JP2004020649A - Electrophotographic photoreceptor and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor which is highly resistant to wear, is hardly flawed on its surface, does not crack, has good electrostatic chargeability, is low in residual potential during photoirradiation, is less fluctuated in electrostatic charge potential as a result of repetitive use, is less apt to form abnormal images, and makes high stability of image quality and wear resistance compatible to provide long lifetime. <P>SOLUTION: The electrophotographic photoreceptor has a layer containing a higher order crosslinked body integrally coupled with a crosslinked body formed by a condensation reaction of silanol and a crosslinked body formed by a reaction of an epoxy group and amine by a structure capable of making the reaction of both. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

（式中、Ｒ^１は水素原子、置換もしくは無置換のアルキル基、置換もしくは無置換のアリール基を表す。Ａｒ^１は少なくとも１個の３級アミノ基を有するアリール基、少なくとも１個の３級アミノ基を有する複素環基を表す。Ａｒ^２、Ａｒ^３は置換もしくは無置換のアリレン基を表す。但し、Ａｒ^２とＡｒ^３は同一でも異なっていてもよい。ｎは０〜１００の整数を表す。）
（６）前記エポキシ基含有アミン化合物が下記一般式（２）で表される化合物であることを特徴する前記（３）〜（５）のいずれかに記載の電子写真感光体。
【化５】

（式中、Ｒ^４〜Ｒ^２５は水素原子、ハロゲン原子、置換もしくは無置換のアルキル基を表し、それぞれ同一でも異なっていてもよい。ｎは０〜１００の整数を表す。）
（７）前記アミノ基を有さないシラノール化合物が下記一般式（３）で表される化合物であることを特徴とする前記（３）〜（６）のいずれかに記載の電子写真感光体。
【化６】
（Ｒ）_ｎ−Ｓｉ−（Ｙ）_４−ｎ　　　　　　　　　　　　（３）
（式中、Ｒはケイ素原子に炭素原子が直接結合した形の有機基を表し、ｎは０〜３の整数を表し、ｎが３の場合Ｙは水酸基を表し、ｎが０〜２の場合Ｙは水酸基又は加水分解性基を表し、少なくとも１個は水酸基である。）
（８）前記アミノ基を有さないシラノール化合物が２種以上の混合物からなることを特徴とする前記（３）〜（７）のいずれかに記載の電子写真感光体。
（９）前記アミノ基を有さないシラノール化合物が少なくとも１個の芳香族基を有する化合物であることを特徴とする前記（３）〜（８）のいずれかに記載の電子写真感光体。
（１０）導電性支持体上に感光層を設けてなる電子写真感光体において、表面層に前記（１）〜（９）のいずれかに記載の高次架橋体を含有することを特徴とする電子写真感光体。
（１１）導電性支持体上に下引き層、電荷発生層、電荷輸送層、保護層を順次積層した電子写真感光体において、保護層が主として前記（１）〜（９）のいずれかに記載の高次架橋体からなることを特徴とする電子写真感光体。
（１２）エポキシ基含有アミン化合物、アミノ基含有アルコキシシラン化合物、アミノ基を有さないアルコキシシラン化合物を原料とする塗工液を作製し、塗布、乾燥硬化させることを特徴とする前記（３）〜（１１）のいずれかに記載の電子写真感光体の製造方法。
（１３）前記乾燥硬化を８０℃以上で行なうことを特徴とする前記（１２）に記載の電子写真感光体の製造方法。
【００１２】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明で言うシラノールの縮合反応により形成される架橋体とは、シロキサン結合が３次元的にしかも高架橋度で縮合した骨格で形成されるシリコーンレジンであり、オルガノシルセスキオキサンやシリケートやジオルガノシロキサンやトリオルガノシルヘミオキサンを構成基本単位とし、これらの構成単位を組み合わせて得られるシリコーンレジンである。また、エポキシ基とアミンの反応により形成される架橋体とは、エポキシ基と１級又は２級アミンとの付加反応により結合したエポキシ硬化レジンである。そして、本発明で言う高次架橋体とは、シラノールの縮合反応とエポキシ基とアミンとの付加反応の両方を行うことができる構造体によって前記シリコーンレジン成分と前記エポキシ硬化レジン成分とが連結され、さらに、シラノール基とエポキシ基の付加反応、アミノ基とシラノール基との縮合反応により、混然一体となって連結されたレジンを示す。この高次架橋体は、機械的特性に優れ、感光体中に含有させることで、耐久性に優れる感光体が得られる。
【００１３】
また、電子写真感光体に十分な光導電性を付与するためには、前記高次架橋体の構造の一部に従来感光体で使用されてきた電荷輸送性基を導入したものが好ましい。この際、エポキシ硬化レジン部へ電荷輸送性基を導入するのが、透明で均一な高次架橋体を形成するのに好ましい。
このような高次架橋体を形成する、より具体的な系としてエポキシ基含有アミン化合物とアミノ基含有シラノール化合物とアミノ基を有さないシラノール化合物との反応物を挙げることができる。
【００１４】
本発明に使用されるエポキシ基含有アミン化合物としては、通常電子写真感光体の電荷輸送物質として使用されるオキサゾール誘導体、オキサジアゾール誘導体、イミダゾール誘導体、トリフェニルアミン等のトリアリールアミン誘導体、フェニルヒドラゾン誘導体、α−フェニルスチルベン誘導体、スチルベン誘導体、ベンゾイミダゾール誘導体、Ｎ−フェニルカルバゾール誘導体等の電荷輸送性化合物の骨格を有し、その置換基としてエポキシ基を１個以上有する化合物が挙げられる。このようなエポキシ基含有アミン化合物は高次架橋体中で電荷輸送性を担う為、通常２０％重量以上含有されるのが好ましいが、多量に膜中に添加されるため架橋度に対する影響が大きい。従って、架橋度の高い強靱な膜を作製するためには、エポキシ基を一分子中に２個以上有するものが好ましい。
【００１５】
それらの中で、優れた電荷輸送特性を有する化合物として下記一般式（１）、さらに（２）で表されるエポキシ基含有アミン化合物が好適に使用される。
尚、これら一般式（１）及び（２）で表されるエポキシ基含有アミン化合物は新規化合物であり、対応するジヒドロキシ化合物とグリシジル化剤とを反応させることにより製造することができる。
【００１６】
【化７】

（式中、Ｒ^１は水素原子、置換もしくは無置換のアルキル基、置換もしくは無置換のアリール基を表す。Ａｒ^１は少なくとも１個の３級アミノ基を有するアリール基、少なくとも１個の３級アミノ基を有する複素環基を表す。Ａｒ^２、Ａｒ^３は置換もしくは無置換のアリレン基を表す。但し、Ａｒ^２とＡｒ^３は同一でも異なっていてもよい。ｎは０〜１００の整数を表す。）
【００１７】
【化８】

