An aqueous ink composition having at least one of dispersed pigments and anionic charged polymer, and further including a lower level, relative to the concentration of pigment and anionic charged polymer, of a polyvalent metal oxide particle dispersion, wherein the ink composition has a pH of greater than 4 and the polyvalent metal oxide particles have a negative zeta potential at the pH of the ink composition. These ink compositions are effective in reducing the damage and failure of silicon-based inkjet print heads caused by ink-induced dissolution and stress cracking of the silicon-based materials found in the print heads.