Amorphous Composite Toner Resin for Low-Temperature Fusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners for electrophotography face issues with gloss and carrier contamination resistance, as well as low-temperature fusing properties, despite advancements in resin compositions and production methods.
Innovation Solution
A toner formulation incorporating an amorphous composite resin with a polyester resin segment and a vinylic resin segment, bonded via a covalent unit, and a wax dispersant, where the composite resin has a glass transition temperature above 45°C, optimizing the mass ratio and chemical composition to enhance hydrophobicity and dispersibility, thereby improving low-temperature fusing, gloss, and carrier contamination resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional resin compositions are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but low-temperature fusing properties and gloss are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite resin system comprising a polyester resin segment and a vinylic resin segment in specific mass ratios (polyester: 30-80 mass%, vinylic: 20-70 mass%). This composite structure combines the low-temperature fusing characteristics of polyester with the gloss-enhancing properties of vinylic resins, achieving superior low-temperature fusing performance while maintaining manageable formulation complexity through defined compositional ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including the glass transition temperature of the composite resin (40-80°C) and the mass ratio components to achieve optimal low-temperature fusing properties. By controlling the glass transition temperature within this range and adjusting the polyester-to-vinylic resin ratio, the invention achieves enhanced fusing performance at lower temperatures without requiring overly complex compositional variations.
2Reliability
If conventional binder resins are used, then formulation simplicity is maintained, but carrier contamination resistance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a composite binder resin formulation combining polyester resin and vinylic resin in controlled proportions. This composite structure provides enhanced carrier contamination resistance through the synergistic effects of the two resin types, where the polyester component offers thermal stability and the vinylic component provides surface properties that reduce contamination, all while maintaining formulation simplicity through defined compositional ranges.
3Shape
If existing toner formulations are used, then production simplicity is maintained, but gloss and durability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves enhanced gloss by controlling the glass transition temperature of the composite resin within 40-80°C and optimizing the mass ratio of polyester to vinylic resin segments. These parameter optimizations improve surface quality and gloss without requiring complex multi-step production processes, as the composite resin can be manufactured using conventional polymerization and blending techniques with adjusted compositional parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a toner for developing electrostatic images excellent in low-temperature fusing property, gloss and carrier contamination resistance, and a wax dispersant. [1] A toner for developing electrostatic images, containing an amorphous composite resin (A), an amorphous polyester resin (B), and a wax, wherein the amorphous composite resin (A) contains a polyester resin segment which is a polycondensate of an alcohol component containing an aromatic diol and a carboxylic acid component containing an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid whose main chain has 8 or more and 14 or less carbon atoms, a vinylic resin segment of an addition polymer of a raw material monomer containing a styrenic compound, and a constitutional unit derived from a bireactive monomer, the constitutional unit bonding to the polyester resin segment and the vinylic resin segment each via a covalent bond; and has a glass transition temperature not lower than 45°C, and the ratio by mass of the amorphous composite resin (A) to the amorphous polyester resin (B) [(A)/(B)] is 1/99 or more and 60/40 or less; and [2] a wax dispersant containing the amorphous composite resin (A).