Fixing Member Surface Layer for Wax Release and Gloss Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fixing members in image forming apparatuses experience gloss unevenness due to insufficient releasability of mold release agents, particularly on high-quality printing surfaces like transparent films and high-gloss papers, leading to visible wax offset.
Innovation Solution
A fixing member with a surface layer having a sliding angle of 25 degrees or less at 150°C with respect to Fischer-Tropsch wax, incorporating a siloxane compound and a silicone resin, enhances releasability and reduces gloss unevenness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sliding angle of the surface layer with respect to Fischer-Tropsch wax is more than 25 degrees at 150°C, then the releasability of mold release agents is improved, but gloss unevenness occurs on high-quality printing surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the sliding angle parameter to be 25 degrees or less at 150°C with respect to Fischer-Tropsch wax, which is a critical parameter change that simultaneously achieves sufficient releasability of mold release agents while preventing gloss unevenness on high-quality printing surfaces like transparent films and high-gloss papers
Solution Approach 2:
The surface layer is constructed as a composite material containing specific fluororesins and siloxane compounds, where the fluororesin provides the base release properties and the siloxane compound (with structure A: [RSiO1.5]n where R is an organic group and n is 2 or more) fine-tunes the sliding angle to 25 degrees or less, achieving both releasability and gloss uniformity
2Manufacturing precision
If the sliding angle is reduced to suppress gloss unevenness, then image quality on diverse media is improved, but the adherence of mold release agents increases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite surface layer combining fluororesin and siloxane compound creates a synergistic effect where the fluororesin provides low surface energy for mold release agent adherence while the siloxane compound controls the sliding angle at 25 degrees or less, achieving both gloss uniformity and sufficient releasability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The surface layer is designed with specific local chemical properties through the siloxane compound structure A: [RSiO1.5]n, where the organic groups R provide localized low-energy surfaces that prevent excessive adherence while maintaining the overall sliding angle within the critical 25 degrees or less range for gloss uniformity
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 effectively suppresses gloss unevenness by minimizing the adherence of mold release agents on the fixing member surface, ensuring high-quality image printing on diverse media.
Implementation Method 1
a surface layer having a sliding angle of 25 degrees or less at 150°C with respect to a Fischer-Tropsch wax
Data Source
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AI summary
A fixing member includes a surface layer having a sliding angle of 25 degrees or less at 150°C with respect to a Fischer-Tropsch wax having a melting point of 90°C and a penetration of 3 (1/10 mm).