（式中、Ｒ^４〜Ｒ^２５は水素原子、ハロゲン原子、置換もしくは無置換のアルキル基を表し、それぞれ同一でも異なっていてもよい。ｎは０〜１００の整数を表す。）
【００１８】
前記一般式（１）及び（２）で表されるエポキシ基含有アミン化合物において、Ｒ^１、Ｒ^４〜Ｒ^２５の置換もしくは無置換のアルキル基とは、炭素数１〜５の直鎖又は分岐鎖のアルキル基であり、ハロゲン原子やフェニル基で置換されていてもよく、該フェニル基は、さらにハロゲン原子や炭素数１〜５のアルキル基などで置換されていてもよい。具体的にはメチル基、エチル基、ｎ−プロピル基、ｉ−プロピル基、ｔ−ブチル基、ｓ−ブチル基、ｎ−ブチル基、ｉ−ブチル基、ｎ−ペンチル基、トリフルオロメチル基、ベンジル基、４−クロロベンジル基、４−メチルベンジル基等が挙げられる。
【００１９】
また、Ｒ^１の置換もしくは無置換のアリール基の該アリール基として、フェニル基、ナフチル基、ビフェニリル基、ターフェニリル基、ピレニル基、フルオレニル基、９，９−ジメチル−２−フルオレニル基、アズレニル基、アントリル基、トリフェニレニル基、クリセニル基等が挙げられ、これらのアリール基にはハロゲン原子や前述のアルキル基フェニル基等が置換していてもよい。また、下記一般式（４）で表される基も挙げることができる。
【化９】

