Toner Particle Silane Polymer Wax Shell Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners face challenges in achieving coexistence between low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storability, often resulting in image impairments such as reduced image density due to wax exudation and contamination during storage and fixing processes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an organosilicon polymer as a filler within the toner, which has a solubility parameter close to that of the wax, to create a strong shell structure that prevents wax exudation and maintains low-temperature fixability while enhancing heat-resistant storability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a plasticizer with strong plasticizing capacity is used to achieve satisfactory softening of the toner during fixing, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but exudation of the plasticizer onto the toner particle surface readily occurs during storage and image defects are then produced due to blocking and an impaired flowability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite material system consisting of binder resin, wax, and silane-modified polymer in specific proportions. The silane-modified polymer acts as a compatibilizer that prevents phase separation and plasticizer exudation while maintaining low-temperature fixability. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties to achieve both fixing performance and storage stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the polymer component by introducing silane modification. This modification alters the molecular properties to achieve optimal balance between plasticizing capacity and exudation resistance. The specific parameter changes in the polymer structure enable simultaneous achievement of low-temperature fixability and storage stability.
2Temperature
If the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the binder resin is lowered to improve low-temperature fixability, then the binder resin softens more easily, but production of offset at the fixing member due to an inadequate release performance during fixing and a reduction in the heat resistance during toner storage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating distinct functional zones within the toner particle through the composite structure. The binder resin with lowered Tg provides local softening for fixing, while the silane-modified polymer and wax provide local structural integrity and release properties. This spatial differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between softening and release performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite material system where binder resin, wax, and silane-modified polymer work together. The binder resin provides low-temperature softening, the wax provides release properties and structural stability, and the silane-modified polymer provides compatibility and prevents offset. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by distributing functions across multiple materials.
3Reliability
If silica fine particles are internally incorporated in the toner and wax is adsorbed to silica aggregates to prevent wax exudation, then flowability of the toner base particle is enhanced, but the strength of the toner is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The silane-modified polymer acts as an intermediary material that bridges the silica fine particles and the binder resin-wax matrix. This intermediary provides strong adhesion between the filler and the matrix, preventing toner strength reduction while maintaining the flowability benefits of the silica-wax structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite material system that includes silica fine particles, binder resin, wax, and silane-modified polymer. The silane-modified polymer serves as a coupling agent that strengthens the composite structure while allowing the silica-wax interface to maintain good flowability. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between flowability enhancement and strength maintenance.
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 solution effectively suppresses wax exudation and maintains image quality by keeping the wax within the toner particle, ensuring both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storability are achieved without image impairments.
Implementation Method 1
a silane-modified polymer, and a wax, wherein the silane-modified polymer prevents exudation of the wax onto a surface of a toner base particle
Data Source
AI summary
A toner comprising a toner particle that contains a binder resin and a wax, wherein the toner particle contains an organosilicon polymer as given by formula (1) below; R1-SiO3/2 (1), in formula (1), R1 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbons; in a cross section of the toner particle observed using a transmission electron microscope, in terms of a distance A from the centroid of the cross section of the toner particle to a contour of the cross section, the organosilicon polymer is present in a region that is not more than 80% of the distance A from the centroid; and an absolute value of a difference between an SP value of the organosilicon polymer and an SP value of the wax is not more than 0.70 (cal/cm3)1/2.