Receptor medium having a microfibrillated surface

Abstract

A receptor medium with an oriented film having at least one microfibrillated surface is described. The receptor medium can receive jettable materials, which include inks, adhesives, particulate dispersions, electrically, thermally or magnetically modifiable materials, biological fluids, chemical reagents and combinations thereof. The microfibrillated surface provides good ink receptive properties particularly for solvent based inks.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A receptor medium comprising an oriented film having at least one microfibrillated surface with a depth of microfibrillation of greater than 10 microns wherein said microfibrillated surface comprises polymeric microflakes.  
     
     
         2 . The receptor medium of  claim 1 , wherein said microfibrillated surface comprises polymeric microflakes selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene, poly(vinylidine fluoride), poly(methyl pentene), poly(ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene), poly(vinyl fluoride), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), nylon 6, nylon 66, polybutene, polylactides, and thermotropic liquid crystal polymers.  
     
     
         3 . The receptor medium of  claim 1 , wherein said microfibrillated surface comprises polymeric microflakes that comprise of a blend of two or more polymers.  
     
     
         4 . The receptor medium of  claim 3 , wherein the polymers in the blend are selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), acid modified poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) acid/acrylate modified poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid), and poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-carbon monoxide), poly(methylpentene), poly(ethylene oxide), polybutene, polyesters, polylactides, polyvinylpyrrolidone with an ionomer copolymer of ethylene and (meth)acrylic acid, polystyrene/polyisoprene copolymers, acid, acrylate, and maleic anhydride modified poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate), polyether-ester elastomers, poly(isobutyl methacrylate), thermoplastic polyurethanes, polycarbonates, nylons, acrylate and methacrylate homopolymers and copolymers, polystyrene, poly(vinylchloride-co-vinyl acetate), poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol), polyethyleneimines, poly(ethylene-co-methyl acrylate), poly(ethylene-co-octene), polyvinylpyrrolidone with polyvinylalcohol, copolymers or terpolymer of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone with acrylic acid, dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, trimethoxysilylethylmethacrylate, and/or poly(ethylene oxide) acrylate, poly(cyclic olefins), and rubbers.  
     
     
         5 . The receptor medium of  claim 3 , wherein the polyester is poly(ethylene terephthalate), sulfonated poly(ethylene-terephthalate), or poly(butylene terephthalate).  
     
     
         6 . The receptor medium of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of surfactants, mordants and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The receptor medium of  claim 1 , wherein said microfibrillated surface comprises a melt processed polymer or polymer blend, and a void initiating component.  
     
     
         8 . The receptor medium of  claim 7 , wherein said void initiating component is an inorganic solid particulate component, a polymer component, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The receptor medium of  claim 8 , wherein the inorganic component is selected from the group consisting of solid or hollow glass, ceramic or metal particles, microspheres or beads, zeolite particles, metal particles, metal oxides, alkali- or alkaline earth metal carbonates or sulfates, silicates, metasilicates, aluminates, feldspar, kaolin, talc, titanium dioxide, and carbon black.  
     
     
         10 . The receptor medium of  claim 8 , wherein the inorganic component is calcium metasilicate, or calcium carbonate.  
     
     
         11 . The receptor medium of  claim 9 , wherein said void initiating polymer component is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, poly(propylene-co-ethylene), polylactide, poly(alpha)olefins, polyoxymethylene, poly(vinylidine fluoride), poly(methyl pentene), poly(ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene), poly(vinyl fluoride), polyamides, polybutene, thermoplastic polyurethanes, polycarbonates, polymethylpentene, a polyester, acrylate and methacrylate homopolymers and copolymers, cyclic polyolefins, rubbers, copolymers of ethylene, polystyrene, copolymers of polystyrene, copolymer of polystyrene and polyisoprene, polyisobutylene, epoxides, polyvinylpyrrolidone, vinylpyrrolidinone copolymers, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The receptor medium of  claim 11 , wherein the polyester is poly(ethylene terephthalate), sulfonated poly(ethylene terephthalate), or poly(butylene terephthalate).  
     
     
         13 . The receptor medium of  claim 11 , wherein the copolymers of ethylene are selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate), acid/acrylate modified ethylene vinyl acetate resin, terpolymer of ethylene/vinyl acetate/carbon monoxide/ethylene, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The receptor medium of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more additives selected from the group consisting of surfactants, mordants and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The receptor medium of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises one or more layers.  
     
     
         16 . The receptor medium of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer on a major surface opposite the microfibrillated surface.  
     
     
         17 . The receptor medium of  claim 16 , further comprising a release liner protecting the adhesive layer.  
     
     
         18 . The receptor medium of  claim 1 , wherein the film is in roll form.  
     
     
         19 . The receptor medium of  claim 1 , wherein the film is translucent.  
     
     
         20 . A microfibrillated receptor medium comprising the receptor medium of  claim 1  and a material deposited on the microfibrillated surface.  
     
     
         21 . The receptor medium of  claim 20 , wherein the material is jettable.  
     
     
         22 . The receptor medium of  claim 21 , wherein the jettable material is selected from the group comprising inks, adhesives, particulate dispersions, electrically, thermally or magnetically modifiable materials, biological fluids, chemical reagents, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The receptor medium of  claim 20 , wherein the jettable material is a dye or pigmented ink.