Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods

• US 8,551,584 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US13/586,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20120308745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 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 at least a first surface and a second surface;

at least one under-layer disposed on the first surface;

at least one image-receiving layer disposed on the at least one under-layer; and

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

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, and

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

2. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transparent substrate comprises at least one polyester.

3. The transparent ink jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one under-layer comprises at least one borate or borate derivative.

4. The transparent ink jet recording film according to claim 3, wherein the at least one under-layer further comprises gelatin.

5. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 1, wherein the at least one image-receiving layer comprises at least one inorganic particle.

6. The transparent ink jet recording-film according to claim 5, wherein the at least one inorganic particle comprises boehmite alumina.

7. The transparent ink jet recording film according to claim 5, where the at least one image-receiving layer further comprises at least one water soluble or water-dispersible polymer comprising at least one hydroxyl group.

8. The transparent ink jet recording film according to claim 7, wherein the at least one water soluble or water-dispersible polymer comprises poly(vinyl alcohol).

9. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 8, wherein the at least one inorganic particle comprises boehmite alumina.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

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

14. 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.

15. The transparent ink jet recording film according to claim 1, further comprising at least one subbing or primer layer disposed between the at least one back-coat layer and the second surface of the transparent substrate, said at least one subbing or primer layer comprising either (1) gelatin and at least one polymeric matting agent, or (2) at least one latex polymer and at least one adhesion promoter.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. A transparent ink-jet recording film comprising:

a transparent substrate comprising at least a first surface and a second surface;

at least one under-layer disposed on the first surface;

at least one image-receiving layer disposed on the at least one under-layer;

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

at least one subbing or primer layer disposed between the at least one back-coat layer and the second surface of the transparent substrate, said at least one subbing or primer layer comprising either (1) gelatin and at least one polymeric matting agent, or (2) at least one latex polymer and at least one adhesion promoter.

19. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18, wherein the at least one transparent substrate comprises at least one polyester.

20. The transparent ink jet recording film according to claim 18, wherein the at least one under-layer comprises at least one borate or borate derivative.

21. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 20, wherein the at least one under-layer further comprises gelatin.

22. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18, wherein the at least one image-receiving layer comprises at least one inorganic particle.

23. The transparent ink jet recording-film according to claim 22, wherein the at least one inorganic particle comprises boehmite alumina.

24. The transparent ink jet recording film according to claim 22, where the at least one image-receiving layer further comprises at least one water soluble or water-dispersible polymer comprising at least one hydroxyl group.

25. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 24, wherein the at least one water soluble or water-dispersible polymer comprises poly(vinyl alcohol).

26. The transparent ink jet recording film according to claim 25, wherein the at least one inorganic particle comprises boehmite alumina.

27. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18, wherein the at least one back-coat layer further comprises gelatin.

28. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 27 wherein the at least one back-coat layer further comprises at least one other hydrophilic colloid.

29. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 27, wherein the at least one back-coat layer further comprises at least one hardening agent.

30. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18, wherein the at least one core-shell particle comprises a dry coverage of at least about 100 mg/m².

31. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18, wherein the at least one image-receiving layer comprises a dry coating weight of at least about 49 g/m².

32. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18, wherein the at least one thermoplastic polymer comprises a styrene allyl alcohol copolymer.

33. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18, wherein the at least one core-shell particle comprises a styrene allyl alcohol copolymer core and a colloidal silica shell.

34. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18, 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 at least one hardening agent, and the second back-coat layer comprises gelatin and the at least one core-shell particle.

35. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18 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.

36. The transparent ink-jet recording film according to claim 18 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.