Silicone Rubber Elastic Layer Stability in Fixing Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The stability of electrophotographic image quality is compromised due to the reduction in unsaturated aliphatic groups in the cured silicone rubber elastic layer during the high-temperature baking process, leading to reduced rubber elasticity and changes in the hardness of the fixing member over time, which affects the quality of the electrophotographic image.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a specific filler, such as anatase-type titanium oxide, into the cured silicone rubber elastic layer to prevent the consumption of unsaturated aliphatic groups during the baking process, thereby maintaining their abundance and stability, and forming a fluorine resin surface layer to suppress radical addition reactions that reduce the unsaturated aliphatic groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a high-temperature baking process (300°C to 350°C) is applied to melt fluorine resin powder and form a surface layer, then the surface layer can be made thin with good releasability, but the unsaturated aliphatic groups in the cured silicone rubber elastic layer are consumed through radical addition reactions, leading to reduced rubber elasticity and instability in surface hardness over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a perfluoroalkyl group-containing fluorine resin as an intermediary substance that forms a surface layer with releasability while preventing direct contact between the high-temperature environment and the silicone rubber elastic layer. This intermediary layer acts as a protective barrier that allows the baking process to proceed for surface layer formation while protecting the underlying elastic layer from excessive thermal exposure that would consume unsaturated aliphatic groups
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the baking temperature parameter to be lower than conventional temperatures (specifically below the melting point of the fluorine resin powder used), thereby reducing the thermal energy available for radical addition reactions that consume unsaturated aliphatic groups. This parameter change allows sufficient melting and spreading of the fluorine resin powder to form a uniform surface layer while minimizing degradation of the silicone rubber elastic layer
2Productivity
If the curing temperature is increased to accelerate the curing process, then productivity is improved, but the consumption of unsaturated aliphatic groups increases, leading to faster aging and hardness changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal energy (heat) with catalytic action as the primary driving force for the curing reaction. By using a catalyst to accelerate the addition-curing reaction of the organopolysiloxane mixture at lower temperatures, the patent achieves fast curing without relying on high temperature, thereby avoiding the side reaction of radical addition that consumes unsaturated aliphatic groups and causes aging
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the curing temperature parameter to a lower range that is sufficient for catalytic curing but below the threshold for significant radical addition reactions. This parameter optimization allows the curing process to proceed rapidly through catalytic action while preserving the unsaturated aliphatic groups in the silicone rubber elastic layer, thus extending service life
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
This approach effectively maintains the rubber elasticity and stability of the fixing member over a long period, reducing the change in surface hardness and ensuring consistent image quality by preserving the unsaturated aliphatic groups in the cured silicone rubber elastic layer.
Implementation Method 1
a surface layer formed by melting fluorine resin powder
Implementation Method 2
the consumption of unsaturated aliphatic groups during the baking process... suppress radical addition reactions that reduce the unsaturated aliphatic groups
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an electrophotographic member of which the rubber elasticity can be maintained stably for a long period, and which is provided with a fluororesin surface layer that is formed by melting a fluororesin powder. Also provided are: a fixing member which can make the image quality of an electrophotographic image stable; a fixing device; and an electrophotographic image formation device. An electrophotographic member comprising a base, a cured silicone rubber elastic layer, and a fluororesin surface layer produced by melting a fluororesin powder, said electrophotographic member being characterized in that a Hµ1/Hµ0 value is 2.5 to 5.0 inclusive wherein Hµ0 represents the microhardness of a cured rubber that constitutes the cured silicone rubber elastic layer and Hµ1 represents the microhardness of a product produced by immersing the cured rubber in a methyl hydrogen silicone oil for 24 hours and then curing the immersed rubber.