Abstract: An inexpensive ion-exchange apparatus with an increased ion-exchange capacity has a raw-water tank (1), a treatment tank (2) and an ion exchanger (3). The raw-water tank (1) contains a to be treated liquid. The liquid contains impurity ions. The treatment tank (2) contains a treatment material that contains exchange ions exchangeable with the impurity ions. The ion exchanger (3) enables passage of the impurity ions from the raw-water tank (1) to the treatment tank (2) and the passage of the exchange ions from the treatment tank (2) to the raw-water tank (1). The treatment material in the treatment tank (2) has a higher molarity than the to be treated liquid in the raw-water tank 1.

Abstract: An ion-exchange apparatus includes a raw-water tank 1, a treatment section, an ion exchanger and a hydrophilic layer. The raw-water section contains a liquid to be treated with impurity ions. The treatment tank 2 contains a treatment material with exchange ions exchangeable with the impurity ions. The ion exchanger 3 enables the passage of the impurity ions from the raw-water tank 1 to the treatment tank 2 and the passage of the exchange ions from the treatment tank 2 to the raw-water tank 1. The hydrophilic layer M, with a water contact angle of 30° or less, is disposed on at least a surface of the ion exchanger adjacent to the treatment tank 2.

Abstract: An ion-exchange apparatus has a raw-water tank 1, a treatment tank 2, an ion exchanger 3 and a voltage applying device E. The raw-water tank 1 contains a to be treated liquid that has impurity ions. The treatment tank 2 contains a treatment material with exchange ions exchangeable with the impurity ions. The ion exchanger 3 enables the passage of the impurity ions from the raw-water tank 1 to the treatment tank 2 and the passage of the exchange ions from the treatment tank 2 to the raw-water tank 1. The voltage-applying device E applies a voltage to the ion exchanger 3.

Abstract: An image forming method comprises a step of reacting an ink containing a coloring material with a liquid composition containing fine particles reactive to the coloring material on a recording medium, where the reaction between the coloring material and the fine particles occurs in a liquid, the coloring material is adsorbed on the surfaces of the fine particles while keeping the monomolecular state as in the ink, and the fine particles having the coloring material on the surface aggregate each other. This method can provide images of high optical density and high color saturation, with less occurrence of white stripes in the image.

Abstract: The invention provides colored fine resin particles useful as coloring materials for inks which can provide images having good water fastness, weather fastness and rub-off resistance and are excellent in dispersion stability, and a production process thereof. The colored fine resin particles have a structure in which a pigment coated with a water-insoluble resin is encapsulated with a copolymer composed of at least a polymerizable unsaturated monomer and a reactive emulsifier.

Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid composition adapted to be applied to a recording medium with ink containing a multi-color to form a colored section on the recording medium. The liquid composition contains fine particles reactive relative to the solvent and the coloring material in ink. When processed in particular steps, it produces aggregates of fine particles showing a specific surface area between 70 and 250 m2/g as determined by the BET nitrogen adsorption/desorption method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid composition measurement method. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of: i) subjecting a liquid composition containing fine particles and a solvent to the following pretreatment steps (a) to (c) to form an agglomerate of fine particles: (a) evaporating the solvent of the liquid composition at 120° C. for 10 hours in an ambient atmosphere, and drying the liquid composition; (b) burning the dried liquid composition resulting from the pretreatment step (a) at 700° C. after raising the temperature from 120° C. to 700° C. over one hour; (c) cooling a burned product obtained in the pretreatment step (b) to room temperature, powdering the burned product to obtain agglomerates of the fine particles; and ii) vacuum degassing the agglomerates at 120° C. for 8 hours, and measuring physical properties of pores of the agglomerates by a nitrogen adsorption and desorption method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid composition for use in forming a colored portion by imparting it together with an ink containing a colorant to a recording medium. The liquid composition includes at least a solvent and fine particles reactive with the colorant, in which the fine particles in the liquid composition have an average particle diameter in a range of 30 to 200 nm, and a 10% cumulative value of scattering intensity of 10 nm or more and 90% cumulative value of scattering intensity of 300 nm or less, when measured by a dynamic light scattering method.

