FR2795366A1 - Ink jet recording medium comprises polymeric film or cellulose or cardboard substrate and ink receiving layer, consisting of at least two separate sublayers fixed onto substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

Ink jet recording medium is new. Ink jet recording medium comprises substrate made of polymeric film or cellulose or cardboard and ink receiving layer fixed onto substrate and consisting of at least two distinct and consecutive layers of coating, the first called absorbent layer A and positioned on the substrate, and the second layer B positioned on the first layer and comprising at least one film-forming water-soluble polymer P in combination with at least one cationic agent C of aluminum polymer type. Absorbent layer A can be of polymeric type (comprising at least one polymer or copolymer AP derived from synthetic latex L, preferably having glass transition temperature below 40 (especially below 30) deg C) or mineral type, or it may consist of (or contain) cellulose or polyvinyl derivatives. Surface density of AP in layer A is 0.5-25 g/m<2>, and surface density of P in layer B is 0.5-15 g/m<2>. An Independent claim is also included for the use of ink jet recording medium as claimed to fix an image on the surface of support using jet printing method.

Description

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The present invention relates to a novel ink jet recording medium having in particular improved performance in terms of chromogenicity and ink absorption capacity and speed.

More specifically, the present invention relates to the field of ink jet recording elements which comprise a support on which is affixed at least one ink receiving layer which can be printed by applying liquid ink dots.

Many types of ink receiving layer media are already available. They are conventionally developed so as to meet the following requirements: Their receiving layer must have a high ink absorption capacity so as to prevent the flow of ink dots and therefore their spreading; - This layer must be able to be dried within a short time so as to quickly set the ink; - It must show effective properties in terms of chromogenicity; - Finally, after having been printed, the image obtained must show good resistance to water, light and internal discoloration.

Unexpectedly, the inventors have demonstrated that it is possible to optimize the performances mentioned above by applying a particular coating composition to the surface of a substrate.

More specifically, the present invention aims to provide an ink-jet recording medium which comprises a substrate on the surface of which is applied an ink-receiving layer which comprises at least two consecutive layers, a so-called "absorbent" layer and a so-called "surface" layer at which the ink drop is immobilized.

Unexpectedly, the inventors observed that by interposing between the substrate and the surface layer intended to fix the ink, an intermediate layer called "absorbent" which it was possible to improve very much.

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significant performance of the recording medium member thus obtained, in terms of print quality.

Accordingly, the present invention has as a first object a recording medium element comprising a substrate of polymeric film type or of cellulose or cardboard nature and an ink receiving layer affixed to said substrate characterized in that the receiving layer of ink comprises at least two distinct and consecutive coating layers, the first so-called absorbent layer being affixed to the surface of the substrate and the second layer, superimposed on the first layer, comprising at least one water-soluble film-forming polymer associated with at least one cationic agent .

The absorbent layer required in the context of the present invention is particularly advantageous insofar as it contributes to significantly accelerate the fixing of the ink at the level of the surface layer. By rapidly absorbing the water present in the ink, it prevents the manifestation, at the level of this surface layer, of the phenomenon of flow or spreading of the ink dots mentioned above. This results in better resolution in the final print.

As regards more particularly the components of this absorbent layer, they vary according to the specificities sought in terms of transparency or opacity at the level of the recording medium. Thus, this absorbent layer can be either polymeric or mineral in nature.

In the variant where a translucent appearance is desired, this absorbent layer comprises at least one polymer or copolymer derived from a synthetic latex.

According to the invention, the polymers or copolymers derived from a synthetic latex are in fact used in the form of a latex. The latex which is more particularly suitable for the present invention has a glass transition temperature Tg of less than 40 ° C. and preferably less than 30 ° C.

