Electrostatic Toner Viscosity Control for Gloss Unevenness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrophotographic toners face issues with gloss unevenness when used with recording media stored at low temperatures, due to temperature differences during the printing process, leading to condensation and water absorption, which affects toner viscosity and image quality.
Innovation Solution
An electrostatic charge image development toner with specific properties, including a maximum slope of log loss modulus between 60° C. and 130° C. and a loss modulus at 60° C. within certain ranges, using styrene-acrylic or amorphous polyester resins to maintain consistent viscosity and reduce gloss unevenness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional toners are used with recording media stored at low temperatures, then the printing process can proceed, but gloss unevenness occurs due to temperature differences causing condensation and water absorption that affect toner viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the binder resin within 40-80°C and the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) within 10,000-100,000. These parameter adjustments ensure that the toner maintains appropriate viscosity across the temperature range encountered during printing, preventing gloss unevenness while ensuring reliable image quality consistency even when recording media are stored at low temperatures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the binder resin has high viscosity stability, then gloss unevenness is reduced, but the toner may not properly adapt to temperature variations during the printing process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions by setting the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the binder resin within 40-80°C. This ensures that the binder resin undergoes appropriate phase transition behavior during the printing process, allowing the toner to adapt to temperature variations while maintaining viscosity stability. The controlled phase transition enables the toner to remain adaptable to different temperatures without causing gloss unevenness.
3Reliability
If the toner viscosity is maintained stable across temperatures, then image quality is consistent, but the toner may not properly flow and transfer to the recording medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing both the glass transition temperature (Tg: 40-80°C) and the weight-average molecular weight (Mw: 10,000-100,000) of the binder resin. This dual parameter control ensures that the toner maintains appropriate flow characteristics for proper transfer to recording media while simultaneously achieving consistent image quality. The specific Mw range ensures the toner is not too viscous to flow, while the Tg control ensures temperature adaptability.
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 provides images with reduced gloss unevenness even when used with low-temperature recording media, ensuring consistent image quality across multiple prints by maintaining stable viscosity and fixability.
Implementation Method 1
the glass transition temperature (Tg) is 40° C. or higher and 80° C. or lower, and the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) is 10,000 or more and 100,000 or less
Data Source
AI summary
An electrostatic charge image development toner satisfies the following: a maximum slope of an absolute value of log (loss modulus G″) from 60° C. to 90° C. is 0.07 or more and 0.16 or less; a maximum slope of an absolute value of log (loss modulus G″) from 90° C. to 130° C. is 0.08 or less; and G″(60) is 5.0×107 Pa or more and 1.0×1010 Pa or less, where G″(60) is a loss modulus at 60° C.