Toner Particle Domain Distribution for Rubbing Gloss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrostatic image developing toners with high toner deposition density often experience a reduction in image gloss when rubbed, due to inadequate adhesion between toner particles and excessive release agent seepage, leading to inconsistencies in image quality.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electrostatic image developing toner with specific domain structures and release agent distribution, where release agent domains are strategically positioned within the toner particles to enhance adhesion while maintaining ease of detachment, using toner particles with domains that satisfy conditions related to diameter, circularity, and depth within the toner particle, and a release agent with a melting temperature between 65°C and 95°C, such as an ester wax.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high toner deposition density is used, then image coverage and productivity are improved, but image gloss is reduced due to excessive release agent seepage
Solution Approach 1:
The release agent domains are positioned at specific locations within the toner particle (at a distance of 0.10 μm or more from the surface) rather than being uniformly distributed. This local positioning strategy allows the release agent to be available for detachment when needed while preventing excessive seepage that would harm image gloss, thus resolving the contradiction between high deposition density and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the release agent domains, specifically their size (0.03-2.00 μm diameter) and position (distance from particle surface), to optimize both adhesion and detachment properties. By controlling these parameters, the toner achieves high deposition density while maintaining image gloss.
2Ease of operation
If release agent content is increased to improve detachment ease, then toner particle detachment is improved, but adhesion between toner particles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The release agent is localized in specific domains positioned away from the particle surface (0.10 μm or more distance), creating regions of different functionality within the toner particle. This local concentration strategy provides sufficient release agent for detachment while maintaining overall particle adhesion through the binder resin structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The toner particle is designed as a composite structure containing binder resin, colorant, and release agent domains with specific properties. This composite approach allows the release agent domains to provide detachment ease while the binder resin matrix maintains adhesion between particles, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
3Ease of operation
If release agent domains are positioned closer to the surface for easier detachment, then detachment ease is improved, but image gloss and adhesion are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the positional parameter of release agent domains by setting the distance from the particle surface to be 0.10 μm or more. This parameter change balances the competing requirements: close enough to provide detachment ease when needed, but far enough to prevent excessive seepage that would harm image gloss and adhesion.
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 solution effectively limits the reduction in image gloss when the image is rubbed by balancing adhesion and detachment properties, ensuring consistent image quality and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
a release agent with a melting temperature between 65°C and 95°C, such as an ester wax
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrostatic image developing toner includes a toner particle including a binder resin and a release agent. When a cross section of the toner particle is observed, the toner particle satisfies conditions (A) and (B) below: Condition (A): plural domains of the release agent, the domains having a diameter equal to 10% or more and 35% or less of the maximum diameter of the toner particle, are present in the toner particle; and Condition (B): the average of the distances between the centers of gravity of the domains of the release agent is 35% or more and 60% or less of the maximum diameter of the toner particle.