JP3669314B2 - Inkjet recording method - Google Patents

Description

【００７９】
【化２】

【００８０】
第４級アンモニウム塩基と共重合し得るモノマーはエチレン性不飽和基を有する化合物であり、例えば以下の具体例を挙げることが出来る。
【００８１】
【化３】

【００８２】
以下に本発明に好ましく用いられるカチオン性ポリマーの具体例を示すが、本発明はこれらに限定されるものではない。
【００８３】
【化４】

【００８４】
【化５】

【００８５】
【化６】

【００８６】
【化７】

【００８７】
特に、第４級アンモニウム塩基を有するカチオン性ポリマーが共重合体である場合、カチオン性モノマーの比率は通常１０モル％以上、好ましくは２０モル％以上、特に好ましくは３０モル％以上である。
【００８８】
第４級アンモニウム塩基を有するモノマーは単一でも２種類以上であっても良い。
【００８９】
第４級アンモニウム塩基を有するカチオン性ポリマーは第４級アンモニウム塩基のために水溶性が一般に高いが、共重合する第４級アンモニウム塩基を含まないモノマーの組成や比率によっては水に充分に溶解しないことがあるが、水混和性有機溶媒と水との混合溶媒に溶解させることにより溶解し得るもので有れば本発明には使用できる。
【００９０】
ここで水混和性有機溶媒とは、メタノール、エタノール、イソプロパノール、ｎ−プロパノールなどのアルコール類、エチレングリコール、ジエチレングリコール、グリセリンなどのグリコール類、酢酸エチル、酢酸プロピル等のエステル類、アセトン、メチルエチルケトン等のケトン類、Ｎ，Ｎ−ジメチルホルムアミド等のアミド類など、水に対して通常１０％以上溶解し得る有機溶媒を言う。この場合、有機溶媒の使用量は水の使用量以下であることが好ましい。
【００９１】
本発明に係る記録媒体のインク吸収層及び必要に応じて設けられるその他の層には、前記した以外に各種の添加剤を添加することができる。
【００９２】
上記の添加剤としては、例えば、ポリスチレン、ポリアクリル酸エステル類、ポリメタクリル酸エステル類、ポリアクリルアミド類、ポリエチレン、ポリプロピレン、ポリ塩化ビニル、ポリ塩化ビニリデン、またはこれらの共重合体、尿素樹脂、またはメラミン樹脂等の有機ラテックス微粒子、カチオンまたはノニオンの各種界面活性剤、特開昭５７−７４１９３号、同５７−８７９８８号及び同６２−２６１４７６号に記載の紫外線吸収剤、特開昭５７−７４１９２号、同５７−８７９８９号、同６０−７２７８５号、同６１−１４６５９１号、特開平１−９５０９１号及び同３−１３３７６号等に記載されている退色防止剤、特開昭５９−４２９９３号、同５９−５２６８９号、同６２−２８００６９号、同６１−２４２８７１号及び特開平４−２１９２６６号等に記載されている蛍光増白剤、硫酸、リン酸、クエン酸、水酸化ナトリウム、水酸化カリウム、炭酸カリウム等のｐＨ調整剤、消泡剤、防腐剤、増粘剤、帯電防止剤、マット剤等の公知の各種添加剤を含有させることもできる。
【００９３】
本発明に係る記録媒体において、多孔質層及び下引き層など必要に応じて適宜設けられる各種の親水性層を支持体上に塗布する方法は、公知の方法から適宜選択して行うことができる。好ましい方法は、各層を構成する塗布液を支持体上に塗設して乾燥して得られる。この場合、２層以上を同時に塗布することもでき、特に、全ての親水性バインダー層を１回の塗布で形成する多層同時塗布方法が好ましい。
【００９４】
塗布方式としては、例えば、ロールコーティング法、ロッドバーコーティング法、エアナイフコーティング法、スプレーコーティング法、カーテン塗布方法あるいは米国特許第２，６８１，２９４号記載のホッパーを使用するエクストルージョンコート法が好ましく用いられる。
【００９５】
次いで、本発明に係る顔料インクについて説明する。
本発明においては、顔料インクの少なくとも１つが、針状比率（顔料粒子の最大長／最小巾）が１〜３の顔料粒子を５０個数％以上含有していることが特徴である。
【００９６】
本発明でいう針状比率は、下記に記載の方法で求めることができる。
具体的には、顔料粒子を含むインクを、顔料濃度として０．０１％になるように適当な溶媒で希釈した後、グロー放電により親水化されたポリエチレンテレフタレートフィルム上に滴下し乾燥させる。
【００９７】
顔料粒子が搭載されたフィルムは、真空蒸着装置にてフィルム面に対して３０°の角度から厚さとして３ｎｍのＰｔ−Ｃを電子ビームにより斜め蒸着した後、観察に使用することが好ましい。
【００９８】
その他、電子顕微鏡観察技法、および試料作製技法の詳細については「日本電子顕微鏡学会関東支部編／医学・生物学電子顕微鏡観察法」（丸善）、「日本電子顕微鏡学会関東支部編／電子顕微鏡生物試料作製法」（丸善）をそれぞれ参考にすることができる。
【００９９】
作製された試料は電界放射型走査電子顕微鏡（以下ＦＥ−ＳＥＭと称す）を用いて加速電圧２ｋＶないし４ｋＶにて倍率として５０００〜２００００倍にて二次電子像を観察し、適当な記録媒体への画像保存をおこなう。
【０１００】
上記処理のためには、電子顕微鏡本体からの画像信号をＡＤ変換し直接メモリ上にデジタル情報として記録可能な装置を用いるのが便利であるが、ポラロイドフィルムなどに記録されたアナログ画像もスキャナなどでデジタル画像に変換し、シェーディング補正、コントラスト・エッジ強調などを必要に応じ施すことにより使用することができる。
【０１０１】
適当な媒体に記録された画像は、画像１枚を少なくとも１０２４画素×１０２４画素、好ましくは２０４８画素×２０４８画素以上に分解し、コンピュータによる画像処理をおこなうことが好ましい。
【０１０２】
上記記載の画像処理の手順としては、まず、ヒストグラムを作製し、２値化処理によって顔料粒子に相当する箇所を抽出する。やむを得ず凝集した粒子は適当なアルゴリズムまたはマニュアル操作にて切断し、輪郭抽出を行う。その後、各粒子の最大長（ＭＸ ＬＮＧ）および２本の平行線で挟んだ際の最小幅すなわちフェレ径最小幅（ＷＩＤＴＨ）を少なくとも１０００個の粒子に関して各々測定し、各粒子ごとに下記式にて針状比率を求める。
【０１０３】
針状比率＝（ＭＸ ＬＮＧ）／（ＷＩＤＴＨ）
その後、計測された全粒子に関する針状比率の個数平均を算出する。上記手順で計測をおこなう際にはあらかじめ、標準試料を用いて、１画素あたりの長さ補正（スケール補正）および計測系の２次元ひずみの補正を十分におこなうことが好ましい。標準試料としては米国ダウケミカル社より市販されるユニフォーム・ラテックス・パーティクルス（ＤＵＬＰ）が適当であり、０．１ないし０．３μｍの粒径に対して１０％未満の変動係数を有するポリスチレン粒子が好ましく、具体的には粒径０．２１２μｍ、標準偏差０．００２９μｍというロットが入手可能である。
【０１０４】
画像処理技術の詳細は「田中弘編 画像処理応用技術（工業調査会）」を参考にすることができ、画像処理プログラムまたは装置としては上記操作が可能なのであれば特に限定はされないが、一例としてニレコ社製Ｌｕｚｅｘ−IIIが挙げられる。
【０１０５】
本発明においては、顔料インクの少なくとも１つが、針状比率（顔料粒子の最大長／最小巾）が１〜３の顔料粒子を５０個数％以上含有していることが特徴であるが、好ましくは５０〜１００個数％、より好ましくは７５〜１００個数％、特に好ましくは９０〜１００個数％である。また、顔料粒子の針状比率の平均値は、１〜３であることが特徴であるが、好ましくは１〜２．５である。
【０１０６】
上記規定する針状比率を有する顔料粒子を用いることにより、擦過性及び光沢性に優れた画像を得ることができる。
【０１０７】
本発明において、上記で規定する針状比率を有する顔料粒子を得る方法としては、特に制限はないが、例えば、顔料粒子分散時の分散剤、分散手段、分散条件等を適宜選択することにより、所望の針状比率を有する顔料粒子を得ることができる。
【０１０８】
本発明で用いることのできる顔料分散剤としては、例えば、高級脂肪酸塩、アルキル硫酸塩、アルキルエステル硫酸塩、アルキルスルホン酸塩、スルホコハク酸塩、ナフタレンスルホン酸塩、アルキルリン酸塩、ポリオキシアルキレンアルキルエーテルリン酸塩、ポリオキシアルキレンアルキルフェニルエーテル、ポリオキシエチレンポリオキシプロピレングリコール、グリセリンエステル、ソルビタンエステル、ポリオキシエチレン脂肪酸アミド、アミンオキシド等の活性剤、あるいはスチレン、スチレン誘導体、ビニルナフタレン誘導体、アクリル酸、アクリル酸誘導体、マレイン酸、マレイン酸誘導体、イタコン酸、イタコン酸誘導体、フマル酸、フマル酸誘導体から選ばれた２種以上の単量体からなるブロック共重合体、ランダム共重合体およびこれらの塩を挙げることができる。
【０１０９】
また、本発明で用いることのできる分散手段としては、例えば、ボールミル、サンドミル、アトライター、ロールミル、アジテータ、ヘンシェルミキサ、コロイドミル、超音波ホモジナイザー、パールミル、湿式ジェットミル、ペイントシェーカー等の各種分散機を用いることができる。また、顔料分散体の粗粒分を除去する目的で、遠心分離装置を使用すること、フィルターを使用することも好ましい。
【０１１０】
請求項２に係る発明では、顔料粒子の最大粒子径（Ｄ９９）が、３００ｎｍ未満であることが特徴であり、また請求項３に係る発明では、顔料粒子の平均粒子径（Ｄ５０）が、３５〜１２０ｎｍであることが特徴である。
【０１１１】
Ｄ９９値、Ｄ５０値は、分布関数ｄＧ＝Ｆ（Ｄ）×ｄＤの積分曲線において、それぞれ顔料粒子の全粒子数の０．９９（９９個数％）、０．５（５０個数％）に等しい粒径を表す。なお、Ｇは顔料粒子数、Ｄは顔料粒子の粒径を表す。
【０１１２】
上記関係式を、更に図を用いて説明する。
図１は、顔料粒子の粒径（Ｄ）が横座標にプロットされ、与えられた寸法の各顔料粒子の粒子数関数（Ｇ）が縦座標にプロットされている座標系において、顔料分散液の粒径の分布関数の曲線を実線として示す。さらに、同じ座標系において、５０％および９９％粒子数関数の点および粒径の関連する点Ｄ５０およびＤ９９がクロスにより表されている分布関数の積分を破線曲線を示す。
【０１１３】
顔料分散体の粒径測定は、光散乱法、電気泳動法、レーザードップラー法等を用いた市販の粒径測定機器により求めることが出来る。また、透過型電子顕微鏡による粒子像撮影を少なくとも１００粒子以上に対して行い、この像をＩｍａｇｅ−Ｐｒｏ（メディアサイバネティクス製）等の画像解析ソフトを用いて統計的処理を行うこと、あるいは、分析用超遠心機により（たとえばＷ．Ｍａｅｃｈｔｌｅ、Ｍａｋｒｏｍｏｌ．Ｃｈｅｍ．１８５巻（１９８４年）、１０２５〜１０３９ページ参照）求めることができる。
【０１１４】
請求項２に係る発明では、顔料粒子の最大粒子径（Ｄ９９）が、３００ｎｍ未満であることが特徴であるが、好ましくは５０〜２９０ｎｍであり、さらに好ましくは７０〜２５０ｎｍである。顔料粒子の最大粒子径（Ｄ９９）が、３００ｎｍ以上になると、粗大顔料粒子に起因する耐擦性の劣化を引き起こすため好ましくない。
【０１１５】
また、請求項３に係る発明では、顔料粒子の平均粒子径（Ｄ５０）が、３５〜１２０ｎｍであることが特徴であるが、好ましくは５０〜９０ｎｍである。顔料粒子の平均粒子径（Ｄ５０）が、１２０ｎｍを越えると粗大顔料粒子に起因する耐擦性の劣化を引き起こすため好ましくなく、逆に３５ｎｍ未満であると、顔料粒子が記録媒体の空隙部に埋まるため、所望の印字濃度を得ることができない。
【０１１６】
本発明において、顔料粒子の平均粒子径（Ｄ５０）を規定の範囲にする方法として、特に制限はないが、例えば、前述の様に、顔料粒子分散時の分散剤、分散手段、分散条件等を適宜選択することにより、所望の平均粒子径を有する顔料分散体を得ることができる。
【０１１７】
また、顔料粒子の最大粒子径（Ｄ９９）を規定の範囲にする方法として、特に制限はないが、例えば、前述の様に、顔料粒子分散時の分散剤、分散手段、分散条件等を適宜選択する方法、分散後に遠心分離処理あるいはフィルター濾過処理等による粗大粒子分離手段を組み合わせることにより達成することができる。
【０１１８】
請求項４に係る発明では、顔料インクが、重量平均分子量３，０００〜３０，０００の水溶性高分子化合物を０．３〜１０質量％含有することが特徴である。
【０１１９】
本発明でいう水溶性高分子とは、例えば、天然水溶性高分子であるトウモロコシ、小麦等のデンプン類、カルボキシメチルセルロース、メチルセルロース、ヒドロキシエチセルロースなどのセルロース誘導体、アルギン酸ナトリウム、グアーガム、タマリンドガム、ローカストビーンガム、アラビアゴムなどの多糖類、ゼラチン、カゼイン、ケラチン等の蛋白質物質などが挙げられる。
【０１２０】
更に、水溶性高分子の好ましい例として合成高分子が挙げられ、ポリビニルアルコール類、ポリビニルピロリドン類、ポリアクリル酸、アクリル酸−アクリルニトリル共重合体、アクリル酸カリウム−アクリルニトリル共重合体、酢酸ビニル−アクリル酸エステル共重合体、若しくはアクリル酸−アクリル酸エステル共重合体などのアクリル系樹脂、スチレン−アクリル酸共重合体、スチレン−メタクリル酸共重合体、スチレン−メタクリル酸−アクリル酸エステル共重合体、スチレン−α−メチルスチレン−アクリル酸共重合体、若しくはスチレン−α−メチルスチレン−アクリル酸−アクリル酸エステル共重合体などのスチレンアクリル酸樹脂、スチレン−スチレンスルホン酸ナトリウム共重合体、スチレン−２−ヒドロキシエチルアクリレート共重合体、スチレン−２−ヒドロキシエチルアクリレート−スチレンスルホン酸カリウム共重合体、スチレン−マレイン酸共重合体、スチレン−無水マレイン酸共重合体、ビニルナフタレン−アクリル酸共重合体、ビニルナフタレン−マレイン酸共重合体、酢酸ビニル−マレイン酸エステル共重合体、酢酸ビニル−クロトン酸共重合体、酢酸ビニル−アクリル酸共重合体などの酢酸ビニル系共重合体及びそれらの塩が挙げられる。
【０１２１】
水溶性高分子の分子量は、３，０００〜３０，０００であることが特徴であるが、好ましくは３，０００〜２０，０００であり、より好ましくは３，０００〜１０，０００である。３，０００未満では顔料粒子の成長及び凝集を抑制する効果が少なくなり、擦過性の改良効果が低下し、また、３０，０００を越えると粘度上昇、溶解不良、インクの保存安定性、吐出安定性を損なう結果を招きやすくなり好ましくない。
【０１２２】
