Copper Complex Compound Toner for Electrophotography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrophotographic toners face challenges in achieving high transparency, color reproducibility, light fastness, and thermal resistivity, with organic pigments offering heat resistivity and light fastness but low transparency, while dyes provide transparency but are prone to sublimation and contamination, and existing additives lack stability.
Innovation Solution
A copper complex compound represented by Formula (1) is used in combination with a specific structured dye within a thermoplastic resin to create an electrophotographic toner that enhances stability, transparency, and light fastness, and resistivity against heat and humidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If organic pigments are used as colorant in electrophotographic toner, then heat resistivity and light fastness are improved, but transparency is lowered due to dispersed state and insufficient dispersibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a specific binder resin as an intermediary medium to disperse pigment particles. The binder resin with controlled molecular weight and functional groups enables sufficient dispersibility of pigment particles while maintaining their heat resistivity and light fastness properties, and achieves transparency through proper dispersion rather than dissolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes pigment particle size parameters (controlling primary particle diameter and preventing coagulated secondary particles) and binder resin parameters (molecular weight, functional groups) to achieve a balance between transparency, dispersibility, and stability. By controlling these parameters, the toner achieves both transparency and pigment stability
2Loss of substance
If dyes are used as colorant in electrophotographic toner, then transparency is improved, but light fastness and thermal resistivity are lowered due to sublimation and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The binder resin acts as an intermediary that holds pigment particles in place, preventing their movement and sublimation. This intermediary structure allows the toner to achieve transparency through proper dispersion while the binder resin prevents pigment sublimation and contamination, thereby improving light fastness and thermal resistivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite toner structure combining binder resin and pigment particles. This composite material integrates the transparency benefits of well-dispersed pigment with the stability provided by the binder resin matrix, achieving both transparency and resistance to sublimation and contamination
3Loss of substance
If pigment is dispersed in binder resin to improve transparency, then dispersibility is improved, but electric charging ability and fixing ability are lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight and functional group parameters of the binder resin to balance transparency and charging ability. By controlling these parameters, the binder resin achieves sufficient dispersibility for transparency while maintaining the electrical properties necessary for charging and fixing functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local quality differences within the toner particle structure, with pigment particles dispersed in specific regions of the binder resin. This local dispersion approach maintains transparency in visible areas while preserving charging ability in functional regions, and ensures fixing ability through proper structural organization
Data Source
AI summary
A copper complex compound represented by Formula (1) is disclosed.in the formula, groups represented by R is a substituent, n is an integer of from 1 to 5 and the total carbon number contained in (R)n is 14 or more. A toner for electrophotography containing the compound is also disclosed.