Abstract: An oil-based ink for an electrostatic ink jet process, comprising: a nonaqueous carrier liquid having an electric resistance of 109 &OHgr;cm or more and a dielectric constant of 3.5 or less; and chargeable resin particles dispersed in the nonaqueous carrier liquid, wherein the resin particles dispersed are copolymer resin particles obtained by a polymerization granulation of a solution containing: at least one monofunctional monomer (A) which is soluble in a nonaqueous solvent and becomes insoluble in the nonaqueous solvent by polymerization; at least one monofunctional monomer (B) having an amino group represented by formula (I) shown below and being copolymerizable with the monomer (A) and at least one resin for dispersion stabilization (P) comprising a component represented by formula (II) shown below: The symbols in the above formulae are defined in the specification.

Abstract: Pigment preparations comprising an organic pigment and a phenol-modified natural resin derivative having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of from 400 to 10,000 g/mol which is obtainable by reacting a mixture of reactants containing a) from 50 to 95% by weight of natural resin or natural resin acids, b) from 0.5 to 30% by weight of monocyclic or polycyclic phenols, c) from 0.01 to 15% by weight of aldehydes or aldehyde acetals, d) from 0.001 to 2% by weight of metal compounds from groups Ia and IIa of the Periodic Table, and e) from 4.489 to 30% by weight of &agr;,&bgr;-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids or their anhydrides and has an acid number in the range from 160 to 300 mg of KOH per g of resin, preferably from 200 to 260 mg of KOH per g of resin, are used advantageously in offset printing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transparent or colorless coating comprising a heat responsive material that increases in opacity when exposed to heat. An example of a heat responsive material is a silicate or a titanate. The present invention further provides a coating composition comprising a carrier and a heat responsive material. The coating can further include additives such as adhesion promoters, surface tension modifying agents, crosslinking agents, or plasticizers. The present invention further provides a method for creating a mark on a substrate comprising providing to the substrate the transparent coating to obtain a coated substrate and exposing a selected area of the coated substrate to heat, e.g., a laser, to create the mark. The present invention further provides substrates suitable for laser marking.

Abstract: A matte ink composition and method for using the composition to produce a superior matte-gloss contrast finish. The matte ink composition comprises (1) an oleoresinous component, (2) a matte agent to impart a matte finish, (3) a cobalt catalyst to accelerate drying of the composition, and (4) an etching agent to condition a gloss surface to promote adherence of the ink composition to the gloss surface. To prepare a matte-gloss finish according to the present invention, a printing substrate is first coated with a gloss film lamination and, after the gloss coating has adequately dried, the matte ink composition of the present invention is lithography printed onto the gloss surface. This novel matte ink composition provides a superior matte-gloss contrast finish without the need for specialized UV equipment and procedures.

Abstract: Provided is a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion ink for stencil printing which is less in change of viscosity with time and can give always stable prints. The emulsion ink contains a resinous component having a free carboxylic acid group or a higher fatty acid in the oil phase, and contains a divalent or trivalent metal salt and a monovalent metal salt having alkalinity in the water phase, whereby an interfacial layer of the emulsion is strengthened to stabilize the emulsion. The resinous component is preferably an alkyd resin, a rosin-modified phenolic resin, a maleic acid resin and a rosin. The monovalent metal salt or the divalent or trivalent metal salt is preferably contained in at least an amount equivalent to the free carboxylic acid of the resinous component and the higher fatty acid contained in the oil phase. The resinous component or the higher fatty acid is contained in an amount of 0.5-30% by weight based on the total amount of the emulsion ink.