Use of tetrafluoropropanol as co-solvent in ink-jet ink vehicles

Abstract

An ink-jet ink composition and a method for printing are provided which involve the use of tetrafluoropropanol (TFP), and preferably 2,2,3,3-TFP, as a co-solvent to impart improved bleed control, dot gain, and edge acuity characteristics to the ink as well as to reduce the dry time upon printing onto a print medium. Preferably, the ink-jet ink composition comprises a dye, 2,2,3,3-TFP, 2-ethyl-2-hydroxymethyl-1,3-propanediol, sodium alginate, and water. In an ink-jet ink set in which the color inks are dye-based ink-jet inks compositions formulated to include 2,2,3,3-TFP in accordance with the invention, but when the black ink is a pigment-based suspension without 2,2,3,3-TFP, black to color bleed may be controlled by further adding any one of calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, tetraethylenepentamine, or polyethylenimine to the color dye-based inks.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.