Ink jet recording material demonstrating a balance of properties including improved imaging performance and good water resistance

An ink jet recording material comprising a substrate having opposing surfaces and an ink receptive layer provided on at least one opposing surface of said substrate, wherein said ink receptive layer comprises:

• a. from about 40 to about 95% by wt. (dry basis) (based on the total weight (dry basis) of pigment composition and water-soluble binder) of a pigment composition comprising a blend of silica particles, wherein a first quantity of silica particles has a pore volume ranging from about 1.4 to about 3.0 cubic centimeters per gram and an average particle size ranging from about 1 to about 17 microns, and wherein a second quantity of silica particles has a pore volume ranging from about 0.6 to about 1.3 cubic centimeters per gram and an average particle size ranging from about 1 to about 17 microns;
• b. from about 60 to about 5% by wt. (dry basis) (based on the total weight (dry basis) of pigment composition and water-soluble binder) of a water-soluble binder selected from the group consisting of a blend of super, fully and partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols, a blend of super and partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols and a blend of fully and partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohols, wherein said polyvinyl alcohol blends are used alone or in combination with a cationic starch;
• c. from about 1 to about 30% by wt. (dry basis) (based on the total weight (dry basis) of the coating composition) of a cationic resin;
• and
• d. from about 1 to about 30% by wt. (dry basis) (based on the total weight (dry basis) of the coating composition) of a wax emulsion slip agent.