EP1395437B1 - Bildaufzeichnungsmedium - Google Patents

Bildaufzeichnungsmedium Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1395437B1
EP1395437B1 EP02726918A EP02726918A EP1395437B1 EP 1395437 B1 EP1395437 B1 EP 1395437B1 EP 02726918 A EP02726918 A EP 02726918A EP 02726918 A EP02726918 A EP 02726918A EP 1395437 B1 EP1395437 B1 EP 1395437B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
image
cationic
recording medium
receptive layer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02726918A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1395437A1 (de
Inventor
Yasuyuki Takeda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
3M Innovative Properties Co
Original Assignee
3M Innovative Properties Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 3M Innovative Properties Co filed Critical 3M Innovative Properties Co
Publication of EP1395437A1 publication Critical patent/EP1395437A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1395437B1 publication Critical patent/EP1395437B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B41M5/5245—Macromolecular coatings characterised by the use of polymers containing cationic or anionic groups, e.g. mordants
    • 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
    • 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
    • B41M5/502—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording characterised by structural details, e.g. multilayer materials
    • B41M5/508—Supports
    • 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
    • B41M5/502—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording characterised by structural details, e.g. multilayer materials
    • B41M5/506—Intermediate layers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image-recording medium for recording an ink-image with a printing method such as an ink-jet printing method, and in particular, to an image-recording medium which can be adapted to both pigment inks and dye inks and record a high-quality image.
  • an image-recording medium comprising a support having breathing micropores, that is, a porous support, the surfaces and the micropores of which are made hydrophilic, is useful as an image-recording medium such as an ink-jet printing paper.
  • an image-recording medium is disclosed in US-A-5605750, WO99/03685, WO01/10650.
  • WO99/03685 discloses an image-recording medium comprising a surfactant and a polyvalent metal salt which are contained in the micropores of a support comprising a porous film.
  • the polyvalent metal salt is fixed in the micropores by imparting the hydrophilicity to the inner walls of the micropores with the surfactant and then applying a liquid containing the polyvalent metal salt.
  • the ink is printed (or recorded) so that it is fixed to the surface of the support.
  • An ink-receptive layer may be provided on the support.
  • the pigment contained in the ink is retained on the fixing surface, so that the migration of the pigment in the pores can be effectively prevented, and the coloring and the quick drying property can be improved.
  • WO01/10650 proposes the use of a layer comprising a water-soluble salt and an organic binder as an ink-receptive layer formed on the support which has breathing micropores.
  • the water-soluble salt functions as a coagulant, and quickly coagulates (or fixes) the pigment on the surface of the ink-receptive layer, when the ink is applied (by printing) to the surface of the medium (the surface of the ink-receptive layer).
  • the migration of the pigment into the pores inside the medium is effectively prevented, and the quick drying property is enhanced.
  • the organic binder functions to fix (or bind) the coagulant in the ink-receptive layer in an effective manner.
  • the water resistance of the fixed ink-image can be effectively improved by the synergistic effect of the coagulating function of the water-soluble salt and the binding function of the binder.
  • the content of the coagulant is usually from 1 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder polymer.
  • JP-A-10-86505 discloses an ink-jet printing paper formed by applying a water-resistant agent for an ink-jet printing paper comprising a specific cationic urethane oligomer to a plain paper or a coated paper, although the printing paper disclosed is not an image-recording medium having a support the surface and micropores of which are made hydrophilic.
  • a paper sheet is used as an ink-jet printing medium, there arises a problem such that a dye may blot due to the adhesion of water after recording. Therefore, the use of a water-resistant agent is discussed.
  • cationic resins such as dicyandiamide condensates, polyamine and polyethyleneimine are known, but they suffer from some drawbacks such as insufficient water resistance, change of color tone, yellowing of white parts of a paper sheet, blotting of inks.
  • the cationic urethane oligomer can improve the water resistance of printed images, and substantially prevent the change of color tone and the yellowing of white parts of a paper sheet, when a dye ink is used to print the paper sheet.
  • the cationic urethane oligomer may be prepared by the polyaddition of the following compounds (A), (B) and (C) to obtain a polyurethane, and neutralizing at least a part of the tertiary amino groups of the polyurethane with an acid or quatemarizing at least a part of the tertiary amino groups with a quatemarizing agent:
