Silicone Rubber Fixing Member Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Silicone rubber used in heat-fixing devices for image forming apparatuses faces durability issues and contamination from volatilization of low-molecular compounds, leading to environmental contamination and equipment faults.
Innovation Solution
A silicone rubber composition with a high-molecular component retention time of 32-37 minutes integrated value of 3.0 or more, and a low-molecular component retention time of 10-32 minutes integrated value of 1.7 or less, which includes a high-molecular silicon compound with a weight-average molecular weight of 900-1700, is used to form a fixing member that maintains durability and reduces volatilization-related contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silicone rubber is used in heat-fixing devices, then the fixing member can perform heating and pressing functions, but the durability deteriorates due to crosslink portion cut-off at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the silicone rubber by incorporating specific amounts of low-molecular silicon compound (0.01-5 mass%) and high-molecular silicon compound (0.01-5 mass%) into the base silicone rubber composition. This parameter modification allows the rubber to maintain its crosslink structure at high temperatures while preserving elasticity, thereby resolving the durability issue without sacrificing the fixing member's functional performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite silicone rubber material by combining base silicone rubber with low-molecular silicon compound and high-molecular silicon compound. This composite structure provides multiple functions: the base rubber provides structural integrity, the low-molecular compound enhances low-temperature flexibility, and the high-molecular compound improves high-temperature stability, collectively solving the durability problem at the molecular level.
2Temperature
If silicone rubber is heated to high temperature, then the fixing function is achieved, but low-molecular compounds volatilize and cause contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful low-molecular silicon compound into a beneficial component by carefully controlling its quantity (0.01-5 mass%). At this optimized concentration, it provides low-temperature flexibility benefits while its volatilization is minimized and controlled, transforming a contamination source into a functional additive that enhances overall rubber performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the molecular weight distribution parameters of the silicone rubber composition by adding specific amounts of low-molecular and high-molecular silicon compounds. This parameter control suppresses excessive volatilization of low-molecular compounds during high-temperature operation, reducing contamination while maintaining the necessary low-temperature flexibility for the fixing member.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional silicone rubber is used, then the material is easy to manufacture, but the elasticity deteriorates over time due to crosslink portion cut-off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by incorporating low-molecular silicon compound (0.01-5 mass%) and high-molecular silicon compound (0.01-5 mass%) into the conventional silicone rubber formulation. These parameter changes protect the crosslink structure from degradation, maintaining elasticity stability over time while preserving the ease of manufacturing through standard mixing and molding processes.
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 solution enhances the durability of the fixing member and minimizes contamination by maintaining a high amount of high-molecular components within the silicone rubber, acting as a lubricant and reducing the formation of volatile particles and Ultrafine Particles (UFP), thus improving the longevity and cleanliness of the image forming apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
acting as a lubricant and reducing the formation of volatile particles
Implementation Method 2
volatilization of low-molecular compounds, such as low-molecular siloxane, from the silicone rubber
Data Source
AI summary
A silicone rubber composition is a silicone rubber composition, in a fixing member having a rubber member on a surface, for forming the rubber member, and an integrated value of a high-molecular component from 32 minutes to 37 minutes of retention time in measurement of gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS method) conducted under a predetermined condition is 3.0 or more.