Pyrazolone Derivative Charge Control Agent for Toner

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charge control agents for electrophotography have limitations such as slow charge rising speed, poor environmental stability at high temperature and humidity, low charge amount, and poor dispersibility, particularly for color and polymerized toners, leading to unsatisfactory performance.

Innovation Solution

A pyrazolone derivative or its salt is used as a charge control agent, with specific chemical formulations and metal salts like zinc, aluminum, or zirconium, providing excellent charge-imparting properties and stability, suitable for color and polymerized toners.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional charge control agents are used, then the toner can be manufactured with existing processes, but the charge amount is low and environmental stability is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental stabilityVSAvoidcharge amount

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the charge control agent by using pyrazolone derivatives with specific substituents (R1, R2, R3 groups) instead of conventional agents. This structural parameter change results in both higher charge amount and improved environmental stability simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If conventional charge control agents are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the charge rising speed is slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge rising speedVSAvoidcomplexity of charge control agent structure

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure parameters of the charge control agent by introducing pyrazolone derivatives with specific substituent groups. This structural change accelerates the charge rising speed while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity, resolving the contradiction between speed and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional charge control agents are used, then the formulation is straightforward, but dispersibility is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedispersibilityVSAvoidcomplexity of charge control agent structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical structure parameters by using pyrazolone derivatives with specific hydrophobic and hydrophilic balance through substituent groups (R1, R2, R3). This structural modification improves dispersibility in the toner formulation while keeping the agent structure manageable, resolving the contradiction between dispersibility and structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If conventional charge control agents are used, then the toner can be produced with standard processes, but charge stability at high temperature and humidity is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge stabilityVSAvoideffect of high temperature and humidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical structure parameters of the charge control agent by using pyrazolone derivatives with stable aromatic substituent groups (R1, R2, R3). This structural change enhances resistance to high temperature and humidity, improving charge stability under harsh environmental conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and environmental sensitivity.

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 pyrazolone derivative or its salt offers a higher charge amount and improved environmental stability, ensuring excellent charging characteristics and dispersibility, making it optimal for color and polymerized toners, even at low concentrations, while maintaining image quality and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a charge control agent comprising a pyrazolone derivative... to provide desired frictional charge characteristics (charge speed, charge level, and charge stability)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTriboelectric effect: Triboelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3352020B1Toner and charge control agent using pyrazolone derivative or a salt of said derivative

Publication Date: 2021.06.16 HODOGAYA CHEMICAL CO LTD

AI summary

[Object] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a charge control agent for polymerized toners and particularly for color toners, which has a large charge amount and environmentally stable charging characteristics. [Solving Means] Since a charge control agent including a pyrazolone derivative represented by a general formula (1) or a salt of the derivative as an active ingredient has a large charge amount and excellent environmental stability of charging, it has an excellent charge-imparting effect for use in polymerized toners and particularly in color toners. (in the formula, R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 linear or branched alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbon group, or a substituted or unsubstituted condensed polycyclic aromatic group.)