INK-JET PRINTABLE TRANSFER PAPERS HAVING A CATIONIC LAYER UNDERNEATH THE IMAGE LAYER

1 . An ink-jet printable transfer paper, comprising a support paper having a surface coated with layer (a) comprising at least a cationic polymer, and layer (b) comprising at least organic polymeric particles and a film-forming binder.

2 . An ink-jet printable transfer paper according to claim 1 wherein layer (a) contains a white pigment.

3 . An ink-jet printable transfer paper for transferring an image to a fabric material, comprising a support paper having a surface coated with: a hot-melt layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point in the range of 60 degree to 180 degree C., a substantially opaque layer (a) comprising at least one cationic polymer and inorganic white pigment, and ink-receptive layer (b) comprising a film forming binder and organic polymeric particles.

4 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1 , wherein the film forming binder comprising layer (b) has a softening point in the range of 50 degree C. to 190 degree C.

5 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic pigment comprising layer (a) is selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, titanium dioxide, zinc sulfide, zinc oxide, antimony oxide, barium sulfate, and calcium carbonate.

6 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 3 , wherein the pigment is titanium dioxide.

7 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1 , wherein the film forming binder comprising layer (b) has a softening point in the range of 50 degree to 190 degree C.

8 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 5 , wherein the film forming binder comprising layer (b) contains cationic groups.

9 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1 wherein the organic polymeric particles comprising layer (b) are selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins, and polyesters.

10 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 7 , wherein the thermoplastic polymeric particles are polyamide particles having a particle size in the range of 5 μm to 50 μm and a surface area in the range of 1 m 2 /g to 40 m 2 /g.

11 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1 , wherein the total weight of layers (a) and (b) is in the range of 25 to 100 grams per square meter.

12 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the support paper is in the range of about 1 mils to about 10 mils.

13 . An ink-jet printable transfer paper for transferring an image to a fabric material, comprising a support paper having a surface coated with: a) a first layer comprising silicone, b) a hot-melt second layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point in the range of 60 degree to 180 degree C., said second layer overlaying the first layer, c) a substantially opaque third layer comprising a cationic polyurethane polymer and inorganic white pigment, said third layer overlaying said second layer, and d) an ink-receptive fourth layer comprising a polyurethane binder and organic polymeric particles, said fourth layer overlaying said third layer.

14 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 13 , wherein the fourth layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins, polyesters, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinyl acetate), polyacrylates, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and copolymers and mixtures thereof.

15 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 12 , wherein the layer (b) comprises ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer.

16 . The ink-jet printable transfer paper of claim 1 wherein layer (a) and layer (b) each contain a water-insoluble cationic polymer.

17 . The Ink-jet transfer paper of claim 14 wherein the cationic water-insoluble cationic polymer is a cationic polyurethane.

18 . The inik-jet transfer paper of claim 14 where in the cationic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers having quaternary ammonium groups.

19 . The ink-jet transfer paper of claim 1 wherein the cationic polymer is selected from the group comprising cationic polyurethanes, cationic polyacrylates quaternary ammonium salt of polyethylene imine, polydiallyamine or an alkylamine polymer, polydimethylaminoethyl-methacrylate quaternary salts, polystyrene quaternary ammonium salts, polydiallydimethyl ammonium salts and polypyridine.

20 . The ink-jet transfer paper of claim 3 wherein the cationic polymer is selected from the group comprising cationic polyurethanes, cationic polyacrylates, quaternary ammonium salt of polyethylene imine, polydiallyamine or an alkylamine polymer, polydimethylaminoethyl-methacrylate quaternary salts, polystyrene quaternary ammonium salts, polydiallydimethyl ammonium salts and polypyridine.

21 . The ink-jet transfer paper of claim 14 where in amount of cationic polymer in layer (a) is greater than layer (b).

22 . A method for applying an image to a fabric material, comprising the steps of: a) providing an ink-jet printable transfer paper, comprising a support paper having a surface coated with: a hot-melt layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer having a melting point in the range of 60 degree to 180 degree. C.; layer (a) comprising a cationic polymer; and ink-receptive layer (b) comprising a film forming polymer binder and organic polymeric particles, b) printing an image on the coated layers with an ink-jet printer, c) placing the imaged coated layers on a fabric material and d) ironing the support paper, whereby the image is transferred to the fabric.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the support paper is a transparent silicone-coated paper.

24 . A method for applying an image to a fabric material, comprising the steps of: a) providing an ink-jet printable transfer paper, comprisinga support paper, layer (a) comprising a cationic polymer coated on the support paper; and ink-receptive layer (b) comprising a film forming polymer binder and organic polymeric particles coated on layer (a); printing an image on the coated layer (b) with an ink-jet printer, c) placing the imaged coated layers on a fabric material and d) ironing the support paper, whereby the image is transferred to the fabric.

25 . The method according to claim 24 wherein layer (a) and layer (b) each contain a water-insoluble cationic polymer.

26 . The method according to claim 25 wherein the water-insoluble cationic polymer is water insoluble cationic polyurethane.