Water-based ink-receptive coating

Abstract

A film receptive to a variety of different classes or kinds of inks, such as water based inks, solvent based inks and UV cured inks is disclosed. The film includes a water dispersible polymer having a polar component or a water dispersible polymer and a polar polymer, such as a polymer having an ionic component to increase the receptivity of the coating to water-based inks. A surfactant, such as an alkyaryl sulfonate, to prevent agglomeration of the polymer before it is formed into film may also be included. The preferred water-dispersible polymer is a core/shell latex polymer. The preferred polar polymer is chemically compatible with latex polymers and is sufficiently ionic or polar to improve the printability onto the film of water-based inks. The surfactant, which may be in the latex as manufactured or may be added separately, and preferably has a molecular structure that includes at least one hydrophobic moiety and at least one anionic group such as sulfates, sulfonates and the like.

1 . An ink receptive film, comprising: 
 a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a film, said water dispersible polymer being stable as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said film, said polymer further having a polar component sufficient to increase the receptivity of said film to printing with water-based ink.    
     
     
         2 . An ink receptive film, comprising: 
 a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a film, said water dispersible polymer being stable as a water dispersion prior to forming said film; and    a polar polymer; said film being receptive to water-based, solvent-based and UV-cured inks.    
     
     
         3 . An ink receptive film, comprising: 
 a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a film;    a polar polymer; and    a surfactant, said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to maintain said water dispersible polymer as a stable water dispersion prior to forming said film; said film being receptive to water-based, solvent-based and UV-cured inks.    
     
     
         4 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said water dispersible polymer comprises from 65 to 99 parts by weight of said film.  
     
     
         5 . The film of  claim 2 , wherein said water dispersible polymer is a latex polymer.  
     
     
         6 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said water-dispersible polymer is comprised of sulfonated polyester.  
     
     
         7 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein said water-dispersible polymer is comprised of polyurethane.  
     
     
         8 . The film of  claim 2 , wherein said water-dispersible polymer is comprised of a suspension of said polymer.  
     
     
         9 . The film of  claim 2 , wherein said polar polymer comprises from about 0.01 to 10% by weight of said film.  
     
     
         10 . The film of  claim 2 , wherein said polar polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene sulfonate, poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid) sodium salt, poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate), and ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer.  
     
     
         11 . The film of  claim 3 , wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The film of  claim 11 , wherein said surfactant has a molecular structure including at least one hydrophobic moiety and at least one anionic group such as sulfates and sulfonates.  
     
     
         13 . The film of  claim 2 , wherein said water dispersion further includes an antistatic agent.  
     
     
         14 . The film of  claim 13 , wherein said antistatic agent is selected from the group consisting of polymeric antistatic agents, nonionic antistatic agents, cationic agents, anionic agents and fluorinated agents.  
     
     
         15 . The film of  claim 13 , wherein said antistatic agent is 3,4-polyethylenedioxythiophene.  
     
     
         16 . The film of  claim 3 , wherein said water dispersion further includes a second surfactant for improving the formability during coating of said film, said second surfactant being selected from nonionic emulsifiers, anionic emulsifiers, and mixtures of nonionic and anionic emulsifiers.  
     
     
         17 . The film of  claim 16 , wherein all surfactants total at least about 1% of said film.  
     
     
         18 . The film of  claim 16 , wherein said second surfactant is an anionic emulsifier and said nonionic emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of sodium salts of alkyl sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkylether sulfates, oleate sulfates, alkylarylether sulfates, alkylaryl polyether sulfates, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The film of  claim 2 , wherein said water dispersion further includes a wetting agent selected from the group consisting of fluorochemical surfactants and ethoxylated acetylenic diols.  
     
     
         20 . The film of  claim 2 , wherein said water dispersion further includes a coalescing agent.  
     
     
         21 . The film of  claim 20 , wherein said coalescing agent is N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone.  
     
