Abstract: An ash melting system of the present invention includes a slagging combustion furnace (10) for melting ash into molten slag; and a slag separating apparatus (50) for bringing the molten slag (121) discharged from the slagging combustion furnace into contact with slag cooling water (152) to produce water-quenched slag (122), and separating the water-quenched slag from the slag cooling water. The ash melting system further includes a gas blowing means for blowing air or inert gas (132) between a slag discharge port (14) of the slagging combustion furnace and the surface of the slag cooling water.

Abstract: A process for producing a pigment dispersion is disclosed. This process comprises the steps of: providing a mixture consisting essentially of a pigment, a dispersant, a polysiloxane surfactant and/or an alkanediol, a polyhydric alcohol, and water; and dispersing the ingredients of the mixture in one another. A process for producing an ink composition is also disclosed wherein the above pigment dispersion is mixed with a member selected from the group consisting of water, a surfactant, a wetting agent, a pH adjustor, and mixtures thereof. This ink composition can realize good image quality.

Abstract: A water-based ink composition for ink-jet printing, containing at least pigment, a dispersing resin, a surface active agent, an organic solvent and water, in which the pigment is dispersed with the dispersing resin, characterized in that the dispersing resin comprises a copolymer (I) prepared by polymerizing a monomer mixture (I) containing a monomer (A) represented by the formula (I), a monomer (B) represented by the formula (II) and a monomer (C) represented by the formula (III) and a copolymer (II) prepared by polymerizing a monomer mixture (II) containing a monomer (D) represented by the formula (IV) and a monomer (E) represented by the formula (V).

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet recording method and ink set with which recorded material with excellent gloss and greatly reduced gloss unevenness can be easily obtained without higher costs being entailed, the ink jet recording apparatus having to be modified or made larger, etc., and to provide an ink jet recording method with which a high-quality image can be obtained with a low gloss ratio (maximum value/minimum value) dependent on duty, as well as recorded material produced by this method. The present invention provides an ink jet recording method, in which a pigment ink composition and a clear ink composition containing a resin component are discharged to record information on a recording medium, wherein the discharge amount of the pigment ink composition and/or the discharge amount of the clear ink composition is adjusted so that the gloss will be substantially uniform over the entire recording surface of the recording medium after recording.

Abstract: An ink composition for ink jet recording is provided which possesses excellent printing stability, ejection stability, and storage stability and can yield good images, especially images having excellent color reproduction. The ink composition for ink jet recording comprises at least a colorant, a penetrating agent, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water, the colorant comprising a pigment coated with a resin which is an anionic group-containing polymer, the content of the pigment being in the range of 35 to 90% by weight based on the colorant, the penetrating agent comprising an acetylene glycol surfactant and/or a polysiloxane surfactant, the water-soluble organic solvent comprising at least an alkyl ether derivative of a polyhydric alcohol, wherein the alkyl has 3 or more carbon atoms, and/or a 1,2-alkanediol.

Abstract: A process for producing a pigment dispersion is disclosed. This process comprises the steps of: providing a mixture consisting essentially of a pigment, a dispersant, a polysiloxane surfactant and/or an alkanediol, a polyhydric alcohol, and water; and dispersing the ingredients of the mixture in one another. A process for producing an ink composition is also disclosed wherein the above pigment dispersion is mixed with a member selected from the group consisting of water, a surfactant, a wetting agent, a pH adjustor, and mixtures thereof. This ink composition can realize good image quality.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ink compositions which, when used with an ink jet recording apparatus, can realize excellent ink ejection stability while maintaining safety and satisfactory penetration of ink. The ink composition according to the present invention comprises at least a colorant, a humectant, a glycol monoether as a penetrating agent, a 1,2-alkanediol, and water, the weight ratio of the glycol monoether to the 1,2-alkanediol being in the range of 1:5 to 5:1. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink composition comprising at least a pigment, a dispersant for dispersing the pigment, a 1,2-alkanediol, and water as a main solvent, the content of the 1,2-alkanediol being 0.5 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the ink composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink composition for ink jet recording which is free from precipitation and can realize, on a high level, various properties required of ink compositions for ink jet recording. In a copper complex colorant-containing ink for ink jet recording, the free copper ion concentration of the ink composition is brought to not more than 10 ppm. Preferably, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or a salt thereof is used to bring the free copper ion concentration to not more than 10 ppm.

