Photosensitive Member Intermediate Layer for Humidity-Stable Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrophotographic photosensitive members face sensitivity issues and fogging in high-temperature and high-humidity environments due to moisture absorption leading to reduced resistance and leakage current.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a specific polyamide resin with a high hydrophobic content and surface-treated metal oxide particles in the intermediate layer, which includes a component derived from an organic siloxane compound and aluminum oxide or silica, enhances dispersion stability and maintains resistance in adverse conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional intermediate layer materials are used, then adhesion between conductive substrate and photosensitive layer is achieved, but resistance decreases and leakage current increases in high-temperature and high-humidity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the intermediate layer by specifying a polyamide resin with particular repeating units (including aliphatic dicarboxylic acid with 8-20 carbon atoms and cycloalkane diamine) and controlling the content of hydrophobic components to 80-95 mass%. This parameter optimization reduces moisture absorption and maintains resistance stability in high-temperature and high-humidity environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite intermediate layer material combining specific polyamide resin with inorganic particles (metal oxide particles with surface treatment layers containing aluminum oxide or silica). This composite structure provides both adhesion functionality and moisture resistance, preventing the resistance decrease and leakage current that occur with conventional materials.
2Strength
If intermediate layer contains metal oxide particles for adhesion, then bonding between layers is improved, but fogging occurs in high-temperature and high-humidity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of metal oxide particles causing fogging into a benefit by carefully controlling their surface treatment. The surface treatment layers containing aluminum oxide or silica modify the particle surfaces to reduce moisture absorption, thereby maintaining adhesion while preventing fogging in high-temperature and high-humidity environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface properties of metal oxide particles through treatment with aluminum oxide or silica, modifying their hygroscopicity. This parameter change allows the particles to maintain their adhesion function while losing the property that causes fogging under adverse environmental conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If intermediate layer uses standard polyamide resin, then manufacturing is simple, but environmental dependence increases and sensitivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise compositional parameters for the polyamide resin, requiring at least 80 mass% of specific repeating units including aliphatic dicarboxylic acid with 8-20 carbon atoms and cycloalkane diamine. This parameter specification maintains ease of manufacture through standard polyamide synthesis while achieving environmental independence by reducing moisture absorption and maintaining consistent sensitivity across different environmental conditions.
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 ensures reduced environmental dependence, preventing fogging and maintaining sensitivity in high-temperature and high-humidity environments by optimizing the intermediate layer's resistance and adhesion properties.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate layer contains a specific polyamide resin and specific inorganic particles. The specific inorganic particles each include a metal oxide particle and a surface treatment layer covering at least a part of a surface of the metal oxide particle. The surface treatment layers contain a component derived from an organic siloxane compound and at least one of aluminum oxide and silica.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a conductive substrate, an intermediate layer provided on the conductive substrate, and a photosensitive layer provided on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer contains a specific polyamide resin and specific inorganic particles. The specific inorganic particles each include a metal oxide particle and a surface treatment layer covering at least a part of the surface of the metal oxide particle. The surface treatment layers contain a component derived from an organic siloxane compound and at least one of aluminum oxide and silica. The specific polyamide resin includes a first repeating unit derived from an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid with a carbon number of at least 8 and no greater than 20 and a second repeating unit derived from a diamine compound with a cycloalkane structure.