Core-Shell Toner with Crystalline Polyester for Low-Temperature Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners face challenges in achieving low temperature fixing ability, inhibition of toner spilling, and hot offset resistance simultaneously, especially in high temperature and high humidity environments.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a core-shell structure, where the core contains crystalline polyester, non-crystalline polyester, a colorant, and a releasing agent, and the shell is made of a vinyl resin or polyester, with specific thermal properties and particle characteristics, such as thermal hardness, softening index, and thermal retentiveness, to balance the functions for improved performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If low temperature fixing ability is improved, then heat resistance storage stability lowers
Solution Approach 1:
The toner is divided into a core containing crystalline polyester and a shell containing amorphous polyester with different thermal properties. The core provides low-temperature fixing ability while the shell maintains heat resistance storage stability, allowing both functions to coexist without compromising either property.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining crystalline polyester (providing low melting point for low-temperature fixing) and amorphous polyester (providing high-temperature stability). This composite material approach enables the toner to exhibit both low temperature fixing ability and heat resistance storage stability simultaneously.
2Temperature
If low temperature fixing ability is improved, then hot offset resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The toner particle is segmented into core and shell regions with distinct thermal characteristics. The crystalline core enables low-temperature fixing while the amorphous shell layer prevents hot offset by maintaining structural integrity at higher temperatures, thus resolving the contradiction between low temperature fixing and hot offset resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the toner particle have different local properties: the core has low melting point characteristics for easy fixing, while the shell has high-temperature stability for preventing offset. This local differentiation allows the toner to achieve both low temperature fixing ability and hot offset resistance.
3Temperature
If low temperature fixing ability is improved, then inhibition of toner spent deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The toner structure is segmented into a crystalline core and amorphous shell. The amorphous shell acts as a protective layer that reduces toner spent during handling and transfer, while the crystalline core provides low-temperature fixing capability. This segmentation allows both functions to operate effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure of crystalline and amorphous polyester creates a toner with dual functionality: the crystalline phase enables low-temperature fixing while the amorphous phase reduces toner spent by providing better particle integrity and reduced fragmentation during the printing process.
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 fixing ability, inhibition of toner spilling, and hot offset resistance in high temperature and high humidity environments, ensuring stable image formation and quality.
Implementation Method 1
a core of the base particle contains crystalline polyester, non-crystalline polyester
Implementation Method 2
pressing and heating the full-color toner image transferred on a recording medium
Implementation Method 3
the toner has thermal hardness of 0.5 to 1.8, wherein the toner has a softening index of 80° C. to 95° C., and wherein the toner has thermal retentiveness of 30° C. to 50° C.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a toner, which contains: base particles each having a core-shell structure, where a core of the base particle contains crystalline polyester, non-crystalline polyester, a colorant, and a releasing agent, and a shell of the base particle contain a resin, wherein the toner has thermal hardness of 0.5 to 1.8, wherein the toner has a softening index of 80° C. to 95° C., and wherein the toner has thermal retentiveness of 30° C. to 50° C.