Ink jet compositions with insoluble dye complexes

Claim 2

A heterophase ink composition comprised of water and a dye covalently attached to a component selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene glycols) and poly(ethylene imines), which component is complexed with a heteropolyanion selected from the group consisting of phosphotungstic acid, phosphomolybdic acid, silico tungstic acid, dichromic acid and the salts thereof.

Claim 3

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the complex formulated is insoluble in water.

Claim 4

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the salts are selected from sodium and potassium.

Claim 5

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the complex is formulated from phosphotungstic acid and N-[ω-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)]1,4-diaminoanthraquinone-2,3-dicarboximide.

Claim 6

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the complex is formulated from phosphotungstic acid and 1-amino-4-hydroxy-2-[O-ω-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)]anthraquinone.

Claim 7

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the complex is formulated from phosphomolybdic acid and N-[ω-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)]1,4-diaminoanthraquinone-2,3-dicarboximide.

Claim 8

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein water is present in an amount of from about 80 to about 95 percent by weight, and the dye is present in an amount of from about 5 to about 20 percent by weight.

Claim 9

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the dye is N-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone-2,3-dicarboximide.

Claim 10

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the dye is 1-amino 4-hydroxy-2-[O-ω-methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)] anthraquinone.

Claim 11

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of a yellow dye, a green dye, a red dye, a black dye, a cyan dye, a magenta dye, a blue dye, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the diameter of the complex is from about 0.08 micron to about 0.8 micron.

Claim 13

An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is further incorporated into the ink composition humectants, biocides, and surface tension control agents.

Claim 14

A process for the preparation of particulate inks for ink jet printing which comprises (1) mixing from about 5 to about 20 percent by weight of an aqueous solution of phosphotungstic acid and from about 10 to about 30 percent by weight of an aqueous solution of a dye-poly(ethylene glycol) enabling the resulting aqueous suspension to contain phosphotungstic acid in an amount of from about 2 to about 25 percent by weight and the dye-poly(ethylene glycol) in an amount of from about 1 to about 20 percent by weight; (2) purifying the resulting insoluble complexes by two consecutive cycles of centrifugation, decantation, and dispersion in water; and (3) subsequently adjusting the concentration of insoluble complexes in water to an amount of from about 5 to about 20 percent by weight.

Claim 15

A process for the preparation of particulate inks for ink jet printing which comprises (1) mixing from about 5 to about 20 percent by weight of an aqueous solution of phosphotungstic acid and from about 10 to about 30 percent by weight of an aqueous solution of a dye-poly(ethylene glycol) enabling the resulting aqueous suspension to contain phosphotungstic acid in an amount of from about 2 to about 25 percent by weight and the dye-poly(ethylene glycol) in an amount of from about 1 to about 20 percent by weight; (2) purifying the resulting insoluble complexes by two consecutive cycles of centrifugation, decantation, and dispersion in water; and (3) subsequently adjusting the concentration of insoluble complexes in water to an amount of from about 5 to about 20 percent by weight.