Toner Binder Resin Plasticization Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner systems with amorphous and crystalline resins face issues with plasticization, leading to a decrease in glass transition temperature, which can result in image defects and storage problems, especially at elevated temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a fatty acid salt into the binder resin system composed of amorphous and crystalline resins to reduce plasticization and increase the glass transition temperature, thereby enhancing the toner's thermal stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If amorphous and crystalline resins are combined in the binder resin system, then the toner achieves good flowability and image quality, but plasticization occurs causing the glass transition temperature to decrease
Solution Approach 1:
A fatty acid salt is introduced as an intermediary substance between the amorphous and crystalline resins. The fatty acid salt acts as a spacer or barrier that prevents direct interaction between the resin molecules that would otherwise cause plasticization. This mediator maintains the structural integrity and thermal properties of the crystalline resin while allowing the benefits of both resin types to be realized.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder resin system by adding a specific component (fatty acid salt) in controlled amounts. This parameter change modifies the intermolecular forces and packing structure of the resin blend, preventing the plasticization effect while maintaining the desired glass transition temperature range for optimal toner performance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the glass transition temperature decreases due to plasticization, then the toner becomes too soft for proper storage, but increasing the temperature may cause image defects
Solution Approach 1:
The fatty acid salt serves as a protective intermediary that stabilizes the resin structure during storage. By preventing direct molecular interaction between amorphous and crystalline resins, it maintains the toner's mechanical strength and prevents softening, ensuring storage stability without requiring temperature adjustments that could affect image quality.
3Temperature
If more crystalline resin is added to increase glass transition temperature, then thermal stability improves, but the resin system becomes less compatible and may cause defects
Solution Approach 1:
The fatty acid salt acts as a compatibility intermediary that enables higher concentrations of crystalline resin to be incorporated into the binder system. It mediates the interface between the two resin types, preventing phase separation and maintaining homogeneous distribution, thus allowing thermal stability to be enhanced without sacrificing resin compatibility.
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 addition of a fatty acid salt effectively increases the glass transition temperature of the toner, reducing plasticization and preventing storage and usage issues at elevated temperatures, resulting in improved toner performance.
Implementation Method 1
An issue which may arise with this formulation is that plasticization may occur upon combining the amorphous and crystalline resins, which may result in a decrease in the glass transition temperature of the toner
Implementation Method 2
melt-mixing an amorphous resin, a crystalline resin, a fatty acid salt, an optional wax, and a colorant to form a toner
Implementation Method 3
Placing charge on the particles, to enable movement and development of images via electric fields, is most often accomplished with triboelectricity
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a binder resin system suitable for use in forming toner compositions. In embodiments, the binder resin system includes at least one amorphous resin, at least one crystalline resin, and at least one fatty acid salt. The presence of the fatty acid salt reduces plasticization which may otherwise occur upon combining the amorphous and crystalline resins, thereby increasing the glass transition temperature of the binder resin, as well as any toner produced with such binder resin. Toners produced with the disclosed binder resin may also include one or more optional ingredients such as optional colorants, optional waxes, and combinations thereof.