An active energy ray-curable ink including a radical polymerizable monomer, inorganic oxide particles, a photoacid generator, and a radical photopolymerization initiator and an image recording method.

One embodiment relates to a water-based ink for an inkjet containing a pigment, a fixing resin, an organic solvent and water, wherein the fixing resin includes an A-B block polymer having an A block and a B block, the A block contains a structural unit (P-1) having an anionic functional group, and the acid value of the A-B block polymer is from 5 to 80 mgKOH/g.

A system for applying a first coating composition and a second coating composition. The system includes a first high transfer efficiency applicator defining a first nozzle orifice and a second high transfer efficiency applicator defining a second nozzle orifice. The system further includes a substrate defining a target area. The first high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the first coating composition through the first nozzle orifice to the target area of the substrate to form a first coating layer. The second high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the second coating composition through the second nozzle orifice to the first coating layer to form a second coating layer.

A system for applying a first coating composition and a second coating composition. The system includes a first high transfer efficiency applicator defining a first nozzle orifice and a second high transfer efficiency applicator defining a second nozzle orifice. The system further includes a substrate defining a target area. The first high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the first coating composition through the first nozzle orifice to the target area of the substrate to form a first coating layer. The second high transfer efficiency applicator is configured to expel the second coating composition through the second nozzle orifice to the first coating layer to form a second coating layer.

An aqueous ink jet ink composition contains pigment particles, inorganic oxide particles, and resin particles. The content of the inorganic oxide particles is 1.0% to 10.0% relative to the total mass of the ink composition. The ink composition satisfies the following relationship: D.sub.50 of the resin particles ≤D.sub.50 of the inorganic oxide particles ≤D.sub.50 of the pigment particles, wherein D.sub.50 represents the volume median diameter of the corresponding particles.

An aqueous ink jet ink composition contains pigment particles, inorganic oxide particles, and resin particles. The content of the inorganic oxide particles is 1.0% to 10.0% relative to the total mass of the ink composition. The ink composition satisfies the following relationship: D.sub.50 of the resin particles ≤D.sub.50 of the inorganic oxide particles ≤D.sub.50 of the pigment particles, wherein D.sub.50 represents the volume median diameter of the corresponding particles.

Solvent-based pigmented ceramic inkjet ink compositions including 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, color strength and print definition.

Solvent-based pigmented ceramic inkjet ink compositions including 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, color strength and print definition.

Provided is an aqueous ink for ink jet that has excellent storage stability and whose viscosity does not easily increase even in a case where the ink is stored in a severe environment such as a high temperature condition. This aqueous ink for ink jet contains a coloring material and a block copolymer. The block copolymer includes an A block having a segment A having no acid group and a group represented by Formula (1) bonded to one terminal of the segment A, and a B block having a segment B having an acid group and a group represented by Formula (2) bonded to one terminal of the segment B. ##STR00001## (In Formula (1), R.sub.1 represents an alkylene group, and M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, ammonium or organic ammonium. In Formula (2), R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each independently represent an alkyl group or the like.)

Provided is an aqueous ink for ink jet that has excellent storage stability and whose viscosity does not easily increase even in a case where the ink is stored in a severe environment such as a high temperature condition. This aqueous ink for ink jet contains a coloring material and a block copolymer. The block copolymer includes an A block having a segment A having no acid group and a group represented by Formula (1) bonded to one terminal of the segment A, and a B block having a segment B having an acid group and a group represented by Formula (2) bonded to one terminal of the segment B. ##STR00001## (In Formula (1), R.sub.1 represents an alkylene group, and M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, ammonium or organic ammonium. In Formula (2), R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each independently represent an alkyl group or the like.)