Molded body, composite body, tubular fixing member, fixing device, and image forming device

Abstract

To provide a molded body with superior thermal conductivity.SOLUTION: A molded body contains at least one kind of polymer selected from a resin and rubber, and a filler dispersed in the polymer, wherein a volume ratio of the filler occupied in the molded body is 25 vol.% or less, and an average value of the minimum distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM is 30 nm or less.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a molded body, a composite body, a tubular fixing member, a fixing device, and an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a seamless type cylindrical heating fixing member having an elastic layer, in which carbon fibers are arranged in the elastic layer, and the heat conductivity in the thickness direction of the elastic layer is 1.0 W / m·K or more.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a three-dimensional network-like carbon fiber structure composed of carbon fibers having an outer diameter of 15 to 100 nm, in which a plurality of carbon fibers extend and have granular portions that connect the carbon fibers to each other, and the granular portions are formed in the growth process of the carbon fibers. A composite material containing the carbon fiber structure in the matrix at a ratio of 0.1 to 30% by mass of the whole is disclosed.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses an inorganic-organic composite composition containing a plurality of components of a thermoplastic resin constituting a matrix and a high thermal conductivity filler made of an inorganic component having higher thermal conductivity than the thermoplastic resin. One component of the thermoplastic resin is a polyamide-based resin, the other component of the thermoplastic resin is a polyolefin-based resin, the high thermal conductivity filler is contained more in one component of the thermoplastic resin than in the other component of the thermoplastic resin, and the high thermal conductivity fillers are in direct contact with each other to form a network structure.

[0005] Patent Document 4 discloses a resin substrate containing a resin, a first filler having an aspect ratio of 2 or more and dispersed in the in-plane direction of the substrate in the resin, and a second filler having an aspect ratio of 2 or more and a major axis shorter than the major axis of the first filler and dispersed in the thickness direction of the substrate in the resin.

[0006] Patent Document 5 discloses a cured polymer composite comprising a cured polymer containing a cured siloxane polymer or a cured silyl-terminated hybrid polymer, and a material derived from at least one carbon nanostructure selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanostructure, a fragment of a carbon nanostructure, a broken carbon nanotube, an extended carbon nanostructure strand, a dispersed carbon nanostructure, and any combination thereof, dispersed in the cured polymer, wherein the carbon nanostructure or the fragment of the carbon nanostructure includes a plurality of multi-layer carbon nanotubes crosslinked in a polymeric structure by branching, interlocking, entangling, and / or sharing a common layer, the broken carbon nanotube is derived from the carbon nanostructure, branched, and shares a common layer with each other, the extended carbon nanostructure strand is derived from the carbon nanostructure and includes carbon nanotubes linearly arranged with respect to each other, and the dispersed carbon nanostructure includes exfoliated broken carbon nanotubes that do not share a common layer with each other.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] This disclosure aims to provide a molded article with excellent thermal conductivity compared to a molded article in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded article using FIB-SEM is more than 30 nm.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0009] Specific means for solving the above problems include the following aspects. <1> A molded article containing at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of resins and rubbers and fillers dispersed in the polymer, wherein the volume ratio of the filler in the molded article is 25% by volume or less, and the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded article using FIB-SEM is 30 nm or less. Molded article. [[ID=ig]]<2> The molded article according to <1>, wherein the volume ratio of the filler in the molded article is 10% by volume or more and 20% by volume or less. <3> The molded article according to <1> or <2>, wherein the filler includes a filler having a branched shape. <4> The molded article according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the filler includes two or more fillers having different shapes from each other or two or more fillers having different surface properties from each other. <5> The molded article according to any one of <1> to <4>, wherein the filler includes a first filler having a first functional group on its surface and a second filler having a second functional group different from the first functional group on its surface. <6> The molded article according to <5>, wherein the first functional group is a carboxy group or a hydroxy group, and the second functional group is an amino group. <7> The molded article according to any one of <1> to <6>, wherein the polymer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of polyimide resins, acrylic rubbers, and silicone rubbers. <8> A composite body comprising the molded body according to any one of <1> to <7>. <9> A tubular fixing member comprising the molded body according to any one of <1> to <7> formed into a tubular shape. <10> Comprising a first rotating body and a second rotating body disposed in contact with the outer surface of the first rotating body, At least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is the tubular fixing member according to <9>, Fixing the toner image by passing a recording medium having a toner image formed on its surface through the contact portion between the first rotating body and the second rotating body. Fixing device. <11> An image carrier, A charging device for charging the surface of the image carrier, An electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image carrier, A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier with a developer containing toner to form a toner image, A transfer device for transferring the toner image to the surface of a recording medium, The fixing device according to <10> for fixing the toner image to the recording medium, and comprising: Image forming apparatus.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to <1>, <3>, <4>, <5>, <6> or <7>, a molded body having excellent thermal conductivity is provided as compared with a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM exceeds 30 nm. According to <2>, a molded body having excellent flexural resistance is provided as compared with a molded body in which the volume ratio of the filler in the molded body exceeds 20% by volume. According to <8>, a composite body having excellent thermal conductivity is provided as compared with a composite body including a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM exceeds 30 nm. According to <9>, a tubular fixing member having excellent thermal conductivity is provided as compared with a tubular fixing member including a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM is more than 30 nm. According to <10>, a fixing device including a tubular fixing member having excellent thermal conductivity is provided as compared with a tubular fixing member including a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM is more than 30 nm. According to <11>, an image forming apparatus including a tubular fixing member having excellent thermal conductivity is provided as compared with a tubular fixing member including a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM is more than 30 nm.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described. These descriptions and examples are illustrative of the embodiments and do not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0013] In the present disclosure, "A and / or B" is synonymous with "at least one of A and B". That is, "A and / or B" means that it may be only A, only B, or a combination of A and B.

[0014] In the present disclosure, a numerical range indicated using "~" indicates a range including the numerical values described before and after "~" as the minimum value and the maximum value, respectively. In the numerical ranges described step by step in the present disclosure, the upper limit value or the lower limit value described in one numerical range may be replaced with the upper limit value or the lower limit value of another numerically described range. Further, in the numerical ranges described in the present disclosure, the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the numerical range may be replaced with the value shown in the examples.

[0015] In the present disclosure, the term "step" includes not only an independent step but also the step even if it cannot be clearly distinguished from other steps as long as the purpose of the step is achieved.

[0016] When an embodiment is described with reference to the drawings in the present disclosure, the configuration of the embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in the drawings. Further, the size of the members in each drawing is conceptual, and the relative relationship of the sizes between the members is not limited thereto.

