阅读说明：本技术 印刷介质 (Printing medium ) 是由 C·E·斯泰兴 巫绪龙 周晓奇 A·韦斯曼 于 2019-04-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种印刷介质可包括基于纤维素的纸基底,其具有第一表面和与第一表面相反的第二表面。可用带电处理层处理第一表面。吸墨层可位于带电处理层上。吸墨层可包含聚合物粘合剂和表面活化火成二氧化硅粒子。表面活化火成二氧化硅粒子可包含用带电多价铝盐和有机硅烷试剂表面活化的火成二氧化硅粒子。更详细地,受墨层可位于吸墨层上。受墨层可包含无定形二氧化硅粒子、氧化铝粒子或其组合。(A print medium may include a cellulose-based paper substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface may be treated with a charged treatment layer. An ink-receptive layer may be positioned on the charged treatment layer. The ink receptive layer may comprise a polymeric binder and surface activated fumed silica particles. The surface-activated fumed silica particles can comprise fumed silica particles surface-activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent. In more detail, the ink-receiving layer may be positioned on the ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer may comprise amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof.)

1. A print medium, comprising:

a cellulose-based paper substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface treated with a charged treatment layer;

an ink-receptive layer on the charged treatment layer, the ink-receptive layer comprising a polymeric binder and surface-activated fumed silica particles, wherein the surface-activated fumed silica particles comprise fumed silica particles surface-activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent; and

an ink-receiving layer on the ink-receptive layer, the ink-receiving layer comprising amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof.

2. The print medium of claim 1, wherein the charged treatment layer is charged with calcium chloride, calcium acetate, or a combination thereof.

3. The print medium of claim 1 wherein the charged multivalent aluminum salt of the ink-receptive layer comprises aluminum chlorohydrate.

4. The print medium of claim 1 wherein the organosilane reagent of the ink-receptive layer comprises an amine-containing methoxysilane.

5. A print medium as in claim 1, wherein the ink-receiving layer comprises amorphous silica particles and alumina particles, wherein the alumina particles comprise boehmite alumina particles, amorphous alumina particles, or the amorphous silica particles and alumina particles are present in the form of amorphous silica-alumina particles.

6. A print medium according to claim 1, wherein the charged treatment layer has a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm at the first surface, the ink-receptive layer has a dry basis weight of 5 gsm to 30 gsm, and the ink-receptive layer has a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 5 gsm.

7. The print medium of claim 1 wherein said second surface is treated with a second charged treatment layer, a second ink-receptive layer is on said second charged treatment layer, and a second ink-receptive layer is on said second ink-receptive layer.

8. A print medium as in claim 1, wherein the charged treated layer is compositionally the same as the second charged treated layer, the ink-receiving layer is compositionally the same as the second ink-receiving layer, and the ink-receiving layer is compositionally the same as the second ink-receiving layer.

9. The print medium according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric binder in the ink-receptive layer is crosslinked.

10. The print medium of claim 1, wherein the surface-activated fumed silica particles are present in the ink-receptive layer at 40 wt% to about 95 wt% by dry weight.

11. A method of manufacturing a print medium, comprising:

treating a first surface of a cellulose-based paper substrate with a treatment solution comprising an electrolyte compound to form a charged treatment layer;

coating the charged treated layer with an ink-receptive coating composition comprising a polymeric binder and surface-activated fumed silica particles comprising fumed silica particles surface-activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent to form an ink-receptive layer; and

coating the ink-receptive layer with an ink-receptive coating composition comprising colloidal silica particles, alumina particles, or both to form an ink-receptive layer comprising amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising sequentially drying:

a treatment solution after application to the first surface to form a charged treatment layer,

after application of the ink-receptive coating composition to form an ink-receptive layer, and

the ink-receiving coating composition after application to form an ink-receiving layer.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein treating the first surface produces a charged treated layer having a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm at the first surface, coating the charged treated layer produces an ink-receptive layer having a dry basis weight of 5 gsm to 30 gsm, and coating the ink-receptive layer produces an ink-receptive layer having a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 5 gsm.

14. A method of printing comprising jetting an ink composition onto a print medium, wherein the print medium comprises:

a cellulose-based paper substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface treated with a charged treatment layer;

an ink-receptive layer on the charged treatment layer, the ink-receptive layer comprising a polymeric binder and surface-activated fumed silica particles, wherein the surface-activated fumed silica particles comprise fumed silica particles surface-activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent; and

an ink-receiving layer on the ink-receptive layer, the ink-receiving layer comprising amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the ink-receiving layer comprises amorphous silica particles and alumina particles, wherein the alumina particles comprise boehmite alumina, amorphous alumina, or the amorphous silica particles and alumina particles are present in the form of amorphous silica-alumina particles.

Background

Ink jet printing is a non-impact printing process in which electronic signals control and direct ink droplets or streams, which can be deposited on a variety of substrates. Current ink jet printing technology involves ejecting ink droplets through small nozzles onto a media surface by thermal ejection, piezoelectric pressure, or oscillation. This technology has become a popular way of recording images on various media surfaces, particularly paper, for a number of reasons, including low printer noise, high speed recording, and multi-color recording capability. Print media may be prepared that is specific to a particular inkjet printing application, and other print media may be prepared that more universally span multiple printing platforms.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary print medium according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary print medium according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart representing an exemplary method of making a print medium according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart representing an exemplary printing method according to the present disclosure.

Detailed description of the invention

The present disclosure relates to, for example, print media, methods of making print media, and printing methods using print media. In one example, a print medium includes a cellulose-based paper substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface is treated with a charged treatment layer in this example. The print medium further includes an ink-receptive layer on the charged treatment layer. The ink receptive layer in this example comprises a polymeric binder and surface activated fumed silica particles, wherein the surface activated fumed silica particles comprise fumed silica particles surface activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent. The print medium also includes an ink-receiving layer on the ink-receptive layer. The ink-receiving layer in this example comprises amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof. In a specific example, the charged treatment layer comprises an electrolyte compound, such as calcium chloride, calcium acetate, or a combination thereof. The charged multivalent aluminum salt of the ink receptive layer may include, for example, aluminum chlorohydrate. In addition, the organosilane reagent of the ink-receptive layer may include an amine-containing methoxysilane. In more detail, the ink-receiving layer may further include amorphous silica particles and alumina particles. The alumina particles may be in the form of boehmite alumina, amorphous alumina, or the amorphous silica particles and the alumina particles may be in the form of amorphous silica-alumina particles. According to various examples, the charged treatment layer may have a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm at the first surface, the ink-receptive layer may have a dry basis weight of 5 gsm to 30 gsm, and the ink-receptive layer has a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 5 gsm. The second surface may likewise be treated with a second charged treatment layer, a second ink-receptive layer on the second charged treatment layer, and a second ink-receptive layer on the second ink-receptive layer. In one example, the second charged treated layer may be compositionally the same as the first charged treated layer, the second ink-receptive layer may be compositionally the same as the first ink-receptive layer, and the second ink-receptive layer may be compositionally the same as the first ink-receptive layer. The polymeric binder in the ink-receptive layer may be crosslinked in some examples. In addition, the surface-activated fumed silica particles can be present in the ink receptive layer in a range of from 40 weight percent to about 95 weight percent on a dry weight basis.

In another example, a method of manufacturing a print medium includes treating a first surface of a cellulose-based paper substrate with a treatment solution including an electrolyte compound to form a charged treatment layer. The method further includes applying a charge-handling layer prior to applying an ink-receptive coating composition comprising a polymeric binder and surface-activated fumed silica particles to form an ink-receptive layer. Surface-activated fumed silica particles comprise fumed silica particles that are surface-activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent in this example. In more detail, the method includes coating an ink-receiving layer with an ink-receiving coating composition including colloidal silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof to form an ink-receiving layer including amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof. In one example, the method can include sequentially drying the treatment solution after application to the first surface to form a charged treatment layer, the ink receptive coating composition after application to form an ink receptive layer, and the ink receptive coating composition after application to form an ink receptive layer. In other examples, the coating may be applied in a wet-on-wet layered coating process. In more detail, treating the first surface produces a charged treated layer having a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm at the first surface, coating the charged treated layer produces an ink-receptive layer having a dry basis weight of 5 gsm to 30 gsm, and coating the ink-receptive layer produces an ink-receptive layer having a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 5 gsm.

In another example, a method of printing includes jetting an ink composition onto a print medium, wherein the print medium includes a cellulose-based paper substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the first surface is treated with a charged treatment layer. The print medium further includes an ink-receptive layer on the charged treatment layer. The ink receptive layer in this example comprises a polymeric binder and surface activated fumed silica particles, wherein the surface activated fumed silica particles comprise fumed silica particles surface activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent. The print medium further includes an ink-receiving layer on the ink-receptive layer, wherein the ink-receiving layer comprises amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof. In one example, the ink-receiving layer comprises amorphous silica particles and alumina particles, wherein the alumina particles comprise boehmite alumina, amorphous alumina, or the amorphous silica particles and alumina particles are present in the form of amorphous silica-alumina particles.

In these examples, it is noted that when the print media and methods are discussed herein, any such discussion may be considered applicable to the other examples, whether or not they are explicitly discussed in the context of that example. Thus, for example, when discussing details regarding coating the print medium itself, such discussions also refer to the methods described herein, and vice versa.

Referring now to fig. 1, an exemplary print medium 100 is shown that includes a cellulose-based paper substrate 110 having a charged treated layer 120 on a first surface 112 of the cellulose-based paper substrate. An ink-receptive layer 130 is positioned on the charged treatment layer. Next, the ink-receiving layer 140 is positioned on the ink-receiving layer. As described in more detail below, the charged treated layer can comprise, for example, a charge-carrying multivalent metal salt. The ink-receiving layer may comprise a polymeric binder that binds the surface-activated fumed silica together. The surface-activated fumed silica can be surface-activated by an organosilane reagent, such as an aminosilane reagent or some other organosilane reagent. Surface activated fumed silica can also be surface activated by multivalent aluminum salts, such as aluminum chlorohydrate. The ink-receiving layer may comprise amorphous silica particles that are also held together by a polymeric binder. Other ingredients may also be present in the various layers. The thickness or applied density of the respective layers may be on a dry basis (after the layers have been dried to, for example, less than about 6 wt% water content). For example, the dry basis weight of the charged treatment layer may be from 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm, from 0.5 gsm to 3 gsm, or from 0.5 to 2 gsm. For example, the ink-receptive layer may have a dry basis weight of from 5 gsm to 30 gsm, from 5 gsm to 20 gsm, or from 10 gsm to 20 gsm. The ink-receiving layer may have a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 5 gsm, 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm, 0.5 gsm to 3 gsm, or 0.5 gsm to 2 gsm. As a note, although the example print media shown in FIG. 1 is uncoated or untreated on the second surface 114, such second surface may be coated with any type of other coating composition or as shown as some or all of the layers (in any order) applied on the first surface. In some examples, the second surface may have a charge-treating layer thereon, for example, without an ink-receptive layer and/or an ink-receptive layer. The second surface may have an adhesive layer and a release liner so that the second surface can be used as an adhesive-backed print medium or for other print media applied to another surface. In other words, the print medium illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended to show an exemplary print medium having various layers as shown and described herein, and many types of other layers may be added to these layers to supplement the functionality of the print medium shown and described.

With respect to FIG. 2, an alternative print medium 200 is shown having all of the same composition and structural details described with reference to FIG. 1, but in this example, there are various layers on both sides of the cellulose-based paper substrate 110. That is, on the second surface 114, there are a second charging treatment layer 120B, a second ink-receiving layer 130B, and a second ink-receiving layer 140B. The various "second" layers may also have the same structural features and compositional details as described for each layer in fig. 1. Additional structural and compositional details of fig. 1 and 2 are set forth in more detail below.

Turning now to the specific components and structure of the print media described herein, several materials have been described briefly and in more detail below. For example, with respect to "cellulose-based paper substrates," such substrates may be generally opaque and may be highly absorbent to receive the charged treatment layer. Such paper substrates are defined as not including a synthetic polymer coating thereon, but may have some polymer dispersed therein. For example, a "photobase" for a print medium having a cellulosic core extruded with a polymeric film is not considered a "cellulose-based paper substrate" as defined herein because of the polymeric coating included thereon. Cellulose itself is a natural polymer present in the cell walls of cotton, various hardwoods and softwoods, green plants, etc. There are also synthetic cellulosic materials that can be used. In some examples, the cellulose-based paper substrate may comprise "one or more wood fibers," which refers to the cellulose fibers and some other paper fibers that may be present. Either or both of hardwood fibers and softwood fibers and/or mixtures of both may be present. The term "hardwood fibers" or "hardwood pulp" as used herein refers to fiber pulp derived from the wood of deciduous trees (angiosperms), such as aspen, birch, oak, beech, maple and/or eucalyptus. The term "softwood fibers" or "softwood pulp" as used herein refers to fiber pulps derived from conifers (gymnosperms) such as various firs, spruces and pines, e.g., wood of loblolly pine (lobolly pine), slash pine (slash pine), Colorado spruce (Colorado spread), balsam fir (balsam fir) and/or Douglas fir (Douglas fir). Thus, some examples of useful cellulosic materials include natural cellulosic materials, synthetic cellulosic fibers (e.g., cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and nitrocellulose). In more detail, in some examples, the substrate is a cellulose-based paper substrate that can be prepared from a slurry containing a fiber ratio (hardwood fiber count/softwood fiber count) of 10:90 to 90:10, 20:80 to 80:20, 30:70 to 70:30, 60:40 to 40:60, 50:50 to 90:10, or 60:40 to 80:20, e.g., 70: 30. The hardwood fibers may have an average length of, for example, 0.3 mm to 3 mm or 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. These relatively shorter fibers may, in some examples, enhance the formation and smoothness of the cellulose-based paper substrate. The hardwood fibers may be bleached or unbleached hardwood fibers. Instead of the original hardwood fibers, other fibers of the same length up to 20% of the total hardwood fiber content may be used as hardwood fibers in some examples. The other fiber may be a recycled fiber, a non-deninkable fiber, an unbleached fiber, a synthetic fiber, a mechanical fiber, or a combination thereof. Softwood fibers have an average length of, for example, 1 mm to 10 mm or 2 mm to 7 mm. These relatively long fibers may enhance the mechanical strength of the paper substrate. These fibers can be made by any pulping process, such as chemical pulping. Two suitable chemical pulping processes include the kraft pulping process and the sulfite process.

