EP0042224A1

EP0042224A1 - Fluorinated carbon-containing developer composition

Info

Publication number: EP0042224A1
Application number: EP81302338A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Randall H. Helland; Craig A. Burton
Original assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: 3M Co
Priority date: 1980-06-16
Filing date: 1981-05-27
Publication date: 1981-12-23
Also published as: JPS5735869A; DE3162946D1; CA1160497A; EP0042224B1

Abstract

A flowable, dry powder of particles of a developing composition are provided. The compositions may be either heat or pressure-fixable and utilize from about 0.4 to 3 parts by weight of fluorinated carbon per 100 parts by weight of a thermoplastic binder and a magnetically responsive material. The fluorinated carbon has a degree of fluorination in the range of 10% to 63% and an average diameter below about 2 microns. The developing powder compositions possess improved flow humidity resistance and provide dramatically improved copy quality.

Description

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to dry powder compositions suitable for use in electrographic recording. More particularly, it relates to heat fusible and pressure fixable one part developing powders that contain fluorinated carbon.
Known one-part developing powder formulations used in electrographic recording may be either heat fusible or pressure fixable. Heat fusible developing powders are typically fixed after image formation by raising the temperature of the powder to its melting or softening point, causing the powder particles to coalesce, flow together, and adhere to the substrate. Pressure fixable developing powders are typically fixed after image formation by simply applying pressure to the powder particles causing them to coalesce and adhere to the substrate.
Although both types of developing powders have been widely used and have enjoyed commercial success, they suffer from certain disadvantages that are related to their physical characteristics.
For example, the flow properties and developing characteristics of such powders are affected by the nature of the carbon black used. It has been found that if electrically resistive carbon black is employed, the powder has poor flow properties (i.e., it cakes and resists flow), especially in conditions of high humidity. Generally, the images produced with such powders have poor resolution, that is they exhibit fuzzy edge definition and image "fill-in" (i.e., toner deposits inside of letters such as A, B, D, 0).
Additionally, such powders frequently form clumps in conditions of high humidity that may result in streaking on the finished copy. Still further, such powders are susceptible to clogging in the development station leading to poor development and transfer of the developing powder and consequently, poor copy quality.
Developing powders that employ conductive carbon-black also demonstrate poor flow properties and produce images that have poor resolution. Moreover, only low concentrations (e.g., about 0.5% by weight) of such carbon black can be utilized if an electrically resistive developing powder is desired. However, low carbon black concentrations are difficult to incorporate uniformly into the powder. Moreover, electrically conductive carbon black is hydrophilic in nature and this aggravates the poor flow properties of the developing powder compositions.
The foregoing disadvantages are overcome in the present invention. This is accomplished through the incorporation of fluorinated carbon into the developing powder composition.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a flowable, dry powder of particles that has a static conductivity of less than about 10-3 (and preferably less than about 10^-10) ohm^-1 centimeter ¹ in an electric field of 10,000 d.c. volts per centimeter. The dry powder comprises

(a) from about 30 to 80 (and preferably from about 35 to 45) parts by weight of a thermoplastic binder that has a static conductivity of at most 10-1² ohm-1 centimeter^-1, said binder being selected from the group consisting of waxes that have a melting point in the range of about 45°C to 150°C (preferably between about 65°C and 125°C), organic resins that have a softening point above about 60°C (preferably between about 120°C and 200°C), and mixtures of said waxes and resins; and correspondingly, from about 70 to 20 (and preferably from about 65 to 55) parts by weight of a magnetically responsive material; and
(b) from about 0.4 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of (a) of fluorinated carbon that has a degree of fluorination in the range of 10% to 63% (based upon the weight of the carbon) and an average diameter below about 2 microns, and preferably below about 100 millimicrons wherein said fluorinated carbon comprises a radially dispersed layer or zone around the outer portions of the powder particles.

