Foamable Polymer Core Toner for Low-Temperature Fixability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toners face challenges in achieving both heat-resistant preservability and low-temperature fixability, as the use of shell layers for improved fixability compromises heat resistance, and low-molecular weight foaming agents generate ultrafine particles and harmful gases.
Innovation Solution
A core-foamable capsule toner with a foamable polymer having a foamable group that degrades upon heating, generating gas to rupture the shell layers, ensuring low-temperature fixability while minimizing ultrafine particle production and avoiding harmful emissions, with a mass average molecular weight of at least 50,000 and a specific foaming amount profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a shell layer is added to improve low-temperature fixability, then fixability is improved, but heat-resistant preservability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The toner is segmented into a core portion containing the foamable polymer and a shell layer. This segmentation allows the core to provide heat-resistant preservability through controlled foaming while the shell layer provides low-temperature fixability, resolving the contradiction between the two opposing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the molecular weight parameter of the foamable polymer to at least 50,000, which fundamentally alters the foaming behavior to occur at higher temperatures. This parameter change enables the toner to maintain heat-resistant preservability while achieving adequate fixability, resolving the contradiction between fixability temperature and heat-resistant preservability.
2Temperature
If a low-molecular weight foaming agent is used to achieve low-temperature fixability, then fixability is improved, but ultrafine particle generation and harmful gas emission increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the molecular weight parameter of the foamable polymer to at least 50,000, which fundamentally alters the foaming mechanism. This high molecular weight prevents the formation of ultrafine particles and reduces harmful gas emissions while still achieving effective fixability, thereby resolving the contradiction between fixability and harmful factor generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of foaming agents that generate ultrafine particles and harmful gases into a beneficial process by using a high molecular weight foamable polymer that decomposes cleanly. The foaming process remains effective for fixability while eliminating the harmful byproducts, thus converting a potentially harmful process into a beneficial one.
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 good heat-resistant preservability and low-temperature fixability with reduced ultrafine particle generation and environmentally friendly gas production, suitable for high-quality image formation in electrophotographic processes.
Implementation Method 1
The core contains a foamable polymer having a foamable group that is foamable through heating
Implementation Method 2
The toner foams through evaporation (vaporization) of the low-boiling substance therein
Data Source
AI summary
A toner includes a plurality of toner particles each including a core and a shell layer entirely covering a surface of the core. The core contains a foamable polymer having a foamable group that is foamable through heating. A first foaming amount is at least 7 mL. The first foaming amount is an amount of gas collected over water during a period from when heating of the toner up to 120° C. is started at 30° C. to when a temperature of the toner has been kept at 120° C. for 30 minutes after the heating. A second foaming amount is at least 6 mL. The second foaming amount is an amount of gas collected over water during a period from when the heating is started at 30° C. to when the temperature of the toner reaches 0° C. through cooling after the liquid has been kept at 120° C. for 30 minutes.