The fibers of the base material may be made of chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp, chemi-mechanical pulp, or chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp. Examples of wood pulp include, but are not limited to, kraft pulp and sulfite pulp, each of which may or may not be bleached. The substrate may also comprise non-cellulosic fibers. The pulps used for the manufacture of cellulosic substrates may also contain additives in amounts of up to 10% by weight (relative to the total solids). Suitable additives may be selected from the group consisting of dry strength agents, wet strength agents, fillers, retention aids, dyes, optical brighteners (i.e., optical brighteners), surfactants, sizing agents, biocides, defoamers, or combinations thereof.

Cellulose-based paper substrates may be considered to have an open structure in some examples, as they may include some voids suitable for receiving the charged treated layers described herein. That is, in some examples, the cellulose-based paper substrate may include components other than cellulose-based fibers, such as a polymeric binder, for example, 0.1 to 10 wt%. If a binder is used, suitable binders that may be used include starch, protein, hydrophilic polymer binders such as polyvinyl alcohol, and the like. Likewise, inorganic fillers may also be present, such asCalcium carbonate, clay and TiO₂Up to a total concentration of 30% by weight of the cellulose-based paper. In addition, internal sizing agents may also be used at the wet end of the paper machine and include the following materials: rosin; with alum (alum) (Al)₂(SO₄)₃) Precipitated rosin; rosin acids and rosin acid homologues, such as neoabietic acid and levopimaric acid; stearic acid and stearic acid derivatives; ammonium zirconium carbonate; silicones and silicone-containing compounds; general structure CF₃(CF₂)_nR, wherein R is an anionic, cationic or other functional group and n can be from 1 to 1000; starch and starch derivatives; methyl cellulose; carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); polyvinyl alcohol; an alginate; a wax; a wax emulsion; alkyl Ketene Dimer (AKD); alkenyl ketene dimer emulsion (AnKD); alkyl Succinic Anhydrides (ASA); emulsions of ASA or AKD containing cationic starch; alum-containing ASA; and/or other known internal sizing agents; and mixtures thereof. In some applications, the amount of internal sizing agent may range from about 0.3 Kg/T raw base stock (raw base stock) to 10 Kg/T.

Once the open paper substrate is prepared with the selected cellulosic fibrous material (including any whitening agent selected for use, such as titanium dioxide, binders, fillers, sizing agents, biocides, and the like), a multivalent metal salt treatment is then applied to one or both surfaces of the open paper substrate. As mentioned, the treatment with a polyvalent metal salt comprises applying a polyvalent metal salt, such as CaCl₂To load 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm (per treated side) of the multivalent metal salt into the open paper substrate. In one example, a polymeric binder or a mixture of polymeric binders such as starch and polyvinyl alcohol, along with process control agents such as thickeners and pH adjusters, can be formulated with a multivalent salt into a treatment composition. The presence of these multivalent metal salts may provide several additional advantages, including improved image quality, color gamut, and color richness, as well as other printing improvements.

The fibers of the cellulose-based paper substrate material may be made of chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp, chemi-mechanical pulp, or chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp. Other additives that may be present include the following: dry strength agents, wet strength agents, fillers, retention aids, dyes (or pigments), optical brighteners, surfactants, biocides, defoamers, pH adjusters, chelating agents, preservatives, and/or the like. For example, the paper brightness and/or whiteness of the recording medium may be changed by including an Optical Brightener (OBA) or a fluorescent brightener (FWA). OBA or FWA are typically compounds that absorb ultraviolet radiation energy in the 300-360 nm region of the electromagnetic spectrum and re-emit energy in the predominantly blue wavelength region of the visible range (typically 420-470 nm). As noted, these and other types of additives may be included in any layer applied to the cellulose-based paper substrate.

The basis weight of the cellulose-based paper substrate may depend on the nature of the application of the print medium. For example, lighter weight basis weights may be used in magazines, newspapers, books, brochures, e.g., foldable brochures, promotional material, and the like. On the other hand, heavier weights may be used, for example, for postcards, packaging applications, free standing posters, and the like. Thus, the cellulose-based paper substrate may have, for example, 40 grams per square meter (g/m)²Or gsm) to 300 gsm, 60 gsm to 250 gsm, or 100 gsm to 200 gsm.

Cellulose-based paper substrates may provide some fluid absorption. The Bristow wheel measurement can be used for quantitative measurement of absorption on print media of the present disclosure, where a fixed amount of fluid is applied through a slit onto a media strip moving at different speeds. In some examples, the print substrate of the present disclosure can have not less than 10 ml/m as measured by Bristow wheel blotting² x s^1/2(iii) the ink absorption rate (Bristow wheel is a device also known as Paprican dynamic adsorption tester, model number LBA92, manufactured by Op Test Equipment inc.). In other examples, the cellulose-based paper substrate may have a surface smoothness of 10 Sheffield Smoothness Units (SU) to 150 SU. In other examples, the print substrate can have a surface smoothness of 20 SU to 100 SU or 30 SU to 90 SU. Surface smoothness can be measured with a Hagerty smoothness tester (Tappi method according to T-538 om-96). This method consists in lining the sample (on the bottom surface with a flat glass) and in providing twoMeasurement of air flow between pressurized concentric annular ridges (which are pressed into the sample from the top surface). The air flow rate is related to the surface roughness of the paper. The higher the value, the rougher the surface. In other examples, a cellulose-based paper substrate having a TAAPI brightness of, for example, 80% to 98%, or 85% to 94%, or 90% to 92% may be prepared or selected. Tappi Brightness can be measured with a Technidyne Brightmeter using TAPPI Standard T452, "Brightness of pulp, paper and board (direct reflectance at 457 nm)".

The charged treatment layer is applied to a cellulose-based paper substrate and it can provide various improvements to the print medium by providing a charged interaction (electrical charging interaction) when printing the ink composition on the print medium. "charged interaction" can mean that positively or negatively charged species can couple together with oppositely charged species, for example, species from an ink composition interact with oppositely charged species in a charged treated layer. In one aspect, the charged handling layer can initiate agglomeration (settling out) of the ink colorant from the dispersed ink vehicle to facilitate rapid drying of the printed image. In another aspect, the charged treated layer can act as an ink fixing layer in that it can fix or otherwise restrict the mobility of negatively charged colorants to prevent migration along the z-axis (defined as perpendicular to the plane of the print medium) through the above-described charging interactions. In addition, the charged treated layer can also provide fixation of colorant and mitigate random colorant migration along the x-axis and y-axis (parallel to the plane of the print medium), thereby providing good edge acuity of the printed image and eliminating bleed. Thus, the charged treated layer can provide these benefits by incorporating a charge into the crashing ink dispersion and fixing the colorant in the ink composition components. Such features may additionally or alternatively chemically and/or physically bond to the ink composition pigment and prevent the pigment from further penetrating into the cellulose-based paper substrate while allowing the ink solvent to flow into the cellulose-based paper substrate. Thus, in some examples, the charged treatment layer can prevent colorants, such as pigments and/or dyes, from penetrating into the substrate, which can enhance image quality, such as optical density, color gamut, edge sharpness, and the like. Thus, by allowing the solvent to penetrate into the cellulose-based paper substrate and by fixing a charged substance, such as a colorant, image quality can be enhanced. These properties are provided as examples because there may be ink compositions that do not interact with the charged treated layer in this manner, but because of this feature, the print media of the present disclosure may be considered generic because they are effective with many different types of ink compositions.