  • the weight average molecular weight of the cationic urethane oligomer is less than 10,000 (about 1,000 to 8,000).
  • good quality images can. be formed by printing with the pigment ink, but the color tone easily changes and thus the color of the color-printed image tends to shift to the yellow side.
  • the ink-jet printing paper comprising the cationic urethane oligomer has effects in the printing with the dye ink.
  • the blotting of the printed areas tends to be remarkable. This is partly because the coloring component (pigment) in the ink tends to migrate to the pores inside the medium.
  • the present invention provides an image-recording medium according to claim 1 comprising (i) a support having breathing micropores, the surfaces and the micropores of which are made hydrophilic, and (ii) an ink-receptive layer which is provided on the surface of said support and comprises a binder and a coagulant, characterized in that said ink-receptive layer contains a cationic organic oligomer having a cationic functional group in the molecule, or a cationic polymer having a cationic functional group in the molecule as a coagulant.
  • the image-recording medium of the present invention comprises (i) a porous support, having breathing micropores the surfaces and micropores of which are made hydrophilic, and (ii) an ink-receptive layer which is provided on the surface of the support and comprises (a) a binder and the cationic oligomer or polymer as the coagulant (b) as defined in claim 1.
  • the present invention can provide an image-recording medium which can satisfy the desire of the users who wish the printing of media with both the dye ink and the pigment ink.
  • one object of the present invention is to provide an image-recording medium which can satisfy the desire of the users who wish the printing of media with the dye ink and the pigment ink without changing the kinds of the media.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an image-recording medium which can form a high quality image thereon without yellowing (the shift of color tone) or the remarkable blotting of the ink with both the dye ink and the pigment ink.
  • the cationic organic oligomer is an excellent water-resistant agent which improves the quality of the image formed with the dye ink.
  • the cationic organic oligomer alone has an inferior coagulation function to the water-soluble salt-based coagulant. That is, the cationic organic oligomer should be further improved to quickly coagulate the pigment on the surface of the ink-receptive layer and prevent the migration of the pigment into the pores inside the support, when the pigment ink is applied on the surface of the medium.
  • the support having the surface and the micropores which are made hydrophilic is used to make up the weak point of the cationic organic oligomer, which appears in the printing with the pigment ink, and thus the conformity of the medium to the pigment ink is improved:
  • a low molecular weight compound having a high ion dissociation property is advantageous like the water-soluble salt
  • the molecular weight of the compound has an influence on the number of ions which can dissociate per a unit volume of the ion-receptive layer.
  • the cationic organic oligomer having the low ion dissociation property cannot increase the coagulation function.
  • the yellowing in the printing with the dye ink more easily occurs as the number of the dissociable ions increases. This may be because the dye reacts with the ions to form a complex of a complex-like substance and thus the absorption wavelength of light shifts.
  • the cationic organic oligomer is more advantageous than the water-soluble salt.
  • the weak point of the cationic organic oligomer with respect to the coagulating function can be compensated with the hydrophilic porous support.
  • the coagulation reaction of the cationic organic oligomer with the pigment is retarded when a dispersion medium of the ink remains at the printed area for an excessively long time, since the organic oligomer has a less interaction with the pigment than the water-soluble salt. It is supposed that the hydrophilic porous support quickly absorbs the dispersion medium of the printing ink and functions to increase the quick drying property and accelerate the coagulation reaction with the pigment.
  • the ink-receptive layer may consists of a single layer containing the mixture of the binder polymer and the cationic polymer (or oligomer).
  • the ink-receptive layer has a laminate structure of two layers as described below:
  • the ink-receptive layer comprises (ii-1) an base layer having a back surface which faces the surface of the support and a surface opposite to the back surface, and containing the binder, and (ii-2) an upper layer containing the coagulant at least a part of which is impregnated in the base layer so that it is localized near the surface of the base layer.
  • the function to prevent yellowing and also ink blotting can be more effectively improved both in the printing with the dye ink and in the printing with the pigment ink.
  • the coagulant is a cationic organic oligomer having a cationic functional group in the molecule (a cationic oligomer), or a cationic organic polymer having a cationic functional group in the molecule (a cationic polymer).
  • the cationic oligomer has an intermediate molecular weight between that of the low molecular weight coagulant such as the water-soluble salt and that of the polymer.
