Silicon Polymer Toner Additive Resists Embedding and Charge Drift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner additives, such as silica and polyalkylsilsesquioxane, fail to maintain charge stability and prevent density fluctuations in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, especially when printing low-density images for extended periods, leading to embedding and fracturing issues.
Innovation Solution
A silicon polymer external additive with a specific ratio of siloxane (Si—O—Si) and Si—O—C bonds, optimized by controlling the intensity ratio in the FT-IR spectrum to 0.5≤A/B≤1.5, is used to enhance durability and charge stability by balancing crosslinking density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silica particles are added to toner base particles to improve charge stability, then charge stability is improved, but silica particles are embedded in the toner particle surface when outputting low print density images for a long time in high-temperature and high-humidity environments, leading to deterioration of flowability and charge stability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the external additive from conventional silica to silicon polymer with specific bond ratios (Si-O-Si and Si-O-C bonds in a controlled intensity ratio). This parameter change allows the additive to maintain its functional properties while resisting embedding under harsh printing conditions, thereby maintaining both charge stability and surface integrity simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite silicon polymer structure containing both siloxane bonds (Si-O-Si) and silicon-carbon bonds (Si-O-C) in a specific ratio. This composite structure combines the charge stability benefits of silica-like materials with the embedding resistance of organic polymer components, resolving the contradiction between charge stability and surface state stability
2Ease of operation
If polyalkylsilsesquioxane fine particles are added to toner base particle to improve flowability and charge stability, then flowability and charge stability are improved, but these particles cannot suppress changes in external additive and toner surface in high-temperature and high-humidity environments when outputting low print density images
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the chemical structure parameters of the external additive by controlling the ratio of Si-O-Si to Si-O-C bonds in the silicon polymer. This parameter optimization maintains the flowability enhancement while significantly improving resistance to environmental degradation and embedding, thereby achieving both ease of operation and reliability
3Stability of the object's composition
If metal oxide-polymer composite material particles are added to toner particle to suppress embedment, then embedment is suppressed, but charge stability, image density, and color stability still deteriorate in high-temperature and high-humidity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates an optimized composite material where silicon polymer forms a cohesive structure with controlled Si-O-Si and Si-O-C bond ratios. This composite structure simultaneously provides embedment suppression through its mechanical properties and charge stability through its electrical properties, unlike previous metal oxide-polymer composites that compromised one function for the other
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 silicon polymer additive maintains toner stability and prevents density fluctuations in harsh conditions, ensuring consistent image quality and extended service life.
Implementation Method 1
a particle of a silicon polymer having a siloxane bond and a Si—O—C bond
Implementation Method 2
whereby a crosslinking density of the silicon polymer is optimized
Implementation Method 3
in an FT-IR spectrum of the external additive obtained by an ATR method
Data Source
AI summary
An external additive for toner comprising a particle of a silicon polymer having a siloxane bond and a Si—O—C bond, wherein in an FT-IR spectrum of the external additive obtained by an ATR method, a maximum peak is present in a range of from 1030 cm−1 to 1070 cm−1, where an average intensity in a range of from 1015 cm−1 to 1025 cm−1 of the spectrum is denoted by A and an average intensity in a range of from 1085 cm−1 to 1095 cm−1 is denoted by B, the A and the B satisfy a following formula (1):0.55≤A/B≤1.5.(1)