Abstract: An ink composition includes a first saccharide and a second saccharide. The first saccharide is a linear saccharide having 4 or more saccharide units and the second saccharide is at least one selected from the group consisting of trehalose, maltotriose, and a cyclic saccharide.

Abstract: A method for producing bacteriorhodopsin-containing microcapsules is described, which can be optically activated, having a diameter of less than 50 ?m, preferably less than 10 ?m, comprising an enveloping layer, which protects the bacteriorhodopsin from harmful environmental factors, while at the same time preserving the functionality thereof. In doing so, bacteriorhodopsin is suspended in a first step, in the form of PM/BR patches in an aqueous medium having a pH value ranging from 6-9 in the presence of a water-retaining polymer, and said suspension is spray-dried to form a powder, or is dried in an aliphatic solvent using low steam pressure and subsequent dehydration to form a powder. In a second step, the powder obtained in this way is provided with an envelope, which is substantially completely translucent to light in the visible range and made of a polymer and/or a paraffin having a solidification point ranging between 45° C. and 65° C. and/or a carnauba wax having a melting range of 70-90° C.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an aqueous inkjet ink includes water and a pigment. The pigment is contained in the aqueous inkjet ink in an amount of less than 5 wt %. The queous inkjet ink has viscosities (mPa·s) measured at 25° C. using a cone-plate type viscometer and satisfying the following relationships: VB/VA?1.5 3 mPa·s?VA?15 mPa·s wherein VA represents a viscosity measured at a rotation speed of 50 rpm and VB represents a viscosity measured at a rotation speed of 2.5 rpm.

Abstract: The invention provides a dual color ink composition which comprises: (a) at least one pigment selected from a pearlescent pigment and a metal powder pigment; (b) water; (c) at least one water-soluble organic solvent selected from alcohols, glycols and glycol ethers, any of which have a branched hydrophobic group; (d) a water-soluble dye; and (e) a modified starch as a water-soluble fixing agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink set for ink jet recording comprising at least one “self-dispersion type pigment ink containing water and a pigment dispersible in water without a dispersing agent” and at least one “light-color resin-containing pigment ink containing water and a pigment made dispersible in water with a resin, wherein the concentration of the pigment is one-half or less the concentration of the pigment contained in the self-dispersion type pigment ink”. Also disclosed is an ink jet recording process for conducting ink jet recording using the ink set described above.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink set for ink jet recording comprising at least one “resin-containing pigment ink containing water and a pigment made dispersible in water with a resin” and at least one “self-dispersion type pigment ink containing water and a pigment dispersible in water without a dispersing agent”, wherein the ink set is constituted so that the at least one resin-containing pigment ink and the at least one self-dispersion type pigment ink correspond to each other in terms of hue. Also disclosed is an ink jet recording process for conducting ink jet recording using the ink set described above, wherein the resin-containing pigment ink contained in the ink set is used for paper exclusive to ink jet recording, and the self-dispersion type pigment ink contained in the ink set is used for plain paper.

Abstract: A pseudoplastic water based ink for a ball-point pen comprising at least a colorant, water and an associative type viscosity control system, whereby the viscosity of the ink is comprised in a range from 20 to 40 mPa.s, when it is subjected to a shear rate of 1000 s−1, and between 10,000 and 12,000 mPa.s, when the shear rate is 1 s−1.

Abstract: An ink composition comprising at least one color suitable for food use and a liquid vehicle including water and an organic solvent miscible with water in a volumetric ratio variable from 3:1 to 1:10, wherein the organic solvent is ethanol or a mixture ethanol:acetone in a volumetric ratio variable from 1:2 to 3:1; this ink composition is suitable, in particular, even though not exclusively, for surface coloring and printing on supports, wrappings and objects intended for coming into contact with foods.

Abstract: Erasable inks are provided for use in a writing instruments. In one aspect, the inks include a solvent, and, dispersed in the solvent as a colorant, a pigment having a flake-like morphology, the ink being substantially free of other colorants.