In examples herein, the charged treated layer may be applied as a solution to leave a charged electrolyte compound in the layer. "electrolyte compounds" include, for example, solid compounds that are soluble in the conductive electrolyte solution but can remain in the charged treatment layer after drying on the cellulose-based paper substrate. The electrolyte compound may be a multivalent metal salt and after drying, the multivalent metal salt remains as a charged treated layer on the cellulose-based paper substrate. The polyvalent metal salt used may comprise a polyvalent metal from the group II metals, group III metals, transition metals, or combinations thereof based on the periodic table. These multivalent metal salts may further comprise an anion selected from chloride, iodide, bromide, nitrate, sulfate, sulfite, phosphate, chlorate, acetate, formate, or a combination thereof. Specific examples thereof include calcium chloride, calcium acetate, calcium nitrate, calcium formate, magnesium chloride, barium chloride, manganese sulfate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium acetate, magnesium formate, zinc chloride, zinc sulfate, zinc nitrate, zinc formate, tin chloride, tin nitrate, manganese chloride, manganese sulfate, manganese nitrate, manganese formate, aluminum sulfate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum chloride, aluminum acetate and the like. That is, calcium chloride (CaCl) has been found₂) And calcium acetate are particularly effective and can be a cost effective option. These metal salts may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The metal salt concentration in the surface treatment solution can be any functional concentration, but in some examples can be included in the coating formulation above a critical saturation concentration.

In one example, the multivalent metal salt may be applied as a solution as described, but other components (dissolved or dispersed) may be present in the formulation, which remain with the treatment layer as a dry material. Examples include polymeric binders, sizing agents, Optical Brightening Agents (OBAs), processing or application additives, and the like. Organic solvents such as butanol may also be included in addition to the water carrier to enhance coating processing properties upon application. The solution used to apply the charged treatment layer may comprise, for example, 0.1 wt% to 30 wt% solids, or, for example, 5 wt% to 20 wt% solids. After evaporation of the water and solvent, the remaining dry treatment layer comprising the multivalent metal salt may be present from 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm. With respect to other components that may be present in the charged treated layer, these may be present in relatively small concentrations, for example, 0.1 wt% to 10 wt%. Exemplary sizing agents that may be present include, but are not limited to, starch and starch derivatives; carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); methyl cellulose; an alginate; a wax; a wax emulsion; alkyl Ketene Dimer (AKD); alkyl Succinic Anhydrides (ASA); alkenyl ketene dimer emulsion (AnKD); emulsions of ASA or AKD containing cationic starch; alum-containing ASA; water-soluble polymeric materials such as polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, acrylamide polymers, acrylic polymers or copolymers, vinyl acetate latex, polyesters, vinylidene chloride latex, styrene-butadiene, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers, styrene acrylic copolymers and copolymers; and various combinations of these agents. With specific regard to the starch additive, more specific examples of suitable starches that can be used include corn starch, tapioca starch, wheat starch, rice starch, sago starch, and potato starch. These starch substances may be unmodified starch, enzymatically modified starch, thermally or thermo-chemically modified starch or chemically modified starch. Examples of chemically modified starches are converted starches, such as acid fluidity (acid fluidity) starch, oxidized starch or pyrodextrin; derivatized starches, such as hydroxyalkylated starches, cyanoethylated starches, cationic starch ethers, anionic starches, starch esters, starch grafts or hydrophobic starches.

An ink receptive layer, as mentioned above, may then be applied over the charged treatment layer and disposed as a layer on the charged treatment layer. The ink receptive layer may comprise, for example, a polymeric binder and surface activated fumed silica particles. The surface-activated fumed silica particles can comprise fumed silica particles surface-activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent. The multivalent aluminum salt may be, for example, a charged trivalent aluminum salt, such as aluminum chlorohydrate, sometimes referred to as ACH. For example, the organosilane reagent of the ink-receptive layer may include an amine-containing methoxysilane, such as N- (N-butyl) -3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. Other trivalent aluminum salts and/or other organosilane reagents as described below may be used, but these are provided above as specific examples.

The coating composition may be an ink-receptive layer (or ink-fused layer) when the ink-receptive layer is applied to the charge-treated layer. The coating composition contains from about 40 wt% to about 95 wt% of the surface-activated fumed silica particles, based on the total weight of the ink-receptive layer. In other examples, the ink-receptive layer contains from about 65% to about 85% by weight of the surface-activated fumed silica particles, based on the total weight of the ink-receptive layer. Other one or more components may be present, such as a polymeric binder, which may be present, for example, at 1 to 60, 5 to 40, or 10 to 35 weight percent. In some examples, a crosslinking agent, such as boric acid for a polyvinyl alcohol binder, may be included. If present, the crosslinking agent may be included at 0.1 wt% to 10 wt%, 0.5 wt% to 5 wt%, or 1 wt% to 3 wt%.

It has been found that fumed silica particles provide a good substrate for applying charged multivalent aluminum salt and organosilane reagent. Fumed silica is sometimes referred to as fumed silica because it is made in a flame and can have very small droplets of amorphous silica fused into branched, chain-like, three-dimensional secondary particles, which then agglomerate into tertiary particles. Thus, fumed silica has a low bulk density and a high surface area. In some examples, the surface area of the surface-activated fumed silica particles is in the range of about 20 to about 800 square meters per gram or in the range of about 100 to about 350 square meters per gram. The surface area can be measured, for example, by BET isothermal adsorption.

Fumed silica, as used herein, can be characterized as a "nanoscale" pigment particle because it can have a particle size in the nanometer (10) range^-9Meters) average particle size in the range. In some examples, (surface activated) fumed silica particlesThe particles can have an average particle size, for example, in a range of 1 nanometer (nm) to 300 nm, 2 nm to 150 nm, or 5 nm to 100 nm. The particles may have any suitable morphology, such as spherical or irregular. The term "average particle size" is used herein to describe the diameter or average diameter, which may vary with the morphology of the individual particles. In one example, each particle may have a spherical morphology. Spherical particles (e.g. spherical or nearly spherical) having>A sphericity of 0.84. Therefore, any one of<Individual particles of 0.84 sphericity are considered to be non-spherical (irregular shape). The particle size of the spherical and irregular particles may be provided by their average diameter, e.g., the average of multiple sizes across the particle or by the effective diameter (which is the diameter of a sphere having the same mass and density as the non-spherical particles).

With respect to organosilane reagents used for surface modification or treatment of fumed silica, in one example, the organosilane reagent can be used to provide a positively charged moiety to the surface of the fumed silica, or in some cases, to provide another desired function at or near the surface, such as an ultraviolet absorber, a chelating agent, a hindered amine light stabilizer, a reducing agent, a hydrophobic group, an ionic group, a buffering group, or a functional group for subsequent reaction. Accordingly, the term "organosilane" or "organosilane reagent" includes compositions comprising a functional moiety covalently attached to a silane group (or a moiety of a reagent that provides the desired modifying properties to the surface of the inorganic particulate). The organosilane reagent can be covalently attached or otherwise attracted to the surface of the semi-metal oxide particles or the metal oxide particles. The functional moiety of the organosilane reagent can be directly attached to the silane group or can be appropriately spaced from the silane group, such as by 1 to 12 carbon atoms or other known spacer lengths (e.g., including straight chain, branched chain, or cycloaliphatic groups). The silane groups of the organosilane reagent may be attached to the fumed silica surface hydroxyl groups, but may also be attached via any halide groups or alkoxy groups present on the reagent. In other words, the linking mechanism may or may not be a hydrocarbyl group as mentioned above, but this type of structure is mentioned as an example. Alternatively, in some cases, the organosilane reagent may be attracted only to the surface of the fumed silica. In accordance with examples of the present disclosure, the functional moiety may be any moiety desired for a particular application. In one embodiment, the functional moiety may be a primary, tertiary or quaternary amine.