     
         22 . The film of  claim 2 , wherein said water dispersion further includes particulate matter.  
     
     
         23 . The film of  claim 22 , wherein said particulate matter is selected from the group consisting of polymeric particles, fine mineral particles, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         24 . A composite ink receptive film, comprising: 
 a substrate layer; and    a first ink receptive layer, said first ink receptive layer comprising: 
 a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a coating on said substrate layer;  
 a polar polymer; and  
 a surfactant, said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to maintain said water dispersible polymer as a water dispersion prior to forming said coating; and  
 said film being receptive to water-based, solvent-based and UV-cured inks.  
   
     
     
         25 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 24 , wherein the substrate layer comprises a polymer substrate.  
     
     
         26 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 25 , wherein said polymer substrate is polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         27 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 25 , wherein said polymer substrate is opaque.  
     
     
         28 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 25 , wherein said polymer substrate further includes a whitening agent.  
     
     
         29 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 28 , wherein said whitening agent is BaSO 4 .  
     
     
         30 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 24 , which comprises label stock.  
     
     
         31 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 30 , wherein the substrate layer comprises a polymer substrate.  
     
     
         32 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 31 , wherein said polymer substrate is polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         33 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 31 , wherein said polymer substrate is opaque.  
     
     
         34 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 31 , wherein said polymer substrate further includes a whitening agent.  
     
     
         35 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 34 , wherein said whitening agent is BaSO 4 .  
     
     
         36 . The composite ink receptive film of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a second ink receptive layer, said substrate disposed between said first and said second ink receptive layers, and said second ink receptive layer comprising:    a water dispersible polymer in an amount sufficient to form a coating on said substrate layer;    a polar polymer; and    a surfactant, said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to maintain said water dispersible polymer as a stable water dispersion prior to forming said second ink receptive layer; and    said second ink receptive layer being receptive to water-based and UV-cured inks.    
     
     
         37 . The substrate of  claim 36 , wherein the first ink receptive layer has a matte appearance and the second ink receptive layer has a gloss appearance.  
     
     
         38 . A printing stock comprising: 
 a substrate; and    an ink-receptive layer receptive to printing with water-based inks, solvent-based inks, and UV-cured inks.    
     
     
         39 . The printing stock of  claim 38 , wherein said ink-receptive layer comprises: 
 a water dispersible polymer dispersed in water in an amount sufficient to form a film, said water dispersible polymer being stable as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said film, said polymer having a polar component sufficient to increase the receptivity of said film to printing with water-based ink.    
     
     
         40 . The printing stock of  claim 39 , wherein said water dispersible polymer includes a surfactant, said surfactant being present in an amount sufficient to maintain said water dispersible polymer as a water dispersion without substantial agglomeration prior to forming said film.  
     
     
         41 . The printing stock of  claim 38 , in which said ink-receptive layer is wettable by said inks.  
     
     
         42 . The printing stock of  claim 38 , in which said ink-receptive layer resists removal of said inks after printing thereon.  
     
     
         43 . The printing stock of  claim 42 , wherein said ink receptive layer is resistant in a tape removal test to removal of said inks after printing thereon.  
     
     
         44 . The printing stock of  claim 42 , which is resistant in an abrasion test to removal of said inks after printing thereon.  
     
     
         45 . The printing stock of  claim 38 , further comprising a second ink receptive layer disposed on the opposite side of said substrate from said ink receptive layer, wherein said printing stock has a matte side and a gloss side.  
     
     
         46 . The printing stock of  claim 38 , further comprising an adhesive layer disposed on the opposite side of said substrate from said ink receptive layer.  
     
     
         47 . The printing stock of  claim 38 , wherein said substrate is polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         48 . The printing stock of  claim 38 , wherein said substrate is opaque.  
     
     
         49 . The printing stock of  claim 38 , wherein said substrate further includes a whitening agent.  
     
     
         50 . The printing stock of  claim 49 , wherein said whitening agent is BaSO 4 .