Toner Binder Resin Composite for Fixability and Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner formulations using crystalline resins face challenges in achieving a balance between low-temperature fixability, heat-resistant storability, durability, and discharged paper adhesion behavior, particularly in high-speed printing environments, where brittleness and adhesion issues arise due to the crystalline structure.
Innovation Solution
A toner composition incorporating a binder resin with specific polymerizable monomers and inorganic fine particles, where the binder resin contains a polymer with distinct monomer units and a coating layer on the inorganic particles, optimizing the solubility parameter difference and surface treatment to enhance crystallinity and intermolecular interactions, thereby improving fixability, storability, and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a crystalline resin is used as the main binder to achieve low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storability, then the sharp melt property is improved, but the durability declines due to brittleness and cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite binder resin system combining a crystalline polymer (providing sharp melt and low-temperature fixability) with an amorphous polymer (providing elasticity and durability). This composite structure allows the crystalline component to melt sharply at low temperatures while the amorphous component maintains structural integrity and prevents brittleness during storage and handling.
2Temperature
If the glass transition point of the binder resin is lowered to improve low-temperature fixability, then the fixed image quality at lower temperatures is improved, but the heat-resistant storability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the binder resin by selecting specific crystalline polymers with melting points in the range of 50°C to 90°C. This parameter optimization allows the resin to maintain structural stability at room temperature (heat-resistant storability) while enabling low-temperature fixing during the actual printing process through controlled melting.
3Productivity
If toner with low-temperature fixability is used in high-speed printing, then the printing speed is improved, but discharged paper adhesion problems occur due to substantial load on melted toner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic response system where the binder resin exhibits time-dependent behavior: remaining solid and elastic during storage and handling, then rapidly melting during the brief fixing process in high-speed printing, and finally solidifying quickly after passing through the fixing nip. This dynamic phase transition prevents adhesion problems while enabling high-speed operation.
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 enables a toner with enhanced low-temperature fixability, heat-resistant storability, and improved durability and adhesion behavior, ensuring effective paper discharge and transfer in high-speed printing.
Implementation Method 1
the viscosity undergoes very little change up the melting point, while at the melting point plastification suddenly occurs and a sharp drop in the viscosity also occurs accompanying this
Implementation Method 2
Lowering the glass transition point (Tg) of the binder resin in toner is an example of a method for realizing an excellent low-temperature fixability
Implementation Method 3
each of the inorganic fine particles contains a substrate containing at least one inorganic element selected from metal elements and metalloid elements, and a coating layer
Implementation Method 4
the coating layer has a structure represented by at least one selected from the group consisting of the following formulas (A), (B), (C), and (D)
Data Source
AI summary
A toner including a toner particle that contains a binder resin and inorganic fine particles, wherein the binder resin contains a polymer A that includes a first monomer unit derived from a first polymerizable monomer and a second monomer unit derived from a second polymerizable monomer that is different from the first polymerizable monomer; the first polymerizable monomer is at least one selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylate esters having an alkyl group having 18 to 36 carbons; the SP value of the first monomer unit and the SP value of the second monomer unit satisfy a specified relationship; each of the inorganic fine particles contains a substrate containing at least one inorganic element selected from metal elements and metalloid elements, and a coating layer; and the coating layer has a specified structure.