Toner Molecular Weight Control for Low-Temperature Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrostatic charge image developing toners face issues with high glossiness and tacking during low-temperature fixing, which are not adequately addressed by current technologies.
Innovation Solution
The toner composition is optimized by controlling the molecular weight distribution, specifically setting the main peak top to 15,000 or more and incorporating an amorphous low molecular weight component of 300 to 1000 with an area ratio of 10 to 20% to balance low-temperature fixability, tacking prevention, and gloss suppression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the melting temperature and melting viscosity of the binder resin are lowered to achieve low-temperature fixing, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but the glossiness of the fixed image becomes too high
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the molecular weight distribution parameters of the binder resin, specifically setting the main peak top molecular weight to 15,000 or more and controlling the area ratio of the amorphous low molecular weight component peak to 10-20% of the total binder resin area ratio. This parameter optimization enables low-temperature fixing while suppressing excessive image glossiness
Solution Approach 2:
The binder resin is designed as a composite material containing both amorphous low molecular weight component (weight average molecular weight 300-1000) and other resin components. This composite structure balances the opposing requirements of low-temperature fixability and gloss suppression
2Temperature
If crystalline resin is used to achieve low-temperature fixing, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but tacking occurs in the paper ejection tray
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the molecular weight distribution parameters, setting the main peak top to 15,000 or more and controlling the amorphous low molecular weight component area ratio to 10-20%. These parameter changes prevent tacking while maintaining low-temperature fixability, avoiding the problems associated with crystalline resins
3Temperature
If the melting viscosity of the toner is rapidly decreased to enable low-temperature fixing, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but the fixed image becomes highly glossy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention carefully controls the molecular weight distribution parameters to prevent rapid decrease in melt viscosity. By setting the main peak top molecular weight to 15,000 or more and the amorphous low molecular weight component area ratio to 10-20%, the toner maintains appropriate viscosity during fixing, achieving low-temperature fixing without excessive gloss
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrostatic charge image developing toner including toner base particles containing a binder resin an a mold release agent, wherein a molecular weight corresponding to a main peak top of a molecular weight distribution curve of constituent components of the electrostatic charge image developing toner obtained by gel permeation chromatography is 15,000 or more; and in comparison of an area ratio of each peak in the molecular weight distribution curve, the binder resin contains an amorphous material of a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight of 300 or more and less than 1000 in the area ratio of 10 to 20% with respect to the total amount of the binder resin.