Preferably the fluorinated carbon preferably comprises from about 0.75 to 3 parts, and most preferably from about 0.75 to 1.5 parts, by weight per 100 parts by weight of (a), and is from about 15% to 30% fluorinated.
That static conductivity referred to herein is measured according to the technique described at column 3, line 54 through column 4, line 47 of U.S. Patent 3,639,245. The melting point referred to above is measured according to ASTM: D-127, while the ring and ball softening point is measured according to ASTM:E28.
The powder of the present invention preferably comprises essentially spherical particles wherein at least 95 number percent of the particles have a maximum dimension in the range of about 4 to 30 microns.
The developing powder of the present invention possesses improved flow properties and provides high resolution images. It does not significantly cake together even in conditions of high humidity. The images produced from the powder are uniform, have sharp edge definition, and exhibit virtually no image fill-in. Still further, backgrounding i.e., background coloration caused by random deposition of developing powder particles in non-image areas, is substantially reduced.
These results are achieved through the use of fluorinated carbon to at least partially replace standard (i.e., non-fluorinated) carbon black. Fluorinated carbon is less conductive than equivalent non-fluorinated carbon black. Consequently, a higher percentage by weight of the fluorinated carbon can be employed to achieve a given conductivity, thereby providing better uniformity in the final developing powder. Additionally, fluorinated carbon is hydrophobic so that the developing powders of the invention are less susceptible to the effects of moisture than are developing powders that employ standard carbon.
Still further, the developing powder compositions of the invention become more negatively charged during the copying process than do equivalent developing powders that employ standard carbon. It is believed that this property accounts at least in part for the ability of the developing powder compositions of the invention to provide such high resolution images.
Although the use of fluorinated carbon in developing powder compositions has been suggested, see, for example U.S. Patent 4,141,849 and Japanese application JA54-19343 published September 8, 1976, the present invention represents an improvement thereover. These publications each disclose the use of graphite fluoride in two part developing powder compositions (i.e., those that comprise a toner powder and a separate carrier). The U.S. Patent specifies a minimum degree of fluorination of 50%, while the Japanese application specifies a degree of fluorination in the range of 1 to 150%, based upon the weight of the carbon. However, it has been found that such two part developing powder compositions are not satisfactory. For example, such powders must rely on the carrier particles to remove the toner powder from non-charged areas. Frequently, the carrier does not do an effective job of this thereby giving rise to a significant level of backgrounding. Furthermore, the developed images are frequently hollow, that is, solid areas are not filled in, resulting in low fidelity development. Additionally, copy quality degrades with time when two part developing powder compositions are employed. This requires that the developing composition be purged and replaced by fresh material. The developing powder composition of the present invention alleviates these problems.

