Electrostatic Toner with Polydiene Additive for Low-Temperature Fixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners for electrostatic-image development face challenges in achieving both low-temperature fixing properties and storage stability, with previous solutions either improving fixing properties at the expense of storage stability or vice versa, and lacking sufficient energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A toner composition containing a binder resin, colorant, charge control agent, and a release agent, with an additive having a polydiene structure that enhances solubility in styrene and controls the storage modulus, allowing for improved low-temperature fixing and storage stability while reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the toner is lowered to improve low-temperature fixing property, then the fixing temperature can be reduced, but the storage property deteriorates due to fusion (blocking) between toner particles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the glass transition temperature (Tg) within 70-90°C and the storage modulus G'(60) within 1.0×10^8 to 1.0×10^10 Pa. This dual parameter optimization allows the toner to maintain appropriate softness at fixing temperature while preserving storage stability, resolving the contradiction between low-temperature fixing and storage property
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a binder resin with specific glass transition temperature characteristics and a release agent having a melting point of 80-120°C. This composite structure enables the toner to exhibit low-temperature fixing behavior through the release agent while the binder resin maintains structural integrity during storage
2Temperature
If a low melting point resin or low molecular weight resin is contained in the toner to improve low-temperature fixing property, then fixing at lower temperature becomes possible, but fusion (blocking) occurs between toner particles during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing a release agent with specific local properties (melting point 80-120°C) into the toner composition. This release agent locally provides low-temperature fixing capability at the toner particle surface through controlled melting and release, while the bulk toner composition maintains storage stability
Solution Approach 2:
The release agent acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the binder resin and the fixing surface. It temporarily facilitates low-temperature fixing through controlled melting and release during the fixing process, then solidifies to prevent unwanted fusion during storage, effectively resolving the contradiction
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the toner is designed to improve low-temperature fixing property, then energy consumption can be reduced, but the toner storage property deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the glass transition temperature (Tg: 70-90°C) and storage modulus (G'(60): 1.0×10^8 to 1.0×10^10 Pa) parameters. This allows the toner to achieve low-temperature fixing (reducing power consumption) while maintaining adequate storage stability through the balanced formulation
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 storage stability and low-temperature fixing properties, meeting the demands for energy-efficient and high-speed printing by optimizing the solubility and structural properties of the polydiene additive within the toner formulation.
Implementation Method 1
a storage modulus G′(60) of the color resin particle at 60° C., which is determined by dynamic viscoelasticity measurement, is 1.6×10^8 to 5.0×10^8 Pa
Implementation Method 2
containing a low melting point resin and/or a low molecular weight resin in a toner
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a toner for electrostatic-image development comprising a color resin particle containing a binder resin, a colorant, a charge control agent, and a release agent, and an additive having a polydiene structure, wherein the additive having the polydiene structure has a solubility in styrene at a temperature of 40° C. of 3 to 40 g/100 g, when a cross section of the color resin particle is observed by a transmission electron microscope (TEM), the number of crystal domains of the release agent having an aspect ratio in a range of 2 to 10 in a field of view of 2 μm×2 μm square of the cross section of the color resin particle is 2 to 30.