Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods

• US 8,277,909 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2011
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Simpson, Sharon M., Philip, James B. Jr., Devine, William D., Ruzinsky, William J., Johnston, James L., Leach, Daniel P., Baird, David G., Wagner, James R. Jr., Vosberg, Heidy M., Szafraniec, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEWAREGED, BETELHEM
• Application Number:
  US13/273,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20120100315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 428/32.13, 428/32.14, 428/32.15, 428/32.22, 428/32.27, 428/32.28, 428/32.34
• US Class Current: 428/32.13
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/504 Backcoats
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/506 Intermediate layers
• 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 5/5236 characterised by the use of natural gums, of proteins, e.g. gelatins, or of macromolecular carbohydrates, e.g. cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5254 characterised by the use of polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. vinyl polymers

Abstract

Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods are disclosed. These films can exhibit high maximum optical densities, rapid ink drying, low curl, excellent adhesion between the coating layers and the substrate, and negligible ink transfer between stacked ink-jet recording films after imaging. Such films are useful in medical imaging applications.

Claims

1. A transparent ink-jet recording film comprising:

a transparent substrate comprising a polyester, said substrate comprising at least a first surface and a second surface;

at least one under-layer disposed on the first surface, said at least one under-layer comprising gelatin and at least one borate or borate derivative;

at least one image-receiving layer disposed on the at least one under-layer, said at least one image-receiving layer comprising at least one inorganic particle and at least one water soluble or water dispersible polymer comprising at least one hydroxyl group; and

at least one back-coat layer disposed on the second surface, said at least one back-coat layer comprising gelatin and at least one core-shell particle comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer.

2. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one back-coat layer further comprises at least one other hydrophilic colloid.

3. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one core-shell particle comprises a dry coverage of at least about 100 mg/m².

4. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inorganic particle comprises boehmite alumina and the at least one water soluble or water dispersible polymer comprises poly(vinyl alcohol).

5. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one image-receiving layer comprises a dry coating weight of at least about 49 g/m².

6. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer comprises a styrene allyl alcohol copolymer.

7. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one core-shell particle comprises a styrene allyl alcohol copolymer core and a colloidal silica shell.

8. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one back-coat layer further comprises at least one hardening agent.

9. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 8, wherein the at least one back-coat layer comprises at least a first back-coat layer and a second back-coat layer, said first back-coat layer being disposed between the second back-coat layer and the second surface of the transparent substrate,

wherein the first back-coat layer comprises gelatin and the at least one hardening agent, and the second back-coat layer comprises gelatin and the at least one core-shell particle.

10. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, further comprising at least one first subbing layer disposed between the at least one under-layer and the first surface of the transparent substrate, said at least one first subbing layer comprising gelatin and at least one first polymeric matting agent.

11. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 10, further comprising at least one primer layer disposed between the at least one first subbing layer and the first surface of the transparent substrate, said at least one primer layer comprising at least one latex polymer and at least one adhesion promoter.

12. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 10, further comprising at least one second subbing layer disposed between the at least one back-coat layer and the second surface of the transparent substrate, said at least one second subbing layer comprising gelatin and at least one second polymeric matting agent.

13. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 12, further comprising at least one primer layer disposed between the at least one second subbing layer and the second surface of the transparent substrate, said at least one primer layer comprising at least one latex polymer and at least one adhesion promoter.

14. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1 exhibiting an ink transfer measurement of zero squares transferred when subjected to 5.7 psi pressure and 85% relative humidity for seven days, wherein said ink transfer measurement is based on 390¼

-in×

¼

-in grid squares.

15. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1 exhibiting an ink transfer measurement of zero squares transferred when subjected to 0.081 psi pressure and 86% relative humidity for four days, wherein said ink transfer measurement is based on 390⅛

-in×

⅛

-in grid squares.