[0017] In the present disclosure, each component may contain a plurality of corresponding substances. When referring to the amount of each component in the composition, when there are a plurality of substances corresponding to each component in the composition, unless otherwise specified, it means the total amount of the plurality of substances present in the composition. In the present disclosure, the particles corresponding to each component may contain a plurality of types. When there are a plurality of types of particles corresponding to each component in the composition, unless otherwise specified, the particle diameter of each component means a value for the mixture of the plurality of types of particles present in the composition.

[0018] In the present disclosure, the "axial direction" of the tubular member means the direction in which the rotation axis of the tubular member extends, and the "circumferential direction" of the tubular member means the rotation direction of the tubular member.

[0019] <Formed body> The formed body of the present disclosure contains at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of resins and rubbers and a filler dispersed in the polymer. The molded article of the present disclosure has a volume ratio of the filler in the molded article of 25% by volume or less, and the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded article by FIB-SEM is 30 nm or less.

[0020] A method for three-dimensional analysis of a molded article by FIB-SEM (Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscopes) and a method for obtaining the average value of the shortest distance between fillers will be described. The molded article is cut out into a rectangular parallelepiped with a width of 1 mm and embedded with an epoxy resin. The embedded material is subjected to cross-section processing with a microtome to form a block cross-section in which the cross-section in the thickness direction of the molded article can be seen. The sample with the block cross-section formed is fixed to the sample stage of a FIB-SEM device (FIB-SEM Helios NanoLab 600i, FEI Company, USA), and vapor deposition treatment is performed. FIB processing and SEM observation of the block cross-section are repeated with the FIB-SEM device to obtain a two-dimensional stacking image. FIB processing and SEM observation are repeated until at least 100 fillers are observed. The SEM observation is performed at a magnification at which the fillers dispersed in the molded article can be observed. The two-dimensional stacking image is imported into three-dimensional image analysis software (Avizo-Fire, VSG) to construct a three-dimensional image. In the constructed three-dimensional image, at least 100 fillers are randomly selected. For each of the randomly selected fillers, the closest filler is identified, and the shortest distance (nm) between the fillers is measured. If there is a filler in contact with a certain filler, the closest filler is the filler in contact, and the shortest distance between the fillers is 0 nm. The measured values of at least 100 shortest distances are arithmetically averaged to obtain the average value (nm) of the shortest distance between fillers. The volume ratio of the filler in the molded article is also obtained by analyzing the constructed three-dimensional image.

[0021] The molded article of the present disclosure has excellent thermal conductivity even when the filling rate of the filler is low (the volume ratio of the filler is 25% by volume or less). Its mechanism is presumed as follows. The average value of the shortest distance between fillers being 30 nm or less means that the fillers are dispersed in the polymer in close proximity to each other, and that the fillers are in close proximity to form a heat conduction path. Since heat is conducted through this heat conduction path, the molded article of the present disclosure has excellent thermal conductivity even though the volume ratio of the fillers is 25% by volume or less.

[0022] From the viewpoint of excellent thermal conductivity, the average value of the shortest distance between fillers in the molded article of the present disclosure is 30 nm or less, preferably 28 nm or less, more preferably 25 nm or less, and even more preferably 22 nm or less. From the viewpoint of the molded article having excellent thermal conductivity, the smaller the average value of the shortest distance between fillers, the more preferable, and the average value of the shortest distance between fillers may be 0 nm. From the viewpoint of excellent flexural resistance, the average value of the shortest distance between fillers in the molded article of the present disclosure is preferably 5 nm or more, more preferably 10 nm or more, and even more preferably 15 nm or more.

[0023] From the viewpoint of the molded article of the present disclosure having excellent flexural resistance, the volume ratio of the fillers in the molded article is 25% by volume or less, and from the viewpoint of the balance between the thermal conductivity and flexural resistance of the molded article, it is preferably 10% by volume or more and 25% by volume or less, more preferably 12% by volume or more and 20% by volume or less, and even more preferably 14% by volume or more and 18% by volume or less.

[0024] [Polymer] The molded article of the present disclosure contains at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of resins and rubbers. The polymer may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0025] Examples of the resin include polyimide resin, polyamide resin, polyamideimide resin, polyetheretherketone resin, thermotropic liquid crystal polymer, fluororesin, silicone resin, polystyrene resin, etc. The resin may be used alone or in combination of two or more. From the viewpoint of the heat resistance of the molded article, polyimide resin is preferable as the resin.

[0026] Examples of the rubber include acrylic rubber, silicone rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, fluorine rubber, etc. The rubber may be used alone or in combination of two or more. From the viewpoint of heat resistance of the molded body, acrylic rubber or silicone rubber is preferable as the rubber.

[0027] [Filler] The molded body of the present disclosure contains a filler. The filler may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0028] From the viewpoint of thermal conductivity, examples of the filler material include carbon materials; silicon carbide; metal nitrides such as aluminum nitride and boron nitride; metal oxides such as aluminum oxide (alumina), boehmite (aluminum oxide monohydrate), silica, titania, zirconia, magnesium oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, and barium oxide; etc. are preferable.

[0029] As an example of the embodiment of the filler, at least one kind of ceramic particles selected from the group consisting of aluminum nitride, boron nitride, and silicon carbide can be mentioned.

[0030] As an example of the embodiment of the filler, carbon fibers such as carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes can be mentioned.

[0031] The shape of the filler may be any of particulate, fibrous, branched, plate-like, scaly, flaky, etc.

[0032] As a preferred embodiment of the filler, a form including a filler having a branched shape can be mentioned. The filler having a branched shape is preferably in the shape of branched fibers. According to this embodiment, it is easy to realize that the fillers are close to each other to form a heat conduction path, that is, the average value of the shortest distance between the fillers is 30 nm or less.

[0033] As a preferred embodiment of the filler, a form including two or more fillers having different shapes can be mentioned. As specific examples of two or more types of fillers having different shapes from each other, a combination of a filler having a relatively large aspect ratio (for example, a fibrous filler, a plate-like filler, a scaly filler, a flake-like filler) and a particulate filler can be mentioned. By having particulate fillers interspersed among fillers having a relatively large aspect ratio, it becomes easy to realize that the fillers are close to each other to form a heat conduction path, that is, the average value of the shortest distance between the fillers is 30 nm or less.

[0034] When the molded body contains a filler having a relatively large aspect ratio and a particulate filler, the content ratio of the two types of fillers (former:latter) is preferably 65:35 to 95:5, more preferably 70:30 to 90:10, and still more preferably 75:25 to 85:15 on a volume basis.

