Self-dispersing pigments

A self-dispersing pigment having an isoelectric point of at least about 8, comprising an inorganic particle treated sequentially by

• (a) hydrolyzing an aluminum compound or basic aluminate to deposit a hydrous alumina surface;
• and
• (b) adding a dual-functional compound comprising
• i. an anchoring group that attaches the dual-functional compound to the pigment surface selected from a carboxylic acid functional group, a di-carboxylic acid group, an oxoanion functional group, a 1,3-diketone, 3-ketoamide, derivative of 1,3-diketone, or derivative of 3-ketoamide, and
• i. ii a basic amine group comprising a primary, secondary or tertiary amine, and
• ii. a tethering group that chemically connects the anchoring group to the basic amine group wherein the tethering group comprises an alkyl chain of 1-8 carbon atoms;
• a carbon atom, an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfur atom;
• or a polyetheramine comprising poly(oxyethylene) or poly(oxypropylene), or mixtures thereof;
• whereby the weight average molecular weight of the polyetheramine tether is about 220 to about 2000.