Useful organosilanes include methoxysilanes, halosilanes, ethoxysilanes, alkylhalosilanes, alkylalkoxysilanes, or other known reactive silanes, any of which may be further modified with one or more functional groups, including amines, epoxy groups, sulfur-containing groups, such as mercapto groups, or heterocyclic aryl groups. One organosilane used in accordance with the present invention is an aminosilane, wherein one or more of the functional moieties is an amine, which may be a primary, secondary or tertiary amine. As examples of modified aminosilane reagents that may be used for such microparticles, formula 1 is provided below:

in formula 1 above, 0 to 2R groups may be H, -CH₃、-CH₂CH₃or-CH₂CH₂CH₃(ii) a 1 to 3R groups may be hydroxy, halogen or alkoxy; and 1 to 3R groups may be amines (or other functional groups if not aminosilanes). Additionally, in formula 1, R can also include a spacer that separates the amine functional group from the silane group and/or there can be other moieties that extend beyond the amine (or other) functional moiety. If the functional group includes an amine group, examples of aminosilane agents include gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, monoaminosilanes, diaminosilanes, triaminosilanes, and the like. As mentioned, other functional groups can be used in place of amine-containing moieties, such as epoxy-containing moieties, sulfur-containing moieties, heterocyclic moieties, and the like. Some specific exemplary aminosilanes that may be used include 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminoethylaminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminoethylaminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminoethylaminoethylaminoethylaminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminopropylsilsesquioxane, beta-cyclodextrin, and the like,(N-butyl) -3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, (N-butyl) -3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, bis- (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) amine, N-benzyl-N-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (e.g., hydrochloride), N-phenyl-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N- (2-aminoethyl-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N- (N-butyl) -3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-aminoethyl-3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, 3- (triethoxysilylpropyl) -diethylenetriamine, poly (ethyleneimine) trimethoxysilane, poly (ethyleneimine) amine, poly (ethyleneimine) amine, and poly (ethyleneimine), Bis (2-hydroxyethyl) -3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, aminoethylaminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane and the like. Examples of useful organosilane groups other than aminosilanes are 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, bis (triethoxysilylpropyl) disulfide, 3-ureidopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, N- (trimethoxysilylpropyl) isothiourea chloride, N- (triethoxysilylpropyl) -O-polyethylene oxide, 3- (triethoxysilyl) propylsuccinic anhydride, 3- (2-imidazolin-1-yl) propyltriethoxysilane, poly (ethyleneimine) trimethoxysilane and the like. For example, any combination of these or other organosilane reagents may be used to treat the fumed silica surface.

Alternatively, the organosilane may be of the formula (RO)_4-XSiY_XWherein X is 1 to 3. Thus, 1 to 3R groups include moieties suitable for covalent attachment to surface hydroxyl groups of fumed silica. In some examples, one or more R groups can independently be a hydrocarbyl group comprising 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Thus, the silicon atom or organosilane may bind to one or more oxygens at the surface hydroxyl groups of the fumed silica and thus to its surface. For example, the hydrocarbyl group may react with hydrogen released in the linking reaction. Thus, for example, RO groups can be hydrolyzed in a neutral to acidic environment to allow the reaction to proceed to form covalent bonds. In more detail, 1 to 3Y groups may independently include an amino group or some other functional group, and in some instancesIn one example, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms may be included.

As noted above, organosilane reagents may be used to treat the fumed silica of the ink-receptive layer. However, according to examples herein, the fumed silica in the ink-receiving layer can also be treated with a multivalent aluminum salt, such as in some examples, a trivalent or tetravalent aluminum salt. Exemplary multivalent aluminum salts that can be used include Aluminum Chlorohydrate (ACH), polyaluminum chloride (PAC), polyaluminum hydroxychloride, and the like. These are a class of soluble charged aluminum salts in which aluminum chloride has been partially reacted with a base. The relative amount of OH compared to the amount of Al can determine the basicity of a particular product. With particular reference to ACH, such compounds are usually expressed as Al_n(OH)_mCl_(3n-m)Wherein n may be 1 to 50, and m may be 1 to 150. The basicity can be determined by the term m/(3n) in the formula. ACH can be prepared by hydrating alumina AlCl₃Reacting with aluminum powder under controlled conditions. The exact composition depends on the amount of aluminum powder used and the reaction conditions. Typically, the reaction can be carried out to produce a product having an alkalinity of 40% to 83%. ACH can be supplied as a solution, but also as a solid. There are other ways to mention ACH, which can exhibit many different molecular sizes and configurations in a single mixture. An exemplary stable ionic species in ACH can have the formula [ Al₁₂(OH)₂₄AlO₄(H₂O)₁₂]⁷⁺. Other examples include [ Al₆(OH)₁₅]³⁺、[Al₈(OH)₂₀]⁴⁺、[Al₁₃(OH)₃₄]⁵⁺、[Al₂₁(OH)₆₀]³⁺And the like.

Various names used to describe ACH and/or other charged multivalent aluminum compound components include, for example, aluminum hydroxychloride (8 CI); a296; ACH 325; ACH 331; ACH 7-321; aloxicoll; aloxicoll LR; basic aluminum chloride; (ii) alumina ACH; aluminum chlorohydrate; aluminum chlorohydroxide (aluminum chlorohydroxide); aluminum chlorohydroxy, basic; aluminum chloride oxide (aluminum chloride oxide); aluminum chlorohydrate (aluminum chlorohydrate); aluminum chlorohydrol; aluminum chlorohydrate; aluminum hydroxychloride; aluminum chlorohydrate (aluminum hydroxide)xycholride); (ii) an aluminum oxochloride; aquarone; aquarone 18; astringen; astringen 10; banoltan white; basic aluminum chloride; hydrated aluminum chlorohydrate; berukotan AC-P; cartafix LA; cawood 5025; chlorhyrdrol; chlorhyrdrol Micro-Dry; chlorhyrdrol Micro-Dry SUF; e200; e200 (coagulunt); ekoflock 90; ekoflock 91; GenPac 4370; gilufloc 83; hessidrex WT; HPB 5025; hydral; hydrofugal; hyper Ion 1026; (ii) Hydrol; kempac 10; kempac 20; kemwater PAX 14; locron; locron P; locron S; nalco 8676; OCAL; oulupac 180; a PAC; PAC (salt); PAC 100W; PAC 250A; PAC 250 AD; PAC 300M; PAC 70; paho 2S; PALC; PAX; PAX 11S; PAX 16; PAX 18; PAX 19; PAX 60 p; PAX-XL 1; PAX-XL 19; PAX-XL 60S; PAX-XL 61S; PAX-XL 69; PAX-XL 9; phacsize; phosphonorm; (14) poly (aluminum hydroxy) chloride; polyaluminum chloride; prodeflloc AC 190; prodefloc AL; prodeflloc SAB 18; prodeflloc SAB 18/5; prodeflloc SAB 19; purachem WT; reach 101; reach 301; reach 501; sulzfloc JG; sulzfloc JG 15; sulzfloc JG 19; sulzfloc JG 30; TAI-PAC; taipac; takibine; takibine 3000; tanwhite; TR 50; TR 50 (inorganic compound); UPAX 20; vikram PAC-AC 100S; a WAC; WAC 2; westchlorine 200; wickenol 303; wickenol CPS 325 Aluminum chloride Al₂ClH₅O₅Or Al₂(OH)₅Cl·2H₂O or [ Al (OH)₂Cl]_xOr Al₆(OH)₁₅Cl₃；Al₂(OH)₅Cl]_x(ii) a Aluminum chlorohydrate; basic aluminum chloride; aluminum chloride, basic; aluminum hydroxychloride; [ Al ]₂(OH)_nCl_6-n]_m；[Al(OH)₃]_nAlCl₃(ii) a Or Al_n(OH)_mCl_(3n-m)(where usually 0)<m<3 n). By contacting the fumed silica particles with an aluminum compound as described above, the aluminum compound can be associated with the surface of the fumed silica particles. This can be by covalent association or by electrostatic interaction to form a cationically charged fumed silica, which can be measured, for example, by zeta-potentiostatAnd (6) row checking.