Brief Description of The Drawings

The present invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same elements throughout the several views, and wherein each drawing is a photomicrograph at 8X magnification. In the drawings
Figures 1 and 2 represent separate photomicrographs of copies of a graphic original containing both typed and preprinted portions. The copy in Figure 1 was made using a heat fusible developing powder of the invention, while the copy in Figure 2 was made using a standard heat fusible developing powder. Both copies were made by a conventional heat fusing copying process.
Figures 3 and 4 represent separate photomicrographs of copies of a graphic original containing preprinted areas. The copy in Figure 3 was prepared using a pressure fixable developing toner powder of the invention, while the copy in Figure 4 was prepared using a standard pressure fixable developing powder. Both copies were made by a conventional pressure fixing copying process.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring specifically to Figures 1 and 2, there are shown portions of electrostatic copies prepared using heat fusible developing powders and conventional copying processes. These Figures contain unmagnified typed areas 10 and 20; corresponding magnified typed areas l0A and 20A; unmagnified preprinted areas 11 and 21; and corresponding magnified preprinted areas 11A and 21A.
As can be seen by reference to areas l0A and 11A of Figure 1, typed characters 12A and preprinted characters 13A do exhibit excellent resolution. They have well defined edges 14A and virtually no image fill-in, see 15A. Additionally, the copies exhibit virtually no backgrounding, see 16A.
The significant improvement in copy quality is shown by comparison of Figures 1 and 2. Thus, neither typed characters 22A nor preprinted characters 23A exhibit good resolution. To the contrary, the characters have fuzzy edges 24A and a significant level of image-fill in, see 25A. Furthermore, the copies exhibit a high degree of backgrounding, see 26A.
A comparison of Figures 3 and 4 further demonstrates the significant improvement in copy quality achieved by the developing powders of the present invention. These Figures contain magnified areas 30A and 40A.
The characters 31A in Figure 3 have sharper edges 32A, substantially less image fill-in as shown at 33A than do characters 41A in Figure 4. Compare, for example edges 42A and areas 43A of Figure 4. Moreover, characters 31A are more uniformly toned than are characters 41A. See especially the a, c, d, and e.
Still further, the copy illustrated in Figure 3 demonstrates substantially less backgrounding than does the copy illustrated in Figure 4. Compare especially areas 34A of Figure 3 with areas 44A of Figure 4.
These surprising results are achieved as a result of the use of fluorinated carbon in the developing powder composition of the invention. The fluorinated carbon useful in the invention comprises an inorganic compound made up of carbon chemically bonded to fluorine by covalent bonds. The fluorinated carbon may comprise fluorinated graphite (natural or artificial) or, alternatively, fluorinated petroleum coke, coal coke, charcoal, carbon black, and mixtures thereof. Such materials are known as shown by, for example, "Cermatic", 4(301) 1969; Denki Kagaku, 51, 756-761, 1963; Denki Kagaku, 35, 19-23, 1967.
Processes for the preparation of fluorinated carbon are known. For example, see "Cermatic", supra, and other references. Other process for the preparation of fluorinated carbon involve the direct fluorination of carbon at temperatures varying from ambient to over 450°C. Fluorination is preferably carried out in an agitated reactor in an atmosphere of fluorine plus an inert gas, although a non-agitated reactor may be employed if desired.
The conditions utilized during fluorination in a agitated reactor may be varied so as to obtain the desired degree of fluorination. Examples of such conditions, and the degree of fluorination obtained, are set forth in Table 1. The carbon used to obtain the data for this Table was Vulcan XC-72R, a conductive carbon black with a maximum particle size of 30 millimicron sold by Cabot Corporation.
Other carbon materials may also be used in the present invention. Representative of such materials are Conductex 950 (maximum particle size of 21 millimicron) sold by Cities Service, Raven 1800 (maximum particle size of 18 millimicron) sold by Columbia Chemicals, Ketjenblack EC sold by Noury, and Thermax MT sold by R. T. Vanderbilt.
The thermoplastic binder useful in the present invention has a static conductivity as set forth above and is selected from waxes that have a melting point in the range of 45°C to 150°C and organic resins that have a ring and ball softening point above about 60°C. Waxes useful in the invention are normally selected from the group consisting of aliphatic compounds such as waxes (natural or synthetic), fatty acids, metal salts of fatty acids, hydroxylated fatty acids or amides, low molecular weight ethylene homopolymers, or a mixture of two or more of these materials. Aromatic and polymeric wax-like materials can also be used. All of these materials are well known in the art.
Representative useful aliphatic waxes include paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, caranauba wax, montan wax, ouricury wax, ceresin wax, candellila wax, and sugar cane wax.
Representative useful fatty acids include stearic acid, palmitic acid, and behenic acid. Representative useful metal salts of fatty acids include aluminum stearate, lead stearate, barium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, lithium stearate, and zinc palmitate. Representative amide hydroxy waxes include N(betahydroxyethyl)-ricinoleamide (commercially available under the trade name "Flexricin 115"), N,N'ethylene-bis-ricinoleamide (commercially available under the trade name "Flexricin 185"), N(2-hydroxyethyl)-12-hydroxystearamide (commercially available under the trade name "Paracin 220"), and N,N'-ethylene-bis-12-hydroxystearamide (commercially available under the trade name "Paracin 285").
Representative fatty acid derivatives include castor wax (glyceryl tris-12-hydroxy stearate), methyl hydroxy stearate (commercially available under the trade name "Paracin I"), ethylene glycol monohydroxy stearate (commercially available under the trade name "Paracin 15") and hydroxy stearic acid.
Representative ethylene homopolymers include the low molecular weight polyethylenes such as the Bareco Polywaxes such as Polywax 655, 1000, and 2000 sold by the Bareco Division of Petrolite Corporation. Other ethylene homopolymers include oxidized, high density, low molecular weight polyethylenes such as Polywax E-2018 and E-2020 sold by Bareco Division of Petrolite Corporation; and the Epolene@ series of low molecular weight polyethylene resins such as Epolene@ E-14 available from Eastman Chemical Products Incorporated.
Representative useful aromatic wax-like materials include dicyclohexylphthalate, diphenylphthalate and the Be Square series of waxes from the Bareco Division of Petrolite Corporation, such as Be Square 195. The Be Square waxes are high melting point waxes that consist of paraffines and naphthenic hydrocarbons.
Representative of organic resins useful as the thermoplastic binder are the polyamides (e.g., "Versamid 950", commercially available from General Mills); polystyrenes (e.g., 2000 mol. wt.); bisphenol A epoxy resins (e.g., "Epon 1004", commercially available from Shell Chemical Corp); acrylic resins (e.g., "Elvacite 2044", and N-butyl methacrylate commercially available from DuPont); vinyl resins such as polyvinyl butyral (e.g., "Butvar B72-A," commercially available from Monsanto Company), polyvinyl acetates (e.g., "Gelva V-100", commercially available from Monsanto Company); vinyl copolymers such as vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate (e.g., "VYHH", commercially available from Union Carbide Corp.), ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers; cellulose esters such as cellulose acetate butyrate (e.g., "EAB-171-25", commercially available from Eastman Chemical Products, Inc.), cellulose acetate propionate (e.g., "CAPPLES 70", commercially available from Celanese Corp.); and cellulose ethers.
When a heat fusible developing powder is prepared the thermoplastic binder preferably comprises the organic resin. Most preferably the organic resin has a softening point between about 120°C and 200°C and comprises a bisphenol A epoxy resin.
When a pressure fixable developing powder is prepared, the thermoplastic binder may comprise either the wax or a combination of the wax and the organic resin. Preferably the weight ratio of organic resin to wax is in the range of about 0:1 to 1:1. Most preferably ratio is about 0:1. In either event, the wax preferably is selected from a microcrystalline wax, a low molecular weight polyethylene resin, or a combination of both, while the organic resin, when present, comprises a bisphenol A epoxy resin.
The magnetically responsive material employed in the developing powder composition preferably is homogeneously distributed throughout the binder. Additionally, it preferably has an average major dimension of one micron or less. Representative examples of useful magnetically responsive materials include magnetite, barium ferrite, nickel zinc ferrite, chromium oxide, nickel oxide, etc.
Various other materials may also be usefully incorporated in or on the developer composition particles of the present invention. Such materials include, for example, colorants such as powdered flow agents, pigments and, dyes, plasticizers, etc.
Representative powdered flow agents inclue small size Si0₂ such as "Cab-O-Sil" sold by the Cabot Corporation and "Aerosil" R-972 sold by the DeGussa Corporation.
Representative colorants are carbon blacks, particularly conductive carbon blacks. These may be used in conjunction with the fluorinated carbon employed in the invention.
The developing powders of the invention may be prepared by known processing techniques. Thus, for example, heat fusing developing powders may be prepared by the techniques described in U.S. Patent 3,639,245 at column 5, lines 3 to 36. Pressure fixable developing powders may be prepared by the techniques described in U.S. Patent 3,925,219 at column 4, lines 25-59. Preferably the powder particles are spherical.
In these processes, the fluorinated carbon is incorporated into the developing powder in the same fashion as is the conductive particles referred to therein. The resultant powder possesses a radially dispersed layer or zone of electrically conductive carbon.
The present invention is further illustrated by means of the following examples wherein the term "parts" refers to parts by weight unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE 1

