A branched polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof, wherein the average number of branches is (2) to (100) and the average degree of polymerization of the branches is (2) to (50), is an effective polymeric dispersant. More specifically, the polymeric dispersant is a branched polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof, in which the branched polycarboxylic acid is derived from polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid; the average degree of polymerization is (10) to (150); the average number of branches is (2) to (20); and the average degree of polymerization of the branches is (2) to (30). The branched polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof can be combined with a pigment to form an aqueous dispersion. An aqueous coating composition includes the aqueous dispersion; a polymeric binder; and a rheology modifier.

The present invention relates to a water-based metal fine particle dispersion containing metal fine particles (a) dispersed with a dispersant B, in which the dispersant B contains a vinyl-based polymer (b) containing a constitutional unit derived from a hydrophobic monomer, a constitutional unit derived from a carboxy group-containing monomer and a constitutional unit derived from a polyalkylene glycol segment-containing monomer in an amount of not less than 85% by mass, the fine particles (a) have a cumulant average particle size of 2 to 50 nm, and a concentration of metal in the dispersion is 30 to 80% by mass, and a process for producing the dispersion; a metallic printing ink containing the dispersion; and a metallic printing method using the ink.

A dispersant, a dispersion and an ink composition including the dispersant, and a method of preparing the dispersion and the ink composition, in which the dispersant includes: (A) 0.5 to 30% by weight of a compound selected from at least one of acetylene glycol represented by the specific formula (1) and an ethoxylated substance of acetylene glycol represented by the specific formula (2); (B) 5 to 98% by weight of a nonionic aryl phenol compound represented by the specific formula (3); and (C) 1 to 70% by weight of an anionic aryl phenol compound represented by the specific formula (4), and wherein the total amount of components (A) to (C) is 100% by weight.

Provided are a multilayer coating film with pearl luster that is bright in highlight and that has a small change in graininess due to difference in observation directions, and a method for forming the multilayer coating film. The multilayer coating film contains on a substrate in the following sequence a color-pigment-containing colored base coating film, an interference-pigment-containing effect base coating film, and a clear-coat coating film. The multilayer coating film has a Y value (Y5) in the XYZ color space of 300 or more. The multilayer coating film has a ratio of a 15° sparkle area Sa to a 45° sparkle area Sa of 7 or less.

A method for preparing a dispersion of nanoparticles of a solid organic dye or pigment in a liquid carrier, the method comprising continuously mixing: at least one solution or slurry containing a reactant precursor for the solid organic dye or pigment in an organic or other solvent with the liquid carrier in a counter current mixing reactor whereby to obtain reaction of the reactant precursor and formation of the solid organic dye or pigment as a dispersion of nanoparticles in the liquid carrier and solvent mixture; optionally, removing unreacted reactant precursor and/or by-product from the dispersion when present; and optionally, concentrating the dispersion.

A point-of-sale custom color system for tinting base paints and stains includes an array of water-only fluid colorants, including at least white, green, blue and red water-only colorants, which can be used to tint water-borne paints and stains. When tinting solvent-borne base paints or stains, a synergist containing one or more surfactants and optional dispersing agents or optional cosolvents is added to or is a part of the solvent-borne base paint or stains, and enables effective tinting using the water-only colorants.

The present invention relates to a polymeric dispersant containing an tertiary amide linkage between the aromatic anchoring group and a solubilizing chain, and a composition containing a particulate solid, an aqueous or polar organic medium, and a polymeric aromatic amide dispersant having at least one tertiary amide linking group connecting through a carbonyl group of the amide to an aromatic ring having two or more residual carboxylic acid groups or a sulfonic acid group and a residual carboxylic acidic group thereon. The invention further provides compositions for millbases, dispersions, coatings and inks containing said dispersant.

A thermal inkjet dye sublimation ink consists of a disperse dye colorant dispersion, a co-solvent system, an additive, and a balance of water. The colorant dispersion is present in an amount ranging from about 1 wt % actives to about 7 wt % actives. The co-solvent system is present in a total amount ranging from about 12 wt % to about 25 wt %. The co-solvent system consists of glycerol present in an amount ranging from about 9 wt % to about 16 wt %, ethoxylated glycerol present in an amount ranging from 0 wt % to about 5 wt %, and a water soluble or water miscible organic solvent present in an amount ranging from 0 wt % to about 7 wt %. The additive is selected from the group consisting of a surfactant, a chelating agent, a buffer, a biocide, and combinations thereof.

A polymer includes the reaction product of A, B, and C, and optionally D, wherein: A is a polyepoxide that is: the condensation product of phenol, formaldehyde, and epichlorohydrin; the condensation product of bisphenol A, formaldehyde, and epichlorohydrin; or a combination of said condensation products; B is at least one polyoxyalkylene with a terminal primary amine group wherein each polyoxyalkylene comprises an ethyleneoxy moiety and a propyleneoxy moiety and independently has the following structure:

##STR00001## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.4 group, and wherein each of x and y is independently from 0 to about 500 and x+y>0; and C is an anchoring compound that is: a secondary amine; a monocarboxylic acid; a cyclic imide; or a combination thereof; and D is an alkylating agent.

This polymer is included in a composition that further includes a compound such as a particulate solid.

A composition including a first color shifting pigment flake population having a first D50 particle size; and a second color shifting pigment flake population having a second D50 particle size that is different from the first D50 particle size, wherein the first color shifting pigment flake population and the second color shifting pigment flake population have a similar face color and color shift is disclosed. An article including the composition is included. A method of making the composition and a method of making the article are also disclosed.