Amorphous-Crystalline Toner Formulation for Low-Coverage Fixation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners struggle to effectively fix low-coverage images on both paper and non-paper recording media, lacking sufficient adhesion and fixation properties.
Innovation Solution
Toner particles containing binder resins with amorphous and crystalline resins, along with an oligomer, have a molecular weight distribution curve with a peak in 5000 to 50000 and a shoulder in 500 to 5000, and crystalline resin domains with an average length of 100 nm to 1000 nm, enhancing adhesion and rapid fixation through the oligomer's surface presence and the crystalline resin's flow upon melting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional toners are used, then general fixation is achieved, but fixation of low-coverage images on both paper and non-paper recording media is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight distribution parameters of the binder resin, specifically setting Mn between 500-5000 and Mw between 5000-50000 with Mw/Mn ratio between 1.05-5.0. This parameter optimization enables the toner to achieve reliable fixation on both paper and non-paper recording media by controlling the resin's flow and adhesion characteristics during the fixation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite binder resin system combining amorphous resin and crystalline resin in specific proportions (amorphous resin 30-90 mass%, crystalline resin 10-70 mass%). This composite structure provides both adhesion (from amorphous resin) and flow properties (from crystalline resin), enabling versatile fixation across different recording media types.
2Strength
If the molecular weight of binder resin is increased to improve adhesion, then adhesion strength increases, but fixation speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight parameters by controlling Mn to be 500-5000 and Mw to be 5000-50000, with a specific Mw/Mn ratio of 1.05-5.0. This creates a balanced molecular weight distribution where lower Mn provides fast initial adhesion and higher Mw provides strong bonding strength, resolving the contradiction between adhesion strength and fixation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The oligomer components with low molecular weight (Mn 500-5000) act as preliminary adhesion agents that quickly bond the toner to the recording medium surface. Subsequently, the higher molecular weight resin (Mw 5000-50000) provides the final strong adhesion,实现ing both fast fixation speed and strong adhesion strength.
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 achieves superior fixation of low-coverage images on both paper and non-paper recording media by accelerating deformation and adhesion, leveraging the oligomer's surface function as a fixing agent and the crystalline resin's flow into the space left by the oligomer.
Implementation Method 1
the crystalline resin's flow into the space left by the oligomer
Implementation Method 2
accelerating deformation and adhesion, leveraging the oligomer's surface function as a fixing agent and the crystalline resin's flow upon melting
Data Source
AI summary
A toner for developing an electrostatic charge image contains toner particles that contain binder resins including an amorphous resin and a crystalline resin and also contain an oligomer. The molecular weight distribution curve of the toner measured by gel permeation chromatography has its highest peak in a range of molecular weights from 5000 to 50000 and a peak or shoulder in a range of molecular weights from 500 to 5000. In a cross-sectional observation of the toner particles, domains of the crystalline resin have an average length of major axis of 100 nm or more and 1000 nm or less.