Aqueous ink-jet inks containing alternating polyurethanes as binders

1. An aqueous ink-jet ink comprising a pigment, an aqueous vehicle and an alternating polyurethane binder comprising a first monomer with a formula of OCN—R 1 —NCO and a second monomer with a formula of HO—R 2 —OH, wherein the isocyanate groups in the first monomer react with the hydroxyl groups in the second monomer during polymerization to produce a polymer of the general structure of Formula I:

wherein the terminal isocyanate groups in said polymer is capped with a capping agent;

each R 1 is C 9 -C 40 arylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, or a polymeric unit of the structure of Formula II:

each R 2 is C 1 -C 20 alkylene, C 3 -C 20 alkylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, C 6 -C 40 arylene, C 9 -C 40 arylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, polyether, polyester, polycarbonate, polycarbonate-co-polyester, acrylic, or HO—R 2 —OH is the reaction product of OCN—R 1 —NCO or a di-anhydride with a diol HO—R 5 —OH;

each R 3 is C 1 -C 20 alkylene, C 3 -C 20 alkylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, C 6 -C 40 arylene, C 9 -C 40 arylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether;

each R 4 is C 1 -C 20 alkylene or C 3 -C 20 alkylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether;

R 5 is C 1 -C 20 alkylene, C 3 -C 20 alkylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, C 6 -C 40 arylene, C 9 -C 40 arylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, polyether, polyester or polycarbonate;

n is an integer from 1 to 200;

each m is an integer from 1 to 10;

said capping agent is one or more members selected from the group consisting of R 6 CHR 7 OH, R 6 CHR 7 SH, and epoxide CH 2 OCR 7 R 8 ;

each R 6 is C 1 -C 20 alkyl, C 3 -C 20 alkyl substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, C 6 -C 40 aryl or C 9 -C 40 aryl substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether;

each R 7 is H, C 1 -C 20 alkyl, C 3 -C 20 alkyl substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, C 6 -C 40 aryl or C 9 -C 40 aryl substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether;

each R 8 is H, C 1 -C 20 alkyl, C 3 -C 20 alkyl substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, C 6 -C 40 aryl or C 9 -C 40 aryl substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, provided that when R 7 is H, R 8 is not H; and

wherein all the ranges of carbon contents for substituents are carbon contents of the substituents of the entire molecules including the substituents, provided that when R 1 is Formula II, HO—R 2 —OH is the reaction product of a di-anhydride with a diol HO—R 5 —OH.

2. The ink of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is C 1 -C 20 alkylene, C 3 -C 20 alkylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether, polyether, polyester or polycarbonate.

3. The ink of claim 2 , wherein R 3 is C 3 -C 20 alkylene substituted by hydroxy, acid or ether.

4. The ink of claim 3 , wherein n is an integer from 1 to 40.

5. The ink of claim 4 , wherein said capping agent is R 6 CHR 7 OH.

6. The ink of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is a polymeric unit of the structure of Formula II:

7. The ink of claim 6 , wherein said di-anhydride is 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, pyromellitic dianhydride or 4,4′-oxydiphthalic dianhydride.

8. The ink of claim 7 , wherein R 5 is polyether or polycarbonate, and m is an integer from 1 to 6.

9. The ink of claim 1 , wherein HO—R 2 —OH is the reaction product of a di-anhydride with a diol HO—R 5 —OH.

10. The ink of claim 9 , wherein said di-anhydride is biphenyl-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, pyromellitic dianhydride or oxyphenyl dianhydride.

11. The ink of claim 10 , wherein R 5 is polyether or polycarbonate, and m is an integer from 1 to 6.