Decolorizable Toner Production via Encapsulated Colorant Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing decolorizable toners, such as kneading pulverization and suspension polymerization, face challenges in maintaining high color development performance and fixing properties due to inhibition of color developing reactions and decolorizing actions from materials like leuco dyes and binder resins, leading to decreased color density.
Innovation Solution
A method involving encapsulated colorant particles coated with an outer shell, mixed with a polymerizable monomer and release agent, undergoes suspension polymerization in an aqueous medium, with preliminary bulk polymerization to increase viscosity and prevent detachment of colorant particles, enhancing color development performance and fixing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a kneading pulverization method is used to incorporate color developable compound and color developing agent in binder resin, then uniform dispersion is achieved, but high temperature and high shearing force inhibit color developing reaction and decrease developed color density
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the toner into two distinct components: colorant particles containing the color developable compound and color developing agent, and binder resin particles. This segmentation prevents direct contact and reaction between the color components during manufacturing, allowing uniform dispersion to be achieved without inhibiting the color developing reaction. The color components remain separate in the unreacted state but can develop color when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism where the color developable compound and color developing agent are encapsulated within separate colorant particles, which then interact with the binder resin. This intermediary structure allows uniform dispersion of colorant particles in the binder resin while preventing direct harmful interaction between the color components during the kneading process.
2Reliability
If polyester resin or styrene acrylic resin with excellent fixing property is used as binder resin, then fixing performance is improved, but decolorizing action decreases developed color density
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the color components into separate encapsulated colorant particles, the invention allows the use of polyester resin or styrene acrylic resin as binder resin without suffering from decolorizing actions. The color components are protected within the colorant particles, preventing harmful interactions with the binder resin while maintaining excellent fixing properties.
3Reliability
If monomer with polar group such as carboxylic acid or carboxylate ester is used in suspension polymerization, then binder resin with excellent fixing property is formed, but color developing reaction is inhibited and developed color density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the color components into encapsulated colorant particles that are added after polymerization or during the process, preventing direct contact between polar monomers and the color developing agents. This allows the use of polar monomers with carboxylic acid or carboxylate ester groups to form binder resin with excellent fixing properties without inhibiting the color developing reaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymerization process is completed or advanced to a stage where the binder resin matrix is formed before the colorant particles are fully incorporated or activated. This preliminary formation of the binder resin structure allows subsequent addition of color components without harmful interactions, enabling the use of polar monomers that provide excellent fixing properties.
4Manufacturing precision
If encapsulated colorant particles are mixed with polymerizable monomer and release agent, then color development performance is enhanced, but colorant particles may detach during polymerization
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the polymerizable monomer and release agent as intermediary substances that facilitate the incorporation of encapsulated colorant particles into the toner structure. These intermediaries help anchor the colorant particles during polymerization while maintaining color development performance, preventing detachment through the polymerization process.
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 method achieves high color development performance and excellent fixing properties by preventing decolorization of colorants during polymerization, resulting in a toner with improved image density and reversibility.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting the polymerizable monomer to suspension polymerization in the aqueous medium
Implementation Method 2
a preliminary bulk polymerization is performed on the polymerizable monomer in the mixed composition
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a producing method of a decolorizable toner, comprising dispersing a mixed composition containing encapsulated colorant particles which are particles containing a color developable compound and a color developing agent and coated with an outer shell, a polymerizable monomer, and a release agent in an aqueous medium, and subjecting the polymerizable monomer to suspension polymerization in the aqueous medium.