Heat-fusible developing powders were prepared using the ingredients and amounts shown:
The "Epon" and the Magnetite were blended thoroughly on a conventional heated-roll rubber mill. The resulting blend was pulverized in an attrition-type grinder and then classified in a standard air centrifugal type machine. These particles were sharp edged and pseudocubical in shape. They were spheroidized such that most of the particles were transformed into sphere-like shapes or round-edged particles by the following process. The mixture was fed to an air aspirator in a uniform stream of about 800 grams per hour. The aspirator sucked the particles into the air stream and dispersed them forming an aerosol. The aerosol was directed at 90° into a heated air stream the temperature of which was about 510-540°C. The powder was then allowed to settle and was collected by filtration.
The spheroidized particles were combined with either the fluorinated or the non-fluorinated carbon and then blended first at room temperature for 3 hours and then at 65°C for about 8 hours. The carbon was then radially dispersed or embedded into the resin by the spheroidization process described above except that the temperature of the hot air stream was adjusted to 650°C and the powder was fed to the air stream at a rate of about 36 kilograms per hour. The resultant developing powder compositions were collected and classified so that 95% by weight of the product was greater than 6.5 microns average diameter and only 5% by weight was greater than 19 microns average diameter.
The final step in the process was to blend 0.05 parts per hundred parts of developing powder composition of a small size Si0₂ flow agent (i.e., Aerosil R-972 sold by the DeGussa Corporation with the composition. The resultant compositions were tested for static conductivity. The results are given in Table 2.
This data demonstrates that the use of fluorinated carbon enables a larger quantity of conductive material to be employed in the developing powder compositions in order to achieve a given static conductivity. This in turn provides improved flow characteristics even under conditions of high humidity.
Each of the developing powder compositions was used in a conventional heat-fusing copying process to provide images on a plain paper substrate. The developing powder composition of Example la provided copies with images that were sharply defined and had virtually no image fill-in. Additionally there was. virtually no backgrounding. A photomicrograph of a copy prepared from the powder of Example la, is shown in Figure 1. The developing powder composition of Example lb provided cop. es with images that were not sharply defined and had substantial amounts of image fill-in. Furthermore, there was a significant degree of backgrounding. A photomicrograph of a copy prepared from the powder of Example lb is shown in Figure 2.

