Siloxane Surface Layer Toner for Charge Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner particles in electrophotographic systems face challenges in maintaining high development durability and chargeability when subjected to mechanical stress and repeated use, leading to reduced image quality and increased frequency of cartridge exchange.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a surface layer containing an organosilicon polymer, specifically a siloxane-based polymer with partial structures represented by certain formulae, which improves hydrophobicity and environmental stability, ensuring consistent chargeability and flowability even after prolonged use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fine particles are externally added to toner surfaces to improve chargeability and flowability, then initial performance is enhanced, but particle deviation and embedment occur during repeated use, causing development durability to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming a siloxane-based polymer surface layer on toner particles before use. This surface layer is created through reaction of silane-modified polyester resin with water during the toner manufacturing process, establishing a protective and functional surface structure in advance that prevents particle deviation and embedment during subsequent repeated use cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by creating a surface layer composed of siloxane-based polymer (from silane-modified polyester resin) on the toner particle surface. This composite structure combines the base toner material with the siloxane surface layer, which provides both improved chargeability/flowability and resistance to particle deviation/embedment during repeated use.
2Reliability
If inorganic particles are externally added to improve charging stability, then chargeability is enhanced, but particle embedment occurs, reducing development durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the siloxane-based polymer surface layer as an intermediary between the toner core and any externally added inorganic particles. This surface layer acts as a barrier that prevents inorganic particles from embedding into the toner structure during repeated use, while still allowing the inorganic particles to provide their charging stability function on the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system where a siloxane-based polymer surface layer is formed on toner particles. This composite structure integrates the benefits of inorganic particle addition (charging stability) while preventing the harmful effect (particle embedment) through the protective surface layer.
3Productivity
If toner amount in cartridge is reduced to extend cartridge life, then resource efficiency is improved, but toner particles undergo more repeated development cycles, increasing mechanical stress and reducing chargeability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming a robust siloxane-based polymer surface layer during toner manufacturing that is specifically designed to withstand repeated mechanical stress from multiple development cycles. This preliminary surface treatment ensures that even when toner particles undergo extensive reuse, the surface layer maintains particle integrity and chargeability properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The siloxane-based polymer surface layer serves as a cushioning protective layer that absorbs and mitigates the mechanical stress accumulated during repeated development cycles. This beforehand cushioning prevents particle degradation and maintains chargeability even after numerous reuse cycles, enabling extended cartridge life without sacrificing performance.
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 toner maintains excellent development durability and chargeability, enabling the formation of stable solid images even when the toner amount in the cartridge is low, and reduces the risk of member contamination.
Implementation Method 1
the organosilicon polymer includes a siloxane-based polymer having partial structures represented by the following formulae (1) and (2)... which improves hydrophobicity and environmental stability
Implementation Method 2
in a chart obtained by 29Si-NMR measurement of a tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter of the toner particles
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a toner that is excellent in development durability and has excellent solid followability even when the amount of the toner in a toner cartridge is small. The toner includes toner particles each having a surface layer containing an organosilicon polymer, in which: the organosilicon polymer includes a siloxane-based polymer having partial structures represented by the following formulae (1) and (2); and in a chart obtained by 29Si-NMR measurement of a tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter of the toner particles, an area RT3 of a peak assigned to the partial structure represented by the following formula (1) and an area RfT3 of a peak assigned to the partial structure represented by the following formula (2) satisfy the following formula (3).0.300>(RfT3/RT3)≧0.010 (3)R—SiO3/2 (1)Rf—SiO3/2 (2)