EP1168102A2 - Zusammensetzung eines thermisch leitenden fluorplastischen statistischen Copolymers für ein Fixierelement - Google Patents

Zusammensetzung eines thermisch leitenden fluorplastischen statistischen Copolymers für ein Fixierelement Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1168102A2
EP1168102A2 EP01113602A EP01113602A EP1168102A2 EP 1168102 A2 EP1168102 A2 EP 1168102A2 EP 01113602 A EP01113602 A EP 01113602A EP 01113602 A EP01113602 A EP 01113602A EP 1168102 A2 EP1168102 A2 EP 1168102A2
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fuser member
random copolymer
layer
mole percent
parts
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01113602A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1168102A3 (de
Inventor
Charles C. Anderson
Nataly F. Boulatnikov
Jiann-Hsing Chen
Charles E. Hewitt
Joseph A. Pavlisko
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Eastman Kodak Co
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Eastman Kodak Co
NexPress Solutions LLC
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Publication date
Application filed by Eastman Kodak Co, NexPress Solutions LLC filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
Publication of EP1168102A2 publication Critical patent/EP1168102A2/de
Publication of EP1168102A3 publication Critical patent/EP1168102A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
    • G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
    • G03G15/2014—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
    • G03G15/2053—Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating
    • G03G15/2057—Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating relating to the chemical composition of the heat element and layers thereof

Definitions

  • This invention relates to fuser members useful for heat-fixing a heat-softenable toner material to a substrate. More particularly, the invention relates to materials usable as a toner release layer in a fuser member.
  • Heat-softenable toners are widely used in imaging methods such as electrostatography, wherein electrically charged toner is deposited imagewise on a dielectric or photoconductive element bearing an electrostatic latent image. Most often in such methods, the toner is then transferred to a surface of another substrate, such as, e.g., a receiver sheet comprising paper or a transparent film, where it is then fixed in place to yield the final desired toner image.
  • imaging methods such as electrostatography, wherein electrically charged toner is deposited imagewise on a dielectric or photoconductive element bearing an electrostatic latent image.
  • the toner is then transferred to a surface of another substrate, such as, e.g., a receiver sheet comprising paper or a transparent film, where it is then fixed in place to yield the final desired toner image.
  • thermoplastic polymeric binders When heat-softenable toners, comprising, e.g., thermoplastic polymeric binders, are employed, the usual method of fixing the toner in place involves applying heat to the toner once it is on the receiver sheet surface to soften it and then allowing or causing the toner to cool.
  • One such well-known fusing method comprises passing the toner-bearing receiver sheet through the nip formed by a pair of opposing rolls, at least one of which (usually referred to as a fuser roll) is heated and contacts the toner-bearing surface of the receiver sheet in order to heat and soften the toner.
  • the other roll (usually referred to as a pressure roll) serves to press the receiver sheet into contact with the fuser roll.
  • the configuration is varied and the "fuser roll” or “pressure roll” takes the form of a flat plate or belt.
  • the description herein while generally directed to a generally cylindrical fuser roll in combination with a generally cylindrical pressure roll, is not limited to fusing systems having members with those configurations. For that reason, the term “fuser member” is generally used herein in place of "fuser roll” and the term “pressure member” in place of "pressure roll'.
  • the fuser member usually comprises a rigid support covered with a resilient material, which will be referred to herein as a "base cushion layer.”
  • the resilient base cushion layer and the amount of pressure exerted by the pressure member serve to establish the area of contact of the fuser member with the toner-bearing surface of the receiver sheet as it passes through the nip of the fuser member and pressure members.
  • the size of this area of contact helps to establish the length of time that any given portion of the toner image will be in contact with and heated by the fuser member.
  • the degree of hardness (often referred to as "storage modulus") and stability thereof, of the base cushion layer are important factors in establishing and maintaining the desired area of contact.
  • This variation in pressure can be provided, for example in a fusing system having a pressure roll and a fuser roll, by slightly modifying the shape of the pressure roll.
  • the variance of pressure in the form of a gradient of pressure that changes along the direction through the nip that is parallel to the axes of the rolls, can be established, for example, by continuously varying the overall diameter of the pressure roll along the direction of its axis such that the diameter is smallest at the midpoint of the axis and largest at the ends of the axis, in order to give the pressure roll a sort of "bow tie" or "hourglass" shape.
