Toner Binder Resin Crystallinity Low Temp Fixability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toners fail to achieve low temperature fixability under low humidity, flowability under high humidity, paper type correspondence, and dot reproducibility simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A toner formulation comprising a colorant and a binder resin with a specific composition of crystalline and non-crystalline polyesters, urea-modified polyesters, and ethyl acetate, optimized for spreadability, storage modulus, loss modulus, and crystallinity to ensure effective fixability and reproducibility across varying environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a crystalline resin is used as binder resin to achieve low temperature fixability, then fixability at low temperature is improved, but flowability under high temperature and high humidity environment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The toner uses a composite binder resin system comprising crystalline polyester (30-70 mass%), non-crystalline polyester (10-40 mass%), and urea-modified polyester (5-20 mass%). This multi-component composite resolves the contradiction by combining the low-temperature fixability of crystalline polyester with the flowability enhancement from non-crystalline and modified polyester components, achieving both low temperature fixability and good flowability under high temperature/high humidity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes specific parameters including the crystallinity degree (10-40%), molecular weight distribution, and compositional ratios of different polyester components. By precisely controlling these parameters, particularly maintaining crystalline polyester content at 30-70 mass% and adding urea-modified polyester (5-20 mass%), the toner achieves optimal balance between low temperature fixability and flowability under varying environmental conditions.
2Temperature
If binder resin composition is optimized for low temperature fixability, then fixability is improved, but dot reproducibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention precisely controls the molecular weight, crystallinity degree, and compositional ratios of polyester components. The crystalline polyester has specific molecular weight range and crystallinity (10-40%), while the urea-modified polyester content is controlled at 5-20 mass%. These parameter optimizations ensure that low temperature fixability is achieved without compromising dot reproducibility, as the balanced composition provides appropriate melting characteristics and flow properties during the fixing process.
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 exhibits excellent low temperature fixability, flowability, and dot reproducibility, maintaining performance under diverse environmental conditions while ensuring paper type correspondence.
Implementation Method 1
the polyester comprises a crystalline polyester, a non-crystalline non-modified polyester and a non-crystalline urea-modified polyester, wherein a degree of crystallinity of the toner is 10% or more
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A toner, including: a colorant; and a binder resin, wherein a spreadability of the toner under a non-pressurized condition is 1.20 to 2.50, wherein a common logarithm of a storage modulus at 100°C (G') of the toner is 4.0 [log Pa] to 5.0 [log Pa], and wherein a ratio of a loss modulus at 100°C (G'') to the storage modulus at 100°C (G') of the toner (G''/G' = tanĪ“) is 1.1 to 2.2.