These latexes are generally obtained by (co) polymerization in emulsion of unsaturated monomers chosen from the group consisting of: - styrene and / or its derivatives, in particular derivatives such as amethylstyrene or vinyltoluene;

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- dienes such as butadiene and isoprene; - ethylenic unsaturated mono- and di-carboxylic acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid and mono- and dialkylesters, mono- or dicarboxylic of the type cited with alkanols preferably having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and their N-substituted derivatives, - amides of unsaturated carboxylic acids such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-methylolacrylamide, N-alkylacrylamides - vinyl nitriles including more particularly those having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, such as in particular acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile; - vinyl or C1 to C8 alkyl esters of carboxylic acids such as vinyl acetate, vinyl versatate, vinyl propionate, maleate, versatate or C1 to C8 alkyl acrylate; and - their mixtures and their derivatives by substitution.

As preferred polymers or copolymers, there may be mentioned more particularly: - styrene copolymers, acrylic esters, unsaturated ethylenic mono- or dicarboxylic acids; - copolymers of styrene, butadiene, ethylenic unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids, where appropriate, functionalized by (metha) acrylonitrile units; - vinyl acetate homopolymers and vinyl acetate, maleate, versatate or acrylate C1 to C8 copolymers.

This absorbent layer can also be composed and / or contain cellulose or polyvinyl derivatives. By way of representative of this category of components of the absorbent layer, mention may in particular be made of the following compounds: hydroxyethylcellulose; hydroxypropylcellulose; hydroxyethylmethylcellulose; hydroxypropylmethylcellulose; hydroxybutylmethylcellulose; methylcellulose; sodium carboxymethylcellulose sodium carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose

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t'éthythydroxyéthytcettutose hydrosoluble ; le sulfate de cellulose ; l'alcool polyvinylique ; l'acétate de polyvinyle ; le polyvinylacétal ; la polyvinylpyrrolidone ; le polyacrylamide ; un copolymère d'acrylamide/acide acrylique ; un copolymère de styrène/acide acrylique ; uncopolymère d'éthylène/acétate de vinyle ; un copolymère d'éther vinylméthylique/acide maléique ; un copolymère de 2acrylamido-2-méthylpropane/acide sulfonique ; un copolymère de 2-acrylamido- 2-méthylpropane/acide sulfonique ; un copolymère de diéthylènetriamine/acide adipique ; la polyvinylpyridine ; le polyvinylimidazole ; la polyimidazoline quaternisée ; la polyéthylèneimine modifiée par de l'épichlorhydrine ; la polyéthylèneimine éthoxylée ; le chlorure d'un copolymère de N,N-diméthyl-3,5diméthylène/pipéridinium ; l'oxyde de polyéthylène ; le polyuréthanne ; la résine de mélamine ; des résines époxy ; résines uréiques ; des caoutchoucs de styrène-butadiène ; des caoutchoucs de chloroprène ; des caoutchoucs nitrile ; la gélatine ; la carraghénane ; le dextrane ; la gomme arabique ; la caséine ; la pectine ; l'albumine ; l'amidon ; des dérivés du collagène ; la collodione et l'agaragar.

water-soluble ethythydroxyethystutose; cellulose sulfate; polyvinyl alcohol; polyvinyl acetate; polyvinylacetal; polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyacrylamide; an acrylamide / acrylic acid copolymer; a styrene / acrylic acid copolymer; ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer; a vinyl methyl ether / maleic acid copolymer; a 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane / sulfonic acid copolymer; a 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane / sulfonic acid copolymer; a diethylenetriamine / adipic acid copolymer; polyvinylpyridine; polyvinylimidazole; quaternized polyimidazoline; polyethyleneimine modified with epichlorohydrin; ethoxylated polyethyleneimine; the chloride of an N, N-dimethyl-3,5dimethylene / piperidinium copolymer; polyethylene oxide; polyurethane; melamine resin; epoxy resins; urea resins; styrene-butadiene rubbers; chloroprene rubbers; nitrile rubbers; gelatin; carrageenan; dextran; gum arabic; casein; pectin; albumin; starch; collagen derivatives; collodione and agaragar.

In a second variant where an opaque appearance is desired at the level of the recording medium element, an absorbent layer of mineral nature is preferred. It comprises in particular elements chosen from precipitated silica, colloidal silica, fumed silica, fluorogenic silica, or specific pigments of size greater than 200 m 2 / g or else plastic pigments.