  • the weight average molecular weight of the cationic oligomer is usually from 500 to 10,000.
  • the weight average molecular weight of the cationic polymer is usually from 10,000 to 1,000,000.
  • the cationic oligomer or polymer has at least one cationic functional group selected from the group consisting of nitrogen-containing cationic functional groups, sulfonium salts (e.g. -S + R 2 ⁇ X - in which R is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and X is a halide ion) and phosphonium salts (e.g. -P + R 3 ⁇ X - in which R is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and X is a halide ion).
  • nitrogen-containing cationic functional groups e.g. -S + R 2 ⁇ X - in which R is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and X is a halide ion
  • phosphonium salts e.g. -P + R 3 ⁇ X - in which R is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and X is a halide ion
  • the nitrogen-containing cationic functional group is at least one group selected from the group consisting of amine salts, quaternary ammonium salts (e.g. -N + R 3 ⁇ X - in which R is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and X is a halide ion), pyridium salts (e.g. -N + C 5 H 5 ⁇ X - in which X is a halide ion) and polyethylenepolyamine (e.g. -NH(C 2 H 4 NH) m H in which m is a number of 2 to 4).
  • quaternary ammonium salts e.g. -N + R 3 ⁇ X - in which R is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and X is a halide ion
  • pyridium salts e.g. -N + C 5 H 5 ⁇ X - in which X is a halide ion
  • the cationic oligomer or polymer When the cationic oligomer or polymer is contained in the ink-receptive layer in admixture with the binder polymer, it preferably contains, in the molecule, at least one cationic salt functional group selected from the group consisting of sulfonium salts, phosphonium salts, quaternary ammonium salts and pyridinium salts.
  • cationic salt funcitonal groups are advantageous for the prevention of yellowing since they have a moderate ion dissociation property, and also exhibit the coagulation function so that the blotting in the case of printing with the pigment ink by means of the hydrophilic porous support.
  • the binder of the ink-receptive layer comprises an ion-modified polymer, in particular, a polymer having an anionic functional group which is not according to the invention
  • the cationic polymer does not interacts with the ion-modified polymer in a paint for the formation of the ink-receptive layer, and thus the cationic polymer can maintain the stably dispersed or dissolved state without the coagulation.
  • the polymer or oligomer having the quaternary ammonium salt in the molecule is particularly preferable.
  • polymers having backbones comprising polyamine, polyurethane, polyurea, polyester or polyoxyalkylene ether, each containing the cationic functional group in the molecule may be used.
  • oligomers having backbones comprising polyamine, polyurethane, polyurea, polyester or polyoxyalkylene ether each containing the cationic functional group in the molecule may be used as the cationic oligomer.
  • the cationic polyurethane to be used in the present invention may be prepared by a conventional process for the synthesis of polyurethane. For example, it is prepared by the reaction of a polyisocyanate and a polyol mixture containing a polyol having a cationic functional group such as a quaternary ammonium group.
  • the cationic polyurethane may be prepared by quatemarizing a precursor which has been prepared by the reaction of (1) a mixture of a compound having an active hydrogen and a tertiary amine group in the molecule and a polyol, and (2) a polyisocyanate.
  • quatemarizing a precursor which has been prepared by the reaction of (1) a mixture of a compound having an active hydrogen and a tertiary amine group in the molecule and a polyol, and (2) a polyisocyanate.
  • Such reactions can be performed as follows:
  • a polyol having at last two active hydrogen atoms reactive with the isocyanate group as a raw material oligomer forming the backbone, and a solvent having no active hydrogen are charged in a reaction vessel which has been replaced with nitrogen.
  • the weight average molecular weight of the polyol is usually from 300 to 5,000.
  • a polyisocyanate having at least two isocyanate groups is added to the vessel and heated at a temperature of 60°C or higher for several hours to allow the polyisocyanate to react with the raw material oligomer.
  • an amino group-containing compound having an active hydrogen and a tertiary amine group is added to the reaction produt.
  • the mixture is heated and reacted at a temperature of 60°C or higher for several hours.
  • a diol, a triol, a diamine or a triamine each having an active hydrogen and a tertiary amine group in the molecule may be used.
  • the weight average molecular weight of such a compound is usually less than 300.
  • the urethane prepolymer obtained is reacted with an acid to quatemarize the tertiary amino group.
  • polystyrene resin examples include polypropylene glycol, polytetramethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polyaddition products of bisphenol A and propylene oxide, polyaddition products of bisphenol S and propylene oxide, adipic acid-based polyester, isophthalic acid-based polyester.
  • Examples of the above amino group-containing compound include N-methyl-N,N-diethanolamine; N-ethyl-N,N-diethanolamine, N-isobutyl-N,N-diethanolamine, triethanolamine, methyliminobispropylamine, butyliminobispropylamine, tri(2-aminoethyl)amine.
