Phase change ink imaging component with MICA-type silicate layer

1. An offset printing apparatus for transferring a phase change ink onto a print medium comprising:

a) a phase change ink component for applying a phase change ink in a phase change ink image; and

b) an imaging member for accepting said phase change ink image from said phase change ink component, and transferring the phase change ink image from said imaging member to said print medium, the imaging member comprising:

i) an imaging substrate, and thereover

ii) an outer coating comprising a mica-type silicate material, wherein said mica-type silicate material comprises a mica-type layered silicate and a silicone elastomer, said silicone elastomer and said mica-type layered silicate together forming a delaminated nanocomposite.

2. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mica-type silicate has a general formula:

W 2 (X,Y) 4-6 Z 8 O 20 (OH,F) 4

where W is potassium; X is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, iron and lithium; Y is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, iron or lithium; and Z is selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminum and mixtures thereof.

3. The offset printing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said mica-type silicate is selected from the group consisting of muscovite, phlogopite, biotite, lepidolite, montmorillonite, bentonite, hectorite, vermiculite and saponite.

4. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said mica-type layered silicate is present in the outer coating layer in an amount of from about 1 to about 50 weight percent based on the weight of the silicone elastomer.

5. The offset printing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said mica-type layered silicate is present in the outer coating layer in an amount of from about 5 to about 20 weight percent based on the weight of the silicone elastomer.

6. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said silicone elastomer is a polyorganosiloxane.

7. The offset printing apparatus of claim 6 ,

wherein said polyorganosiloxane has the following formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, and aryl; A is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy and vinyl; B is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy and vinyl; and 0<m/n<about 1, and m+n>about 350.

8. The offset printing apparatus of claim 7 , wherein A and B are vinyl.

9. The offset printing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said polyorganosiloxane is a silanol-terminated polydimethylsiloxane having the following formula:

where n′ is an integer of from about 350 to about 2,700.

10. The image forming apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said polyorganosiloxane is an addition-cured polyorganosiloxane having the following formula:

wherein s and r are integers and 0<s/r<1; A″ is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, hydride, vinyl, and amine; B″ is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, alkoxy, hydride, vinyl, and amine; and R″ is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, phenyl, and vinyl.

11. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an intermediate layer is positioned between said substrate and said outer coating.

12. The offset printing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said intermediate layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of elastomers and silicone materials.

13. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said outer layer comprises a filler.

14. The offset printing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said filler is selected from the group consisting of carbon blacks, metal oxides, metals, polymers, ceramics, and mixtures thereof.

15. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said phase change ink is solid at about 25° C.

16. The offset printing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said phase change ink comprises a dye.

17. An offset printing apparatus for printing a phase change ink onto a print medium comprising:

a) a phase change ink component for applying a phase change ink in a phase change ink image;

b) an imaging member for accepting said phase change ink image from said phase change ink component, and transferring the phase change ink image from said imaging member to said print medium and for fixing the phase change ink image to said print medium, the imaging member comprising in order:

i) an imaging substrate,

ii) an intermediate layer, and

iii) an outer coating comprising a mica-type silicate material, wherein said mica-type silicate material comprises a mica-type layered silicate and a silicone elastomer, said silicone elastomer and said mica-type layered silicate together forming a delaminated nanocomposite; and

c) a heating member associated with the offset printing apparatus.

18. An offset printing apparatus comprising:

a) a phase change ink component containing a phase change ink;

b) a imaging member comprising:

i) a substrate, and thereover

ii) an outer coating comprising a mica-type silicate material, wherein said mica-type silicate material comprises a mica-type layered silicate and a silicone elastomer, said silicone elastomer and said mica-type layered silicate together forming a delaminated nanocomposite; and

c) a heating member associated with said offset printing apparatus, wherein said phase change ink component dispenses said phase change ink onto said imaging member, and wherein said phase change ink is solid at about 25° C.