Low hardness fine cell roller and image forming apparatus provided with the low hardness fine cell roller

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a silicone sponge roller which has a low hardness and is excellent in smoothness of a roller surface, and an image forming apparatus including the silicone sponge roller.SOLUTION: There is provided a silicone sponge roller including an elastic layer which is formed of millable type silicone rubber, unexpanded micro-balloon, and chemical foaming agent, the silicone sponge roller having an Asker C hardness of 10 or more and 45 or less and including cells formed of the unexpanded micro-balloon and chemical foaming agent and having an average cell diameter of 50 μm or more and 250 μm or less. Also provided is an image forming apparatus including the silicone sponge roller.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1