Solvent-based pigmented ceramic inkjet ink compositions comprising a solvent blend consisting predominantly of one or more hydrophobic solvent(s) (preferably one or more hydrophobic long chain hydrocarbon solvent(s)) are capable of achieving superior print quality when applied over unfired glazes by the inclusion of less than 10% by weight of the composition of a water-soluble solvent, especially glycol ethers. These ink compositions are particularly suited to ceramic tile decoration via the double fast firing process, with resulting improvements in absorption, colour strength and print definition.

Solvent-based pigmented ceramic inkjet ink compositions comprising a solvent blend consisting predominantly of one or more hydrophobic solvent(s) (preferably one or more hydrophobic long chain hydrocarbon solvent(s)) are capable of achieving superior print quality when applied over unfired glazes by the inclusion of less than 10% by weight of the composition of a water-soluble solvent, especially glycol ethers. These ink compositions are particularly suited to ceramic tile decoration via the double fast firing process, with resulting improvements in absorption, colour strength and print definition.

The present invention relates to [1] a process for producing a pigment water dispersion liquid of polymer particles containing an azomethine metal complex pigment (A), said process including the step of subjecting a mixture containing the azomethine metal complex pigment (A), an uncrosslinked aromatic group-containing polymer (b) and water to dispersion treatment using a medialess disperser at an accumulated input energy of not more than 5.0 kWh/kg, [2] a pigment water dispersion liquid containing an azomethine metal complex pigment (A) and a polymer dispersant (B), in which in an optical absorption spectrum of the pigment water dispersion liquid, a ratio of a maximum absorbance (A1.sub.max) in a wavelength range of not less than 440 nm and less than 465 nm to a maximum absorbance (A2.sub.max) in a wavelength range of not less than 420 nm and less than 440 nm [(A1.sub.max)/(A2.sub.max)] is not less than 1.000, and [3] a water-based ink for ink-jet printing, containing the aforementioned pigment water dispersion liquid.

The present invention relates to [1] a process for producing a pigment water dispersion liquid of polymer particles containing an azomethine metal complex pigment (A), said process including the step of subjecting a mixture containing the azomethine metal complex pigment (A), an uncrosslinked aromatic group-containing polymer (b) and water to dispersion treatment using a medialess disperser at an accumulated input energy of not more than 5.0 kWh/kg, [2] a pigment water dispersion liquid containing an azomethine metal complex pigment (A) and a polymer dispersant (B), in which in an optical absorption spectrum of the pigment water dispersion liquid, a ratio of a maximum absorbance (A1.sub.max) in a wavelength range of not less than 440 nm and less than 465 nm to a maximum absorbance (A2.sub.max) in a wavelength range of not less than 420 nm and less than 440 nm [(A1.sub.max)/(A2.sub.max)] is not less than 1.000, and [3] a water-based ink for ink-jet printing, containing the aforementioned pigment water dispersion liquid.

In one aspect, inks for use with a three-dimensional (3D) printing system are described herein. In some embodiments, an ink described herein comprises up to 80 wt. % oligomeric curable material; up to 80 wt. % monomeric curable material; up to 10 wt. % photoinitiator; up to 1 wt. % non-curable absorber material; and up to 10 wt. % one or more additional components, based on the total weight of the ink, and wherein the total amount of the foregoing components is equal to 100 wt. %. Additionally, the photoinitiator is operable to initiate curing of the oligomeric curable material and/or the monomeric curable material when the photoinitiator is exposed to incident curing radiation having a peak wavelength λ. Moreover, the ink has a penetration depth (D.sub.p), a critical energy (E.sub.c), and a print through depth (D.sub.PT) at the wavelength λ of less than or equal to 2×D.sub.p.

In one aspect, inks for use with a three-dimensional (3D) printing system are described herein. In some embodiments, an ink described herein comprises up to 80 wt. % oligomeric curable material; up to 80 wt. % monomeric curable material; up to 10 wt. % photoinitiator; up to 1 wt. % non-curable absorber material; and up to 10 wt. % one or more additional components, based on the total weight of the ink, and wherein the total amount of the foregoing components is equal to 100 wt. %. Additionally, the photoinitiator is operable to initiate curing of the oligomeric curable material and/or the monomeric curable material when the photoinitiator is exposed to incident curing radiation having a peak wavelength λ. Moreover, the ink has a penetration depth (D.sub.p), a critical energy (E.sub.c), and a print through depth (D.sub.PT) at the wavelength λ of less than or equal to 2×D.sub.p.

A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes dyes and water. The dyes include a blue dye having a hue angle of 220° to 280°; a yellow dye having a hue angle of 70° to 120°; and a copper phthalocyanine dye. A mass ratio (C/B) of a content (C) of the copper phthalocyanine dye to a content (B) of the blue dye in an entire amount of the water-based ink is equal to or more than 0.5, and a total content of the dyes in the entire amount of the water-based ink is equal to or more than 6% by mass.

A water-based ink for ink-jet recording includes dyes and water. The dyes include a blue dye having a hue angle of 220° to 280°; a yellow dye having a hue angle of 70° to 120°; and a copper phthalocyanine dye. A mass ratio (C/B) of a content (C) of the copper phthalocyanine dye to a content (B) of the blue dye in an entire amount of the water-based ink is equal to or more than 0.5, and a total content of the dyes in the entire amount of the water-based ink is equal to or more than 6% by mass.

A composite pigment includes first and second cholesteric liquid crystal pigments. The first cholesteric liquid crystal pigment has a center wavelength of a selective reflection band within a wavelength range of 400 nm or more and 800 nm or less and a selective reflection bandwidth of 150 nm or less. The second cholesteric liquid crystal pigment has a selective reflection bandwidth of 200 nm or more within a wavelength range of 400 nm or more and 800 nm or less. The selective reflection band of the first cholesteric liquid crystal pigment and a selective reflection band of the second cholesteric liquid crystal pigment at least partially overlap with each other. A containing amount of the first cholesteric liquid crystal pigment relative to a total amount of the first and second cholesteric liquid crystal pigments is more than 30% by weight and 80% by weight or less.

A composite pigment includes first and second cholesteric liquid crystal pigments. The first cholesteric liquid crystal pigment has a center wavelength of a selective reflection band within a wavelength range of 400 nm or more and 800 nm or less and a selective reflection bandwidth of 150 nm or less. The second cholesteric liquid crystal pigment has a selective reflection bandwidth of 200 nm or more within a wavelength range of 400 nm or more and 800 nm or less. The selective reflection band of the first cholesteric liquid crystal pigment and a selective reflection band of the second cholesteric liquid crystal pigment at least partially overlap with each other. A containing amount of the first cholesteric liquid crystal pigment relative to a total amount of the first and second cholesteric liquid crystal pigments is more than 30% by weight and 80% by weight or less.