Polymer-encapsulated pigment nano-particles and method for preparing same

Abstract

A method for preparing polymer-encapsulated pigment nano-particles is disclosed. Several steps are involved in creating these polymer-encapsulated pigment nano-particles. One step is to prepare a first dispersion including particles of a pigment, a first surfactant, and a first amount of a solvent. Another step is to prepare a second dispersion including a polymer, a second surfactant, and a second amount of the solvent. Then, the first dispersion and the second dispersion are mixed together so as to form a final dispersion including the polymer, pigment particles encapsulated by the polymer, the first surfactant, the second surfactant, and the solvent. The solvent can then be removed from the aqueous dispersion to form a first solid. In addition, the first and second surfactants can be removed from the first solid to form a second solid. Finally, the second solid can be milled to form particles of pigment encapsulated by the polymer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.