[0035] As a preferred embodiment of the filler, a form containing two or more types of fillers having different surface properties from each other can be mentioned. As specific examples of two or more types of fillers having different surface properties from each other, a combination of a filler having an acidic group on the surface and a filler having a basic group on the surface; a combination of a positively charged filler and a negatively charged filler; can be mentioned. Since two or more types of fillers having different surface properties are brought close to each other by forces such as intermolecular force, van der Waals force, electrostatic attraction, ionic bond, and covalent bond, it becomes easy to realize that the average value of the shortest distance between the fillers is 30 nm or less. The surface property of the filler can be imparted to the filler by surface-treating the filler with a coupling agent or a surfactant.

[0036] When the molded body contains two types of fillers having different surface properties from each other, the content ratio of the two types of fillers may be, for example, 35:65 to 65:35, 40:60 to 60:40, 45:55 to 55:45 on a volume basis.

[0037] As a preferred embodiment of the filler, there is a form including a first filler having a first functional group on the surface and a second filler having a second functional group different from the first functional group on the surface. The types of the first functional group and the second functional group are different. It is easy to realize that the first filler and the second filler are connected or brought close to each other by the attraction or reaction (for example, intermolecular force, van der Waals force, electrostatic attraction, ionic bond, covalent bond) between the first functional group and the second functional group, and the average value of the shortest distance between the fillers is 30 nm or less.

[0038] Examples of the combination of the first functional group and the second functional group include, for example, the combination of an acidic group and a basic group, and specifically, the combination of a carboxy group or a hydroxy group and an amino group. In addition, for example, the combination of an isocyanate group and a hydroxy group; the combination of an epoxy group and an amino group; and the like can be mentioned.

[0039] The filler having a functional group on the surface can be produced by surface-treating the filler with a coupling agent having a functional group. The type of the functional group on the surface of the filler can be confirmed from the peak intensity of the functional group by infrared absorption spectrum (IR) measurement.

[0040] The first filler having the first functional group on the surface and the second filler having the second functional group on the surface preferably have different shapes from each other. Specific examples of two types of fillers having different shapes from each other include the combination of a filler having a relatively large aspect ratio (for example, fibrous filler, plate-like filler, scaly filler, flake-like filler) and a particulate filler.

[0041] The content ratio of the first filler and the second filler in the molded body may be, for example, 35:65 to 65:35, 40:60 to 60:40, 45:55 to 55:45 on a volume basis. When the first filler and the second filler are a filler with a relatively large aspect ratio and a particulate filler, the content ratio (former:latter) of the two fillers is preferably 65:35 to 95:5, more preferably 70:30 to 90:10, and still more preferably 75:25 to 85:15 on a volume basis.

[0042] The average value of the major axis lengths of all the fillers in the molded body is preferably 1 μm or more and 40 μm or less, more preferably 2 μm or more and 30 μm or less, and still more preferably 3 μm or more and 20 μm or less. The average value of the major axis lengths of all the fillers is determined by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body using FIB-SEM. In the constructed three-dimensional image, at least 100 fillers are randomly selected. For each of the randomly selected fillers, the major axis length of the filler is measured, and the arithmetic mean of the major axis lengths of at least 100 fillers is obtained to obtain the average value.

[0043] [Properties of the molded body] The molded body of the present disclosure preferably has a thermal conductivity in the thickness direction of 1.0 W / m·K or more, more preferably 1.5 W / m·K or more, and still more preferably 2.0 W / m·K or more. From the viewpoint of heat storage properties, the molded body of the present disclosure preferably has a thermal conductivity in the thickness direction of 5.0 W / m·K or less, more preferably 4.0 W / m·K or less, and still more preferably 3.0 W / m·K or less.

[0044] The method for measuring the thermal conductivity (W / m·K) in the thickness direction of the molded body according to the present disclosure is as follows. The sample for measurement is a 2 mm × 2 mm × sample in the thickness direction, and is a sample taken from the center of the largest surface of the molded body while maintaining the thickness of the molded body. At room temperature (25°C ± 3°C), the thermal diffusivity in the thickness direction is measured using a thermal diffusivity measuring device, and the specific heat and density are multiplied by the thermal diffusivity to calculate the thermal conductivity (W / m·K).

[0045] When the molded body of the present disclosure is in the form of a film, it may be a flat film or a tubular film. When the molded article of the present disclosure is in the form of a film, its average thickness may be set according to the application, for example, 10 μm or more and 1000 μm or less, 15 μm or more and 800 μm or less, 20 μm or more and 500 μm or less.

[0046] When the molded article of the present disclosure is in the form of a film, examples of its manufacturing method include a manufacturing method in which the following steps (1) to (3) are sequentially performed.

[0047] Step (1): Mix a resin or rubber and a filler to prepare a coating solution. If necessary, a solvent or a dispersion medium is also mixed. Step (2): Apply the coating solution onto a substrate and dry it to form a coating film. Step (3): Bake the coating film to obtain a molded article.

[0048] By using a cylindrical mold as the substrate in step (2), a tubular molded article can be manufactured.

[0049] Examples of the applications of the molded article of the present disclosure include a sheet installed in an electronic device for the purpose of heat absorption and heat dissipation, and a tubular fixing member of an image forming apparatus.

[0050] <Composite> The composite of the present disclosure includes the molded article of the present disclosure. The composite of the present disclosure may be a composite in which a plurality of the molded articles of the present disclosure are combined, or may be a composite in which the molded article of the present disclosure and another object are combined.

[0051] When the composite of the present disclosure includes an object other than the molded article of the present disclosure, there is no limitation on the material and shape of the other object. Examples of the other object included in the composite of the present disclosure include an object made of a polymer material, an object made of a metal material, and an object in which a polymer material and a metal material are combined.

[0052] There is no limitation on the form and application of the composite of the present disclosure. Examples of the applications of the composite of the present disclosure include a heat conduction sheet, a heat dissipation sheet, furniture, building materials, machine parts, vehicle parts, aircraft parts, etc.

[0053] As an example of an embodiment of the composite of the present disclosure, a laminated film including the molded body of the present disclosure formed in a film shape can be mentioned. Here, the molded body of the present disclosure may be a flat film or a tubular film. Hereinafter, the laminated film will be described in detail.

[0054] [Laminated Film] The laminated film of the present disclosure includes the molded body of the present disclosure formed in a film shape. The laminated film of the present disclosure may be a laminated film in which only the molded body of the present disclosure is laminated, or may be a laminated film in which the molded body of the present disclosure and other films (for example, a film having releasability, a metal substrate, a ceramic film, etc.) are laminated. An adhesive layer may be provided between the laminated films.

[0055] The laminated film of the present disclosure may have one layer of the molded body of the present disclosure formed in a film shape, or may have two or more layers. When the laminated film of the present disclosure has two or more layers of the molded body of the present disclosure, the two or more molded bodies may be the same or different in terms of components and / or composition.

