Electrostatic Toner with Glycerol Ester Release Agent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrostatic image development toners fail to achieve sufficient low-temperature fixing properties while maintaining storage stability and hot offset resistance, leading to issues with energy consumption and printing speed in electrophotographic processes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an aromatic vinyl thermoplastic elastomer with a polymerizable unsaturated bond and an ester compound with a glycerol skeleton as the release agent into the toner formulation, which enhances low-temperature fixing properties, storage stability, and hot offset resistance, and suppresses the generation of ultrafine particles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the glass transition temperature (Tg) of a toner is reduced to improve low-temperature fixing properties, then fixing temperature can be reduced, but storage properties deteriorate and toner particles readily aggregate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite resin system combining a polyolefin resin (providing storage stability and aggregation resistance) with a resin having low glass transition temperature (providing low-temperature fixing capability). This composite structure allows the toner to achieve both low-temperature fixing properties and stable storage properties simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Temperature
If a low melting point resin or low molecular weight resin is added to improve low-temperature fixing properties, then fixing temperature is reduced, but toner particles aggregate under high temperature or long-term storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite resin formulation where a polyolefin resin serves as the base providing thermal stability and aggregation resistance, while a resin with low glass transition temperature is added as a modifier to enable low-temperature fixing. This composite approach allows the toner to maintain compositional stability during storage while achieving low-temperature fixing performance.
3Temperature
If a release agent with low softening point is added to improve low-temperature fixing properties, then fixing temperature is reduced, but hot offset resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite resin system where the polyolefin resin component provides high melting point characteristics that maintain hot offset resistance, while the low glass transition temperature resin component enables low-temperature fixing. The synergistic interaction between these components allows the release agent to function effectively at lower temperatures without compromising hot offset resistance.
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 exhibits excellent low-temperature fixing properties, high storage stability, and improved hot offset resistance, effectively reducing energy consumption and increasing printing speed while minimizing ultrafine particle generation.
Implementation Method 1
an aromatic vinyl thermoplastic elastomer having a polymerizable unsaturated bond is contained in the resin particles
Implementation Method 2
an ester compound having a glycerol skeleton is used as the release agent
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrostatic image development toner comprising colored resin particles and an external additive, the colored resin particles containing a binder resin, a colorant, an aromatic vinyl thermoplastic elastomer having a polymerizable unsaturated bond, and a release agent, wherein the release agent is an ester compound having a glycerol skeleton.