  • Particulate inorganic fillers have been added to base cushion layers to improve mechanical strength and thermal conductivity.
  • High thermal conductivity is advantageous when the fuser member is heated by an internal heater, so that the heat can be efficiently and quickly transmitted toward the outer surface of the fuser member and toward the toner on the receiver sheet it is intended to contact and fuse.
  • High thermal conductivity is not so important when the roll is intended to be heated by an external heat source.
  • Polyfluocarbon elastomers such as vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymers, are tough, wear resistant and flexible elastomers that have excellent high temperature resistance, but relatively high surface energies, which compromises toner release.
  • Fluorocarbon resins like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE ) or fluorinated ethylenepropylene ( FEP ) are fluorocarbon plastics which have excellent release characteristics due to very low surface energy. Fluorocarbon resins are, however, less flexible and elastic than fluorocarbon elastomers and are therefore not suitable alone as the surface of the fuser roller.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • FEP fluorinated ethylenepropylene
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,568,275 discloses a fuser roll having a layer of fluorocarbon elastomer and a fluorinated resin powder.
  • the fluorocarbon elastomer that is disclosed is water dispersible and it is known that the mixture phase separates on coating so that the fluorinated resin that is used comes to the surface of the layer.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,253,027 discloses a fluorinated resin in a silicone elastomer. However, composites of this type exhibit unacceptable swell in the presence of silicone release oil.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5, 599, 631 discloses a fuser roll having a layer of a fluorocarbon elastomer and a fluorocarbon resin.
  • the drawback of this type of material is that the fluorocarbon resin powder tends to phase separate from the fluorocarbon elastomer thereby diminishing toner release.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4, 853, 737 discloses a fuser roll having an outer layer comprising cured fluorocarbon elastomers containing pendant amine functional polydimethylsiloxane that are covalently bonded to the backbone of the fluorocarbon elastomer.
  • the amine functional polydimethylsiloxane tends to phase separate from the fluorocarbon elastomer.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,582,917 discloses a fuser roll having a surface layer comprising a fluorocarbon-silicone polymeric composition obtained by heating a fluorocarbon elastomer with a fluorocarbon elastomer curing agent in the presence of a curable polyfunctional poly( C1-6 alkyl ) siloxane polymer.
  • IPN interpenetrating network
  • U.S. Patent No. 5, 547,759 discloses a fuser roll having a release coating layer comprising an outermost layer of fluorocarbon resin uniquely bonded to a fluoroelastomer layer by means of a fluoropolymer containing a polyamide-imide primer layer.
  • the release coating layer has relatively low surface energy and good mechanical strength the release coating layer lacks flexibility and elastic properties and can not produce high quality of images.
  • sintering the fluorocarbon resin layer is usually accomplished by heating the coated fuser member to temperatures of approximately 350°C to 400°C. Such high temperatures can have a detrimental effect on the underlying base cushion layer which normally comprises a silicone rubber layer. It would be desirable to provide a fuser member with an overcoat layer comprising a fluorocarbon resin layer without depolymerizing the silicone base cushion layer.
  • Polysiloxane elastomers have relatively high surface energy and relatively low mechanical strength, but are adequately flexible and elastic and can produce high quality fused images. After a period of use, however, the self release property of the roller degrades and offset begins to occur.
  • Application of a polysiloxane fluid during roller use enhances the ability of the roller to release toner, but shortens roller life due to oil absorption. Oiled portions tend to swell and wear and degrade faster.
  • condensation-crosslinked siloxane elastomer One type of material that has been widely employed in the past to form a resilient base cushion layer for fuser rolls is a condensation-crosslinked siloxane elastomer. Disclosure of filled condensation-cured poly(dimethylsiloxane)("PDMS") elastomers for fuser rolls can be found, for example, in U.S. Patent. Nos. 4,373,239; 4,430,406; and 4,518,655. U.S. Patent No. 4,970,098 to Ayala-Esquillin et al. teaches a condensation cross-linked diphenylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane elastomer having 40 to 55 weight percent zinc oxide, 5 to 10 weight percent graphite, and 1 to 5 weight percent ceric dioxide.
