Abstract: The concoction of xanthan and acrylic emulsion was selected as thickening agents to prepare the gel ink with carbon black as pigment.The effects of the dosage of thickening agents and preparing temperature on the rheological properties of the gel ink were investigated.The results show that such composite thickening agents had a synergistic effect on the rheological properties of the ink.The gel ink prepared by composite thickening agents exhibited as non-Newtonian shear thinning fluids behavior.The particle size and writing performance of the gel ink were influenced by the preparing temperature.The optimization temperature for the gel ink preparation was 40 ℃.The properties of the prepared gel ink were matched to those of the imported ink products.