  • polyisocyanate those conventionally used for the synthesis of polyurethane may be used.
  • the conventional polyisocyanate include aliphatic diisocyanates such as tetramethylene diisocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate, dodecamethylene diisocyanate, trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate.
  • cationic polymer to be used in the present invention are a cationic polyamine containing a quaternary ammonium salt group available from NIKKA Chemical Co., Ltd. under a trade name of NEOFIX® IJ-450, and a cationic polyamide resin available from NIPPON PMC Co., Ltd. under a trade name of WS SERIES®.
  • cationic oligomer to be used in the present invention are a cationic polyurethane containing a quaternary ammonium salt group available from NIKKA Chemical Co., Ltd. under a trade name of NEOFIX® IJ-150, an organic oligomer containing a quaternary ammonium salt group available from Witco Chemical under a trade name of Emcol® CC-9, Emcol® CC-36 or Emcol® CC-42.
  • the amount of the cationic oligomer or polymer to be contained as the coagulant in the ink-receptive layer is from 1 to 40 parts by weight, preferably from 3 to 35 parts by weight, particularly preferably from 5 to 30 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the binder polymer.
  • the content of the cationic oligomer or polymer is too low, the coagulating activity decreases so that the blur of the ink-image may appear in the printing with the pigment ink.
  • this content is too high, the yellowing may appear in the printing with the dye ink.
  • the cationic oligomer or polymer and the anionic organic oligomer which is not according to the invention may be used at the same time insofar as the effects of the present invention are not impaired.
  • the anionic organic oligomer has a backbone comprising polyurethane, polyurea, polyester or polyoxyalkylene ether, and an anionic functional group. Examples of the anionic functional group are carboxylate salt groups, sulfonate salt groups, phosphate ester salt groups.
  • amphoteric oligomers such as betaine or sulfobetaine oligomers may be used also.
  • the weight average molecular weight of the oligomer which can be used together with the cationic oligomer or polymer is usually from 500 to 8,000.
  • the support may comprise a film or sheet having breathing micropores (which will be referred to as "porous film” collectively), and its surface and micropores are made hydrophilic.
  • porous film which will be referred to as "porous film” collectively
  • the kind of the porous film is not limited insofar as the above-described effects are achieved, and any support, that is conventionally used in the image-recording medium, may be used.
  • stretched resin films such as TESLIN® porous film (an stretched porous resin film of PPG Industries) is preferably used.
  • the permeability of the porous film is usually from 10 to 3,000 s/100 ml, preferably from 50 to 2,500 s/100 ml, particularly preferably from 100 to 2,000 s/100 ml, in terms of a Gurley permeability.
  • the Gurley permeability is a value measured with a Gurley permeability tester according to JIS P-8117-1980, and expressed by a time (seconds) necessary to allow 100 ml of the air to pass through a sample.
  • Examples of the material of the porous film include polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene-1, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, styrene-butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, polyamide, polycarbonate, acrylic resins, polyesters and copolymer polyesters. They may be used as a mixture of two or more. Among them, general resins such as polyolefin (e.g. polypropylene, high density polyethylene) are preferable, from the viewpoint of water resistance and costs.
  • polyolefin e.g. polypropylene, high density polyethylene
  • the porous film may optionally contain inorganic fine powder to increase the porosity of the film.
  • the inorganic fine powder include calcium carbonate, alumina, calcined clay, silica, and the like.
  • the particle size of the fine powder is usually from 0.3 to 10 ⁇ m, preferably from 0.8 to 5 ⁇ m.
  • the porous film may contain other additives such as a heat stabilizer, a UV absorber, a dispersant, an antistatic agent, an antioxidant, an oil (e.g. mineral oil), and so on.
  • the porous film can be produced by stretching a resin composition comprising the above-described resin and optionally the inorganic fine powder and other additives.
  • the stretching machine include an inflation film forming machine, an inflation film forming machine equipped with an inner mandrel, a T-die film forming machine equipped with a tenter or machine-direction stretching rolls and a tenter. The stretching may be performed uniaxially or biaxially.
  • the porosity of the porous film (that is, the total volume of the pores in the whole volume of the film) is usually from 10 to 90 vol. %, preferably from 20 to 80 vol. %.
  • the porosity is usually from 10 to 90 vol. %, preferably from 20 to 80 vol. %.
  • the porosity is too low, the quick-drying property may deteriorate.
  • the porosity is too high, the firmness (mechanical strength) of the support decreases so that the recording media may not be smoothly supplied and discharged.
  • the diameter of the pores measured on the cross section vertical to the wall thickness direction of the film is usually from 0.01 to 3 ⁇ m, preferably from 0.02 to 2 ⁇ m, more preferably from 0.03 to 1 ⁇ m.
