Boric Acid Toner Composition for High-Speed Image Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners face challenges in maintaining durability and preventing contamination and scratches on electrostatic latent image bearing members when processing speeds increase and service lives extend, leading to image defects such as white spots and streaks.
Innovation Solution
A toner comprising a binder resin and external additives with specific shape factors and the presence of boric acid near the surface, which suppresses migration and attachment to the electrostatic latent image bearing member, using a production method that includes dispersion, aggregation, and fusion steps with boric acid addition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If processing speed is increased to achieve higher productivity, then productivity is improved, but toner fluidity decreases and image density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the toner by incorporating boric acid at specific concentrations (0.1-10.0 mass%) and controlling the shape factors of external additives (SF-1: 105-250, SF-2: 102-250). These parameter changes modify the toner's physical properties to maintain fluidity even at high processing speeds, resolving the contradiction between productivity and toner fluidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite toner material combining binder resin, boric acid, and externally added particles with specific shape factors. This composite structure provides both the processing speed required for high productivity and the fluidity control needed for reliable image formation, addressing the contradiction through material composition rather than single-parameter adjustment.
2Productivity
If processing speed is increased to achieve higher productivity, then productivity is improved, but scratches occur on electrostatic latent image bearing members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces boric acid as an intermediary substance that mediates between the high processing speed requirements and the protection of the electrostatic latent image bearing member. The boric acid modifies the interaction between toner particles and the bearing member surface, reducing scratching while allowing high-speed operation to proceed.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the chemical composition parameters (boric acid concentration: 0.1-10.0 mass%) and physical parameters (shape factors SF-1: 105-250, SF-2: 102-250), the patent creates toner properties that are compatible with high-speed processing while protecting the electrostatic latent image bearing member from scratches, thus resolving the contradiction.
3Duration of action of moving object
If service life is extended to improve durability, then duration of action is improved, but external additives become embedded or detached more easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite toner system where boric acid and externally added particles with specific shape factors work together to stabilize external additives throughout the service life. This composite structure prevents both embedding and detachment of external additives over extended periods, resolving the contradiction between service life and additive stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the toner's chemical and physical parameters by incorporating boric acid at controlled concentrations and using external additives with specific shape factors (SF-1: 105-250, SF-2: 102-250). These parameter changes create a stable structure that maintains external additive integrity throughout extended service life, preventing both embedding and detachment.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If external additives are added to prevent contamination and scratches, then protection is improved, but toner fluidity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the parameters of external additives (shape factors SF-1: 105-250, SF-2: 102-250) and incorporates boric acid at optimized concentrations (0.1-10.0 mass%). These parameter changes ensure that external additives provide protection against contamination and scratches while maintaining toner fluidity, resolving the contradiction between protection and fluidity.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner comprising: a toner particle comprising a binder resin and boric acid; and an external additive A having a primary particle major diameter of 80 to 200 nm, wherein in ATR-IR analysis of the toner particle in an ATR method using germanium as an ATR crystal, a peak corresponding to boric acid is detected, the average value of a shape factor SF-1 of the external additive A is 105 to 250, and the average value of a shape factor SF-2 of the external additive A is 102 to 250.