〔式中、Ｘは−Ｏ−、−Ｓ−、−ＳＯ−、−Ｓ０_２−、−ＣＯ−及び以下の２価基を表す。
【化１０】

【化１１】

（ここで、Ｒ^２６、Ｒ^２７は水素原子、ハロゲン原子、置換もしくは無置換のアルキル基、置換もしくは無置換のアリール基を表し、ａは１〜１２の整数、ｂは１〜３の整数を表す。）〕
尚、前記一般式（４）中のＲ^２６、Ｒ^２７の置換もしくは無置換のアルキル基、及び置換もしくは無置換のアリール基は前記Ｒ^１、Ｒ^４〜Ｒ^２５と、その定義及び具体例は、同様である。
【００２０】
また前記一般式（１）で表されるエポキシ基含有アミン化合物において、Ａｒ^１の少なくとも１個の３級アミノ基を有するアリール基の該アリール基としては、前記Ｒ^１の説明において挙げたものと同様のものを挙げることができる。
さらに該３級アミノ基としては、前記Ｒ^１６〜Ｒ^２５で表される置換基を有するフェニルが２個結合した窒素原子を有する基が挙げられる。
【００２１】
また前記一般式（１）で表されるエポキシ基含有アミン化合物にいおいて、Ａｒ^２、Ａｒ^３の置換もしくは無置換のアリレン基としては、前記Ａｒ^１の説明（即ちＲ^１の説明）において挙げたアリール基から誘導される２価の基が挙げられる。
さらに該アリレン基の置換基としては、前記Ｒ^４〜Ｒ^１１の説明において挙げたものと同様のものを挙げることができる。
【００２２】
またＡｒ^１が少なくとも１個の３級アミノ基を有する複素環基としては、ピロール、ピラゾール、イミダゾール、トリアゾール、ジオキサゾール、インドール、イソインドール、ベンズイミダゾール、ベンゾトリアゾール、ベンズイソキサジン、カルバゾール、フェノキサジン等が挙げられ、これらの複素環基は前述のＲ^１で定義された置換もしくは無置換のアルキル基、ハロゲン原子、置換もしくは無置換のアリール基で置換されていても良い。
さらに該３級アミノ基としては、前記Ａｒ^１の説明において挙げたものと同様のものが挙げられる。
【００２３】
さらにまた前記各基におけるハロゲン原子の具体例として、フッ素原子、塩素原子、臭素原子、ヨウ素原子を挙げることができる。
【００２４】
本発明で使用されるエポキシ基を有さないシラノール化合物としては、下記一般式（３）で表される化合物を挙げることできる。
【化１２】
（Ｒ）_ｎ−Ｓｉ−（Ｙ）_４−ｎ　　　　　　　　　　　　　（３）
（式中、Ｒはケイ素原子に炭素原子が直接結合した形の有機基を表し、ｎは０〜３の整数を表し、ｎが３の場合Ｙは水酸基を表し、ｎが０〜２の場合はＹは少なくとも１つが水酸基で残りが水酸基又は加水分解性基を表す。）
上記アミノ基を有さないシラノール化合物は下記一般式（５）で表されるアミノ基を有さないアルコキシシラン化合物を加水分解することにより得られる。加水分解は、部分的な加水分解でも良く、架橋反応と同時進行的に行われても良い。これら、アルコキシシラン化合物からシラノール化を経てシリコーンレジンを得る方法については従来知られているゾル−ゲル法を適用できる。
【００２５】
本発明で使用されるアミノ基を有さないアルコキシシラン化合物とは、下記一般式（５）で示される化合物を示す。
【化１３】
（Ｒ）_ｎ−Ｓｉ−（Ｘ）_４−ｎ　　　　　　　　　　　（５）
（式中、Ｒはケイ素原子に炭素原子が直接結合した形の有機基を表し、Ｘは水酸基又は加水分解性基を表し、少なくとも１個はアルコキシ基であり、ｎは０〜３の整数を表す。）
【００２６】
前記一般式（３）及び（５）において、Ｒで表されるケイ素原子に炭素原子が直接結合した形の有機基としては、メチル、エチル、プロピル、ブチル等のアルキル基、フェニル、トリル、ナフチル、ビフェニル等のアリール基、γ−クロロプロピル、１，１，１−トリフルオロプロピル、ノナフルオロヘキシル、パーフルオロオクチルエチル等の含ハロゲン基、その他ニトロ基、シアノ置換アルキル基を挙げることができる。またＸの加水分解性基としてはメトキシ、エトキシ、プロポキシ、ブトキシ等のアルコキシ基、ハロゲン基、アシルオキシ基が挙げられる。特に炭素数６以下のアルコキシ基が好ましい。
一般式（３）及び（５）で表される化合物は、１種単独でも良いし、２種以上を組み合わせて使用しても良い。
【００２７】
又一般式（３）及び（５）で表される有機ケイ素化合物の具体的化合物で、ｎが２以上の場合、複数のＲは同一でも異なっていても良い。同様に、ｎが２以下の場合、複数のＸ及びＹは同一でも異なっていても良い。又、一般式（３）及び／又は（５）で表される有機ケイ素化合物を２種以上を用いるとき、Ｒ及びＸ、Ｙはそれぞれの化合物間で同一でも良く、異なっていても良い。
【００２８】
エポキシ基含有アミンとの相溶性を上げて均一な透明膜を得るためには、Ｒに少なくとも１個の芳香族基を有するアミノ基を有さないアルコキシシラン化合物及び／又はシラノール化合物を用いることが好ましく、芳香族基を有しないアルコキシシラン化合物及び／又はシラノール化合物との混合で使用することがさらに好ましい。フェニルトリアルコキシシラン誘導体やメチルトリアルコキシシラン誘導体の組み合わせ等が好ましく使用される。
【００２９】
また、一般式（３）及び（５）において、加水分解性基及び／又は水酸基の数が２以上（ｎ＝２以下）の場合にシラン化合物が縮合してオルガノポリシロキサン樹脂が得られるが、該数が３（ｎ＝１）の場合に３次元に架橋可能な架橋性オルガノポリシロキサン樹脂が得られるため、ｎ＝１の３官能シランモノマーを原料として含むことが必須である。そして３官能シランモノマーに他の２官能シランモノマー（ｎ＝２）成分や４官能シランモノマー（ｎ＝０）成分を適宜加えることにより、樹脂の性質（安定性、塗膜強度等）を調整することができる。
【００３０】
本発明で使用されるアミノ基含有アルコキシシラン化合物、及びアミノ基含有シラノール化合物とは、上記一般式（３）及び（５）中のＲの内少なくとも１つがさらに第１級アミノ基、第２級アミノ基を置換基として有する化合物およびそれらの類似構造体を示す。
例えば、４−アミノブチルトリエトキシシラン、Ｎ−（２−アミノエチル）−３−アミノイソブチルメチルジメトキシシラン、（アミノエチルアミノメチル）フェネチルトリメトキシシラン、Ｎ−（２−アミノエチル）−３−アミノプロピルメチルジメトキシシラン、Ｎ−（２−アミノエチル）−３−アミノプロピルトリメトキシシラン、Ｎ−（６−アミノヘキシル）アミノプロピルトリメトキシシラン、アミノフェニルトリメトキシシラン、３−アミノプロピルメチルジエトキシシラン、３−アミノプロピルトリエトキシシラン、３−アミノプロピルトリメトキシシラン、ビス（トリメトキシシリルプロピル）アミン、Ｎ，Ｎ’−ビス［３−（トリメトキシシリル）プロピル］エチレンジアミン、Ｎ−メチルアミノプロピルメチルジメトキシシラン、Ｎ−メチルアミノプロピルトリメトキシシラン、Ｎ−フェニルアミノプロピルトリメトキシシラン、Ｎ−フェニルアミノプロピルトリエトキシシラン、尿素プロピルトリエトキシシラン、尿素プロピルトリメトキシシラン等およびこれらの類似構造体が挙げられる。
【００３１】
本発明におけるエポキシ基含有アミン化合物とアミノ基含有シラノール化合物またはアミノ基含有アルコキシ化合物とアミノ基を有しないシラノール化合物またはアミノ基を有さないアルコキシ化合物との反応物とは、主としてシラノール基またはアルコキシ基が加水分解して生成したシラノール基同士の縮合反応、及びエポキシ基含有アミン化合物のエポキシ基と前記シラノール基との付加反応、及びエポキシ基含有アミン化合物のエポキシ基とアミノ基含有シラノール化合物またはアミノ基含有アルコキシシラン化合物のアミノ基との付加反応により一体となって結合したレジンを言う。また、厳密には、さらに加えてエポキシ基がシラノール基と開環付加反応した後に生成したヒドロキシ基と前記シラノール基の縮合反応、アミノ基とシラノール基による縮合反応を含んで３〜５種の反応様式で複雑に結合された架橋レジンを表す。
【００３２】
これら３成分の配合割合は、それぞれの構造や狙いの電子写真特性によって調整されるが、通常は下記の範囲が好ましい。
エポキシ基含有アミン化合物は１０重量％から８０重量％が適当であり、さらに好ましくは、２０重量％から６０重量％である。少なすぎる場合は電荷輸送能が低下し、高感度な電子写真感光体が得られなくなったり、残留電荷が大きくなって繰り返し画像安定性が悪くなる。多すぎる場合は、シリコーンレジン部の割合が減少し、レジンの機械的特性が悪くなる。
アミノ基含有シラノール化合物及び／又はアミノ基含有アルコキシシラン化合物は、エポキシ基含有アミン化合物の反応当量以上入れることは好ましくない。例えばアミノ基が１級アミン１個の場合、２官能として働くのでエポキシ基を２個含有するアミン化合物と等モル量以下にするのが好ましい。
アミノ基が未反応で残留した場合は、残留電位が大きくなる問題を生じる。
アミノ基含有シラノール化合物及び／又はアミノ基含有アルコキシ化合物とアミノ基を有さないシラノール化合物及び／又はアミノ基を有さないアルコキシ化合物の合計は２０重量％から９０重量％、好ましくは４０重量％から８０重量％が適当である。
【００３３】
本発明の電子写真感光体は、前記高次架橋体、又はエポキシ基含有アミン化合物とアミノ基含有シラノール化合物とアミノ基を有しないシラノール化合物との反応物を含有するものであるが、好ましい構成としては、これらが感光体表面に含有されるものであり、さらに好ましくは、感光体表面が主としてこれらのレジンで形成されたものであり、さらに好ましくは、保護層としてこれらのレジンが感光体表面に形成されたものである。
代表的な電子写真感光体の層構成としては、導電性支持体上に電荷発生層、電荷輸送層を順に積層した積層型感光体において電荷輸送層上にさらに保護層を設けた構成が上げられる。この場合、導電性支持体と電荷発生層の間には、下引き層が形成される場合が多く、本発明においても、適用される。
【００３４】
本発明は、電荷輸送能を有し、且つ極めて機械的強度の高いレジン及びレジン層を提供するものであり、上記積層感光体ばかりでなく、単層型感光体や逆層型積層感光体やそれらの保護層としても使用することができる。
【００３５】