Of course, these mineral elements can be combined with organic compounds such as the polymers mentioned above insofar as the latter provide the bonding necessary for the cohesion of the mineral layer.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the so-called absorbent layer is derived from a homopolymer of vinyl acetate or maleate or else from a copolymer of vinyl acetate maleate, versatate or C1 to C8 alkyl acrylate.

As regards the second so-called surface layer, it is based on at least one water-soluble film-forming polymer with which at least one cationic agent is associated.

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The inventors have thus demonstrated that the presence of a cationic agent was advantageous insofar as it guarantees better resolution in printing.

This cationic agent can be of inorganic or organic nature.

Suitable for the invention, as cationic agent, is any monomer, oligomer or polymer capable, when it is dissolved in water, of exhibiting cationic properties. Preferably, these oligomers or polymers have at least one quaternary or tertiary ammonium group.

By way of representative of inorganic cationic agents capable of being suitable for the invention, mention may more particularly be made of inorganic salts, complexes or polymers of aluminum, sodium, calcium, magnesium, ferrous or ferric and more particularly a polyaluminum chloride.

It should be noted that the starting polychlorides of aluminum which are suitable for the invention generally have the formula: [Aln (OH) mCl3n-m] [H2O] z in which n, m, z and 3n-m are positive integers , Z being at least equal to 3.

The preferred starting polychlorides of aluminum are those having an equivalent Al 2 O 3 content of between 13 and 18%. A lower Al2O3 content is not recommended as it would lead to a final solution with reduced aluminum content.

The starting polyaluminum chlorides are, in the case of the present invention, usually employed in the form of aqueous solutions.

Their basicity b is defined by the equation: [OH-] 3. [AP +]
It is preferably between 15 and 50%, in particular between 18 and 48%.

By way of representative of the water-soluble film-forming polymers suitable for the present invention, mention may very particularly be made of carbohydrates and their derivatives as well as polyalcohols.

As regards the carbohydrates, they can in particular be polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose, xanthan gum and guars

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as well as their derivatives and ether carbohydrates such as cellulose methyl-, ethyl-, carboxymethyl-, hydroxyethyl- and hydroxypropyl-ether.

As regards the polyalcohols, they are more particularly partially or totally hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates.

More preferably, this so-called surface layer comprises at least one polyvinyl alcohol.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the surface layer comprises at least one polyvinyl alcohol associated with polyaluminum chloride. The level of polyaluminum chloride, expressed as% of Al2O3 relative to the dry polyvinyl alcohol, is between 25 and 50%. More preferably, this polyaluminum chloride is present in an amount of 35% expressed as Al 2 O 3 relative to the dry polyvinyl alcohol.

Unexpectedly, it has been found that the respective components of the two layers defined above prove to be effective only if they are juxtaposed in separate layers. Indeed, their mixing in a single layer does not lead to a satisfactory ink receiving layer.

Example 4 below reflects this observation.

In addition to these components, the ink receiving layer can of course include other customary additives.

Thus, the ink receiving layer may include particulate matter which serves to reduce the tackiness of the organic layers. These particulates can be derived from organic materials such as polystyrene, polymethacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate, elastomers, copolymers, polyesters, polyvinyl esters, polysilicones or resins. It can also be inorganic materials and derived from synthetic silicas, talc, clay, kaolin, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum oxide, d titanium oxide, zinc oxide, barium or calcium sulfate, aluminum silicate for example. They generally have an average particle size of 1 to 30 microns and preferably 30 to 10 microns.

The layer can also incorporate organic or inorganic dyes.

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One or more plasticizers can also be incorporated into it, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol monochloridrine, urea phosphate, glycerol monosterate, etc.

The layer can also include cationic, anionic, amphoteric, non-ionic or nonionic surfactants.

Generally the amounts of polymers or copolymers derived from a synthetic latex, component (s) dela first layer, and the water-soluble film-forming polymer, component of the so-called "surface" layer, are adjusted so as to obtain, at the level of the element of final recording medium, a basis weight of polymer or copolymer derived from a synthetic latex of between approximately 0.5 and 25 g / m2 and a basis weight of water-soluble film-forming polymer of between approximately 0.5 and 15 g / m2.

