Toner Particle Surface Modification for Fixability and Storability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner particles with low glass transition temperature (Tg) exhibit improved heat-resistant storability but compromise low-temperature fixability, especially in high-speed equipment, leading to increased energy consumption during the fixing process.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a binder resin containing polyester and a metal compound formed by coordinating or bonding an aromatic oxycarboxylic acid to a metal, which is attached to the toner particle surface and treated with a hot air current to enhance heat-resistant storability while maintaining low-temperature fixability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the toner is lowered to improve low-temperature fixability, then the low-temperature fixability is improved, but the heat-resistant storability is lowered and clumping occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a toner particle with non-uniform structure: the core region contains low-Tg resin for low-temperature fixability, while the surface region contains high-Tg resin for heat-resistant storability. This spatial differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining resins with different glass transition temperatures in a core-shell structure. The core uses low-Tg resin (e.g., polyester resin with Tg 40-80°C) while the surface coat uses high-Tg resin (e.g., polyester resin with Tg 80-120°C), creating a composite toner particle that exhibits both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storability simultaneously.
2Temperature
If the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the toner is lowered to improve low-temperature fixability, then the low-temperature fixability is improved, but aggregation between toner particles occurs in high temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a toner particle with non-uniform structure: the core region contains low-Tg resin for low-temperature fixability, while the surface region contains high-Tg resin for heat-resistant storability. This spatial differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining resins with different glass transition temperatures in a core-shell structure. The core uses low-Tg resin (e.g., polyester resin with Tg 40-80°C) while the surface coat uses high-Tg resin (e.g., polyester resin with Tg 80-120°C), creating a composite toner particle that exhibits both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storability simultaneously.
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 satisfactory heat-resistant storability and low-temperature fixability, with the metal crosslinking at the toner particle surface inhibiting molecular motion and maintaining native fixability, thus reducing energy consumption and preventing clumping.
Implementation Method 1
the metal compound is a metal compound formed by coordinating or bonding an aromatic oxycarboxylic acid represented by general formula (1) below to a metal
Implementation Method 2
performing a surface treatment with a hot air current
Data Source
AI summary
A toner is provided that exhibits a satisfactory heat-resistant storability and an excellent low-temperature fixability. The toner has toner particles each of which contains at least a binder resin and a wax, and is characterized in that this toner is obtained by attaching a metal compound to the surface of the toner particle and thereafter performing a surface treatment with a hot air current; the binder resin contains at least a polyester resin; and the metal compound is formed by coordinating or bonding a specific aromatic oxycarboxylic acid to a metal.