Abstract: A water based ink composition for a ballpoint pen which is comprises an alkali-swelling associative thickener comprising a polymer having a carboxyl group and a hydrophobic group, a pigment, a polar solvent containing water, a pH controlling agent and other additives. It is a water based ink composition which is stable over a long period of time without settling of the pigment itself and can be filled into a ballpoint pen having simplified ink free type structure as is the case with a ballpoint pen using an oil based ink.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink set for ink jet recording comprising at least one “self-dispersion type pigment ink containing water and a pigment dispersible in water without a dispersing agent” and at least one “light-color resin-containing pigment ink containing water and a pigment made dispersible in water with a resin, wherein the concentration of the pigment is one-half or less the concentration of the pigment contained in the self-dispersion type pigment ink”. Also disclosed is an ink jet recording process for conducting ink jet recording using the ink set described above.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ink set for ink jet recording comprising at least one “resin-containing pigment ink containing water and a pigment made dispersible in water with a resin” and at least one “self-dispersion type pigment ink containing water and a pigment dispersible in water without a dispersing agent”, wherein the ink set is constituted so that the at least one resin-containing pigment ink and the at least one self-dispersion type pigment ink correspond to each other in terms of hue. Also disclosed is an ink jet recording process for conducting ink jet recording using the ink set described above, wherein the resin-containing pigment ink contained in the ink set is used for paper exclusive to ink jet recording, and the self-dispersion type pigment ink contained in the ink set is used for plain paper.

Abstract: Pearlescent inks are provided. The inks are suitable for use in writing instruments, and include a dispersion of a pearlescent pigment in a solvent. Some inks are erasable and/or shear-thinning.

Abstract: An erasable, shear-thinning writing composition includes a shear-thinning additive and graphite particles dispersed within an aqueous solvent system.

Abstract: An erasable, shear-thinning writing composition includes a shear-thinning additive and graphite particles dispersed within an aqueous solvent system.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a scratch ink composition improved in erasability, hiding power and ease of use. The invention relates to a scratch ink composition comprising a flaky pigment having a particle size distribution (as determined with a laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer) such that the integral fraction of particles not larger than 10 &mgr;m in diameter is not more than 30%, a resin component, and a solvent.

Abstract: Provided is a water based ink composition for a ball point pen comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkylene oxide adduct of polyglycerin, an alkylene oxide adduct of glycerin and an alkylene oxide adduct of trimethylolpropane and further comprising a colorant, a white plastic pigment, a viscosity-controlling agent and water. The ink composition is excellent in a writing property as well as a coloring property of the drawn lines regardless of the kind of writing paper and is stable with the passage of time. In addition thereto, it provides the drawn lines with a color having the same color tone as that of the visual color when it is charged into an ink reservoir.

Abstract: Pearlescent inks are provided. The inks are suitable for use in writing instruments, and include a dispersion of a pearlescent pigment in a solvent. Some inks are erasable and/or shear-thinning.

Abstract: A polychromic ink composition depending on viewing angle comprises 0.5 to 40% by weight of cholesteric liquid crystal polymer particles whose maximum particle diameter is 1 to 200 &mgr;m, 1.0 to 30.0% by weight of binder resins, 0.05 to 20% by weight of pigments with a deep-colored coloring matter whose average particle diameter is 0.01 to 0.5 &mgr;m, 0.01 to 5.0% by weight of a shear-thinning property imparting agent, and water with respect to the total amount of the ink composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous ink for ball point pens comprising a coloring pigment, a water-soluble organic solvent, water and a polysaccharide, wherein pigment particles of said coloring pigment gather and form a spotted agglomerate phase. The present invention also relates to an aqueous ink with a coloring pigment and a metallic powder pigment comprising a water-soluble organic solvent, water and a polysaccharide, wherein pigment particles of both the coloring pigment and the metallic powder pigment gather to the same pigment phase and form a complex agglomerate phase.

Abstract: An aqueous ink for a ball-point pen which is stable over time and has high pigment dispersion stability, includes a pigment, a water-soluble organic solvent, water, xanthane gum of about 0.01 to about 0.2 wt. % and a sodium alginate of about 0.2 to about 0.6 wt. % of a total amount of the ink.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous metallic ink composition having utility in ink for writing instruments, for printing, for coating, and the like. The composition includes a metallic powder pigment, a colorant, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, and further includes a natural polysaccharide and at least one compound selected from cellulose derivatives, a cyclodextrin, cyclodextrin derivatives, a water-soluble soy polysaccharide, and water-soluble soy polysaccharide derivatives. In case that an anionic polymer is added as a pigment dispersant into the aqueous metallic pigment composition, the pH value is adjusted to 8.0-10.