EXAMPLE 2

A heat-fusible developing powder composition was prepared as described in Example 1 except that embedment was carried out at 430°C. The following ingredients and amounts shown were used.
The resultant developing powder composition was classified so that 95% by weight of the powder was greater than 8 microns average diameter and only 5% by weight was greater than 20 microns average diameter. The static conductivity of the developing powder was 2.8 x 10^-15 mhos/cm in a 10,000 volt/cm d.c. field. The developing powder was used in a heat-fusing copying process to provide a copy with,well defined images and virtually no image fill-in or backgrounding on a plain paper substrate.

EXAMPLE 3

Example 1 was repeated except that embedment was carried out at about 430°C. In Example 3a, 0.49 parts by weight of fluorinated Vulcan XC-72R (8.4% fluorination) was employed, while in Example 3b, 0.42 parts by weight of non-fluorinated Vulcan XC-72R was used. The static conductivity of the resultant developing powder compositions is reported in Table 3.
When each of these compositions was employed in a heat fixing copying process to produce images on a plain paper substrate, no difference could be seen between the quality of the copies produced. Thus, in each case the images had poor edge definition and a fair degree of image fill in. Consequently, this example demonstrates that the Fluorinated carbon must have a degree of fluorination of at least 10%.

EXAMPLE 4

Pressure-fixable developing powders were prepared using the following ingredients in the amounts stated:
The Polywax and the Be Square were first heated to melting after which the magnetite was added, with stirring, and heated until a homogeneous dispersion was obtained. The temperature of the dispersion was raised to 193°C and then sprayed through a nozzle at a rate of about 91 kg/hr to Corm discrete particles. The particles were classified so that 95% by weight were greater than 6.5 microns and no more than 5% by weight were greater than 20 microns in average diameter.
The substantially spherical particles were then combined with the fluorinated or non-fluorinated carbon black and blended for 3 hours at room temperature. The particles were then spheroidized and the carbon embedded therein as described in Example 1. Embedment was carried out at about 430°C.
The developing powder compositions were then classified so that 95% by weight of the powder was greater than 6.5 microns average diameter and only 5% by weight was greater than 20 microns average diameter. The static conductivities of these developing powder compositions were measured and are reported in Table 4.
Each of the developing powder compositions was used in a pressure-fixing copying process to provide images on a plain paper substrate. The developing powder composition of Example 4a provided copies whose images were sharply defined and had virtually no image fill-in. Moreover, the copies had virtually no backgrounding. A photomicrograph of a copy prepared using the developing powder of Example 4a is shown in Figure 3. The developing powder composition of Example 4b, on the other hand, provided copies whose images had poor edge definition and a high degree of image fill-in. Additionally, the background areas of the copies produced from the developing powder composition of Example 4b had a high degree of backgrounding. A photomicrograph of a copy prepared using the developing powders of Example 4b is shown in Figure 4.

EXAMPLE 5

Example 4 was repeated except that Vulcan XC-72R (1.6 parts by weight) that had a degree of fluorination of 20.8% was utilized in Example 5a and 0.62 parts by weight of non-fluorinated Vulcan XC-72R was used in Example 5b. The developing powder compositions were classified so that 95% by weight of the powder was greater than 8 microns average diameter and only 5% by weight was greater than 20 microns average diameter. The static conductivity of the resultant developing powder compositions is reported in Table 5.
Each of the developing powder compositions was used in a pressure-fixing copying process to provide images on a plain paper substrate. The developing powder composition of Example 5a provided copies whose images were sharply defined and had virtually no image fill-in. The copies exhibited little backgrounding. The developing powder composition of Example 5b provided copies whose images were not sharply defined and had substantial amounts of image fill-in. The copies exhibited substantial backgrounding.

