Fluorinated Toner Surface Composition for Stable Charging and Low Fogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners exhibit issues with charging performance retention throughout their service life, leading to decreased fluidity and fogging, particularly in varying humidity environments.
Innovation Solution
A toner formulation comprising a binder resin and a fluorine-containing external additive, such as fluorine-containing titania particles, with controlled methanol concentration in a wettability test, to improve charging performance and reduce fogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fluorine-containing external additive is introduced to improve charging performance, then charging speed and charge quantity are improved, but charging distribution occurs leading to decreased fluidity and fogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface properties of the fluorine-containing particles by controlling the methanol concentration parameter in wettability test to be 5-35 vol %. This parameter control modifies the surface characteristics to prevent charging distribution while maintaining charging performance, thereby resolving the contradiction between charging speed improvement and fluidity maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite external additives combining fluorine-containing particles with specific surface properties and other components. This composite approach allows the toner to achieve both improved charging performance and maintained fluidity by leveraging the complementary properties of different materials in the composite structure
2Reliability
If fluorine-containing external additive is introduced to improve charging performance, then charging performance is improved, but fogging occurs throughout service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the methanol concentration parameter in the wettability test to fall within 5-35 vol %, which modifies the surface properties of the fluorine-containing particles. This parameter control prevents excessive charging distribution that would cause fogging, while maintaining reliable charging performance throughout the toner's service life
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs external additives that can be easily replaced or replenished. The fluorine-containing particles with controlled surface properties serve as a consumable component that maintains charging performance without causing persistent fogging, and can be replaced when depleted or degraded
3Quantity of substance
If fluorine-containing external additive is introduced to improve charging performance, then charge quantity is improved, but charging distribution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the surface properties of fluorine-containing particles by controlling the methanol concentration parameter to 5-35 vol %. This parameter change creates a balanced surface characteristic that enables uniform charge distribution while maintaining high charge quantity, preventing the harmful effects of excessive charging concentration
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 maintains excellent charging performance and good fluidity over its service life, minimizing fogging across different environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a toner that exhibits excellent charging performance through use of titanium dioxide particles that are surface treated with a fluorine-containing silane coupling agent
Implementation Method 2
in a wettability test of the toner in a mixed methanol/water solvent, the methanol concentration at which the transmittance of light having a wavelength of 780 nm is 50% is 5 to 35 vol %
Data Source
AI summary
A toner comprising: a toner particle comprising a binder resin; and an external additive at the surface of the toner particle, wherein, in a wettability test of the toner in a mixed methanol/water solvent, the methanol concentration at which the transmittance of light having a wavelength of 780 nm is 50% is 5 to 35 vol %, the external additive comprises a fluorine-containing particle, and the fluorine-containing particle is at least one selected from the group consisting of a fluorine-containing titania particle, a fluorine-containing silica particle, a fluorine-containing alumina particle, a fluorine-containing titanium composite oxide particle and a fluorine-containing hydrotalcite particle.