Ink jet recording ink, ink jet recording ink set, recording method, recorded matter and ink jet recording apparatus

Abstract

Provided are an ink jet recording ink (IJ ink), an ink jet recording ink set (IJ ink set) and a recording method, having excellent dispersion stability and ejection stability and being capable of providing images which is free from bleeding and which is excellent in color development property and rubbing resistance. An IJ ink and I an IJ ink set having long-term storage stability are provided. Also provided are recorded matter having excellent color development property and rubbing resistance, and an ink jet recording apparatus capable of providing the same. The invention includes: an IJ ink containing a colorant of a pigment and/or dye enveloped in a polymer, and water, and containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting: of acetylene glycol surfactants, acetylene alcohol surfactants, glycol ethers and 1,2-alkylene glycols; an IJ ink set comprising a plurality of the inks; a recording method of using the ink and/or the ink set; recorded matter printed according to the recording method; and an ink jet recording apparatus having an electrostrictive unit mounted thereon and is designed so as to be capable of ejecting the ink.

1 . An ink jet recording ink containing:
 a colorant of a pigment and/or dye enveloped in a polymer by phase conversion emulsification;   water;   at least one compound selected from the group consisting of acetylene glycol surfactants and acetylene alcohol surfactants; and   1,2-(C 4-10  alkyl)-diol.   
     
     
         2 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , further containing a glycol ether. 
     
     
         3 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the glycol ether is di(tri)ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and/or (di)propylene glycol monobutyl ether. 
     
     
         4 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the 1,2-(C 4-10  alkyl)-diol is 1,2-pentanediol and/or 1,2-hexanediol. 
     
     
         5 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 7 , which further contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polyalcohols and compounds of the following formula (1):
   R-EO n -PO m -M  (1)   
       wherein
 R represents a C 4-12  alkanol, cycloalkanol, phenol and/or naphthol group, which is linear and/or another isomer; 
 EO represents an ethyleneoxy group; 
 PO represents a propyleneoxy group; 
 n and m each indicate the mean value of the repetitive units in the whole system; 
 the indication of EC and PO merely represent the presence thereof in the molecule, not limiting their order; 
 M represents a hydrogen atom, a sulfonate group, a phosphate group and/or a borate group, axed the counter ion of the sulfonate group, the phosphate group and/or the borate group is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an inorganic base and/or an organic amine. 
 
     
     
         6 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer content is 10% by weight or higher based on the whole amount of the colorant. 
     
     
         7 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer that envelops the pigment and/or dye therein comprises, as a main component, at least one member selected from, the group consisting of vinyl polymers, polyesters, polyamides, polyimides, silicon-containing polymers and sulfur-containing polymers. 
     
     
         8 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer that envelops the pigment and/or dye therein has a crosslinked structure. 
     
     
         9 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the colorant of a pigment and/or dye enveloped in the crosslinked structure-having polymer is prepared by contacting an organic phase that contains at least a polymer having a crosslinking reactive group and a hydrophilic group and a crosslinking agent with an aqueous phase to cause phase conversion emulsification to thereby make the pigment and/or dye enveloped in the polymer, and then carrying out a crosslinking reaction of the polymer and the crosslinking agent. 
     
     
         10 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the polymer having a crosslinking reactive group and a hydrophilic group comprises, as a main component, at least one member selected from the group consisting of vinyl polymers, poly(meth)acylates, styrene-(meth)acrylic acid copolymers, polyesters, polyamides, polyimides, polyurethanes, amino polymers, silicon-containing polymers, sulfur-containing polymers, fluorine-containing polymers and epoxy resins. 
     
     
         11 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the crosslinking reactive group of the polymer having a crosslinking reactive group and a hydrophilic group is selected from a glycidyl group, an isocyanate group, a hydroxyl group and an unsaturated hydrocarbon group. 
     
     
         12 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the unsaturated hydrocarbon group is selected from the group consisting of a vinyl group, an allyl group, an acryloyl group, a methacryloyl group, a propenyl group, a vinylidene group and a vinylene group. 
     
     
         13 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the organic phase contains a reactive surfactant. 
     
     
         14 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer that envelops the pigment and/or dye therein has a solubility parameter of from 11 to 14 cal/cm 3 , and the difference between the solubility parameter of a liquid component and that of the polymer is 1.0 cal/cm 3  or greater. 
     
     
         15 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer that envelops the pigment and/or dye therein has an acid value of from 20 to 200 KOH mg/g. 
     
     
         16 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer that envelops the pigment and/or dye therein has a glass transition temperature of not higher than 25° C. 
     
     
         17 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer that envelops the pigment and/or dye therein has a film-forming temperature of not higher than 25° C. 
     
     
         18 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the colorant of a pigment and/or dye enveloped in a polymer further contains a hardly water-soluble substance. 
     
     
         19 . The ink jet recording ink as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the hardly water-soluble substance has a solubility in water of 10% by weight or lower. 
     
     
         20 . A recording method of performing printing by ejecting an ink droplet so as to be attached onto a recording medium, wherein an ink jet recording ink of  claim 1  is used. 
     
     
         21 . Recorded matter printed according to a recording method of  claim 20 . 
     
     
         22 . An ink jet recording apparatus which is so designed that mounts an electrostrictive unit capable of vibrating based on an electronic signal and ejects an ink jet recording ink of  claim 1  according to the vibration of the electrostrictive unit.