Ink jet recording medium comprising amine-treated silica

Abstract

This invention pertains to an ink jet recording medium comprises a flexible substrate and a coating composition coated on at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the coating composition comprises the product formed from the contact between fumed silica particles and at least one aminoorganosiloxane. The invention also pertains to a method for the preparation of such an ink jet recording medium and to methods for the preparation of a coating composition and a dispersion useful in the preparation of such an ink jet recording medium.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A method of preparing an ink jet recording medium, the method comprising coating at least a portion of the surface of a flexible substrate with the product formed from the contact between fumed silica particles and at least one aminoorganosiloxane to provide a coated substrate, and drying the coated substrate to produce an ink jet recording medium.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the aminoorganosiloxane is of the formula (R 1 O) n Si(R 2 ) m , wherein R 1  is H, a C 1 -C 10  alkyl, or a metal ion; R 2  is an aryl, a C 1 -C 10  alkyl, or an aralkyl, wherein the aryl, alkyl, and aralkyl are substituted with one or more substituents selected form the group consisting of amines and quaternary ammonium salts; and n and m are each integers equal to or greater than 1, wherein the sum of n and m is 4.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a polymer film, cellulose paper, or a photo-base material.  
     
     
         18 . A coating composition for ink jet recording media, the composition comprising an aqueous vehicle, at least one binder and the product formed from the contact between fumed silica particles and at least one aminoorganosiloxane.  
     
     
         19 . The coating composition of  claim 18 , wherein the aminoorganosiloxane is of the formula (R 1 O) n Si(R 2 ) m , wherein R 1  is H, a C 1 -C 10  alkyl, or a metal ion; R 2  is an aryl, a C 1 -C 10  alkyl, or an aralkyl, wherein the aryl, alkyl, and aralkyl are substituted with one or more substituents selected form the group consisting of amines and quaternary ammonium salts; and n and m are each integers equal to or greater than 1, wherein the sum of n and m is 4.  
     
     
         20 . The coating composition of  claim 18 , wherein the aqueous vehicle is water.  
     
     
         21 . The coating composition of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one binder is polyvinyl alcohol.  
     
     
         22 . The coating composition of  claim 18 , wherein the coating composition further comprises a mordant.  
     
     
         23 . The coating composition of  claim 22 , wherein the mordant is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethyleneimine), poly(vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride), poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride), or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         24 . A method of preparing a coating composition for ink jet recording media, the method comprising combining a dispersion of (a) the product formed from the contact between fumed silica particles and at least one aminoorganosiloxane with (b) at least one binder to produce the coating composition.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the aminoorganosiloxane is of the formula (R 1 O) n Si(R 2 ) m , wherein R 1  is H, a C 1 -C 10  alkyl, or a metal ion; R 2  is an aryl, an alkyl, or an aralkyl, wherein the aryl, alkyl, and aralkyl are substituted with one or more substituents selected form the group consisting of amines and quaternary ammonium salts; and n and m are each integers equal to or greater than 1, wherein the sum of n and m is 4.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one binder is polyvinyl alcohol.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the method further comprises combining the fumed silica particles with at least one mordant.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one mordant is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethyleneimine), poly(vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride), poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride), and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         29 . A method of preparing a dispersion useful in preparing an ink jet recording medium comprising a flexible substrate and a coating composition coated on at least one surface of the substrate, wherein the coating composition comprises the product formed from the contact between fumed silica particles and at least one aminoorganosiloxane, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) mixing fumed silica particles with an aqueous vehicle under high shear conditions to form a mixture of fumed silica, such that the mixture does not coagulate, and    (b) adding at least one an aminoorganosiloxane to the mixture of (a), so as to form a dispersion of the product formed from the contact between the fumed silica particles and the at least one aminoorganosiloxane.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the aqueous vehicle is water.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the aminoorganosiloxane is of the formula (R 1 O) n Si(R 2 ) m , wherein R 1  is H, a C 1 -C 10  alkyl, or a metal ion; R 2  is an aryl, an alkyl, or an aralkyl, wherein the aryl, alkyl, and aralkyl are substituted with one or more substituents selected form the group consisting of amines and quaternary ammonium salts; and n and m are each integers equal to or greater than 1, wherein the sum of n and m is 4.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the method further comprises, after step (b), (c) filtering the aqueous dispersion to remove from the dispersion particles having a particle size of about 1 μm or more.