Toner Resin Gradient for Charge Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional toners with charge control resins (CCR) experience a decline in charge quantity when stored in high-temperature, high-humidity environments, leading to increased First Print Output Time (FPOT) and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A toner composition comprising a vinyl resin with sulfonic acid-type groups and a polyester resin, where the concentration gradients of these resins are controlled to ensure effective charge transfer and retention, with specific abundance ratios and gradients optimized for long-term stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a charge control resin (CCR) is incorporated in toner to control charge quantity, then charge quantity control is improved, but charge quantity stability during storage in high-temperature, high-humidity environment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the toner particle into distinct regions with different resin compositions. The surface region contains primarily binder resin with minimal CCR, while the interior region contains both binder resin and CCR. This segmentation allows the CCR to be protected from environmental degradation while still providing charge control functionality, resolving the contradiction between charge control and storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge control resin is nested within the interior region of the toner particle, surrounded by the binder resin matrix. This nested structure protects the CCR from direct exposure to high-temperature, high-humidity environments that would cause charge quantity decline, while maintaining its charge control function through the interior region.
2Reliability
If CCR is used to maintain charge quantity, then charging performance is improved, but First Print Output Time increases due to pre-rotation requirement
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the CCR distribution into interior-region concentration and surface-region minimization, the invention enables immediate charge control without pre-rotation. The surface region's minimal CCR prevents charge instability that would require pre-rotation, while the interior region's CCR provides sufficient charging performance, thus reducing First Print Output Time.
3Reliability
If conventional CCR-containing toner is used, then charge quantity is maintained during normal operation, but charge quantity declines after extended storage in high-temperature, high-humidity environment
Solution Approach 1:
The CCR is nested within the interior region of the toner particle, protected from environmental factors. This nested configuration allows the CCR to maintain charge quantity during normal operation while being shielded from high-temperature, high-humidity conditions during storage, extending the duration of charge quantity retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating distinct compositional zones: the interior region has high CCR concentration for charge control, while the surface region has minimal CCR for environmental stability. This local differentiation allows the toner to maintain charge quantity during operation while resisting degradation during storage.
Data Source
AI summary
A toner comprising a toner particle comprising a resin A and a resin B; wherein: the resin A is a vinyl resin having a sulfonic acid-type group, the resin B is a polyester resin; and when in analysis of the toner particle using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, DA (nm) is defined as a depth at which an abundance of the resin A in a depth of 10 nm from a toner particle surface is a maximum, CAS (%) is defined as an abundance of the resin A at the depth DA, CBS (%) is defined as an abundance of the resin B at the depth DA, CA75 (%) is defined as an abundance of the resin A at a depth of 75 nm and CB75 (%) is defined as an abundance of the resin B at a depth of 75 nm, CAS, CA75, CBS and CB75 satisfy specific relationships.