Core-Shell Toner Particles with Crosslinked Gel Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Polyester EA ultra low melt toners exhibit high peak gloss, which is undesirable, and existing methods do not effectively address this issue while maintaining excellent fusing properties.
Innovation Solution
The development of toner particles with a core-shell configuration, where the shell includes a crosslinked polyester gel, reducing gloss and improving charging properties by preventing crystalline resin migration to the toner surface during coalescence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional emulsion aggregation processes are used to prepare polyester ultra low melt toners, then excellent fusing properties including crease minimum fixing temperature and fusing latitude are achieved, but peak gloss becomes unacceptably high
Solution Approach 1:
The toner particle is divided into a core region containing crystalline polyester resin and a shell region containing amorphous polyester resin. This segmentation allows the core to provide fusing properties while the shell controls peak gloss, resolving the contradiction between excellent fusing performance and acceptable peak gloss levels.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the toner particle are assigned different material compositions and properties: the core uses crystalline polyester for low melting point and good fusing, while the shell uses amorphous polyester to suppress peak gloss. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its specific function.
2Reliability
If crystalline polyester resin is used in the toner composition, then excellent fusing properties are achieved, but crystalline resin migrates to the toner surface during coalescence causing high peak gloss
Solution Approach 1:
The toner is segmented into core and shell regions, with crystalline polyester confined to the core and amorphous polyester forming the shell. This spatial segmentation prevents crystalline resin migration to the surface during coalescence, maintaining compositional stability while preserving fusing properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The amorphous polyester shell acts as an intermediary barrier that prevents crystalline polyester resin from migrating to the toner surface during the coalescence process. This intermediary layer stabilizes the resin distribution while allowing the core crystalline resin to provide excellent fusing properties.
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 particles achieve reduced peak gloss and enhanced charging characteristics, maintaining excellent fusing properties and document offset performance.
Implementation Method 1
wherein from about 1% by weight about 50% by weight of the polyester gel is crosslinked
Implementation Method 2
a shell including at least one amorphous resin such as poly(propoxylated bisphenol co-fumarate)... wherein the amorphous resin in the core, the amorphous resin in the shell, or both, includes a polyester gel
Data Source
AI summary
Toner particles are provided which may include a core and a shell, one or both of which may include a polyester gel. The gel in the shell and/or core may prevent a crystalline resin in the core from migrating to the toner surface.