以下、本発明の前記高次架橋体、又は前記３成分の反応物を保護層として使用する場合を例に挙げて、さらに詳細に説明する。
本発明の電子写真感光体用塗布液は、前記一般式（３）及び／又は（５）で表される化合物等のケイ素含有モノマーを加水分解するのに必要な水を添加し、酸性条件下〜塩基性条件下で加水分解して用いてもよい。
【００３６】
前記保護層塗布液に用いられる溶媒は、ケトン系、エステル系、エーテル系あるいは芳香族系溶媒から選ばれる１種以上の溶媒とアルコール系溶媒との混合溶媒が好ましい。
ケトン系溶媒としてはメチルエチルケトン、メチルイソブチルケトン、アセトン、シクロヘキサノン等が、エステル系溶媒としては酢酸エチル、酢酸ｔ−ブチル等が、エーテル系溶媒としてはメチルセルソルブ、エチルセルソルブ、ジエチルエーテル、ジブチルエーテル、ジプロピルエーテル、テトラヒドロフラン、１，４−ジオキサン、１，３−ジオキソラン等が、芳香族系溶媒としてはトルエン、キシレン等が挙げられる。また、アルコール系溶媒としてはメタノール、エタノール、１−プロパノール、２−プロパノール、１−ブタノール、ｔ−ブタノール等が挙げられる。
これらの内、エポキシ基含有アミン化合物、アルコキシシラン化合物及びシラノール化合物を溶解させるものが使用される。
【００３７】
前記保護層塗布液中の固形分濃度は前記シラノール化合物、アルコキシシラン化合物、エポキシ基含有アミン化合物の構造や塗布方法等により最適なものが選ばれるが、通常１０〜５０質量％が好ましい。
【００３８】
また、前記保護層塗布液には架橋反応を促進する触媒として有機カルボン酸、亜硝酸、亜硫酸、アルミン酸、炭酸及びチオシアン酸の各アルカリ金属塩、有機アミン塩（水酸化テトラメチルアンモニウム、テトラメチルアンモニウムアセテート）、スズ有機酸塩（スタンナスオクトエート、ジブチルチンジアセテート、ジブチルチンジラウレート、ジブチルチンメルカプチド、ジブチルチンチオカルボキシレート、ジブチルチンマリエート等）、アルミニウム、亜鉛のオクテン酸、ナフテン酸塩、アセチルアセトン錯化合物等を使用しても良い。触媒の量としては前記シラノール化合物、アルコキシシラン化合物１００重量部に対し０．１〜１０重量部を用いることが好ましい。
【００３９】
さらに前記保護層塗布液は、さらにコロイダルシリカ、コロイダルアルミナ等の金属酸化物のコロイドを加えて作製しても良い。コロイダルシリカは水性またはアルコール性のゾルで、粒径が１００ｎｍ以下のものが好ましく、５０ｎｍ以下のものが特に好ましい。
コロイダルシリカ等の添加量はとくに制限は無いが乾燥後の前記硬化性樹脂層中に１〜３０質量％含有させることが好ましい。
【００４０】
また、前記保護層塗布液には、この他、電子写真用の素材として公知の様々な素材、例えばヒンダードアミン、ヒンダードフェノールなどの酸化防止剤、シリコンオイルなどの平滑剤、アミン化合物などの正孔輸送剤、キノン類などの電子輸送剤を添加してもよい。
【００４１】
塗膜の乾燥温度としては使用する溶媒種、触媒有無によって異なるが、およそ６０〜１６０℃の範囲で１０分〜５時間の加熱が好ましく、より好ましくは９０〜１３０℃の範囲で３０分〜２時間の加熱が好ましい。
該保護層の膜厚は、通常０．１〜１５μｍ、好ましくは０．２〜７μｍ、より好ましくは０．５〜５μｍである。
【００４２】
先に述べたように、代表的な感光体構成としてはアルミニウムのような導電性支持体上に下引き層、電荷発生層、電荷輸送層、保護層を順次形成したものである。
以下保護層以外について説明する。
但し、導電性支持体、下引き層、電荷発生層、電荷輸送層については従来公知の感光体構成物を適用できるものであり、下記説明によって限定されるものではない。
【００４３】
本発明の電子写真感光体の感光層に用いられる電荷発生物質としては公知のどのようなものでも使用できる。
例えば、Ａ型、Ｂ型及びＹ型のチタニルフタロシアニン、Ｘ型及びτ型の無金属フタロシアニン、銅フタロシアニン等の金属フタロシアニン類、ナフタロシアニン類、またこれら２種のフタロシアニンの混晶、アゾ化合物、ピリリウム化合物、ペリレン系化合物、シアニン系化合物、スクアリウム化合物、多環キノン化合物等が挙げられる。これら電荷発生物質は単独で又は適当なバインダー樹脂中に分散して層形成が行われる。
【００４４】
また本発明の電子写真感光体の感光層に用いられる電荷輸送物質としては公知のどのようなものでも使用できる。
例えば正孔輸送物質の代表的なものとして、オキサゾール、オキサジアゾール、チアゾール、チアジアゾール、イミダゾール等に代表される含窒素複素環核、及びその縮合環核を有する化合物、ポリアリールアルカン型の化合物、ヒドラゾン系化合物、ピラゾリン系化合物、トリアリールアミン系化合物、スチリル系化合物、ポリス（ビス）スチリル系化合物、スチリルトリフェニルアミン系化合物、β−フェニルスチリルトリフェニルアミン系化合物、ブタジエン系化合物、ヘキサトリエン化合物、カルバゾール系化合物、縮合多環系化合物等が挙げられ、電子輸送物質の代表的なものとしては、ベンゾキノン、ナフトキノン、アントラキノン、チオピラノン、フルオレノン、インデノン、インダンジオン系化合物等が挙げられる。これら電荷輸送物質は通常、適当なバインダー樹脂中に溶解して層形成が行われる。
【００４５】
電荷発生物質、電荷輸送物質の分散、溶解の使用される溶媒としては、トルエン、キシレン等の炭化水素類；メチレンクロライド、１，２−ジクロルエタン等のハロゲン化炭化水素；メチルエチルケトン、シクロヘキサノン等のケトン類；酢酸エチル、酢酸ブチル等のエステル類；メタノール、エタノール、メチルセルソルブ、エチルセルソルブ等のアルコール類及びこの誘導体；テトラヒドロフラン、１，４−ジオキサン、１，３−ジオキソラン等のエーテル類；ピリジンやジエチルアミン等のアミン類；Ｎ，Ｎ−ジメチルホルムアミド等のアミド類；その他脂肪酸及びフェノール類；二硫化炭素や燐酸トリエチル等の硫黄、燐化合物等の１種又は２種以上を用いることができる。
【００４６】
本発明の電子写真感光体感光層の中で前記ケイ素含有反応物層以外の感光層には、ポリスチレン、アクリル樹脂、メタクリル樹脂、塩化ビニル樹脂、酢酸ビニル樹脂、ポリビニルブチラール樹脂、エポキシ樹脂、ポリウレタン樹脂、フェノール樹脂、ポリエステル樹脂、アルキッド樹脂、ポリカーボネート樹脂、シリコーン樹脂、メラミン樹脂ならびにこれらの樹脂の繰り返し単位のうちの２つ以上を含む共重合体樹脂が使用できる。また、これらの絶縁性樹脂の他、ポリ−Ｎ−ビニルカルバゾール等の高分子有機半導体が使用できる。
【００４７】
本発明の電子写真感光体の感光層におけるバインダー樹脂と電荷発生物質との割合は、バインダー樹脂１００重量部に対し５０〜６００重量部が好ましい。またバインダー樹脂と電荷輸送物質との割合は、バインダー樹脂１００重量部に対し１０〜１００重量部が好ましい。
【００４８】
本発明の電子写真感光体の感光層の膜厚は、電荷発生層は０．１〜１０μｍ、電荷輸送層は５〜３０μｍが好ましい。また感光層が単層構成の場合は５〜４０μｍが好ましい。
【００４９】
本発明の電子写真感光体の感光層を支持する導電性支持体としては、アルミニウム、ニッケルなどの金属板・金属ドラム、又はアルミニウム、酸化錫、酸化インジュウムなどを蒸着したプラスチックフィルム、又は導電性物質を塗布した紙・プラスチックフィルム・ドラムを使用することができる。
【００５０】
本発明の電子写真感光体の下引き層に用いられる材料としては、ポリアミド樹脂、塩化ビニル樹脂、酢酸ビニル樹脂ならびに、これらの樹脂の繰り返し単位のうちの２つ以上を含む共重合体樹脂が挙げられる。またシランカップリング剤、チタンカップリング剤等の有機金属化合物を熱硬化させた硬化性金属樹脂化合物が挙げられる。
下引き層の膜厚は、０．０１〜１５μｍが好ましい。
【００５１】
また本発明の電子写真感光体には、その他、感色性補正の染料や感光層に酸化防止剤等の添加剤を添加しても良い。
【００５２】
本発明の電子写真感光体を製造するための塗布加工方法としては、各層形成用の塗布液をディップ塗布、スプレー塗布、円形量規制型塗布等が用いることできる。特に感光層の保護層側の塗布加工は下層の膜を極力溶解させないため、また均一塗布加工を達成するためにスプレー塗布、円形量規制型塗布（円形スライドホッパーがその代表例である）を用いるのが好ましい。なお前記スプレー塗布については特開平３−９０２５０号公報、特開平３−２６９２３８号公報にその記載があり、前記円形量規制型塗布については特開昭５８−１８９０６１号公報に詳細が記載されている。
【００５３】
【実施例】
以下、本発明について実施例を挙げて具体的に説明するが、本発明が実施例により制約を受けるものではない。なお、部はすべて重量部である。
【００５４】
合成例
＜エポキシ基含有アミン化合物の合成＞
かき混ぜ装置、温度計、滴下漏斗およびエピクロルヒドリンと水との共沸混合物を凝縮分離して下層のエピクロルヒドリン層を戻すための装置をつけた反応容器に、４−〔２，２−ビス（４−ヒドロキシフェニル）ビニル〕フェニル−ビス（４−メチルフェニル）アミン１９．３４ｇ（４０．０ｍｍｏｌ）とエピクロルヒドリン３７．０１ｇ（４００．０ｍｍｏｌ）を入れ、窒素気流下、１１０℃で加熱攪拌した。これに反応系内の温度が１００℃〜１２０℃を維持するように、２０ｗｔ％水酸化ナトリウム水溶液１９．２０ｇ（９６．０ｍｍｏｌ）を３時間かけて滴下した。反応中に留去された水とエピクロルヒドリンはエピクロルヒドリンのみ反応容器に戻し、水酸化ナトリウム水溶液の滴下終了後、１１０℃でさらに１時間反応させた。これを室温まで放冷し、過剰のエピクロルヒドリンを減圧回収した後、トルエンを加えて有機層を水洗浄し、無水硫酸マグネシウムで乾燥後、減圧下でトルエン溶媒を留去して、黄色の粗生成物２０．７５ｇ（収率８７．１％）、融点１１１．０〜１１６．０℃を得た。これをシリカゲルでカラムクロマト精製（溶離液：トルエン／酢酸エチル＝２０／１ｖｏｌ．）した後、酢酸エチルとエタノールから再結晶を行って淡黄色針状結晶１５．８５ｇ（収率６６．５％）を得た。融点は１２８．０〜１２９．０℃であった。
赤外線吸収スペクトル（ＮａＣｌ液膜法）を図１に示す。
元素分析結果を以下に示す。