Abstract: An ink is provided which is capable of forming a recorded image with improved water resistance and improved ozone resistance of recorded images which are not achievable by conventional aqueous inks employing a water-soluble dye as the coloring agent, and also capable of forming images having improved fixability, improved color developability, and improved ozone resistance which are not achievable by conventional dispersion type inks employing a pigment as the coloring agent. The ink is useful widely for recording like ink-jet recording, and gives recorded images having high rub resistance and high ozone resistance and being excellent in color development and image transparency. The aqueous ink comprises a colored resin dispersed therein, and the colored resin is composed of a film-forming resin and a colorant dispersed in a monomolecular state in the film-forming resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid composition for forming a colored portion on a recording medium together with an anionic or cationic water-based ink containing a coloring material. The liquid composition comprises a solvent, fine particles in a dispersion state, wherein the fine particles have a surface charge in a polarity opposite to the water-based ink and has ion whose polarity is opposite to that of the fine particles in an ionic equivalence of 0.1-40 meq/l.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid composition for forming a colored portion on a recording medium together with an anionic or cationic water-based ink containing a coloring material. The liquid composition comprises a solvent, fine particles in a dispersion state, wherein the fine particles have a surface charge in a polarity opposite to the water-based ink and has ion whose polarity is opposite to that of the fine particles in an ionic equivalence of 0.1-40 meq/l.

Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid composition adapted to be applied to a recording medium with ink containing a multi-color to form a colored section on the recording medium. The liquid composition contains fine particles reactive relative to the solvent and the coloring material in ink. When processed in particular steps, it produces aggregates of fine particles showing a specific surface area between 70 and 250 m2/g as determined by the BET nitrogen adsorption/desorption method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid composition for use in forming a colored portion by imparting it together with an ink containing a colorant to a recording medium. The liquid composition includes at least a solvent and fine particles reactive with the colorant and, in which the fine particles in the liquid composition have an average particle diameter in a range of 30 to 200 nm, and a 10% cumulative value of scatting intensity of 10 nm or more and 90% cumulative value of scattering intensity of 300 nm or less, when measured by a dynamic light scattering method.

Abstract: A liquid composition is adapted for use with an anionic ink for forming a high quality image with alleviated bleeding by means of an ink-jet recording system. The liquid composition includes a first cationic substance and a second cationic substance different from said first cationic substance, of which the first cationic substance is provided in the form of micro-particles at least whose surface is cationic.

Abstract: The invention provides colored fine resin particles useful as coloring materials for inks which can provide images having good water fastness, weather fastness and rub-off resistance and are excellent in dispersion stability, and a production process thereof. The colored fine resin particles have a structure in which a pigment coated with a water-insoluble resin is encapsulated with a copolymer composed of at least a polymerizable unsaturated monomer and a reactive emulsifier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid composition, an ink set employing the liquid compositions a method for forming a colored area of an image on a recording medium with the ink-set, and an ink-jet recording apparatus employing the ink set are provided, which enables formation of ink-jet record on a plain paper sheet with a broad color reproduction range, uniformity of the color, less stripy unevenness in a solid print part, and high rub-off resistance of the record. The liquid composition is stable in storage, and is ejected stably from the recording head. The liquid composition is used for forming a colored area on a recording medium by application with an anionic or cationic aqueous ink containing a coloring material, and the liquid composition contains fine particles dispersed therein and the surface of the fine particles being electrically charged in a polarity opposite to the aqueous ink.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink set which can form a colored area on a recording medium with a broad color reproduction range, excellent uniformity of the colors, with effective prevention of bleeding at the boundary between adjacent different color areas on a recording medium, and high rub-off resistance of the colored area. The ink set has separately an aqueous anionic or cationic ink containing a coloring material, and a liquid composition containing fine particles dispersed therein and electrically charged at the surface in a polarity opposite to the ink. The ink and the liquid composition are adjusted to give, when mixed at a mixing weight ratio of about 1:1, a pH of the liquid mixture to cause aggregation of at least the coloring material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid composition measurement method. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of: i) subjecting a liquid composition containing fine particles and a solvent to the following pretreatment steps (a) to (c) to form an agglomerate of fine particles: (a) evaporating the solvent of the liquid composition at 120° C. for 10 yours in atmosphere, and drying the liquid composition; (b) burning the dried liquid composition resulting from the pretreatment step (a) at 700° C. after raising temperature from 120° C. to 700° C. over one hour; (c) cooling a burned product obtained in the pretreatment step (b) to room temperature, powdering the burned product to obtain agglomerates of the fine particle; and ii) vacuum degassing the agglomerates at 120° C. for 8 hours, and measuring physical properties of pores of the agglomerates by a nitrogen adsorption and desorption method.