Emulsion Aggregation Toner Surface Oxygen Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emulsion aggregation toner compositions suffer from print defects such as marks and smears on high area coverage prints due to inadequate control over the amount of wax on the surface of toner particles.
Innovation Solution
The development of toner particles with a controlled surface composition, specifically limiting the atomic percent oxygen to less than 15, achieved by optimizing the wax content and processing conditions, including the use of waxes like POLYWAX 655 and POLYWAX 725, to ensure appropriate wax distribution and minimize print defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amount of wax on the surface of EA toner particles is increased, then release from the fuser roll is improved, but marks on copy print defects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface composition parameter by controlling the atomic percent oxygen to less than 15%, which corresponds to optimizing the wax content on the particle surface. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal balance point where sufficient wax provides release properties while preventing excessive wax that causes marks on copy prints
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces direct measurement and control of wax content with an indirect measurement method using atomic percent oxygen analysis. This substitution allows for more precise control of the wax-related surface properties without the complexity of directly measuring wax distribution, thereby resolving the contradiction between release properties and mark prevention
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the atomic percent oxygen on the surface of toner particles is reduced, then print defects are reduced, but measurement and control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses atomic percent oxygen as an intermediary parameter to control wax content on the particle surface. Instead of directly measuring and controlling wax distribution, the patent measures oxygen content as a proxy, which simplifies the control process while achieving the desired reduction in print defects
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a feedback control mechanism where atomic percent oxygen measurement results are used to adjust and control the wax content in subsequent production batches. This feedback loop enables consistent production of toner particles with optimal surface composition, reducing print defects while maintaining measurable control
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 controlled surface oxygen level reduces print defects, allowing for improved image quality with reduced marks on copy prints, enhancing the reliability and performance of toner particles in various development systems.
Implementation Method 1
a surface of the toner particles comprises less than 15 atomic percent oxygen in relation to a total atomic percent of 100 for all elements on the surface of the toner particles
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are emulsion aggregation toner particles having less than about 15 atomic percent oxygen in relation to a total atomic percent of 100 for all elements on the surface thereof. Such toner particles exhibit lower marks on print defects.