[0056] When the laminated film of the present disclosure has two or more layers of the molded body of the present disclosure formed in a film shape, for example, it may be a laminated film in which a molded body of the present disclosure in which a filler is dispersed in a resin and a molded body of the present disclosure in which a filler is dispersed in rubber are laminated. The lamination order of these molded bodies is not limited.

[0057] The laminated film of the present disclosure may be a flat film or a tubular film. Examples of the use of the laminated film of the present disclosure include a sheet installed in an electronic device for the purpose of heat absorption and heat release, and a tubular fixing member of an image forming apparatus.

[0058] [Tubular Fixing Member] The tubular fixing member of the present disclosure includes the molded body of the present disclosure formed in a tubular shape. The tubular fixing member of the present disclosure may be a member composed only of the molded body of the present disclosure, a member in which the molded body of the present disclosure and another film are laminated, or a member in which a plurality of molded bodies of the present disclosure are laminated. When a plurality of molded bodies of the present disclosure are laminated, the plurality of molded bodies may be the same or different in terms of components and / or composition.

[0059] As an example of an embodiment of the tubular fixing member of the present disclosure, there is a form in which a base material layer, an elastic layer, and a release layer are laminated in this order, and one or both of the base material layer and the elastic layer are the molded body of the present disclosure. As an example of the above embodiment, there is a form in which the base material layer is the molded body of the present disclosure in which a filler is dispersed in a resin, and / or the elastic layer is the molded body of the present disclosure in which a filler is dispersed in rubber.

[0060] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the tubular fixing member of the present disclosure. The tubular fixing member 110 shown in FIG. 1 has a base material layer 110A, an elastic layer 110B provided on the base material layer 110A, and a release layer 110C provided on the elastic layer 110B. An adhesive layer may be provided between the base material layer 110A and the elastic layer 110B, and / or between the elastic layer 110B and the release layer 110C. One or both of the base material layer 110A and the elastic layer 110B are the molded body of the present disclosure. The base material layer 110A is preferably the molded body of the present disclosure in which a filler is dispersed in a resin. The elastic layer 110B is preferably the molded body of the present disclosure in which a filler is dispersed in rubber.

[0061] From the viewpoints of durability and thermal conductivity, the average thickness of the base material layer 110A is preferably 20 μm or more and 200 μm or less, more preferably 30 μm or more and 150 μm or less, and still more preferably 40 μm or more and 100 μm or less.

[0062] From the viewpoints of durability and thermal conductivity, the average thickness of the elastic layer 110B is preferably 30 μm or more and 500 μm or less, more preferably 50 μm or more and 480 μm or less, and still more preferably 80 μm or more and 450 μm or less.

[0063] The release layer 110C preferably contains a release material having heat resistance. Examples of the release material having heat resistance include fluororesins. Examples of the fluororesin include tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), polyethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), vinyl fluoride (PVF), and the like.

[0064] The release layer 110C may contain various additives. Examples of the additives include fillers (such as calcium carbonate), functional fillers (such as alumina), softeners (such as paraffin), processing aids (such as stearic acid), antioxidants (such as amines), crosslinking agents, and the like.

[0065] The average thickness of the release layer 110C is preferably 5 μm or more and 30 μm or less, more preferably 10 μm or more and 25 μm or less, and still more preferably 15 μm or more and 20 μm or less.

[0066] The average thickness of each layer provided in the tubular fixing member is a value obtained by measuring the layer thickness with an eddy current thickness gauge at 10 locations evenly in the axial direction of the tubular fixing member and a total of 40 locations at 90° intervals in the circumferential direction and calculating the arithmetic mean.

[0067] The embodiment of the tubular fixing member of the present disclosure is not limited to the form shown in FIG. 1. For example, any of the forms without the base material layer 110A, without the elastic layer 110B, and without the release layer 110C may be used.

[0068] Examples of the shape of the tubular fixing member of the present disclosure include a cylindrical shape and a belt shape. The tubular fixing member of the present disclosure may be a fixing belt or a fixing roll.

[0069] <Fixing device> The fixing device of the present disclosure includes a first rotating body and a second rotating body disposed in contact with the outer surface of the first rotating body, and fixes the toner image on the recording medium having the toner image formed on the surface by passing the recording medium through the contact portion between the first rotating body and the second rotating body. At least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is a rotating body that applies heat to the recording medium, and is the tubular fixing member of the present disclosure.

[0070] As embodiment examples of the fixing device of the present disclosure, a first embodiment and a second embodiment are given. The fixing device according to the first embodiment includes a heating roll and a pressure belt, and at least the heating roll is the tubular fixing member of the present disclosure. The fixing device according to the second embodiment includes a heating belt and a pressure roll, and at least the heating belt is the tubular fixing member of the present disclosure.

[0071] [First Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment. The fixing device 60 includes a heating roll 61 (an example of the first rotating body) and a pressure belt 62 (an example of the second rotating body).

[0072] Inside the heating roll 61, a halogen lamp 66 (an example of a heating means) is disposed. A temperature-sensitive element 69 is disposed in contact with the surface of the heating roll 61. Based on the temperature measurement value by the temperature-sensitive element 69, the lighting of the halogen lamp 66 is controlled, and the surface temperature of the heating roll 61 is maintained at a target set temperature (for example, 150°C).

[0073] The pressure belt 62 is rotatably supported by a pressing pad 64 disposed inside and a belt running guide 63.

[0074] The pressing pad 64 presses the pressure belt 62 against the heating roll 61. The pressure belt 62 is pressed against the heating roll 61 by the pressing pad 64, and a sandwiching region N (nip portion) is formed.

[0075] The pressing pad 64 includes a sandwiching member 64a and a sandwiching member 64b. The sandwiching member 64a is disposed on the entrance side of the sandwiching region N in order to secure a wide sandwiching region N. The sandwiching member 64b is disposed on the exit side of the sandwiching region N in order to apply distortion to the heating roll 61 and facilitate the peeling of the recording medium.

[0076] Between the pressing pad 64 and the pressure belt 62, a sheet-like sliding member 68 is disposed in order to reduce the sliding resistance between the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62 and the pressing pad 64. The pressing pad 64 and the sliding member 68 are held by a metal holding member 65. A belt running guide 63 is attached to the holding member 65. A lubricant supply device 67, which is a means for supplying a lubricant (oil) to the inner peripheral surface of the pressure belt 62, is attached to the belt running guide 63.

