Paper coating for ink jet printing

• US 6,660,369 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai Electric Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lexmark International Incorporated (Ninestar Corporation)
• Inventors: MacMillan, David Starling
• Primary Examiner(s): KILIMAN, LESZEK B
• Application Number:
  US10/314,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20030118793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 428/195, 428/206, 428/208, 428/24, 428/521, 428/537.5, 428/537.7
• US Class Current: 428/195.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/508 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/52 Macromolecular coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5218 characterised by inorganic additives, e.g. pigments, clays
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5227 characterised by organic non-macromolecular additives, e.g. UV-absorbers, plasticisers, surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5245 characterised by the use of polymers containing cationic or anionic groups, e.g. mordants
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/529 characterised by the use of fluorine- or silicon-containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24893 including particulate material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24909 Free metal or mineral containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31931 Polyene monomer-containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31993 Of paper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31996 Next to layer of metal salt [e.g., plasterboard, etc.]

Abstract

The invention provides an improved paper coating composition for ink jet printing applications. The composition contains from about 2 to about 1 parts by weight polyvalent metal salt, from about 0 to about 30 parts by weight deionized water, an effective amount of cationic amine polymer and surfactant and from about 35 to about 60 parts by weight of an ink penetrant promoter selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propanediol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures of 1,2-propanedioland dipropylene glycol. Since the composition is free from ethylene glycol components, the composition is safer to use and less harmful to humans and the environment. The composition has also been found to provide improved ink drying with less bleeding or smearing of image.

Claims

1. A paper coating composition for ink jet printing applications, the composition from about 2 to about 10 parts by weight polyvalent metal salt, from about 0 to about 30 parts by weight deionized water, and effective amount of cationic amine polymer and surfactant and from about 35 to about 60 parts by weight of an ink penetrant promoter selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propanediol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures of 1,2-propanedioland dipropylene glycol.

2. The coating composition of claim 1 further comprising from about 5 to about 30 percent by weight cationic amine polymer.

3. The coating composition of claim 2 wherein the cationic amine polymer is a compound of the formula

wherein x is an integer ranging from about 15 to about 2000.

4. The coating composition of claim 2 wherein the cationic amine polymer is derived from dimethylamine and epichlorohydrin and has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 7,500 to about 10,000 MW_N.

5. The coating composition of claim 2 wherein the surfactant comprises a polysiloxane surfactant.

6. The coating composition of claim 5 wherein the polysiloxane surfactant is a compound having the following general structure:

wherein;

PE comprises —

CH₂CH₂CH₂O(EO)_n(PO)_oZ, Me is a methyl group, EO is an ethyleneoxy group, PO is a 1,2-propyleneoxy group, Z is H or a lower alkyl radical y is an integer ranging from about 1 to about 10, m is an integer ranging from about 1 to about 10, n is an integer ranging from about 0 to about 5 and o is an integer ranging from about 0 to about 5.

7. The coating composition of claim 1 wherein the polyvalent metal salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium acetate hydrate, magnesium acetate tetrahydrate and mixtures thereof.

8. A cellulosic web containing the coating composition of claim 1.

9. A cellulosic web containing ink and a penetrant promoter coating the coating being applied to the web prior to printing in an amount sufficient to promote ink drying and/or penetration of ink into the web so as to reduce ink bleeding, the promoter composition comprising from about 2 to about 10 parts by weight polyvalent metal salt, from about 0 to about 30 parts by weight deionized water, an effective amount of cationic amine polymer and surfactant and from about 35 to about 60 parts by weight of an ink penetrant promoter selected from the group consisting of 1,2-propanediol, dipropylene glycol and mixtures of 1,2-propanedioland dipropylene glycol.

10. The web of claim 9 wherein the penetrant promoter coating contains from about 5 to about 30% by weight cationic amine polymer.

11. The web of claim 10 wherein the cationic amine polymer is a compound of the formula

wherein x is an integer ranging from about 15 to about 2000.

12. The web of claim 10 wherein the cationic amine polymer is derived from dimethylamine and epichlorohydrin and has a number average molecular weight ranging from about 7,500 to about 10,000 MW_N.

13. The web of claim 10 wherein the penetrant promoter coating further comprises a polysiloxane surfactant.

14. The web of claim 13 wherein the polysiloxane surfactant is a compound having the following general structure:

wherein;

PE comprises —

CH₂CH₂CH₂O(EO)_n(PO)_oZ, Me is a methyl group, EO is an ethyleneoxy group, PO is a 1,2-propyleneoxy group, Z is H or a lower alkyl radical y is an integer ranging from about 1 to about 10, m is an integer ranging from about 1 to about 10, n is an integer ranging from about 0 to about 5 and o is an integer ranging from about 0 to about 5.

15. The web of claim 9 wherein the polyvalent metal salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium acetate hydrate, magnesium acetate tetrahydrate and mixtures thereof.

16. The web of claim 9 wherein the ratio of ink to penetrant promoter coating ranges from about 6:

1 to about 18;

1 parts of ink per part of penetrant promoter coating by weight.

17. The web of claim 9 wherein the penetrant promoter coating is applied to a cellulosic web in an amount ranging from about 0.08 mg/cm² to about 25 mg/cm².