JP2003165857A - Elastic member and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an elastic member provided with an elastic body which does not occur toner fixation and can supply a stable image for a long period of time, and to provide an electrophotographic apparatus using the elastic member. <P>SOLUTION: This elastic member is obtained by chemically bonding a fluorine compound to the surface of an elastic body by plasma treatment under atmospheric pressure. This electrophotographic apparatus is incorporated with the elastic member provided with the elastic body as a charged member, development solution supply body, development solution carrier, transfer member, development solution control blade, intermediate transfer member, etc. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an elastic body, which is mainly a member of an electrophotographic apparatus, such as a charging member, a developer supply member, a developer carrying member, a transfer member, a developer amount regulating blade, and an intermediate member. The present invention relates to an elastic body used for a transfer member and the like, and an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with this elastic body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic type or electrostatic recording type image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile or a printer, as shown by way of example in FIG. The image forming member 2 is charged by bringing them into contact with each other and applying a voltage to the member to be charged. An electrostatic latent image is formed by writing an image on the image forming member 2 using laser light. On the other hand, the developer 5 is supplied from the developer supply body 3 to the developer carrying body 4, and the developer 5 carried in the arrow direction by the rotation of the developer carrying body 4 is the developer carrying body. 4 and the developer amount regulation blade 6 arranged in pressure contact with each other, the developer 5 on the developer carrier 4 is regulated to an appropriate thickness, and at the same time, the developer amount regulation blade 6 is regulated. By the frictional charging between the developer 6 and the developer 5, the developer 5 is appropriately charged, and
Development is carried out by adhering the developer 5 to the electrostatic latent image on the image forming member 2 which is in contact with the developer carrying member 4 or is arranged at a certain distance. After that, the developer 5 on the image forming member 2 is transferred onto the paper surface 8 by using the transfer member 7, and then heating and fixing are performed to perform printing on the paper surface.

An elastic body such as rubber or urethane is used for all members such as the charging member, the developer supplying member, the developer carrying member, the transferring member, and the developer amount controlling blade, but for a long period of time. In order to continue the use, it is necessary that the so-called toner adhesion, in which the toner adheres and solidifies on the surface, does not easily occur. Generally, as a method for reducing toner sticking, a method of forming a low-adhesion / low-friction coating layer such as a fluororesin on the above member, or a low-molecular weight release agent containing fluorine or silicone is used. The method of adding to a member is adopted.

[0004]

However, when the elastic body is a foam, the coating film cannot be applied, and since the coating film formed of the fluororesin is very brittle, the coating film may crack after a long period of use. Have a problem. On the other hand, when the above-mentioned release agent is added to a member, there is a problem that the release agent bleeds out on the surface due to long-term use and contaminates the surface of the paper and the photoconductor to cause image deterioration. The present invention has been earnestly studied in view of the above circumstances, and an elastic body capable of supplying a stable image for a long period of time without toner sticking, and an electrophotographic apparatus using the elastic body. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION As a result of intensive studies to achieve the above object, the inventors of the present invention have found that a toner is obtained by chemically bonding a fluorine compound to the surface of an elastic body by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment. The inventors have found that sticking is reduced and have reached the present invention.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below. The elastic body of the present invention is used as a charging member, a developer supplying body, a developer carrying body, a transfer member, a developer amount regulating blade, an intermediate transfer member, etc., which is mounted on an electrophotographic apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine. It is used for a member, and its shape is not particularly limited, and various shapes such as a roll shape, a plate shape, a block shape, a belt shape, and a drum shape are appropriately selected according to the application. For example, a roll shape is suitable for members such as a charging member, a developer supply member, a developer carrying member, and a transfer part agent. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, a shaft 9 made of metal or plastic,
A structure including an elastic layer 10 formed of an elastic body formed on the outer periphery of the shaft 9 and a structure including a protective layer 11 outside the elastic layer 10 as shown in FIG. Can be done.

Further, a plate shape is suitable for a member such as a developer amount controlling blade, and as shown in FIG. 3A, it abuts at least the developer carrying member of the supporting member 12a made of metal or resin. The thing which formed the elastic body layer 13a on the surface is mentioned. As means for forming the elastic layer 13a on the surface of the supporting member 12a, generally, an elastic body which is applied, integrally molded, or preliminarily formed into a sheet shape and cut into an appropriate shape is adhered to the supporting member 12a. The method of is adopted. An adhesive layer may be provided between the support member 12a and the elastic layer 13a, if necessary. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the elastic member 13b may be formed at the position of the tip of the supporting member 12b made of metal or resin and in contact with the developer carrying member. As a means for forming the elastic layer 13b on the surface of the supporting member 12b, a method such as integral molding is adopted. An adhesive layer may be provided between the support member 12b and the elastic layer 13b, if necessary.

