Binder Resin Toner Composition for Low-Temperature Fixing Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners struggle to achieve both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability while maintaining charge stability and abrasion resistance, particularly in high-temperature and high-humidity environments.
Innovation Solution
A toner composition with a binder resin that has a controlled endothermic peak temperature of 50 to 70°C and endothermic quantity of 30 to 70 J/g, along with specific ratios of high- and low-polarity components, achieved through precise control of polymerization conditions and monomer composition, ensures both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability, as well as charge stability and abrasion resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the binder resin is lowered to enable low-temperature fixability, then the fixing temperature is reduced, but the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of the binder resin from amorphous to crystalline structure. This structural parameter change allows the resin to exhibit sharp melting behavior at a specific temperature range (50-70°C endothermic peak) while maintaining thermal stability during storage, thereby achieving both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition characteristics of crystalline vinyl resin, which undergoes a sharp melting transition at its melting point. The crystalline structure remains stable during storage (providing heat-resistant stability) but melts sharply during fixing (providing low-temperature fixability), effectively resolving the contradiction between storage stability and fixing temperature
2Temperature
If the amount of long-chain alkyl groups is increased to ensure low-temperature fixability, then the low-temperature fixability is improved, but the adhesiveness with paper decreases and abrasion resistance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the parameter of endothermic peak temperature to a specific range (50-70°C) and controls the endothermic quantity (30-70 J/g). This precise parameter control allows sufficient long-chain alkyl groups for low-temperature melting while preventing excessive hydrophobicity that would reduce paper adhesiveness and abrasion resistance
3Temperature
If the amount of long-chain alkyl groups is increased to ensure low-temperature fixability, then the low-temperature fixability is improved, but the durability is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention controls the endothermic quantity within a specific range (30-70 J/g) to balance the amount of crystalline component. This ensures adequate low-temperature fixability while maintaining sufficient durability, as excessive crystalline content would reduce durability
4Reliability
If the polarity of the binder resin is increased to improve charge stability in high-temperature and high-humidity environment, then the charge stability is improved, but the adhesiveness with paper decreases and abrasion resistance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The invention controls the polarity of the binder resin within an optimal range by selecting appropriate crystalline vinyl resin types and compositions. This balanced polarity control ensures sufficient charge stability in humid environments while maintaining adequate paper adhesiveness and abrasion resistance
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 toner exhibits excellent low-temperature fixability, heat-resistant storage stability, and maintains charge stability and abrasion resistance in high-temperature and high-humidity conditions, addressing the limitations of previous toner technologies.
Implementation Method 1
in differential scanning calorimetry using the toner as a sample, a peak temperature of an endothermic peak derived from the binder resin at a first temperature rise is 50 to 70°C
Implementation Method 2
the crystal melts rapidly at the melting point as a boundary, and the viscosity drops sharply following such melting
Data Source
AI summary
A toner having a toner particle having a binder resin, wherein in differential scanning calorimetry using the toner as a sample, a peak temperature of an endothermic peak derived from the binder resin at a first temperature rise is from 50° C. to 70° C., and an endothermic quantity per 1 g of the toner is from 30 J/g to 70 J/g, and when acetonitrile is used as a poor solvent and chloroform is used as a good solvent for a chloroform-soluble component of the binder resin, and a component eluted during a linear change from a mobile phase composition of 100% by volume of acetonitrile to a mobile phase composition of 100% by volume of chloroform is gradient LC analyzed, a specific relationship between the peaks is satisfied.