Alicyclic Thermoplastic Resin Coating for Charge Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrostatic image developing carriers with thermoplastic resin coatings face challenges in maintaining charge stability and preventing resin peeling during long-term use, especially at high temperatures and humidity, leading to environmental dependency and image quality issues.
Innovation Solution
A carrier with a thermoplastic resin coating having an alicyclic group, optimized by controlling thermal reduction between 0.5 weight % to 5 weight % and endothermic quantity between 7 mJ/g to 40 mJ/g, to enhance adhesive force and orientability, reducing environmental dependency and peeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thermoplastic resin coating is applied to the carrier surface, then charging controllability is improved, but the coating resin layer peels off during long-term use at high temperatures and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the thermoplastic resin by introducing alicyclic groups (specifically cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon groups with 3-8 carbon atoms). This structural modification increases the adhesive force between the resin and carrier surface, preventing peeling while maintaining charging controllability. The specific parameter change is the incorporation of rigid alicyclic structures that enhance intermolecular forces and adhesion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite coating system by combining thermoplastic resin with specific alicyclic group-containing components. This composite structure leverages the adhesive properties of the alicyclic groups while retaining the charging characteristics of the thermoplastic resin, achieving both stability and functional performance.
2Productivity
If the carrier is used in high temperature and high humidity environments, then image formation speed is maintained, but charge leakage occurs and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the thermal and electrical parameters of the carrier coating by incorporating alicyclic group-containing thermoplastic resin. The rigid alicyclic structures reduce molecular mobility and improve charge holding capability at elevated temperatures, while the thermoplastic nature maintains adequate surface conductivity for charging. This parameter optimization allows the carrier to maintain charge retention in high-temperature, high-humidity environments without sacrificing image formation speed.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the resin coating adhesive force is increased to prevent peeling, then coating stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves improved adhesive force through chemical structure modification rather than process complexity. By selecting thermoplastic resins containing specific alicyclic groups (cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon groups with 3-8 carbon atoms), the inherent adhesive properties of the material are enhanced. This approach maintains simple coating manufacturing processes while achieving the desired coating stability through material science rather than process engineering.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optimized carrier achieves stable image formation over a long term with improved charge retention and reduced environmental dependency, maintaining high image quality by preventing resin peeling and charge leakage.
Implementation Method 1
a coating resin layer which coats the surface of the core material and comprises a thermoplastic resin having an alicyclic group
Implementation Method 2
an endothermic quantity of the whole of the carrier in accordance with the DTA method being in the range of 7 mJ/g to 40 mJ/g or less in the range of 100° C. to 400° C.
Implementation Method 3
a thermal reduction of the carrier in accordance with the TGA method being in the range of 0.5 weight % to 5 weight % of the whole of the carrier in the range of 100° C. to 400° C.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrostatic image developing carrier including at least a core material and a coating resin layer which coats the surface of the core material, the resin layer comprising a thermoplastic resin having an alicyclic group, a thermal reduction in accordance with the TGA method being in the range of 0.5 weight % to 5 weight % of the whole of the carrier in the range of 100° C. to 400° C., and further an endothermic quantity of the whole of the carrier in accordance with the DTA method is in the range of 7 mJ/g to 40 mJ/g in the range of 100° C. to 400° C.