Ink, and a color ink-jet recording method using the same

Claim 1

An ink, having a surface tension of not less than 30 mN/m and a viscosity of not more than 5 mPa·s, and comprising a water-soluble dye, water, at least one compound selected from the Compound Groups A and B, and at least one compound selected from the Compound Group C: Compound Group A: A-1:   Ethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, A-2:   Ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, A-3:   Ethylene glycol monoisobutyl ether, A-4:   Diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, A-5:   Diethylene glycol monohexyl ether, A-6:   Diethylene glycol monoisobutyl ether, A-7:   Triethylene glycol n-butyl ether, A-8:   Dipropylene glycol monopropyl ether, and A-9:   Ethylene oxide adduct of benzyl alcohol; Compound Group B: B-1:   Surface active agent of ethylene oxide adduct of acetylene glycol-type, B-2:   Surface active agent of ethylene oxide - propylene oxide - ethylene oxide-type surface, and B-3:   Ethylene oxide adduct of higher alcohol; and Compound Group C: C-1:   A compound of the formula wherein k is an integer of 3 to 50, m is an integer of 3 to 25, n is an integer of 3 to 25, and n + m is an integer of 6 to 50, and C-2:   A compound of the formula wherein k is an integer of 20 to 50, m is an integer of 10 to 25, n is an integer of 10 to 25, n + m is an integer of 20 to 50, and p is an integer of 2 to 5.