Polymeric additives to improve print quality and permanence attributes in ink-jet inks

Abstract

One-part and two-part fixatives are provided in conjunction with underprinting or overcoating at least one ink printed on a print medium. The one-part fixative of the present invention comprises a polymer in a vehicle. The polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl-based polymers, condensation polymers, and copolymers thereof and the polymer has a glass transition temperature within a range of −50° C. to +100° C., a melting temperature within a range of 30° C. to 150° C., and a molecular weight (weight average basis) within a range of 3,000 to 100,000. The fixative is contained in a separate cartridge from the ink-jet ink print cartridge(s). The two-part fixative of the present invention comprises (1) a reactive monomer or oligomer in a vehicle, the reactive monomer or oligomer selected from the group consisting of iso-cyanates and epoxy-terminated oligomers, and (2) at least one second component selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyvinyl alcohols, and base catalysts. The reactive monomer or oligomer is contained in a separate cartridge from the ink-jet ink print cartridge(s), while the second component(s) is contained in at least one ink-jet ink print cartridge. The reactive monomer or oligomer reacts with the second component(s) on the print medium to form a polymer, which has a glass transition temperature within a range of −20° C. to +50° C. and a melting temperature within a range of 30° C. to 100° C. Enhancement of waterfastness, smearfastness, smudgefastness, and lightfastness is provided by use of the fixative solution of the present invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fixative for ink-jet printing, said fixative for underprinting or overcoating, or both, at least one ink printed on a print medium, said fixative comprising a one-part system and comprising a polymer in a vehicle, said polymer selected from the group consisting of vinyl-based polymers, condensation polymers, and copolymers thereof, said polymer having a glass transition temperature within a range of −50° to +100° C., a melting temperature within a range of 30° to 150° C., and a molecular weight (weight average basis) within a range of 3,000 to 100,000, said fixative contained in a separate cartridge from said at least one ink-jet ink print cartridge.  
     
     
         2 . The fixative of  claim 1  wherein at least three color inks are provided.  
     
     
         3 . The fixative of  claim 2  wherein said at least three color inks are cyan, yellow, and magenta.  
     
     
         4 . The fixative of  claim 2  wherein three color and one black ink are provided.  
     
     
         5 . The fixative of  claim 1  wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of (a) acrylic and methacrylic acids and salts thereof, (b) esters of acrylic and methacrylic acids, (c) amides of acrylic and methacrylic acids, (d) hydroxy amides of acrylic and methacrylic acids, (e) polyethylene glycols and esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid, (f) polyalkylene glycols and esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid, (g) sulfoalkyl(aryl) acrylate and methacrylate, and salts thereof, (h) polyalkylene (aryl) glycol diacrylates and dimethacrylates (i) triacrylates, trimethacrylates, tetraacrylates, and tetramethacrylates (j) styrene and its derivatives, (k) vinyl esters and alcohols, (l) vinyl ethers, (m) diallyldialkyl ammonium halides, (n) vinyl sulfonic acid and salts thereof, (o) N-vinylamides, (p) polyunsaturated betaines, (q) polyunsaturated sulfo-betaines, (r) polyunsaturated amine oxides, (s) polyunsaturated fatty acids, (t) polyethylene oxide alkyl alkyenyl phenols, (u) polyalkylene and polyaryl glycol diacarylates and dimethacrylates, (v) polyalkylene and polyaryl divinyl ethers, (w) trimethylolpropane triacrylates and trimethacrylates, (x) alkoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylates and trimethacrylates, (y) glycerol triacrylates and trimethacrylates, (z) alkoxylated glycerol triacrylates and trimethacrylates, (aa) pentaerythritol tetraacrylates and tetramethacrylates, and (ab) alkoxylated pentaerythritol tetraacrylates and tetramethacrylates.  
     
     
         6 . The fixative of  claim 5  wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of allyl methacrylate, allyl acrylamide, N-vinyl carbazole, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl imidazole, vinyl pyridine, 1,4-diisocyanatobenzene, toluene diisocyanate, 4,4′-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate), polymethylene poly(phenyl isocyanate), dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, and 1,4-cyclohexane diisocyanate.  
     
     
         7 . The fixative of  claim 1  wherein said polymer has a concentration in said vehicle within a range of about 2 to 30 wt %.  
     
     
         8 . The fixative of  claim 7  wherein said concentration is within a range of 3 to 10 wt %.  
     
     
         9 . The fixative of  claim 1  wherein said molecular weight is within a range of about 5,000 to 20,000.  
     
     
         10 . A fixative for ink-jet printing, said fixative for underprinting or overcoating, or both, at least one ink printed on a print medium, said fixative comprising a two-part system and comprising (1) a reactive monomer or oligomer in a vehicle, said reactive monomer or oligomer selected from the group consisting of iso-cyanates and epoxy-terminated oligomers and (2) at least one second component selected from the group consisting of polyols, polyvinyl alcohols, and base catalysts, said reactive monomer or oligomer contained in a separate cartridge from said at least one ink-jet ink print cartridge and said at least one second component contained in said at least one ink-jet ink print cartridge, said reactive monomer or oligomer reacting with said at least one second component on said print medium to form a polymer, said polymer having a glass transition temperature within a range of −50° C. to +100° C. and a melting temperature within a range of 30° C. to 150° C.  
     
     
         11 . The fixative of  claim 10  wherein at least three color inks are provided.  
     
     
         12 . The fixative of  claim 11  wherein said at least three color inks are cyan, yellow, and magenta.  
     
     
         13 . The fixative of  claim 11  wherein three color inks and one black ink are provided.  
     
     
         14 . The fixative of  claim 10  wherein said monomer or oligomer has a concentration in said vehicle within a range of about 2 to 30 wt %.  
     
     
         15 . The fixative of  claim 10  wherein said concentration is within a range of 3 to 10 wt %.