Toner Surface Resin Modulus Ratio for Stress Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current toners face challenges with stress resistance, long-term maintenance of transfer efficiency, and energy savings in electrophotographic systems, as they tend to collapse, experience external additive particle migration, and have issues with low-temperature fixability and high-speed requirements.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a surface resin A having a lower modulus of elasticity than the binder resin, where the modulus ratio Ea/Eb satisfies 0.5≤(Ea/Eb)×100≤50.0, and an adhesion force of at least 500 nN, inhibiting toner collapse and external additive particle migration while maintaining low-temperature fixability and high transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If small-size external additive fine particles are used, then the toner can maintain good flowability and transfer efficiency, but the particles are easily buried in the toner particle during long-term use, causing stress resistance to decline
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a surface layer with different properties from the core toner particle. The surface layer has lower modulus of elasticity (more flexible) than the core binder resin, which locally protects the external additive particles from being buried while maintaining overall stress resistance. This localized property change allows the surface to deform independently during stress, preventing particle embedding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining the core toner particle (with binder resin and external additive particles) with a surface layer of flexible resin. This composite structure integrates the benefits of both components: the core provides structural integrity and transfer efficiency, while the flexible surface layer provides stress resistance and prevents particle burial during long-term use.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the toner undergoes fixing at lower temperatures to achieve energy savings, then energy consumption is reduced, but the toner becomes brittle and its stress resistance declines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the modulus of elasticity parameter of the surface layer relative to the binder resin. By controlling the ratio of modulus of elasticity (Ea/Eb) to be between 0.01 and 10, the surface layer becomes sufficiently flexible to absorb stress without causing brittleness, even when the toner is designed for low-temperature fixing. This parameter optimization allows energy savings without sacrificing stress resistance.
3Reliability
If large-size external additive fine particles are used, then the particles are resistant to burying in the toner particle, but they readily migrate from the toner particle surface to various members, causing long-term stress resistance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible shell (surface layer) that is more compliant than the core binder resin. This flexible shell acts as a protective barrier that prevents large-size external additive particles from migrating to other components. The surface layer's lower modulus of elasticity allows it to deform and accommodate particle movement without causing particles to detach and migrate, thus maintaining stress resistance over time.
4Productivity
If the toner particle surface is made more adhesive to prevent particle migration, then transfer efficiency improves, but the toner becomes more prone to collapse under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating adhesion properties in the surface layer while keeping the core binder resin relatively rigid. The surface layer has optimized adhesion force (AT ≥ 500 nN) to prevent particle migration, while the core maintains structural integrity. This localized adhesion enhancement prevents collapse by allowing the surface to grip particles firmly without transmitting excessive stress to the core structure.
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 effectively resists collapse and external additive particle migration, maintaining high transfer efficiency and low-temperature fixability, even under long-term use, by concentrating stress in the surface resin and increasing adhesiveness through a flexible surface layer.
Implementation Method 1
the modulus of elasticity Ea of the resin A and the modulus of elasticity Eb of the binder resin satisfy the following formula: 0.5≤(Ea/Eb)×100≤50.0
Implementation Method 2
the adhesion force AT of the toner particle is at least 500 nN when a probe having spherical SiO2 attached at the tip of a cantilever has been pressed into the toner particle at 3 μN
Data Source
AI summary
A toner comprising a toner particle that contains a binder resin, wherein the surface of the toner particle is covered with a resin A; the modulus of elasticity Ea of the resin A and the modulus of elasticity Eb of the binder resin satisfy the following formula:0.5≤(Ea/Eb)×100≤50.0; andthe adhesion force AT of the toner particle is at least 500 nN when a probe having spherical SiO2 attached at the tip of a cantilever is pressed into the toner particle at 3 μN.