In accordance with sonic embodiments of the present invention, an active energy ray curable composition including a polymerizable compound composition is provided. When the active energy ray curable composition is formed into a film having an average thickness of 10 m on a substrate and, after a lapse of 15 seconds, the film is irradiated with an active energy ray having a light quantity of 1,500 mJ/cm.sup.2 to become a cured product, the cured product satisfies the following conditions (1) and (2): (1) when the substrate is a polypropylene substrate, the cured product has a glass transition temperature of 60 C. or more; and (2) when the substrate is a polycarbonate substrate, an adhesion between the polycarbonate substrate and the cured product is 70 or more, the adhesion being measured according to a cross-cut adhesion test defined in Japanese industrial Standards K5400.

There is provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including: water; a self dispersible black pigment of which mean particle diameter is not less than 140 nm; and a resin-dispersed pigment which is a copper phthalocyanine-based pigment and of which sedimentation velocity in the water-based ink is slower than sedimentation velocity of the self-dispersible black pigment in the water-based ink.

There is provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including: water; a self dispersible black pigment of which mean particle diameter is not less than 140 nm; and a resin-dispersed pigment which is a copper phthalocyanine-based pigment and of which sedimentation velocity in the water-based ink is slower than sedimentation velocity of the self-dispersible black pigment in the water-based ink.

There is provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including: water; a self-dispersible black pigment; and a resin-dispersed pigment of which hue angle is in a range of 180 to 270 and of which sedimentation velocity in the water-based ink is slower than sedimentation velocity of the self-dispersible black pigment in the water-based ink. A ratio (R/S) of a solid content weight (R) of the resin-dispersed pigment to a solid content weight (S) of the self-dispersible black pigment in the water-based ink is in a range of 0.26 to 0.80.

There is provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including: water; a self-dispersible black pigment; and a resin-dispersed pigment of which hue angle is in a range of 180 to 270 and of which sedimentation velocity in the water-based ink is slower than sedimentation velocity of the self-dispersible black pigment in the water-based ink. A ratio (R/S) of a solid content weight (R) of the resin-dispersed pigment to a solid content weight (S) of the self-dispersible black pigment in the water-based ink is in a range of 0.26 to 0.80.

There is provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including: a self-dispersible pigment of which mean particle diameter is not less than 130 nm; a resin-dispersed pigment; and water; wherein the mean particle diameter of the self-dispersible pigment is in a range of 1.5 times to 3 times mean particle diameter of the resin-dispersed pigment.

There is provided a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including: a self-dispersible pigment of which mean particle diameter is not less than 130 nm; a resin-dispersed pigment; and water; wherein the mean particle diameter of the self-dispersible pigment is in a range of 1.5 times to 3 times mean particle diameter of the resin-dispersed pigment.

The invention is directed to processes for increasing the surface area of a carbon black starting material and for forming mesoporous carbon black. The process includes the step of contacting a carbon black starting material having a first BET nitrogen surface area with an oxidant in a fluidized bed under conditions effective to form a carbon black product having a second BET nitrogen surface area greater than the first BET nitrogen surface area. The invention is also directed to carbon black product formed by this process.

The invention is directed to processes for increasing the surface area of a carbon black starting material and for forming mesoporous carbon black. The process includes the step of contacting a carbon black starting material having a first BET nitrogen surface area with an oxidant in a fluidized bed under conditions effective to form a carbon black product having a second BET nitrogen surface area greater than the first BET nitrogen surface area. The invention is also directed to carbon black product formed by this process.

A water-based ink composition for ink jet recording and a coloring material liquid according to an aspect includes at least one selected from the group consisting of vinylphenol and a vinylphenol derivative, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water.