  • the whole thickness of the support is from 30 to 1,000 ⁇ m, preferably from 50 to 500 ⁇ m.
  • the ink-drying property may deteriorate.
  • the handling of the recording medium may become troublesome.
  • the image-recording medium of the present invention can be printed with various types of ink-jet printers and the like, although the medium having a too large thickness may not be printed with some printers.
  • the surfaces and micropores of the support are treated with a surfactant to impart hydrophilicity to them.
  • a hydrophilic treatment can be carried out at the same time as the formation of the ink-receptive layer by adding the surfactant to the paint for the formation of the ink-receptive layer and applying the paint to the surface of the support.
  • a liquid containing the surfactant is applied to the surface of the support or the support is dipped in the liquid containing the surfactant to make the surfaces and micropores of the support hydrophilic. Then, the liquid containing the binder resin and the cationic oligomer is applied to the surface of the hydrophilicly treated support to form the ink-receptive layer.
  • This method can easily produce the image-recording medium having the quick-drying property.
  • the surfactant may be any of anionic, cationic, amphoteric and nonionic surfactants.
  • the anionic surfactants include carboxylate salt type, sulfonate salt type and phosphate salt type ones.
  • the cationic surfactants include amine salt type and quaternary ammonium type ones, the amphoteric surfactants include betaine type and sulfobetaine type ones, and the nonionic surfactants include polyoxyalkylene type ones (e.g. polyethylene glycol), sorbitane type and sorbitol type ones.
  • a medium is preferably water or alcohol such as ethanol.
  • the concentration of the surfactant in the liquid is usually from 1 to 30 % by weight, preferably from 5 to 25 % by weight.
  • a conventional coater such as a bar coater, a knife coater, a roll coater, a die coater may be used.
  • the hydrophilic treatment with the surfactant may be omitted, when the whole porous film or a part near the surface of the film contains a relatively large amount of amorphous silica particles to impart the hydrophilicity to the support.
  • the particle size of the silica particles is usually from 0.3 to 10 ⁇ m, preferably from 0.8 to 5 ⁇ m.
  • the content of the silica particles is usually from 30 to 60 % by weight, preferably from 35 to 55 % by weight, based on the whole weight of the film.
  • the binder polymer of the ink-receptive layer is a cation-modified polyurethane or a cation-modified polyester.
  • the ion-modified polymer retains the pigment or the dye at the printed area of the support in cooperation with the cationic oligomer or polymer and functions to enhance the effect to prevent the blotting. From such a viewpoint, the combination of the ion-modified polymer and the cationic polymer is preferable. Usually, a water-dispersible ion-modified polymer is used.
  • the ink-receptive layer containing the cation-modified polymer is particularly advantageous to improve the water resistance of the image printed with the ink-jet printing.
  • the ion-modified polymer is an ion-modified polyurethane disclosed in JP-A-10-181189, which comprises a mixture of polyurethane having a sulfonic acid group in the molecule and epichlorohydrin-polyamide.
  • Epichlorohydrin-polyamide may be prepared by polycondensation of adipic acid and diethylenetriamine with dehydration.
  • the polyurethane having a sulfonic acid group in the molecule may be prepared by polymerizing the first diol having a sulfonic acid group in the molecule, the second diol having no sulfonic acid group in the molecule, and a diisocyanate.
  • the first diol may be prepared with the transesterification of dimethyl sodiumsulfoisophthalate with a diol.
  • PATERACOL® IJ-170 a paint containing a cation-modified polyurethane and inorganic fine powder
  • PATERACOL® IJ-21 a paint containing a cation-modified polyurethane and no inorganic fine powder
  • the ink-receptive layer preferably contains an inorganic fine powder to increase the porosity of the ink-receptive layer and further improve the ink-drying property.
  • an inorganic fine powder calcium carbonate, alumina, calcined clay, silica (including amorphous silica), diatomaceous earth, talc, titanium oxide, barium sulfate, and the like may be used.
  • the particle size of the fine powder is usually from 0.3 to 10 ⁇ m, preferably from 0.8 to 5 ⁇ m.
  • the amount of the inorganic fine powder is usually from 15 to 65 parts by weight, preferably from 25 to 55 parts by weight, based on the 100 parts by weight of the binder. When the amount of the inorganic fine powder is too small, the ink-drying property may not be improved. When the amount of the inorganic fine powder is too large, the ink-receptive layer tends to have insufficient mechanical strength.
  • the ink-receptive layer may contain other additives such as a heat stabilizer, a UV absorber, a dispersant, an antistatic agent, an antioxidant.
  • the ink-receptive layer may be formed, for example, by applying the liquid containing the cationic oligomer and the binder polymer to the hydrophilic surface of the support and then drying the applied liquid.
  • the solvent is preferably water or an alcohol.
