Toner Block Polymer Binder Resin Low-Temperature Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners for electrophotographic equipment face challenges in achieving low-temperature fixability while maintaining durability and preventing breakage and chipping, leading to image defects and equipment contamination.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a binder resin composed of a block polymer obtained by chemically bonding crystalline polyester resin with amorphous polyurethane resin, optimizing the concentration of ester bonds and urethane bonds to enhance mechanical impact resistance and electrostatic stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If crystalline polyester resin is used as binder to achieve low-temperature fixability, then fixing temperature is reduced, but toner strength and durability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite binder resin system combining crystalline polyester resin (providing low-temperature fixability through sharp melting) with amorphous polyester resin (providing strength and durability). This composite approach allows the toner to achieve both low fixing temperature and high durability by leveraging the complementary properties of different resin materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including the melting point of the crystalline polyester resin (50-80°C), the glass transition temperature of the amorphous polyester resin (40-60°C), and the concentration of ester bonds (3.0-5.0 mmol/g) to balance low-temperature fixability with sufficient toner strength and durability.
2Temperature
If crystalline resin is used to achieve sharp melting property, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but breakage and chipping increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines crystalline polyester resin with amorphous polyester resin in a composite binder system. The crystalline component provides sharp melting for low-temperature fixing, while the amorphous component provides flexibility and resistance to breakage and chipping, thereby improving overall reliability under mechanical impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates different functional zones within the binder resin: the crystalline polyester resin domains provide localized sharp melting behavior for low-temperature fixing, while the amorphous polyester resin matrix provides localized flexibility and impact resistance, allowing different regions of the toner to exhibit different properties as needed.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If toner strength is reduced to achieve low-temperature fixing, then energy consumption decreases, but image quality stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite binder resin of crystalline and amorphous polyester resins that enables low-temperature fixing (reducing energy consumption) while the amorphous component maintains toner integrity and prevents breakage, thereby preserving image quality stability during storage and handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent carefully controls the glass transition temperature of the amorphous polyester resin (40-60°C) and the concentration of ester bonds (3.0-5.0 mmol/g) to ensure the toner remains sufficiently strong and flexible at low fixing temperatures, preventing image quality degradation while maintaining low energy consumption.
4Strength
If amorphous resin is used to increase toner strength, then durability is improved, but fixing temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines amorphous polyester resin (providing strength) with crystalline polyester resin (providing low melting point) in a composite binder system. This allows the toner to achieve both high durability from the amorphous component and low fixing temperature from the crystalline component, resolving the trade-off between strength and fixing temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the binder resin function into two distinct components: the crystalline polyester resin segment handles the melting and fixing function at low temperature, while the amorphous polyester resin segment handles the structural strength and durability function, allowing each component to optimize its specific role without compromising the other.
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 achieves improved durability, reducing breakage and chipping, and enhances the maintenance-free features of electrophotographic equipment by maintaining high-quality image stability over extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
crystalline polyester resins, owing to the regular arrangement of the molecular chain, have certain characteristics: they do not exhibit a clear glass transition, are resistant to softening at temperatures below the crystal melting point, and rapidly soften above the crystal melting point
Implementation Method 2
a block polymer being obtained by chemically bonding a crystalline polyester resin with an amorphous polyurethane resin
Data Source
AI summary
A toner has toner particles containing a binder resin that comprises a block polymer as a main component, obtained by chemically bonding a crystalline polyester resin with an amorphous polyurethane resin, wherein the binder resin has a specific content of a crystalline polyester resin component, and has a concentration of ester bonds derived from the crystalline polyester resin component of not more than 5.2 mmol/g, and The maximum value EMAX of the flexural elasticity modulus E in a three-point bending test on the toner and the strain energy u for the toner satisfy specific values.