水溶性高分子の添加量は、顔料インク質量に対して０．３〜１０質量％であることが特徴であるが、好ましくは０．６〜４．０質量％である。０．３％未満では、顔料粒子の成長及び凝集を抑制する効果が少なくなり、擦過性の改良効果が低下し、また、１０質量％を越えると粘度上昇、溶解不良、インクの保存安定性、吐出安定性を損なう結果を招きやすくなり好ましくない。
【０１２３】
本発明に係る水溶性高分子は、顔料分散時に添加しても、分散後に添加してもいずれでも良い。また、本発明に係る顔料インクにおいては、上述の水溶性高分子を２種以上用いても良い。
【０１２４】
次いで、本発明に係る顔料インクについて、上記に説明した以外の構成因子について、以下説明する。
【０１２５】
本発明に使用できる顔料としては、従来公知の有機及び無機顔料が使用できる。例えばアゾレーキ、不溶性アゾ顔料、縮合アゾ顔料、キレートアゾ顔料等のアゾ顔料や、フタロシアニン顔料、ペリレン及びペリレン顔料、アントラキノン顔料、キナクリドン顔料、ジオキサンジン顔料、チオインジゴ顔料、イソインドリノン顔料、キノフタロニ顔料等の多環式顔料や、塩基性染料型レーキ、酸性染料型レーキ等の染料レーキや、ニトロ顔料、ニトロソ顔料、アニリンブラック、昼光蛍光顔料等の有機顔料、カーボンブラック等の無機顔料が挙げられる。
【０１２６】
具体的な有機顔料を以下に例示する。
マゼンタまたはレッド用の顔料としては、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド２、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド５、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド６、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド７、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１５、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１６、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド４８：１、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド５３：１、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド５７：１、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１２２、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１２３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１３９、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１４４、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１４９、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１６６、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１７７、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド１７８、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントレッド２２２等が挙げられる。
【０１２７】
オレンジまたはイエロー用の顔料としては、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントオレンジ３１、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントオレンジ４３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１２、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１４、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１５、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１７、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー７４、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー９３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー９４、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１２８、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントイエロー１３８等が挙げられる。
【０１２８】
グリーンまたはシアン用の顔料としては、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー１５、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー１５：２、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー１５：３、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー１６、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントブルー６０、Ｃ．Ｉ．ピグメントグリーン７等が挙げられる。
【０１２９】
本発明において用いる顔料インクには、必要に応じて前述の顔料分散剤を含有させてもよい。また、顔料の分散方法としては、前述の各種方法を適宜選択して用いることができる。
【０１３０】
本発明におけるインクには、ラテックスを含有しても良い。本発明におけるラテックスとは媒質中に分散状態にあるポリマー粒子のことを指す。ポリマーの種類としては、例えば、スチレン−ブタジエン共重合体、ポリスチレン、アクリロニトリル−ブタジエン共重合体、アクリル酸エステル共重合体、ポリウレタン、シリコン−アクリル共重合体およびアクリル変性フッ素樹脂等があるが、なかでもアクリル酸エステル、ポリウレタンおよびシリコン−アクリル共重合体が好ましい。
【０１３１】
ラテックスの製造において、用いられる乳化剤としては、低分子量の界面活性剤が一般的であるが、高分子量の界面活性剤（例えば、可溶化基がポリマーにグラフト結合しているタイプや可溶化基を持つ部分と不溶性の部分を連結させたブロックポリマーのタイプ等がある）を乳化剤として用いることができる。また、可溶化基をラテックスの中心ポリマーに直接結合させることにより乳化剤を用いずに分散されているラテックスも存在する。上記のような乳化剤として高分子量の界面活性剤を用いるラテックスおよび乳化剤を使用しないラテックスは、ソープフリーラテックスと呼ばれている。本発明に使用するラテックスとしては、乳化剤の種類、形態を問わないが、インクの保存安定性に優れるソープフリーラテックスを用いることがより好ましい。
【０１３２】
また、最近は中心ポリマーが均一であるラテックス以外にポリマー粒子の中心部と外縁部で組成を異にしたコア・シェルタイプのラテックスも存在するが、このタイプのラテックスも好ましく用いることができる。
【０１３３】
本発明におけるラテックスの平均粒径は１５０ｎｍ以下が好ましく、５０ｎｍ以下がより好ましい。
【０１３４】
ラテックスの平均粒子径は光散乱方式やレーザードップラー方式を用いた市販の測定装置を使用して簡便に計測することが可能である。
【０１３５】
本発明におけるラテックスの固形分添加量は、インクの全質量に対して０．１質量％以上１０質量％以下が好ましく、０．３質量％以上５質量％以下であることが特に好ましい。添加量０．１質量％未満では耐水性に関して十分な効果を発揮することが難しく、また１０質量％を越えると経時でインク粘度の上昇や顔料分散粒径の増大が起こりやすいなどインク保存性の点で問題が生じることが多い。
【０１３６】
本発明においては電気伝導度調節剤を用いることもでき、例えば塩化カリウム、塩化アンモニウム、硫酸ナトリウム、硝酸ナトリウム、塩化ナトリウムなどの無機塩や、トリエタノールアミン等の水性アミン等が挙げられる。
【０１３７】
本発明のインク及び必要に応じて設けられる構成層においては、吐出安定性、プリントヘッドやインクカートリッジ適合性、保存安定性、画像保存性、その他の諸性能向上の目的に応じて、さらに粘度調整剤、比抵抗調整剤、皮膜形成剤、紫外線吸収剤、酸化防止剤、退色防止剤、防錆剤、防腐剤等を添加することもでき、例えば、ポリスチレン、ポリアクリル酸エステル類、ポリメタクリル酸エステル類、ポリアクリルアミド類、ポリエチレン、ポリプロピレン、ポリ塩化ビニル、ポリ塩化ビニリデン、またはこれらの共重合体、尿素樹脂、またはメラミン樹脂等の有機ラテックス微粒子、流動パラフィン、ジオクチルフタレート、トリクレジルホスフェート、シリコンオイル等の油滴微粒子、カチオンまたはノニオンの各種界面活性剤、特開昭５７−７４１９３号公報、同５７−８７９８８号公報及び同６２−２６１４７６号公報に記載の紫外線吸収剤、特開昭５７−７４１９２号、同５７−８７９８９号公報、同６０−７２７８５号公報、同６１−１４６５９１号公報、特開平１−９５０９１号公報及び同３−１３３７６号公報等に記載されている退色防止剤、特開昭５９−４２９９３号公報、同５９−５２６８９号公報、同６２−２８００６９号公報、同６１−２４２８７１号公報および特開平４−２１９２６６号公報等に記載されている蛍光増白剤、硫酸、リン酸、クエン酸、水酸化ナトリウム、水酸化カリウム、炭酸カリウム等のｐＨ調整剤、消泡剤、防腐剤、増粘剤、帯電防止剤、マット剤等の公知の各種添加剤を含有させることもできる。
【０１３８】
インクジェット記録で使用するインクジェットヘッドはオンデマンド方式でもコンティニュアス方式でも構わない。また、吐出方式としては、電気−機械変換方式（例えば、シングルキャビティー型、ダブルキャビティー型、ベンダー型、ピストン型、シェアーモード型、シェアードウォール型等）、電気−熱変換方式（例えば、サーマルインクジェット型、バブルジェット型等）、静電吸引方式（例えば、電界制御型、スリットジェット型等）及び放電方式（例えば、スパークジェット型等）などを具体的な例として挙げることができるが、いずれの吐出方式を用いても構わない。
【０１３９】
【実施例】
以下、本発明の実施例を挙げて説明するが、本発明はこれらの例に限定されるものではない。なお、実施例中で「％」は、特に断りのない限り質量％を表す。
【０１４０】
《記録媒体１の作製》
〔支持体１の作製〕
含水率が６．５質量％、坪量１７０ｇ／ｍ²の写真用原紙の裏面に押し出し塗布法により密度が０．９２の低密度ポリエチレンを２０μｍの厚さで塗布し、コロナ放電を行った後、ラテックス層を厚みが０．２ｇ／ｍ²になるように塗布した。
【０１４１】
ついで、表側（インク吸収層塗設面側）にアナターゼ型酸化チタン５．５質量％含有する密度が０．９２の低密度ポリエチレンを１４μｍの厚さで溶融押し出し塗布法で塗布して両面をポリエチレンで被覆し、溶融押し出し塗布直後に、インク吸収層塗設面側に、不規則の形状の凹凸を有するクーリングロールを使用して冷却しながら表側のポリエチレン表面に型付け処理を行った。次いで、この表面にコロナ放電を行った後、架橋剤を含有するゼラチン下引き層を０．０３ｇ／ｍ²塗布して支持体１を作製した。
【０１４２】
〔各分散液の調製〕
（酸化チタン分散液−１の調製）
平均粒径が約０．２５μｍの酸化チタン２０ｋｇ（石原産業製：Ｗ−１０）をｐＨ＝７．５のトリポリリン酸ナトリウム１５０ｇ、ポリビニルアルコール（クラレ株式会社製：ＰＶＡ２３５）５００ｇ、カチオン性ポリマー（例示化合物Ｐ−９）１５０ｇおよび１０ｇのサンノブコ株式会社消泡剤ＳＮ３８１を含有する水溶液９０Ｌに添加し、高圧ホモジナイザー（三和工業株式会社製）で分散した後、全量を１００Ｌに仕上げて、均一な酸化チタン分散液−１を調製した。
【０１４３】
（シリカ分散液−１の調製）
１次粒子の平均粒径が約０．００７μｍの気相法シリカ（日本アエロジル工業株式会社製：Ａ３００）１２５ｋｇを、三田村理研工業株式会社製のジェットストリーム・インダクターミキサーＴＤＳを用いて、硝酸でｐＨ＝３．０に調整した６００Ｌの純水中に室温で吸引分散した後、全量を６６０Ｌに純水で仕上げて、シリカ分散液−１を調製した。
【０１４４】
（シリカ分散液−２の調製）
カチオン性ポリマー（例示化合物Ｐ−９）１．２９ｋｇと、エタノール４．２Ｌと、ｎ−プロパノール１．５Ｌとを含有する水溶液（ｐＨ＝２．３）１５Ｌに、上記シリカ分散液−１の６６．０Ｌを攪拌しながら添加し、次いで、ホウ酸２６０ｇとホウ砂２３０ｇとを含有する水溶液７．０Ｌを添加し、前記の消泡剤ＳＮ３８１を１ｇ添加した。
【０１４５】
この混合液を、三和工業株式会社製高圧ホモジナイザーで分散し、全量を純水で９０Ｌに仕上げてシリカ分散液−２を調製した。
【０１４６】
（蛍光増白剤分散液−１の調製）
チバガイギー株式会社製の油溶性蛍光増白剤ＵＶＩＴＥＸ−ＯＢの４００ｇを、ジイソデシルフタレート９０００ｇおよび酢酸エチル１２Ｌに加熱溶解し、これを酸処理ゼラチン３５００ｇ、カチオン性ポリマー（例示化合物Ｐ−９）、サポニン（５０％水溶液）６，０００ｍｌを含有する水溶液６５Ｌに添加混合し、三和工業株式会社製の高圧ホモジナイザーで乳化分散し、減圧で酢酸エチルを除去した後、全量を１００Ｌに仕上げて、蛍光増白剤分散液−１を調製した。
【０１４７】
（マット剤分散液−１の調製）
総研科学株式会社製のメタクリル酸エステル系単分散マット剤ＭＸ−１５００（平均粒径１５μｍ）の１５６ｇを、前記ＰＶＡ２３５を３ｇ含有する純水７Ｌ中に添加し、高速ホモジナイザーで分散して全量を７．８Ｌに仕上げ、マット剤分散液−１を調製した。
【０１４８】
〔インク吸収層塗布液の調製〕
第１層、第２層、第３層のインク吸収層塗布液を以下の手順で調製した。
【０１４９】
（第１層塗布液の調製）
上記シリカ分散液−２の５６０ｍｌを４０℃で攪拌しながら、以下の添加剤を順次混合して第１層塗布液を調製した。
【０１５０】