  • a layer containing the binder is firstly formed, and then the liquid containing the coagulant such as the cationic polymer is applied and dried to form the ink-receptive layer.
  • the coagulant is a material having a high film-forming property such as the cationic polymer
  • the layer containing the binder (the base layer) is firstly formed and then the paint containing the coagulant is applied to the surface of such a layer, the coagulant is localized in the surface part of the ink-receptive layer to which the ink is applied, and thus the effect of the coagulant is advantageously enhanced.
  • the base layer it is preferable for the base layer to contain the inorganic fine powder so that at least a part of the upper layer is easily impregnated in the base layer.
  • a conventional coater such as a bar coater, a knife coater, a roll coater, a die coater may be used.
  • the concentration of the cationic olymer (or oligomer) contained in the paint for the upper layer is usually from 0.5 to 30 % by weight, preferably from 1 to 25 % by weight.
  • the thickness of the whole ink-receptive layer may vary in a wide range.
  • the ink-receptive layer preferably has a relatively large thickness to prevent the blur of the ink-image.
  • the ink-receptive layer is preferably thin to suppress the decrease of the color development due to the sinking of the coloring material of the ink. From these viewpoints, the thickness of the ink-receptive layer is usually from 5 to 100 ⁇ m, preferably from 10 to 50 ⁇ m.
  • the thickness of the base layer is usually from 4.7 to 99 ⁇ m, preferably from 9.5 to 49 ⁇ m, and that of the upper layer is selected so that the thickness of the base layer is in this range, and the thickness of the whole ink-receptive layer is in the above-defined range.
  • the thickness of the upper layer including the part impregnated in the base layer is usually from 0.3 to 40 ⁇ m. In general, the thickness of the upper layer is smaller than that of the base layer.
  • the image-recording medium of the present invention may be used to record the ink-image with a printer such as an ink-jet printer.
  • the ink comprises a colorant comprising a pigment or a dye, and a solvent such as water, alcohol.
  • the recording medium of the present invention has particularly good performances and effectively improves the quick-drying property and water resistance in the recording with the ink-jet printer using the aqueous inks (comprising water as the solvent).
  • the printing conditions may be the same as those employed to print a conventional recording paper. Accordingly, the recording medium of the present invention is advantageous in that it requires no special printing conditions.
  • the recording medium of the present invention may be used as a structural material of an adhesive sheet for decoration.
  • an adhesive layer containing an adhesive such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided on the surface of the support opposite to the ink-fixing surface, and a liner which protects the adhesive surface of the adhesive layer is provided to form a laminate consisting of the recording medium, the adhesive layer and the liner.
  • This laminate is printed with the printer like the recording medium as such to print the decoration pattern on the ink-fixing surface of the recording medium (the surface of the ink-receptive layer) to obtain the adhesive sheet for decoration.
  • the adhesive sheet according to the present invention may be adhered to the surface of an adherent such as a wall, a signboard, a sign, a vehicle body, a pane and decorate the adherent.
  • a support used in this Example was a porous film containing amorphous silica, which had a thickness of 350 ⁇ m, a porosity of 65 % by volume and a pore size of 0.01 to 1 ⁇ m.
  • This porous film was Teslin® SP1400 of PPG Industries.
  • a paint having the following composition was applied with a bar coater and dried to form an ink-receptive layer to obtain the recording medium of this Example, which can be used as a structural material of an adhesive sheet for decoration.
  • the applied layer was dried at 100°C for 3 minutes, and the thickness of the ink-receptive layer was 17 ⁇ m.
  • PATERACOL® IJ-170 is a coating composition containing a water-dispersible cation-modified polyurethane and about 50 % by weight of silica particles, which is available from DAINIPPON INK AND CHEMICALS, INC.
  • NEOFIX® IJ-150 is a coating composition containing a cationic organic oligomer having a quaternary ammonium salt group in the molecule available from NIKKA Chemical Co., Ltd.
  • the amount of the coagulant component (the cationic organic oligomer) in the paint for the receptive layer was 20 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder polymer.
  • This Example relates to an ink-receptive layer having the localized structure of an upper layer and a base layer.
  • a paint for the base layer was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 and the base layer was formed on the support. Then, a paint for the upper layer containing the coagulant was applied to the surface of the base layer and dried to form the ink-receptive layer.
  • the coagulant used in this Example was a cationic polymer having a quaternary ammonium salt group available under a trade name of NEOFIX® IJ-450 (a paint containing 60 wt. % of a cationic polymer, which was used after diluting it to reduce the concentration of the cationic polymer to 3 wt. %).
  • the paint for the upper layer was applied with a bar coater and dried at 100°C for 3 minutes.