The recording media claimed in the case of the present invention are prepared according to usual techniques consisting in applying to the surface of the support retained consecutively the two layers recommended in the case of the present invention.

The coating of the so-called “absorbent” layer followed by drying of this layer before the subsequent application of the second so-called “surface” layer is carried out preliminarily. As regards the coating and drying operations, they are carried out according to conventional techniques.

The two layers can be deposited by conventional coating devices, in particular those used for coating paper.

Generally the application and the dosage of the two layers are carried out using conventional coating machines of the coating machine type with air knives, blades, bars or rollers.

The ink jet recording media of the present invention may comprise either a substrate of a polymeric nature, or a substrate of a cellulosic nature, paper or cardboard, coated or uncoated.

As regards more particularly the polymeric substrates, they can be either opaque or transparent. A wide range of this type are known and are commonly used in the art. For example, transparent substrates such as those used in

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manufacture of photographic films such as cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose or polyester acetobutyrate such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyimides, polyolefins, polyvinyl acetates, polyethers and polysulfonamides. Other examples of polymeric substrates useful in the case of the present invention are opaque white polyesters, polyvinyl chloride PVC and mixtures of extrusion of the polyethylene-terephthalate type and of propyethylene.

These types of polymeric substrates are gaining more and more importance for inkjet printing. In particular, they are widely used for the production of transparencies.

Where appropriate, an adhesive layer can be used between the substrate and the so-called absorbent layer, in order to improve the adhesion of the latter.

Adhesive layers suitable for this purpose are well known in the photographic art and include, for example, polymers of vinylidene chloride.

Advantageously, the ink jet recording medium obtained in the context of the present invention has, by virtue of its two-layer structure and by the composition of its ink-receiving layer, excellent resolving power with respect to liquid ink dots. A printed image is thus obtained which exhibits both a short drying time and good chromogenicity.

The claimed recording media are particularly suitable for use in the fields of photography, professional imaging such as medical imaging, scientific imaging as well as industrial printing.

A further object of the present invention is the use of this ink jet recording medium member for fixing an image to the surface of said medium via an ink jet printing technique.

This image can in particular be fixed by applying dots of liquid ink to the surface layer of the claimed support.

The examples appearing below are presented by way of illustration and without limitation of the invention.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS.

The paper support used in the examples below is a PET (polyethylene tereplitalate) sheet with a basis weight of 50 g / m2.

The induction media tested are deposited using a threaded rod also known as “Meyer's bar”. The weights are adjusted according to the tests.

The inkjet printer used is the EPSON STYLUS PHOTO EX @ device. Printing is carried out with the following parameters: - support: photo paper, - printing mode: quality 1440 dpi.

A print pattern has been developed to visually assess: - the brightness of the colors (black, yellow, green, red), - smudges and dewetting, - the definition of the text and / or screen dots by optical microscopy, - the drying time (immediate, rapid (less than 5 minutes) or long (more than 10 minutes).

In certain tests, the ink drying speed is measured by a conventional smudging test consisting in bringing the printed side of the tested paper into contact under a weight of 100 g with a usual office paper. The drying speed is measured by estimating the optical density of the macule thus obtained.

EXAMPLE 1
3 recording media in accordance with the present invention are prepared using as coating medium: a 20% solution of Rhodoviol 4/20 (PVA). It is a polyvinyl alcohol, - a solution of Aquarhone 18 (PAC). It has an Al2O3 content of 18% and a basicity of 38%, - an acetate maleate latex 80/20 Rhodopas AM021.

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The basis weights used for each of these media are specified in the table below.

Each recording medium is tested for its print quality and drying speed in accordance with the criteria defined in the MATERIALS AND METHODS chapter.

