Abstract: A polymer composition including a functional material, the composition containing at least a block polymer encapsulating a material of a predetermined function and a solvent, wherein a property of the polymer in the composition is changed in response to a stimulus, whereby the block polymer encapsulating the material agglomerates together, or an ink composition usable as an inkjet ink containing at least a block polymer encapsulating a coloring material and a solvent, wherein a property of the polymer in the composition is changed in response to a stimulus, whereby the block polymer encapsulating the coloring material agglomerates together. The change of the property of the block polymer in response to a stimulus is a change from the lyophilic nature to the lyophobic nature, or the lyophilic nature to the lyophobic nature.

Abstract: A composition and a recording medium are disclosed including a polymer having as a repeating structural unit an alkenyl ether structure exhibiting cationic properties. Also disclosed is a recording medium/functional-substance dispersed composition set including a combination of the above recording medium and a functional-substance dispersed composition which exhibits anionic properties and contains an aqueous medium and a functional substance; and a liquid-applying method and a liquid-applying apparatus which make use of the set.

Abstract: An ink composition comprising at least a block polymer compound having a polyalkenyl ether main chain, a solvent and a pigment, wherein particles composed of the block polymer compound and the pigment have an average particle size of not more than 80 nm and the particles in the composition have a dispersion index of not more than 0.15.

Abstract: An ink composition contains particles having a solid coloring material substantially enclosed by a block polymer, and a solvent. The solid coloring material is enclosed in a micelle formed of the block polymer, and preferably 90 wt % or more of the solid coloring material are enclosed by the block polymer. The average particle size of the particles is 200 nm or less. A method for producing an ink composition includes forming the particles by insolubilizing the coloring material and the block polymer in a state of both being dissolved in a solution. The above described ink composition has an adequate dispersibility of the coloring material and is suitable for an ink composition for an ink-jet device.

Abstract: An ink composition at least including a colorant, a hydrophobic polymer, an amphiphilic block polymer and a solvent, in which the colorant and the hydrophobic polymer are enclosed in the amphiphilic block polymer and dispersed in the solvent.

Abstract: An ink composition in which particles of a functional substance comprising a dye or a pigment included in polymer micelles comprising a block polymer are dispersed in a solvent, wherein the particles have an average particle size of not more than 200 nm and a particle size distribution (index of dispersion degree ?/G2) of not more than 0.1, a method of forming an image and an image forming apparatus using the same are provided. The main component of the polymer micelle is an amphiphilic block polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a block polymer that comprises a plurality of block segments, wherein at least one block segment comprises a repeating unit having an ester moiety bonded to a main chain in a forward direction through a connecting group of two or more atoms, and the block polymer has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 1.3 or less. Also provided is a polymer composition containing the above block polymer and a functional material.

Abstract: Polymeric compounds suitable for ink and toner compositions, and image forming methods and apparatus using an ink or toner composition containing such a polymer compound, and particularly to a polymer compound having a repeating unit structure represented by the general formula wherein B is a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms and may be substituted, m is an integer of 1 to 30, q is an integer of 2 to 30, and R1 is hydrogen, an alkyl group which may be substituted, or an aromatic ring structure which may be substituted, with the proviso that when m is a plural number, the B groups may be different from each other, ink and toner compositions containing the polymer compound, a solvent or dispersion medium and a coloring material, and image forming methods and image forming apparatus using such a composition.

Abstract: A functional composition that contains a nonionic amphipathic block polymer, an ionic polymer, a functional substance such as a coloring material and a solvent. There are also provided a liquid composition that contains a nonionic amphipathic block polymer, an ionic polymer, a functional substance and a solvent, a liquid composition providing method to provide the above composition to a recording medium, a liquid composition providing apparatus which provides the above composition to a recording medium.

Abstract: A composition containing a polymer compound and medium being a solvent or a binder resin, wherein the polymer compound comprises monomer units represented by the general formula (1): 1