Study of possibility to realize long life and low energy fusing toner predicted from highly safe Cyclic Olefin Copolymer resin

摘要

Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) is expected to be the next generation resin for toners because of its environmentally friendly characteristics. It has fewer potential carcinogens, endocrine disrupters, and TVOC. Recently, the Print-On-Demand field has expanded its market share using the electro photographic process. In this field, non-contact fusing systems are well known; realizing both high speed printing and high print quality. The key requirements for toners are a longer life for consistent print quality, and lower energy fusing under high speed printing. In this study the durability of the toner particles in the developer was evaluated as an index of longer life property. Also, a color toner using COC resin was examined and compared to Polyester toner. At the close molecular weight distribution and thermal property, the COC toner sample showed higher durability than Polyester toner sample, and its durability was similar to that of the Polyester toner sample, which had higher thermal property and higher density cross-linking. The cyan toner samples were prepared using both COC resin and Polyester resin. The cyan color shading from the COC toner sample matched the color shading of the Polyester toner sample. The total color difference A E was small. However, there was a difference between the COC cyan toner sample and the Polyester cyan toner sample in the optical density curve gained by changing the mass of toner on paper.