# US 2025/0084271 A1 · Inkjet ink and image forming method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0084271 A1 - Document ID: US20250084271A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/825,049 - Filed: 2024-09-05 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-13 - Assignees: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Applicants: Konica Minolta, Inc. - Inventors: Chikage OMOTE; Masashi IKEDA; Yoshihito TAGUCHI; Kouji IZAWA; Kenichiro HOSAKA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250084271A1 ## CPC - C09D 11/38: characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes - B41M 7/0081: {using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams} - C09D 11/101: Inks specially adapted for printing processes involving curing by wave energy or particle radiation, e.g. with UV-curing following the printing - C09D 11/102: containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions other than those only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds - C09D 11/322: Pigment inks - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) ## Abstract An inkjet ink includes a gelling agent and a polymerizable compound that is polymerized by active rays, and the inkjet ink undergoes sol-gel phase transition by the gelling agent. The polymerizable compound includes a first polymerizable compound, wherein the first polymerizable compound includes a benzene ring and further includes one or more ethylene oxide groups and/or one or more propylene oxide groups in a molecule thereof, and the total number of the ethylene oxide groups and the propylene oxide groups is 2 or more; the content of the first polymerizable compound is more than 5% by mass based on the total mass of the inkjet ink; and the gelling agent is a compound that causes the ink to undergo a reversible sol-gel phase transition by a temperature change, and the gelling includes a hydrocarbon group having 22 or less carbon atoms. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inkjet ink that is cured by an active ray, comprises a gelling agent and a polymerizable compound that is polymerized by the active ray, and undergoes sol-gel phase transition by the gelling agent, wherein: the polymerizable compound comprises a first polymerizable compound, wherein the first polymerizable compound includes a benzene ring and further includes one or more ethylene oxide groups and/or one or more propylene oxide groups in a molecule of the first polymerizable compound, and a total number of the ethylene oxide groups and the propylene oxide groups is 2 or more; a content of the first polymerizable compound is more than 5% by mass based on a total mass of the inkjet ink; and the gelling agent includes a linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 22 or less carbon atoms. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inkjet ink according to claim 1, wherein the first polymerizable compound comprises a monofunctional polymerizable compound. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inkjet ink according to claim 1, wherein the content of the first polymerizable compound is more than 5% by mass and 40% by mass or less based on the total mass of the inkjet ink. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inkjet ink according to claim 1, wherein the first polymerizable compound comprises a polymerizable compound in which a total number of the ethylene oxide groups or the propylene oxide groups in a molecule of the polymerizable compound is 4 or more. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inkjet ink according to claim 1, wherein the first polymerizable compound comprises a polymerizable compound including a linear or branched hydrocarbon group in a molecule of the polymerizable compound. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The inkjet ink according to claim 1, wherein a content of the gelling agent is 0.5% by mass or more and 10.0% by mass or less based on the total mass of the inkjet ink. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The inkjet ink according to claim 1, wherein the gelling agent is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic ketone, an aliphatic ester, a glycerol-based compound, and a pentaerythritol-based compound. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The inkjet ink according to claim 1, wherein the gelling agent is an aliphatic ketone or an aliphatic ester. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The inkjet ink according to claim 1, wherein the gelling agent is an aliphatic ester. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The inkjet ink according to claim 1, further comprising a pigment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An image forming method comprising: ejecting the inkjet ink according to claim 1 from an inkjet head to apply the inkjet ink to a surface of a recording medium; and irradiating the applied inkjet ink with an active ray to cure the inkjet ink.