The elastic layer forming the elastic body of the present invention is not particularly limited, but for example, isoprene rubber,
Butadiene rubber, styrene / butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile / butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene / propylene rubber, ethylene / propylene terpolymer, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, silicone rubber, fluororubber, polyether rubber, Examples thereof include rubber materials such as epichlorohydrin rubber and urethane rubber, and elastomers such as polyurethane, polystyrene / polybutadiene block polymer, polyolefin, polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, and ethylene / vinyl acetate copolymer. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more, but urethane, silicone rubber and ethylene / propylene rubber are particularly preferable. Further, in order to reduce the hardness, the elastic layer may be a foam, and in this case, the density is suitably 0.1 to 0.9 g / cm ³ .

When the elastic body of the present invention is used for a member requiring semiconductivity such as a charging member, a developer supplying member, a developer carrying member and a transfer member, the volume resistance is adjusted to meet the demand. It is necessary to adjust to 10 ² to 10 ¹⁴ Ωcm, and a conductive material is added for that purpose. The conductive material used is not particularly limited, for example, carbon black, metal,
Examples thereof include electronic conductive substances such as metal oxides and ionic conductive substances such as quaternary ammonium salts. To further exemplify, electron conductive materials include conductive carbon such as Ketjen black and acetylene black, SAF, ISAF, and H.
Carbon for rubber such as AF, FEF, GPF, SRF, FT, MT, carbon for ink subjected to oxidation treatment, pyrolytic carbon, carbon black such as natural graphite,
Examples thereof include metal oxides such as antimony-doped tin oxide, titanium oxide and zinc oxide, and metals such as nickel, copper, silver and germanium.

Further, as the ion conductive material, tetraethylammonium, tetrabutylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium (eg lauryltrimethylammonium), hexadecyltrimethylammonium, octadesilyltrimethylammonium (eg stearyltrimethylammonium), benzyltrimethylammonium, Modified fatty acid Perchlorate such as dimethylethylammonium, chlorate, hydrochloride, bromate, iodate, borofluoride, sulfate, ethylsulfate, carboxylate, sulfonate and ammonium Perchlorates, chlorates, hydrochlorides, bromates, iodates of salts, alkali metals and alkaline earth metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc.
Examples thereof include borofluoride, trifluoromethyl sulfate, and sulfonate. These conductive materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The amount added is not particularly limited and may be determined according to the volume resistance required for the elastic body. Further, if necessary, a filler such as silica or calcium carbonate, a plasticizer such as oil, a crosslinking accelerator, a crosslinking retarder, an antiaging agent, a colorant and the like may be appropriately added to the elastic body.

In a member such as a developer amount control blade,
As the metal forming the support members 12a and 12b, iron,
Copper, nickel silver, stainless steel, phosphor bronze and the like can be mentioned, and as the resin, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethane, polyamide, polyacetal, polycarbonate,
Examples thereof include synthetic resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyimide, polyamide imide, polyester, phenol resin, melamine resin, silicone resin, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin and urea resin. Further, in the case where contaminants bleed out from the elastic layer to contaminate the surface of the paper or the image forming member and cause image deterioration, a protective layer may be formed on the elastic layer in order to prevent it. The material forming the protective layer is not particularly limited, but a material that can impart flexibility and smoothness to the surface is preferably used. Specific examples thereof include polyester resin, acrylic resin, urethane resin, acrylic urethane resin, nylon resin, epoxy resin, polyvinyl acetal resin, vinylidene chloride resin, fluorine resin, and silicone resin. Further, if necessary, an appropriate amount of the conductive material, the cross-linking agent, the thickener, and the like may be added to the protective layer.

