Amorphous Polyester Toner Binder with Furan Ring for Low-Temperature Fusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional resin binders for toners have difficulty in achieving both low-temperature fusing ability and storage properties due to their high crystallinity, making them unsuitable for use in toners, especially in electrophotography applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of an amorphous polyester resin binder containing a furan ring, which is formulated with specific aliphatic carboxylic acid and alcohol components to achieve a high glass transition temperature while maintaining low softening points, thereby enhancing low-temperature fusing and storage properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a resin binder is formed into a low molecular compound to melt the resin at low temperatures, then low-temperature fusing ability is improved, but glass transition temperature is lowered, thereby worsening storage property
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular structure parameters of the polyester by introducing furan rings and controlling the ratio of aromatic to aliphatic carboxylic acid units. This structural modification allows the resin to achieve low fusing temperature through low crystallinity while maintaining high glass transition temperature for good storage property
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite molecular structure combining furan rings with aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acid units in specific ratios. This composite structure at the molecular level enables simultaneous achievement of low crystallinity (for low fusing temperature) and high glass transition temperature (for good storage property)
2Reliability
If polyesters from aromatic carboxylic acid are used to maintain high glass transition temperature, then storage property is improved, but crystallinity increases, making them unsuitable as resin binders for toners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the compositional parameters by controlling the ratio of aromatic to aliphatic carboxylic acid units to be between 20:80 and 80:20, and introduces furan rings into the polyester structure. These parameter changes reduce crystallinity while maintaining high glass transition temperature, making the polyester suitable as a toner resin binder
Solution Approach 2:
The furan ring acts as an intermediary structural element between aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acid units. It disrupts the regular packing of aromatic units that would lead to high crystallinity, while still maintaining the rigid structure needed for high glass transition temperature, thus serving as a mediator to achieve low crystallinity with high storage property
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 amorphous polyester resin binder provides toners with excellent low-temperature fusing ability and storage properties, balancing durability and performance in electrophotographic applications.
Implementation Method 1
low-temperature fusing ability
Implementation Method 2
high glass transition temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A resin binder for use in a toner, containing an amorphous polyester having a furan ring; and a toner for electrophotography, containing the resin binder. The resin binder for use in a toner of the present invention is suitably used in a toner usable in development of latent images formed in electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.