[0077] The peeling member 70 is an auxiliary means for peeling the recording medium from the fixing device 60 and is disposed on the downstream side of the sandwiching region N. The peeling member 70 includes a peeling claw 71 and a holding member 72. The peeling claw 71 is held by the holding member 72 at a position close to the heating roll 61.

[0078] The heating roll 61 is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown). The heating roll 61 rotates in the direction of arrow S by the drive motor, and the pressure belt 62 rotates in the direction of arrow R following this rotation. The paper K (an example of a recording medium) having an unfixed toner image is guided by the guide 56 and conveyed to the sandwiching region N, and when passing through the sandwiching region N, the toner image on the paper K is fixed by pressure and heat.

[0079] [Second Embodiment] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a fixing device 80 according to the second embodiment. The fixing device 80 includes a fixing belt module 86 including a heating belt 84 (an example of a first rotating body), and a pressure roll 88 (an example of a second rotating body) disposed in pressure contact with the heating belt 84 (fixing belt module 86).

[0080] A nip region N is formed at the contact portion between the heating belt 84 (fixing belt module 86) and the pressure roll 88.

[0081] The fixing belt module 86 includes a heating belt 84, a heating and pressing roll 89, a support roll 90, a support roll 92, a posture correction roll 94, and a support roll 98. The heating belt 84 is wound around the heating and pressing roll 89 and the support roll 90. The heating and pressing roll 89 is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown) and presses the heating belt 84 from its inner peripheral surface toward the pressure roll 88. The support roll 92 is disposed outside the heating belt 84 and defines the circumferential path of the heating belt 84. The posture correction roll 94 corrects the posture of the heating belt 84 from the support roll 90 to the heating and pressing roll 89 and suppresses the meandering of the heating belt 84. The support roll 98 applies tension to the heating belt 84 from the inner peripheral surface on the downstream side of the nip region N.

[0082] A sheet-like sliding member 82 is disposed between the heating belt 84 and the heating and pressing roll 89 to reduce the sliding resistance between the inner peripheral surface of the heating belt 84 and the heating and pressing roll 89. The sliding member 82 is disposed with both ends supported by a support member 96.

[0083] A halogen heater 89A (an example of a heating means) is disposed inside the heating and pressing roll 89 to heat the heating belt 84 from the inner peripheral surface side. A halogen heater 90A (an example of a heating means) is disposed inside the support roll 90 to heat the heating belt 84 from the inner peripheral surface side. A halogen heater 92A (an example of a heating means) is disposed inside the support roll 92 to heat the heating belt 84 from the outer peripheral surface side.

[0084] The pressure roll 88 is rotatably supported and is provided by being pressed against the portion where the heating belt 84 is wound around the heating and pressing roll 89 by biasing means (not shown). By the rotational drive of the heating and pressing roll 89, the heating belt 84 rotates and moves in the direction of arrow S, and the pressure roll 88 rotates and moves in the direction of arrow R following this rotational movement.

[0085] The paper K (an example of a recording medium) having an unfixed toner image is conveyed in the direction of arrow P and guided to the sandwiching region N of the fixing device 80. When the paper K passes through the sandwiching region N, the toner image on the paper K is fixed by pressure and heat.

[0086] <Image forming apparatus> The image forming apparatus of the present disclosure includes an image carrier, a charging device that charges the surface of the image carrier, an electrostatic latent image forming device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image carrier, a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier with a developer containing toner to form a toner image, a transfer device that transfers the toner image to the surface of a recording medium, and the fixing device of the present disclosure that fixes the toner image to the recording medium. The fixing device may be a cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus.

[0087] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 includes the fixing device 60 according to the first embodiment described above. The image forming apparatus 100 may include the fixing device 80 according to the second embodiment described above instead of the fixing device 60.

[0088] The image forming apparatus 100 is an image forming apparatus of an intermediate transfer system generally called a tandem type. The image forming apparatus 100 includes image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K in which toner images of respective colors are formed by an electrophotographic method, a primary transfer unit 10 that sequentially transfers (primary transfer) the toner images of respective colors to the intermediate transfer belt 15, a secondary transfer unit 20 that collectively transfers (secondary transfer) the superimposed toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 to the paper K which is a recording medium, a fixing device 60 that fixes the secondarily transferred image onto the paper K, and a control unit 40 that controls the operations of the respective devices (units).

[0089] The image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are arranged substantially linearly in the order of 1Y (yellow unit), 1M (magenta unit), 1C (cyan unit), and 1K (black unit) from the upstream side of the intermediate transfer belt 15. The image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K each include a photoreceptor 11 (an example of an image holding member). The photoreceptor 11 rotates in the direction of arrow A.

[0090] Around the photoreceptor 11, a charger 12 (an example of a charging device), a laser exposure device 13 (an example of an electrostatic latent image forming device), a developing device 14 (an example of a developing device), a primary transfer roll 16, and a photoreceptor cleaner 17 are sequentially arranged along the rotation direction of the photoreceptor 11.

[0091] The charger 12 charges the surface of the photoreceptor 11. The laser exposure device 13 emits an exposure beam Bm to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 11. The developing device 14 stores toner of each color and visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 11 with the toner. The primary transfer roll 16 transfers the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 11 to the intermediate transfer belt 15 in the primary transfer section 10. The photoreceptor cleaner 17 removes residual toner on the photoreceptor 11.

[0092] The intermediate transfer belt 15 is a belt made of a material in which an antistatic agent such as carbon black is added to a resin such as polyimide or polyamide. The intermediate transfer belt 15 has a volume resistivity of, for example, 1×10 6 Ω·cm or more and 1×10 14 Ω·cm or less, and a thickness of, for example, 0.1 mm.

[0093] The intermediate transfer belt 15 is supported by a driving roll 31, a support roll 32, a tension applying roll 33, a back roll 25, and a cleaning back roll 34, and is circulated (rotated) in the direction of arrow B according to the rotation of the driving roll 31. The driving roll 31 is driven by a motor (not shown) with excellent constant speed performance to rotate the intermediate transfer belt 15. The support roll 32 supports the intermediate transfer belt 15 extending substantially linearly along the arrangement direction of the four photoreceptors 11 together with the driving roll 31. The tension applying roll 33 applies a constant tension to the intermediate transfer belt 15 and functions as a correction roll for suppressing the meandering of the intermediate transfer belt 15. The back roll 25 is provided in the secondary transfer portion 20, and the cleaning back roll 34 is provided in a cleaning portion for scraping off the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 15.

