Digital BW, The Print

I'm interested in experimenting with inkjet printing on different 
materials - canvas, linen, metal, panel, plastic, etc. My Epson 2200 
has a manual feed slot that can accept thick media.  I know I can buy 
coated canvas for this, although I'd prefer to do so locally 
(Massachussets/NH) because it's expensive and I'd like to see what 
I'm getting first. But with the other material I think I'm on my own.

So my question is, what are the physical and chemical properties a 
surface has to have to accept inkjet (in this case, Epson 
Ultrachrome) ink?
---What is the actual role or purpose of the coating?
---How are matte and glossy coatings different, other than the 
obvious difference in their texture? (they must be different because 
the ink settings on the printer are different for them.)
---How are the vehicles or binding agents different for different 
colors? (I assume they're different because when I print on an 
uncoated surface I often have huge color shifts relative to a coated 
surface using the same driver settings)

Is there anything I can buy specifically for the purpose of coating 
something I want to print on? What if I use a latex primer or an 
acrylic gesso?

Thanks in advance for any opinions on this rather arcane topic, and 
if anyone has any suggestions for other sources of information on 
this I'd be grateful.