Black ink for ink-jet recording having dispersed particles with specific volume mean diameter, ink set and ink-jet recording method using the same

1. An ink-jet recording black ink comprising at least water, a water-soluble organic solvent and a self-dispersible carbon black, wherein a volume mean diameter of dispersed particles contained in the ink is in a range of 85 to 115 nm, and a volume of dispersed particles having a particle diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 μm contained in the ink is in a range of 0.001 to 0.03% relative to a volume of the ink.

2. The ink-jet recording black ink of claim 1 , wherein the self-dispersible carbon black has a hydrophilic functional group.

3. The ink-jet recording black ink of claim 1 , wherein a content of the self-dispersible carbon black is in a range of 0.1 to 20% by mass relative to a mass of the ink.

4. The ink-jet recording black ink of claim 1 , wherein a content of the water-soluble organic solvent is in a range of 1 to 60% by mass relative to a mass of the ink.

5. The ink-jet recording black ink of claim 1 , further comprising a polymer.

6. The ink-jet recording black ink of claim 1 , further comprising a penetrant.

7. An ink-jet recording ink set comprising a black ink and at least one of a cyan ink, a magenta ink and a yellow ink, the black ink containing at least water, a water-soluble organic solvent and a self-dispersible carbon black, wherein a volume mean diameter of dispersed particles contained in the black ink is a range of 85 to 115 nm, and a volume of dispersed particles having a particle diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 μm contained in the black ink is in a range of 0.001 to 0.03% relative to a volume of the black ink.

8. The ink-jet recording ink set of claim 7 , wherein the self-dispersible carbon black has a hydrophilic functional group.

9. The ink-jet recording ink set of claim 7 , wherein a content of the self-dispersible carbon black is in a range of 0.1 to 20% by mass relative to a mass of the black ink.

10. The ink-jet recording ink set of claim 7 , wherein a content of the water-soluble organic solvent is in a range of 1 to 60% by mass relative to a mass of the black ink.

11. The ink-jet recording ink set of claim 7 , wherein the black ink further contains a polymer.

12. The ink-jet recording ink set of claim 7 , wherein the black ink further contains a penetrant.

13. An ink-jet recording method in which ink droplets of respective inks of an ink set are discharged onto a recording medium according to recording signals to record an image, wherein the ink set contains a black ink and at least one of a cyan ink, a magenta ink and a yellow ink, the black ink comprises at least water, a water-soluble organic solvent and a self-dispersible carbon black, a volume mean particle diameter of dispersed particles contained in the black ink is in a range of 85 to 115 nm, and a volume of dispersed particles having a particle diameter of 0.5 to 1.0 μm contained in the black ink is in a range of 0.001 to 0.03% relative to a volume of the black ink.

14. The ink-jet recording method of claim 13 , wherein an amount of each ink droplet of the black ink is 20 ng or less and an amount of said at least one of a cyan ink, a magenta ink and a yellow ink is 7 ng or less.

15. The ink-jet recording method of claim 13 , wherein the self-dispersible carbon black has a hydrophilic functional group.

16. The ink-jet recording method of claim 13 , wherein a content of the self-dispersible carbon black is in a range of 0.1 to 20% by mass relative to a mass of the black ink.

17. The ink-jet recording method of claim 13 , wherein a content of the water-soluble organic solvent is in a range of 1 to 60% by mass relative to a mass of the black ink.

18. The ink-jet recording method of claim 13 , wherein the black ink further contains a polymer.

19. The ink-jet recording method of claim 13 , wherein the black ink further contains a penetrant.

20. The ink-jet recording method of claim 13 , wherein the ink droplets are formed by thermal energy.