Surface sizing with sizing agents and glycol ethers

Abstract

In this invention a composition is applied to the surface of paper comprising a glycol ether based polymer that provides enhanced ink-jet print quality. The advantage of using the composition is that it improves ink-jet printing on the paper without significant loss of water hold-out. More specifically, the paper is uncoated and has been treated on the surface with the following materials and dried to the point of usefulness. These materials are: 1) one or more compounds that increase water hold-out. These are known as sizing agents, 2) starch, 3) A glycol ether based polymer.

1 . An uncoated cellulosic paper having a front and a back surface, having been treated on at least one surface with:
 a) at least one sizing agent present in an amount of between 0.01 to 0.3% based on dry weight of paper;   b) starch present in an amount of between 1 to 8% based on dry weight of paper   c) a glycol ether based polymer present in an amount less than 0.025% based on dry weight of paper   
       and optionally, a divalent metal salt. 
     
     
         2 . The cellulosic paper of  claim 1  wherein the glycol ether based polymers primary backbone is selected from polyethylene glycol, or polypropylene glycol. 
     
     
         3 . The cellulosic paper of  claim 1  wherein the glycol ether based polymers have glycidyether functional groups. 
     
     
         4 . The cellulosic paper of  claim 1  wherein the glycol ether based polymers primary backbone is selected from polyethyleneglycol diglycidyl ether or polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether. 
     
     
         5 . The cellulosic paper of  claim 1  wherein the sizing agent is selected from alkyl succinic anhydride, ketene dimers, or alkenyl ketene dimers. 
     
     
         6 . An aqueous composition for surface treating paper through a size press, which composition contains:
 a) Sizing agent in an amount of 0.03-1.0%,   b) starch present in an amount of 1.5-12%   c) a glycol ether based polymer present in an amount of less than 0.25% of the composition.   
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the glycol ether polymers primary backbone is either polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the glycol ether polymers primary backbone Is selected from polyethyleneglycol diglycidyl ether or polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the glycol ether based polymers have glycidyl ether based functional groups. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 6  wherein the sizing agent is selected from alkyl succinic anhydride, ketene dimers, or alkenyl ketene dimers. 
     
     
         11 . Process for improving ink-jet printing properties of paper which comprises treating paper with a composition of  claim 6 . 
     
     
         12 . Process of  claim 11  wherein the glycol ether based polymer is selected from polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyethyleneglycol diglycidyl ether, or polypropylene glycol diglycidyl ether. 
     
     
         13 . Process of  claim 11  wherein the glycol ether based polymers have glycidyl ether functionality. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the sizing agent is a reactive sizing agent. 
     
     
         15 . Process of  claim 11  wherein the sizing agent is selected from alkyl succinic anhydride, ketene dimers, or alkenyl ketene dimers. 
     
     
         16 . The cellulosic paper of  claim 1  wherein the sizing agent is a combination of a reactive dimer sizing agent and a polymeric latex sizing agent. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the sizing agent is a combination of a reactive dimer sizing agent and a polymeric latex sizing agent. 
     
     
         18 . Aqueous composition containing a glycol ether based polymer and an emulsified sizing agent where the glycol ether based polymer is present in an amount of 3-50% based on amount of sizing agent. 
     
     
         19 . The cellulosic paper of  claim 1  wherein the starch is present in an amount of between 2 to 7%, and the glycol ether based polymer is present in an amount less than 0.02%.