An alkyd polymer composition for fast-drying, low VOC applications is provided. The alkyd polymer incorporates a minimum required level of a cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition formed from a sugar alcohol during the alcoholysis step while synthesizing the alkyd polymer. The disclosure also relates to the cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition which must have a minimum required level of cyclic ether structure incorporated therein in order to produce a sufficiently fast-drying alkyd polymer. Methods of making the cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition and the alkyd polymer comprising, as polymerized units, the cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition and a poly acid and/or an anhydride compound, as well as an optional polyol, other than the sugar alcohol, are also provided. Also provided is a 13 C NMR method of characterizing the necessary minimum required level of cyclic ether ring structure in the cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition and the alkyd polymer formed therefrom.

An alkyd polymer composition for fast-drying, low VOC applications is provided. The alkyd polymer incorporates a minimum required level of a cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition formed from a sugar alcohol during the alcoholysis step while synthesizing the alkyd polymer. The disclosure also relates to the cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition which must have a minimum required level of cyclic ether structure incorporated therein in order to produce a sufficiently fast-drying alkyd polymer. Methods of making the cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition and the alkyd polymer comprising, as polymerized units, the cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition and a poly acid and/or an anhydride compound, as well as an optional polyol, other than the sugar alcohol, are also provided. Also provided is a 13 C NMR method of characterizing the necessary minimum required level of cyclic ether ring structure in the cyclic ether- and hydroxyl-containing composition and the alkyd polymer formed therefrom.

An ink composition for printing on metal including a coloring pigment, resins, and a solvent is employed, wherein the ink composition contains a rosin-modified resin having an acid value of 10 to 400 mg KOH/g as at least part of the resins, and the solvent contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by general formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein each A is independently an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms that may have a branch structure, R is an alkyl group having 1 to 13 carbon atoms that may have a branch structure and/or a ring structure, and n is an integer of 2 to 6.

An ink composition for printing on metal including a coloring pigment, resins, and a solvent is employed, wherein the ink composition contains a rosin-modified resin having an acid value of 10 to 400 mg KOH/g as at least part of the resins, and the solvent contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by general formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein each A is independently an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms that may have a branch structure, R is an alkyl group having 1 to 13 carbon atoms that may have a branch structure and/or a ring structure, and n is an integer of 2 to 6.

The present invention relates to an oxidatively curable coating formulation comprising an oxidatively curable alkyd-based resin and a diazacycloalkane-based chelant, which chelant may optionally be complexed with a suitable transition metal ion. The formulations may be paints or other oxidatively curable coating compositions. The invention also provides methods for making such formulations and compositions resultant from the curing of such formulations.

A printer includes a liquid discharge head and a processor. The liquid discharge head includes a plurality of nozzles. The plurality of nozzles include a line of first nozzles to discharge first liquid and a line of second nozzles to discharge second liquid. The processor is configured to change a print speed in a print mode in which a preceding image is formed with at least the first liquid and a subsequent image to be superimposed on the preceding image is formed with the second liquid, in accordance with an amount of liquid applied to a recording medium to form the preceding image.

A printer includes a liquid discharge head and a processor. The liquid discharge head includes a plurality of nozzles. The plurality of nozzles include a line of first nozzles to discharge first liquid and a line of second nozzles to discharge second liquid. The processor is configured to change a print speed in a print mode in which a preceding image is formed with at least the first liquid and a subsequent image to be superimposed on the preceding image is formed with the second liquid, in accordance with an amount of liquid applied to a recording medium to form the preceding image.

Inorganic particulate compositions containing inorganic particles associated with a copolymer of a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobic monomer associated with the inorganic particles are provided. The particulate composition satisfies at least one of the following properties: a BET surface area of the inorganic particles is greater than 8 m.sup.2/g, a Hegman value of the inorganic particles is 75 microns or less, and
a rate of water loss from the composition upon drying from a moisture level greater than 2% wt % is at least 30% greater than a composition having a corresponding content of a polyacrylate polymer associated with the particles. A method to prepare the composition and formulations for inks, paints, coatings and filled polymeric articles containing the inorganic particulate composition are also provided.

Inorganic particulate compositions containing inorganic particles associated with a copolymer of a hydrophilic monomer and a hydrophobic monomer associated with the inorganic particles are provided. The particulate composition satisfies at least one of the following properties: a BET surface area of the inorganic particles is greater than 8 m.sup.2/g, a Hegman value of the inorganic particles is 75 microns or less, and
a rate of water loss from the composition upon drying from a moisture level greater than 2% wt % is at least 30% greater than a composition having a corresponding content of a polyacrylate polymer associated with the particles. A method to prepare the composition and formulations for inks, paints, coatings and filled polymeric articles containing the inorganic particulate composition are also provided.

The present invention provides radiation curable hybrid ink and coating compositions comprising large amounts of inert hard resin. The radiation hybrid ink and coating compositions have good lithographic properties, low roller swelling, and a low gloss-back effect when overprinted with a UV varnish. The ink and coating compositions are useful for lithographic wet and waterless printing.