  • a widely used siloxane elastomer is a condensation-crosslinked PDMS elastomer, which contains about 32-37 volume percent aluminum oxide filler and about 2-6 volume percent iron oxide filler, and is sold under the trade name, EC4952, by the Emerson Cummings Co., U.S.A. It has been found that fuser rolls containing EC4952 cushion layers exhibit serious stability problems over time of use, i.e., significant degradation, creep, and changes in hardness, that greatly reduce their useful life. Nevertheless, materials such as EC4952 initially provide very suitable resilience, hardness, and thermal conductivity for fuser roll cushion layers.
  • U.S. Patent 5,464,698 discloses toner fusing members which have a substrate coated with a fluorocarbon random copolymer containing tin oxide. Although these toner fusing members have proved effective and have desirable thermal conductivity, they have a problem in that there can be toner contamination.
  • U.S. Patent 5,595,823 discloses toner fusing members which have a substrate coated with a fluorocarbon random copolymer containing aluminum oxide. Although these toner fusing members have proved effective and have desirable thermal conductivity, they have a problem in that there can be toner contamination.
  • the advantage of using the cured fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer compositions is that they are effective for use with toner release agents that typically include silicone.
  • a fuser member comprising a support and a layer overlying the support, the layer including a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a curing agent having a bisphenol residue, a particulate filler containing zinc oxide, additional particulate filler containing aluminum oxide, and an aminosiloxane, the cured fluorocarbon thermoplastics random copolymer having subunits of: ⁇ (CH 2 CF 2 )x ⁇ , ⁇ (CF 2 CF(CF 3 )y ⁇ , and ⁇ (CF 2 CF 2 )z ⁇ , wherein
  • the aminosiloxane employed in the present invention is an amino functional polydimethyl siloxane copolymer comprising aminofunctional units selected from the group consisting of (aminoethylaminopropyl )methyl, (aminopropyl )methyl and (aminopropyl)dimethyl.
  • the layer also contains a fluorinated resin selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene and fluoroethylenepropylene.
  • the layer may optionally contain carbon black.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a fusing member in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of a fuser member 10 which include fuser roller, pressure roller, oiler donor roller, oiler metering roller, pre-conditioning roller, etc.
  • the support 16 is usually metallic such as stainless steel, steel, aluminum, etc.; however, the support 16 may also be made of a ceramic or plastic.
  • the primary requisites for support 16 materials are that it provide the necessary stiffness, be able to support the force placed upon it, and be able to withstand whatever temperature to which it is subjected.
  • Disposed above the support 16 lies one or more optional intermediate layers 14 which are characterized in the art as cushion layers.
  • the outermost layer 12 is a toner release layer.
  • the outermost layer 12 is disposed directly over the support 16 .
  • the outermost layer 12 is the toner release layer, it includes a curing agent and a fluorocarbon random copolymer that is cured by the curing agent, the fluorocarbon random copolymer has subunits of: ⁇ (CH 2 CF 2 )x ⁇ , ⁇ (CF 2 CF(CF 3 )y ⁇ , and ⁇ (CF 2 CF 2 )z ⁇ , wherein
  • the layer further including a bisphenol residue curing agent, a particulate filler having zinc oxide, and aminosiloxane and a particulate filler having aluminum oxide.
  • the aminosiloxane is an amino functional polydimethyl siloxane copolymer comprising aminfunctional units selected from the group consisting of (aminoethylaminopropyl)methyl, (aminopropyl)methyl and (aminopropyl)dimethyl.
  • a fuser member formed with a toner release layer that includes a zinc oxide and an aminosiloxane filled polyfluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer has a moderately low surface energy and that by using a fluorocarbon thermoplastic polymeric composition an improved fuser member is provided.
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that the addition of aluminum oxide filler to the toner release layer greatly improves the thermal conductivity of the layer.
  • a still further advantage of the present invention is particular release additives such as a fluorinated resin have been added to the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer in the presence of a bisphenol residue curing agent to improve the coefficient of friction.
  • x, y, and z are mole percentages of the individual subunits relative to a total of the three subunits (x+y+z), referred to herein as "subunit mole percentages" (The curing agent can be considered to provide an additional "cure-site subunit", however, the contribution of these cure-site subunits is not considered in subunit mole percentages.)
