Electrophotographic Photosensitive Member Surface Layer Ghosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrophotographic photosensitive members with thermoplastic resin as a binder material experience aggravated ghosting issues when the film thickness of the surface layer is increased, leading to reduced mechanical durability and image quality.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a surface layer with fluorine atom-containing resin particles, a charge transport substance, and a specific polymer A having structural units represented by formulas (1) and (2), along with a thermoplastic resin binder, to enhance dispersibility and suppress ghosting while maintaining durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the film thickness of the surface layer is increased to improve mechanical durability, then abrasion resistance is improved, but ghosting is aggravated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the surface layer by incorporating fluorine atom-containing resin particles and a specific polymer with formulas (1) and (2), while optimizing the film thickness to 35-50 μm. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by achieving the minimum thickness required for durability while limiting the thickness that causes ghosting.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface layer uses a composite material system comprising fluorine atom-containing resin particles, a thermoplastic resin binder, a charge transport substance, and a specific polymer with formulas (1) and (2). This composite structure provides both the mechanical durability needed for thick films and the anti-ghosting properties through the fluorine-containing components.
2Strength
If fluorine atom-containing resin particles are used to reduce friction and enhance durability, then mechanical durability is improved, but dispersibility becomes poor without appropriate dispersing agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a specific polymer with formulas (1) and (2) as an intermediary dispersing agent that is chemically compatible with both the fluorine atom-containing resin particles and the thermoplastic resin binder. This intermediary material enables uniform dispersion of the fluorine resin particles throughout the surface layer matrix.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the molecular structure parameters of the dispersing polymer by specifying formulas (1) and (2) with particular functional groups and chain structures. These parameter changes ensure optimal compatibility and dispersion characteristics for the fluorine-containing resin particles.
3Ease of manufacture
If a thermoplastic resin is used as binder material for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but ghosting is remarkably aggravated when film thickness is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite binder system using thermoplastic resin combined with specific fluorine-containing polymer components having formulas (1) and (2). This composite binder maintains the ease of manufacture and processing advantages of thermoplastic resins while incorporating anti-ghosting properties through the fluorine-containing polymer structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces local quality changes by incorporating specific fluorine-containing polymer structures (formulas (1) and (2)) into the thermoplastic resin binder matrix. These localized fluorine-containing regions provide anti-ghosting functionality while the bulk thermoplastic resin maintains manufacturing simplicity.
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 proposed solution effectively suppresses ghosting and maintains mechanical durability even with increased film thickness, ensuring excellent dispersibility and image quality in electrophotographic photosensitive members.
Implementation Method 1
causing a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to contain a fluorine atom-containing resin particle, and reducing the friction between the surface layer and a contact member
Implementation Method 2
there is known a method of using a (meth)acrylic polymer containing a fluorine atom as a dispersing agent for the fluorine atom-containing resin particle, for the purpose of enhancing dispersibility
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member having excellent dispersibility of fluorine atom-containing resin particles, and excellent durability, with an occurrence of a ghost suppressed. In the electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer, the surface layer includes a fluorine atom-containing resin particle, a binder material, a charge transport substance, and a polymer A having a specific structural unit, wherein the binder material is a thermoplastic resin, and a film thickness of the surface layer is 35 μm or larger and 50 μm or smaller.