| abstract |
The invention provides a self-dispersible polymer having one or more hydrophilic structural units and one or more aromatic group-containing structural units. The content of the aromatic group-containing structural units is in a range from 10 mass % to 95 mass % with respect to the total mass of the self-dispersible polymer, and the content of one or more water soluble components, which are contained in the self-dispersible polymer and exhibit solubility in water when the self-dispersible polymer is dispersed in a water-based medium, is 10 mass % or less with respect to the total mass of the self-dispersible polymer. The invention further provides a water-based dispersion containing the self-dispersible polymer, a water-based ink composition containing a polymer particle containing the self-dispersible polymer, an ink for ink jet recording containing the water-based ink composition, an ink set containing the water-based ink composition, and an image forming method including applying the water-based ink composition. |