Rubber Roller Composition Reducing VOCs via Acid Anhydride
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rubber rollers used in electrophotographic imaging apparatuses produce a large amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the sulfur crosslinking process, leading to image defects and damage to organic photoconductive drums due to nitrogen-containing compounds formed from vulcanizing agents and accelerators.
Innovation Solution
A composition for forming a rubber roller that minimizes VOCs by incorporating a base rubber, a vulcanizing agent, a vulcanizing accelerator, a conducting agent, and either acid anhydride or zeolite, which reduces the formation of nitrogen-containing compounds and their associated odors and damage to photoconductive drums.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If sulfur crosslinking is used to form rubber rollers, then the rubber roller achieves good mechanical properties and conductivity, but a large amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are formed causing image defects and damage to photoconductive drums
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful nitrogen-containing compounds produced during vulcanization through the use of acid anhydride or zeolite additives. These substances specifically target and eliminate the harmful byproducts while preserving the beneficial mechanical properties of the rubber roller.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful nitrogen-containing compounds into beneficial effects by using acid anhydride or zeolite to transform them into harmless substances. The harmful VOCs are chemically converted into useful outcomes, eliminating their damaging effects on photoconductive drums while maintaining the vulcanization process benefits.
2Stability of the object's composition
If nitrogen-containing compounds are used as vulcanizing agents or accelerators, then the rubber roller achieves proper crosslinking and structural integrity, but the nitrogen-containing compounds cause cracks in OPC coating layers and have unpleasant odors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces acid anhydride or zeolite as intermediary substances that mediate between the nitrogen-containing compounds and the rubber matrix. These intermediaries capture and neutralize the harmful nitrogen-containing compounds, preventing them from causing cracks in the OPC coating while allowing the crosslinking process to proceed effectively.
3Productivity
If conventional vulcanizing accelerators are used to speed up the crosslinking process, then the production efficiency increases, but the decomposition of accelerators produces unpleasant odors and harmful VOCs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful decomposition products of vulcanizing accelerators using acid anhydride or zeolite. These substances specifically target and eliminate the unpleasant odors and VOCs generated during rapid crosslinking, allowing high-speed production without harmful emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the vulcanization system by adding acid anhydride or zeolite, which alter the decomposition behavior of the accelerators. This parameter change allows the accelerators to function at high temperatures for fast curing while transforming their decomposition products from harmful to harmless.
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 use of acid anhydride and zeolite in the rubber roller composition effectively decreases the amount of nitrogen-containing compounds, preventing damage to organic photoconductive drums and maintaining image quality, while also reducing VOC emissions.
Implementation Method 1
acid anhydride, which reacts with nitrogen-containing compounds to form non-volatile products
Implementation Method 2
zeolite, which adsorbs nitrogen-containing compounds to reduce VOC emissions
Implementation Method 3
when rubber rollers are produced by sulfur crosslinking
Data Source
AI summary
A composition forming a rubber roller and an imaging apparatus including the rubber roller are provided by the invention. A small amount of a nitrogen-containing compound is formed during the process of preparing the rubber roller without deterioration of image quality of images produced by an imaging apparatus. The roller rubber forming composition includes a base rubber; a vulcanizing agent; a vulcanizing accelerator; a conducting agent; and one of an acid anhydride, a zeolite, and a blend thereof.