純水で全量を１０００ｍｌに仕上げた。
【０１５１】
（第２層塗布液の調製）
上記シリカ分散液−２の６５０ｍｌを４０℃で攪拌しながら、以下の添加剤を順次混合して第２層塗布液を調製した。
【０１５２】

純水で全量を１０００ｍｌに仕上げた。
【０１５３】
（第３層塗布液の調製）
上記シリカ分散液−２の６５０ｍｌを４０℃で攪拌しながら、以下の添加剤を順次混合して第３層塗布液を調製した。
【０１５４】

純水で全量を１０００ｍｌに仕上げた。
【０１５５】
上記のようにして調製した各塗布液を、下記のフィルターで濾過した。
第１層、第２層：東洋濾紙株式会社製ＴＣＰ１０を２段で濾過
第３層 ：東洋濾紙株式会社製ＴＣＰ３０を２段で濾過
〔インク吸収層の塗布〕
上記のようにして調製した各塗布液を、４０℃で３層式スライドホッパーで塗布を行い、塗布直後に８℃に保たれた冷却ゾーンで２０秒間冷却した後、２０〜３０℃の風で６０秒間、４５℃の風で６０秒間、５０℃の風で６０秒間順次乾燥した後、２３度、相対湿度４０〜６０％で調湿して記録媒体１を作製した。
【０１５６】
〔記録媒体１の表面特性〕
（裏面の中心線表面粗さの測定）
上記作製した記録媒体１の裏面の中心線表面粗さを下記に示す方法により測定した。中心線平均粗さＲａ（μｍ）は、非接触３次元表面解析装置（ＷＹＫＯ社ＲＳＴ／ＰＬＵＳ）を用いて測定した。なおＲａの定義は、ＪＩＳ表面粗さ（Ｂ０６０１）に従った。測定は、３０ｃｍ×３０ｃｍの各試料について、３ｃｍ間隔で碁盤目状に１００分割し、各正方形領域の中心について測定を行ない、１００回の測定からその平均値と標準偏差を求めた。中心線平均粗さ（Ｒａ）は、得られた粗さ曲線からその中心線の方向に測定長さ２．５ｍｍの部分を抜き取り、カットオフ値を０．８ｍｍとして、この抜き取り部分の中心線をＸ軸、縦倍率の方向をＹ軸、粗さ曲線をＹ＝ｆ（Ｘ）で表したとき、式（数１）によって求められる値をマイクロメートル（μｍ）で表した。
【０１５７】
【数１】

【０１５８】
上記方法で測定した記録媒体１の裏面の中心線表面粗さは、０．４μｍであった。
【０１５９】
（表面の中心線表面粗さの測定）
上記作製した記録媒体１の表面（インク吸収層塗設面）の中心線表面粗さを上記と同様の方法で測定した結果、２．８μｍであった。
【０１６０】
（表面の６０度鏡面光沢度の測定）
上記作製した記録媒体１の表面を、ＪＩＳ−Ｚ−８７４１に従って６０度鏡面光沢度を測定した結果、６０度鏡面光沢度は１８％であった。なお、測定には、日本電色工業社製の変角光沢度計（ＶＧＳ−１００１ＤＰ）を用いた。
【０１６１】
《記録媒体２の作製》
上記記録媒体１の作製において、支持体１に代えて、下記支持体２を用いた以外は同様にして、記録媒体２を作製した。
【０１６２】
（支持体２の作製）
支持体１の作製において、裏面のラテックス層に、平均粒径が０．３μｍのメタクリル酸エステル系単分散マット剤を１．４ｇ／ｍ²となるように添加した以外は同様にして支持体２を作製した。
【０１６３】
以上のようにして作製した記録媒体２の表裏面特性を、記録媒体１で用いた同様の方法で測定した結果、裏面の中心線表面粗さは２．８μｍ、表面の中心線表面粗さは２．８μｍ、表面の６０度鏡面光沢度は１８％であった。
【０１６４】
《記録媒体３の作製》
上記記録媒体１の作製において、支持体１に代えて、下記支持体３を用いた以外は同様にして、記録媒体３を作製した。
【０１６５】
（支持体３の作製）
支持体１の作製において、裏面のラテックス層に、平均粒径が０．３μｍのメタクリル酸エステル系単分散マット剤を０．８ｇ／ｍ²となるように添加し、かつ表側のポリエチレンを溶融押し出し塗布直後に、マット面を有するクーリングロールを使用して冷却しながら表側のポリエチレン表面に型付け処理を行った以外は同様にして支持体３を作製した。
【０１６６】
以上のようにして作製した記録媒体３の表裏面特性を、記録媒体１で用いた同様の方法で測定した結果、裏面の中心線表面粗さは１．２μｍ、表面の中心線表面粗さは０．４μｍ、表面の６０度鏡面光沢度は３５％であった。
【０１６７】
《記録媒体４の作製》
上記記録媒体１の作製において、支持体１に代えて、下記支持体４を用いた以外は同様にして、記録媒体４を作製した。
【０１６８】
（支持体４の作製）
支持体１の作製において、裏面のラテックス層に、平均粒径が０．３μｍのメタクリル酸エステル系単分散マット剤を０．８ｇ／ｍ²となるように添加し、かつ表側の型付け処理で用いたクーリングロール表面の不規則形状の凹凸の個数を１．６倍に増やした以外は同様にして、支持体４を作製した。
【０１６９】
以上のようにして作製した記録媒体４の表裏面特性を、記録媒体１で用いた同様の方法で測定した結果、裏面の中心線表面粗さは１．２μｍ、表面の中心線表面粗さは４．５μｍ、表面の６０度鏡面光沢度は７％であった。
【０１７０】
《記録媒体５の作製》
上記記録媒体１の作製において、支持体１に代えて、下記支持体５を用いた以外は同様にして、記録媒体５を作製した。
【０１７１】
（支持体５の作製）
支持体１の作製において、裏面のラテックス層に、平均粒径が０．３μｍのメタクリル酸エステル系単分散マット剤を０．８ｇ／ｍ²となるように添加した以外は同様にして、支持体５を作製した。
【０１７２】
以上のようにして作製した記録媒体５の表裏面特性を、記録媒体１で用いた同様の方法で測定した結果、裏面の中心線表面粗さは１．２μｍ、表面の中心線表面粗さは２．８μｍ、表面の６０度鏡面光沢度は１８％であった。
【０１７３】
《記録媒体６〜９の作製》
上記記録媒体５の作製において、裏面の中心線表面粗さ、表面の中心線表面粗さ、表面の６０度鏡面光沢度を表１に記載の特性値となるように、裏面側ではマット剤の添加量を、また表側ではクーリングロール表面の不規則形状の凹凸の個数を適宜変更した支持体６〜９を用いて、記録媒体６〜９を作製した。
【０１７４】
《記録媒体１０の作製》
前記記録媒体５の作製において、インク吸収層の形成で用いた各分散液中のカチオン性ポリマー（Ｐ−１）を除いた以外は同様にして、記録媒体１０を作製した。
【０１７５】
以上のようにして作製した各記録媒体の特性値を表１に示す。
【０１７６】
【表１】

【０１７７】
《顔料インクセット１の調製》
〔顔料分散体の調製〕

上記各添加剤を混合し、０．３ｍｍのジルコニアビーズを体積率で６０％充填した横型ビーズミル（アシザワ社製：システムゼータミニ）を用いて分散した後、遠心分離により未分散粗粒子を除いて、イエロー顔料分散体１を得た。
【０１７８】
（マゼンタ顔料分散体１の調製）

上記各添加剤を混合し、０．３ｍｍのジルコニアビーズを体積率で６０％充填した横型ビーズミル（アシザワ社製：システムゼータミニ）を用いて分散した後、遠心分離により未分散粗粒子を除いて、マゼンタ顔料分散体１を得た。
【０１７９】
（シアン顔料分散体１の調製）

上記各添加剤を混合し、０．３ｍｍのジルコニアビーズを体積率で６０％充填した横型ビーズミル（アシザワ社製：システムゼータミニ）を用いて分散した後、遠心分離により未分散粗粒子を除いて、シアン顔料分散体１を得た。
【０１８０】
（ブラック顔料分散体１の調製）

上記各添加剤を混合し、０．３ｍｍのジルコニアビーズを体積率で６０％充填した横型ビーズミル（アシザワ社製：システムゼータミニ）を用いて分散した後、遠心分離により未分散粗粒子を除いて、ブラック顔料分散体１を得た。
【０１８１】
〔インクの調製〕
（イエローインク１の調製）

以上の各組成物を混合し、十分に攪拌した後に、孔径１μｍのミリポアフィルター濾過機を２度通過させ、イエローインク１を調製した。
【０１８２】
（マゼンタインク１の調製）

以上の各組成物を混合し、十分に攪拌した後に、孔径１μｍのミリポアフィルター濾過機を２度通過させ、マゼンタインク１を調製した。
【０１８３】
（シアンインク１の調製）

以上の各組成物を混合し、十分に攪拌した後に、孔径１μｍのミリポアフィルター濾過機を２度通過させ、シアンインク１を調製した。
【０１８４】
（ブラックインク１の調製）

以上の各組成物を混合し、十分に攪拌した後に、孔径１μｍのミリポアフィルター濾過機を２度通過させ、ブラックインク１を調製した。
【０１８５】
〔各インクの針状比率、Ｄ９９、Ｄ５０の測定〕
（針状比率の測定）
各顔料インクを０．０１％顔料濃度に希釈し、顔料インク液滴をポリエチレンテレフタレートフィルム上に滴下、乾燥させた後、真空蒸着装置として、ＪＦＤ−７０００型（日本電子社製）を用いて試料を作製し、ＦＥ−ＳＥＭとしては、Ｓ−５０００Ｈ型（日立製作所製）を用いて加速電圧２．０ｋＶにて顔料粒子個数が１０００個以上となるように視野数を選び観察した。画像は、デジタル化し接続されたファイリング装置（ＶＩＤＥＯＢＡＮＫ）に転送しＭＯディスク中に保存した。続いて、ＬＵＺＥＸ−III型（ニレコ社製）画像処理装置にて粒子の重なりや接触がある場合はマニュアル操作にて粒子を抽出し、それぞれの粒子に対して針状比率（ＭＸ ＬＮＧ／ＷＩＤＴＨ）を測定し、平均値を求めた。
【０１８６】
以上の方法で求めた顔料インクセット１の針状比率は、以下の通りである。
イエローインク１：１．７３
マゼンタインク１：１．６９
シアンインク１ ：１．７８
ブラックインク１：１．８４
（Ｄ９９、Ｄ５０の測定）
上記の方法で測定した１，０００個の粒径測定データを基に、図１で示す横座標が粒径（Ｄ）、縦座標が粒子数関数（Ｇ）からなる粒径分布曲線１及び分布関数の積分曲線２を作成し、積分曲線２より、粒子数関数で５０個数％、９９個数％に対応する粒径点Ｄ５０及びＤ９９を測定した。
【０１８７】
以上の方法で求めた顔料インクセット１のＤ５０、Ｄ９９は、以下の通りである。
【０１８８】
イエローインク１ Ｄ５０：７４ｎｍ Ｄ９９：２２９ｎｍ
マゼンタインク１ Ｄ５０：７１ｎｍ Ｄ９９：２３０ｎｍ
シアンインク１ Ｄ５０：７７ｎｍ Ｄ９９：２３５ｎｍ
ブラックインク１ Ｄ５０：７９ｎｍ Ｄ９９：２４１ｎｍ
《顔料インクセット２〜６の調製》
上記顔料インクセット１の調製において、各顔料分散体１調製時の遠心分離の条件あるいは有無、分散強度と、各顔料インク調製時のフィルターの孔径、濾過回数とを適宜調整及び組み合わせて、表２に記載の針状比率、Ｄ５０、Ｄ９９の各特性を有する顔料インクセット２〜６を調製した。
【０１８９】
《顔料インクセット７の調製》
上記顔料インクセット１の調製において、各顔料分散体１調製時に用いたスチレン−アクリル酸共重合体（分子量１０，０００、酸価１２０）、ジョンクリル６１（アクリル−スチレン系樹脂、ジョンソン社製）、スチレン−アクリル酸共重合体（分子量７，０００、酸価１５０）を除いた以外は同様にして、顔料インクセット７を調製した。
【０１９０】
以上により調製した各インクセットの各色インクの針状比率、Ｄ５０、Ｄ９９を表２に示す。
【０１９１】
【表２】

