Electroconductive Member With Chemically Fixed Ion Exchange Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, the conductivity of charging rollers degrades over time due to ion conductive agents bleeding out, leading to increased electric resistance and reduced image quality, especially under severe environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
An electroconductive member with a conductive mandrel and a conductive layer comprising an organic polymeric compound and organic-inorganic hybrid polymer particles, where the ion exchange group is chemically fixed within the molecule to prevent movement and maintain conductivity over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large amount of ion conductive agent is added to improve conductivity, then the conductivity of the conductive elastic layer is improved, but the ion conductive agent bleeds out to the surface under high temperature and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the ion conductive agent by using quaternary ammonium salts with specific alkyl group configurations (at least one being C4-C8 alkyl). This structural modification allows achieving high conductivity with smaller amounts of additive while preventing bleed-out under high temperature and humidity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite conductive elastic layer by combining the quaternary ammonium salt ion conductive agent with specific binder resins (polyester resin, polyurethane resin, or acrylic resin). This composite structure maintains conductivity while improving compositional stability and preventing agent migration.
2Reliability
If conventional ion conductive agents are used to maintain conductivity, then initial conductivity is achieved, but electric resistance increases over time under severe environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the ion conductive agent by specifying quaternary ammonium salts with particular alkyl group compositions (C4-C8 alkyl groups). This parameter optimization ensures long-term stability of electric resistance even under severe environmental conditions including high temperature and humidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional ion conductive agents that degrade over time with quaternary ammonium salts that maintain stable conductivity throughout the entire service life of the charging roller, effectively creating a long-lasting conductive solution.
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 stable electric resistance value and high-quality image formation over a long period, even under severe conditions, by preventing ion exchange group movement and maintaining conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive layer provided on the outer periphery of the conductive mandrel, wherein the conductive layer comprises an organic polymeric compound as a binder and a conductive particle dispersed in the organic polymeric compound
Implementation Method 2
the particle comprises an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer having a structure represented by the following formula (1), wherein R1 represents an organic group having an ion exchange group
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electroconductive member that can demonstrate stable performance for a long period of time with an electric resistance value being hardly changed even by electrical conduction for a long period of time. An electroconductive member has a conductive mandrel, and a conductive layer provided on the outer periphery of the conductive mandrel. The conductive layer includes an organic polymeric compound as a binder, and a conductive particle dispersed in the organic polymeric compound, and the particle includes an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer having a specific structure.