Toner White Pigment Particle Size Distribution for Fluidity and Concealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrostatic charge image developing toners face issues with fluidity deterioration due to mechanical loads, leading to abnormal noise and clogging in the toner feeding path, and inadequate concealing properties, particularly when using white pigments with high specific gravity.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electrostatic charge image developing toner with a specific particle size distribution of white pigments, where 50% or more of the particles have a maximum Feret diameter of 200-400 nm, and a larger frequency of particles with diameters between 650-1000 nm, which reduces the interface area between the white pigment and binder resin, enhancing fluidity and concealing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If white pigment particles with high specific gravity are used to enhance concealing properties, then concealing properties are improved, but fluidity deteriorates due to increased mechanical load effects
Solution Approach 1:
The white pigment is segmented into multiple particle size ranges (200-400 nm, 400-650 nm, 650-1000 nm) with specific frequency distributions. This segmentation allows smaller particles to maintain fluidity while larger particles provide concealing properties, resolving the contradiction between concealing performance and fluidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the particle size distribution parameters of the white pigment, specifically setting the frequency of 200-400 nm particles at 50% or more and creating a frequency maximum at 650-1000 nm. This parameter optimization balances the concealing properties (improved by larger particles) and fluidity (maintained by smaller particles).
2Productivity
If toner particles are subjected to mechanical loads during feeding, then image formation process continues, but fluidity deteriorates leading to abnormal noise and clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies beforehand cushioning by optimizing the white pigment particle size distribution before the toner undergoes mechanical loads. The specific frequency distribution (50% or more at 200-400 nm, maximum at 650-1000 nm) acts as a preventive measure that cushions against fluidity deterioration during subsequent mechanical feeding processes, preventing noise and clogging before they occur.
3Reliability
If the interface area between white pigment and binder resin is reduced, then fluidity is enhanced, but concealing properties may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the particle size distribution parameters to achieve the desired balance. By setting the frequency of 200-400 nm particles at 50% or more and creating a frequency maximum at 650-1000 nm, the total interface area is controlled while maintaining adequate concealing properties through the presence of larger particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The toner forms a composite material system where the binder resin and white pigment with optimized particle size distribution work together. The specific frequency distribution creates a composite structure that achieves both reduced interface area (improving fluidity) and adequate concealing properties through the distributed particle sizes.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles containing a binder resin and a white pigment, wherein, in a particle size distribution of a maximum Feret diameter of particles of the white pigment present in the toner particle, a ratio of particles of the white pigment having a maximum Feret diameter of 200 nm or more and less than 400 nm is 50% by number or more with respect to the entire particles of the white pigment, and a maximum value of a frequency with respect to particles of the white pigment having a maximum Feret diameter of 650 nm or more and less than 1,000 nm is larger than a minimum value of a frequency with respect to particles of the white pigment having a maximum Feret diameter of 500 nm or more and less than 650 nm.