Thus, the fumed silica of the ink-receptive layer can be surface treated with a multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent. As noted, a polymeric binder may also be present in the ink-receptive layer. The "polymeric binder" may be any polymeric substance that can bind the surface-activated fumed silica particles together in a cohesive ink-receptive layer while still retaining the functionality of the surface-activated fumed silica, e.g., an amount that allows liquid from the ink to fill the voids between the fumed silica particles. Useful polymeric binder materials may include polyvinyl alcohol, copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol, derivatives of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, gelatin, PVP, copolymers of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyurethanes, latex emulsion polymers such as acrylic, methacrylic, styrene acrylic or methacrylic, and the like, or the like.

Other additives may also be present, such as cross-linking agents for polymeric binders. For example, for polyvinyl alcohol, the crosslinking agent can be boric acid, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal (glycoxal), Curesan 199 (BASF), Curesan 200 (BASF), or the like, for polyvinyl alcohol, or a plasticizer for a polymeric binder. Examples of crosslinking agents for polyvinyl alcohol are boric acid, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal, Curesan 199 (BASF), Curesan 200 (BASF), and the like. Examples of the plasticizer for polyvinyl alcohol may include glycerin, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, morpholine, methyl pyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, and the like.

An ink-receiving layer may be applied on top of the ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer is in the examples herein the layer of the print medium that first contacts the ink composition when printed thereon. Thus, it receives the ink composition. Such a thin layer may provide porous and scratch resistant characteristics in addition to having a shiny surface. In the case of pigmented inks, this layer may provide a surface where some of the pigment may penetrate the layer and land on the ink-receptive layer, thus contributing to good durability of the printed image-in the form of scratch resistance, rub resistance, and/or water resistance. This layer also contributes to acceptable levels of gloss, color gamut, and black optical density, among others. For dye-based inks, such an ink-receiving layer is also beneficial because it can allow the dye colorant to penetrate the layer and thus act as a "top protection" layer to avoid mechanical damage in the printed image, while helping to achieve similar print quality performance as it would in the case of pigmented inks. Further, in some examples, for anionic dyes, the organosilane reagent can be cationic and can interact with the dye. The ink-receiving layer may be applied relatively thinly at a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 5 gsm, 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm, 0.5 gsm to 3 gsm, or 0.5 gsm to 2 gsm.

The ink-receiving layer may comprise amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination of both. When the ink-receiving layer is dried, the amorphous silica particles and/or alumina particles may be packed into a liquid-permeable porous layer. Amorphous silica is a suspension of fine amorphous, non-porous and generally spherical silica particles in a liquid phase. They are usually suspended in an electrostatically stabilized aqueous phase. The colloidal silica showed 2.0 g/cm³To 2.4 g/cm³Or 2.1 g/cm³To a particle density of 2.3 g/cm. Amorphous silica particles may also be characterized as "nanoscale" pigment particles because they may have a particle size in the nanometer (10) range^-9Meters) range of average particle sizes. In some examples, the amorphous silica particles may have an average particle size (as previously defined for fumed silica particles) in a range of, for example, 10 nm to 500 nm, 15 nm to 350 nm, or 20 nm to 200 nm. These particles may have any suitable morphology, such as spherical or irregular, but may be generally spherical, again as defined previously.

In other examples, the ink-receiving layer may include alumina particles, such as amorphous alumina particles. Combinations of amorphous silica particles and alumina particles, amorphous silica particles and amorphous alumina particles, amorphous silica-alumina particles, and the like may also be present. The amorphous silica-alumina particles may comprise amorphous silica particles composited with alumina and may be precipitated onto the amorphous silica hydrogel by hydrated alumina, by reaction of a silica sol with an alumina sol orPrepared by coprecipitation of silicate and aluminium salt in solution. Any of these various types of particles or combinations of particles can also be characterized as "nanoscale" pigment particles because they can have a particle size in the nanometer (10)^-9Meters) range of average particle sizes. The amorphous silica particles in these combinations may be defined as described above. The alumina particles, amorphous alumina particles, or composite amorphous silica-alumina particles can have an average particle size in a range of, for example, 20 nm to 500 nm, 20 nm to 400 nm, 20 nm to 300 nm, 20 nm to 200 nm, or 50 nm to 150 nm. These particles may have any suitable morphology, such as spherical or irregular, but may be generally spherical, again as defined previously. In some examples, there may be amorphous silica particles and alumina particles (amorphous or otherwise) co-dispersed together in the ink-receiving layer. If both are present, the weight ratio of amorphous silica particles to alumina particles can be, for example, 20:1 to 1:3, 15:1 to 1:3, 10:1 to 1:2, or 10:1 to 1: 1.

In addition to the amorphous silica particles and/or alumina particles in the ink-receiving layer, a polymeric binder may also be present in some examples to bind the amorphous particles together, leaving space for fluid from the ink composition to pass therethrough into the ink-receiving layer. Again, the polymeric binder may be any polymeric substance that may be used in an amount to bind the amorphous silica particles together into a porous ink-receiving layer. Useful polymeric binder materials may include polyvinyl alcohol, copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol, derivatives of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, gelatin, PVP, copolymers of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyurethanes, latex emulsion polymers such as acrylic, methacrylic, styrene acrylic or methacrylic, and the like, or the like. The ink-receiving layer may also contain residual surfactants or wetting agents (to wet and uniformly coat the substrate upon fluid application), dispersants (to maintain a stable colloid during formulation storage), viscosity modifiers (to achieve a viscosity acceptable to the selected manufacturing equipment), and/or salts (those that help maintain a stable colloid during formulation storage), and the like.

