US Patent 7332532 Polymeric dispersants for ink-jet applications

An ink-jet ink which includes a liquid vehicle and a polymer-dispersed pigment dispersed in the liquid vehicle is disclosed and described. More specifically, the polymer-dispersed pigment can include a pigment encapsulated with a polymer having hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties. The polymer can be a polymerization product of at least a first monomer having a hydrophilic group, and a second monomer having a hydrophobic group. Further, the polymer can be configured such that the polymer-dispersed pigment is stable in the liquid vehicle at a pH of from about 5.5 to about 8.5. Such polymer-dispersed pigments allow for formation of ink-jet inks with improved options for bleed control mechanisms and increased reliability of ink-jet architecture.