Hardened Acrylic Resin Surface Layer for Intermediate Transfer Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermoplastic resins used in intermediate transfer materials for electrophotographic systems face challenges in secondary transferability, especially at high temperatures and humidity, with existing multilayer structures compromising abrasion resistance.
Innovation Solution
A hardened acrylic or methacrylic resin surface layer with a flexible structure, incorporating a long chain alkyl group and hetero-compounds, is used to enhance secondary transferability and abrasion resistance, while maintaining sufficient slip property and cleaning ability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the surface energy of the surface layer is reduced to improve secondary transferability, then secondary transfer rate is enhanced, but abrasion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface layer with specific localized properties: low surface energy (5-20 mN/m) for improved secondary transferability, while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength through controlled crosslinking density and molecular weight. The surface layer composition is specifically designed with hydrocarbon chains and hetero-compounds to achieve this localized functional differentiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining thermoplastic resin base polymers with hetero-compound additives (metal salts, metal oxides, or metal hydroxides) in the surface layer. This composite structure enables simultaneous achievement of low surface energy for transferability and enhanced mechanical properties for abrasion resistance through the synergistic interaction between the polymer matrix and hetero-compound crosslinking agents.
2Strength
If a hardened surface layer is used to improve abrasion resistance, then durability is enhanced, but slip property and cleaning ability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the surface energy parameter within the range of 5-20 mN/m and the hetero-compound content at 1-50 parts by mass per 100 parts of thermoplastic resin. These parameter optimizations ensure the surface layer achieves adequate hardness for abrasion resistance while maintaining sufficient slip property and cleaning ability through controlled molecular flexibility and surface chemistry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface layer with specific localized properties: sufficient hardness for abrasion resistance through crosslinking, while maintaining low surface energy and appropriate flexibility for slip property and cleaning ability. The surface layer composition is specifically designed with hydrocarbon chains and controlled hetero-compound content to achieve this localized functional differentiation.
Data Source
AI summary
An intermediate transfer material, for use in an image forming apparatus in which a toner image on an electrostatic latent image carrier is transferred onto the intermediate transfer material and the toner image on the intermediate transfer material is further transferred onto a final transfer material, wherein the intermediate transfer material comprises a substrate layer having thereon a surface layer, and the surface layer comprising a cured (meth)acrylic resin. There are also disclosed an image forming method by use of the intermediate transfer material and an image forming apparatus by use of the image forming method.