【００５５】
実施例１
アルミニウムシリンダー上に下記組成の下引き層塗工液、電荷発生層塗工液、および電荷輸送層塗工液を、浸漬塗工によって順次塗布、乾燥し、３．５μｍの下引き層、０．２μｍの電荷発生層、２６μｍの電荷輸送層を形成した。
＜下引き層塗工液＞
二酸化チタン粉末：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　４００部
メラミン樹脂：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　４０部
アルキッド樹脂：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　６０部
２−ブタノン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　５００部
＜電荷発生層塗工液＞
下記構造式で表されるビスアゾ顔料：　　　　　　　　　　　　　１２部
【化１４】

ポリビニルブチラール：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　５部
２−ブタノン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　２００部
シクロヘキサノン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　４００部
＜電荷輸送層塗工液＞
ポリカーボネート（Ｚポリカ、帝人化成製）：　　　　　　　　　１０部
下記構造式で表される電荷輸送物質：　　　　　　　　　　　　　１０部
【化１５】

テトラヒドロフラン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　１００部
１％シリコーンオイル（ＫＦ５０−１００ＣＳ、
信越化学工業製）テトラヒドロフラン溶液　　　　　　　　　　　１部
次いで電荷輸送層上にさらに、下記組成の保護層塗工液をスプレー塗工法によって約３μｍの保護層を形成し、その後、１３０℃で２時間加熱乾燥し、実施例１の電子写真感光体を作製した。
＜保護層塗工液＞
合成例により得られた下記構造式
で表されるエポキシ基含有アミノ化合物：　　　　　　　　　　３５部
【化１６】

３−アミノプロピルトリエトキシシラン：　　　　　　　　　　　１３部
メチルトリメトキシシラン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　４５部
フェニルトリエトキシシラン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　３２部
１％酢酸水溶液：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　３７．６部
テトラヒドロフラン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　２４８．４部
ｎ−ブタノール：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　２７．６部
【００５６】
実施例２
実施例１において保護層塗工を以下のように行うこと以外は例実施例１と同様にして電子写真感光体を作製した。
予め下記組成の処方液を作製し、６０℃で２時間撹拌し、アルコキシシランをシラノール化した。
＜保護層塗工液の予備処方液＞
３−アミノプロピルトリエトキシシラン：　　　　　　　　　　　１３部
メチルトリメトキシシラン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　４５部
フェニルトリエトキシシラン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　３２部
１％酢酸水溶液：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　３７．６部
テトラヒドロフラン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　２４８．４部
ｎ−ブタノール：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　２７．６部
その後、実施例１で使用したエポキシ基含有アミノ化合物３５部を添加し、塗工液を作製した。この塗工液を用いて実施例１と同様にして保護層を作製した。
【００５７】
比較例１
実施例１においてエポキシ基含有アミノ化合物の代わりに下記構造式で表されるヒドロキシ基含有アミン化合物を使用する以外は実施例１と同様にして電子写真感光体を作製した。
【化１７】

【００５８】
比較例２
保護層塗工液として下記のものを用いる以外は実施例１と同様にして電子写真感光体を作製した。
＜保護層塗工液＞
下記構造式で表されるヒドロキシ基含有アミノ化合物：　　　　　　７部
【化１８】

メチルトリメトキシシラン：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　１８部
１％酢酸水溶液：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　１０部
ｎ−ブタノール：　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　５５．１部
【００５９】
比較例３
実施例１において保護層を設けない以外は実施例１と同様にして電子写真感光体を作製した。
【００６０】
得られた電子写真感光体をリコー製ｉｍａｇｉｏＭＦ２２００（６５５ｎｍＬＤ光源使用改造機）にセットし、１万枚の通紙ランニングを行った後の摩耗量（膜厚変化）測定と感光体表面の顕微鏡観察と、機内電位の暗部電位（ＶＤ）、明部電位（ＶＬ）の電位変動測定を行った。また、テストチャートの出力画像から目視による画質評価を行った。表面観察では、微細な線状傷のみの場合○、一部粒状のへこみを生じる場合△、粒状のへこみが全面に出たり、膜の脱落が見られる場合×とした。画質では、目立った画質低下のない場合○、一部、地汚れ、白抜け、解像度低下等の異常画像を生じる場合△、全面に渡って濃度低下や異常画像の発生する場合×とした。その結果を下記に示す。また、感光体の表面に指紋を付着させ、４８時間放置後のクラック発生の有無を調べた。クラックの発生しない場合○、一部発生する場合△、全面に発生する場合×とした。結果を下記表１に示す。
【００６１】
【表１】

