Patent ID: 8232331

Claim:
A nonaqueous ink, comprising: colorant particles, the colorant particles having an average particle diameter of 1 nm or more and less than 50 nm, and the value (D 90 -D 10 ) of being 100 nm or less, a dispersant; and a cationically-polymerizable compound; wherein D 90 -D 10 is a value obtained by subtracting D 10 from D 90 , D 90 and D 10 represent respectively the particle diameters at cumulative colorant particle numbers of 0.9 (90 number %) and 0.1 (10 number %) in an integral value of the distribution function dG=F(D)dD; and G represents the number of the pigment particles; and D represents the diameter of the particles, wherein the colorant particles comprise quinacridone pigment particles or azo pigment particles, wherein the colorant particles have a crystalline structure as determined by a powder X-ray diffraction analysis, such that the colorant particles do not show a halo specific to an amorphous substance, and wherein the crystallite diameter of the colorant particles is 5 nm or more, and wherein the cationically-polymerizable compound is at least one cationically-polymerizable compound selected from the group consisting of an oxetane compound, an oxirane compound and a vinyl ether compound, said nonaqueous ink prepared by a process which comprises the steps of: providing a colorant solution and an aqueous medium, in which a dispersant is contained in at least one of the colorant solution and the aqueous medium; bringing the colorant solution and the aqueous medium into contact each other, and thereby precipitating the colorant as fine particles; removing the fine particles in an agglomerate form; and bringing the removed colorant agglomerates into contact with an organic medium.