In another example, as shown in fig. 3, a method of manufacturing a print medium is shown generally at 300 and may include treating 310 a first surface of a cellulose-based paper substrate with a treatment solution including an electrolyte compound to form a charged treatment layer. This method also includes coating 320 the charged treated layer with an ink receptive coating composition comprising a polymeric binder and surface activated fumed silica particles to form an ink receptive layer. Surface-activated fumed silica particles comprise fumed silica particles that are surface-activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent in this example. In more detail, the method includes coating 330 an ink-receptive layer with an ink-receptive coating composition comprising amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof to form an ink-receptive layer. In one example, the method can include sequentially drying the treatment solution after application to the first surface to form a charged treatment layer, the ink receptive coating composition after application to form an ink receptive layer, and the ink receptive coating composition after application to form an ink receptive layer. In more detail, treating the first surface produces a charged treated layer having a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 3 gsm at the first surface, coating the charged treated layer produces an ink-receptive layer having a dry basis weight of 5 gsm to 30 gsm, and coating the ink-receptive layer produces an ink-receptive layer having a dry basis weight of 0.1 gsm to 5 gsm.

The print media described herein can provide the ability to produce high quality and durable printed images with a variety of inks and printers, and thus exhibit good versatility. Images with good image quality (e.g., vivid color gamut, good black light density, low bleed, good coalescence, good durability, etc.) can be achieved and in some instances can dry quickly enough to perform well in high speed printing. Thus, as illustrated in fig. 4, the present disclosure also relates to a printing method 400, which may include 410 jetting an ink composition onto a print medium. The print medium may include a cellulose-based paper substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface may be treated with a charged treatment layer. The print medium may also include an ink-receptive layer on the charged treatment layer. The ink receptive layer in this example comprises a polymeric binder and surface activated fumed silica particles, wherein the surface activated fumed silica particles comprise fumed silica particles surface activated with a charged multivalent aluminum salt and an organosilane reagent. The print medium in this example also includes an ink-receiving layer on the ink-receptive layer, wherein the ink-receiving layer comprises amorphous silica particles, alumina particles, or a combination thereof. In one example, the ink-receiving layer may include amorphous silica particles and alumina particles.

It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The term "about" is used herein to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint where a given value may be "slightly above" or "slightly below" the endpoint. The degree of flexibility of this term can depend on the particular variable and can be determined based on experience and the associated description herein.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a general list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as if each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, any member of such a list should not be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presence in the same group if not otherwise indicated.

Concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. For example, a weight range of about 1 wt% to about 20 wt% should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited concentration limits of 1 wt% to 20 wt%, but also to include individual concentrations such as 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, and sub-ranges such as 5 wt% to 15 wt%, 10 wt% to 20 wt%, etc.

All percentages are by weight (wt.%), unless otherwise indicated.

It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular process and materials disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of protection will be defined by the claims and equivalents thereof.

Examples

Several embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below. It is to be understood, however, that the following is only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications and alternative compositions, methods, systems, etc., may be devised without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and arrangements.

Example 1 – Preparation of a treatment composition for applying a charged treatment layer on a cellulose-based paper substrate

Various charged treated layer coating compositions, which can be used to treat cellulose-based paper substrates according to the present disclosure, were prepared as follows according to table 1 below:

TABLE 1

。

It is noted that the above weight percentages are provided for the charged treated layer in the form of a coating composition or formulation prior to evaporating or drying water from the coating composition or formulation to leave the charged treated layer. After drying, the remaining components provide the dry weight percentage of solids coated on and to some extent impregnated into the surface of the cellulose-based paper substrate. For example, both T1 and T2 have theoretical dry weight% of 100 weight% calcium chloride and calcium acetate, respectively. T3 and T4 had a dry weight% of calcium chloride of about 9 wt%, hydroxyethyl starch of about 91 wt%, and so on. As a note, these theoretical dry weight percentages will exist if all of the water is removed prior to application of the ink receptive layer. In practice, not all of the water or other liquid may evaporate or dry out during processing, and thus the actual weight percent of dry components within the charged treated layer may be slightly less than the theoretical remaining weight percent of solids.

Example 2For application toPreparation of ink-receptive coating composition on charged treated layer

Various ink-receptive layer coating compositions, which can be used to coat the charge-treated layer according to the present disclosure, were prepared as follows according to table 2 below:

TABLE 2

。

Example 3 –Preparation of ink-receptive coating composition for application to ink-receptive layer

Various ink-receptive layer coating compositions, which can be used to coat an ink-receptive layer according to the present disclosure, were prepared as follows according to table 3 below:

TABLE 3

。

Example 4 -Examples preparation of print media samples and comparative print media samples

Various print media samples were prepared according to the various layers described in examples 1-3. More specifically, print media samples A-H were prepared according to Table 4 below. The cellulose-based paper substrate had a basis weight of 147 gsm and was formed from a fiber slurry containing more than about 80 wt% wood fibers (hardwood fiber/softwood fiber weight ratio of about 4: 1). The cellulose-based paper substrate also contained approximately 11 wt% inorganic filler (a mixture of carbonate, titanium dioxide and clay) added to the wet stock fiber structure. All layers are applied successively to both sides of the cellulose-based paper substrate.

With respect to the application of the various layers, it is noted that sample E was not ultimately completely made because the fumed silica was not dispersible in water due to the lack of surface treatment as described herein. With respect to the other samples, the charged treatment layers (T3) (except comparative sample H) were first applied to both sides of the cellulose-based paper substrate at a dry basis weight of approximately 2 gsm. The coating is dried to leave a charged treated layer. Ink receptive layers (except for comparative samples C and F) were then applied on both sides and then dried. Next, the ink-receiving layer was applied to both sides (except for comparative sample D), and then dried. The various layers were applied using a Mayer rod (and then dried between applications). In this example, various print media samples were not calendered (except for comparative sample C, which was calendered to achieve relatively similar minimum level gloss for the non-image portion and the image portion), which is one benefit of the print media construction of the present disclosure, although calendering may be used in some examples.

Various print media were prepared according to Table 4, providing g/m for all layers²Or gsm on a dry basis. Note that sample E was not completed because ink-receptive layer composition a2 was not sufficiently dispersed in water in a manner suitable for forming a coating. Other prepared print media samples are shown in table 4 below:

TABLE 4

。

Example 5-printing onPrinting Performance of the inks on print media samples A-H

Tables 5A-7B illustrate tests performed on seven (7) of the 8 print media samples given in Table 4 above. Sample E was not evaluated because it was not successfully prepared. For print performance evaluation, the same sequence of images was printed on various print media samples for a particular test. After printing and in some cases, subjecting the images to durability challenges, the image quality of the prints was evaluated with scores summarized according to the procedure after table 7B below in this example. Some values may be measured by instruments such as color gamut, L min, black image gloss, and no image gloss. Other values cannot be measured with instruments only, but are evaluated after performing a specified test procedure, giving performance scores of 1 to 5 (where 1 represents the worst performance, 3 represents the minimally acceptable target performance, and 5 represents the best performance). All tests were performed at 23 ℃ and 50% r.h. Diagnostic images were generated for different tests, including printed rectangles, printed strips, etc., printed using HP gloss Brochure Paper media selection, appropriate for various test procedures. The HP PageWide Pro PW777 Multifunction Printer and HP OfficeJet Pro X579 Printer print using a "presentation" mode. The HP DeskJet 2130 Printer uses the "normal" mode. Ink density and print speed are specified by the printer driver based on print mode and media selection. Multiple types of inks and multiple types of printers were used for this evaluation. For example, in tables 5A and 5B, the inks used for the collected data were pigmented inks printed by HP PageWide Pro PW777 Multifunction Printer (with Ink Supply HP 990A). In tables 6A and 6B, HP OfficeJet Pro X579 Printer was used with pigmented inks (with Ink Supplies HP 970 and HP 971). In tables 7A and 7B, HP DeskJet 2130 Printer was used with dye-based inks (with Ink Supply HP 63). Not every test was run using all three printers and all three inks, but the data is provided as follows:

