Ink receptive compositions and articles for image transfer

Abstract

In one aspect, the invention provides ink receptor compositions capable of receiving and fixing a water resistant image on a substrate without bleeding, feathering, or smudging. The ink receptor compositions comprise colloidal alumina; multivalent metal ion; hydrophilic binder; hydrophobic latex; surfactant; and optionally an image transfer aid. In other aspects, the invention provides methods of imaging substrates, ink receptor media, and ink receptor kits.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An ink receptor composition comprising a mixture of: 
 colloidal alumina;    multivalent metal ion selected from the group consisting of metal ions from group IIA to VIA of the Periodic Table;    hydrophilic binder that is at least partially soluble or swellable in deionized water;    hydrophobic latex having a glass transition temperature of from about −60° C. to about 100° C. and a surface having an advancing contact angle with deionized water of greater than about 60 degrees when dried or cured;    surfactant, wherein said surfactant is non-ionic, cationic, anionic, zwitterionic, or a combination of anionic and non-ionic surfactants; and    optionally an image transfer aid.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the multivalent metal ion is selected from the group consisting of ions of aluminum, magnesium, zinc, iron, bismuth, gallium, strontium, calcium, titanium, zirconium, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophilic binder is selected from the group consisting of copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone and acrylates, copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone and methacrylamides, copolymers of vinyl acetate and vinyl pyrrolidone, copolymers of vinyl acetate and acrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohols, acrylic acid homo- and co-polymers, acrylamide homo- and co-polymers, cellulosic polymers, copolymers of styrene and allyl alcohol, copolymers of styrene and acrylic acid, copolymers of styrene and maleic acid, alkylene oxide polymers and copolymers, gelatins, and polysaccharides.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic latex is selected from the group consisting of copolymers of butyl acrylate, copolymers of ethyl acrylate, copolymers of acrylic acid, copolymers of methacrylic acid, copolymers of methyl methacrylate, copolymers of acrylonitrile, copolymers of styrene, copolymers of N-methylolacrylamide, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyamides, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of fluorochemical, silicone and hydrocarbon based surfactants, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the optional image transfer aid is present and is selected from the group consisting of cellulosic polymers.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the multivalent metal ion is present in the form of salt wherein the salt is a salt of sulfuric, nitric, hydrochloric, sulfonic carboxylic acids phenols, and hydroxy acids, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein multivalent metal ion is present in the form of a salt and the salt is selected from the group consisting of aluminum sulfate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum sulfophthalate, aluminum sulfoisophthalate, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophilic binder is a copolymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and methacrylamide.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the hydrophobic latex is selected from the group consisting of acrylate latexes, vinyl acetate/ethylene latexes, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the colloidal alumina water dispersible, organic solvent dispersible or acid dispersible.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the surfactant is anionic, non-ionic, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         13 . An ink receptive coating comprising the dried product of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . An ink receptor medium comprising a substrate with an ink receptor of  claim 13  on at least one surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         15 . The ink receptor medium of  claim 14  wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of ceramics, painted or unpainted wall surfaces, woods, painted woods, varnished woods and wooden surfaces, metals, household items, office supplies, clothing, tote bags, the human body, and glass substrates.  
     
     
         16 . The ink receptor medium of  claim 14  wherein the substrate is capable of being directly imaged by a printer.  
     
     
         17 . An ink receptor medium kit comprising: 
 an image transfer medium; and    the ink receptor composition of  claim 1  in a container.    
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 16  wherein the kit further comprises a substrate to be imaged.  
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 16  further comprising an image storage medium.  
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 16  wherein the image transfer medium is imaged.  
     
     
         21 . An ink receptor medium kit comprising: 
 an ink receptor composition of  claim 1;  and    an image storage medium.    
     
     
         22 . A method of printing and fixing an image onto a substrate comprising the steps of: 
 applying the ink receptor composition of  claim 1  to a surface of a substrate; and    printing or transferring an image onto the ink receptor composition applied to the surface of the substrate.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the image is transferred onto the ink receptor composition using a micro-embossed image transfer medium at ambient temperature.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the applied ink receptor composition is dried prior to printing or transferring an image onto the ink receptor composition applied to the surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the image is transferred onto the applied ink receptor composition using hand pressure.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the ink receptor composition is applied to the surface of the substrate using a brush.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the image is printed onto the applied ink receptor composition using a printer.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the printer is an ink jet printer.