Toner with Controlled Viscoelastic Modulus for Hot Offset and Fixability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Toner formulations face a trade-off between low-temperature fixability, hot offset resistance, and gloss, with existing solutions either compromising on one or more of these properties, and there is a need for a toner that can maintain high gloss while improving hot offset resistance and low-temperature fixability.
Innovation Solution
A toner with a binder resin and release agent, where the viscoelastic characteristics are controlled to achieve a glass transition temperature between 40°C and 70°C, and a storage elastic modulus minimum value between 110°C and 150°C, with an organosilicon polymer surface layer, to enhance durability and prevent ejected sheet sticking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If crystalline materials are used to achieve sharp melt property and low-temperature fixability, then low-temperature fixability is improved, but hot offset resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite binder resin system consisting of multiple resin components with different thermal properties. This composite structure allows the toner to exhibit both sharp melt behavior at low temperatures (for fixability) and maintained structural integrity at high temperatures (for hot offset resistance), resolving the contradiction between low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the binder resin and the storage elastic modulus (G') at different temperatures. By controlling Tg to be within a specific range and adjusting G' to exhibit a minimum value at temperatures of 100°C or higher, the toner achieves both low-temperature fixability and hot offset resistance simultaneously
2Reliability
If binder resin degree of polymerization is increased to improve hot offset resistance, then hot offset resistance is improved, but gloss deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent precisely controls the degree of polymerization of the binder resin to fall within a specific range. This parameter optimization allows the resin to provide sufficient hot offset resistance while maintaining appropriate melt flow characteristics that ensure high gloss finish on the printed image
3Reliability
If storage elastic modulus is optimized for hot offset resistance, then hot offset resistance is improved, but low-temperature fixability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the storage elastic modulus (G') to be temperature-dependent, creating a dynamic mechanical property profile. The G' exhibits a minimum value at temperatures of 100°C or higher (providing hot offset resistance) while maintaining appropriate values at lower temperatures (enabling low-temperature fixability), thus resolving the contradiction through dynamic property adjustment
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 excellent low-temperature fixability, hot offset resistance, high gloss, and resistance to fogging and ejected sheet sticking, while maintaining a sharp melt property and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the toner has a glass transition temperature (Tg) as provided by measurement of the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the toner, and the toner has a storage elastic modulus G' having a minimum value in the range from 110°C to 150°C
Implementation Method 2
the toner has a storage elastic modulus G' having a minimum value in the range from 110°C to 150°C in a dynamic viscoelastic measurement on the toner
Data Source
AI summary
A toner has a toner particle that has a binder resin and a release agent, wherein when the temperature when G' = 1.0 × 105 Pa in a dynamic viscoelastic measurement on the toner is denoted by Ta, and the glass transition temperature in a differential scanning calorimetric measurement on the toner is denoted by Tg, the Ta and the Tg satisfy the following formulas: 40°C≤Tg≤70°C, 60°C≤Ta≤90°C, and 0°C≤Ta−Tg≤35°C; and the toner has a storage elastic modulus G' having a minimum value in the range from 110°C to 150°C in a dynamic viscoelastic measurement on the toner.