【００６２】
以上のように本発明の電子写真感光体は耐摩耗性が極めて高く、繰り返し使用時の電位変動が小さく、耐クラック性も良く、高画質安定性と耐摩耗性を両立させた寿命の長い電子写真用感光体を提供しうることがわかる。
【００６３】
【発明の効果】
従来、ポリオルガノシロキサン架橋膜に電荷輸送能を付与するため、縮合反応のみで架橋させており、反応時に膜の収縮が大きくなり、膜中の内部応力が増加し、内部欠陥が発生したり、膜の微少な剥がれが生じたりして、機械的に十分な強度が得られなかった。また、多官能な電荷輸送性化合物の合成が容易ではなく、これらを反応させた膜の架橋密度が低下し、十分硬い膜の作製が困難であった。
本発明では、電子写真感光体の表面層や保護層を、主としてシラノールの縮合反応により形成される架橋体とエポキシ基とアミンの反応により形成される架橋体が両方の反応をし得る構造体により一体となって連結された高次架橋体、例えばエポキシ基含有アミン化合物とアミノ基含有シラノール化合物とアミノ基を有さないシラノール化合物との反応物で構成することにより、エポキシ基とアミノ基との開環を伴う付加反応によって電荷輸送性基を導入するので膜の収縮が小さくなり歪みの少ない膜が得られると共に、エポキシ基の開環によって生じたヒドロキシ基も架橋反応に寄与でき、少ない官能基数で多官能体と同じ働きができるため、架橋密度も高く、硬くて傷のつきにくい膜の作製が可能になる。
このように本発明では、シロキサン結合とエポキシ基−アミノ基反応結合の２種類の架橋反応を使用して機械的特性に優れる高度な３次元マトリックス架橋体を形成することにより、耐摩耗性と電子写真特性の両立した高寿命な電子写真感光体を提供しうるものである。
また、本発明では、エポキシ基含有アミン化合物として、ホール移動度の高い一般式（１）及び（２）で表される化合物を用いた場合、電荷輸送性化合物を架橋膜中に導入可能となるため、電荷移動に優れ、優れた電子写真特性を示し、しかも高耐久な電子写真感光体の提供が可能になる。
また、該電荷輸送層化合物の電荷輸送性基が前述のように多重に架橋されているため、遊離体が発生しにくく、クラック等にも強い電子写真感光体となる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】合成例で得られたエポキシ基含有アミン化合物の赤外線吸収スペクトル図（ＮａＣｌ液膜法）。[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member used for an image output device such as an electrophotographic printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, and the like, and a method of manufacturing the same. More specifically, it has a small diameter and high abrasion resistance, hardly scratches the surface, does not crack, has good chargeability, has a small residual potential when irradiated with light, and has a charge potential even after repeated use. Also, the present invention relates to a long-life electrophotographic photoreceptor having low fluctuations in residual potential, hardly causing abnormal images such as image blur, and achieving both high image quality stability and abrasion resistance, and a method of manufacturing the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been a remarkable development of information processing system machines using an electrophotographic system. Particularly, laser printers and digital copiers that convert information into digital signals and record information by light have remarkably improved in print quality and reliability. Further, they have been applied to laser printers or digital copying machines capable of full-color printing by fusing with high-speed technology. From such a background, as a required function of the photoconductor, achieving both high image quality and high durability has become a particularly important issue.
[0003]
As photoreceptors used in these electrophotographic laser printers and digital copiers, those using organic photosensitive materials are widely applied in general because of cost, productivity and pollution-free properties. I have. Organic electrophotographic photoreceptors include a photoconductive resin represented by polyvinyl carbazole (PVK), a charge transfer complex represented by PVK-TNF (2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone), There are known a pigment dispersion type represented by a phthalocyanine-binder, and a function-separated type photoreceptor using a combination of a charge generating substance and a charge transporting substance.
[0004]
The mechanism of electrostatic latent image formation in a function-separated type photoreceptor is that, when the photoreceptor is charged and irradiated with light, the light passes through the charge transport layer and is absorbed by the charge generating substance in the charge generation layer to generate charges. . The generated charge is injected into the charge transport layer at the interface between the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer, and further moves in the charge transport layer by an electric field to neutralize the surface charge of the photoreceptor, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. To form.
[0005]
However, organic photoreceptors are susceptible to film shaving due to repeated use, and as the film of the photosensitive layer progresses, ground potential due to lowering of the charging potential of the photoreceptor, deterioration of photosensitivity, scratches on the surface of the photoreceptor, etc. In addition, there is a strong tendency that image quality deterioration such as a decrease in image density is promoted, and the abrasion resistance of the photoreceptor has been conventionally cited as a major problem. Furthermore, in recent years, the high durability of the photoconductor has become an even more important issue due to the reduction in the diameter of the photoconductor along with the increase in the speed of the electrophotographic apparatus or the miniaturization of the apparatus. In addition, foreign matter may adhere to the surface of the photoreceptor, causing crystallization or cracking of the film. In particular, when a person directly touches the photoreceptor, sebum adheres to the surface of the photoreceptor, which may trigger a crack. Cracks cause image defects and shorten the life of the photoreceptor.
[0006]
As a method of realizing high durability of the photoconductor, a method of providing a protective layer on the outermost surface of the photoconductor, imparting lubricity to the protective layer, containing a filler, or curing is known. I have.
For example, JP-A-07-295248, JP-A-07-301936, and JP-A-08-08940 disclose a surface layer containing fluorine-modified silicone oil to improve the surface properties and improve the photoreceptor surface. There are proposals to improve wear resistance. However, such a method of adding the oil component to the photosensitive layer to lower the coefficient of friction does not maintain the abrasion resistance effect because the component transferred to the surface is immediately removed.
[0007]
On the other hand, there has been an attempt to improve the abrasion resistance by adding an inorganic filler or crosslinked resin particles to a photoconductor surface layer. In these cases, although the abrasion resistance is improved, there is a drawback that the influence on the charged potential and the residual potential is large, and the potential fluctuation particularly during repeated use is large.
[0008]
Various studies using a thermosetting resin have been made. In particular, those using a resin in which a skeleton having a charge transporting property is co-crosslinked in a three-dimensional crosslinked film have attracted attention as being able to achieve both electrophotographic characteristics and abrasion resistance.
For example, an organic silicon-modified hole transporting compound in which silicon having a hydrolyzable group is directly introduced into a charge transporting agent is used for an electrophotographic photoreceptor (JP-A-9-190004), and a condensation reaction with a silanol group is possible. Using a film in which a charge transporting compound having a hydroxyl group, an amino group or a thiol group is introduced into a siloxane three-dimensional crosslinked film (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-171990), a charge having two or more chain polymerizable groups in a molecule Use of a three-dimensional crosslinked film of a transport material and an acrylic compound (JP-A-2000-206715) is known.
[0009]
However, in the case of JP-A No. 9-190004, it is difficult to synthesize and purify the organosilicon-modified hole-transporting compound to be used, which causes a decrease in film strength and a decrease in electrophotographic characteristics. Or cause problems. Further, in the case of JP-A-2000-171990, there is a problem in that the use of the charge-transporting compound having a reactive group is limited in terms of compatibility or the strength of the copolymerized crosslinked film is not sufficient. is there. Further, in the case of JP-A-2000-206715, there are problems that the residual chain-polymerizable group adversely affects gas resistance and mechanical strength is not sufficient.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional electrophotographic photoreceptor, and in particular, has high abrasion resistance, is hardly scratched on the surface, does not crack, has good chargeability, and is irradiated with light. The residual potential at the time is small, the fluctuation of the charged potential and the residual potential is small even after repeated use, the abnormal image such as image blur is unlikely to be generated, and the long life electrophotography achieves both high image quality stability and wear resistance. And a method for manufacturing the same.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, there are provided the following electrophotographic photoreceptors (1) to (11) and methods for producing the electrophotographic photoreceptors (12) to (13).
(1) A crosslinked product formed by a condensation reaction of silanol and a crosslinked product formed by a reaction of an epoxy group and an amine contain a higher-order crosslinked product integrally connected by a structure capable of performing both reactions. An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a layer.
(2) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to the above (1), wherein a part of the structure of the higher crosslinked product has a charge transporting group.
(3) The above (1) or (2), wherein the higher crosslinked product is a reaction product of an epoxy group-containing amine compound, an amino group-containing silanol compound, and a silanol compound having no amino group. Electrophotographic photoreceptor.
(4) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to (3), wherein the silanol compound is produced by hydrolysis of an alkoxysilane compound.
(5) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to (3) or (4), wherein the epoxy group-containing amine compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (1).
Embedded image

