Aqueous dispersant formulation

A method for manufacturing an aqueous dispersant formulation, the method comprising:

• forming a mixture of a water-insoluble, thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator, a styrene acrylic resin, and water, wherein:
• the water-insoluble, thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator includes one, two, or three units, wherein a structure of the unit is:
• and x=2-12;
• and when the water-insoluble, thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator includes two units or three units, the units are covalently bonded together;
• and
• milling the mixture to form styrene acrylic resin stabilized thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator particles having a volume-weighted mean diameter of less than 40 nm.

A method for manufacturing an aqueous dispersant formulation, the method comprising:

• heating a water-insoluble, thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator at a temperature ranging from about 40° C. to about 60° C. to reduce a viscosity of the water-insoluble, thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator to less than 1000 cP, wherein the water-insoluble, thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator includes one, two, or three units, and a structure of the unit is:
• where x=2-12, and wherein when the water-insoluble, thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator includes two units or three units, the units are covalently bonded together;
• heating a combination of a styrene acrylic resin and water to the temperature of the water-insoluble, thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator;
• adding the water-insoluble, thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator to the combination to form a mixture;
• shaking the mixture;
• allowing the mixture to sit at a temperature ranging from about 40° C. to about 60° C., thereby forming a sediment and a supernatant;
• decanting the supernatant;
• and
• milling the supernatant to form styrene acrylic resin stabilized thioxanthone derivative photoinitiator particles having a volume-weighted mean diameter of less than 40 nm.