Print media products for generating high quality visual images and methods for producing the same

Abstract

Ink-receiving print media products having multiple capabilities including (A) minimal drying time; (B) improved smear-fastness; (C) the ability to generate high-definition images with desirable gloss characteristics and gloss-uniformity; and (D) excellent compatibility between the ink materials being delivered and the media products along with other related benefits including the control of ink-coalescence. The print media products of interest have at least one ink-receiving layer on a substrate (e.g. polyethylene-coated paper), with the ink-receiving layer including a poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer as a special multi-functional ingredient designed to produce the foregoing benefits. The copolymer may be employed alone or combined with one or more other ingredients in the ink-receiving layer including pigment(s), supplemental binder(s), and the like in order to fabricate an effective media product ideally suited for inkjet image generation using a wide variety of inks.

The invention that is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A print media product comprising: 
 a substrate; and    at least one ink-receiving layer positioned over and above said substrate, said ink-receiving layer being comprised of at least one poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer.    
     
     
         2 . The print media product of  claim 1  wherein said ink-receiving layer comprises not less than about 70% by weight said poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer.  
     
     
         3 . The print media product of  claim 1  wherein said ink-receiving layer further comprises at least one pigment therein.  
     
     
         4 . The print media product of  claim 1  wherein said ink-receiving layer further comprises at least one supplemental binder composition therein.  
     
     
         5 . The print media product of  claim 4  wherein said supplemental binder composition is comprised of a plurality of binder materials in combination, with each of said binder materials being different from each other.  
     
     
         6 . The print media product of  claim 1  wherein said print media product further comprises at least one additional material layer positioned between said substrate and said ink-receiving layer.  
     
     
         7 . The print media product of  claim 6  wherein said additional material layer is comprised of a composition selected from the group consisting of at least one pigment, at least one binder, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The print media product of  claim 1  wherein said substrate is comprised of paper, said substrate further comprising a first side and a second side, at least one of said first side and said second side comprising a coating layer thereon comprised of polyethylene.  
     
     
         9 . A print media product comprising: 
 a substrate; and    at least one ink-receiving layer positioned over and above said substrate, said ink-receiving layer being comprised of at least one poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer, at least one pigment, and at least one supplemental binder composition.    
     
     
         10 . The print media product of  claim 9  wherein said ink-receiving layer comprises not less than about 70% by weight said poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer.  
     
     
         11 . A print media product comprising: 
 a substrate; and    at least one ink-receiving layer positioned over and above said substrate, said ink-receiving layer consisting essentially of at least one poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer.    
     
     
         12 . The print media product of  claim 11  wherein said ink-receiving layer is about 100% by weight said poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer.  
     
     
         13 . The print media product of  claim 11  wherein said print media product further comprises at least one additional material layer positioned between said substrate and said ink-receiving layer.  
     
     
         14 . A method for producing a print media product comprising: 
 providing a substrate; and    applying at least one ink-receiving layer in position over and above said substrate, said ink-receiving layer being comprised of at least one poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said ink-receiving layer comprises not less than about 70% by weight said poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said ink-receiving layer further comprises at least one additional material therein selected from the group consisting of at least one pigment, at least one supplemental binder composition, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising placing at least one additional material layer in position over and above said substrate prior to said applying of said ink-receiving layer so that said additional material layer is located between said substrate and said ink-receiving layer.  
     
     
         18 . A method for producing a print media product comprising: 
 providing a substrate; and    applying at least one ink-receiving layer in position over and above said substrate, said ink-receiving layer consisting essentially of at least one poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said ink-receiving layer is about 100% by weight said poly(vinyl alcohol-ethylene oxide) copolymer.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising placing at least one additional material layer in position over and above said substrate prior to said applying of said ink-receiving layer so that said additional material layer is located between said substrate and said ink-receiving layer.