In the method of chemically bonding the fluorine compound to the surface of the elastic body by the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment in the present invention, the elastic body is placed in the processing chamber, the fluorine compound is introduced into the processing chamber, and the atmospheric pressure is introduced into the processing chamber. It is a method of generating glow plasma, with radicals generated on the surface of the elastic body,
Radicals of the fluorine compound can bond to introduce the fluorine compound to the surface of the elastic body. As a method of obtaining glow plasma at such atmospheric pressure, for example, the method proposed in JP-A-62-235339 can be adopted. Since the atmospheric pressure plasma method is carried out at a pressure near the atmospheric pressure, it does not require a large vacuum device, and can be applied well to substrates containing a large amount of water or gas plasticizers. Almost no heat generation occurs. Therefore, it has an advantage that it can be applied to a base material having a low melting point, and also has a feature that local processing is possible and only a desired portion of the base material can be easily processed. The plasma may be generated by any method as long as plasma is generated and the surface of the elastic body can be fluorinated by the plasma. Specifically, direct current glow discharge or low frequency by the internal electrode method may be used. Examples include discharge, high frequency discharge by an internal electrode system, external electrode system or coil system, microwave discharge by a waveguide system and electron cyclotron resonance discharge. Further, as the fluorine compound, any compound can be used as long as it can fluorinate the surface after plasma treatment, in other words, a compound that generates radicals of the fluorine compound during plasma treatment.

When the above-mentioned fluorine compound is used in the temperature of the processing chamber or at room temperature
If it is gaseous in the process chamber, leave it as it is.
If it is in liquid form,
If the vapor pressure is relatively high,
The liquid is bubbled with a diluent gas such as an inert gas.
You may inflow and inflow. On the other hand, it is not gaseous and is steamed.
When the atmospheric pressure is relatively low, it can be heated
Can be used in a state of high pressure or high vapor pressure
However, due to the ease and safety of processing, CHF₃, CH
₂F₂, CH₃F, CF_Four, SF₆, C₃F₆, C_FourF
₈Fluorine compound gas such as₃F₆in
But hexafluoropropylene, C_FourF ₈No
In particular, octafluorocyclobutane is preferably used
It Also, these fluorine compound gases are used as they are.
It is OK, but from the viewpoint of discharge sustainability, stability, economic efficiency, etc.
, Helium, argon, neon, etc.
Of inert gas or gases such as nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen
Diluting one kind alone or with a mixture of two or more kinds
Is also effective.

In the plasma treatment according to the present invention, an object to be treated is housed in a treatment chamber in which a plasma discharge region is formed by the above method, and the fluorine compound gas and, if necessary, a dilution gas are continuously fed into the treatment chamber. Can be implemented by supplying In the present invention, the plasma treatment can be performed by supplying a fluorine compound gas or a fluorine compound gas and a diluent gas into the treatment chamber. The elastic body of the present invention is a charging member used in an electrophotographic apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.
It is used as a member such as a developer supply member, a developer carrying member, a transfer member, a developer amount regulating blade, and an intermediate transfer member.

[0015]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below by showing Examples and Comparative Examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following.

Example 1 Urethane elastomer raw materials of the following formulation 1 were mixed by stirring with a mixer and poured into a mold having a metal shaft, and 90
After being hardened at 0 ° C. for 6 hours, it was polished to prepare a roller-shaped semiconductive member A in which a semiconductive elastic body having a length of 20 cm and a thickness of 0.3 cm was formed on the outer circumference of the metal shaft. The dynamic friction coefficient μ of the semiconductive member A was 1.03. (Compound 1) Sannix GR5000 (polyether-based polyol: manufactured by Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) 60 g PTG1000SN (polytetramethylene glycol:
Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.) 40g Ruplanate MB301 (MDI isocyanate: B
ASF / Inoac) 22g Neostan U-100 (tin catalyst: Nitto Kasei) 0.00
4g Denka Black (Carbon Black: manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo)
2 g

The semiconductive member A was treated under the following conditions using the internal electrode type high frequency plasma discharge device shown in FIG. 4 to bond a fluorine compound to the surface of the elastic body. Fluorine gas: C ₃ F ₆ inert gas: He Discharge frequency: 5 kHz Processing time: ₆₀ sec In addition, in FIG. 4, 14 is a processing chamber, 15 is a fluorine gas and dilution gas supply pipe, and fluorine gas is supplied from the supply pipe 15 to the processing chamber. To the plasma power source 1 between the electrodes 16a and 16b.
When a plasma region is formed from 7, radicals are generated,
A fluorine compound is bonded to the surface of the object 18 to be processed between the electrodes 16a and 16b. In addition, 19 is a gas discharge pipe. The coefficient of dynamic friction μ of the semiconductive members AF obtained by this treatment
Was 0.58.

The semiconductive members AF were incorporated as a developer carrying member into an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 and mounted in a printer, and the conditions were room temperature and normal humidity (22 ° C., 50% RH).
When a continuous printing test was carried out at, good images were obtained up to 5,000 sheets. After the continuous printing test was completed, the semiconductive members AF were removed, and the surface was observed with a microscope of 1000 times. As a result, toner adhesion was not observed.