【０１９２】
《画像印字》
表３に記載の記録媒体と顔料インクセットとの組み合わせにより、ノズル孔径２０μｍ、駆動周波数１２ｋＨｚ、１色当たりのノズル数１２８、同色間のノズル密度１８０ｄｐｉであるピエゾ型ヘッドを搭載し、最大記録密度７２０×７２０ｄｐｉのオンデマンド型のインクジェットプリンタを使用して、各記録媒体上に反射濃度として１．０及び最大濃度を与える各単色画像パターンの印字画像１〜１６を出力した。なお、本発明で言うｄｐｉとは、２．５４ｃｍ（１ｉｎｃｈ）当たりのドット数をいう。
【０１９３】
《印字画像の特性評価》
以上のようにして作成した印字画像について、下記の各特性評価を行った。
【０１９４】
（光沢差の評価）
各印字画像について、印字部と非印字部の光沢差を下記に記載の基準に則り目視観察して、光沢差の評価を行った。
【０１９５】
◎：全色のインク画像で、印字部に著しい光沢感があり、非印字部との差が全く気にならない
○：全色のインク画像で、印字部に光沢感があり、非印字部との光沢感の差が気にならない
△：一部のインク画像で、印字部で光沢感が少なく、やや非画像部との差が気になるが実用上許容範囲にある
×：全色に亘り、印字部に光沢感が全くなく、また非画像部との差が著しい
（耐擦性の評価）
各印字画像の最高印字濃度部分を、消しゴム（ＭＯＮＯトンボ鉛筆社製）で１０回擦った時の、印刷部の汚れの発生の程度を目視観察し、下記に記載の判定基準に則り耐擦性の評価を行った。
【０１９６】
◎：全く印字部での汚れが観察されない
○：僅かに印刷部の汚れが観察される
△：印刷部の汚れが若干観察されるが、実用上許容範囲にある
×：印刷部の汚れが明確に観察され、実用上問題である
（最高濃度の評価）
印字画像のうち、マゼンタ画像の最高印字濃度部分を、光学濃度計（Ｘ−Ｒｉｔｅ社製Ｘ−Ｒｉｔｅ９３８）を用いて濃度測定を行い、下記に記載の判定基準に則りラック付を行った。
【０１９７】
○：最高濃度が、２．１０以上である
△：最高濃度が、１．９０以上２．１０未満である
×：最高濃度が、１．９０未満である
（プリンタ搬送性の評価）
〈連続搬送性の評価〉
各記録媒体を、２０枚重ねて上記プリンタにセットし、上記の方法で画像印字を、２３℃、５５％ＲＨ雰囲気下で２０枚連続して行った。
【０１９８】
○：２０枚全部が、問題なく搬送された
△：１〜２枚が重送、または搬送されないケースが発生した
×：３〜５枚が重送、または搬送されないケースが発生した
××：６枚以上が重送、または搬送されないケースが発生した
〈１枚搬送性の評価〉
１杖だけ上記プリンタにセットして、２３℃、５５％ＲＨ雰囲気下でプリントした。
【０１９９】
○：問題なく搬送される
△：やや蛇行するがプリントできる
×：蛇行が発生し、プリントがうまくできない
××：大きく蛇行し、記録媒体が搬送されない
以上により得られた各評価結果を表３に示す。
【０２００】
【表３】