(Where R ¹ Represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. Ar ¹ Represents an aryl group having at least one tertiary amino group and a heterocyclic group having at least one tertiary amino group. Ar ² , Ar ³ Represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group. Where Ar ² And Ar ³ May be the same or different. n represents an integer of 0 to 100. )
(6) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to any of (3) to (5), wherein the epoxy group-containing amine compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (2).
Embedded image

(Where R ⁴ ~ R ²⁵ Represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, which may be the same or different. n represents an integer of 0 to 100. )
(7) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to any one of (3) to (6), wherein the silanol compound having no amino group is a compound represented by the following general formula (3).
Embedded image
(R) _n -Si- (Y) _4-n (3)
(In the formula, R represents an organic group in which a carbon atom is directly bonded to a silicon atom, n represents an integer of 0 to 3, when n is 3, Y represents a hydroxyl group, and when n is 0 to 2, Y represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group, and at least one is a hydroxyl group.)
(8) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to any of (3) to (7), wherein the silanol compound having no amino group comprises a mixture of two or more kinds.
(9) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to any one of (3) to (8), wherein the silanol compound having no amino group is a compound having at least one aromatic group.
(10) An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a photosensitive layer provided on a conductive support, wherein the surface layer contains the higher crosslinked product according to any one of the above (1) to (9). Electrophotographic photoreceptor.
(11) In an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a protective layer are sequentially laminated on a conductive support, the protective layer is mainly described in any one of the above (1) to (9). An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a higher crosslinked product of the above.
(12) The above (3), wherein a coating liquid is prepared from an epoxy group-containing amine compound, an amino group-containing alkoxysilane compound, or an alkoxysilane compound having no amino group as a raw material, and is coated, dried and cured. The method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of (1) to (11).
(13) The method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to (12), wherein the drying and curing are performed at 80 ° C. or higher.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The crosslinked product formed by the silanol condensation reaction referred to in the present invention is a silicone resin formed by a skeleton in which siloxane bonds are condensed in a three-dimensional manner with a high degree of crosslinking, and includes organosilsesquioxane, silicate and diorgano resin. It is a silicone resin obtained by using siloxane or triorganosylhemoxane as a structural basic unit and combining these structural units. Further, the crosslinked product formed by the reaction between the epoxy group and the amine is an epoxy cured resin bonded by an addition reaction between the epoxy group and a primary or secondary amine. The high-order crosslinked product referred to in the present invention means that the silicone resin component and the epoxy-cured resin component are linked by a structure capable of performing both a silanol condensation reaction and an addition reaction between an epoxy group and an amine. Further, it shows a resin which is connected together by a condensation reaction between a silanol group and an epoxy group and a condensation reaction between an amino group and a silanol group. This higher-order crosslinked product is excellent in mechanical properties, and a photoconductor having excellent durability can be obtained by being contained in the photoconductor.
[0013]
Further, in order to impart sufficient photoconductivity to the electrophotographic photoreceptor, it is preferable that a part of the structure of the higher-order crosslinked body has a charge transporting group which has been used in the conventional photoreceptor introduced. At this time, it is preferable to introduce a charge transporting group into the epoxy cured resin portion to form a transparent and uniform high-order crosslinked product.
As a more specific system for forming such a higher crosslinked product, there can be mentioned a reaction product of an epoxy group-containing amine compound, an amino group-containing silanol compound and a silanol compound having no amino group.
[0014]
Examples of the epoxy group-containing amine compound used in the present invention include oxazole derivatives, oxadiazole derivatives, imidazole derivatives, triarylamine derivatives such as triphenylamine, and phenylhydrazone, which are usually used as a charge transport material of an electrophotographic photoreceptor. Compounds having a skeleton of a charge-transporting compound such as a derivative, an α-phenylstilbene derivative, a stilbene derivative, a benzimidazole derivative, and an N-phenylcarbazole derivative, and having at least one epoxy group as a substituent are given. Such an epoxy group-containing amine compound has a charge transporting property in a high-order crosslinked product, and is therefore usually preferably contained in an amount of 20% by weight or more. However, since it is added in a large amount to the film, it greatly affects the degree of crosslinking. . Therefore, in order to produce a tough film having a high degree of crosslinking, a film having two or more epoxy groups in one molecule is preferable.
[0015]
Among them, an epoxy group-containing amine compound represented by the following general formulas (1) and (2) is preferably used as a compound having excellent charge transporting properties.
The epoxy group-containing amine compounds represented by the general formulas (1) and (2) are novel compounds and can be produced by reacting a corresponding dihydroxy compound with a glycidylating agent.
[0016]
Embedded image

(Where R ¹ Represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. Ar ¹ Represents an aryl group having at least one tertiary amino group and a heterocyclic group having at least one tertiary amino group. Ar ² , Ar ³ Represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group. Where Ar ² And Ar ³ May be the same or different. n represents an integer of 0 to 100. )
[0017]
Embedded image

(Where R ⁴ ~ R ²⁵ Represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, which may be the same or different. n represents an integer of 0 to 100. )
[0018]
In the epoxy group-containing amine compounds represented by the general formulas (1) and (2), ¹ , R ⁴ ~ R ²⁵ The substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, which may be substituted with a halogen atom or a phenyl group. It may be substituted by an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. Specifically, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, t-butyl, s-butyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, n-pentyl, trifluoromethyl, Examples include a benzyl group, a 4-chlorobenzyl group, and a 4-methylbenzyl group.
[0019]
Also, R ¹ A substituted or unsubstituted aryl group represented by the formula: phenyl, naphthyl, biphenylyl, terphenylyl, pyrenyl, fluorenyl, 9,9-dimethyl-2-fluorenyl, azulenyl, anthryl, triphenylenyl And a chrysenyl group. These aryl groups may be substituted with a halogen atom or the above-mentioned alkyl group phenyl group. Further, a group represented by the following general formula (4) can also be mentioned.
Embedded image

[Wherein X is -O-, -S-, -SO-, -S0 ₂ -, -CO- and the following divalent groups.
Embedded image

