Toner Particle Eccentricity Control for Concealing and Lamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In electrophotographic systems, existing toners face challenges in achieving optimal concealing and laminating properties, especially when used on transparent or colored materials like labels and films, due to the exposure of white pigments, which affects image quality and adhesiveness.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electrostatic charge image developing toner with toner particles containing a binder resin and white pigment, where the maximum frequent value of eccentricity B is between 0.75 and 0.95, and skewness in the distribution of eccentricity B is between −1.20 and 0.00, ensuring the white pigment is concentrated near the surface and evenly distributed to prevent exposure and enhance image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If white pigment is added to toner particles to improve concealing properties, then image concealing performance is improved, but white pigment exposure occurs on the surface affecting laminating properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a core-shell structure where the white pigment is concentrated in the core region while the surface is coated with binder resin. This ensures the white pigment provides concealing properties in the core while remaining hidden from exposure on the surface, thus resolving the contradiction between improving concealing properties and preventing white pigment exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the nested doll principle by embedding the white pigment particles within the binder resin matrix, creating a core-shell structure. The white pigment is nested inside the binder resin shell, allowing it to contribute to concealing properties while being protected from surface exposure, thereby maintaining both concealing performance and laminating properties.
2Illumination intensity
If white pigment concentration is increased to enhance concealing properties, then image quality is improved, but pigment distribution becomes uneven and exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the white pigment in the core region of the toner particle while maintaining uniform distribution within that core. This localized concentration ensures high concealing properties where needed while preventing uneven distribution and exposure on the surface, thus resolving the contradiction between enhancing concealing properties and maintaining pigment distribution uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by controlling the eccentricity parameter (B) of the white pigment distribution within specific ranges (0.75 to 0.95) and adjusting the skewness (−1.20 to 0.00). These parameter optimizations ensure the white pigment is concentrated near the surface in a controlled manner, enhancing concealing properties while maintaining distribution uniformity and preventing exposure.
3Illumination intensity
If white pigment is positioned closer to the surface to improve concealing, then concealing properties are enhanced, but pigment exposure on the surface increases affecting laminating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a core-shell structure where the white pigment is concentrated in the core region while the surface is coated with binder resin. This ensures the white pigment provides concealing properties in the core while remaining hidden from exposure on the surface, thus resolving the contradiction between enhancing concealing properties and preventing surface exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by optimizing the eccentricity parameter (B) within the range of 0.75 to 0.95 and skewness (−1.20 to 0.00). These parameter optimizations ensure the white pigment is positioned with the right balance - close enough to the surface to provide effective concealing properties while maintaining sufficient distance to prevent exposure, thereby resolving the contradiction between concealing performance and surface exposure prevention.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles including a binder resin and a white pigment, wherein a maximum frequent value in distribution of eccentricity B of the white pigment represented by the following Expression (1) is from 0.75 to 0.95, and a skewness in the distribution of the eccentricity B is from −1.20 to 0.00: Expression (1): eccentricity B=2d/D, wherein D represents an equivalent circle diameter (μm) of a toner particle in observation of the cross section of the toner particle, and d represents a distance (μm) from the centroid of the toner particle to the centroid of the white pigment in observation of the cross section of the toner particle.