Table 1

<tb>
<tb> TEST <SEP> 1 <SEP> TEST <SEP> 2 <SEP> TEST <SEP> 3
<tb> Pre-layer <SEP> ~ <SEP> AM <SEP> 021 <SEP> AM <SEP> 021 <SEP>
<tb> 10 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m2
<tb> Layer <SEP> pVA (65%) - PAC (35%) <SEP> PVA (65%) - PAC (35%)
<tb> upper <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m <SEP> 2
<tb> Quality <SEP> high <SEP> very <SEP> poor <SEP> high
<tb> d <SEP> print <SEP>
<tb> speed <SEP> of <SEP> low <SEP> High <SEP> high
<tb> drying
<tb>

From these results, it emerges that only test 3 which uses a recording medium in accordance with the present invention responds advantageously in terms of definition of the image and of drying speed.

EXAMPLE 2
In this test, the impact of polyaluminum chloride on the printing qualities is assessed.

In this case, a precoat based on maleate acetate AM 021 of 10 g / m2 is used.

The coating media are the same as those used in Example 1.

The results are shown in Table 2 below.

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Table 2

<tb>
<tb> composition
<tb> of <SEP> the <SEP> layer <SEP> TEST <SEP> 1 <SEP> TEST <SEP> 2 <SEP> TEST <SEP> 3 <SEP> TEST <SEP> 4 <SEP>
<tb> superior
<tb> 10 <SEP> g / m2
<tb><SEP> PVA <SEP> rate <SEP> 100 <SEP> 85 <SEP> 65 <SEP> 50
<tb>%
<tb><SEP> rate <SEP> PAC <SEP> 0 <SEP> 15 <SEP> 35 <SEP> 50 <SEP>
<tb>%
<tb> quality <SEP> poor <SEP> Poor <SEP> very <SEP> good <SEP> good
printing <tb>
<tb>

From these results, it emerges that the presence of a cationic agent such as polyaluminum chloride (PAC) in the surface film-forming hydrocolloid makes it possible to obtain better definition of the image.

EXAMPLE 3
In this test, the basis weight of the precoat and the top layer is varied.

The coating media tested are those defined in Example 1.

The results are shown in Table 3 below.

Table 3

<tb>
<tb> TEST <SEP> TEST <SEP> 2 <SEP> TEST <SEP> TEST <SEP> 4 <SEP>
<tb> pre-coat <SEP> of AM <SEP> 021 <SEP> 5 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> 5 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> 10 <SEP > g / m2
<tb> top layer <SEP><SEP> 5 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> 5 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m2
<tb> PVA / PAC <SEP> (65/35)
<tb> quality <SEP> printing <SEP> very <SEP> good <SEP> very <SEP> good <SEP> very <SEP> good <SEP> very <SEP> good
<tb><SEP> speed of <SEP> drying <SEP> with <SEP> 1.26 <SEP> 1.22 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.44
<tb> smear <SEP> to <SEP> 1 <SEP> min
<tb><SEP> speed of <SEP> drying <SEP> with <SEP> 0.95 <SEP> 0.93 <SEP> 0.4 <SEP> 0.22
<tb> smear <SEP> to <SEP> 2 <SEP> min
<tb><SEP> speed of <SEP> drying <SEP> with <SEP> 0.28 <SEP> 0.25 <SEP> 0.05 <SEP> 0
<tb> smear <SEP> to <SEP> 5 <SEP> min
<tb>

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EXAMPLE 4 # A bilayer coating medium is produced.

The coating media used are those described in Example 1.

The results are shown in Table 4 below.

Table 4

<tb>
<tb> TEST <SEP> 1 <SEP> TEST <SEP> 2 <SEP> TEST <SEP> 3
<tb> pre-coat <SEP> of AM <SEP> 021 <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m2
<tb><SEP> upper layer <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m2
<tb> PVA / PAC <SEP> (65/35)
<tb><SEP> upper layer <SEP> 10 <SEP> g / m2
<tb> PVA
<tb> monolayer <SEP> 20 <SEP> g / m2
<tb> AM021 / PVA <SEP> 20 <SEP> g / m2 <SEP> ~~~~~~
<tb> print quality <SEP> very <SEP> poor <SEP> poor <SEP> very <SEP> good
<tb><SEP> speed of <SEP> drying <SEP> high <SEP> high
<tb>

This fourth example shows that the mixture of acetate maleate and polyvinyl alcohol does not make it possible to achieve the performance of the dual coating system with the acetate maleate as a precoat and polyvinyl alcohol as a top layer.

