Toner Shell Layer Molecular Weight Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toner technologies face challenges in achieving both long-term durability and low-temperature fixability while maintaining storability, as simply lowering the viscosity of the toner base particle or using resin shell layers and spacer particles often impair toner melting and storability.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a core particle coated by a thermoplastic resin shell layer and organosilicon polymer particles, where the peak top molecular weight of the thermoplastic resin is controlled between 30,000 to 500,000, and the difference in surface energy between the shell layer and organosilicon polymer particles is limited to 2.30, enhancing toner-to-toner connection and fixability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the viscosity of the toner base particle is lowered to improve low-temperature fixability, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but storability and durability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The toner particle is segmented into a core particle and a shell layer, with the shell layer comprising a thermoplastic resin with controlled molecular weight (30,000 to 500,000). This segmentation allows the core to maintain structural integrity for storability while the shell provides controlled melting for low-temperature fixability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the peak top molecular weight of the thermoplastic resin in the shell layer within a specific range (30,000 to 500,000). This molecular weight control optimizes the balance between storability (requiring higher viscosity) and low-temperature fixability (requiring lower viscosity), resolving the contradiction.
2Reliability
If a resin shell layer is disposed on the toner base particle surface to improve storability, then storability is improved, but low-temperature fixability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by controlling the molecular weight parameter of the thermoplastic resin in the shell layer. By setting the peak top molecular weight between 30,000 and 500,000, the shell layer maintains sufficient structural integrity for storability while allowing adequate melting for low-temperature fixability, unlike conventional shell layers that are either too thick or made of resins with inappropriate molecular weights.
3Reliability
If spacer particles are used as external additives to maintain durability, then durability is maintained, but low-temperature fixability becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the molecular weight of the thermoplastic resin in the shell layer to optimize the interaction with spacer particles. The specific molecular weight range (30,000 to 500,000) ensures that the resin maintains appropriate viscosity for durability when spacer particles are present, while still allowing sufficient melting for low-temperature fixability.
4Temperature
If the difference in SP value between the shell layer and organosilicon polymer particles is reduced to enhance toner-to-toner connection, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but the complexity of formulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent manages formulation complexity by specifying a clear parameter range for the SP value difference (not more than 2.30) between the thermoplastic resin in the shell layer and the organosilicon polymer particles. This quantitative guideline simplifies the formulation process while ensuring optimal toner-to-toner connection for low-temperature fixability.
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
This configuration improves both long-term durability and low-temperature fixability while maintaining storability by facilitating capillary action between the shell layer and organosilicon polymer particles, ensuring effective toner connection and stability during fixing.
Implementation Method 1
facilitating capillary action between the shell layer and organosilicon polymer particles, ensuring effective toner connection and stability during fixing
Data Source
AI summary
A toner comprising: a toner particle that comprises a core particle comprising a binder resin, and a shell layer comprising a thermoplastic resin on a surface of the core particle; and organosilicon polymer particles on a surface of the toner particle, wherein a peak top molecular weight of the thermoplastic resin, according to measurement by gel permeation chromatography, is 30000 to 500000, a number-average primary particle diameter of the organosilicon polymer particles is 10 nm to 500 nm, and an absolute value of a difference (ΔSP) between an SP value (SPSi) of the organosilicon polymer particles and an SP value (SPSh) of the thermoplastic resin present in the shell layer is not more than 2.30.