【０２０１】
表３より明らかなように、インク吸収層面側表面の６０度鏡面光沢が１０〜３０％で、かつＲａが０．６〜４．０μｍで、裏面のＲａが０．６〜２．５μｍであるインクジェット記録媒体に、針状比率（顔料粒子の最大長／最小巾）の個数平均値が１〜３の顔料粒子を含有する顔料インクを用いて印字した本発明の試料は、比較例に対し、光沢差、耐擦性、最高濃度及びプリンタ搬送性に優れていることが判る。更に、用いる顔料インクにおいて、顔料粒子の最大粒子径（Ｄ９９）が、３００ｎｍ未満であること、顔料粒子の平均粒子径（Ｄ５０）が、３５〜１２０ｎｍであること、重量平均分子量３，０００〜３０，０００の水溶性高分子化合物を０．３〜１０質量％含有すること、あるいは記録媒体がカチオン性ポリマーを含有することによりその効果がより一層発揮されていることを確認することができた。
【０２０２】
【発明の効果】
本発明により、印字部と非印字部との光沢差の低減による違和感を改良し、耐擦性、印字濃度及びプリンタ搬送性に優れたインクジェット記録方法を提供することができた。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係るＤ５０、Ｄ９９を表す粒径の分布関数曲線。
【符号の説明】
１ 顔料分散液の粒径分布関数
２ 粒径の分布関数の積分曲線
３ Ｄ９９の表示
４ Ｄ５０の表示[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inkjet image recording method, and more particularly, to an inkjet recording method that improves gloss difference between a printing portion and a non-printing portion and is excellent in abrasion resistance, printing density, and printer transportability.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the widespread use of digital cameras or computers, hard copy image recording technology for recording these images on paper has been rapidly developed. The ultimate goal of these hard copies is to bring the image quality closer to that of a silver halide photograph. In particular, the color reproducibility, color density, texture, resolution, glossiness, light resistance, etc. should be closer to that of a silver halide photograph. It is a development goal.
[0003]
As such hard copy recording methods, various recording methods such as sublimation type thermal transfer method, ink jet method, electrostatic recording method, etc. are proposed in addition to direct photographing of a display displaying an image with a silver salt photograph. Has been put to practical use. Among these recording methods, ink jet printers have the advantage of being easy to achieve full color and having less printing noise, and have been rapidly spreading in recent years.
[0004]
The ink jet recording method is capable of recording high-definition images with a relatively simple apparatus, and has been rapidly developed in various fields. In addition, there are various uses, and a recording medium or ink suitable for each purpose is used.
[0005]
The recording medium used in the ink jet recording method is such that the ink-receiving layer is a support itself such as paper such as plain paper, or an ink absorption layer on a support that also serves as an absorber such as coated paper. Or an ink-absorbing layer coated on a non-absorbing support such as a resin-coated paper or a polyester film. Among them, the recording medium of the type in which an ink absorbing layer is coated on a non-absorbing support is a silver salt such as gloss, gloss, and depth because the support has a high surface smoothness and little swell. It is preferably used for an output that requires a high quality texture such as a photograph. Furthermore, as a glossy recording medium having high gloss and gloss, a swelling type recording medium in which a water-soluble binder such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone or polyvinyl alcohol is coated as an ink absorbing layer on a non-absorbent support, A so-called void-type recording medium is used in which a fine void structure is formed with a pigment or a pigment and a binder as the ink absorption layer, and the ink is absorbed into the void.
[0006]
On the other hand, inks are roughly classified into dye inks in which a color material is dissolved in a solvent and dispersed inks in which a color material is dispersed in a solvent. Since the dye ink is dissolved in a solvent, it tends to have good color developability and high chroma and is preferably used for outputting silver salt photographic images and the like. However, dye inks are basically prone to light fading, and when posting for a certain period of time, such as signboards and posters, there is a problem that if the surface is not laminated, it will fade immediately. It was. On the other hand, the dispersed ink generally does not easily cause light fading and is preferably used for producing a poster or the like. In the past, dispersed inks had a large dispersed particle size, mainly from the viewpoint of ensuring dispersion stability, and were completely unsuitable for silver salt photographic-like printing. The grain size was reduced, and silver salt photographic printing was also performed. Here, for example, an organic pigment, an inorganic pigment, and colored fine particles are used as the color material of the dispersed ink.
[0007]
In recent years, high-definition ink-jet recording has progressed, and printing that requires a high quality silver-salt photograph is often performed. When performing printing that requires such a high texture, glossy recording media such as the above-described swelling type recording media and void type recording media are preferably used.
[0008]
When recording the dye ink, since the entire ink penetrates into the ink absorbing layer, the surface of the medium after recording becomes almost the same as before recording, and there is a sense of incongruity at the boundary between the non-image portion and the recording portion. It didn't happen much. On the other hand, when the dispersed ink is recorded on the glossy recording medium, even if the ink absorbing layer has no holes as in the swelling type recording medium, or the hole has a hole as in the void type recording medium, the hole diameter Since the particle size of the color material is larger than that of the color material, most of the dispersed color material cannot enter the ink absorbing layer and is exposed on the surface of the recording medium. As a result, in the dispersed ink recording portion, a new surface is formed by the dispersed color material exposed on the medium surface. Therefore, the smoothness of the surface changes from the original medium surface depending on the accumulated state of the exposed coloring material. This change in smoothness appears as a change in glossiness, and the gloss is different between the recorded portion of the image and the non-image portion. If there is a difference in gloss within one recording medium, it will be felt very uncomfortable, and will be perceived as being far from the homogeneity of silver halide photography. In particular, the conventional dispersed ink has a drawback that the surface smoothness tends to be considerably rough from the original recording medium surface due to the color material deposited on the surface of the recording medium, the glossiness is also low, and an image with a strong sense of incongruity tends to be formed. Had.
[0009]
Furthermore, when the dispersed ink is used for the dye ink in which the color material printed as described above enters the gaps of the ink recording medium, it is exposed to the surface of the recording medium and becomes a deposited state. It had the problem of deteriorating.
[0010]
As a method for eliminating such a sense of incongruity, there are known a method of performing a laminating process after image recording and a method of pressing with a heat roll after image formation. It has disadvantages such as large energy consumption and the necessity of a laminate material and a dedicated recording medium.
[0011]
Also, when transporting a recording medium with a printer during inkjet image formation, troubles such as misfeeds that stop feeding or multifeeds that transport more than one sheet occur due to the surface characteristics of the recording medium. Was demanded.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to improve the uncomfortable feeling due to the reduction in gloss difference between the printed portion and the non-printed portion, and to be excellent in abrasion resistance, print density and printer transportability. It is to provide an ink jet recording method.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object of the present invention has been achieved by the following constitution.
[0014]
1. In an inkjet recording method for recording using a yellow pigment ink, a magenta pigment ink, and a cyan pigment ink on a recording medium having at least one ink absorbing layer on a support, the recording medium has a surface on the ink absorbing layer surface side. The 60-degree specular gloss specified in JIS-Z-8741 is 10 to 30%, the centerline surface roughness Ra specified in JISB-0601 is 0.6 to 4.0 μm, and the support is sandwiched. The center line surface roughness Ra of the surface opposite to the ink absorbing layer surface is 0.6 to 2.5 μm, and at least one of the pigment inks has a needle-like ratio (maximum particle length / minimum width) of 1 to 3. An ink jet recording method comprising: 50% by number or more of pigment particles.
[0015]
2. 2. The inkjet recording method according to item 1, wherein the pigment particles have a maximum particle size (D99) of less than 300 nm.
[0016]
3. 3. The inkjet recording method according to item 1 or 2, wherein the pigment particles have an average particle diameter (D50) of 35 to 120 nm.
[0017]
4). 4. The inkjet according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the pigment ink contains 0.3 to 10% by mass of a water-soluble polymer compound having a weight average molecular weight of 3,000 to 30,000. Recording method.
[0018]
5. 5. The ink jet recording method according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the recording medium contains a cationic polymer.
[0019]
In view of the above problems, the present inventors have made extensive studies on the glossiness, abrasion resistance, and printer transportability of the formed inkjet output image. As a result, the 60 ° specular glossiness of the printing surface side surface of the recording medium to be used. In the specific range, the center line surface roughness Ra of the front and back surfaces of the recording medium is set to a specific value, and the shape of the pigment particles in the pigment ink is specified to be specific, so that when printing with the pigment ink, It is possible to remarkably improve the inhomogeneity due to the difference in texture between the image area and non-image area, which is likely to occur, and to obtain smoothness and texture like silver halide photography, as well as to improve abrasion resistance and printer transportability. I found it.
[0020]
Furthermore, it has been found that the above effect is further exhibited by setting the particle diameter of the pigment to a specific range, using a water-soluble polymer compound for the ink, or using a cationic polymer for the recording medium, It is up to the present invention.
[0021]
Details of the present invention will be described below.
In the inkjet recording method of the present invention, the recording medium has a 60-degree specular gloss specified by JIS-Z-8741 on the surface side of the ink absorbing layer of 10 to 30%, and the centerline surface roughness specified by JISB-0601. Ra is 0.6 to 4.0 μm, and the center line surface roughness Ra of the surface opposite to the surface of the ink absorbing layer across the support is 0.6 to 2.5 μm. At least one of the pigment inks One is characterized by containing 50% by number or more of pigment particles having an acicular ratio (maximum particle length / minimum width) of 1 to 3.
[0022]
First, the ink jet recording medium according to the present invention will be described.
An ink jet recording medium according to the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as a recording medium) has an ink absorbing layer on an ink printing surface on a support.
[0023]
As the support used for the recording medium according to the present invention, either a water-absorbing support or a non-water-absorbing support can be used, but the non-water-absorbing support is free from wrinkles and easily has a semi-glossy surface. Can be formed.
[0024]
Examples of the water-absorbing support that can be used in the present invention include sheets and plates having general paper, cloth, wood, and the like. In particular, paper is excellent in water absorption of the substrate itself and cost. It is most preferable because of its superiority.
[0025]
The paper support can be produced with various paper machines such as a long net paper machine, a circular net paper machine, and a twin wire paper machine by mixing fibrous materials such as wood pulp and various additives. If necessary, the paper can be subjected to size press treatment with starch, polyvinyl alcohol or the like, various coating treatments, or calendar treatment on the paper making stage or paper machine.
[0026]
Examples of the non-water-absorbing support include a plastic resin film support or a support in which both sides of paper are covered with a plastic resin film.
[0027]
Examples of the plastic resin film support include polyester film, polyvinyl chloride film, polypropylene film, cellulose triacetate film, and polystyrene film. These plastic resin films can be transparent or translucent, but are preferably transparent.
[0028]
In the recording medium according to the present invention, it is particularly preferable to use a paper support in which both sides of the paper support are laminated with polyethylene or the like because the recorded image is close to photographic image quality and a high-quality image can be obtained at low cost. . A paper support laminated with such polyethylene will be described below.
[0029]
The base paper used for the paper support is made from wood pulp as a main raw material, and if necessary, paper is made using synthetic pulp such as polypropylene or synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester in addition to wood pulp. As wood pulp, any of LBKP, LBSP, NBKP, NBSP, LDP, NDP, LUKP, and NUKP can be used, but it is preferable to use more LBKP, NBSP, LBSP, NDP, and LDP with a large amount of short fibers. . However, the ratio of LBSP and / or LDP is preferably 10% by mass or more and 70% by mass or less.
[0030]
As the above-mentioned pulp, chemical pulp (sulfate pulp or sulfite pulp) with few impurities is preferably used, and a pulp whose whiteness is improved by performing a bleaching treatment is also useful. In the base paper, sizing agents such as higher fatty acids and alkyl ketene dimers, white pigments such as calcium carbonate, talc and titanium oxide, paper strength enhancing agents such as starch, polyacrylamide and polyvinyl alcohol, fluorescent whitening agents, polyethylene glycols A water retaining agent such as a dispersant, a softening agent such as a quaternary ammonium, and the like can be appropriately added.
[0031]
The freeness of the pulp used for papermaking is preferably 200 to 500 ml as defined by CSF, and the fiber length after beating is 24% by mass as defined in JIS-P-8207, and 42 mesh residue. 30 to 70% of the sum with the mass% of is preferable. In addition, it is preferable that the mass% of 4 mesh remainder is 20 mass% or less. The basis weight of the base paper is 30 to 250 g / m ² In particular, 50 to 200 g / m ² Is preferred. The thickness of the base paper is preferably 40 to 250 μm. The base paper can be given a high smoothness by calendering at the paper making stage or after paper making. Base paper density is 0.7-1.2g / m ² (JIS-P-8118) is common. Furthermore, the base paper stiffness is preferably 20 to 200 g under the conditions specified in JIS-P-8143. A surface sizing agent may be applied to the surface of the base paper. As the surface sizing agent, a sizing agent similar to the size that can be added to the base paper can be used. The pH of the base paper is preferably 5 to 9 when measured by a hot water extraction method defined in JIS-P-8113.
[0032]
The polyethylene that covers the front and back of the base paper is mainly low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and / or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), but in addition, some LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene), polypropylene, etc. should be used. Can do. In particular, the polyethylene layer on the ink absorbing layer side preferably has an improved opacity and whiteness by adding rutile or anatase type titanium oxide to the polyethylene, as widely used in photographic paper. The titanium oxide content is usually 3 to 20% by mass, preferably 4 to 13% by mass, based on polyethylene.
[0033]
Polyethylene-coated paper can be used as glossy paper, or when the polyethylene is melt-extruded and coated on the surface of the base paper, a so-called molding process is performed to provide a matte surface or silky surface as obtained with ordinary photographic printing paper. A surface-formed product can also be used in the present invention.
[0034]
The amount of polyethylene used on the front and back of the base paper is selected so as to optimize curling under low and high humidity after providing a void layer and a back layer. The range is 40 μm and the back layer side is 10 to 30 μm.
[0035]
Furthermore, the polyethylene-coated paper support preferably has the following characteristics.
[0036]
1. Tensile strength: strength defined by JIS-P-8113, preferably 20 to 300N in the vertical direction and 10 to 200N in the horizontal direction.
2. Tear strength: 0.1 to 20 N in the vertical direction and 2 to 20 N in the horizontal direction are preferred according to the method specified in JIS-P-8116.
3. Compression modulus ≧ 98.1 MPa
4). Surface Beck smoothness: 20 seconds or more is preferable as a glossy surface under the conditions specified in JIS-P-8119, but it may be less than this for so-called molded products. Opacity: when measured by the method defined in JIS-P-8138, 80% or more, particularly 85 to 98% is preferable.
6). Whiteness: L defined by JIS-Z-8729 ^* , A ^* , B ^* But L ^* = 80-95, a ^* = -3 to +5, b ^* = −6 to +2 is preferable
7. Clark stiffness: Clark stiffness in the conveyance direction of the recording medium is 50 to 300 cm. ² / 100 support is preferred
8). Water content of middle paper: usually 2 to 100% by weight, preferably 2 to 6% by weight, based on the middle paper
In the recording medium of the present invention, the 60-degree specular gloss specified by JIS-Z-8741 on the surface of the ink absorbing layer side is 10 to 30%, and the centerline surface roughness Ra specified by JISB-0601 is 0. One feature is that the center line surface roughness Ra of the surface opposite to the surface of the ink absorbing layer across the support is 0.6 to 2.5 μm. The means for achieving the ink absorption layer surface side characteristic value defined above is not particularly limited as the method, but irregular or regular fine surface irregularities are formed on the surface of the recording medium by the method described below. The method of providing is preferable.
[0037]
The unevenness in the present invention is a standard defined in JISB-0601 for the surface on the ink absorbing layer side defined in the present invention, from the viewpoint of preventing glare without significantly reducing gloss visually. The centerline surface roughness Ra when measured at a length of 2.5 mm and a cutoff value of 0.8 mm is 0.6 to 4.0 μm, and the 60-degree specular gloss according to JIS-Z-8741 satisfies 10 to 30%. It is necessary to provide such unevenness.
[0038]
Due to the unevenness, the surface gloss is moderately suppressed and unnecessary glare is eliminated. In addition, there is no significant difference in gloss between the printed and non-printed areas when ink jet recording is performed. A print with
[0039]
Such surface characteristics obtained by the present invention include the conventional matting agent used in the ink absorbing layer containing fine particles having a particle size of about 0.5 to 50 μm as the matting agent in the flat ink absorbing layer. It is not possible to get it.
[0040]
When the matting agent is contained, usually a convex state is mainly formed on the surface of the ink absorbing layer. If it is intended to suppress the gloss to some extent only by this convexity, it is necessary to use a matting agent that is considerably larger than the above-mentioned particle size. Worsen. Therefore, both the surface roughness and the glossiness cannot be satisfied by the method in which the matting agent is contained in the ink absorbing layer.
[0041]
As described above, the surface roughness of the surface of the ink absorbing layer according to the present invention is 0 when the centerline surface roughness Ra is 0 when measured with a reference length of 2.5 mm defined in JISB-0601 and a cutoff value of 0.8 mm. .6 to 4.0 [mu] m, and unevenness that satisfies 60-degree specular gloss according to JIS-Z-8741 of 10 to 30%, but if this Ra is less than 0.6 [mu] m, surface glare The suppression effect is lost, and if Ra exceeds 4.0 μm, ink tends to accumulate in the concave portion, and unevenness tends to occur. When the ink absorbing layer is a hard porous film having voids, if the Ra exceeds 4.0 μm, the film tends to crack during production. Preferably, the range of Ra is 0.9 to 3.0 μm.
[0042]
One feature of the center line surface roughness Ra on the back surface of the recording medium according to the present invention is 0.6 to 2.5 μm, preferably 0.8 to 2.2 μm.
[0043]
Further, as a means for setting the center line surface roughness on the back side to the range specified in the present invention, the method is not particularly limited. For example, a silica mat agent on a high-density polyethylene layer provided on the back side of the support This can be achieved by coating a layer containing, and adjusting the particle size and addition amount of the silica matting agent as appropriate.
[0044]
The recording medium according to the present invention has relatively large irregularities with regular or irregular shapes on the surface of the ink absorption layer. A layer may be provided, or a surface may be molded after an ink absorbing layer is provided on a smooth support. The former is preferred because it is difficult to make irregularities. When the ink absorbing layer is a relatively hard porous film, the latter is preferable.
[0045]
In the case of a support in which both sides of paper, which is a particularly preferable support, are coated with polyethylene resin, it is preferable to engrave the surface after coating the paper with polyethylene resin.
[0046]
A typical method for forming the unevenness on the surface of the polyethylene resin in advance is performed by extruding a molten polyethylene resin onto a base paper and then applying pressure to a forming roller to form a fine unevenness pattern.
[0047]
For the method of patterning, a resin-coated paper obtained by melt extrusion is embossed with a calendar near room temperature, and a cooling roll with a pattern engraved on the roll surface during extrusion coating of polyethylene resin is used. There is a method of forming irregularities while cooling, but the latter is preferable because it can be molded with a relatively weak pressure, and more accurate and homogeneous molding can be performed.
[0048]
The relationship between the unevenness of the surface of the support and the surface of the ink absorption layer depends on the characteristics of the ink absorption layer, but the porous film having a void that allows the ink absorption layer to have a high ink absorption rate and obtain a higher quality print In this case, since the dry film thickness becomes thick, the difference in height of the support surface tends to decrease.
[0049]
In the case of ink jet recording paper obtained by applying an ink absorbing layer to a support having a surface provided with irregularities in advance, the surface roughness of the support may be higher than the level difference of the surface irregularities of the desired ink absorbing layer. Necessary, and the surface roughness of the support has a centerline average roughness (Ra) of 1.0 to 1.0 when measured at a reference length of 2.5 mm as defined in JISB-0601 and a cutoff value of 0.8 mm. A support having an irregular or regular shape of 5.0 μm is preferred. A particularly preferred support has a Ra of 1.0 to 4.0.
[0050]
As a result, the recording medium according to the present invention produced using such a support needs to have a mirror glossiness of 10 to 30% according to JIS-Z-8741 on the surface of the ink absorbing layer side, Preferably, the unevenness is formed on the surface of the ink absorbing layer.
[0051]
The surface glossiness is affected by the above-described unevenness of the support, the fine structure itself of the ink absorption layer itself, and the matting agent used as an auxiliary.
[0052]
When the glossiness is less than 10%, the surface matting degree is too high and the image tends to be unclear, or gloss unevenness (glare) is easily noticeable due to a slight difference in glossiness on the image surface after inkjet recording. Tend.
[0053]
On the other hand, when the glossiness exceeds 30%, the glossiness of the image surface is generally high and it is difficult to say that it is a semi-glossy surface. Particularly preferred glossiness is in the range of 12-25%.
[0054]
Glossiness in such a range can be obtained by making the outermost surface layer of the ink absorption layer as uniform as possible to minimize unnecessary fine particles that reduce gloss.
[0055]
The outermost surface of the ink absorbing layer may contain a so-called matting agent, but should be used within a range that does not significantly impair gloss. In addition, it is preferable to use a matting agent having an average particle size of usually about 5 to 30 μm.
[0056]
Next, the ink absorbing layer provided on the support will be described. The ink absorbing layer may be provided only on one side of the support, or may be provided on both sides. At this time, the ink absorbing layers provided on both sides may be the same or different.
[0057]
Regarding the ink jet recording medium according to the present invention, constituent factors other than those described above will be described below.
[0058]
The ink absorption layer according to the present invention may be a so-called swelling type ink absorption layer containing a hydrophilic binder as a main component, or a void type ink absorption layer containing a large amount of a small amount of binder and fine particles. However, from the viewpoint of good ink absorbability, a void-type ink absorbing layer is preferable.
[0059]
The void-type ink absorbing layer is mainly formed from a small amount of binder and fine particles, but as the fine particles used in the present invention, inorganic fine particles give a higher color density and fine particles having a smaller particle size are easily obtained. It is preferable from the point.
[0060]
The inorganic fine particles preferably used in the recording medium according to the present invention will be described.
As the inorganic fine particles, various solid fine particles known in conventional ink jet recording paper can be used.
[0061]
Examples of inorganic fine particles include, for example, light calcium carbonate, heavy calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, kaolin, clay, talc, calcium sulfate, barium sulfate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, zinc hydroxide, zinc sulfide, zinc carbonate, hydro White inorganic pigments such as talcite, aluminum silicate, diatomaceous earth, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, synthetic amorphous silica, colloidal silica, alumina, colloidal alumina, pseudoboehmite, aluminum hydroxide, lithopone, zeolite, magnesium hydroxide, etc. Can be mentioned.
[0062]
The fine particles may be used in a state of being uniformly dispersed in the binder as primary particles, or may be added in a state of being dispersed in the binder by forming secondary agglomerated particles, The latter is more preferred.
[0063]
The shape of the inorganic fine particles is not particularly limited in the present invention, and may be spherical, rod-shaped, needle-shaped, flat-plate-shaped, or bead-shaped. The inorganic fine particles preferably have an average particle size of 3 to 200 nm. When fine particles having an average particle diameter exceeding 200 nm are used, the glossiness of the recording paper is lowered, or the maximum density is lowered due to light scattering on the surface, and it becomes difficult to obtain a clear image. The lower limit of the average particle diameter is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 3 nm or more, particularly preferably 6 nm or more from the viewpoint of production of particles. Particularly preferred inorganic fine particles have an average particle diameter of 10 to 100 nm.
[0064]
In the above, the average particle size of the fine particles is obtained as a simple average value (number average) by observing the particle itself or the cross section or surface of the void layer with an electron microscope and determining the particle size of a large number of arbitrary particles. Here, each particle size is represented by a diameter assuming a circle equal to the projected area.
[0065]
As the inorganic fine particles according to the present invention, composite particles composed of inorganic fine particles and a small amount of an organic substance (which may be a low molecular compound or a high molecular compound) are substantially regarded as inorganic fine particles. Also in this case, the particle diameter of the highest order particle observed in the dry film is taken as the particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles.
[0066]
The mass ratio of the organic matter / inorganic fine particle in the composite particle of the inorganic fine particle and a small amount of organic substance is approximately 1/100 to 1/4.
[0067]
The inorganic fine particles according to the present invention are preferably fine particles having a low refractive index from the viewpoint of low cost and high reflection density, and silica, particularly silica synthesized by a gas phase method or colloidal silica is more preferable. preferable. Further, cation surface-treated gas phase method silica, cation surface-treated colloidal silica and alumina, colloidal alumina, pseudoboehmite and the like can also be used.
[0068]
The amount of inorganic fine particles used in the void-type ink absorbing layer depends largely on the required ink absorption capacity, the void ratio of the void layer, the type of inorganic fine particles, and the type of hydrophilic binder. ² Usually, it is 3 to 30 g, preferably 5 to 25 g. The ratio of inorganic fine particles and polyvinyl alcohol used in the void-type ink absorbing layer is usually 2: 1 to 20: 1 by mass ratio, and particularly preferably 3: 1 to 10: 1.
[0069]
The ink absorption layer of the recording medium according to the present invention may be an ink absorption layer having a single layer structure or an ink absorption layer having a multilayer structure, but the color change when the environmental humidity changes A less multilayered ink absorbing layer is more preferred.
[0070]
The ink absorbing layer of the recording medium according to the present invention may contain a hardener.
As the hardener, the aforementioned boric acid also has a hardening action, but in addition to this, an epoxy hardener (for example, diglycidyl ethyl ether, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, 1,6-diglycidylcyclohexane, N, N-diglycidyl-4-glycidyloxyaniline, sorbitol polyglycidyl ether, glycerol polyglycidyl ether, etc.), aldehyde hardeners (eg formaldehyde, glycoxal, etc.), active halogen hard Filming agents (for example, 2,4-dichloro-4-hydroxy-1,3,5-s-triazine), active vinyl compounds (for example, 1,3,5-trisacryloyl-hexahydro-s-triazine, bis Vinylsulfonyl methyl ether), aluminum alum, Isocyanate compounds and the like.
[0071]
The amount of the hardener used varies depending on the type and amount of polyvinyl alcohol, the type of hardener, the type of inorganic fine particles, and the like, but is usually 5 to 500 mg, preferably 10 to 300 mg, per 1 g of polyvinyl alcohol.
[0072]
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the recording medium contains a cationic polymer.
[0073]
Known polymers can be used as the cationic polymer, such as polyethyleneimine, polyallylamine, dicyandiamide polyalkylene polyamine, condensate of dialkylamine and epichlorohydrin, polyvinylamine, polyvinylpyridine, polyvinylimidazole, diallyldimethyl. Examples thereof include condensates of ammonium salts and quaternized polyacrylic acid esters. In particular, JP-A-10-19376, JP-A-10-217601, JP-A-11-20300, and Japanese Patent Application No. 10-178126. What is described in the gazette etc. is preferable.
[0074]
In the present invention, the cationic polymer can be used without any particular limitation, but those having a weight average molecular weight of 2000 to 100,000 are particularly preferable.
[0075]
As the polymer mordant, a cationic polymer mordant having a primary to tertiary amino group and a quaternary ammonium base is used, but there is little discoloration or deterioration of light resistance with time, and the mordability of the dye is sufficiently high. Therefore, a cationic polymer mordant having a quaternary ammonium base is preferable.
[0076]
The cationic polymer preferably used in the present invention is more preferably a polymer having a quaternary ammonium base, particularly preferably a homopolymer of a monomer having a quaternary ammonium base or other copolymerizable 1 or 2 It is a copolymer with the above monomers.
[0077]
Examples of the monomer having a quaternary ammonium base include the following examples.
[0078]
[Chemical 1]

