A printing method includes: a processing fluid applying step of applying a processing fluid containing silica and a multivalent metal salt to a print medium; and an ink applying step of applying an ink containing a coloring material and water to the print medium. The print medium has a Cobb water absorption of 20 g/m.sup.2 or greater but 75 g/m.sup.2 or less when contacted with water for 120 seconds. The Cobb water absorption is stipulated by JIS-P8140.

Provided is a processing fluid including: water; a flocculant; and a urethane resin. A dry film formed of the processing fluid and having an average thickness of 500 micrometers has a tensile strength of 3.5 MPa or greater and a breaking elongation of 80% or greater.

The present invention is drawn to a method of treating silica in an aqueous environment. The method can comprise steps of dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion; reversing the net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using a surface activating agent, thereby forming surface-activated silica particulates dispersed in the water; and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with organosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.

The present disclosure is drawn to leveling compositions, embossed print media, and methods of preparing embossed print media. The embossed print media can include a media substrate, an image-receiving layer applied to the media substrate at a coating weight of 3 gsm to 50 gsm, and a leveling composition layer. The image-receiving layer can include a pigment filler having an average particle size ranging from 0.1 μm to 20 μm and a polymeric binder, and in examples herein, is embossed. The leveling composition layer can be applied at a coating weight of 0.2 gsm to 3 gsm to the image-receiving layer, and can include a cationic ionene polymer.

A method for producing an electrically conductive thin film on a substrate is disclosed. Initially, a reducible metal compound and a reducing agent are dispersed in a liquid. The dispersion is then deposited on a substrate as a thin film. The thin film along with the substrate is subsequently exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic emission to chemically react with the reducible metal compound and the reducing agent such that the thin film becomes electrically conductive.

Coated substrates comprising a topcoat are disclosed. The coated substrate may be substantially free of PVC while having performance comparable to a coated substrate comprising PVC. The topcoat may comprise a base polymer comprising a polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate. The base polymer may also comprise a cationic acrylic resin. The topcoat may also comprise a pigment system and optionally, a crosslinking system.

According to one aspect, a printing composition of the present application comprises from about 10.00% to about 14.00% by weight of a pigment, from about 3.00% to about 7.00% by weight of a polymer, from about to about 19.00% by weight of a co-solvent, from about 0.20% to about by weight of a surfactant, and water.

The present disclosure is drawn to leveling compositions, embossed print media, and methods of preparing embossed print media. The embossed print media can include a media substrate, an image-receiving layer applied to the media substrate at a coating weight of 3 gsm to 50 gsm, and a leveling composition layer. The image-receiving layer can include a pigment filler having an average particle size ranging from 0.1 m to 20 m and a polymeric binder, and in examples herein, is embossed. The leveling composition layer can be applied at a coating weight of 0.2 gsm to 3 gsm to the image-receiving layer, and can include a cationic ionene polymer.

The present disclosure is drawn to leveling compositions, which can include from 80 wt % to 95 wt % water, from 0.5 wt % to 15 wt % organic solvent, and from 0.2 wt % to 6 wt % surfactant. The leveling compositions can further include from 1 wt % to 10 wt % cationic ionene polymer having a weight average molecular weight from 100 Mw to 8000 Mw, and from 1 wt % to 10 wt % polymeric binder.

Systems for applying low viscosity print coating to a web product using a coating roller and an off-press system are provided herein. An example system includes an unwinding station and a winding station. A motor causes the web product to travel along a web path. A coating roller applies a low viscosity print coating to a first side of the web product at a first position along the web path. The low viscosity print coating comprises a salt solution with a centipoise that is less than or equal to 100 centipoise that is configured to enhance printability. A backing roller applies a backing coating to a second, opposite side of the web product at a second, different position along the web path. The backing coating enhances sheet stability of the web product. A drying station dries the low viscosity print coating and the backing coating to remove moisture.