Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising a colorant and an
ink vehicle, the ink being a solid at temperatures less than about 50 C.
and exhibiting a viscosity of no more than about 20 centipoise at a jetting temperature
of no more than about 160 C., wherein at a first temperature hydrogen bonds
of sufficient strength exist between the ink vehicle molecules so that the ink
vehicle forms hydrogen-bonded dimers, oligomers, or polymers, and wherein at a
second temperature which is higher than the first temperature the hydrogen bonds
between the ink vehicle molecules are sufficiently broken that fewer hydrogen-bonded
dimers, oligomers, or polymers are present in the ink at the second temperature
than are present in the ink at the first temperature, so that the viscosity of
the ink at the second temperature is lower than the viscosity of the ink at the
first temperature.
