Toner for Non-Contact Fusing with Isophthalic Acid Polyester
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toners for non-contact fusing struggle with maintaining sufficient transferability and image density at high speeds, often requiring higher temperatures and resulting in reduced durability and stability under varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A toner formulation incorporating specific polyesters with isophthalic acid and fumaric acid/maleic acid compounds, along with an external additive, to enhance low-temperature fixing ability, transferability, and durability, while maintaining stable image density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional toners are used for non-contact fusing at high speeds, then productivity increases, but transferability and image density deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the resin binder by incorporating specific ratios of isophthalic acid (10-35 wt%) and fumaric acid/maleic acid compounds (1-15 wt%) to achieve optimal transferability at high fusing speeds. This parameter optimization allows the toner to maintain reliable image transfer while enabling high-speed productivity.
2Reliability
If higher fusing temperatures are applied to improve transferability, then transferability improves, but energy consumption increases and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the resin binder through specific monomer composition (isophthalic acid 10-35 wt%, fumaric acid/maleic acid 1-15 wt%) to achieve a balanced softening behavior that ensures reliable transferability at reduced fusing temperatures, thereby lowering energy consumption while maintaining durability.
3Reliability
If aromatic monomers like terephthalic acid are used to increase triboelectric chargeability, then chargeability improves, but glass transition temperature increases reducing low-temperature fixing ability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite resin binder system combining isophthalic acid compounds (10-35 wt%) and fumaric acid/maleic acid compounds (1-15 wt%) to achieve a balanced material property profile that provides sufficient triboelectric chargeability while maintaining an appropriate glass transition temperature for low-temperature fixing capability.
4Reliability
If isophthalic acid content is increased to improve durability, then durability improves, but low-temperature fixing ability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of isophthalic acid compounds to 10-35 wt% and combines it with fumaric acid/maleic acid compounds at 1-15 wt% to achieve a balanced formulation that provides enhanced durability while maintaining adequate low-temperature fixing ability through the synergistic effect of both monomer types.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner for non-contacting fusing containing toner matrix particles containing a resin binder and an external additive having an average particle size of from 10 to 100 nm, wherein the external additive is externally added to the toner matrix particles, wherein the resin binder contains one or more polyesters, wherein a carboxylic acid component of the polyester contains one or more isophthalic acid compounds and one or more fumaric acid/maleic acid compounds, wherein the isophthalic acid compound is contained in an amount of from 10 to 35% by weight, the fumaric acid/maleic acid compound is contained in an amount of from 1 to 15% by weight, and the isophthalic acid compound and the fumaric acid/maleic acid compound are contained in a total amount of from 20 to 36% by weight, of a total amount of the entire raw material monomers of the polyester in the resin binder, and wherein the toner has a softening point of from 90° to 120° C. The toner is suitably used in developing latent images formed in, for example, electrophotography, an electrostatic recording method, an electrostatic printing method, or the like.