  • x has a subunit mole percentage of from 1 to 50 or 60 to 80 mole percent
  • y has a subunit mole percentage of from 10 to 90 mole percent
  • z has a subunit mole percentage of from 10 to 90 mole percent.
  • subunit mole percentages are: x is from 30 to 50 or 70 to 80, y is from 10 to 20, and z is from 10 to 50; or more preferably x is from 40 to 50, y is from 10 to 15, and z is 40 to 50.
  • x, y, and z are selected such that fluorine atoms represent at least 65 percent of the total formula weight of the VF 2 , HFP, and TFE subunits.
  • a curable amino functional polydimethyl siloxane copolymer is used in the present invention and is cured concurrently with the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer to produce a coating suitable for use as the toner release layer of a fusing member.
  • coated fuser members have low energy surfaces which release toner images with minimal offset.
  • Preferred curable amino functional polydimethyl siloxanes are bis(aminopropyl) terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane).
  • Such oligomers are available in a series of molecular weights as disclosed, for example, by Yilgor et al., "Segmented Organosiloxane Copolymer", Polymer, 1984, V.25, pp 1800-1806.
  • a preferred class of curable amino functional polydimethyl siloxanes includes those having functional groups such as aminopropyl or aminoethylaminopropyl pendant from the siloxane backbone such as DMS-A11, DMS-A12, DMS-A15, DMS-A21 and DMS-A32 ( sold by Gelest, Inc.) having a number- average molecular weight between about 850 to 27,000.
  • functional groups such as aminopropyl or aminoethylaminopropyl pendant from the siloxane backbone
  • DMS-A11, DMS-A12, DMS-A15, DMS-A21 and DMS-A32 sold by Gelest, Inc.
  • Other curable amino functional polydimethyl siloxanes which can be used are disclosed in U.S. Patent. Nos. 4,853,737 and 5,157,445.
  • compositions of the invention have a ratio of aminosiloxane polymer to fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer between about 0.01 and 0.2 to 1 by weight, preferably between about 0.05 and 0.15 to 1.
  • the composition is preferably obtained by curing a mixture comprising from about 50-80 weight percent of a fluorocarbon thermoplastic copolymer.
  • 5-20 weight percent of a curable amino functional polydimethyl siloxane copolymer preferably about 5-10 weight percent.
  • concentration of a bisphenol residue is 1-5 weight percent.
  • a zinc oxide acid acceptor type filler 1-20 weight percent. Included also is 5-45 weight percent of aluminum oxide particles, 0 - 10 weight percent of carbon black, and 1-50 weight percent of a fluorinated resin release aid.
  • Curing of the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer is carried out at shorter curing time cycles compared to the well known conditions for curing vinylidene fluoride based fluorocarbon elastomer copolymers.
  • the cure of fluorocarbon elastomers is usually for 12- 48 hours at temperatures of about 220 to 250°C.
  • fluorocarbon elastomer coating compositions are dried until solvent free at room temperature, then gradually heated to about 230 °C over 24 hours, then maintained at that temperature for 24 hours.
  • the cure of the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer compositions of the current invention is about 3 hours at a temperature of about 220-275 °C, and an additional 2 hours at a temperature of 250°C and 270°C.
  • the outer layer includes a particulate filler comprising zinc oxide.
  • the zinc oxide particles can be obtained from a convenient commercial source, e.g., Atlantic Equipment Engineers of Bergenfield, New Jersey.
  • the particulate zinc oxide filler has a total concentration in the outer layer of from about 1 to 20 parts per hundred parts by weight of the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer ( pph). Concentrations of zinc oxide much less than 1 part by weight may not provide the desired degree of stability to the layer. Concentrations of zinc oxide much greater than 20 parts by weight will render the layer too stiff to provide the desired area of contact with the toner-bearing receiver sheet.
  • the outer layer has 3 to 10 pph of zinc oxide.
  • the particle size of the zinc oxide filler does not appear to be critical. Particle sizes anywhere in the range of 0.1 to 100 micrometers have been found to be acceptable. In the examples presented below the zinc oxide particles were from 1 to 40 micrometers in diameter.
  • the outer layer also includes a particulate filler comprising aluminum oxide.
