Intermediate Transfer Member Surface Layer Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intermediate transfer members in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses suffer from insufficient durability, leading to poor cleaning properties and transfer functions due to surface cracking, despite attempts to enhance hardness.
Innovation Solution
An intermediate transfer member with a resin substrate layer and a surface layer comprising a cured product of a composition containing polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer and fine particles of metal oxide, where the monomer has alkylene oxide structures and the metal oxide has a specific surface structure, enhancing flexibility and chemical bonding to prevent cracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the hardness of the surface layer is increased by increasing the number of functional groups of monomer or reducing molecular weight, then the durability is improved, but cracks easily occur on the surface layer causing the intermediate transfer member to break
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the monomer by specifying a polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer with a particular structure containing alkylene oxide groups and multiple (meth)acryloyl groups. This parameter change allows the formation of a three-dimensional cross-linked structure that achieves both high hardness and crack resistance, resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite surface layer by combining a polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer with fine particles of metal oxide. This composite structure provides both the hardness needed for durability and the flexibility required to prevent cracking, simultaneously addressing both requirements.
2Reliability
If the intermediate transfer member is designed to have high durability, then the cleaning property and transfer function of toner should be improved, but conventional designs still result in insufficient durability due to surface cracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise parameter ranges for the polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer, including the number of alkylene oxide structures (a) and (meth)acryloyl groups (b) with the relationship a/b≤10 and b≥3. These parameter changes ensure the formation of a rigid yet crack-resistant three-dimensional cross-linked structure that eliminates surface cracking while maintaining high durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fine particles of metal oxide serve as an intermediary reinforcement within the polymer matrix. These particles act as a mediator that enhances the overall durability of the surface layer by providing structural support and preventing crack propagation, while the polyfunctional monomer forms the cross-linked network that binds the particles together.
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 solution effectively suppresses surface cracking, improves cleaning properties, and enhances the transfer function by increasing the flexibility and forming a three-dimensional cross-linked structure, thereby improving the durability and performance of the intermediate transfer member.
Implementation Method 1
a surface layer comprising a cured product of a composition containing a polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer and a fine particle of metal oxide
Implementation Method 2
the polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer contains a number of alkylene oxide structure and b number of (meth)acryloyl group... a and b satisfy relationships of a/b≤10 and b≥3
Implementation Method 3
the fine particle of metal oxide has on its surface a structure represented by a following General Formula (1)... R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and n is an integer of from 7 to 17
Data Source
AI summary
An intermediate transfer member includes a resin substrate layer and a surface layer containing a cured product of a composition including a specific polyfunctional (meth)acrylic monomer and a specific fine particle of metal oxide.