Domain-Matrix Toner Resolving Hot Offset and Gloss Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toners for electrostatic image development face challenges in achieving high glossiness, low temperature fixing, and anti-hot offset properties simultaneously, with existing solutions either compromising on glossiness or failing to provide adequate hot offset prevention across a wide temperature range.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a binding resin having a domain-matrix structure composed of high and low elastic resins, where the domains have a specific rod-like shape, allowing for low temperature fixing and anti-hot offset properties while maintaining high glossiness, achieved through a manufacturing process involving the aggregation and fusion of resin particles with controlled glass transition and softening points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a binding resin with high elastic modulus is introduced to inhibit hot off-set phenomena, then anti-hot off-set property is improved, but glossiness deteriorates because the image surface becomes rough
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces domains with high elastic modulus into the binding resin matrix, creating local regions with different mechanical properties. These domains are distributed throughout the resin to provide anti-hot off-set property while the overall matrix maintains smooth surface characteristics for glossiness
Solution Approach 2:
The binding resin is designed as a composite material consisting of a matrix resin and dispersed domains with different elastic moduli. This composite structure combines the smooth surface-forming capability of the matrix with the hot off-set resistance of the high elastic modulus domains
2Illumination intensity
If a binding resin with sharp melt property is employed to achieve high glossiness, then glossiness is improved, but anti-hot off-set property deteriorates across wide fixing temperature range
Solution Approach 1:
The matrix resin provides sharp melt property for high glossiness, while dispersed domains with high elastic modulus provide localized reinforcement to maintain structural integrity and prevent hot off-set at elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The composite binding resin combines a matrix resin with sharp melt characteristics and domains with high elastic modulus, creating a material that exhibits both glossy surface formation and temperature-resistant anti-hot off-set properties
3Temperature
If the softening point of binding resin is lowered to achieve low temperature fixing, then low temperature fixing property is improved, but hot off-set phenomena worsen due to reduced thermal physical properties
Solution Approach 1:
The matrix resin with low softening point enables low temperature fixing, while dispersed domains with high elastic modulus and higher thermal stability provide localized reinforcement to prevent hot off-set phenomena at elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
The composite binding resin structure combines a low softening point matrix for easy fixing with high elastic modulus domains that maintain thermal stability, achieving both low temperature fixing capability and hot off-set resistance
4Productivity
If heating device heat capacity is reduced to shorten warm-up period, then productivity is improved, but temperature control worsens causing hot off-set in non-image regions or weak fixing in image regions
Solution Approach 1:
The toner's domain-matrix structure with specific elastic modulus ratio and domain size parameters enables effective use of reduced heat capacity heating devices, maintaining temperature uniformity and preventing hot off-set while allowing rapid warm-up
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 low temperature fixing and anti-hot offset properties while ensuring high glossiness, as the domain-matrix structure with specific domain dimensions and elastic properties effectively manages thermal physical interactions and surface interactions during the fixing process.
Implementation Method 1
the binding resin has a domain-matrix structure composed of a high elastic resin composing a domain and a low elastic resin composing a matrix
Implementation Method 2
a manufacturing method of the toner comprises; a step of preparing dispersion liquid A of resin particles A composed of a low elastic resin for forming the matrix, a step of preparing dispersion liquid B of resin particles B composed of a high elastic resin for forming the domain
Data Source
AI summary
A toner for developing electrostatic image comprising a toner particle containing a binding resin is disclosed. which, and In the toner the binding resin has a domain-matrix structure composed of a high elastic resin composing a domain and a low elastic resin composing a matrix, an arithmetic mean value of ratio (L/W) of the Length L to Width W of the domains is 1.5 to 5.0, domains having Length L in the range of 60 to 500 nm exist 80 number % or more, and domains having Width Win the range of 45 to 100 nm exist 80 number % or more, in a viscoelastic image of a cross section of the toner particle observed via an atomic force microscope.