Toner Charge Control via Polymer Molecular Weight Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner particles using a resin with a salicylic acid structure face issues with moisture absorption and softening at high temperatures and humidity, leading to decreased fluidity and insufficient triboelectric charging performance, especially in high-speed contact one-component developing systems.
Innovation Solution
A toner with toner particles containing a binder resin and a charge controlling agent, specifically a polymer A with a structure that includes a benzyloxy site interposed between a main chain and a salicylic acid structure, which enhances structural flexibility and charging capabilities, maintaining fluidity and improving charging rise performance even in high humidity and temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resin containing a salicylic acid structure is used as a charge controlling resin, then the sublimation property and charging property are improved, but the toner shows increased moisture absorption and softening at high temperature and high humidity, leading to decreased fluidity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the molecular weight parameter of the charge controlling agent (polymer A) to a specific range (1,000-100,000), which fundamentally alters its physical and chemical properties. This parameter change enables the polymer to maintain both excellent charging performance and resistance to moisture absorption and softening at high temperature and humidity, resolving the contradiction between improved charging property and reduced harmful environmental effects.
2Reliability
If a resin containing a salicylic acid structure is used as a charge controlling resin, then the charging property is improved, but the triboelectric charging rise performance at the initial stage is insufficient, making it difficult to quickly reach a sufficient triboelectric charge amount
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the molecular weight parameter of polymer A within the range of 1,000-100,000, which directly impacts the charging rise performance. This parameter optimization enables the toner to achieve rapid triboelectric charging at the initial stage while maintaining stable charging properties, resolving the contradiction between reliable charging and fast charging speed.
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 exhibits improved triboelectric charging properties, achieving a sufficient charge amount quickly and maintaining fluidity under high temperature and humidity conditions, addressing the limitations of previous toner formulations.
Implementation Method 1
Studies for improving the triboelectric charging property of a toner are actively performed... a toner having an improved sublimation property of salicylic acid and a favorable charging property is obtained
Data Source
AI summary
A toner including toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant and a charge controlling agent, wherein the charge controlling agent is a polymer A having a structure “a” represented by formula (1), and the polymer A has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 1,000 to 100,000:wherein R1 represents a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or an alkoxyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or an alkoxyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and g represents an integer of 1 to 3 and h represents an integer of 0 to 3, wherein when h is 2 or 3, R1 can be each independently selected.