[0094] The primary transfer roll 16 is disposed in pressure contact with the photoreceptor 11 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween to form the primary transfer portion 10. A voltage (primary transfer bias) having a polarity opposite to the charging polarity of the toner (negative polarity. The same applies hereinafter) is applied to the primary transfer roll 16. Thereby, the toner images on the respective photoreceptors 11 are sequentially electrostatically attracted to the intermediate transfer belt 15, and a toner image superposed on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is formed. The primary transfer roll 16 is a cylindrical roll composed of a shaft (for example, a metal cylindrical rod such as iron or SUS) and an elastic layer (for example, a sponge layer of blend rubber containing a conductive agent such as carbon black) fixed around the shaft. The primary transfer roll 16 has a volume resistivity of, for example, 1×10 7.5 Ω·cm or more and 1×10 8.5 Ω·cm or less.

[0095] The secondary transfer roll 22 is disposed in pressure contact with the back roll 25 with the intermediate transfer belt 15 interposed therebetween to form the secondary transfer portion 20. The secondary transfer roll 22 forms a secondary transfer bias with the back roll 25 and secondarily transfers the toner image onto the paper K (recording medium) conveyed to the secondary transfer portion 20. The secondary transfer roll 22 is a cylindrical roll composed of a shaft (for example, a cylindrical bar of metal such as iron or SUS) and an elastic layer fixed around the shaft (for example, a sponge layer of blend rubber containing a conductive agent such as carbon black). The volume resistivity of the secondary transfer roll 22 is, for example, 1×10 7.5 Ω·cm or more and 1×10 8.5 Ω·cm or less.

[0096] The back roll 25 is disposed on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to form a counter electrode for the secondary transfer roll 22, and forms a transfer electric field between the secondary transfer roll 22 and itself. The back roll 25 is configured by coating, for example, a rubber base material with a tube of blend rubber in which carbon is dispersed. The surface resistivity of the back roll 25 is, for example, 1×10 7 Ω / □ or more and 1×10 10 Ω / □ or less, and the hardness is, for example, 70° (Asker C: manufactured by Kobunshi Keiki Co., Ltd., the same hereinafter). A metal power supply roll 26 is in contact with the back roll 25. The power supply roll 26 applies a voltage (secondary transfer bias) of the same polarity as the charging polarity (negative polarity) of the toner to form a transfer electric field between the secondary transfer roll 22 and the back roll 25.

[0097] An intermediate transfer belt cleaner 35 is provided on the downstream side of the secondary transfer portion 20 of the intermediate transfer belt 15 so as to be able to contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 15. The intermediate transfer belt cleaner 35 removes residual toner and paper dust on the intermediate transfer belt 15 after secondary transfer.

[0098] A reference sensor (home position sensor) 42 is disposed on the upstream side of the image forming unit 1Y. The reference sensor 42 generates a reference signal serving as a reference for the image forming timing in each image forming unit. The reference sensor 42 recognizes a mark provided on the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 15 to generate a reference signal, and the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K start image formation according to an instruction from the control unit 40 that has recognized this reference signal. On the downstream side of the image forming unit 1K, an image density sensor 43 for performing image quality adjustment is disposed.

[0099] The image forming apparatus 100 includes a paper storage unit 50, a paper feed roll 51, a conveyance roll 52, a conveyance guide 53, a conveyance belt 55, and a fixing inlet guide 56 as conveyance means for conveying paper K. The paper storage unit 50 stores the paper K before image formation. The paper feed roll 51 takes out the paper K stored in the paper storage unit 50. The conveyance roll 52 conveys the paper K taken out by the paper feed roll 51. The conveyance guide 53 feeds the paper K conveyed by the conveyance roll 52 into the secondary transfer unit 20. The conveyance belt 55 conveys the paper K on which the image has been transferred in the secondary transfer unit 20 to the fixing device 60. The fixing inlet guide 56 guides the paper K to the fixing device 60.

[0100] The image forming method by the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. In the image forming apparatus 100, image data output from an image reading device (not shown), a computer (not shown), etc. is image-processed by an image processing device (not shown), and an image forming operation is executed by the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K.

[0101] In the image processing device, image processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame removal, color editing, movement editing, etc. is performed on the input reflectance data. The image data on which the image processing has been performed is converted into colorant gradation data of four colors, Y, M, C, and K, and output to the laser exposure device 13.

[0102] The laser exposure device 13 irradiates the exposure beam Bm onto each photoreceptor 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K according to the input colorant gradation data. After the surfaces of the photoreceptors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are charged by the chargers 12, the surfaces are scanned and exposed by the laser exposure units 13, and electrostatic latent images are formed. The electrostatic latent images formed on each photoreceptor 11 are developed into toner images of each color by each image forming unit.

[0103] The toner images formed on the photoreceptors 11 of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 at the primary transfer portion 10 where each photoreceptor 11 contacts the intermediate transfer belt 15. At the primary transfer portion 10, a voltage (primary transfer bias) of the opposite polarity to the charging polarity (negative polarity) of the toner is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the primary transfer roll 16, and the toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15.

[0104] The toner images primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 15 are conveyed to the secondary transfer portion 20 as the intermediate transfer belt 15 moves. In accordance with the timing when the toner image reaches the secondary transfer portion 20, the paper K accommodated in the paper storage portion 50 is conveyed by the paper feed roll 51, the conveyance roll 52, and the conveyance guide 53, supplied to the secondary transfer portion 20, and sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 15 and the secondary transfer roll 22. Then, in the secondary transfer portion 20 where a transfer electric field is formed, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 15 is electrostatically transferred (secondary transferred) onto the paper K.

[0105] The paper K onto which the toner image has been electrostatically transferred is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 15 by the secondary transfer roll 22 and conveyed to the fixing device 60 by the conveyance belt 55. The paper K conveyed to the fixing device 60 is heated and pressurized by the fixing device 60, and the unfixed toner image is fixed. Through the above steps, an image is formed on the recording medium by the image forming apparatus 100.

Example

[0106] Hereinafter, embodiments of the molded body will be described in detail by way of examples. However, the embodiments of the molded body are not limited to these examples. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "parts" and "%" are based on mass. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, synthesis, production, processing, measurement, etc. were carried out at normal temperature (25°C ± 3°C).

[0107] <Manufacture of Molded Body> [Example 1] A polyamic acid solution (TX-HMM, manufactured by Unitika Ltd.) and branched carbon nanotubes (Cabot Corporation, ATHLOS CNS) were mixed and kneaded with a three-roll mill to prepare a coating solution (1). The volume ratio of the branched carbon nanotubes was mixed in an amount such that the volume ratio was as described in Table 1 when the polyamic acid solution hardened.

[0108] The coating solution (1) was applied onto the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical aluminum mold (diameter 30 mm) and dried at a temperature of 100°C for 80 minutes. The coating amount of the coating solution (1) was adjusted so that the thickness of the molded body would be 80 μm. The cylindrical mold having the coating film was placed in a heating furnace and heated at a temperature of 380°C for 40 minutes to bake the molded body. The cylindrical mold under the molded body was pulled out to obtain a tubular molded body.

