Polyglycerin Ester Release Agent Toner Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner development faces challenges in achieving low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance, with existing release agents often resulting in poor chargeability and fluidity, leading to suboptimal image quality and increased energy consumption in electrophotographic processes.
Innovation Solution
A toner comprising a polyester resin binder, a colorant, and a polyglycerin ester with specific melt viscosity and hydroxyl value characteristics, which serves as an effective release agent, providing both low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance while ensuring consistent image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional release agents (carnauba wax, montan wax, hydrocarbon wax) are used to improve hot offset resistance, then hot offset resistance is improved, but low-temperature fixability deteriorates and image quality deteriorates due to poor chargeability and fluidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the release agent by specifying a polyglycerin ester with particular molecular structure (average polymerization degree 2-10, specific hydroxyl value range 20-80 mgKOH/g) and physical parameters (melt viscosity 10-500 mPa·s at 120°C, melting point 40-80°C). This precise parameter control enables the release agent to provide adequate hot offset resistance while maintaining low-temperature fixability and good chargeability, thereby improving image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite toner formulation combining polyester resin binder, specific colorant, and polyglycerin ester release agent in optimized proportions. This composite material approach allows the release agent to function effectively at lower temperatures while maintaining hot offset resistance, resolving the contradiction between hot offset resistance and image quality.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the thickness of fixing roller is reduced to improve heat efficiency and reduce warm-up time, then heat efficiency is improved and warm-up time is reduced, but specific heat capacity decreases causing large temperature difference and hot offset problem
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the toner material to adapt to the reduced heat capacity of the thin fixing roller. By optimizing the melting point (40-80°C) and melt viscosity (10-500 mPa·s at 120°C) of the polyglycerin ester release agent, the toner can be fixed at lower temperatures with faster response, matching the thermal characteristics of the thin fixing roller while preventing hot offset.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If release agent is used to improve hot offset resistance, then hot offset resistance is improved, but chargeability and fluidity deteriorate leading to poor image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular structure parameters of the polyglycerin ester release agent, specifically controlling the average polymerization degree (2-10) and hydroxyl value (20-80 mgKOH/g), to achieve a balance between hot offset resistance and chargeability. The controlled melt viscosity (10-500 mPa·s at 120°C) ensures adequate fluidity for uniform dispersion and charging, while the specific melting point range (40-80°C) provides hot offset resistance.
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 improved low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance, ensuring high-quality images and reduced energy consumption by utilizing a polyglycerin ester with optimal melt viscosity and hydrophobicity, finely dispersed within the toner to prevent fogging and toner film formation.
Implementation Method 1
a release agent comprising a polyglycerin ester having a melt viscosity of from 1.0 to 40 mPa·sec at 120° C. and a hydroxyl value of from 0 to 100 mgKOH/g
Implementation Method 2
a release agent included therein is required to have a low melt viscosity and good separability from a binder resin
Implementation Method 3
the melt-starting temperature of a toner is reduced so that the toner is fixable at low temperatures
Implementation Method 4
a heat roller method is widely used due to its high energy efficiency
Implementation Method 5
the release agent is required to be finely dispersed in the toner, especially when the toner has a small size
Data Source
AI summary
A toner including a binder resin including a polyester resin, a colorant, and a release agent including a polyglycerin ester having a melt viscosity of from 1.0 to 40 mPa·sec at 120° C. and a hydroxyl value of from 0 to 100 mgKOH/g is provided. The polyglycerin ester is an ester of a polyglycerin having an average polymerization degree of from 2 to 10 and an aliphatic acid having 16 to 24 carbon atoms in average.