Electrostatic Toner with Tin-Modified Polyester for Storage Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrostatic image developing toners face challenges in maintaining storage stability under temperature changes, leading to toner aggregation and color streaks due to the hydrophobic nature of fluidizing agents and changes in resin molecular arrangements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating non-colored particles with a higher Sn element content than toner particles, which enhances mechanical strength and heat resistance, and using a phase inversion method to control particle shape and distribution, thereby preventing toner aggregation and improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fluidizing agents are used to suppress toner-to-toner aggregation, then toner fluidity is improved, but storage stability deteriorates under temperature changes due to hydrophobic nature and resin molecular arrangement changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder resin by incorporating specific polyester resins with controlled hydroxyl value ranges (50-150 mg KOH/g) and using catalysts like tin octoate. This modifies the resin's molecular structure to reduce hydrophobicity and improve storage stability while maintaining fluidity through optimized molecular weight and composition ratios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite binder resin system combining polyester resin base components with specific additives and catalysts. This composite structure integrates multiple functional elements: the polyester provides structural framework, while incorporated modifiers and catalysts adjust hydrophobicity and molecular arrangement stability, achieving both fluidity and storage stability simultaneously.
2Reliability
If storage stability is improved by modifying resin structure, then toner aggregation is reduced, but image quality may deteriorate due to changes in toner properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters simultaneously: polyester resin hydroxyl value (50-150 mg KOH/g), catalyst concentration (0.01-1 part by weight per 100 parts resin), and molecular weight distribution. These parameter adjustments are balanced to ensure storage stability improvement while maintaining toner properties like charge characteristics, transfer efficiency, and image sharpness within acceptable ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional characteristics to different aspects of the toner structure. The binder resin is locally optimized for storage stability through specific polyester composition, while other toner components and surface properties are adjusted separately to maintain image quality. This localized optimization allows independent tuning of storage stability and image forming properties.
3Reliability
If non-colored particles with high Sn content are added to enhance mechanical strength and heat resistance, then storage stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple components into the binder resin itself. The polyester resin with specific hydroxyl value and the tin catalyst (Sn octoate) are integrated directly into the binder matrix, eliminating the need for separate Sn-containing particle additives. This consolidation achieves the desired mechanical strength and heat resistance while simplifying the overall toner composition and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrostatic image developing toner including: a toner particle containing a binder resin having a polyester resin and a coloring agent; and a non-colored particle containing a polyester but not containing a coloring agent and having a shape factor SF1 of not more than 110, wherein an amount of Sn element contained in the non-colored particles is larger than an amount of Sn element contained in the toner particle.