Core-shell Toner Particle with Crystalline Release Agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic toner technologies face challenges in achieving high-speed image formation while maintaining image quality and extending device life due to the limitations of release agents, which can cause member contamination and require high concentrations to ensure effective release, leading to inefficiencies and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A core-shell particle with a crystalline release agent or hydrocarbon wax core encapsulated in an organosilicon polymer shell, designed to facilitate exudation at lighter pressures, allowing for effective release without compromising image quality or device longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large amount of release agent is incorporated in the toner particle to ensure effective release at high speeds, then release performance is improved, but member contamination increases and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The release agent is not uniformly distributed throughout the toner particle but is concentrated in the surface layer. This local concentration ensures effective release performance at the critical interface with the roller while minimizing the total amount of release agent that could cause contamination, thus resolving the contradiction between release effectiveness and contamination reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The toner particle is divided into an inner core region and an outer surface layer with different release agent concentrations. The surface layer contains high concentration of release agent for effective release, while the inner core has low or no release agent, preventing excessive contamination. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both effective release and reduced contamination.
2Productivity
If the fixing time is shortened to achieve higher speeds, then productivity is improved, but the proportion of release agent that can outmigrate to the toner surface is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The release agent is pre-positioned in the surface layer of the toner particle before the fixing process begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the fixing time is shortened for high-speed operation, the release agent is already at the critical interface and can immediately contribute to release effectiveness, eliminating the delay that would otherwise occur during outmigration.
3Reliability
If the release agent is located in the vicinity of the toner surface to facilitate outmigration, then release effectiveness is improved, but member contamination is facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The release agent is concentrated specifically in the surface layer where it is needed for release effectiveness, while the bulk of the toner particle contains little or no release agent. This localized positioning achieves effective release at the interface while minimizing the total quantity of release agent available to cause contamination, thus resolving the contradiction.
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 core-shell particle enables efficient release of the release agent or hydrocarbon wax at lower pressures, reducing the need for high concentrations and minimizing contamination, thus enabling higher speeds and longer device life while maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a maximum endothermic peak is present when a temperature is raised from 30° C. to 120° C. at 10.0° C./min, a maximum exothermic peak is present when the temperature is lowered from 120° C. to 30° C. at 10.0° C./min
Implementation Method 2
The core-shell particle enables efficient release of the release agent or hydrocarbon wax at lower pressures
Data Source
AI summary
A core-shell particle includes a core, and a shell on a surface of the core. The core includes a crystalline release agent. A value of a sum of a number-average value of Feret diameter of the core-shell particle and a standard deviation of the Feret diameter of the core-shell particle is 20 to 500 nm. The shell comprises an organosilicon polymer. In a differential scanning calorimetric measurement of the core-shell particle, a maximum endothermic peak is present when a temperature is raised from 30° C. to 120° C. at 10.0° C./min, a maximum exothermic peak is present when the temperature is lowered from 120° C. to 30° C. at 10.0° C./min, and Tc (° C.) is at least 5° C. lower than Tm (° C.) where Tm is a peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak and Tc is a peak temperature of the maximum exothermic peak.