Polyester–Polyolefin Toner Binder for Moisture Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing polyester resins used in toners for electrostatic image development suffer from high hygroscopicity, leading to issues with initial charging and storage properties, particularly in nonbis polyester resins without a bisphenol A backbone, and conventional methods to improve hygroscopic resistance are insufficient.
Innovation Solution
A resin binder composition using a polyester resin A, which is a condensate of an aliphatic diol and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid compound, combined with an amorphous acid modified product of an α-olefin polymer, such as polyisobutene-based polymer, to enhance hygroscopic resistance, low-temperature fusing ability, and storage properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional polyester resins are used in toners, then the toner can be manufactured with standard materials, but the resin exhibits high hygroscopicity leading to poor initial charging and storage properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining polyester resin with polyolefin resin to create a hybrid binder system. The polyolefin resin component provides hydrophobicity to counteract the hygroscopic nature of polyester, while the polyester component maintains low-temperature fusing ability. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the resin binder by incorporating specific ratios of polyolefin resin (5-50 mass%) into the polyester resin system. This parameter change alters the overall hygroscopicity while preserving the essential fusing characteristics, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing manufacturability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the content of polyolefin resin is increased to improve hygroscopic resistance, then hygroscopic resistance improves, but low-temperature fusing ability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the polyolefin resin content parameter within a specific range (5-50 mass%) to balance hygroscopic resistance and low-temperature fusing ability. By controlling this compositional parameter, the invention achieves sufficient hydrophobicity while maintaining adequate fusing performance at low temperatures, resolving the trade-off between these two properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring homogeneous dispersion of polyolefin resin particles within the polyester resin matrix. This uniform distribution creates local hydrophobic zones that effectively resist moisture uptake while preserving the overall low-temperature fusing characteristics of the polyester binder system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If polyolefin resin is dispersed in polyester resin to improve hygroscopic resistance, then hygroscopic resistance improves, but homogeneous dispersion is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a graft copolymer as an intermediary substance to facilitate homogeneous dispersion of polyolefin resin in polyester resin. The graft copolymer contains both polyester-compatible and polyolefin-compatible segments, acting as a molecular bridge that promotes uniform distribution and prevents phase separation, thereby achieving stable homogeneous composition with improved hygroscopic resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a three-component composite system consisting of polyester resin, polyolefin resin, and graft copolymer. This multi-phase composite structure leverages the compatibility features of each component to achieve homogeneous dispersion while maintaining the desired hygroscopic resistance properties.
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 composition achieves improved hygroscopic resistance, low-temperature fusing ability, and enhanced storage properties by homogeneously dispersing the hydrophobic polyolefin moiety in the polyester resin, addressing the limitations of conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
an amorphous acid modified product A of an α-olefin polymer having 4 or more carbon atoms and 18 or less carbon atoms; wherein the α-olefin polymer having 4 or more carbon atoms and 18 or less carbon atoms is a polyisobutene-based polymer
Data Source
AI summary
A resin binder composition for toners, containing a polyester resin A that is a polycondensate of an alcohol component containing 80% by mol or more of an aliphatic diol having 2 or more carbon atoms and 6 or less carbon atoms and a carboxylic acid component containing an aromatic dicarboxylic acid compound and an amorphous acid modified product A of an α-olefin polymer having 4 or more carbon atoms and 18 or less carbon atoms; and a toner for electrostatic image development, containing these resin binder composition for toners. The resin binder composition for toners of the present invention is suitably used for a toner for electrostatic image development which is usable in development of latent images formed in, for example, electrostatic image development method, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method or the like.