[0109] [Examples 2 - 3] In the same manner as in Example 1, except that the volume ratio of the filler was changed as described in Table 1, a tubular molded body was manufactured.

[0110] [Comparative Examples 1 - 2] In the same manner as in Example 1, except that the filler was changed to unbranched carbon nanotubes (catalog value: fiber diameter 150 nm, fiber length 4 μm), a tubular molded body was manufactured. The volume ratio of the filler is as described in Table 1.

[0111] [Example 4] A liquid silicone rubber (two-component type, X-34-2826-A / B, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) and branched carbon nanotubes (Cabot Corporation, ATHLOS CNS) were mixed and kneaded with a three-roll mill to prepare a coating solution (4). When the liquid silicone rubber hardened, they were mixed in an amount such that the volume ratio of the branched carbon nanotubes became the volume ratio shown in Table 1.

[0112] The coating solution (4) was applied onto the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical mold (diameter 30 mm) made of aluminum and dried at a temperature of 115 °C for 15 minutes. The coating amount of the coating solution (4) was adjusted so that the thickness of the molded body became 400 μm. The cylindrical mold having the coating film was placed in a heating furnace and heated at a temperature of 200 °C for 2 hours to bake the molded body. The cylindrical mold under the molded body was pulled out to obtain a tubular molded body.

[0113] [Comparative Example 3] In the same manner as in Example 4, except that the filler was changed to carbon nanotubes without branches (catalog value: fiber diameter 150 nm, fiber length 4 μm), a tubular molded body was manufactured.

[0114] [Example 5] An acrylic rubber (Nipol AR51, Zeon Corporation) and branched carbon nanotubes (Cabot Corporation, ATHLOS CNS) were mixed and kneaded with a three-roll mill to prepare a coating solution (5). When the acrylic rubber hardened, they were mixed in an amount such that the volume ratio of the branched carbon nanotubes became the volume ratio shown in Table 1.

[0115] The coating solution (5) was applied onto the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical mold (diameter 30 mm) made of aluminum and dried at a temperature of 120 °C for 15 minutes. The coating amount of the coating solution (5) was adjusted so that the thickness of the molded body became 400 μm. The cylindrical mold having the coating film was placed in a heating furnace and heated at a temperature of 180 °C for 2 hours to bake the molded body. The cylindrical mold under the molded body was pulled out to obtain a tubular molded body.

[0116] [Comparative Example 4] In the same manner as in Example 5, except that the filler was changed to carbon nanotubes without branches (catalog value: fiber diameter 150 nm, fiber length 4 μm), a tubular molded body was produced.

[0117] [Example 6] In the same manner as in Example 1, except that the filler was changed to carbon nanotubes without branches (catalog value: fiber diameter 150 nm, fiber length 4 μm) and spherical aluminum oxide particles (catalog value: particle diameter 25 μm), a tubular molded body was produced. The respective amounts of use of the carbon nanotubes and the spherical aluminum oxide particles were such that when the polyamic acid solution was cured, each became the volume ratio described in Table 1.

[0118] [Example 7] Carbon nanotubes without branches (catalog value: fiber diameter 150 nm, fiber length 4 μm) having carboxy groups on the surface were prepared. Spherical aluminum oxide particles (catalog value: particle diameter 25 μm) having amino groups on the surface were prepared. The above two types of fillers were mixed to obtain a filler mixture. In the same manner as in Example 1, except that the filler was changed to the filler mixture, a tubular molded body was produced. The respective amounts of use of the carbon nanotubes and the spherical aluminum oxide particles were such that when the polyamic acid solution was cured, each became the volume ratio described in Table 1.

[0119] [Example 8] Spherical graphite particles (catalog value: particle diameter 15 μm) having hydroxy groups on the surface were prepared. Flaky boron nitride (3M, CFP012) having amino groups on the surface was prepared. The above two types of fillers were mixed to obtain a filler mixture. In the same manner as in Example 4, except that the filler was changed to a filler mixture, a tubular molded body was produced. The amount of each of the spherical graphite particles and the flaky boron nitride used is such that when the liquid silicone rubber is cured, each has the volume ratio described in Table 1.

[0120] <Cross-sectional analysis of the molded body> From the central portion in the axial direction of the tubular molded body, a rectangular parallelepiped having three sides in the axial direction, circumferential direction, and film thickness direction and having a length of 1 mm in the circumferential direction and a length in the axial direction was cut out and embedded in an epoxy resin. The embedded material was sectioned with a microtome to form a block cross-section where the cross-section in the film thickness direction could be seen. The sample with the block cross-section formed was fixed to the sample stage of a FIB-SEM apparatus (FIB-SEM Helios NanoLab 600i, FEI Company, USA) and subjected to vapor deposition treatment. The FIB processing and SEM observation of the block cross-section were repeated with the FIB-SEM apparatus to obtain a two-dimensional stacking image. The FIB processing and SEM observation were repeated until at least 100 fillers were observed. The SEM observation was performed at a magnification at which the fillers dispersed in the molded body could be observed. The two-dimensional stacking image was imported into three-dimensional image analysis software (Avizo-Fire, VSG) to construct a three-dimensional image. In the constructed three-dimensional image, 100 fillers were randomly selected. For each of the 100 fillers, the closest filler was identified, and the shortest distance (nm) between the fillers was measured. The measured values of the 100 shortest distances were averaged arithmetically to obtain the average value (nm) of the shortest distances between the fillers. The results are shown in Table 1. Also, the volume ratio of the filler in the molded body was determined by analyzing the constructed three-dimensional image. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0121] <Performance evaluation of the molded body> [Thermal conductivity] A square with an axial dimension of 2 mm and a circumferential dimension of 2 mm was taken from the axial center of the tubular molded body with the thickness of the molded body remaining unchanged, and this was used as a sample. At room temperature (25°C ± 3°C), the thermal diffusivity in the film thickness direction was measured using a thermal diffusivity measuring device ai-phase (Ai Phases Co., Ltd.), and the thermal conductivity (W / m·K) was calculated by multiplying the specific heat and density by the thermal diffusivity. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0122] [Flexural resistance] A rectangle with an axial dimension of 150 mm and a circumferential dimension of 15 mm was taken from the axial center of the tubular molded body with the thickness of the molded body remaining unchanged, and this was used as a test piece. Using an MIT flexural fatigue tester MIT-DA (Toyou Seiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.), the number of reciprocating bending cycles until the test piece broke was determined according to the test of "flexural resistance" described in JIS C5016:1994. The arithmetic mean value of the 10 measured values was classified as follows. The results are shown in Table 1. A: 10,000 cycles or more B: 5,000 cycles or more and less than 10,000 cycles C: 2,500 cycles or more and less than 5,000 cycles D: Less than 2,500 cycles

