Toner Particles with Aminophenol Compound for Storage Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrostatic image development toners face challenges in achieving high storage stability, transfer property, and fixing property, particularly when using low molecular weight dyes like rhodamine, which lead to aggregation and insufficient thermal energy for image fixation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a specific aminophenol compound represented by Formula (1) into the toner particles, with R1 and R2 being hydrogen or alkyl/aryl groups, to stabilize anion charge and reduce hydrogen bonding in the binder resin, enhancing storage stability and fixing property.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a low molecular weight dye such as rhodamine is used as a colorant in toner particles, then color reproduction property is improved, but storage stability deteriorates due to aggregation and glass transition temperature decrease
Solution Approach 1:
A wax material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the low molecular weight dye and the binder resin. This wax material prevents direct interaction that causes aggregation, thereby maintaining storage stability while preserving the color reproduction properties of the dye.
Solution Approach 2:
The toner particle is formulated as a composite material system comprising binder resin, low molecular weight dye, and wax material. This composite structure leverages the complementary properties of each component: the binder resin provides structural integrity, the dye delivers color reproduction, and the wax material prevents aggregation and maintains stability during storage.
2Manufacturing precision
If a low molecular weight dye is used as a colorant, then color tone quality is improved, but fixing property deteriorates due to insufficient thermal energy and dye sublimation
Solution Approach 1:
The wax material serves as a thermal mediator during the fixing process. It manages heat transfer more effectively than the binder resin alone, providing sufficient thermal energy to the dye for proper fixation while preventing excessive heat that would cause sublimation. This enables reliable image fixing while maintaining color tone quality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional colorants are used to form full color images, then color image formation is achieved, but intermediate color (half-tone) image quality is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes specific parameters of the toner formulation, particularly the molecular weight range of the dye (low molecular weight) and the inclusion of wax material, to achieve superior intermediate color rendering. These parameter changes enable the toner to produce high-quality half-tone images while maintaining full color image formation capability.
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 use of the specific aminophenol compound improves the transfer property and fixing property of the toner, resulting in high-quality intermediate color images with improved storage stability and reduced aggregation, enabling faithful reproduction of images.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating a specific aminophenol compound represented by Formula (1) into the toner particles, with R1 and R2 being hydrogen or alkyl/aryl groups, to stabilize anion charge
Implementation Method 2
the use of the specific aminophenol compound improves the transfer property and fixing property of the toner, resulting in high-quality intermediate color images with improved storage stability and reduced aggregation
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a toner for an electrostatic charge image development having toner particles which contain: a binder resin; a colorant; and a compound represented by Formula (1) in an amount of 0.1 to 65 ppm based on the total weight of the toner particles:wherein R1 and R2 each respectively represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aryl group.