Example 2 Urethane raw materials having the following formulation 2 were mixed by stirring with a mixer, cast into a mold in which a metal shaft is placed, cured at 90 ° C. for 6 hours, and then polished, and the outer circumference of the metal shaft was obtained. Length 20c
A roller-shaped semi-conductive member B having a m-thickness of 0.3 cm and formed with a semi-conductive foam was prepared. The dynamic friction coefficient μ of this semiconductive member B was 1.50. (Formulation 2) Sannix GR5000 (polyether polyol: Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) 60 g PTG1000SN (polytetramethylene glycol:
Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.) 40g Ruplanate MB301 (MDI isocyanate: B
ASF / Inoac) 22g SF2941F (foam stabilizer: Toray Dow Corning Silicone) 4g Neostan U-100 (tin catalyst: Nitto Kasei) 0.00
8g Denka Black (Carbon Black: manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo)
2 g

This semiconductive member B was subjected to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment under the same conditions as in Example 1 to bond a fluorine compound on the surface. The dynamic friction coefficient μ of the semiconductive member BF obtained by this treatment was 0.79. This semi-conductive member BF was incorporated as a transfer member into an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 and mounted in a printer, and a continuous print test was conducted under normal temperature and normal humidity conditions (22 ° C., 50% RH). As a result, good images were obtained up to 10,000 sheets. Further, as a result of removing the semiconductive members BF after the continuous printing test and observing the surface with a microscope of 1000 times, toner adhesion was not observed.

Example 3 A urethane elastomer raw material having the following formulation 3 was mixed, cast into a metal mold having one surface mirror-finished, and heat-cured to obtain a sheet-like elastic body having a thickness of 1.5 mm. It was The obtained sea
The sheet was cut into a predetermined size and then adhered to a supporting member using a double-sided tape to obtain a semiconductive member C having a shape as shown in FIG. 3 (a). The dynamic friction coefficient μ of this semiconductive member C was 1.41. (Compound 3) Colonate 4387 (polyester type prepolymer: made by Nippon Polyurethane) 93.55 g Nipporan 4038 (low molecular weight polyol: made by Nippon Polyurethane) 5.95 g Neostan U-100 (tin catalyst: made by Nitto Kasei) 0 .00
2 g

This semiconductive member C was subjected to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment under the same conditions as in Example 1 to bond a fluorine compound on the surface. The dynamic friction coefficient μ of the semiconductive member C-F obtained by this treatment was 0.74. This semi-conductive member C-F was incorporated into an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 as a developer amount control blade and mounted in a printer, and continuously printed under normal temperature and normal humidity conditions (22 ° C., 50% RH). When the test was conducted, good images were obtained up to 5000 sheets.
Further, as a result of removing the semi-conductive member C-F (developer amount controlling blade) after the completion of the continuous printing test and observing the surface with a microscope of 1000 times, no toner adhesion was observed.

Example 4 A semi-conductive elastic body prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 was coated with a paint of the following formulation 4 by a dipping method to form a conductive coating film having a thickness of 5.0 μm. A roller-shaped semiconductive member D was formed. The dynamic friction coefficient μ of this semiconductive member D was 1.60. (Compound 4) EAU65B (acrylic urethane resin: manufactured by Asia Industrial Co., Ltd.)
50g Denka Black (Carbon Black: manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo)
2g 2-butanone (solvent) 150g

This semiconductive member D was subjected to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment under the conditions shown in Table 1 in the same manner as in Example 1 to bond a fluorine compound on the surface. The dynamic friction coefficient μ of the semiconductive member DF obtained by this treatment was 0.88. The semi-conductive member DF as a charging member was incorporated into an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 and mounted in a printer, and a continuous print test was conducted under normal temperature and normal humidity conditions (22 ° C., 50% RH). As a result, good images were obtained up to 5000 sheets.
Further, as a result of removing the semi-conductive member DF after the continuous printing test and observing the surface with a microscope of 1000 times, toner adhesion was not observed.

Comparative Example 1 The semiconductive member A in Example 1 was mounted as a developer carrying member in an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. When a continuous printing test was performed under normal humidity conditions (22 ° C., 50% RH), spot-like defects were observed on the image on 3,000 sheets, and the surface was observed with a microscope of 1000 times, as a result, toner adhesion was found. I was seen.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2 The semiconductive member B in Example 2 was incorporated into an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 as a transfer member without being subjected to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, and was mounted in a printer and kept at normal temperature and normal humidity. When a continuous printing test was performed under the conditions (22 ° C., 50% RH), spot-like defects were observed on the image on 6000 sheets,
As a result of observing the surface with a microscope of 1000 times, toner adhesion was found.