Claims (18)

1. Recording medium element comprising a substrate of polymeric film type or of cellulose or cardboard nature and an ink-receiving layer affixed to said substrate characterized in that the ink-receiving layer comprises at least two distinct coating layers and consecutive, the first so-called absorbent layer being affixed to the surface of the substrate and the second layer, superimposed on the first layer, comprising at least one water-soluble film-forming polymer associated with at least one cationic agent. 2. Recording medium element according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorbent layer is of polymeric or mineral nature. 3. Recording medium element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the absorbent layer comprises at least one polymer or copolymer derived from a synthetic latex. 4. Recording medium element according to claim 3, characterized in that the polymer or copolymer derived from a synthetic latex is used in the form of a latex having a glass transition temperature Tg of less than 40 C and preferably at 30 C. 5. Recording medium element according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the latex is obtained by (co) emulsion polymerization of unsaturated monomers chosen from the group consisting of: - styrene and / or its derivatives , - dienes, - ethylenic unsaturated mono- and dicarboxylic acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid and mono- and dialkylesters, mono- or dicarboxylic acids of the type cited with alkanols preferably having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and their N-substituted derivatives, - amides of unsaturated carboxylic acids, <Desc / Clms Page number 14> - vinyl nitriles including more particularly those having from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, - vinyl esters or C1 to C8 alkyls of carboxylic acids, and - their mixtures and their derivatives by substitution. 6. Recording medium element according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the polymer or copolymer derived from a latex is chosen from: - styrene copolymers, acrylic esters, unsaturated ethylenic mono- or dicarboxylic acids ; - copolymers of styrene, butadiene, ethylenic unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids, where appropriate, functionalized by (metha) acrylonitrile units; - vinyl acetate homopolymers and vinyl acetate, maleate, versatate or C1 to C8 alkyl acrylate copolymers. 7. Recording medium element according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the polymer is derived from a homopolymer of vinyl acetate or maleate, or of a vinyl acetate, maleate, versatate or copolymer. C 1-8 alkyl acrylate. 8. Recording medium element according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the absorbent layer is composed and / or contains cellulose or polyvinyl derivatives. 9. Recording medium element according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the absorbent layer comprises elements selected from precipitated silica, colloidal silica, fumed silica, fluorogenic silica, specific pigments of size greater than 200m2 / g or plastic pigments. 10. Recording medium element according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cationic agent present in the surface layer is a capable monomer, oligomer or polymer, when it is dissolved in water, to exhibit cationic properties. <Desc / Clms Page number 15> 11. Recording medium element according to claim 10, characterized in that this cationic agent has at least one quaternary or tertiary ammonium group. 12. Recording medium element according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cationic agent is a polyaluminum chloride. 13. Recording medium element according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the surface layer comprises at least one polymer chosen from carbohydrates and their derivatives as well as polyalcohols. 14. Recording medium element according to claim 13, characterized in that the carbohydrate is chosen from polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose, xanthan gum and guars as well as their derivatives and ether carbohydrates such as methyl-, ethyl-, carboxymethyl-, hydroxyethyl- and hydroxypropyl-ether of cellulose. 15. Recording medium element according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the polyalcohol is a partially or fully hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate. 16. Recording medium element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water-soluble film-forming polymer present in the surface layer is at least one polyvinyl alcohol. 17. Recording medium element according to one of claims 3 to 7 and 10 to 16, characterized in that the amounts of polymers or copolymers derived from a synthetic latex, component (s) dela first layer, and the polymer water-soluble film-forming component of the so-called "surface" layer, are adjusted so as to obtain, at the level of the final recording medium element, a polymer or copolymer basis weight derived from a synthetic latex of between approximately 0.5 and 25 g / m2 and a water-soluble film-forming polymer basis weight of between approximately 0.5 and 15 g / m2. <Desc / Clms Page number 16> 18. Use of the ink jet recording medium member according to one of claims 1 to 17 for fixing an image to the surface of said medium via an ink jet printing technique.