[0123] The abbreviations in Table 1 have the following meanings. ·PI: Polyimide resin ·Si rubber: Silicone rubber ·CNT: Carbon nanotube ·Alumina: Aluminum oxide ·BN: Boron nitride

[0124]

Table 1

[0125] The molded bodies, composites, tubular fixing members, fixing devices, and image forming devices of the present disclosure include the following aspects. (((1))) A molded body containing at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of resins and rubbers and a filler dispersed in the polymer, wherein the volume ratio of the filler in the molded body is 25% by volume or less, The average value of the shortest distance between fillers, which is obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body using FIB-SEM, is 30 nm or less. Molded body. (((2))) The molded body according to (((1))), wherein the volume ratio of the filler in the molded body is 10% by volume or more and 20% by volume or less. (((3))) The molded body according to (((1))) or (((2))), wherein the filler includes a filler having a branched shape. (((4))) The molded body according to any one of (((1))) to (((3))), wherein the filler includes two or more types of fillers having different shapes or two or more types of fillers having different surface properties. (((5))) The molded body according to any one of (((1))) to (((4))), wherein the filler includes a first filler having a first functional group on the surface and a second filler having a second functional group different from the first functional group on the surface. (((6))) The molded body according to (((5))), wherein the first functional group is a carboxy group or a hydroxy group, and the second functional group is an amino group. (((7))) The molded body according to any one of (((1))) to (((6))), wherein the polymer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyimide resin, an acrylic rubber, and a silicone rubber. (((8))) A composite including the molded body according to any one of (((1))) to (((7))). (((9))) A tubular fixing member including the molded body according to any one of (((1))) to (((7))) formed into a tubular shape. (((10))) Comprising a first rotating body and a second rotating body disposed in contact with the outer surface of the first rotating body. At least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is the tubular fixing member according to (((9))). Fixing the toner image by passing a recording medium having a toner image formed on its surface through a contact portion between the first rotating body and the second rotating body. Fixing device. (((11))) An image carrier; A charging device for charging the surface of the image carrier; An electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image carrier; A developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier with a developer containing toner to form a toner image; A transfer device for transferring the toner image onto the surface of a recording medium; The fixing device according to ((10)) for fixing the toner image onto the recording medium, and comprising: Image forming apparatus.

[0126] (((1))), (((3))), (((4))), (((5))), (((6))) or (((7))), there is provided a molded body having excellent thermal conductivity as compared with a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM is more than 30 nm. (((2))), there is provided a molded body having excellent flexural resistance as compared with a molded body in which the volume ratio of the filler in the molded body is more than 20% by volume. (((8))), there is provided a composite having excellent thermal conductivity as compared with a composite including a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM is more than 30 nm. (((9))), there is provided a tubular fixing member having excellent thermal conductivity as compared with a tubular fixing member including a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM is more than 30 nm. (((10))), there is provided a fixing device including a tubular fixing member having excellent thermal conductivity as compared with a tubular fixing member including a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers obtained by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body by FIB-SEM is more than 30 nm. According to (((11))), an image forming apparatus is provided that includes a tubular fixing member that has superior thermal conductivity compared to a tubular fixing member that includes a molded body in which the average value of the shortest distance between fillers determined by three-dimensional analysis of the molded body using FIB-SEM is greater than 30 nm. [Explanation of symbols]

[0127] 110 Tubular fixing member 110A base material layer 110B Elastic layer 110C release layer

[0128] 60 Fixing device 61 Heating Roll 62 Pressure Belt 63 Belt guide 64 Pressure pad 64a Clamping member 64b Clamping member 65 Retaining member 66 Halogen lamp 67 Lubricant supply device 68 Sliding member 69 Thermosensor 70 Peeling member 71 Peeling Nail 72 Retaining member

[0129] 80 Fixing device 82 Sliding member 84 Heating Belt 86 Fuser belt module 88 Pressure Roll 89 Heated pressure roll 89A halogen heater 90 Support Roll 90A halogen heater 92 Support Roll 92A halogen heater 94 Posture Correction Roll 96 Support member 98 Support Roll

[0130] 100 Image forming device 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K Image Forming Unit 11 Photoconductor (an example of an image holding member) 12 Charger (an example of a charging device) 13 Laser Exposer (an example of an electrostatic latent image forming device) 14 Developing Unit (an example of a developing device) 15 Intermediate Transfer Belt 16 Primary Transfer Roll (an example of a transfer device) 22 Secondary Transfer Roll (an example of a transfer device) K Paper (an example of a recording medium)

Claims

1. A molded article containing at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of resins and rubbers and a filler dispersed in the polymer, wherein the volume ratio of the filler in the molded article is 25% by volume or less, and the average value of the shortest distance between fillers determined by three-dimensional analysis of the molded article by FIB-SEM is 30 nm or less. Molded article.

2. The molded article according to claim 1, wherein the volume ratio of the filler in the molded article is 10% by volume or more and 20% by volume or less.

3. The molded article according to claim 1, wherein the filler includes a filler having a branched shape.

4. The molded article according to claim 1, wherein the filler includes two or more fillers having different shapes from each other or two or more fillers having different surface properties from each other.

5. The molded article according to claim 1, wherein the filler includes a first filler having a first functional group on the surface and a second filler having a second functional group different from the first functional group on the surface.

6. The molded article according to claim 5, wherein the first functional group is a carboxy group or a hydroxy group, and the second functional group is an amino group.

7. The molded article according to claim 1, wherein the polymer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of polyimide resins, acrylic rubbers, and silicone rubbers.

8. A composite including the molded article according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A tubular fixing member including the molded article according to any one of claims 1 to 7 molded into a tubular shape.

10. Comprising a first rotating body and a second rotating body disposed in contact with the outer surface of the first rotating body, wherein at least one of the first rotating body and the second rotating body is the tubular fixing member according to claim 9, and fixing the toner image by passing a recording medium having a toner image formed on its surface through the contact portion between the first rotating body and the second rotating body. Fixing device.

11. An image carrier, a charging device for charging the surface of the image carrier, an electrostatic latent image forming device for forming an electrostatic latent image on the charged surface of the image carrier, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier with a developer containing toner to form a toner image, a transfer device for transferring the toner image to the surface of a recording medium, and the fixing device according to claim 10 for fixing the toner image to the recording medium. Image forming apparatus.

Images