Hydrocarbon Wax Toner for Offset and Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners used in image-forming methods, such as electrophotography, lead to toner offset and interior contamination in printers due to excessive wax bleeding, especially during continuous high-speed printing, and result in image defects and reduced fixability over a broad temperature range.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a specific hydrocarbon wax composition, characterized by a softening point of 75° C. to 110° C., where the carbon number distribution of hydrocarbon compounds is controlled to prevent excessive bleeding, ensuring good releasability and low-temperature fixability, thereby reducing interior contamination and maintaining image quality over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a toner contains wax such as paraffin or low-molecular-weight polyolefin to suppress adhesion to the fixing member, then offset phenomenon is reduced, but excessive wax bleeding occurs during continuous high-speed printing leading to interior contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the molecular weight distribution and composition of the polyolefin wax. Specifically, it uses a polyolefin wax with a number-average molecular weight of 10,000 to 50,000 and a weight-average molecular weight of 50,000 to 200,000, with a polydispersity index of 5 or more. This controlled parameter range optimizes the balance between release properties and bleeding resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining polyolefin wax with specific binder resins (polystyrene resin with Tg of 80°C to 120°C and polyester resin with Tg of 40°C to 80°C) in defined ratios. This composite structure creates a synergistic effect where the polyolefin wax provides release properties while the controlled molecular weight distribution prevents excessive bleeding during continuous printing
2Temperature
If a low-melting point wax is used to achieve low-temperature fixability, then fixing at low temperatures is enabled, but wax excessively bleeds to the surfaces of toner particles causing image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the melting point of the polyolefin wax to be 60°C to 100°C and the softening point of the toner to be 70°C to 100°C. This optimized parameter range enables effective low-temperature fixing while preventing excessive wax bleeding that would cause image defects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a differentiated structure within the toner particle where the polyolefin wax with specific molecular weight distribution is distributed throughout the binder resin matrix. This local distribution ensures that wax is available at the surface for release properties while the controlled molecular weight prevents excessive migration and bleeding
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 long-term production of high-quality images with improved low-temperature fixability and reduced interior contamination, maintaining broad fixable temperature range and preventing image defects and offset issues.
Implementation Method 1
In a carbon number distribution chart, which is drawn based on analytical values obtained by gas chromatography and shows carbon number on the abscissa and abundance ratio (area %) of the hydrocarbon compound on the ordinate, (i) a carbon number of a hydrocarbon compound that has the maximum abundance ratio is 40 or more and 45 or less and an abundance ratio of the hydrocarbon compound that has the carbon number at the maximum abundance ratio is 6.5 area % or more and 9.0 area % or less
Implementation Method 2
The toner has a softening point of 75° C. or more and 110° C. or less measured by a constant-pressure-extrusion-type capillary rheometer
Implementation Method 3
the thermal efficiency with which the toner image is fused to the transfer material is high, which leads to quick fixing
Implementation Method 4
some toner may adhere to the surface of the fixing member because the surface of the hot roller or the fixing member such as a film and the toner are brought into contact with each other when the toner is fused
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a toner capable of suppressing the bleeding of wax to the surface of the toner to maintain a high electrophotograph property while maintaining a broad fixing temperature range and capable of reducing interior contamination in long-term use. The toner includes toner particles, each of which contains a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax. The toner has a softening point of 75° C. or more and 110° C. or less measured by a constant-pressure-extrusion-type capillary rheometer. The wax is a hydrocarbon wax composed of a hydrocarbon compound. The hydrocarbon wax has specific abundance ratios each corresponding to a specific carbon number range of hydrocarbon compounds.