Provided is an ink jet recording method including recording an infrared absorbing image by applying a first ink, which contains an infrared absorber and a first curable compound, onto an impermeable substrate by an ink jet method, semi-curing the infrared absorbing image by irradiating the infrared absorbing image with active energy rays, recording a non-infrared absorbing image by applying a second ink, which has a content of the infrared absorber of lower than 0.1% by mass and contains a second curable compound, to a surface of the substrate with the infrared absorbing image by the ink jet method, and curing the semi-cured infrared absorbing image and the non-infrared absorbing image by irradiating these images with active energy rays.

Disclosed herein are electrically conductive ink compositions with high conductivity at a low conductive filler loading, the composition comprising a polymer, a monomer, an initiator or catalyst and conductive filler flakes, optionally the composition can include conductive or non-conductive beads, wherein after cure the monomer and polymer each form a separate phase.

An object is to provide an ink composition for inkjet printing that permits inkjet printing, particularly on metal surfaces, wherein such ink composition possesses sufficiently high adhesion and heat resistance with respect to metal surfaces. As a means for achieving the object, a photocurable inkjet printing ink composition is provided, which contains, relative to the entire ink composition, 0.1 percent by mass or more of an acid-modified acrylic monomer and 10 to 30 percent by mass of a monofunctional monomer with a Tg of 100 C. or above, wherein the monofunctional monomer accounts for 80 percent by mass or more of all monomers.

An object is to provide an ink composition for inkjet printing that permits inkjet printing, particularly on metal surfaces, wherein such ink composition possesses sufficiently high adhesion and heat resistance with respect to metal surfaces. As a means for achieving the object, a photocurable inkjet printing ink composition is provided, which contains, relative to the entire ink composition, 0.1 percent by mass or more of an acid-modified acrylic monomer and 10 to 30 percent by mass of a monofunctional monomer with a Tg of 100 C. or above, wherein the monofunctional monomer accounts for 80 percent by mass or more of all monomers.

Electron beam curable compositions comprising poly(alkylene oxide) containing substances, and any blend of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and oligomers. The poly(alkylene oxide) components of the said substances may include poly(ethylene glycol)s, poly(propylene glycol)s and higher poly(alkylene oxide)s, as well as poly(alkoxylated) alcohols and amines, and the substances are essentially free of any ethylenically unsaturated groups.

Electron beam curable compositions comprising poly(alkylene oxide) containing substances, and any blend of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and oligomers. The poly(alkylene oxide) components of the said substances may include poly(ethylene glycol)s, poly(propylene glycol)s and higher poly(alkylene oxide)s, as well as poly(alkoxylated) alcohols and amines, and the substances are essentially free of any ethylenically unsaturated groups.

Provided is an ink set of radiation-curable ink jet compositions each including a polymerizable compound component. The ink set includes a color ink and a clear ink as the radiation-curable ink jet compositions. The polymerizable compound component contained in the clear ink includes a monomer A having a volume of 260 angstrom.sup.3 or more and an area of 25 angstrom.sup.2 or more in the height direction with respect to a long side defined by a van-der-Waals radius, and the content of the monomer A contained in the clear ink is 80 mass % or more based on the total amount of the polymerizable compound component.

Provided is an ink set of radiation-curable ink jet compositions each including a polymerizable compound component. The ink set includes a color ink and a clear ink as the radiation-curable ink jet compositions. The polymerizable compound component contained in the clear ink includes a monomer A having a volume of 260 angstrom.sup.3 or more and an area of 25 angstrom.sup.2 or more in the height direction with respect to a long side defined by a van-der-Waals radius, and the content of the monomer A contained in the clear ink is 80 mass % or more based on the total amount of the polymerizable compound component.

Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the T.sub.g of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.

Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the T.sub.g of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.