Abstract: A block polymer compound containing block segments, characterized in that at least one hydrophilic segment among the block segments is a copolymer segment composed of an ionic or hydrophilic repeating unit structure and a hydrophobic repeating unit structure.

Abstract: A recording method includes the steps of: preparing a first ink composition containing a solvent, a coloring material and an anionic polymer, in which the coloring material is incorporated in the anionic polymer, and a second ink composition containing a solvent, a coloring material and a cationic polymer; and applying the first ink composition and the second ink composition onto a medium by bringing the compositions into contact with each other. The contact increases the viscosity of at least one of the anionic polymer and the cationic polymer.

Abstract: A block copolymer including two or more segments, wherein at least one of the segments is a gradient copolymer including two or more monomer components.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer compound including a repetitive unit structure represented by the following general formula (2): General formula (2): (where X? represents a polyalkenyl group; A represents a linear or branched alkylene group having a carbon atom number of 1 to 15, which may be substituted; m represents an integer of 0 to 30; B represents a single bond or an alkylene group which may be substituted; D represents an aromatic ring structure which may be substituted; n represents an integer of 0 to 10; and R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted, or an aromatic ring structure which may be substituted). The polymer compound is suitable for improving dispersibility of a coloring material or solid material in an ink composition or toner composition.

Abstract: In an image forming method which imparts two or more kinds of liquid compositions onto a recording medium to form an image on the recording medium, the image forming method has the steps of: preparing a plurality of liquid compositions which include at least a first liquid composition containing a functional substance, an anionic amphiphilic polymer and a liquid medium and a second liquid composition containing a functional substance, a polyvalent cation, an anionic amphiphilic polymer and a liquid medium; at least one of the polymer in the first liquid composition and the polymer in the second liquid composition being a block polymer or a graft polymer, and imparting the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition onto the recording medium to bring the first liquid composition and the second liquid composition into contact with each other to cause at least one of these liquid compositions to thicken.

Abstract: Polyalkenyl ether is produced by polymerizing alkenyl ether represented by the following general formula (I): CHR1?CH(OR2)??(I) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 represents a monovalent organic group, and R2 contains a silicon atom or at least one atom selected from the group consisting of elements from group 15 to group 17, in the presence of a halide of an element other than Al, or an organometallic compound of an element other than Al, and a nonionic oxygen-containing or nonionic nitrogen-containing organic compound.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a polymer compound having at least two block segments, wherein at least one segment of the block segments contains a repeating unit structure exhibiting anionicity and a repeating unit structure exhibiting hydrophilicity, and an ink composition containing the polymer, a solvent or dispersing medium, and a coloring material.

Abstract: A novel liquid composition set is provided for forming an image or pattern by functional substances such as a colorant without causing blurring. Each of the liquid compositions of the set comprises a functional substance, an amphiphilic block copolymer or graft copolymer having an organic acid group, and a liquid medium, wherein the organic acid groups of the copolymers are different in pKa, and the amphiphilic polymer contained in the first liquid composition becomes viscous by pH change on contact with the second liquid composition different in pH from the first liquid composition.

Abstract: A compound represented by the following general formula (1): (1) wherein A represents an alkenyl ether group which may be substituted; B represents a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may be substituted; m represents an integer from 0 to 30; when m is larger than 1, B may be different from each other; D represents a single bond or a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms which may be substituted; E represents any one of an aromatic ring which may be substituted, a condensed ring which may be substituted, and a structure formed by bonding through single bonds at most three aromatic rings which may be substituted; R represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms which may be substituted, or an aromatic ring which may be substituted; n represents a positive number larger than 1; a COOR group in the formula is substituted into the aromatic ring of E; and a hydrogen atom in the aromatic ring, which is not substituted