Abstract: Provided are aqueous pigment ink sets for color inkjet recording which solve the degeneration of the color balance of printed matter. One aqueous pigment ink set includes yellow ink, cyanide ink, and magenta ink, wherein the sedimentary degree of yellow ink is 40% or less, the sedimentary degree of cyanide ink is 30% or less, and the sedimentary degree of magenta ink is 15% or less.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method comprising the step of printing two solutions of a first solution and an ink composition is provided which, even in the case of printing on a recycled paper, can realize a good printed image, especially an image having no significant feathering and free from unevenness of printing and an image free from color bleeding. A first solution containing a polyvalent metal salt and/or a polyallylamine is used in combination with an ink composition containing an inorganic oxide colloid, and optionally an epoxy-containing compound. Specifically, the first solution is deposited onto a recording medium, and the ink composition is then deposited by ink jet printing to perform printing.

Abstract: An aqueous ink composition comprising at least water, a pigment dispersed by polymer, a sulfonyl group-containing (co)polymer, and an ultra-penetrating agent. Also disclosed are a recording process using the ink composition, an ink cartridge containing the ink composition, and a recorded article having an image recorded by the recorded method.

Abstract: An ink composition is disclosed which can realize an image possessing excellent rubbing/scratch resistance and color reproduction in color ink jet recording and has advantages as a superpenetrating ink composition. The ink composition comprises at least a specific colorant, water, a water-soluble dispersant, and a penetrant, wherein the penetrant is 0.1 to 5% by weight of an acetylene glycol compound and the water-soluble dispersant is a water-soluble styrene/(meth)acrylic acid resin in an amount of 0.1 to 1 part by weight on a solid basis based on the pigment. An ink set capable of forming an excellent color image in color ink jet recording is also disclosed which comprises an orange ink composition and/or a green ink composition in combination with a yellow ink composition, a magenta ink composition, and a cyan ink composition that have hitherto been used in the color ink jet recording.

Abstract: An ink composition for ink jet recording is provided which possesses excellent printing stability, ejection stability, and storage stability and can yield good images, especially images having excellent color reproduction. The ink composition for ink jet recording comprises at least a colorant, a penetrating agent, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water, the colorant comprising a pigment coated with a resin which is an anionic group-containing polymer, the content of the pigment being in the range of 35 to 90% by weight based on the colorant, the penetrating agent comprising an acetylene glycol surfactant and/or a polysiloxane surfactant, the water-soluble organic solvent comprising at least an alkyl ether derivative of a polyhydric alcohol, wherein the alkyl has 3 or more carbon atoms, and/or a 1,2-alkanediol.

Abstract: A water-based ink composition for ink-jet printing, containing at least pigment, a dispersing resin, a surface active agent, an organic solvent and water, in which the pigment is dispersed with the dispersing resin, characterized in that the dispersing resin comprises a copolymer (I) prepared by polymerizing a monomer mixture (I) containing a monomer (A) represented by the formula (I), a monomer (B) represented by the formula (II) and a monomer (C) represented by the formula (III) and a copolymer (II) prepared by polymerizing a monomer mixture (II) containing a monomer (D) represented by the formula (IV) and a monomer (E) represented by the formula (V).

Abstract: Provided are aqueous pigment ink sets for color inkjet recording which solve the degeneration of the color balance of printed matter. One aqueous pigment ink set includes yellow ink, cyanide ink, and magenta ink, wherein the sedimentary degree of yellow ink is 40% or less, the sedimentary degree of cyanide ink is 30% or less, and the sedimentary degree of magenta ink is 15% or less.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method capable of providing an image having a good quality is disclosed. In the ink jet recording method, a reaction solution and an ink composition are used to conduct printing on a recording medium. The reaction solution comprises a polyvalent metal salt, and an ink composition comprises a pigment and a resin emulsion.

Abstract: An ink composition is provided which can realize printing with excellent fixation even on a coated paper having a smooth surface. Further, an ink composition is also provided which, when used in ink jet printing, causes neither clogging nor creation of a precipitate. A copolymer of butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and acrylic acid is added to an ink composition.

Abstract: A tank, containing a reaction solution, for use in an ink jet recording apparatus for depositing two liquids, that is, a reaction solution, containing a polyvalent metal salt, and an ink composition, onto a recording medium to conduct printing. This tank can solve a clogging problem of the reaction solution. A reaction solution containing a polyvalent metal salt is sealed into a reaction solution tank under reduced pressure.

Abstract: A pigment-based ink composition for ink jet recording is provided which can offer prints having excellent scratch resistance and free from uneven printing. Ink jet recording is carried out using an ink composition comprising a pigment and an inorganic oxide colloid in combination. Further, the use of a recording head equipped with a nozzle plate (101), which has been treated to form a fluoropolymer-containing plating layer (104) thereon for rendering the nozzle plate (101) water-repellent, can realize printing free from the ejection of ink droplets with trajectories non-perpendicular to the print head.

Abstract: An ink jet recording method capable of providing an image having a good quality is disclosed. In the ink jet recording method, a reaction solution and an ink composition are used to conduct printing on a recording medium. The reaction solution comprises a polyvalent metal salt, and an ink composition comprises a pigment and a resin emulsion.