  • the aluminum oxide filler has a total concentration in the outer layer of from about 10 to 140 parts per hundred parts by weight of the fluorocarbon random copolymer (pph). Concentrations of aluminum oxide much less than 10 parts by weight may not provide the degree of stability desired to the layer. Concentrations of aluminum oxide much greater than 140 parts by weight will render the layer too hard to provide the desired area of contact with the toner-bearing receiver sheet.
  • the aluminum oxide particles employed in the invention can be obtained from any convenient commercial source, e.g., Magnesium Electron, Inc. of Flemington, N. J.
  • the particle size does not appear to be critical. Particle sizes anywhere in the range of 0. 1 to 100 micrometers have been found to be acceptable. In the examples presented below the aluminum oxide particles were from 1 to 40 micrometers in diameter.
  • compositions of the invention optionally contain a carbon black added at a concentration of 0 to 10 parts per hundred parts of the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer.
  • a carbon black added at a concentration of 0 to 10 parts per hundred parts of the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer.
  • Any conventional carbon black may be used, for example ThermaxTM N-990 available from R. T. Vanderbilt Co.
  • the zinc oxide particles and aluminum oxide particles are mixed with the uncured fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, aminosiloxane, a bisphenol residue curing agent, and any other additives, such as fluorinated resin and carbon black, shaped over the base cushion layer and cured.
  • the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer is cured by crosslinking with basic nucleophile addition curing.
  • Basic nucleophilic cure systems are well known and are discussed, for example, in U.S. Patent. No. 4,272,179.
  • One example of such a cure system combines a bisphenol residue as the curing agent and an organophosphonium salt, as an accelerator.
  • the ratio of fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer to fluorinated resin is between 1 : 1 and 50 :1.
  • the fluorinated resins which include polyterafluoroethylene (PTFE ) or polyfluoroethylenepropylene ( FEP) are commercially available from duPont.
  • the crosslinker is incorporated into the polymer as a cure-site subunit, for example, bisphenol residues.
  • a cure-site subunit for example, bisphenol residues.
  • Other examples of nucleophilic addition cure systems are sold commercially as DIAK No. I (hexamethylenediamine carbamate) and DIAK No. 3 (N,N'-dicinnamylidene-1 ,6-hexanediamine) by DuPont.
  • Suitable fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymers are available commercially.
  • a vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene cohexafluoropropylene was used which can be represented as ⁇ (VF)(75) ⁇ (TFE) (10)-(HFP)(25) ⁇ .
  • This material is marketed by Hoechst Company under the designation 'THV Fluoroplastics" and is referred to herein as "THV".
  • a vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene was used which can be represented as ⁇ (VF)(49)- (TFE) (41) ⁇ (HFP)(10) ⁇ .
  • This material is marketed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, St. Paul, Minn., under the designation "3M THV” and is referred to herein as "THV-200".
  • suitable uncured vinylidene fluoride-cohexafluoropropylenes and vinylidene fluoride-co-tetrafluoroethylene-cohexafluoropropylenes are available, for example, THV-400, THV-500 and THV-300.
  • THV Fluoroplastics are set apart from other melt-processable fluoroplastics by a combination of high flexibility and low process temperature. With flexural modulus values between 83 Mpa and 207 Mpa, THV Fluoroplastics are the most flexible of the fluoroplastics.
  • the molecular weight of the uncured polymer is largely a matter of convenience, however, an excessively large or excessively small molecular weight would create problems, the nature of which are well known to those skilled in the art.
  • the uncured polymer has a number average molecular weight in the range of about 100,000 to 200,000.
  • the fuser member is constructed forming a toner release layer on an optional base cushion provided on a support comprising the steps of:
  • the outer layer In cases where it is intended that the fuser member be heated by an internal heater, it is desirable that the outer layer have a relatively high thermal conductivity, so that the heat can be efficiently and quickly transmitted toward the outer surface of the fuser member that will contact the toner intended to be fused. (Depending upon relative thickness, it is generally even more desirable that the base cushion layer and any other intervening layers have a relatively high thermal conductivity. Suitable materials for the base cushion layer are discussed below).
  • Some fusing systems use a release oil, such as a PDMS oil, to prevent offset, that is, to aid the roll in releasing from the toner it contacts during the fusing operation.
