Toner Fine Particle Embedding with Organosilicon Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners face challenges in maintaining fluidity and transferability during multi-sheet printing due to detachment of fine particles from toner surfaces, leading to reduced image quality and fixability.
Innovation Solution
A toner with fine particles embedded in the surface of toner base particles, where the surface is covered with a condensation product of organosilicon compounds, enhancing the adhesive force and durability to prevent detachment and maintain performance across multiple print sheets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fine particles are embedded in the surface of toner particles to reduce adhesive forces and improve fluidity, then initial fluidity and transferability are improved, but after multi-sheet printing the fine particles detach and fluidity and transferability reduce
Solution Approach 1:
The fine particles are segmented into two distinct components: a core fine particle and a shell layer made of condensation product of organosilicon compound. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the core provides the necessary adhesive force reduction for fluidity, while the shell provides durability and prevents detachment during multi-sheet printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The fine particles are constructed as composite particles combining an inorganic core (such as silica) with an organic shell (condensation product of organosilicon compound). This composite structure integrates the benefits of both materials: the inorganic core provides hardness and adhesive force reduction, while the organic shell provides durability and resistance to detachment under heat and pressure conditions of multi-sheet printing.
2Ease of operation
If the surface of toner particle is covered with coating film of silane coupling agent to reduce adhesive forces, then initial transfer efficiency is improved, but inorganic fine particles detach after long time use and transferability reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The condensation product of organosilicon compound is pre-formed and applied to the surface of the core fine particle before the fine particle is embedded in the toner particle. This preliminary action ensures that the protective shell is already in place, providing immediate durability and preventing detachment during the toner's service life, including long-time use scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The fine particle uses a composite structure with an inorganic core and an organic shell made of condensation product of organosilicon compound. This composite material approach provides both the adhesive force reduction needed for transferability and the durability required for long-time use, resolving the contradiction between initial performance and long-term reliability.
3Ease of operation
If entirety of toner particle is covered with silane coupling agent to reduce adhesive forces, then initial transfer efficiency is improved, but fixability of toner reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The condensation product of organosilicon compound is applied locally only to the surface of the core fine particle, not to the entire toner particle. This local application ensures that the adhesive force reduction benefits are concentrated at the fine particle surface where they are most needed for transferability, while the rest of the toner particle maintains its original fixability properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The condensation product of organosilicon compound acts as an intermediary layer on the fine particle surface, mediating between the inorganic core and the toner particle matrix. This intermediary shell provides the necessary adhesive force reduction for transfer efficiency while preventing direct interaction between the silane coupling agent and the toner particle that would compromise fixability.
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 satisfactory fluidity and transferability while ensuring fixability, with the organosilicon compound coverage providing a strong bond that prevents deterioration even after extensive printing.
Implementation Method 1
a surface of a core fine particle is covered with a condensation product of at least one kind of organosilicon compound
Implementation Method 2
the fine particles are stuck in a state of being embedded in a surface of the toner base particle
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a toner, including a toner particle containing a toner base particle and a fine particle, wherein the fine particle includes a composite particle each having a surface covered with a condensation product of at least one kind of organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of a compound represented by the following formula (1) and a compound represented by the following formula (2), wherein the fine particle is stuck in a state of being embedded in a surface of the toner base particle, and wherein a coverage of a composition containing the organosilicon compound with respect to the surface of the toner base particle excluding the fine particle is 0.1% by area or more and 40.0% by area or less: