Process for preparing pigment dispersions used in inks
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsRobin Gant Gnerlich, Anna Marie Pearson, Ashok Vishnu Gangal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for making a dispersion for an ink, and the ink obtained from this method. The method comprises preparing a dispersion comprising colorant agglomerates and reducing the agglomerate size using a plastic medium. The dispersion is formed by dispersing the colorant agglomerates in a dispersant, optionally in the presence of a liquid carrier such as distilled or deionized water. The colorant in the dispersion may be a carbon black, yellow, cyan, or magenta pigment, or a combination thereof. The plastic medium is preferably a grinding medium, such as polystyrene.
Claims15
A method for making a dispersion for an ink, comprising the steps of:
- a) mixing a dispersant and colorant having an initial size to form a premix;
- and
- b) reducing the initial size of the colorant using a plastic medium to produce at least one member selected from the group consisting of colorant aggregates and colorant particles,
- wherein said dispersant is a co-polymer which is the polymerization product of at least one member selected from the group consisting of acrylates and methacrylates, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of acryloyl- and methacryloyl-terminated polydialkylsiloxanes, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of stearyl acrylate, stearyl methacrylate and lauryl methacrylate.
A dispersion made by a method comprising the steps of:
- a) mixing a dispersant and colorant having an initial size to form a premix;
- and
- b) reducing the initial size of the colorant using a plastic medium to produce at least one member selected from the group consisting of colorant aggregates and colorant particles.
- wherein said dispersant is a co-polymer which is the polymerization product of at least one member selected from the group consisting of acrylates and methacrylates, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of acryloyl- and methacryloyl-terminated polydialkylsiloxanes, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of stearyl acrylate stearyl methacrylate and lauryl methacrylate.
An ink jet ink composition comprising a dispersion made by a method comprising the steps of:
- a) mixing a dispersant and colorant having an initial size to form a premix;
- and
- b) reducing the initial size of the colorant using a plastic medium to produce at least one member selected from the group consisting of colorant aggregates and colorant particles,
- wherein said dispersant is a co-polymer which is the polymerization product of at least one member selected from the group consisting of acrylates and methacrylates, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of acryloyl- and methacryloyl-terminated polydialkylsiloxanes, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of stearyl acrylate, stearyl methacrylate and lauryl methacrylate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.