Film and method for producing film

Abstract

To provide a film having sufficient water repellency on one surface and sufficient wettability on the other surface without using a fluorine component.SOLUTION: The film is made of a resin containing no fluorine component. The film comprises a first side and a second side. A contact angle of water on the first surface is 100 degrees or more. Surface energy value in the second face is 38mN / m or more.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a film and a method for producing the film. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent No. 7005844 (Patent Document 1) discloses a fluororesin film, at least one surface of which is modified (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7005844 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The fluororesin film disclosed in Patent Document 1 contains so-called PFAS (Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). However, concerns about the harmfulness of PFAS have arisen, and in Europe, for example, proposals to regulate the production of PFAS are being discussed. Therefore, it is important to achieve equivalent performance without using PFAS in products that currently use PFAS.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and its object is to provide a film that has sufficient water repellency on one side and sufficient wettability on the other side without using a fluorine component. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A film according to one aspect of the present invention is made of a resin that does not contain a fluorine component. The film has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface has a water contact angle of 100 degrees or more. The second surface has a surface energy value of 38 mN / m or more.

[0007] Although this film uses a resin that does not contain fluorine components, the water contact angle on the first side is 100 degrees or more, and the surface energy value on the second side is 38 mN / m or more. Therefore, this film can achieve sufficient water repellency on the first side and sufficient wettability on the second side without containing fluorine components.

[0008] In the film, the resin may contain siloxane-modified polyetherimide.

[0009] In the film, the resin may contain polymethylpentene.

[0010] The first surface of the film may have a surface energy value of 30 mN / m or less.

[0011] In the above film, the film may have a tubular shape, and the first surface may constitute the outer peripheral surface, and the second surface may constitute the inner peripheral surface.

[0012] This film does not contain a fluorine component and can be used to realize a tubular film having sufficient water repellency on the outer peripheral surface and sufficient wettability on the inner peripheral surface.

[0013] A method for producing a film according to another aspect of the present invention includes extruding a tubular resin composition using the resin, and treating the inner surface of the resin composition to improve its surface energy, thereby producing the film.

[0014] According to this method for producing a film, it is possible to produce a film that does not contain a fluorine component and has sufficient water repellency on the first side and sufficient wettability on the second side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a film that has sufficient water repellency on one side and sufficient wettability on the other side without using a fluorine component. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cross section of a part of a fixing belt including a film according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a flowchart showing a film manufacturing procedure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] An embodiment according to one aspect of the present invention (hereinafter also referred to as "the present embodiment") will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description will not be repeated. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, each drawing is drawn schematically with objects appropriately omitted or exaggerated.

[0018] [1. Film composition] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a fixing belt 10 including a film 100 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the fixing belt 10 is included in an electronic copying machine, a laser beam printer, or the like, and is used to fix toner to paper. The film 100 has, for example, a tube shape and forms the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 10.

[0019] For example, in the fixing belt 10, a silicone rubber layer 110 is formed on a fixing belt main body 120, and the silicone rubber layer 110 is covered with a film 100. For example, the fixing belt main body 120 is made of polyimide, and the silicone rubber layer 110 is made of silicone rubber.

[0020] A film containing a fluororesin (hereinafter also referred to as a "fluororesin film") is often used as a film constituting the outer surface of a fixing belt included in an electronic copier, a laser beam printer, or the like. For example, a tubular fluororesin film whose inner surface has been modified to improve adhesion to silicone rubber is used as the film constituting the outer surface of a fixing belt. This ensures sufficient toner releasability on the outer surface and sufficient adhesion to the silicone rubber layer on the inner surface.

[0021] On the other hand, there are concerns about the harmfulness of PFAS contained in fluororesin films, and for example, in Europe, proposals to regulate the production of PFAS are being discussed. Therefore, it is important to achieve equivalent performance without using PFAS in products that currently use PFAS. In the film 100 according to this embodiment, even though it does not contain a fluorine component, sufficient water repellency is ensured on one side and sufficient wettability is ensured on the other side. The film 100 will be described in detail below.

[0022] The film 100 is made of a resin that does not contain a fluorine component (hereinafter also referred to as a "non-fluorine resin.") Examples of non-fluorine resins include siloxane-modified polyetherimide (PEI) and polymethylpentene (PMP).

[0023] Siloxane-modified polyetherimide refers to a polymer in which at least one part of the main chain or side chain of a polyetherimide is replaced with a siloxane structure (siloxane-modified). Polyetherimide is a polymer containing structural units having at least an ether bond and an imide bond. There are no particular limitations on the method for siloxane-modifying a polyetherimide, and known methods can be applied. Examples of the method for siloxane-modifying a polyetherimide include (1) a method in which a polymer obtained by copolymerizing a siloxane compound having an amino group (amino-modified silicone), a dicarboxylic acid dianhydride containing an ether bond, and a diamine compound is imidized to obtain an imidized product, and (2) a method in which a silicone resin is copolymerized with a polyetherimide.