  • a release oil such as a PDMS oil
  • the oil is continuously coated over the surface of the fuser member in contact with the toner image.
  • the fuser member of the invention can be used with polydimethylsiloxane, amino functionalized polydimethylsiloxane or mercapto functionalized polydimethylsiloxane release oils at normally used application rates or at reduced application rates, from about 0.5mg/copy to 10 mg/copy (the copy is 8.5 by 11 inch 20 pound bond paper).
  • the outer layer of the fuser member of the invention is substantially resistant to release oil induced swelling.
  • the change in size due to swelling is less than 0.1 to 1.0 percent. In an even more preferred embodiment of the invention, the change in size due to swelling is less than 0.01 to 0.1 percent.
  • the thickness of the base cushion and outer layers and the composition of the base cushion layer can be chosen so that the base cushion layer can provide the desired resilience to the fuser member, and the outer layer can flex to conform to that resilience.
  • the thickness of the base cushion and outer layers will be chosen with consideration of the requirements of the particular application intended. Usually, the outer layer would be thinner than the base cushion layer. For example, base cushion layer thicknesses in the range from 0.6 to 5.0 mm have been found to be appropriate for various applications. In some embodiments of the present invention, the base cushion layer is about 2.5 mm thick, and the outer layer is from about 25 to 30 micrometers thick.
  • Suitable materials for the base cushion layer include any of a wide variety of materials previously used for base cushion layers, such as the condensation cured polydimethylsiloxane marketed as EC4952 by Emerson Cummings.
  • An example of a condensation cured silicon rubber base cushion layer is GE 4044 marketed by General Electric of Waterford, N.Y.
  • An example of an addition cured silicone rubber is Silastic J RTV marketed by Dow Coming applied over a silane primer DC-1200 also marketed by Dow Coming.
  • the support of the fuser member is usually cylindrical in shape. It comprises any rigid metal or plastic substance. Metals are preferred when the fuser member is to be internally heated, because of their generally higher thermal conductivity. Suitable support materials include, e.g., aluminum, steel, various alloys, and polymeric materials such as thermoset resins, with or without fiber reinforcement.
  • the fuser member is mainly described herein in terms of embodiments in which the fuser member is a fuser roll having a support, a base cushion layer overlying the support, and an outer layer superimposed on the base cushion.
  • the invention is not, however, limited to a roll, nor is the invention limited to a fusing member having a support bearing two layers: the base cushion layer and the outer layer.
  • the fuser member of the invention can have a variety of outer configurations and layer arrangements known to those skilled in the art.
  • the base cushion layer could be eliminated or the outer layer described herein could be overlaid by one or more additional layers.
  • THV200A 150 grams of Fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer THV 200A, 1.05 grams of zinc oxide, 15.4 grams of fluorinated resin, and 4.90 grams of aminosiloxane were mixed into 230 grams of methyl ethyl ketone in a milling crock as indicated (amounts listed as parts per hundred parts of THV200A) in Table 1.
  • THV200A is a commercially available fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer which is sold by 3M Corporation.
  • the zinc oxide particles can be obtained from convenient commercial source, e.g., Atlantic Equipment Engineers of Bergenfield, New Jersey.
  • the amino siloxane DMS-A21 is commercially available from Gelest, Inc.
  • the fluorinated resin is tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and is commercially available from DuPont.
  • PTFE tetrafluoroethylene
  • the aluminum oxide particles are from Magnesium Electron, Inc. of Flemington, N. J..
  • Comparative Examples 1 and 2 substantially the same procedures were followed as in Example 1-3, with the following exceptions. As indicated in the composition listed in Table 1, Comparative Example 1 did not contain aluminum oxide . In Comparative Example 2 another metal oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide (CPM375, Keeling and Walker, Inc.), was substituted for the aluminum oxide. TABLE 1 Sample THV 200A ZnO Aminosiloxane PTFE CMP375 Tin oxide Aluminum oxide Example 1 100 6 14 40 0 10 Example 2 100 6 14 40 0 30 Example 3 100 6 14 40 0 45 Comparative Example 1 100 6 14 40 0 0 Comparative Example 2 100 6 14 40 45 0
  • Table 2 shows that the presence of the aluminum oxide increases the thermal conductivity of the fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer. Comparative Example 2 demonstrates that substituting tin oxide for aluminum oxide yields a toner release layer with poorer (lower) thermal conductivity.
