| abstract |
A hot melt ink composition which can provide an excellent fixation strength and a high printing quality irrespective of the kind of recording media. This composition is discharged as droplets at a temperature higher than normal temperature, is solid at normal temperature, and comprises a colorant and a vehicle containing at least first and second components, wherein: the first component alone does not dissolve the colorant; the second component has a higher melting point than that of the first component, dissolves the colorant, has compatibility with the first component at a temperature higher than the melting point thereof, and can dissolve the colorant and the first component to thereby form a homogeneous phase; and the weight ratio of the first component to the second component is within the range of 93/7 to 1, and the amount of the colorant is at least 2 wt.% based on the weight of the ink composition; with the proviso that when the above ratio is less than 9, the weight ratio of the colorant to the second component is at least 0.3. |