[0024] The siloxane-modified polyetherimide may be a synthetic product or a commercially available product, such as SILTEM STM1500, 1600, or 1700 manufactured by SHPP Japan LLC, which is a copolymer of polyetherimide resin and silicone resin.

[0025] The film 100 includes a first surface 102 that forms the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 10, and a second surface 104 that is bonded to the silicone rubber layer 110. The contact angle of water on the first surface 102 is 100 degrees or more, preferably 105 degrees or more, and more preferably 110 degrees or more. The surface energy value of the first surface 102 is 30 mN / m or less. The surface energy value of the second surface 104 is 38 mN / m or more, preferably 54 mN / m or more, and more preferably 73 mN / m or more.

[0026] Although film 100 uses a non-fluorine resin, the water contact angle on first surface 102 is 100 degrees or more, and the surface energy value on second surface 104 is 38 mN / m or more. Therefore, film 100 can achieve sufficient water repellency on first surface 102 and sufficient wettability on second surface 104 without containing a fluorine component.

[0027] [2. Film manufacturing method] 2 is a flowchart showing the manufacturing procedure for film 100. Each step shown in this flowchart is performed by various manufacturing devices.

[0028] 2, for example, an extruder heats and melts a non-fluororesin and extrudes the non-fluororesin into a tube to produce a tubular resin composition (step S100). For example, a stretching device stretches the tubular resin composition (step S110). The inner surface of the stretched tubular resin composition is then treated to produce film 100 (step S120).

[0029] Examples of inner surface treatments applied to the inner surface of the tubular resin composition include laser treatment, chemical etching treatment, and corona treatment. Laser treatment is performed, for example, by irradiating the inner surface of a tubular film (resin composition) made of a non-fluororesin with KrF excimer laser light. Chemical etching is performed, for example, by applying a treatment solution of an organic solvent containing a sodium-naphthalene complex as a main component to the inner surface of the tubular film made of a non-fluororesin. By performing the inner surface treatment on the inner surface of the tubular resin composition, the surface energy value of the second surface 104 of the film 100 becomes 38 mN / m or more.

[0030] [3. Features] As described above, in film 100 according to the present embodiment, even though a resin that does not contain a fluorine component is used, the water contact angle on first surface 102 is 100 degrees or more, and the surface energy value on second surface 104 is 38 mN / m or more. Therefore, film 100 can achieve sufficient water repellency on first surface 102 and sufficient wettability on second surface 104 without containing a fluorine component.

[0031] 4. Other Embodiments The concept of the above embodiment is not limited to the embodiment described above. Hereinafter, examples of other embodiments to which the concept of the above embodiment can be applied will be described.

[0032] <4-1> In the above embodiment, the film 100 is used on the outer peripheral surface of the fixing belt 10. However, the use of the film 100 is not limited to this. The film 100 may be used in various rolls or belts included in electronic copiers, laser beam printers, etc., or may be used in members other than rolls or belts.

[0033] <4-2> In the above embodiment, the film 100 has a tubular shape. However, the film 100 does not necessarily have to have a tubular shape. Any appropriate shape can be adopted depending on the application of the film 100.

[0034] <4-3> In the above embodiment, the fixing belt 10 to which the film 100 is applied includes the silicone rubber layer 110 and the fixing belt main body 120 in addition to the film 100. However, the configuration of the fixing belt 10 is not limited to this. For example, the fixing belt main body 120 does not necessarily have to be made of polyimide. Furthermore, the fixing belt 10 does not necessarily have to include the silicone rubber layer 110, and may include, for example, a layer made of a material other than silicone rubber instead of the silicone rubber layer 110.

[0035] The above describes exemplary embodiments of the present invention. That is, the detailed description and the accompanying drawings are disclosed for the purpose of illustrative explanation. Therefore, some of the components described in the detailed description and the accompanying drawings may be non-essential components for solving the problems. Therefore, just because these non-essential components are described in the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, it should not be immediately recognized that these non-essential components are essential.

[0036] Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the present invention in all respects. Various improvements and modifications to the above-described embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, at least a portion of the configuration of any of the embodiments may be combined with at least a portion of the configuration of any of the other embodiments. In other words, when implementing the present invention, specific configurations can be appropriately adopted depending on the embodiment. [Example]

[0037] Examples of the present invention will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0038] [1. Examples and Comparative Examples] Films of Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-7 were produced. Each film had a tubular shape. Each film of Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-7 was produced by heating and melting a resin, extruding the resin into a tubular shape, and then stretching and treating the inner surface. The films of Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-7 differed from each other in the combination of resin type, inner surface treatment conditions, diameter, and thickness.

