Ink compositions having superior smearfastness and reduced smudging and blot dry time

Claim 2

An ink composition for ink-jet printing wherein said ink composition comprises a colorant, from about 0.05 wt % to about 10 wt % 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, and from about 0.05 wt % to about 3 wt % of at least one methyl pentanediol.

Claim 3

The ink composition of claim 1 wherein the methyl pentanediol is 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol.

Claim 4

The ink composition of claim 1 wherein the colorant is a self-dispersing pigment.

Claim 5

The ink composition of claim 3 wherein the ink composition further comprises an ink vehicle.

Claim 6

The ink composition of claim 4 wherein said vehicle comprises at least one latex polymer.

Claim 7

An ink composition comprising a colorant, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, at least one methyl pentanediol, an ink vehicle, and at least one latex polymer: wherein said latex polymer is selected from the group consisting of [(A).sub.m (B).sub.n (C).sub.p (D).sub.q (E).sub.r ].sub.x (I) wherein A, B, C, D, and E are moieties as follows: A=at least one hydrophobic component contributing to improved durable, film-forming properties selected from moieties which, when homopolymerized to a solid state, have a glass transition temperature (T g ) in the range between -150° and +25° C.; B=at least one hydrophobic and solvent barrier moiety used to adjust the T g of the hydrophobic component of said polymer (I) which, when homopolymerized to a solid state, has a T g greater than +25° C.; C=at least one hydrophilic component comprising a water-soluble monomer; D=at least one UV absorber; E=at least one moiety having at least one highly polar functional group; m=5 to 95 wt %; n=5 to 95 wt %; p=0 to 60 wt %; q=0 to 50 wt %; r=0 to 40 wt %; m+n+p+q+r=100 wt %; and x=1 to 100,000; [(A).sub.m (B).sub.n (C).sub.p (E).sub.r ].sub.x (II) wherein A, B, C, and E are moieties as described above, and where m, n, p, and r of formula (II) are as follows: m=0 to 90 wt %; n=0 to 90 wt %; p=0 to 90 wt %; r=0.01 to 100 wt %; m+n+p+r=100 wt %; and x=1 to 100,000; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 8

An ink composition comprising a colorant, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, at least one methyl pentanediol, an ink vehicle, and at least one latex polymer: wherein said latex polymer is selected from the group consisting of [(A).sub.m (B).sub.n (C).sub.p (D).sub.q (E).sub.r ].sub.x (I) wherein A, B, C, D, and E are moieties as follows: A=at least one hydrophobic component contributing to improved durable, film-forming properties selected from moieties which, when homopolymerized to a solid state, have a glass transition temperature (T g ) in the range between -150° and +25° C.; B=at least one hydrophobic and solvent barrier moiety used to adjust the T g of the hydrophobic component of said polymer (I) which, when homopolymerized to a solid state, has a T g greater than +25° C.; C=at least one hydrophilic component comprising a water-soluble monomer; D=at least one UV absorber; E=at least one moiety having at least one highly polar functional group; m=5 to 95 wt %; n=5 to 95 wt %; p=0 to 60 wt %; q=0 to 50 wt %; r=0 to 40 wt %; m+n+p+q+r=100 wt %; and x=1 to 100,000; [(A).sub.m (B).sub.n (C).sub.p (E).sub.r ].sub.x (II) wherein A, B, C, and E are moieties as described above, and where m, n, p, and r of formula (II) are as follows: m=0 to 90 wt %; n=0 to 90 wt %; p=0 to 90 wt %; r=0.01 to 100 wt %; m+n+p+r=100 wt %; and x=1 to 100,000; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

An improved ink-jet ink for ink-jet printing, said ink-jet ink comprising at least one self-dispersing pigment, an ink vehicle, and water, characterized in that said ink-jet ink further contains from about 0.05 wt % to about 10 wt % 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol and from about 0.05 wt % to about 3 wt % of methyl pentanediol.