[0079]
[Chemical formula 2]

[0080]
A monomer that can be copolymerized with a quaternary ammonium base is a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group. For example, the following specific examples can be given.
[0081]
[Chemical 3]

[0082]
Specific examples of the cationic polymer preferably used in the present invention are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0083]
[Formula 4]

[0084]
[Chemical formula 5]

[0085]
[Chemical 6]

[0086]
[Chemical 7]

[0087]
In particular, when the cationic polymer having a quaternary ammonium base is a copolymer, the ratio of the cationic monomer is usually 10 mol% or more, preferably 20 mol% or more, particularly preferably 30 mol% or more.
[0088]
The monomer having a quaternary ammonium base may be single or two or more.
[0089]
Cationic polymers having quaternary ammonium bases are generally highly water soluble due to the quaternary ammonium bases, but are not sufficiently soluble in water depending on the composition and ratio of the monomer that does not contain the quaternary ammonium base to be copolymerized. However, it can be used in the present invention as long as it can be dissolved in a mixed solvent of a water-miscible organic solvent and water.
[0090]
Here, the water-miscible organic solvent means alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and n-propanol, glycols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and glycerin, esters such as ethyl acetate and propyl acetate, acetone, and methyl ethyl ketone. An organic solvent that can usually be dissolved in water by 10% or more, such as ketones and amides such as N, N-dimethylformamide. In this case, the amount of the organic solvent used is preferably equal to or less than the amount of water used.
[0091]
In addition to the above, various additives can be added to the ink absorption layer of the recording medium according to the present invention and other layers provided as necessary.
[0092]
Examples of the additive include polystyrene, polyacrylic acid esters, polymethacrylic acid esters, polyacrylamides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, or a copolymer thereof, urea resin, or Organic latex fine particles such as melamine resin, various cationic or nonionic surfactants, UV absorbers described in JP-A-57-74193, JP-A-57-87988, and JP-A-62-261476, JP-A-57-74192 57-87989, 60-72785, 61-146591, JP-A-1-95091 and 3-13376, etc., JP-A-59-42993, 59-52689, 62-280069, 61-242871 and special Fluorescent brighteners, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate and other pH adjusters, antifoaming agents, preservatives, thickeners, etc. described in Hei-4-219266 In addition, various known additives such as an antistatic agent and a matting agent can be contained.
[0093]
In the recording medium according to the present invention, a method of applying various hydrophilic layers, such as a porous layer and an undercoat layer, which are appropriately provided on the support, can be appropriately selected from known methods. . A preferred method is obtained by coating a coating liquid constituting each layer on a support and drying. In this case, two or more layers can be simultaneously applied, and a multilayer simultaneous application method in which all hydrophilic binder layers are formed by one application is particularly preferable.
[0094]
As the coating method, for example, a roll coating method, a rod bar coating method, an air knife coating method, a spray coating method, a curtain coating method, or an extrusion coating method using a hopper described in US Pat. No. 2,681,294 is preferably used. It is done.
[0095]
Next, the pigment ink according to the present invention will be described.
In the present invention, at least one of the pigment inks is characterized by containing 50% by number or more of pigment particles having an acicular ratio (maximum length / minimum width of pigment particles) of 1 to 3.
[0096]
The acicular ratio referred to in the present invention can be determined by the method described below.
Specifically, the ink containing pigment particles is diluted with an appropriate solvent so that the pigment concentration becomes 0.01%, and then dropped on a polyethylene terephthalate film that has been hydrophilized by glow discharge and dried.
[0097]
The film on which the pigment particles are mounted is preferably used for observation after vacuum-depositing 3 nm Pt-C with an electron beam from an angle of 30 ° with respect to the film surface in a vacuum deposition apparatus.
[0098]
In addition, for details of electron microscope observation techniques and sample preparation techniques, see “The Electron Microscopy Society of Kanto Branch / Medical and Biological Electron Microscopy” (Maruzen), “The Electron Microscopy Society of Kanto Branch / Electron Microscope Biological Samples” "Manufacturing method" (Maruzen) can be referred to respectively.
[0099]
The prepared sample was observed with a field emission scanning electron microscope (hereinafter referred to as FE-SEM), and the secondary electron image was observed at an acceleration voltage of 2 kV to 4 kV and a magnification of 5000 to 20000 times, and the resulting sample was transferred to an appropriate recording medium Save the image.
[0100]
For the above processing, it is convenient to use an apparatus capable of AD-converting the image signal from the electron microscope main body and directly recording it as digital information on the memory, but an analog image recorded on a polaroid film etc. Can be used by converting to a digital image and applying shading correction, contrast / edge enhancement, etc. as necessary.
[0101]
An image recorded on an appropriate medium is preferably decomposed into at least 1024 pixels × 1024 pixels, preferably 2048 pixels × 2048 pixels, and subjected to image processing by a computer.
[0102]
As the image processing procedure described above, first, a histogram is prepared, and a portion corresponding to pigment particles is extracted by binarization processing. Inevitably, the agglomerated particles are cut by an appropriate algorithm or manual operation, and contour extraction is performed. Thereafter, the maximum length of each particle (MX LNG) and the minimum width when sandwiched between two parallel lines, that is, the minimum ferret diameter width (WIDTH) are measured for at least 1000 particles, respectively, To obtain the needle ratio.
[0103]
Needle-shaped ratio = (MX LNG) / (WIDTH)
Then, the number average of the acicular ratio regarding all the measured particles is calculated. When performing the measurement according to the above procedure, it is preferable to sufficiently perform the length correction (scale correction) per pixel and the two-dimensional distortion of the measurement system in advance using a standard sample. Uniform latex particles (DULP) marketed by US Dow Chemical Company are suitable as the standard sample, and polystyrene particles having a coefficient of variation of less than 10% for a particle size of 0.1 to 0.3 μm are used. Specifically, a lot having a particle size of 0.212 μm and a standard deviation of 0.0029 μm is available.
[0104]
The details of the image processing technology can be referred to “Image Processing Application Technology (Industry Research Committee)” edited by Hiroshi Tanaka, and the image processing program or device is not particularly limited as long as the above operation is possible, but as an example Examples include Luzex-III manufactured by Nireco.
[0105]
In the present invention, at least one of the pigment inks is characterized by containing 50% by number or more of pigment particles having an acicular ratio (maximum length / minimum width of pigment particles) of 1 to 3, preferably 50 to 100% by number, more preferably 75 to 100% by number, and particularly preferably 90 to 100% by number. Moreover, although the average value of the acicular ratio of the pigment particles is 1 to 3, it is preferably 1 to 2.5.
[0106]
By using pigment particles having the above-mentioned acicular ratio, an image excellent in scratching and glossiness can be obtained.
[0107]
In the present invention, the method for obtaining pigment particles having the acicular ratio defined above is not particularly limited, but for example, by appropriately selecting a dispersing agent, dispersing means, dispersion conditions, etc. at the time of pigment particle dispersion, Pigment particles having a desired acicular ratio can be obtained.
[0108]
Examples of the pigment dispersant that can be used in the present invention include higher fatty acid salts, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ester sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, sulfosuccinates, naphthalene sulfonates, alkyl phosphates, and polyoxyalkylenes. Activators such as alkyl ether phosphates, polyoxyalkylene alkyl phenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene glycols, glycerin esters, sorbitan esters, polyoxyethylene fatty acid amides, amine oxides, or styrene, styrene derivatives, vinyl naphthalene derivatives, Block copolymer consisting of two or more monomers selected from acrylic acid, acrylic acid derivatives, maleic acid, maleic acid derivatives, itaconic acid, itaconic acid derivatives, fumaric acid, fumaric acid derivatives, random copolymers Coalescence and the like, and salts thereof.
[0109]
Examples of the dispersing means that can be used in the present invention include various dispersing machines such as a ball mill, a sand mill, an attritor, a roll mill, an agitator, a Henschel mixer, a colloid mill, an ultrasonic homogenizer, a pearl mill, a wet jet mill, and a paint shaker. Can be used. It is also preferable to use a centrifugal separator or a filter for the purpose of removing the coarse particles of the pigment dispersion.
[0110]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the maximum particle diameter (D99) of the pigment particles is less than 300 nm, and in the invention according to claim 3, the average particle diameter (D50) of the pigment particles is 35 It is a feature of ˜120 nm.
[0111]
D99 value and D50 value are particles equal to 0.99 (99% by number) and 0.5 (50% by number) of the total number of pigment particles in the integral curve of distribution function dG = F (D) × dD, respectively. Represents the diameter. G represents the number of pigment particles, and D represents the particle size of the pigment particles.
[0112]
The above relational expression will be further described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the pigment dispersion in a coordinate system in which the particle size (D) of the pigment particles is plotted on the abscissa and the particle number function (G) of each pigment particle of a given size is plotted on the ordinate. The curve of the particle size distribution function is shown as a solid line. Furthermore, in the same coordinate system, the dashed line curve shows the integral of the distribution function in which the points of the 50% and 99% particle number functions and the related points D50 and D99 of the particle size are represented by a cross.
[0113]
The particle size of the pigment dispersion can be determined by a commercially available particle size measuring device using a light scattering method, an electrophoresis method, a laser Doppler method or the like. In addition, at least 100 particles are photographed with a transmission electron microscope, and this image is subjected to statistical processing using image analysis software such as Image-Pro (manufactured by Media Cybernetics) or for analysis. (See, for example, W. Maechtle, Makromol. Chem. 185 (1984), pages 1025-1039).
[0114]
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the maximum particle diameter (D99) of the pigment particles is less than 300 nm, preferably 50 to 290 nm, and more preferably 70 to 250 nm. If the maximum particle diameter (D99) of the pigment particles is 300 nm or more, it is not preferable because the abrasion resistance is deteriorated due to coarse pigment particles.
[0115]
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the average particle diameter (D50) of the pigment particles is from 35 to 120 nm, preferably from 50 to 90 nm. When the average particle diameter (D50) of the pigment particles exceeds 120 nm, it is not preferable because the abrasion resistance is deteriorated due to the coarse pigment particles. Therefore, a desired print density cannot be obtained.
[0116]
In the present invention, the method for bringing the average particle diameter (D50) of the pigment particles into a specified range is not particularly limited. For example, as described above, the dispersing agent, dispersing means, dispersion conditions, etc. when dispersing the pigment particles By appropriately selecting, a pigment dispersion having a desired average particle diameter can be obtained.
[0117]
Further, the method for setting the maximum particle diameter (D99) of the pigment particles to a specified range is not particularly limited. For example, as described above, the dispersing agent, dispersing means, dispersion conditions, etc. when dispersing the pigment particles are appropriately selected This method can be accomplished by combining coarse particle separation means such as centrifugation or filter filtration after dispersion.
[0118]
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the pigment ink contains 0.3 to 10% by mass of a water-soluble polymer compound having a weight average molecular weight of 3,000 to 30,000.
[0119]
Examples of the water-soluble polymer in the present invention include natural water-soluble polymers such as corn and wheat starch, cellulose derivatives such as carboxymethylcellulose, methylcellulose, and hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium alginate, guar gum, tamarind gum, and locust. Examples thereof include polysaccharides such as bean gum and gum arabic, and protein substances such as gelatin, casein and keratin.
[0120]
Further, preferred examples of water-soluble polymers include synthetic polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyacrylic acid, acrylic acid-acrylonitrile copolymers, potassium acrylate-acrylonitrile copolymers, vinyl acetate. -Acrylic resin such as acrylic acid ester copolymer or acrylic acid-acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid copolymer, styrene-methacrylic acid-acrylic acid ester copolymer Styrene acrylic resin such as styrene-α-methylstyrene-acrylic acid copolymer or styrene-α-methylstyrene-acrylic acid-acrylic acid ester copolymer, styrene-sodium styrenesulfonate copolymer, styrene 2-hydroxyethylacryl Rate copolymer, styrene-2-hydroxyethyl acrylate-potassium styrene sulfonate copolymer, styrene-maleic acid copolymer, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, vinyl naphthalene-acrylic acid copolymer, vinyl naphthalene- Mention may be made of maleic acid copolymers, vinyl acetate-maleic acid ester copolymers, vinyl acetate-crotonic acid copolymers, vinyl acetate-based copolymers such as vinyl acetate-acrylic acid copolymers, and salts thereof.
[0121]
The molecular weight of the water-soluble polymer is characterized by being 3,000 to 30,000, preferably 3,000 to 20,000, more preferably 3,000 to 10,000. If it is less than 3,000, the effect of suppressing the growth and agglomeration of pigment particles is reduced, and the effect of improving scratch resistance is reduced. This is not preferable because it tends to cause a result of impairing the properties.
[0122]
The addition amount of the water-soluble polymer is characterized by 0.3 to 10% by mass with respect to the mass of the pigment ink, but preferably 0.6 to 4.0% by mass. If it is less than 0.3%, the effect of suppressing the growth and aggregation of the pigment particles is reduced, and the effect of improving the scratching property is reduced. If it exceeds 10% by mass, the viscosity is increased, the solubility is poor, the storage stability of ink, This is not preferable because it tends to cause a result of impairing the discharge stability.
[0123]
The water-soluble polymer according to the present invention may be added at the time of pigment dispersion or after dispersion. In the pigment ink according to the present invention, two or more of the above water-soluble polymers may be used.
[0124]
Next, regarding the pigment ink according to the present invention, constituent factors other than those described above will be described below.
[0125]
As the pigment that can be used in the present invention, conventionally known organic and inorganic pigments can be used. For example, azo pigments such as azo lakes, insoluble azo pigments, condensed azo pigments, chelate azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, perylene and perylene pigments, anthraquinone pigments, quinacridone pigments, dioxazine pigments, thioindigo pigments, isoindolinone pigments, quinophthalone pigments, etc. Examples include cyclic pigments, dye lakes such as basic dye lakes, and acid dye lakes, organic pigments such as nitro pigments, nitroso pigments, aniline black, and daylight fluorescent pigments, and inorganic pigments such as carbon black.
[0126]
Specific organic pigments are exemplified below.
Examples of pigments for magenta or red include C.I. I. Pigment red 2, C.I. I. Pigment red 3, C.I. I. Pigment red 5, C.I. I. Pigment red 6, C.I. I. Pigment red 7, C.I. I. Pigment red 15, C.I. I. Pigment red 16, C.I. I. Pigment red 48: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 53: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 57: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 122, C.I. I. Pigment red 123, C.I. I. Pigment red 139, C.I. I. Pigment red 144, C.I. I. Pigment red 149, C.I. I. Pigment red 166, C.I. I. Pigment red 177, C.I. I. Pigment red 178, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Red 222.
[0127]
Examples of the orange or yellow pigment include C.I. I. Pigment orange 31, C.I. I. Pigment orange 43, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 12, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 13, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 14, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 15, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 17, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 74, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 93, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 94, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 128, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Yellow 138.
[0128]
Examples of pigments for green or cyan include C.I. I. Pigment blue 15, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 2, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment blue 16, C.I. I. Pigment blue 60, C.I. I. And CI Pigment Green 7.
[0129]
The pigment ink used in the present invention may contain the above-described pigment dispersant as necessary. In addition, as the pigment dispersion method, the above-described various methods can be appropriately selected and used.
[0130]
The ink in the present invention may contain latex. The latex in the present invention refers to polymer particles dispersed in a medium. Examples of the polymer include styrene-butadiene copolymer, polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, acrylic ester copolymer, polyurethane, silicon-acrylic copolymer, and acrylic-modified fluororesin. However, acrylic acid esters, polyurethanes and silicon-acrylic copolymers are preferred.
[0131]
In the production of latex, a low molecular weight surfactant is generally used as an emulsifier, but a high molecular weight surfactant (for example, a type in which a solubilizing group is graft-bonded to a polymer or a solubilizing group) is used. A block polymer type in which a portion having an insoluble portion and an insoluble portion are connected) can be used as an emulsifier. There are also latexes that are dispersed without the use of an emulsifier by bonding the solubilizing groups directly to the central polymer of the latex. Latex using a high molecular weight surfactant as an emulsifier and latex not using an emulsifier are called soap-free latex. The latex used in the present invention is not limited to the type and form of the emulsifier, but it is more preferable to use a soap-free latex having excellent ink storage stability.
[0132]
Recently, in addition to latex having a uniform central polymer, there are also core / shell type latexes having different compositions at the center and outer edge of polymer particles. This type of latex can also be preferably used.
[0133]
The average particle size of the latex in the present invention is preferably 150 nm or less, and more preferably 50 nm or less.
[0134]
The average particle diameter of latex can be easily measured using a commercially available measuring apparatus using a light scattering method or a laser Doppler method.
[0135]
In the present invention, the solid content addition amount of the latex is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less, and particularly preferably 0.3% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the ink. If the addition amount is less than 0.1% by mass, it is difficult to exert a sufficient effect on water resistance. If the addition amount exceeds 10% by mass, the ink viscosity increases and the pigment dispersed particle size tends to increase with time. There are many problems in that respect.
[0136]
In the present invention, an electrical conductivity regulator can be used, and examples thereof include inorganic salts such as potassium chloride, ammonium chloride, sodium sulfate, sodium nitrate, and sodium chloride, and aqueous amines such as triethanolamine.
[0137]
In the ink of the present invention and the constituent layers provided as necessary, the viscosity is further adjusted according to the purpose of improving ejection stability, compatibility with print head and ink cartridge, storage stability, image storage stability, and other various performances. Agents, specific resistance adjusters, film forming agents, ultraviolet absorbers, antioxidants, anti-fading agents, rust inhibitors, preservatives, etc. can be added, for example, polystyrene, polyacrylates, polymethacrylic acid Esters, polyacrylamides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, or copolymers thereof, organic latex fine particles such as urea resin or melamine resin, liquid paraffin, dioctyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, silicon Oil droplets such as oil, various surfactants of cation or nonion, JP-A-57-74193, 57-87988 and 62-261476, UV absorbers described in JP-A-57-74192, 57-87989, 60-72785, JP-A-61-146591, JP-A-1-95091, JP-A-3-13376 and the like, anti-fading agents described in JP-A-59-42993, JP-A-59-52689, JP-A-62-2. PH of optical brighteners, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, etc. described in Japanese Patent Nos. 280069, 61-242871 and JP-A-4-219266 Various known additives such as a regulator, an antifoaming agent, a preservative, a thickening agent, an antistatic agent, and a matting agent may be contained.
[0138]
An ink jet head used in ink jet recording may be an on-demand system or a continuous system. In addition, as a discharge method, an electro-mechanical conversion method (for example, a single cavity type, a double cavity type, a bender type, a piston type, a shear mode type, a shared wall type, etc.), an electro-thermal conversion method (for example, a thermal type) Specific examples include an ink jet type, a bubble jet type, etc., an electrostatic attraction type (eg, an electric field control type, a slit jet type, etc.) and a discharge type (eg, a spark jet type). The discharge method may be used.
[0139]
【Example】
Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In the examples, “%” represents mass% unless otherwise specified.
[0140]
<< Preparation of recording medium 1 >>
[Preparation of Support 1]
Moisture content is 6.5% by mass, basis weight is 170 g / m ² A low-density polyethylene having a density of 0.92 was applied to the back surface of the photographic base paper with a thickness of 20 μm by extrusion coating, and after corona discharge, the latex layer had a thickness of 0.2 g / m. ² It applied so that it might become.
[0141]
Next, low-density polyethylene containing 5.5% by mass of anatase-type titanium oxide and having a density of 0.92 is applied to the front side (ink-absorbing layer coating surface side) at a thickness of 14 μm by a melt extrusion coating method, and both sides are made of polyethylene. Immediately after the melt extrusion application, the front side polyethylene surface was subjected to a molding process while being cooled using a cooling roll having irregular irregularities on the ink absorbing layer coating surface side. Next, after corona discharge was applied to the surface, a gelatin subbing layer containing a crosslinking agent was added at 0.03 g / m 2. ² The support 1 was prepared by coating.
[0142]
(Preparation of each dispersion)
(Preparation of titanium oxide dispersion-1)
20 kg of titanium oxide having an average particle size of about 0.25 μm (Ishihara Sangyo: W-10), 150 g of sodium tripolyphosphate having a pH = 7.5, 500 g of polyvinyl alcohol (manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd .: PVA235), a cationic polymer (illustrated) Compound P-9) Added to 90 L of an aqueous solution containing 150 g and 10 g of Sannobuco Antifoam SN381 and dispersed with a high-pressure homogenizer (manufactured by Sanwa Kogyo Co., Ltd.). Titanium dispersion-1 was prepared.
[0143]
(Preparation of silica dispersion-1)
125 kg of gas phase method silica (Nippon Aerosil Kogyo Co., Ltd .: A300) having an average primary particle size of about 0.007 μm was mixed with nitric acid using a jet stream inductor mixer TDS manufactured by Mitamura Riken Kogyo Co., Ltd. After suction-dispersing in 600 L of pure water adjusted to pH = 3.0 at room temperature, the entire amount was finished to 660 L with pure water to prepare silica dispersion-1.
[0144]
(Preparation of silica dispersion-2)
66 of silica dispersion-1 was added to 15 L of an aqueous solution (pH = 2.3) containing 1.29 kg of a cationic polymer (Exemplary Compound P-9), 4.2 L of ethanol, and 1.5 L of n-propanol. 0.0 L was added with stirring, then 7.0 L of an aqueous solution containing 260 g of boric acid and 230 g of borax was added, and 1 g of the antifoaming agent SN381 was added.
[0145]
This mixed solution was dispersed with a high-pressure homogenizer manufactured by Sanwa Industry Co., Ltd., and the entire amount was finished to 90 L with pure water to prepare silica dispersion-2.
[0146]
(Preparation of fluorescent brightener dispersion-1)
400 g of oil-soluble fluorescent whitening agent UVITEX-OB manufactured by Ciba Geigy Co., Ltd. was dissolved in 9000 g of diisodecyl phthalate and 12 L of ethyl acetate by heating and dissolved in 3500 g of acid-treated gelatin, cationic polymer (Exemplary Compound P-9), saponin ( 50% aqueous solution) Add to 65L of aqueous solution containing 6,000ml, and emulsify and disperse with high pressure homogenizer manufactured by Sanwa Industry Co., Ltd. Agent dispersion-1 was prepared.
[0147]
(Preparation of matting agent dispersion-1)
156 g of methacrylic acid ester monodisperse matting agent MX-1500 (average particle size 15 μm) manufactured by Soken Kagaku Co., Ltd. is added to 7 L of pure water containing 3 g of PVA235, and dispersed with a high-speed homogenizer to obtain a total amount of 7 Finishing to 8 L, matting agent dispersion-1 was prepared.
[0148]
[Preparation of ink absorbing layer coating solution]
First layer, second layer, and third layer ink absorbing layer coating solutions were prepared by the following procedure.
[0149]
(Preparation of first layer coating solution)
While stirring 560 ml of the silica dispersion-2 at 40 ° C., the following additives were sequentially mixed to prepare a first layer coating solution.
[0150]