[0039] In the film of Example 1, the resin type was Siltem STM1500 manufactured by SHPP Japan LLC, and the type of inner surface treatment was 1000 Wmin / m 2 The film of Example 2 was treated with a corona discharge treatment at 1000 W. The resin type was Siltem STM1500 manufactured by SHPP Japan LLC, and the type of inner surface treatment was a chemical etching treatment using an organic solvent treatment solution containing a sodium-naphthalene complex as the main component. The film of Example 3 was treated with a resin type Siltem STM1500 manufactured by SHPP Japan LLC, and the type of inner surface treatment was a chemical etching treatment using a Krf excimer laser beam (irradiation dose: 30 mJ / cm2). 2 In the film of Example 4, the resin type was Siltem STM1500 manufactured by SHPP Japan LLC, and the type of inner surface treatment was irradiation with Krf excimer laser light (irradiation dose 60 mJ / cm 2In the film of Example 5, the resin type was TPX (model: MX002) (polymethylpentene) manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., and the type of inner surface treatment was 1000 Wmin / m 2 The corona treatment was carried out at .

[0040] In the film of Comparative Example 1, the resin type was Siltem STM1500 manufactured by SHPP Japan LLC, and no inner surface treatment was performed. In the film of Comparative Example 2, the resin type was Siltem STM1500 manufactured by SHPP Japan LLC, and the type of inner surface treatment was 250 Wmin / m 2 In the film of Comparative Example 3, the resin type was Siltem STM1500 manufactured by SHPP Japan LLC, and the type of inner surface treatment was irradiation with Krf excimer laser light (irradiation dose 15 mJ / cm 2 The film of Comparative Example 4 was treated with a chemical etching laser using a treatment solution of an organic solvent containing a sodium-naphthalene complex as the main component, and the film of Comparative Example 5 was treated with a TPX resin (model: MX002) manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. The film of Comparative Example 6 was treated with a chemical etching laser using a treatment solution of an organic solvent containing a sodium-naphthalene complex as the main component, and the film of Comparative Example 7 was treated with a Krf excimer laser (irradiation dose: 60 mJ / cm 2 In the film of Comparative Example 6, the resin type was PEEK 381G manufactured by Victrex Japan Co., Ltd., and the type of inner surface treatment was irradiation with Krf excimer laser light (irradiation dose 15 mJ / cm 2 In the film of Comparative Example 7, the resin type was PEEK 381G manufactured by Victrex Japan Co., Ltd., and the type of inner surface treatment was irradiation with Krf excimer laser light (irradiation dose 60 mJ / cm 2 ) laser treatment.

[0041] The combinations of resin type, inner surface treatment conditions, diameter and thickness of each film of Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-7 are shown in Table 1 below. [Table 1]

[0042] [2. Various evaluations] The films of Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7 were subjected to the following various evaluations.

[0043] <2-1. Fluorine component analysis> The presence or absence of fluorine components in each film was measured using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analyzer (EDX).

[0044] <2-2. Measurement of contact angle on outer peripheral surface> Water was dropped onto the outer peripheral surface of each cut-open film, and the contact angle of the water was measured.

[0045] <2-3. Measurement of surface energy values ​​on outer and inner surfaces> The surface energy values ​​of the outer and inner surfaces of each film were measured by a method conforming to JIS 6768. A reagent manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. was used as the wetting reagent.

[0046] <2-4. Adhesion test> A tubular film was attached to silicone rubber applied to a metal plate, and the whole was molded by heating. After molding, the tube was peeled off from the silicone rubber, and the adhesion was judged based on the state of the silicone rubber adhering to the tube upon peeling. The evaluation was based on the adhesion rate of the silicone rubber and the following criteria. Rating A: 90% or above Rating B: 75% or more, less than 90% Rating C: 50% or more, less than 75% Rating D: 10% or more, less than 50% Rating E: Less than 10%

[0047] [3. Evaluation Results] The results of the various evaluations are shown in Table 2 below. [Table 2]

[0048] As shown in Table 2, the films of Examples 1 to 5 did not contain any fluorine component, had a contact angle of 100 degrees or more on the outer peripheral surface, and had a surface energy value of 38 mN / m or more on the inner peripheral surface. On the other hand, the films of Comparative Examples 1 to 7 did not satisfy at least one of the conditions of not containing any fluorine component, having a contact angle of 100 degrees or more on the outer peripheral surface, and having a surface energy value of 38 mN / m or more on the inner peripheral surface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10 fixing belt, 100 film, 102 first surface, 104 second surface, 110 silicone rubber layer, 120 fixing belt body.

Claims

1. A film made of a resin that does not contain a fluorine component, A first surface and a second surface are provided. the contact angle of water on the first surface is 100 degrees or more; A film having a surface energy value of 38 mN / m or more on the second surface.

2. The film of claim 1 , wherein the resin comprises a siloxane-modified polyetherimide.

3. The film of claim 1 , wherein the resin comprises polymethylpentene.

4. 2. The film of claim 1, wherein the first surface has a surface energy value of 30 mN / m or less.

5. the film has a tubular shape; the first surface constitutes an outer circumferential surface; The film of claim 1 , wherein the second surface constitutes an inner peripheral surface.

6. A method for producing the film according to claim 5, extruding a resin composition having a tubular shape using the resin; a method for producing a film, the method comprising: producing the film by subjecting an inner peripheral surface of the resin composition to a treatment for improving a surface energy value.

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