An ultraviolet ray curable ink composition adapted to be ejected by using an ink jet method is provided. The ultraviolet ray curable ink composition includes a polymerizable compound and metal powder. The metal powder is constituted from metal particles subjected to a surface treatment with a fluorine type silane compound and/or a fluorine type phosphoric acid ester as a surface treatment agent. A polymerizable compound includes a monomer having an alicyclic structure. This makes it possible to provide the ultraviolet ray curable ink composition which has excellent storage stability, can provide excellent dispersion stability of the metal particles of the metal powder. A printed object is also provided. Such a printed object is produced by using the ultraviolet ray curable ink composition.

A dispersion comprising a pigment, a polymer comprising a carboxyl group, a crosslinking agent capable of undergoing a crosslinking reaction with the carboxyl group, an inhibition agent comprising a tertiary amine, and a liquid carrier, wherein at least one of the mean particle size and the viscosity of the dispersion increases by less than 20% over about three months in sealed storage at ambient temperature, as determined by accelerated shelf life testing.

A dispersion comprising a pigment, a polymer comprising a carboxyl group, a crosslinking agent capable of undergoing a crosslinking reaction with the carboxyl group, an inhibition agent comprising a tertiary amine, and a liquid carrier, wherein at least one of the mean particle size and the viscosity of the dispersion increases by less than 20% over about three months in sealed storage at ambient temperature, as determined by accelerated shelf life testing.

An ink for ink-jet printing used for ink-jet printing images onto the ink non-absorptive surfaces of cylindrical containers, and comprising at least a water-soluble solvent, a coloring material, a surfactant, a thickener and/or a binder resin, the coloring material being contained in an amount of 5 to 20% by weight, the surfactant in an amount of 0.1 to 5% by weight, the thickener in an amount of not more than 10% by weight, and the binder resin being contained in an amount of not more than 30% by weight. Owing to its ink-jet printability, the ink for ink-jet printing of the invention can be favorably used for printing images on the non-absorptive cylindrical containers such as seamless cans that are used for containing beverages and foods.

An ink for ink-jet printing used for ink-jet printing images onto the ink non-absorptive surfaces of cylindrical containers, and comprising at least a water-soluble solvent, a coloring material, a surfactant, a thickener and/or a binder resin, the coloring material being contained in an amount of 5 to 20% by weight, the surfactant in an amount of 0.1 to 5% by weight, the thickener in an amount of not more than 10% by weight, and the binder resin being contained in an amount of not more than 30% by weight. Owing to its ink-jet printability, the ink for ink-jet printing of the invention can be favorably used for printing images on the non-absorptive cylindrical containers such as seamless cans that are used for containing beverages and foods.

The present invention relates to an ink-jet printing method that is capable of obtaining good printed characters or images which are free of occurrence of white lines or streaks irrespective of irradiation with an active energy ray. The present invention provides an ink-jet printing method including the steps of ejecting at least one ink A selected from the group consisting of a black ink and chromatic inks onto a low-liquid absorbing printing medium and then ejecting a white ink thereonto, in which the ink A contains at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of a black pigment and chromatic pigments, and a polymer dispersant containing a constitutional unit derived from a polyalkylene glycol (meth)acrylate; and the white ink contains titanium oxide and a polymer dispersant containing a constitutional unit derived from a polyalkylene glycol (meth)acrylate.

The present invention relates to an ink-jet printing method that is capable of obtaining good printed characters or images which are free of occurrence of white lines or streaks irrespective of irradiation with an active energy ray. The present invention provides an ink-jet printing method including the steps of ejecting at least one ink A selected from the group consisting of a black ink and chromatic inks onto a low-liquid absorbing printing medium and then ejecting a white ink thereonto, in which the ink A contains at least one pigment selected from the group consisting of a black pigment and chromatic pigments, and a polymer dispersant containing a constitutional unit derived from a polyalkylene glycol (meth)acrylate; and the white ink contains titanium oxide and a polymer dispersant containing a constitutional unit derived from a polyalkylene glycol (meth)acrylate.

A method for producing an aqueous pigment dispersion liquid, including: a kneading step of kneading a mixture of a quinacridone pigment (a), a pigment derivative (b), an organic high-molecular compound having an anionic group (c), a basic compound (d), and an acetylene glycol surfactant (e) in a closed kneader to prepare a pigment-kneaded material having a solid content in the range of 50% to 80% by mass; and a step of diluting the pigment-kneaded material with an aqueous medium. A method for producing a water-based ink for ink jet recording, including a step of diluting the aqueous pigment dispersion liquid with an aqueous medium.

A method for producing an aqueous pigment dispersion liquid, including: a kneading step of kneading a mixture of a quinacridone pigment (a), a pigment derivative (b), an organic high-molecular compound having an anionic group (c), a basic compound (d), and an acetylene glycol surfactant (e) in a closed kneader to prepare a pigment-kneaded material having a solid content in the range of 50% to 80% by mass; and a step of diluting the pigment-kneaded material with an aqueous medium. A method for producing a water-based ink for ink jet recording, including a step of diluting the aqueous pigment dispersion liquid with an aqueous medium.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing coated carbon nanotubes, the method comprising the steps of: functionalizing the carbon nanotubes in a solvent comprising a silane polymer; coating the carbon nanotubes with a SiO.sub.2 layer; depositing metal catalyst particles on the SiO.sub.2 layer of the carbon nanotubes; and performing electroless plating to form an Ag coating on the SiO.sub.2 layer of the carbon nanotubes. The invention also relates Ag-coated CNTs, and to the use of Ag-coated CNTs as interconnects in a flexible electronic film.