Alkylpolyol ethers as cosolvents for ink jet inks

Claim 1

An aqueous ink jet ink composition comprising: (a) an aqueous carrier medium, (b) a colorant; and (c) from 1% to 70% by weight of at least one alkylpolyol ether cosolvent having a solubility in water of at least 4.5% at 25° C., and which is selected from the group consisting of: (1) alkyl-bis-oxyalkyldiol compounds represented by the formula: D--C.sub.n H.sub.2n --D where n=2-6, and D is a compound represented by the formula: ##STR26## wherein X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 represent --H, with the proviso that one of X 1 , X 2 , or X 3 on each of D represents the bond between D and --C n H 2n ; R 1 is --H, --CH 3 or --CH 2 CH 3 , R 2 is --H or C x H 2x+1 wherein x is 1-4, and R 3 is --H, --CH 3 or --CH 2 CH 3 ; a is 1-4, b is 0 or 1, c is 0 or 1; (2) olefinic-oxyalkyl diol compounds represented by the formula: ##STR27## wherein X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 represent --H, with the proviso that one of X 1 , X 2 , or X 3 represents --C(R) 2 (CH 2 ) d CR═C(R) 2 , where d=0 or 1 and R is --H or --CH 3 ; R 1 is --H, --CH 3 or --CH 2 CH 3 , R 2 is --H or C x H 2x+1 wherein x is 1-4, and R 3 is --H, --CH 3 or --CH 2 CH 3 ; a is 1-4, b is 0 or 1, c is 0 or 1; (3) alkyl-tris-oxyalkyldiol compounds represented by the formula: ##STR28## wherein X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 represent --H or --CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OH, with the proviso that any two of X 1 , X 2 , or X 3 represent --CH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OH; R 1 is --H, --CH 3 or --CH 2 CH 3 , R 2 is --H or C x H 2x+1 wherein x is 1-4, and R 3 is --H, --CH 3 or --CH 2 CH 3 ; a is 1-4, b is 0 or 1, c is 0 or 1, and (4) alkyl-tetrakis-oxyalkyldiol compounds represented by the formula: ##STR29## where L is a tetravalent alkyl group, and J is is --OCH 2 CH(OH)CH 2 OH or --OH.