Crystalline Polyester Toner for Low-Temperature Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner production methods face challenges in achieving stable low-temperature fixing ability, hot offset resistance, and heat-resistant storage stability, with issues such as particle size distribution, wax distribution, and contamination in existing polymerization methods.
Innovation Solution
A toner comprising a binder resin with a crystalline polyester resin and a non-crystalline polyester resin, where the crystalline polyester resin has specific diffraction peaks, melting points, and molecular weight characteristics, and is produced by dispersing in an aqueous medium with an organic solvent, allowing for crosslinking or elongation reactions to enhance properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a crystalline polyester resin is used to improve low-temperature fixing ability, then fixing ability is improved, but particle size distribution becomes non-uniform and contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific compound as an intermediary substance that reacts with the crystalline polyester resin during polymerization. This compound acts as a mediator to control the polymerization process, ensuring uniform particle size distribution while maintaining the low-temperature fixing ability provided by the crystalline polyester resin.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the polymerization process including temperature, time, and the addition of specific compounds to control the polymerization rate and extent. By optimizing these parameters, the patent achieves uniform particle size distribution while preserving the crystalline structure's low-temperature fixing properties.
2Length of moving object
If polymerization method is used to achieve small particle diameter, then particle size is reduced, but hot offset resistance and heat-resistant storage stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining the crystalline polyester resin with specific compounds and additives during polymerization. This composite approach allows the toner particles to achieve small diameters through polymerization while the composite structure provides hot offset resistance and heat-resistant storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions during the polymerization process by pre-adding specific compounds and controlling reaction conditions before particle formation is complete. This preliminary preparation ensures that the polymerized particles inherit both small size and improved thermal stability properties.
3Reliability
If wax is added to improve fixing ability, then fixing ability is improved, but toner adhesion to carrier and photoconductor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes the wax component from the traditional toner formulation and replaces it with the crystalline polyester resin system. This extraction eliminates the harmful adhesion effects of wax while maintaining fixing ability through the alternative polymer-based mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the toner by replacing wax with crystalline polyester resin and optimizing the polymerization conditions. This parameter change maintains fixing ability while eliminating the adhesion problems associated with wax-based systems.
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 provides a toner with excellent low-temperature fixing ability, improved hot offset resistance, and stable heat-resistant storage, preventing contamination and maintaining image quality over time.
Implementation Method 1
allowing an isocyanate group-containing polyester prepolymer to undergo polymerization addition reaction with an amine in the reaction system
Implementation Method 2
allowing for crosslinking or elongation reactions to enhance properties
Implementation Method 3
produced by dispersing in an aqueous medium with an organic solvent
Data Source
AI summary
A toner including a binder resin which contains a crystalline polyester resin and a non-crystalline polyester resin, wherein the crystalline polyester resin has at least two diffraction peaks in a range of 20°<2θ<25° as detected by X-ray diffraction measurement, and has a melting point which is 60° C. or higher but lower than 80° C., and wherein the diffraction peaks each have a half width which is less than 1.0°.