  • the thickness of the whole ink-receptive layer was 18 ⁇ m.
  • a recording medium of this Example was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2 except that a coagulant in the upper layer was changed to the following one:
  • a recording medium of this Example was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that no coagulant was added to the paint for the receptive layer.
  • a recording medium of this Example was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that aluminum sulfate-14-18H 2 O was used as a coagulant in a paint for the receptive layer.
  • the content of aluminum sulfate was 15 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder polymer.
  • a recording medium of this Example was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a non-porous film was used as a support.
  • the non-porous film used was a white PET film having a thickness of 75 ⁇ m (Crysper® K1211 available from TOYOBO).
  • the surface of the ink-receptive layer (fixing surface) of the image-recording medium prepared in each Example was printed under the following conditions, and the printing properties were evaluated by the following methods.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Holo Graphy (AREA)
  • Photographic Developing Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Paper (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium, umfassend:
    (i) einen Träger mit atmenden Mikroporen, dessen Oberflächen und Mikroporen hydrophil gemacht werden, und (ii) eine tintenaufnehmende Schicht, die auf der Oberfläche des Trägers bereitgestellt ist und (a) ein Bindemittel, welches ein kationenmodifiziertes Polyurethan oder ein kationenmodifizierten Polyester ist, und (b) ein Koagulans umfasst,
    wobei die tintenaufnehmende Schicht basierend auf 100 Gewichtsprozent des Bindemittels 1 bis 40 Gewichtsprozent eines kationischen organischen Oligomers, das im Molekül eine kationische funktionelle Gruppe aufweist, oder eines kationischen Polymers, das im Molekül eine kationische funktionelle Gruppe aufweist, als das Koagulans enthält.
  2. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach Anspruch 1, wobei die kationische funktionelle Gruppe des kationischen Oligomers bzw. Polymers mindestens eine kationische funktionelle Salzgruppe ist, die aus der Gruppe bestehend aus einem Sulfoniumsalz, einem Phosphoniumsalz, einem quartären Ammoniumsalz und einem Pyridiniumsalz ausgewählt ist.
  3. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,
    wobei der Träger amorphe Siliciumdioxidteilchen enthält, wodurch der Oberfläche und den Mikroporen des Trägers Hydrophilizität verliehen wird.
  4. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei die tintenaufnehmende Schicht umfasst:
    (ii-1) eine Basisschicht, die eine Rückfläche, die der Oberfläche des Trägers gegenüberliegt, und eine erste der Rückfläche gegenüberliegende Oberfläche aufweist und die Bindemittel enthält, und
    (ii-2) eine obere Schicht, die das Koagulans enthält, wobei zumindest ein Teil davon in die Basisschicht imprägniert ist, so dass es sich in der Nähe der ersten Oberfläche der Basisschicht befindet, und die obere Schicht das kationische organische Oligomer oder das kationische Polymer enthält.
  5. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, wobei das Bindemittel der tintenaufnehmenden Schicht ein kationenmodifiziertes Polyurethan ist.
  6. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die tintenaufnehmende Schicht ein kationisches organisches Oligomer mit einem Gewichtsmittel des Molekulargewichts von 500 bis 10.000 enthält.
  7. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die tintenaufnehmende Schicht ein kationisches Polymer mit einem Gewichtsmittel des Molekulargewichts von 10.000 bis 1.000.000 enthält.
  8. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei die tintenaufnehmende Schicht ein kationisches organisches Oligomer oder Polymer enthält, das eine Hauptkette, die Polyamin, Polyurethan, Polyharnstoff, Polyester oder Polyoxyalkylenether umfasst, aufweist.
  9. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, wobei die tintenaufnehmende Schicht weiterhin ein anionisches organisches Oligomer umfasst, das (i) eine Hauptkette, die Polyurethan, Polyharnstoff, Polyester oder Polyoxyalkylenether umfasst, und (ii) eine anionische funktionelle Gruppe, die aus Carboxylatsalzgruppen, Sulfonatsalzgruppen und Phosphatestersalzgruppen ausgewählt ist, aufweist.
  10. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, wobei der Träger Polyethylen, Polypropylen, Polymethylpent-1-en, Polyvinylchlorid, Polyvinylidenchlorid, Polystyrol, Styrol-Butadien-Acrylnitril-Copolymere, Polyamid, Polycarbonat, Acrylharze, Polyester, Copolymerpolyester oder eine Mischung davon umfasst.
  11. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, wobei der Träger eine Porosität von 20 bis 80 Vol.-% aufweist.
  12. Bildaufzeichnungsmedium nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, wobei die Trägeroberflächen und -mikroporen vor dem Beschichten mit der tintenaufnehmenden Schicht mit einem grenzflächenaktiven Stoff beschichtet worden sind.
EP02726918A 2001-05-30 2002-05-23 Bildaufzeichnungsmedium Expired - Lifetime EP1395437B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001162314 2001-05-30
JP2001162314A JP2002362005A (ja) 2001-05-30 2001-05-30 画像記録媒体
PCT/US2002/016437 WO2002096657A1 (en) 2001-05-30 2002-05-23 Image-recording medium

