Electrostatic Toner with Crystalline Resin Thread Structure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrostatic latent image developing toners face challenges with low-temperature fixability, variation in image gloss due to recording medium, and high environmental dependency of electric charge, which affect image quality and conformity.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electrostatic latent image developing toner with a structural body where a crystalline resin is in contact with a mold release agent and a crystalline resin having a thread-like structure is not, within the toner matrix particles, utilizing a vinyl resin as the main component to enhance low-temperature fixability and reduce environmental charge dependency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a crystalline polyester resin with thread-like crystal structure is used to promote sharp melting, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but the toner exhibits high gloss variation depending on recording medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct structural zones within the toner particles: a core region containing crystalline polyester resin with thread-like crystal structure for low-temperature melting, and a shell region with different resin composition and crystal structure that controls gloss uniformity. This spatial differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between sharp melting and gloss consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining crystalline polyester resin with amorphous polyester resin in a specific configuration. The composite structure includes both crystalline domains (for low-temperature fixing) and amorphous domains (for gloss control), allowing simultaneous achievement of sharp melting and uniform gloss appearance.
2Ease of manufacture
If amorphous polyester resin is used as main binder component, then manufacturing is simplified, but environmental dependency of electric charge increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the crystalline polyester resin in specific regions (core or interface zones) while using amorphous polyester resin in other regions. This localized placement maintains manufacturing simplicity while the crystalline regions provide stable charge characteristics less susceptible to environmental changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines amorphous polyester resin (easy to manufacture) with crystalline polyester resin (environmentally stable charge) in a composite structure. The amorphous matrix provides processing ease while the crystalline domains contribute charge stability, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and charge reliability.
3Temperature
If crystalline resin domain size is reduced to promote sharp melting, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but shape conformity to recording medium deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a core-shell structure where the core contains fine crystalline domains for sharp melting, while the shell contains larger crystalline structures or amorphous resin that provides shape conformity. This spatial differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both melting sharpness and shape adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the toner particle into distinct regions with different crystalline domain sizes. The inner core has fine crystalline structures for sharp melting, while the outer shell has coarser structures for shape conformity. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between melting sharpness and shape adaptation.
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
This configuration achieves satisfactory low-temperature fixability, high shape conformity to recording media, and low environmental dependency of electric charge, improving image quality and consistency across different environments.
Implementation Method 1
A representative study for lowering the fixing temperature of a toner involves the use of a crystalline material. In order to achieve sufficient low-temperature fixability, for a toner containing a crystalline polyester resin and an amorphous resin, it has been suggested to promote sharp melting by incorporating the crystalline polyester resin
Implementation Method 2
electrostatic latent image developing toner
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrostatic latent image developing toner comprising toner matrix particles that comprise resin components comprising a vinyl resin as a main component and a crystalline resin, and a mold release agent. The electrostatic latent image developing toner includes a structural body in which a portion of the crystalline resin is in contact with the mold release agent, and a portion of the crystalline resin having a thread-like structure that is not in contact with the mold release agent, in cross-sections of the toner matrix particles.