# US 7,612,124 B2 · Ink compositions and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,124 B2 - Document ID: US7612124B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/377,951 - Filed: 2006-03-17 - Published: 2006-07-06 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-06-24 - Assignees: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. - Inventors: W. David Polk; Dennis L. Faler; Noel R. Vanier; Eldon L. Decker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612124B2 ## CPC - C08F 2/44: Polymerisation in the presence of compounding ingredients, e.g. plasticisers, dyestuffs, fillers - C08F 292/00: Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to inorganic materials - C09D 11/30: Inkjet printing inks - C09D 11/32: characterised by colouring agents - Y10T 428/2991: Coated - C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Disclosed are ink compositions comprising a liquid vehicle and a colorant, wherein the colorant comprises polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles, wherein the particles are enclosed by a friable polymer. Also disclosed are methods for making an ink composition and methods for improving the transparency of an ink composition comprising a pigment colorant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ink composition comprising: (a) a vehicle; and (b) a colorant, wherein the colorant comprises polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles, wherein the particles are enclosed by a friable polymer comprising the reaction product of: (i) water-dispersible ethylenically unsaturated polymer; and (ii) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is an ink jet ink composition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles comprise nanoparticles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ink composition of claim 3, wherein the nanoparticles have an average particle size of 300 nanometers or less. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the particles comprise an organic pigment. ### Claim 6 An ink composition comprising: (a) a vehicle; and (b) a colorant, wherein the colorant comprises polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles, wherein the particles are enclosed by a friable polymer comprising the reaction product of: (i) a polymerizable polyester polyurethane, and (ii) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ink composition of claim 6, wherein the polymerizable polyester polyurethane has a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 100,000 grams per mole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles are introduced into the ink composition in the form of an aqueous dispersion of the particles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the aqueous dispersion is substantially free of a surfactant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the ink composition is substantially free of a film-forming polymer. ### Claim 11 A method for improving the transparency of an ink composition comprising a pigment colorant, comprising including in the ink composition polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles, wherein the particles are enclosed by a friable polymer comprising the reaction product of: (i) a water-dispersible ethylenically unsaturated polymer; and (ii) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. ### Claim 12 An ink composition comprising: (a) 0.5 to 10 percent by weight of a colorant comprising polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles, wherein the particles are enclosed by a friable polymer comprising the reaction product of: (i) a water-dispersible ethylenically unsaturated polymer; and (ii) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer; (b) 0.1 to 50 percent by weight of an organic solvent; (c) up to 10 percent by weight of a surfactant, and (d) water. ### Claim 13 A method for making an ink composition comprising: (a) providing an aqueous dispersion of polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles comprising a friable polymer, wherein the aqueous dispersion is prepared by a method comprising either: (A) providing a mixture, in an aqueous medium, of (i) color-imparting nanoparticles, (ii) one or more polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated monomers; and/or (iii) a mixture of one or more polymerizable unsaturated monomers with one or more polymers; and/or (iv) one or more polymers, and then subjecting the admixture to high stress shear conditions in the presence of an aqueous medium to particularize the admixture into polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles; or (B) providing a mixture, in an aqueous medium, of (i) color-imparting particles, (ii) a polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and (iii) a water-dispersible ethylenically unsaturated polymer; forming the color-imparting particles into nanoparticles; and polymerizing the ethylenically unsaturated monomer and the ethylenically unsaturated polymer to form polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles comprising a water-dispersible polymer; and (b) combining the aqueous dispersion of polymer-enclosed color-imparting particles with other components of the ink composition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the water-dispersible ethylenically unsaturated polymer comprises acid groups that are neutralized with a base. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the water-dispersible ethylenically unsaturated polymer comprises acid groups that are neutralized with a base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The ink composition of claim 12, wherein the water-dispersible ethylenically unsaturated polymer comprises acid groups that are neutralized with a base. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the water-dispersible ethylenically unsaturated polymer comprises acid groups that are neutralized with a base.