Disclosed is an ink carrier and a method for forming same, and a phase
change ink including same. The ink carrier comprises a colloidal
dispersion of at least one of silica nanoparticles and metal oxide
nanoparticles. The ink carrier can also include a low melting wax, and a
gelling agent. The ink carrier exhibits a substantially uniform
distribution of the nanoparticles so that they are discretely distributed
therewithin, and are substantially resistant to the aggregation of the
nanoparticles distributed therewithin.