Claim 10

An improved ink-jet ink for ink-jet printing, said ink-jet ink comprising at least one self-dispersing pigment, an ink vehicle, and water, characterized in that said ink-jet ink further contains from about 0.05 wt % to about 10 wt % 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol and from about 0.05 wt % to about 3 wt % of methyl pentanediol.

Claim 11

The ink composition of claim 7 wherein the methyl pentanediol is 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol.

Claim 12

The ink composition of claim 8 further comprising at least one latex polymer.

Claim 13

An ink composition comprising at least one self-dispersing pigment, an ink vehicle, and water, characterized in that said ink-jet ink further contains 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, a methyl pentanediol, and at least one latex polymer, wherein said latex polymer is selected from the group consisting of: [(A).sub.m (B).sub.n (C).sub.p (D).sub.q (E).sub.r ].sub.x (I) wherein A, B, C, D, and E are moieties as follows: A=at least one hydrophobic component contributing to improved durable, film-forming properties selected from moieties which, when homopolymerized to a solid state, have a glass transition temperature (T g ) in the range between -150° and +25° C.; B=at least one hydrophobic and solvent barrier moiety used to adjust the T g of the hydrophobic component of said polymer (I) which, when homopolymerized to a solid state, has a T g greater than +25° C.; C=at least one hydrophilic component comprising a water-soluble monomer; D=at least one UV absorber; E=at least one moiety having at least one highly polar functional group; m=5 to 95 wt %; n=5 to 95 wt %; p=0 to 60 wt %; q=0 to 50 wt %; r=0 to 40 wt %; m+n+p+q+r=100 wt %; and x=1 to 100,000; [(A).sub.m (B).sub.n (C).sub.p (E).sub.r ].sub.x (II) wherein A, B, C, and E are moieties as described above, and where m, n, p, and r of formula (II) are as follows: m=0 to 90 wt %; n=0 to 90 wt %; p=0 to 90 wt %; r=0.01 to 100 wt %; m+n+p+r=100 wt %; and x=1 to 100,000; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 14

An ink composition comprising at least one self-dispersing pigment, an ink vehicle, and water, characterized in that said ink-jet ink further contains 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, a methyl pentanediol, and at least one latex polymer, wherein said latex polymer is selected from the group consisting of: [(A).sub.m (B).sub.n (C).sub.p (D).sub.q (E).sub.r ].sub.x (I) wherein A, B, C, D, and E are moieties as follows: A=at least one hydrophobic component contributing to improved durable, film-forming properties selected from moieties which, when homopolymerized to a solid state, have a glass transition temperature (T g ) in the range between -150° and +25° C.; B=at least one hydrophobic and solvent barrier moiety used to adjust the T g of the hydrophobic component of said polymer (I) which, when homopolymerized to a solid state, has a T g greater than +25° C.; C=at least one hydrophilic component comprising a water-soluble monomer; D=at least one UV absorber; E=at least one moiety having at least one highly polar functional group; m=5 to 95 wt %; n=5 to 95 wt %; p=0 to 60 wt %; q=0 to 50 wt %; r=0 to 40 wt %; m+n+p+q+r=100 wt %; and x=1 to 100,000; [(A).sub.m (B).sub.n (C).sub.p (E).sub.r ].sub.x (II) wherein A, B, C, and E are moieties as described above, and where m, n, p, and r of formula (II) are as follows: m=0 to 90 wt %; n=0 to 90 wt %; p=0 to 90 wt %; r=0.01 to 100 wt %; m+n+p+r=100 wt %; and x=1 to 100,000; and mixtures thereof.

Claim 17

The method of claim 11 wherein the methyl pentanediol is 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol.

Claim 18

The method claim 11 wherein the ink comprises from about 2 wt % to about 7 wt % of 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol and from about 0.5 wt % to about 2 wt % of the methyl pentanediol.

Claim 19

The method of claim 11 wherein the colorant is a self-dispersing pigment.

Claim 20

The method of claim 11 wherein the ink composition further comprises a latex polymer.

Claim 23

The method of claim 16 wherein the ink comprises from about 2 wt % to about 7 wt % of 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol and from about 0.5 wt % to about 2 wt % of the methyl pentanediol.