Imaged articles comprising a substrate having a primed surface

Abstract

The present invention relates to an imaged article comprising a substrate having a primed surface layer. The primed surface layer is comprised of a base polymer having a solubility parameter, molecular weight (Mw) and glass transition temperature within a specified range. The presence of the primer improves the overall image quality by improving at least one property including ink uptake, dot gain, color density and/or ink adhesion. Preferred primer compositions are soluble at least in part in the ink composition resulting in an increase in ink layer thickness that further improves the durability and/or day/night color balance. A variety of substrates may be primed including various sheeting for traffic control signage and commercial graphic films for advertising and promotional displays.

1 . An imaged article comprising: 
 a) a substrate comprising a primed surface layer having an average thickness of t 1 ;    b) an ink layer on said primed surface, said ink layer having a theoretical dry thickness of t 2  and an actual average dry thickness of t 3 , wherein t 3  is greater than t 2 and a barrier layer disposed between said substrate and said primed surface layer.    
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein t 3  is greater than t 2  by an amount ranging from about 25% of t to an amount about equal to the sum of t 2  and t 1 .  
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1  wherein t 3  is greater than t 2  by an amount of at least 50% of t 1 .  
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the ink layer comprises an ink-jetted image.  
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1  wherein t 3  is at least about 0.5 microns greater than t 2 .  
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1  wherein t 3  is at least about 1.0 micron greater than t 2 .  
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1  wherein t 3  is at least about 2.0 microns greater than t 2 .  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the substrate comprises a polymeric sheet material.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the polymeric sheet material is at least one of an acrylic-containing film, a poly(vinyl chloride)-containing film, a poly(vinyl fluoride)-containing film, a urethane-containing film, a melamine-containing film, a polyvinyl butyral-containing film, a polyolefin-containing film, a polyester-containing film and a polycarbonate-containing film.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the sheet comprises a retroreflective viewing surface.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the ink layer exhibits an improvement in overall image quality in comparison to the same image ink jetted on the same substrate, said substrate being unprimed.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the ink layer has a black color density of at least about 1.5.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 4  wherein the ink layer has an ink dot diameter of at least [(2) 1/2 ]/dpi wherein dpi in the print resolution is dots per linear inch.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the ink layer comprises an ink that exhibits at least about 80% adhesion to the primed surface portion according to ASTM D 3359-95A.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the primed surface portion comprises a primer that exhibits at least about 80% adhesion to the sheet according to ASTM D 3359-95A.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the primed surface comprises at least one of an acrylic resin, vinyl resin or mixture thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the primed surface portion comprises at least one colorant.  
     
     
         18 . Signage comprising the article of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         19 . Commercial graphic film comprising the article of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         20 - 43 . Cancelled  
     
     
         44 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the barrier layer comprises a polyurethane, an acrylic, or mixture thereof.