COATING OF HYDROPHILIC INTERPENETRATING NETWORKS

摘要

2093514 9207722 PCTABS00013 This invention relates to transparent materials that are capable of absorbing liquids, and, more particularly, to materials that can be used as ink-receptive layers for transparent imageable materials. Compositions useful as transparent liquid absorbent materials have been formed by blending a liquid-insoluble polymeric material with a liquid-soluble polymeric material. The liquid-insoluble material is presumed to form a matrix, within which the liquid soluble material resides. A problem that frequently arises in the formulation of polymer blends is the incompatibility of the polymers being blended. When attempts are made to blend polymers that are incompatible, phase separation occurs, resulting in haze, lack of transparency, and other forms of nonhomogeneity. This invention provides polymeric networks comprising blends of polymers wherein at least one of the polymers of the blend is crosslinked, after blending, to form a continuous network throughout the bulk of the blend, the uncrosslinked components of the blend being intertwined in such a way as to form a macroscopically homogeneous composition. Substantially all of the crosslinking occurs after the polymeric blend is coated and dried to a continuous film in contrast to crosslinking in solution, thereby providing an easily coatable solution without gelation. The integrity of such networks persist even after absorption of solvent. These materials can be used to form durable, non-tacky, ink-absorbent, transparent coatings for graphical materials.