TABLE 5A

Performed print media testing	Sample A	Sample B	Sample C	Sample D
					Double Scratch-Vision (Duplex Scratch) -Vision	5	4	5	1
Black Finger painting (Black Finger Smudge) -Vision	5	5	5	3
					Abrasion (Burnish) -Vision	5	5	1	5
Color gamut	492k	496k	429k	490k
					L* min	3.09	2.85	7.52	2.7
Glossiness of black image (60 degree)	50.9	57.7	26.9	51.5
					No image gloss (60 degree)	21.8	26.8	16.3	15.8

TABLE 5B

。

TABLE 6A

Performed print media testing	Sample A	Sample B	Sample C	Sample D
					Wear-vision	5	5	1	3
Glossiness of black image (60 degree)	42.7	51.1	11	50.8
					Gloss (60 degree) without image	21.8	26.8	16.3	15.8

TABLE 6B

No image gloss (60 °) is the same measurement as in tables 5A and 5B, but is included in tables 6A and 6B to provide a comparison with the black image gloss also provided in these tables.

TABLE 7A

Performed print media testing	Sample A	Sample B	Sample C	Sample D
					Black smear (Black smudge) -vision	5	4	1	4
Image gloss surface uniformity-vision	5	5	2	5
					Wear-vision	5	4	1	3
Coalescence-vision	5	5	3	5

TABLE 7B

。

As can be seen in tables 5A-7B, print media samples A and B outperformed all of the remaining examples, comparative print media samples C-H, for three different types of ink from three different printers. While some of the comparative print media samples performed well in some categories, they all performed fair in some categories and all of the comparative print media performed poorly in at least one category. In contrast, samples a and B performed very well or above average in all categories tested for all three inks.

The test procedures used to generate the data shown in tables 5A-7B are as follows:

double-sided scratches were evaluated with printed diagnostic images using HP Brochure gloss, demonstration mode settings. The diagnostic map on the first side is one exposed to scratching. After imaging the first side, the sheet is turned over by the printer, which allows the imaged first side to rub against the plastic ribs (ribs) of the printer during imaging of the second side. After printing, the imaged first side is inspected for scratches in the image area. For extreme wiping (fraction 1), the ink image is completely removed in the area where the image is rubbed by the plastic ribs, forming a white line across the image. If there was no sign of scratching, a score of 5 was achieved.

Black finger smear was evaluated with printed diagnostic pictures printed using HP Brochure gloss, demonstration mode settings. After printing, this evaluation was subjected to finger rub tests at three (3) times, namely at 0 minutes, 1 minute, and 2 minutes. At these three times, each set of drawings (or smear blocks) was smeared using clean, dry finger pressure. The assessment of the smear was done visually by comparing the print smear with the area immediately adjacent to the print smear to check the printed area for ink removal and ink transfer to its adjacent area. A score of 1 indicates significant smear even at 2 minutes. A score of 5 indicates no smear for more than 1 minute. At 0 minutes (almost instantaneous drying), there may or may not be very slight smearing (almost invisible).

The wear was assessed using printed diagnostic images printed using HP PageWide Pro PW777 Multifunction Printer and HP DeskJet 2130 Printer. The plots were prepared as red area fill plots. The Printer settings used were HP Brochure Glossy, demonstration mode (HP PageWide Pro PW777 Multifunction Printer) or normal mode (HP DeskJet 2130 Printer). The abrasion device is an inclined slide with weighted slides to test the friction of the printed image side of two individual images printed on two sheets of media against the printed image side. Wear is defined herein as being associated with damage to the surface of the imaging media caused by contact with other media sheets or by handling. For this test, the image was allowed to dry for 24 hours before testing for abrasion. Note that marring generally tends to change the gloss of the rubbed area compared to the non-contacted area of the print medium. For example, wear can occur when moving sheets of print media (light contact). To simulate the wear that often occurs when a user touches the print media, laboratory testing included taking a sample print media with a solid filled red chart, cutting a 2.5 inch strip along the long axis of the sheet, removing the 2.5 inch square from one end of the strip and gluing the square to the bottom surface of a weighted sled. The remainder of the printed strip is clamped to the chute. The slide plate was placed on top of the strip of test strip so that the printed red square and the printed red strip were in face-to-face contact (red print face opposite red print face). One side of the slide is then raised until the slope is sufficient to allow the slide to slide down the slope. The printed red bands were then visually inspected for damage. Score 1 indicates significant injury and score 5 indicates no injury.

The color gamut was evaluated with printed diagnostic images using HP Brochure gloss, demonstration mode settings, and multiple printed images of various colors (color gamut rectangles) were printed on various sheets of print media. The printer used was set to HP brocure gloss, demonstration mode. Specifically, the gamut volume was calculated using the L a b values of 8 colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, black, blue, red, green, white), which were expressed by X-RITE^®939 densitometer (X-Rite Corporation) using a D65 light source and 2^oAnd (5) observing angle measurement. Testing for L min values on black printed areas and using X-RITE^®939 densitometer using a D65 light source and 2^oAnd (5) observing angle measurement. The gamut measurement (gamut) represents the amount of color space on the medium that is covered by ink. For color gamut evaluation, the printed diagnostic images were imaged to dry for 24 hours and the L a b color space values for the specified 8 colors were measured and color gamut calculations were performed using the measured L a b values. The values in tables 5A and 5B are measured and calculated values, and the color gamut is calculated from the values L × a × B.

L min, 100% black was determined using a printed black diagnostic map (black rectangle) for gamut assessment. The printer used was set to HP brocure gloss, demonstration mode. Using X-RITE^®939 densitometer (X-Rite Corporation) using a D65 light source and 2^oThe viewing angle measurements L and this black L data was collected and reported separately in tables 5A and 5B when the color gamut data was collected.

The black image gloss at 60 ° was measured using a printed black diagnostic chart (black rectangle) for color gamut evaluation. The printer used was set to HP brocure gloss, demonstration mode. Black image gloss data was collected from black rectangles printed as part of the gamut map. Gloss data at 60 ° was collected using a BYK Gardner micro-TRI-gloss meter. The printed black rectangle was allowed to dry for 24 hours before collecting gloss data.

Coalescence was evaluated using the gamut color map (or rectangular block) outlined above for determining the gamut as well as for several other evaluations. For this evaluation, the print uniformity of each color printed individually for 7 print colors (6 colors and black) was visually checked. A score of 1 indicates a sharp and significant inhomogeneity of the single colour. For example, a score of 1 has a small subregion with a different color, rather than seeing a uniform green region. A score of 5 indicates that the color is uniform across the individual plots for all the various color samples.

The image gloss surface uniformity was evaluated using the color gamut color map (or rectangular block) outlined above for determining the color gamut and for several other evaluations. For this evaluation, the surface gloss uniformity of each individual print color of 7 print colors (6 colors and black) was visually inspected. A score of 1 indicates that the gloss within the monochromatic print zone appears mottled. The unevenness of the gloss is about 1 to 2 mm²Of the order of magnitude of (d). The score of 5 indicates that the surface gloss is uniform on a single plot for all the various color samples.

It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular process steps and materials disclosed herein as such process steps and materials may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular examples. These terms are not intended to be limiting, as the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be limited only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.