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stimuli-responsive composition that comprises a polymer, a solvent and a substance having a predetermined function. One embodiment of the present invention is a composition comprising a block polymer, a solvent and a substance having a predetermined function. The present invention also relates to an ink composition containing the composition, an image-forming method and an image-forming apparatus using the composition, and a recording medium applying the composition. Further, the present invention relates to an ABC type block polymer compound wherein the polymer is an ABC type triblock polymer, and wherein at least one of the blocks in the triblock polymer changes in nature from solvophilic to solvophobic or from solvophobic to solvophilic in response to stimuli, and more preferably, the A component, then the B component, and finally the C component respond to the stimuli.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stimuli-responsive composition that comprises a polymer, a solvent and a substance having a predetermined function. One embodiment of the present invention is a composition comprising a block polymer, a solvent and a substance having a predetermined function. The present invention also relates to an ink composition containing the composition, an image-forming method and an image-forming apparatus using the composition, and a recording medium applying the composition. Further, the present invention relates to an ABC type block polymer compound wherein the polymer is an ABC type triblock polymer, and wherein at least one of the blocks in the triblock polymer changes in nature from solvophilic to solvophobic or from solvophobic to solvophilic in response to stimuli, and more preferably, the A component, then the B component, and finally the C component respond to the stimuli.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an amphiphilic block copolymer having an ionic functional group, wherein the ratio (N10/N5) of a rotational viscosity (N10) of a 10% by mass solution of the copolymer in purified water to a rotational viscosity (N5) of a 5% by mass solution of the copolymer in purified water is 2.5 or lower.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stimuli-responsive composition that contains a polymer, a solvent and a substance having a predetermined function. One embodiment of the composition contains a block polymer, a solvent and a substance having a predetermined function. Preferably, the solvent in the composition is water; and the polymer in the composition has a polyvinyl ether structure. The composition has superior dispersion stability. The present invention also relates to an ink composition containing the composition, an image-forming method and an image-forming apparatus using the ink composition, and a recording medium having the composition.

Abstract: An image forming process provides an excellent ink fixation effect for high speed, low energy consumption printing. Two-valued or multi-valued gradation expression of a picture element, or the smallest output unit, is realized by controlling the number of liquid droplets impacting on a recording medium for each dot formed on the recording medium. The liquid droplets are subjected to physical or chemical modification so as to be fixed to the recording medium. The present invention is also directed to an image forming apparatus, an ink for liquid droplet recording and a liquid droplet ejection and projection method that can use the image forming process.

Abstract: In an image forming method in which at least two kinds of ink compositions are applied onto a recording medium to form an image on the recording medium, the image forming method has the steps of providing a first ink composition containing a solvent, a coloring material and a block polymer having at least an anionic block segment for dispersing the pigment in the solvent, and a second ink composition containing a solvent, a dye and a polyvalent metal ion having reactivity with the block polymer; and applying the first ink composition and the second ink composition onto the recording medium to bring the first ink composition into contact with the second ink composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink composition containing a pigment dispersed uniformly in a solvent and a block polymer having an ionic functional group, an image-forming method and an image-forming apparatus employing the ink composition. The composition comprises a pigment, a solvent and a polymer having an ionic functional group, an acid residue, or a base residue at the terminal. The polymer having an ionic functional group, an acid residue, or a base residue at the terminal is a block polymer of ABX type having A, B, and X segments, wherein A and B are respectively a block segment having a vinyl ether structure as the repeating unit, and X is a terminal segment having an ionic functional group, an acid residue, or an base residue.

Abstract: A composition comprises a non-aqueous solvent containing reverse micelle particles formed of block polymers having amphipathic properties. A particle composition and a composition wherein particles are dispersed, which exhibits excellent dispersion properties and can form superbly uniform particles, is provided. Further, display elements, a recording method, and recording apparatus, which employ the composition having excellent dispersion properties and forming superbly uniform particles, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stimulus responsive composition, which includes a polymer complex that a polymer including repeated units of polyvinyl ether structure is chemically bonded to a functional substance, and a solvent. It is desirable that a solvent is water and that the polymer in the composition contains a polyvinyl ether structure. The present invention also relates to an ink composition including the above composition, an image forming method and image forming device using the above composition, and recording medium contains a stimulating material or composition which stimulates the above composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image recording process for recording an image on a recording medium, which comprises the step of recording the image on the recording medium with an ink, and applying a liquid composition comprising an amphiphilic block copolymer and a solvent to at least one of a region in which the image has been recorded with the ink and a region in which no image is recorded with the ink.

Abstract: A block polymer comprised of a polyalkenyl ether main chain comprises a first block segment having hydrophobicity; a second block segment having an upper limit hydration temperature exceeding 70° C.; and a third block segment having an ionic property. A polymer-containing composition comprises the block polymer, a solvent or a dispersing medium, and a functional substance. An ink composition comprises the polymer-containing composition wherein the functional substance is colorant. A liquid application method comprises the steps of preparing the polymer-containing composition; and applying the polymer-containing composition to a medium. A liquid application apparatus comprises a liquid application means which makes energy act on the polymer-containing composition to apply the composition; and a drive means which drives the liquid application means. The polymer compound is capable of satisfactorily dispersing a functional substance in a solvent.