Core-Shell Toner with Vinyl Polymerizable Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional core-shell toners face issues where excessive shell removal leads to adhesion to toner-regulating blades and insufficient shell results in background smear, while external additives are embedded, affecting flowability and durability.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a core-shell structure where the shell is firmly attached to prevent adhesion to the toner-regulating blade and acts as a spacer to prevent external additive embedment, achieved by controlling the shell's removal using ultrasonic treatment and centrifugation to ensure optimal transmittance and surface coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large amount of shell is formed in core-shell toners, then durability and chargeability are improved, but the shell is removed from the toner surface and adheres to the toner-regulating blade
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the shell material by using a specific vinyl polymerizable resin with controlled molecular weight (10,000-100,000) and functional groups. This parameter optimization allows the shell to maintain sufficient adhesion to prevent blade contamination while retaining enough removal to provide durability and chargeability benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining polyester resin core with vinyl polymerizable resin shell. This composite material approach allows each component to contribute its strengths: the core provides structural integrity and heat resistance, while the shell provides chargeability and controlled removal characteristics that prevent blade adhesion.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the amount of shell is too small or insufficient, then shell removal does not cause adhesion to toner-regulating blade, but background smear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the shell thickness and material composition parameters to achieve a critical balance. The vinyl polymerizable resin shell with specific molecular weight ranges provides just enough material to prevent background smear through proper coverage, while the controlled removal characteristics prevent excessive adhesion to the regulating blade.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell acts as a protective layer that copies or replicates the toner surface properties, providing a uniform coating that prevents background smear. The controlled removal of this copied layer during operation allows for proper toner regulation without blade contamination.
3Ease of operation
If external additives are added to improve flowability, then toner flowability is enhanced, but the additives are embedded in the toner particles causing insufficient flowability and durability
Solution Approach 1:
The vinyl polymerizable resin shell forms a flexible, porous thin film structure that allows external additives to be properly positioned on the toner surface without deep embedding. This shell structure maintains additive availability for flowability enhancement while protecting toner durability through proper surface coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell structure incorporates porous characteristics that allow controlled interaction between external additives and the toner core. This porous structure prevents excessive embedding of additives while maintaining their functional benefits for flowability and preserving toner durability through the shell barrier.
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 solution ensures high chargeability and durability of the toner with improved fixability and reduced background smear, while maintaining the shell's spacer effect to prevent external additive embedment, enhancing overall toner performance.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating with ultrasonic waves of 20 kHz and 80 W for 5 min
Implementation Method 2
a liquid containing the toner dispersed therein is centrifugated at 3,000 rpm for 5 min
Data Source
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AI summary
A toner including: a core particle containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a releasing agent; and a shell on a surface of the core particle, wherein the toner gives a supernatant having a transmittance of 50% to 95% with respect to light having a wavelength of 800 nm, where the supernatant is formed after 3 g of the toner is added to 40 g of ion-exchange water containing 0.5% by mass of sodium dodecyl sulfate, followed by stirring for 90 min and by irradiating with ultrasonic waves of 20 kHz and 80 W for 5 min, and a liquid containing the toner dispersed therein is centrifugated at 3,000 rpm for 5 min.