| abstract |
A print enhancement coating which includes from 0 to 100 percent by weightnof a polyvalent metal ion salt, from 0 to 100 percent by weight of a cationic polymer,nand from 0 to 100 percent by weight of a viscosity modifier, all based on the total drynweight of the coating. The coating also may include a nonionic or cationic surfactant.nWhen present, the ink viscosity modifier may be a poly(ethylene oxide) having anweight-average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 200,000 or a low tonmedium viscosity poly(vinyl alcohol) having a degree of hydrolysis of less than aboutn90 percent. In certain embodiments, the print enhancement coating may include fromnabout 4 to about 90 percent by weight of a polyvalent metal ion salt and from aboutn96 to about 10 percent by weight of a cationic polymer. The present invention alsonprovides a printable material which includes a first layer having a first side and ansecond side, a second layer overlaying the first surface of the first layer; and a thirdnlayer overlaying the second layer. The second layer includes particles of anthermoplastic polymer having largest dimensions of less than about 50 µm and fromnabout 10 to about 50 weight percent of a film-forming binder, based on the weight ofnthe thermoplastic polymer. The third layer is the print enhancement coating describednabove. |