Transparent Toner Release Agent Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transparent toners experience gloss unevenness due to crystal growth of the release agent, which is difficult to suppress, leading to issues in double-sided printing where the precedent face often exhibits gloss unevenness.
Innovation Solution
A transparent toner is developed with a specific difference between the endothermic peak (Tm) and exothermic peak (Tc) of the release agent, measured between 10°C to 50°C, incorporating metal elements like Al to inhibit crystal growth and maintain a spherical crystal shape, preventing gloss unevenness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional transparent toner is used, then the toner can provide transparency for image formation, but the release agent undergoes crystal growth causing gloss unevenness on the printed surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the release agent by selecting substances with specific melting points (Tm) and crystallization points (Tc) where the difference between Tm and Tc is 10°C or more. This parameter change prevents crystal growth during the printing process while maintaining transparency, thereby resolving the contradiction between transparency and gloss uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition characteristics of the release agent by choosing substances that undergo melting and crystallization at specific temperature ranges. The phase transition behavior, controlled by the 10°C or more difference between Tm and Tc, prevents unwanted crystal growth on the printed surface while maintaining the transparent toner's optical properties.
2Productivity
If double-sided printing is performed with conventional transparent toner, then both sides of the paper can be printed, but the precedent face exhibits gloss unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes to the release agent's thermal characteristics, selecting substances where the difference between melting point (Tm) and crystallization point (Tc) is 10°C or more. This prevents crystal growth during the heating and cooling cycles of double-sided printing, eliminating gloss unevenness on the precedent face while maintaining double-sided printing capability.
3Reliability
If the release agent is allowed to crystallize naturally, then the toner maintains its release properties, but crystal growth occurs causing gloss unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the release agent by selecting substances with a temperature difference of 10°C or more between melting point (Tm) and crystallization point (Tc). This parameter change allows the release agent to maintain its crystalline structure and release properties while preventing unwanted crystal growth that causes gloss unevenness during the printing 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 controlled crystal shape of the release agent in the transparent toner effectively suppresses gloss unevenness, particularly in double-sided printing, ensuring consistent image quality across both sides of the printed material.
Implementation Method 1
the difference between the endothermic peak Tm of the release agent in a temperature increasing process and the exothermic peak Tc of the release agent in a temperature decreasing process
Implementation Method 2
crystal growth of the release agent
Implementation Method 3
endothermic peak Tm of the release agent in a temperature increasing process
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a transparent toner for developing an electrostatic latent image, including a binder resin and a release agent, the difference between the endothermic peak Tm of the release agent in a temperature increasing process and the exothermic peak Tc of the release agent in a temperature decreasing process being from about 10° C. to about 50° C., where Tm and Tc are measured with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) according to the ASTM method.