Patent ID: 7358301

Claim:
A method of associating an image stabilizer with a latex particulate for stabilizing a colorant, comprising: (a) forming a precursor stabilizer-containing monomer by coupling a polymerizable monomer having an isocyanate moiety with a stabilizing agent having an —NH, —SH, —OH, or —CH funtionality, wherein the coupling occurs by reaction between the isocyanate moiety and the —NH, —SH, —OH, or —CH functionality; (b) polymerizing the precursor stabilizer-containing monomer in an emulsion to form a precursor stabilizer-containing latex particulate, the isocyanate moiety and the —NH, —SH, —OH, or —CH functionality being blocked from interfering with polymerization; and (c) decoupling the stabilizing agent after forming the precursor stabilizer-containing latex particulate to form a latex particulate in solution, said latex particulate having an attached stabilizing moiety, and wherein the stabilizing agent is also present in solution.