Comparative Example 3 The semiconductive member C in Example 3 was incorporated into an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. 1 as a developer amount control blade without performing atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, and mounted in a printer. When a continuous printing test was performed under normal temperature and normal humidity conditions (22 ° C, 50% RH), streaky defects were observed on the image on 3,000 sheets, and the surface was observed with a microscope of 1000 times. It was observed.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4 The semiconductive member D in Example 4 was not subjected to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, but was incorporated into an electrophotographic apparatus as shown in FIG. When a continuous printing test was performed under the conditions (22 ° C., 50% RH), spot-like defects were observed on the image after 3000 sheets,
As a result of observing the surface with a microscope of 1000 times, toner adhesion was found.

Example 5 The following compound 5 was melt-kneaded by a twin-screw kneader and the resulting kneaded product was extruded to give an inner diameter of 24.5c.
A semiconductive endless belt having dimensions of m, thickness of 100 μm and width of 25 cm was obtained. The dynamic friction coefficient μ of this semiconductive endless belt E was 1.20. (Compound 5) Sebian V510 (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin: manufactured by Daicel Polymer) 1000 g Denka black (carbon black: manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo)
300 g This semiconductive endless belt E was subjected to atmospheric pressure plasma treatment under the same conditions as in Example 1 to bond a fluorine compound on the surface. The dynamic friction coefficient μ of the semi-conductive endless belt EF obtained by this treatment was 0.86. This semi-conductive endless belt EF was mounted on a printer as an intermediate transfer belt, and was subjected to normal temperature and normal humidity conditions (22 ° C., 5
When a continuous print test was performed at 0% RH, 5000
Good images were obtained up to the number of sheets. After the end of the continuous printing test, the semi-conductive endless belt EF was removed and the surface was observed with a microscope of 1000 times. As a result, toner adhesion was not observed.

Comparative Example 5 The semiconductive endless belt E in Example 5 was used as an intermediate transfer belt without performing atmospheric pressure plasma treatment.
Mounted on a printer and kept at room temperature and humidity (22 ° C, 50% R
When a continuous printing test was conducted under H), spotted defects were observed on the image on 3000 sheets, and toner adhesion was observed as a result of observing the surface with a microscope of 1000 times.

The elastic body of the present invention is an elastic body capable of supplying a stable image for a long period of time without toner sticking when used in an electrophotographic process in a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer or the like. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a roller-shaped member.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a developer amount regulating member.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of an atmospheric pressure plasma processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: charging member 2: Image forming member 3: Developer supply body 4: developer carrier 5: developer 6: Developer amount control blade 7: Transfer member 8: Space 9: Shaft 10: Elastic layer 11: Protective layer 12a, 12b: support members 13a, 13b: elastic body 14: Processing room 15: Gas supply pipe 16a, 16b: electrodes 17: Power supply 18: Object to be processed 19: Gas exhaust pipe

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03G 15/08 501 501 G03G 15/08 501D 504 504B 15/16 15/16 // C08L 23:16 C08L 23: 16 75:04 75:04 83:04 83:04 F-term (reference) 2H071 BA42 BA43 DA06 DA08 DA09 2H077 AC04 AD06 AD13 FA12 FA16 FA22 FA27 GA03 2H200 FA02 FA13 HA02 HB12 HB22 HB45 HB46 HB47 JA02 JA25 JA26 JA27 JC03 JC13 JC15 JC JC17 LC06 MA03 MA14 MA17 MA20 MB04 MC05 4F073 AA30 AA32 BA09 BA28 BA33 BB08 CA01 CA02 DA05 EA04 FA06

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An elastic member comprising an elastic body in which a fluorine compound is chemically bonded to the surface by atmospheric pressure plasma treatment. 2. The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is composed of any one of urethane, silicone rubber, and ethylene / propylene rubber, or a mixture of two or more thereof. . 3. The atmospheric pressure plasma treatment is a method in which an elastic body is arranged in a treatment chamber and a fluorine compound gas or a fluorine compound gas and a diluent gas are introduced into the treatment chamber to generate atmospheric pressure glow plasma. The elastic member according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. 4. The elastic member according to claim 3, wherein the fluorine compound is hexafluoropropylene or octafluorocyclobutane. 5. The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a developer carrying member. 6. The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a developer amount regulating blade. 7. The elastic member is a transfer member.
The elastic member according to any one of to 4. 8. The elastic member is a charging member.
The elastic member according to any one of to 4. 9. The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is an intermediate transfer member. 10. An image forming apparatus comprising the elastic member according to claim 1.