Toner Microgel Offset and Gloss via Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed multifunction machines and printers require toner with improved offset properties and high gloss, while maintaining long-term durability and performance, as existing methods fail to satisfy these demands due to inadequate interaction between binder resin and microgel, leading to image defects.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a binder resin containing styrene-acrylic resin crosslinked by a polymeric compound from addition reactions between specific compounds, incorporating tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter in a controlled proportion to form a microgel that enhances offset resistance and gloss without compromising mechanical durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high-molecular-weight component (gel) is formed by crosslinking the binder resin to suppress offset, then offset property is improved, but gloss is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The gel component is segmented into microgel particles with a particle diameter of 0.1 μm or less, which are dispersed in the binder resin. This segmentation allows the microgel particles to suppress offset through their gel structure while their small size prevents them from significantly affecting the surface smoothness required for high gloss.
Solution Approach 2:
The microgel particles are distributed throughout the binder resin matrix, creating local gel structures that provide offset suppression. The local gel regions interact with the transfer material to prevent toner offset, while the overall continuous phase maintains the surface properties needed for gloss.
2Reliability
If microgel is used in the toner to achieve coexistence of offset property and high gloss, then offset property and gloss are improved, but long-term durability is reduced due to little interaction at the interface between binder resin and microgel
Solution Approach 1:
The microgel particles are pre-formed with specific physical and chemical properties (particle diameter of 0.1 μm or less, and controlled crosslinking density) before being incorporated into the binder resin. This preliminary preparation ensures optimal interaction with the binder resin from the outset, preventing image defects during long-term printing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The particle diameter of the microgel is precisely controlled to be 0.1 μm or less, and the crosslinking density is adjusted to achieve the desired interaction between microgel and binder resin. These parameter optimizations ensure sufficient interfacial interaction for long-term durability while maintaining the offset and gloss properties.
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 excellent offset properties, high gloss, and long-term developing performance by optimizing the interaction between the gel component and resin, reducing image defects and improving durability.
Implementation Method 1
the crosslinking agent contains a polymeric compound provided by an addition reaction at least between a compound represented by formula (1) and a compound represented by formula (2)
Implementation Method 2
the binder resin contains a styrene-acrylic resin that has a structure derived from a crosslinking agent
Implementation Method 3
the formation of a high-molecular-weight component (also referred to as a gel) achieved by the crosslinking of all or a portion of the binder resin in the toner
Implementation Method 4
a fixed image is subsequently obtained by fixing the toner image to the transfer material by a fixing method that employs the application of heat and pressure
Implementation Method 5
these fixing methods exhibit an excellent thermal efficiency during melt adhesion of the toner image onto the transfer material
Data Source
AI summary
The toner has a toner particle that contains a binder resin, wherein the binder resin contains a styrene-acrylic resin that has a structure derived from a crosslinking agent, the binder resin includes tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter in an amount of from 5 mass % to 60 mass % of the binder resin, and the crosslinking agent contains a polymeric compound provided by an addition reaction at least between a particular multifunctional (meth)acrylate compound and a particular polyvalent mercapto compound.