Polyimide Fuser Member with Nanofibrillated Cellulose

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Solution Overview

Problem

Polymeric fuser members in electrophotographic printing face challenges with low thermal conductivity and Young's modulus, despite the incorporation of metal and ceramic fillers, which compromises their performance in heat transfer applications.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating nanofibrillated cellulose particles into a polyimide substrate layer, along with intermediate and release layers made of silicone or fluoroelastomer and fluoropolymer respectively, to enhance thermal conductivity and Young's modulus while maintaining good toner release and paper stripping properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If metal and ceramic fillers are incorporated into polymeric material to enhance conductivity, then thermal conductivity is improved, but Young's modulus decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidYoung's modulus

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material system consisting of polyimide as the base polymer combined with nanofibrillated cellulose particles (5-500 nm diameter). This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of high thermal conductivity and high Young's modulus, resolving the trade-off between these two properties that plagues conventional metal/ceramic filler systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the size parameter of the filler material from conventional micron-scale metal/ceramic particles to nanoscale fibrillated cellulose (5-500 nm diameter). This parameter change enables the filler to enhance thermal conductivity while maintaining or improving the mechanical properties of the polymeric matrix, specifically Young's modulus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional polymeric materials are used for fuser members, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but thermal conductivity remains low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidthermal conductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the thermal properties of polymeric materials by incorporating nanofibrillated cellulose particles with specific size parameters (5-500 nm diameter). This parameter change enables conventional polymeric fuser members to achieve high thermal conductivity while maintaining their ease of manufacture and processing advantages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 resulting fuser member exhibits improved thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and Young's modulus, enabling high-speed, high-quality electrophotographic printing with efficient toner fixation and paper handling.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating nanofibrillated cellulose particles into a polyimide substrate layer... to enhance thermal conductivity and Young's modulus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9229396B1Fuser member

Publication Date: 2016.01.05 XEROX CORP

AI summary

The present teachings provide a fuser member. The fuser member includes a substrate layer that includes a polyimide having dispersed therein a plurality of nanofibrillated cellulose particles. An intermediate layer is disposed on the substrate layer. A release layer is disposed on the intermediate layer.