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1395437A1 EP1395437A1 (de) 2004-03-10
EP1395437B1 true EP1395437B1 (de) 2005-03-30

Family

ID=19005464

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02726918A Expired - Lifetime EP1395437B1 (de) 2001-05-30 2002-05-23 Bildaufzeichnungsmedium

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1395437B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2002362005A (de)
KR (1) KR20040004660A (de)
CN (1) CN1272185C (de)
AT (1) ATE292020T1 (de)
DE (1) DE60203497T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2237674T3 (de)
WO (1) WO2002096657A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN100450786C (zh) * 2006-04-07 2009-01-14 南通科兴化工有限公司 耐水彩色数码图像喷绘打印介质
CN101454164A (zh) * 2006-04-18 2009-06-10 株式会社理光 喷墨介质、记录方法、记录装置、油墨-介质组、和油墨记录物
JP5363227B2 (ja) * 2009-03-19 2013-12-11 富士フイルム株式会社 電子回路基板製造方法

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5605750A (en) 1995-12-29 1997-02-25 Eastman Kodak Company Microporous ink-jet recording elements
JP2845832B2 (ja) 1996-09-12 1999-01-13 日華化学株式会社 インクジェット記録紙用耐水化剤
JP3882244B2 (ja) 1996-12-26 2007-02-14 大日本インキ化学工業株式会社 インキジェット用記録材、及び印刷物
US5897961A (en) * 1997-05-07 1999-04-27 Xerox Corporation Coated photographic papers
US6020058A (en) * 1997-06-13 2000-02-01 Ppg Industris Ohio, Inc. Inkjet printing media
US6632510B1 (en) 1997-07-14 2003-10-14 3M Innovative Properties Company Microporous inkjet receptors containing both a pigment management system and a fluid management system
US6228475B1 (en) * 1998-09-01 2001-05-08 Eastman Kodak Company Ink jet recording element
US6086985A (en) * 1998-10-19 2000-07-11 Eastman Kodak Company Ink jet recording element
JP2001047734A (ja) 1999-08-06 2001-02-20 Three M Innovative Properties Co 画像記録媒体

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1395437A1 (de) 2004-03-10
WO2002096657A1 (en) 2002-12-05
DE60203497T2 (de) 2006-01-26
JP2002362005A (ja) 2002-12-18
ES2237674T3 (es) 2005-08-01
CN1272185C (zh) 2006-08-30
ATE292020T1 (de) 2005-04-15
DE60203497D1 (de) 2005-05-04
KR20040004660A (ko) 2004-01-13
CN1512941A (zh) 2004-07-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2401160B1 (de) Tintenstrahldrucksystem mit verbesserter bildqualität
US6689421B2 (en) Method of preparing a microporous film, and imaging method
EP1270251A2 (de) Tintenstrahldruckverfahren
US20050238827A1 (en) Ink-jet recording sheet, method for making the same, and image-forming method
US20030180523A1 (en) Water resistant ink jet printable sheet
JP2002293014A (ja) インクジェット用記録媒体
EP1395437B1 (de) Bildaufzeichnungsmedium
US20050025912A1 (en) Image-recording medium
JP3906978B2 (ja) 水性樹脂組成物及びそれを用いた被記録材
US20030059583A1 (en) Ink jet recording element
EP1293356B1 (de) Tintenstrahl-Aufzeichnungselement und Aufzeichnungsverfahren
US20050287314A1 (en) Ink-jet recording medium
US6367922B2 (en) Ink jet printing process
KR20030009505A (ko) 이미지 기록 매체
WO2001010650A1 (en) Image recording media
EP1020301B1 (de) Tintenstrahldruckverfahren
EP1010738A1 (de) Tintenstrahldruckverfahren
JP3405922B2 (ja) インクジェット用記録シート及び該シートを作製するための塗布剤
JP2001277698A (ja) インクジェット記録用シート
JP4911269B1 (ja) インクジェット受理剤、それを用いたインクジェット記録媒体及び印刷物
EP1761394B1 (de) Schmelzbare reaktive medien
JP4154321B2 (ja) インクジェット用記録シートの製造方法
JP2001277697A (ja) インクジェット記録用シート
JPH11240244A (ja) インクジェット用記録シート及び該シートを作成するための塗布剤
JP2004074613A (ja) インクジェット記録用シート

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20031218

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK RO SI

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050330

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050330

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050330

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050330

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050330

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050330

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050330

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60203497

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20050504

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050523

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050523

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050523

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050630

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050630

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2237674

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050908

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20060102

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20060523

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20060524

Year of fee payment: 5

EN Fr: translation not filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20060630

Year of fee payment: 5

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20060523

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20071201

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050630

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20071201

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20071201

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20080526

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050330

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20090525

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20090525