Brilliant Developer Metallic Pigment Particle Size Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses using metallic pigments often result in low print quality due to the size and distribution of pigment particles in developers.
Innovation Solution
A brilliant developer containing metallic pigments with pigment particles sized between 2 μm and 4 μm, a binder resin, and an external additive, where the percentage of particles in the 2-4 μm range is between 21.5% and 25.3%, is used, along with a developer container and a developing device that includes a photoreceptor and a fixing unit, to enhance print quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If metallic pigments with larger particle sizes are used to achieve brilliant metallic luster, then the brilliance and metallic effect are improved, but the print quality and surface smoothness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic pigment particles are segmented into specific size ranges (2-4 μm for aluminum particles, 3-5 μm for bronze particles) to optimize both brilliance and print quality. This segmentation allows the developer to achieve metallic luster while maintaining surface smoothness through controlled particle distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the particle size parameters of metallic pigments to specific ranges (2-4 μm for aluminum, 3-5 μm for bronze) and controls the volume percentage distribution (21.5-25.3% for 2-4 μm particles). These parameter changes resolve the contradiction by optimizing the balance between metallic brilliance and surface smoothness.
2Illumination intensity
If metallic pigments are used in developers, then brilliant images with metallic color are achieved, but the print quality becomes low
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by using different metallic pigment sizes for different effects: smaller particles (2-4 μm aluminum, 3-5 μm bronze) provide surface smoothness and fine detail, while the metallic nature of these particles still delivers brilliant reflective properties. The binder resin and external additives are also optimized locally to enhance both brilliance and print quality simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
A brilliant developer contains a metallic pigment containing pigment particles, a binder resin, and an external additive. A percentage of the pigment particles not less than 2 μm and not more than 4 μm in a volume particle size distribution of a residue separated from a mixture obtained by dissolving the brilliant developer in tetrahydrofuran after removing the external additive from the brilliant developer is not less than 21.5% and not more than 25.3%.