sheet (for example, in the middle of one of the 11 inch (21.6cm) edges in an 8.5 ⁇ 11 inch (21.6x27.9cm) sheet) and the arc formed by the sheet can be matched against a pre-drawn standard template curve.
• the recording sheets of the present invention can also be used in any other printing or imaging process, such as printing with pen plotters, handwriting with ink pens, offset printing processes, or the like, provided that the ink employed to form the image is compatible with the ink receiving layer of the recording sheet.
• the optical density measurements recited herein were obtained on a Pacific Spectrograph Color System.
• the system consists of two major components, an optical sensor and a data terminal.
• the optical sensor employs a 6 inch (15cm) integrating sphere to provide diffuse illumination and 8 degrees viewing. This sensor can be used to measure both transmission and reflectance samples. When reflectance samples are measured, a specular component may be included.
• a high resolution, full dispersion, grating monochromator was used to scan the spectrum from 380 to 720 nanometers.
• the data terminal features a 12 inch (30cm) CRT display, numerical keyboard for selection of operating parameters and the entry of tristimulus values, and an alphanumeric keyboard for entry of product standard information.
• Transparency sheets were prepared as follows. Blends of 70 percent by weight hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (K35LV, obtained from Dow Chemical Co.) and 30 percent by weight of various additive compositions, each obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co., were prepared by mixing 56 grams of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and 24 grams of the additive composition in 1,000 milliliters of water in a 2 Liter jar and stirring the contents in an Omni homogenizer for 2 hours. Subsequently, the solution was left overnight for removal of air bubbles. The blends thus prepared were then coated by a dip coating process (both sides coated in one operation) by providing Mylar® base sheets in cut sheet form (8.5 ⁇ 11 inches; 216.x27.9cm) in a thickness of 100 ⁇ m.
• K35LV hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
• additive compositions each obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co.
• the dried coated sheets were each coated with 1 gram, 10 ⁇ m in thickness, on each surface (2 grams total coating weight for 2-sided transparency) of the substrate.
• a transparency sheet was also prepared in which the coating consisted of 100 percent by weight hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and contained no additive composition.
• Transparency sheets were prepared as follows. Blends of 90 percent by weight hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (K35LV, obtained from Dow Chemical Co.) and 10 percent by weight of various additive compositions, each obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co., were prepared by mixing 72 grams of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and 8 grams of the additive composition in 1,000 milliliters of water in a 2 Liter jar and stirring the contents in an Omni homogenizer for 2 hours. Subsequently, the solution was left overnight for removal of air bubbles. The blends thus prepared were then coated by a dip coating process (both sides coated in one operation) by providing Mylar® base sheets in cut sheet form (8.5 ⁇ 11 inches; 21.6x27.9cm) in a thickness of 100 ⁇ m.
• K35LV hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
• additive compositions each obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co.
• the dried coated sheets were each coated with 1 gram, 10 ⁇ m in thickness, on each surface (2 grams total coating weight for 2-sided transparency) of the substrate.
• a transparency sheet was also prepared in which the coating consisted of 100 percent by weight hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and contained no additive composition.
• the drying times of the transparencies containing the additives were generally faster than the drying times of the transparency containing no additives.
• the optical densities of the images on the transparencies containing the additives were acceptable and in some instances improved compared to those on the transparencies containing no additives.
• Transparency sheets were prepared as follows. Blends of 90 percent by weight hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (K35LV, obtained from Dow Chemical Co.) and 10 percent by weight of various additive compositions, each obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co., were prepared by mixing 72 grams of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and 8 grams of the additive composition in 1,000 milliliters of water in a 2 Liter jar and stirring the contents in an Omni homogenizer for 2 hours. Subsequently, the solution was left overnight for removal of air bubbles. The blends thus prepared were then coated by a dip coating process (both sides coated in one operation) by providing Mylar® base sheets in cut sheet form (8.5 ⁇ 11 inches; 21.6x27.gcm) in a thickness of 100 ⁇ m.
• K35LV hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
• additive compositions each obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co.
• the dried coated sheets were each coated with 1 gram, 10 ⁇ m in thickness, on each surface (2 grams total coating weight for 2-sided transparency) of the substrate.
• a transparency sheet was also prepared in which the coating consisted of 100 percent by weight hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and contained no additive composition.
• the transparency sheets thus prepared were incorporated into a Hewlett-Packard 500-C color ink jet printer containing inks of the following compositions:
• the optical density of the cyan images was enhanced, particularly in cases such as wherein the transparency contained inositol, D-gluconic acid, lactobionic acid, ⁇ -D-lactose, and D-maltose monohydrate.
• Transparency sheets were prepared as follows. Blends of 54 percent by weight hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (K35LV, obtained from Dow Chemical Co.), 36 percent by weight poly(ethylene oxide) (POLY OX WSRN-3000, obtained from Union Carbide Corp., and 10 percent by weight of various additive compositions, each obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co., were prepared by mixing 43.2 grams of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, 28.8 grams of poly(ethylene oxide), and 8 grams of the additive composition in 1,000 milliliters of water in a 2 Liter jar and stirring the contents in an Omni homogenizer for 2 hours. Subsequently, the solution was left overnight for removal of air bubbles.
• K35LV hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose
• POLY OX WSRN-3000 obtained from Union Carbide Corp.
• the blends thus prepared were then coated by a dip coating process (both sides coated in one operation) by providing Mylar® base sheets in cut sheet form (8.5 ⁇ 11 inches; 21.6x27.9cm) in a thickness of 100 ⁇ m. Subsequent to air drying at 25°C for 3 hours followed by oven drying at 100°C for 10 minutes and monitoring the difference in weight prior to and subsequent to coating, the dried coated sheets were each coated with 1 gram, 10 ⁇ m in thickness, on each surface (2 grams total coating weight for 2-sided transparency) of the substrate. For comparison purposes, a transparency sheet was also prepared in which the coating consisted of 60 percent by weight hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and 40 percent by weight poly(ethylene oxide) and contained no additive composition.
• the drying times of the transparencies containing the additives were generally faster than the drying times of the transparency containing no additives.
• the optical densities of the images on the transparencies containing the additives were acceptable and in some instances improved compared to those on the transparencies containing no additives.
• Paper recording sheets were prepared as follows. Coating compositions containing various additive compositions, each obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co., were prepared by dissolving 50 grams of the additive in 500 milliliters of water in a beaker and stirring for 1 hour at 25°C. The additive solutions thus prepared were then coated onto paper by a dip coating process (both sides coated in one operation) by providing paper base sheets in cut sheet form (8.5 ⁇ 11 inches; 21.6x27.9cm) in a thickness of 100 ⁇ m.
• the papers coated with the additives exhibited higher weight loss of volatiles at time 1,000 minutes compared to the paper which had been treated with water alone.
• the papers coated with the additives exhibited lower curl values compared to the curl value for the paper treated with water alone.
• Paper recording sheets were prepared as follows. Coating compositions containing various additive compositions, each obtained from Aldrich Chemical Co., were prepared by dissolving 50 grams of the additive in 500 milliliters of water in a beaker and stirring for 1 hour at 25°C. The additive solutions thus prepared were then coated onto paper by a dip coating process (both sides coated in one operation) by providing paper base sheets in cut sheet form (8.5 ⁇ 11 inches; 21.6x27.9cm) in a thickness of 100 ⁇ m.

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Citations (6)

• 1995
  • 1995-02-10 JP JP7022789A patent/JPH07276790A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 1995-02-14 EP EP95300916A patent/EP0667245A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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