  • test samples are employed to evaluate the toner offset and release force characteristics of the fuser member coating. Two samples are cut into approximately 1-inch squares. One of these squares is left untreated by release agent (the dry sample). To the surface of the other sample is applied an unmeasured amount of Xerox amino-functionalized PDMS 8R79.
  • each sample is incubated overnight at a temperature of 175°C. Following this treatment, the surface of each sample is wiped with dichloromethane. Each sample is then soaked in dichloromethane for one hour and allowed to dry before off-line testing for toner offset and release properties. Each sample is tested in the following manner:
  • a one-inch square of paper covered with unfused polyester toner is placed in contact with a sample on a bed heated to 175°C, and a pressure roller set for 80 psi is locked in place over the laminate to form a nip. After 20 minutes the roller is released from the laminate.
  • the extent of offset for each sample is determined by microscopic examination of the sample surface following delamination. The following numerical evaluation, corresponding to the amount of toner remaining on the surface, is employed.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
EP01113602A 2000-06-30 2001-06-15 Zusammensetzung eines thermisch leitenden fluorplastischen statistischen Copolymers für ein Fixierelement Withdrawn EP1168102A3 (de)

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US607312 1996-02-27
US60731200A 2000-06-30 2000-06-30

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EP1168102A3 EP1168102A3 (de) 2010-09-29

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1296197A2 (de) * 2001-09-21 2003-03-26 NexPress Solutions LLC Druckelement mit einer aus thermoplastischem statistischen Fluorkohlenstoffcopolymer bestehenden Überschicht
EP1227373B1 (de) * 2001-01-30 2005-12-21 Xerox Corporation Interpenetrierendes Polymernetzwerk aus Polytetrafluoroethylen und Silikonelastomer zur Verwendung in elektrophotographischen Schmelzvorrichtungen

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0018140A1 (de) * 1979-04-04 1980-10-29 Xerox Corporation Bauteil, Verfahren und System zum Schmelzfixieren von Tonerbildern auf einem Träger
US4853737A (en) * 1988-05-31 1989-08-01 Eastman Kodak Company Roll useful in electrostatography
EP0454030A2 (de) * 1990-04-23 1991-10-30 Eastman Kodak Company Wärmefixierteil, geeignet für die Elektrostatographie
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EP0454030A2 (de) * 1990-04-23 1991-10-30 Eastman Kodak Company Wärmefixierteil, geeignet für die Elektrostatographie
US5292606A (en) * 1992-11-30 1994-03-08 Eastman Kodak Company Fuser roll for fixing toner to a substrate
US5466533A (en) * 1994-06-29 1995-11-14 Eastman Kodak Company Zinc oxide filled diphenylsiloxane-dimethylsiloxane fuser member for fixing toner to a substrate
US5595823A (en) * 1994-06-29 1997-01-21 Eastman Kodak Company Fuser members overcoated with fluorocarbon elastomer containing aluminum oxide
US5736250A (en) * 1996-08-08 1998-04-07 Xerox Corporation Crosslinked latex polymer surfaces and methods thereof
EP0969333A1 (de) * 1998-06-29 2000-01-05 Xerox Corporation Wärmeschmelzfixiergerät mit einer Elastomer und anisotropischen Füllstoff enthaltenden Beschichtung

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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EP1227373B1 (de) * 2001-01-30 2005-12-21 Xerox Corporation Interpenetrierendes Polymernetzwerk aus Polytetrafluoroethylen und Silikonelastomer zur Verwendung in elektrophotographischen Schmelzvorrichtungen
EP1296197A2 (de) * 2001-09-21 2003-03-26 NexPress Solutions LLC Druckelement mit einer aus thermoplastischem statistischen Fluorkohlenstoffcopolymer bestehenden Überschicht
EP1296197A3 (de) * 2001-09-21 2004-07-07 NexPress Solutions LLC Druckelement mit einer aus thermoplastischem statistischen Fluorkohlenstoffcopolymer bestehenden Überschicht

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