EXAMPLE 6

Example 4 was repeated using the following ingredients in the amounts shown:
The developing powder compositions were classified so that 95% by weight of the powder was greater than 8 microns average diameter and only 5% by weight was greater than 20 microns average diameter. The static conductivity of the resultant developing powder compositions is reported in Table 6.
Each of the developing powder compositions was used in a pressure fixing copying process to provide images on a plain paper substrate. The developing powder composition of Example 6a provided copies whose images were sharply defined and had virtually no image fill-in. The copies exhibited little backgrounding. The developing powder composition of Example 6b provided copies whose images were not sharply defined and had substantial amounts of image fill-in. The copies also exhibited substantial backgrounding.

EXAMPLE 7

Example 4 was repeated using the following ingredients in the amounts shown:
The resultant developing powder compositions were collected and classified so that 95% by weight of the products was greater than 8 microns average diameter and only 5% by weight was greater than 20 microns average diameter. The dynamic conductivities of the resultant compositions are reported in Table 7.
Each of the developing powder compositions was used in a heat-fusing copy process to provide images on a plain paper substrate. The developing powder composition of Example 7a provided copies whose images were sharply defined and had virtually no image fill-in. The copies exhibited very little backgrounding. The developing powder composition of Example 7b provided copies whose images were not sharply defined and had substantial amounts of image fill-in. The copies also exhibited substantial backgrounding.

EXAMPLE 8

A pressure-fixable developing powder was prepared as described in Example 4 using the following ingredients in the amounts shown:
The resulting developing powder composition was collected and classified so that 95% by weight of the product was greater than 9 minus average diameter and only 5% by weight was greater than 22 microns average diameter. The composition had a dynamic conductivity of 5.3 x 10^-13 Mhos/cm in a 10,000 volt/cm electric fold. The composition was used in a heat fusing copy process one claim per substrate and provided copies whose images were sharply defined and exhibited virtually no image fill-in. Furthermore, the copies exhibited very little backgrounding.

Claims

1. A flowable, dry powder of particles that has a static conductivity of less than about 10-3 mhos per centimeter in an electric field of 10,000 d.c. volts per centimeter comprising

(a) from about 30 to 80 parts by weight of a thermoplastic binder that has a static conductivity of at most about 10 ^-12 mhos per centimeter, said binder being selected from the group consisting of waxes that have a melting point in the range of about 45°C to 150°C, organic resins that have a softening point above about 60°C, and mixtures of said waxes and said resins; and correspondingly, from about 70 to 20 parts by weight of a magnetically responsive material and

(b) from about 0.4 to 3 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of (a) of fluorinated carbon that has a degree of fluorination in the range of 10% to 63% and an average diameter below about 2 microns; wherein said fluorinated carbon comprises a radially dispersed zone around the outer portions of said powder particles.

2. A powder in accordance with claim 1 that has a static conductivity less than about 10 ^-10 mhos per centimeter in an electric field of 10,000 d.c. volts per centimeter.

3. A powder in accordance with either of the preceding claims wherein at least about 95 percent of said particles have a maximum dimension in the range of about 4 to 30 microns.

4. A powder in accordance with any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein said particles are essentially spherical.

5. A powder in accordance with any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein said fluorinated carbon has an average diameter of below about 100 millimicrons.

6. A powder in accordance with any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wherein said fluorinated carbon comprises from about 0.75 to parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of (a) and wherein said fluorinated carbon has a degree of fluorination in the range of 15% to 30%.

7. A powder in accordance with claim 6 wherein (a) comprises from about 35 to 45 parts by weight of said thermoplastic binder, and, correspondingly, from about 65 to 55 parts by weight of said magnetically responsive material.

8. A powder in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the weight ratio of said organic resin to said wax in said binder is in tie range of about 0:1 to 1:1, and wherein said powder is pressure-fixable.

9. A powder in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said binder comprises said organic resin and wherein said powder is heat fusible.

10. A powder in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said fluorinated carbon comprises fluorinated carbon black.