The whole amount was finished to 1000 ml with pure water.
[0151]
(Preparation of second layer coating solution)
While stirring 650 ml of the silica dispersion-2 at 40 ° C., the following additives were sequentially mixed to prepare a second layer coating solution.
[0152]

The whole amount was finished to 1000 ml with pure water.
[0153]
(Preparation of third layer coating solution)
While stirring 650 ml of the silica dispersion-2 at 40 ° C., the following additives were sequentially mixed to prepare a third layer coating solution.
[0154]

The whole amount was finished to 1000 ml with pure water.
[0155]
Each coating solution prepared as described above was filtered with the following filter.
First layer, second layer: Toyo Filter Paper Co., Ltd. TCP10 filtered in two stages
Third layer: TCP30 manufactured by Toyo Filter Paper Co., Ltd. is filtered in two stages
[Application of ink absorbing layer]
Each coating solution prepared as described above is applied at 40 ° C. with a three-layer slide hopper, cooled for 20 seconds in a cooling zone maintained at 8 ° C. immediately after application, and then with a wind of 20-30 ° C. The recording medium 1 was prepared by sequentially drying for 60 seconds with 45 ° C. wind for 60 seconds and 50 ° C. wind for 60 seconds, and then adjusting the humidity at 23 degrees and a relative humidity of 40 to 60%.
[0156]
[Surface characteristics of recording medium 1]
(Measurement of center line surface roughness on the back)
The center line surface roughness of the back surface of the produced recording medium 1 was measured by the following method. The center line average roughness Ra (μm) was measured using a non-contact three-dimensional surface analyzer (RST / PLUS manufactured by WYKO). Ra was defined according to JIS surface roughness (B0601). The measurement was performed by dividing each sample of 30 cm × 30 cm into 100 grids at intervals of 3 cm, measuring the center of each square region, and calculating the average value and standard deviation from 100 measurements. The centerline average roughness (Ra) is determined by extracting a portion with a measured length of 2.5 mm in the direction of the centerline from the obtained roughness curve and setting the cut-off value to 0.8 mm. When the X-axis, the direction of the vertical magnification are represented by the Y-axis, and the roughness curve is represented by Y = f (X), the value obtained by the formula (Equation 1) is represented by micrometers (μm).
[0157]
[Expression 1]

