Weatherproof sheets for copying, printing and writing and methods related thereto

A weatherproof sheet suitable for use in a photocopier or laser printer and capable of fixedly and legibly bearing images printed directly thereon by means of the photocopier or laser printer, the weatherproof sheet comprising:

• a cellulosic substrate having two substantially planar sides;
• and
• a durable weatherproofing coating layer, impregnantly covering at least one of the two sides of the substrate, wherein the coating layer comprises a copolymer or mixture of copolymers derived from at least one styrene or styrenic monomer and at least one acrylic monomer, a wax, a filler to provide block resistance, a filler to provide tooth for printability and writability, a pigment, and an optical brightener;
• with the proviso that the coating layer comprises substantially no calcium carbonate filler and substantially no titanium dioxide pigment.

A method of making a weatherproof sheet, capable of fixedly and legibly bearing images written or machine printed directly thereon, comprising the steps of:

• providing a cellulosic substrate having two substantially planar sides;
• impregnantly applying to at least one of the substantially planar sides of the cellulosic substrate, an aqueous composition that includes an emulsified copolymer or mixture of copolymers derived from at least one styrene or styrenic monomer and at least one acrylic monomer, an emulsified wax, a filler to provide block resistance, a filler to provide tooth for printablility and writability, and a pigment;
• and
• drying the impregnantly applied aqueous composition to remove most of the water in the aqueous composition to thereby form a durably weatherproofing coating layer, impregnantly covering the at least one of the substantially planar sides of the cellosic substrate.

A method of making a weatherproof sheet suitable for use in a photocopier or laser printer and capable of fixedly and legibly bearing images printed directly thereon by means of the photocopier or laser printer, comprising the steps of:

• providing a cellulosic substrate having two substantially planar sides;
• impregnantly applying to at least one of the substantially planar sides of the cellulosic substrate an aqueous composition that includes an emulsified copolymer or mixture of copolymers derived from at least one styrene or styrenic monomer and at least one acrylic monomer, and that further includes an emulsified wax, a filler to provide block resistance, a filler to provide tooth for printablility and writability, a pigment, and an optical brightener, with the proviso that the aqueous composition comprises substantially no calcium carbonate filler and substantially no titanium dioxide prigment;
• and
• drying the impregnantly applied aqueous composition to remove most of the water in the aqueous composition to thereby form a durably weatherproofing coating layer, impregnantly covering the at least one of the substantially planar sides of the ceullosic substrate.