[0158]
The center line surface roughness of the back surface of the recording medium 1 measured by the above method was 0.4 μm.
[0159]
(Measurement of surface centerline surface roughness)
The centerline surface roughness of the surface (ink-absorbing layer-coated surface) of the recording medium 1 produced above was measured by the same method as described above, and was 2.8 μm.
[0160]
(Measurement of 60 degree specular gloss of surface)
As a result of measuring the 60-degree specular gloss on the surface of the recording medium 1 produced according to JIS-Z-8741, the 60-degree specular gloss was 18%. For measurement, a variable glossiness meter (VGS-1001DP) manufactured by Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd. was used.
[0161]
<< Preparation of recording medium 2 >>
In the production of the recording medium 1, the recording medium 2 was produced in the same manner except that the following support 2 was used instead of the support 1.
[0162]
(Preparation of support 2)
In the production of the support 1, 1.4 g / m of a methacrylic acid ester-based monodisperse matting agent having an average particle size of 0.3 μm is applied to the latex layer on the back surface. ² A support 2 was produced in the same manner except that the addition was performed.
[0163]
As a result of measuring the front and back surface characteristics of the recording medium 2 produced as described above by the same method used in the recording medium 1, the center line surface roughness of the back surface was 2.8 μm, and the center line surface roughness of the surface was 2.8 μm, the surface 60 ° specular gloss was 18%.
[0164]
<< Preparation of recording medium 3 >>
In the production of the recording medium 1, the recording medium 3 was produced in the same manner except that the following support 3 was used instead of the support 1.
[0165]
(Preparation of support 3)
In preparation of the support 1, 0.8 g / m of a methacrylic acid ester-based monodisperse matting agent having an average particle size of 0.3 μm is applied to the latex layer on the back surface. ² In the same manner, except that the front side polyethylene was melt-extruded and immediately after the melt extrusion was applied, the front side polyethylene surface was subjected to a molding treatment while cooling using a cooling roll having a mat surface. Produced.
[0166]
As a result of measuring the front and back surface characteristics of the recording medium 3 produced as described above by the same method used in the recording medium 1, the center line surface roughness of the back surface was 1.2 μm, and the center line surface roughness of the surface was 0.4 μm and the surface 60 ° specular gloss was 35%.
[0167]
<< Preparation of recording medium 4 >>
In the production of the recording medium 1, the recording medium 4 was produced in the same manner except that the following support 4 was used instead of the support 1.
[0168]
(Preparation of support 4)
In preparation of the support 1, 0.8 g / m of a methacrylic acid ester-based monodisperse matting agent having an average particle size of 0.3 μm is applied to the latex layer on the back surface. ² The support 4 was prepared in the same manner except that the number of irregular irregularities on the surface of the cooling roll used in the front side molding process was increased 1.6 times.
[0169]
As a result of measuring the front and back surface characteristics of the recording medium 4 produced as described above by the same method used in the recording medium 1, the center line surface roughness of the back surface was 1.2 μm, and the center line surface roughness of the surface was 4.5 μm, the surface 60 ° specular gloss was 7%.
[0170]
<< Preparation of recording medium 5 >>
In the production of the recording medium 1, the recording medium 5 was produced in the same manner except that the following support 5 was used instead of the support 1.
[0171]
(Preparation of support 5)
In preparation of the support 1, 0.8 g / m of a methacrylic acid ester-based monodisperse matting agent having an average particle size of 0.3 μm is applied to the latex layer on the back surface. ² A support 5 was produced in the same manner except that the addition was performed.
[0172]
The front and back surface characteristics of the recording medium 5 produced as described above were measured by the same method used in the recording medium 1. As a result, the center line surface roughness of the back surface was 1.2 μm, and the center line surface roughness of the surface was 2.8 μm, the surface 60 ° specular gloss was 18%.
[0173]
<< Preparation of recording media 6-9 >>
In the production of the recording medium 5, the matting agent was used on the back side so that the center line surface roughness of the back surface, the center line surface roughness of the surface, and the 60-degree specular gloss of the surface had the characteristic values shown in Table 1. Recording media 6 to 9 were produced using supports 6 to 9 in which the addition amount and the number of irregular irregularities on the surface of the cooling roll on the front side were appropriately changed.
[0174]
<< Production of Recording Medium 10 >>
A recording medium 10 was produced in the same manner as in the production of the recording medium 5 except that the cationic polymer (P-1) in each dispersion used in forming the ink absorbing layer was omitted.
[0175]
Table 1 shows the characteristic values of each recording medium manufactured as described above.
[0176]
[Table 1]

[0177]
<< Preparation of Pigment Ink Set 1 >>
(Preparation of pigment dispersion)

Each of the above additives was mixed and dispersed using a horizontal bead mill (manufactured by Ashizawa Co., Ltd .: System Zetamini) filled with 0.3 mm zirconia beads at a volume ratio of 60%, and then undispersed coarse particles were removed by centrifugation. A yellow pigment dispersion 1 was obtained.
[0178]
(Preparation of magenta pigment dispersion 1)

Each of the above additives was mixed and dispersed using a horizontal bead mill (manufactured by Ashizawa Co., Ltd .: System Zetamini) filled with 0.3 mm zirconia beads at a volume ratio of 60%, and then undispersed coarse particles were removed by centrifugation. A magenta pigment dispersion 1 was obtained.
[0179]
(Preparation of Cyan Pigment Dispersion 1)

Each of the above additives was mixed and dispersed using a horizontal bead mill (manufactured by Ashizawa Co., Ltd .: System Zetamini) filled with 0.3 mm zirconia beads at a volume ratio of 60%, and then undispersed coarse particles were removed by centrifugation. A cyan pigment dispersion 1 was obtained.
[0180]
(Preparation of Black Pigment Dispersion 1)

Each of the above additives was mixed and dispersed using a horizontal bead mill (manufactured by Ashizawa Co., Ltd .: System Zetamini) filled with 0.3 mm zirconia beads at a volume ratio of 60%, and then undispersed coarse particles were removed by centrifugation. A black pigment dispersion 1 was obtained.
[0181]
[Preparation of ink]
(Preparation of yellow ink 1)

Each of the above compositions was mixed and sufficiently stirred, and then passed through a Millipore filter having a pore size of 1 μm twice to prepare yellow ink 1.
[0182]
(Preparation of magenta ink 1)

The above compositions were mixed and sufficiently stirred, and then passed through a Millipore filter having a pore size of 1 μm twice to prepare magenta ink 1.
[0183]
(Preparation of cyan ink 1)

The above compositions were mixed and sufficiently stirred, and then passed through a Millipore filter having a pore size of 1 μm twice to prepare cyan ink 1.
[0184]
(Preparation of black ink 1)

Each of the above compositions was mixed and sufficiently stirred, and then passed through a Millipore filter having a pore size of 1 μm twice to prepare black ink 1.
[0185]
[Measurement of needle ratio of each ink, D99, D50]
(Measurement of needle ratio)
Each pigment ink was diluted to a pigment concentration of 0.01%, a pigment ink droplet was dropped on a polyethylene terephthalate film and dried, and then a sample using a JFD-7000 type (manufactured by JEOL Ltd.) as a vacuum deposition apparatus. As an FE-SEM, an S-5000H type (manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) was used and the number of fields of view was selected and observed so that the number of pigment particles was 1000 or more at an acceleration voltage of 2.0 kV. The images were digitized and transferred to a connected filing device (VIDEOBANK) and stored on the MO disk. Subsequently, when there is an overlap or contact between the particles in the LUZEX-III type (manufactured by Nireco), the particles are extracted manually, and the needle-like ratio (MX LNG / WIDTH) for each particle. Were measured and the average value was determined.
[0186]
The acicular ratio of the pigment ink set 1 obtained by the above method is as follows.
Yellow ink 1: 1.73
Magenta ink 1: 1.69
Cyan ink 1: 1.78
Black ink 1: 1.84
(Measurement of D99, D50)
Based on the 1,000 particle size measurement data measured by the above method, the particle size distribution curve 1 and distribution in which the abscissa is the particle size (D) and the ordinate is the number of particles function (G) shown in FIG. An integral curve 2 of the function was prepared, and from the integral curve 2, the particle size points D50 and D99 corresponding to 50% by number and 99% by number were measured by the particle number function.
[0187]
D50 and D99 of the pigment ink set 1 obtained by the above method are as follows.
[0188]
Yellow ink 1 D50: 74 nm D99: 229 nm
Magenta ink 1 D50: 71 nm D99: 230 nm
Cyan ink 1 D50: 77 nm D99: 235 nm
Black ink 1 D50: 79 nm D99: 241 nm
<< Preparation of Pigment Ink Sets 2-6 >>
In the preparation of the pigment ink set 1, the conditions or presence / absence of centrifugal separation at the time of preparing each pigment dispersion 1, the dispersion strength, the pore size of the filter at the time of preparing each pigment ink, and the number of filtrations are appropriately adjusted and combined. Pigment ink sets 2 to 6 having the respective characteristics of the needle ratio, D50, and D99 described in 1 were prepared.
[0189]
<< Preparation of Pigment Ink Set 7 >>
In the preparation of the pigment ink set 1, the styrene-acrylic acid copolymer (molecular weight 10,000, acid value 120) and Jonkrill 61 (acrylic-styrene resin, manufactured by Johnson) used in preparing each pigment dispersion 1 A pigment ink set 7 was prepared in the same manner except that the styrene-acrylic acid copolymer (molecular weight 7,000, acid value 150) was removed.
[0190]
Table 2 shows the needle ratios, D50, and D99, of the inks of the respective colors of the ink sets prepared as described above.
[0191]
[Table 2]

[0192]
《Image printing》
The combination of the recording medium shown in Table 3 and the pigment ink set is equipped with a piezo-type head having a nozzle hole diameter of 20 μm, a driving frequency of 12 kHz, 128 nozzles per color, and a nozzle density of 180 dpi between the same colors. Using a 720 × 720 dpi on-demand type ink jet printer, print images 1 to 16 of each monochromatic image pattern giving a reflection density of 1.0 and a maximum density on each recording medium were output. In the present invention, dpi refers to the number of dots per 2.54 cm (1 inch).
[0193]
<Characteristic evaluation of printed image>
The following characteristics evaluation was performed on the printed image created as described above.
[0194]
(Evaluation of gloss difference)
For each printed image, the gloss difference between the printed portion and the non-printed portion was visually observed according to the criteria described below, and the gloss difference was evaluated.
[0195]
◎: Ink images of all colors, the printed part has a noticeable gloss, and the difference from the non-printed part is not a concern at all.
○: In all color ink images, the printed part has a glossy feeling, and the difference in glossy feeling from the non-printing part is not a concern.
Δ: In some ink images, the printed part has little glossiness, and the difference from the non-image part is slightly worrisome, but it is practically acceptable.
×: There is no glossiness in the printed part over all colors, and the difference from the non-image part is remarkable.
(Evaluation of abrasion resistance)
When the highest print density part of each print image is rubbed 10 times with an eraser (manufactured by MONON Dragonfly Pencil Co., Ltd.), the degree of occurrence of smudges on the printed part is visually observed, and the rubbing resistance is in accordance with the criteria described below. Was evaluated.
[0196]
A: No smudges are observed on the printed part
○: Slight dirt on the printed part is observed
Δ: Slight stains on the printed part are observed, but in practically acceptable range
×: Stain on the printed part is clearly observed, which is a practical problem
(Evaluation of maximum concentration)
Among the printed images, the highest print density portion of the magenta image was subjected to density measurement using an optical densitometer (X-Rite 938 manufactured by X-Rite Co., Ltd.), and a rack was attached according to the criteria described below.
[0197]
○: The maximum density is 2.10 or more
Δ: Maximum density is 1.90 or more and less than 2.10
X: The maximum density is less than 1.90
(Evaluation of printer transportability)
<Evaluation of continuous transportability>
20 sheets of each recording medium were stacked and set in the printer, and 20 sheets of images were continuously printed in the above method in an atmosphere of 23 ° C. and 55% RH.
[0198]
○: All 20 sheets were transported without problems
Δ: A case where one or two sheets are not double-fed or conveyed
X: A case where 3 to 5 sheets were not double-fed or conveyed
XX: A case where 6 or more sheets were not double-fed or conveyed
<Evaluation of single sheet transportability>
Only one cane was set in the printer and printed in an atmosphere of 23 ° C. and 55% RH.
[0199]
○: Transported without problems
Δ: Slightly meanders but can be printed
×: Meandering occurs and printing cannot be performed well
XX: Serpentine greatly and the recording medium is not conveyed
Table 3 shows the evaluation results obtained as described above.
[0200]
[Table 3]

[0201]
As is apparent from Table 3, the 60-degree specular gloss on the surface of the ink absorption layer surface side is 10 to 30%, Ra is 0.6 to 4.0 μm, and Ra on the back surface is 0.6 to 2.5 μm. The sample of the present invention printed on an inkjet recording medium using a pigment ink containing pigment particles having a needle average ratio (maximum length / minimum width of pigment particles) of 1 to 3, It can be seen that it is excellent in gloss difference, abrasion resistance, maximum density and printer transportability. Further, in the pigment ink to be used, the maximum particle diameter (D99) of the pigment particles is less than 300 nm, the average particle diameter (D50) of the pigment particles is 35 to 120 nm, and the weight average molecular weight is 3,000 to 30. It was confirmed that the effect was further exhibited by containing 0.3 to 10% by mass of a water-soluble polymer compound of 1,000,000 or that the recording medium contained a cationic polymer.
[0202]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, an uncomfortable feeling due to a reduction in gloss difference between a printing part and a non-printing part can be improved, and an ink jet recording method excellent in abrasion resistance, printing density and printer transportability can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a particle size distribution function curve representing D50 and D99 according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Particle size distribution function of pigment dispersion
2 Integral curve of particle size distribution function
3 Display of D99
4 D50 display

Claims (5)

In an inkjet recording method for recording using a yellow pigment ink, a magenta pigment ink, and a cyan pigment ink on a recording medium having at least one ink absorbing layer on a support, the recording medium has an ink absorbing layer surface side surface. The 60-degree specular gloss specified in JIS-Z-8741 is 10 to 30%, the centerline surface roughness Ra specified in JISB-0601 is 0.6 to 4.0 μm, and the support is sandwiched between them. The center line surface roughness Ra on the surface opposite to the ink absorbing layer surface is 0.6 to 2.5 μm, and at least one of the pigment inks has a needle-like ratio (maximum particle length / minimum width) of 1 to 3. An ink jet recording method comprising: 50% by number or more of pigment particles. The inkjet recording method according to claim 1, wherein the pigment particles have a maximum particle diameter (D99) of less than 300 nm. The inkjet recording method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pigment particles have an average particle diameter (D50) of 35 to 120 nm. The inkjet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pigment ink contains 0.3 to 10% by mass of a water-soluble polymer compound having a weight average molecular weight of 3,000 to 30,000. Recording method. The inkjet recording method according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium contains a cationic polymer.

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