Embedded image

(Where R ²⁶ , R ²⁷ Represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a represents an integer of 1 to 12, and b represents an integer of 1 to 3. )]
Note that R in the general formula (4) ²⁶ , R ²⁷ Is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group ¹ , R ⁴ ~ R ²⁵ And its definitions and specific examples are the same.
[0020]
In the epoxy group-containing amine compound represented by the general formula (1), Ar ¹ The aryl group of the aryl group having at least one tertiary amino group represented by ¹ And the same as those described in the description.
Further, as the tertiary amino group, the aforementioned R ¹⁶ ~ R ²⁵ And a group having a nitrogen atom to which two phenyl having a substituent represented by are bonded.
[0021]
In the epoxy group-containing amine compound represented by the general formula (1), Ar ² , Ar ³ As the substituted or unsubstituted arylene group of ¹ Description (ie, R ¹ ), And a divalent group derived from the aryl group mentioned above.
Further, as the substituent of the arylene group, the aforementioned R ⁴ ~ R ¹¹ And the same as those described in the description.
[0022]
Ar ¹ Examples of the heterocyclic group having at least one tertiary amino group include pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, dioxazole, indole, isoindole, benzimidazole, benzotriazole, benzisoxazine, carbazole, and phenoxazine. And these heterocyclic groups are represented by the aforementioned R ¹ May be substituted with a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a halogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group defined in the above.
Further, as the tertiary amino group, the aforementioned Ar ¹ And the same as those mentioned in the description.
[0023]
Furthermore, specific examples of the halogen atom in each of the above groups include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom and an iodine atom.
[0024]
Examples of the silanol compound having no epoxy group used in the present invention include a compound represented by the following general formula (3).
Embedded image
(R) _n -Si- (Y) _4-n (3)
(In the formula, R represents an organic group in which a carbon atom is directly bonded to a silicon atom, n represents an integer of 0 to 3, when n is 3, Y represents a hydroxyl group, and when n is 0 to 2, In Y, at least one represents a hydroxyl group, and the remainder represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group.)
The silanol compound having no amino group can be obtained by hydrolyzing an alkoxysilane compound having no amino group represented by the following general formula (5). The hydrolysis may be partial hydrolysis or may be performed simultaneously with the crosslinking reaction. As a method for obtaining a silicone resin from these alkoxysilane compounds through silanolation, a conventionally known sol-gel method can be applied.
[0025]
The alkoxysilane compound having no amino group used in the present invention refers to a compound represented by the following general formula (5).
Embedded image
(R) _n -Si- (X) _4-n (5)
(Wherein, R represents an organic group in which a carbon atom is directly bonded to a silicon atom, X represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group, at least one is an alkoxy group, and n is an integer of 0 to 3. Represents.)
[0026]
In the general formulas (3) and (5), examples of the organic group in which a carbon atom is directly bonded to a silicon atom represented by R include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl, phenyl, tolyl and naphthyl. And aryl groups such as biphenyl, halogen-containing groups such as γ-chloropropyl, 1,1,1-trifluoropropyl, nonafluorohexyl and perfluorooctylethyl, and other nitro groups and cyano-substituted alkyl groups. Examples of the hydrolyzable group for X include an alkoxy group such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, and butoxy, a halogen group, and an acyloxy group. Particularly, an alkoxy group having 6 or less carbon atoms is preferable.
The compounds represented by formulas (3) and (5) may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
[0027]
When n is 2 or more in the specific compounds of the organosilicon compounds represented by the general formulas (3) and (5), a plurality of Rs may be the same or different. Similarly, when n is 2 or less, a plurality of Xs and Ys may be the same or different. When two or more organosilicon compounds represented by the general formulas (3) and / or (5) are used, R, X, and Y may be the same or different between each compound.
[0028]
In order to increase the compatibility with the epoxy group-containing amine and obtain a uniform transparent film, it is necessary to use an alkoxysilane compound and / or silanol compound having no amino group having at least one aromatic group in R. It is more preferable to use a mixture with an alkoxysilane compound and / or a silanol compound having no aromatic group. A combination of a phenyltrialkoxysilane derivative and a methyltrialkoxysilane derivative is preferably used.
[0029]
In general formulas (3) and (5), when the number of hydrolyzable groups and / or hydroxyl groups is 2 or more (n = 2 or less), the silane compound is condensed to obtain an organopolysiloxane resin. When the number is 3 (n = 1), a crosslinkable organopolysiloxane resin capable of three-dimensionally crosslinkable is obtained. Therefore, it is essential to include a trifunctional silane monomer with n = 1 as a raw material. The properties (stability, coating strength, etc.) of the resin are adjusted by appropriately adding another bifunctional silane monomer (n = 2) component or a tetrafunctional silane monomer (n = 0) component to the trifunctional silane monomer. be able to.
[0030]
The amino group-containing alkoxysilane compound and the amino group-containing silanol compound used in the present invention are those wherein at least one of Rs in the above general formulas (3) and (5) further comprises a primary amino group and a secondary amino group. 1 shows compounds having an amino group as a substituent and their analogous structures.
For example, 4-aminobutyltriethoxysilane, N- (2-aminoethyl) -3-aminoisobutylmethyldimethoxysilane, (aminoethylaminomethyl) phenethyltrimethoxysilane, N- (2-aminoethyl) -3-amino Propylmethyldimethoxysilane, N- (2-aminoethyl) -3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N- (6-aminohexyl) aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, aminophenyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropylmethyldiethoxysilane , 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, bis (trimethoxysilylpropyl) amine, N, N'-bis [3- (trimethoxysilyl) propyl] ethylenediamine, N-methylaminopropylmethyl Dimethoxy Examples include silane, N-methylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-phenylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-phenylaminopropyltriethoxysilane, ureapropyltriethoxysilane, ureapropyltrimethoxysilane, and the like, and similar structures thereof. .
[0031]
In the present invention, a reaction product of an epoxy group-containing amine compound and an amino group-containing silanol compound or an amino group-containing alkoxy compound with an amino group-free silanol compound or an amino group-free alkoxy compound is mainly a silanol group or an alkoxy group. Condensation reaction between silanol groups formed by hydrolysis of the above, and addition reaction between the epoxy group of the epoxy group-containing amine compound and the silanol group, and the epoxy group of the epoxy group-containing amine compound and the amino group-containing silanol compound or amino group It refers to a resin that is integrally bonded by an addition reaction with an amino group of a contained alkoxysilane compound. Strictly speaking, 3 to 5 types of reactions including a condensation reaction between a hydroxy group formed after an epoxy group undergoes a ring-opening addition reaction with a silanol group and the silanol group, and a condensation reaction between an amino group and a silanol group. Represents a crosslinked resin that is intricately linked in a fashion.
[0032]
The mixing ratio of these three components is adjusted depending on the structure and intended electrophotographic properties, but usually the following ranges are preferred.
The epoxy group-containing amine compound is suitably from 10% by weight to 80% by weight, more preferably from 20% by weight to 60% by weight. If the amount is too small, the charge transport ability is reduced, and a high-sensitivity electrophotographic photoreceptor cannot be obtained, or the residual charge becomes large, and the image stability repeatedly deteriorates. If the amount is too large, the ratio of the silicone resin portion decreases, and the mechanical properties of the resin deteriorate.
It is not preferable to add the amino group-containing silanol compound and / or the amino group-containing alkoxysilane compound in an amount equal to or more than the reaction equivalent of the epoxy group-containing amine compound. For example, in the case where the amino group is one primary amine, it functions as bifunctional, and therefore, it is preferable that the amount be equal to or less than the molar amount of the amine compound containing two epoxy groups.
When the amino group remains unreacted, a problem arises in that the residual potential increases.
The total of the amino group-containing silanol compound and / or the amino group-containing alkoxy compound and the amino group-free silanol compound and / or the alkoxy compound having no amino group is from 20% by weight to 90% by weight, preferably from 40% by weight. 80% by weight is suitable.
[0033]
The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention contains the reaction product of the higher crosslinked product, or an epoxy group-containing amine compound, an amino group-containing silanol compound, and a silanol compound having no amino group. Are those which are contained on the surface of the photoreceptor, more preferably, the surface of the photoreceptor is mainly formed of these resins, and more preferably, these resins are formed on the surface of the photoreceptor as a protective layer. It was formed.
A typical electrophotographic photoreceptor has a layer structure in which a charge generating layer and a charge transport layer are sequentially laminated on a conductive support, and a protective layer is further provided on the charge transport layer in a laminated photoreceptor. . In this case, an undercoat layer is often formed between the conductive support and the charge generation layer, and is also applied to the present invention.
[0034]
The present invention provides a resin and a resin layer having a charge transporting ability and extremely high mechanical strength. Not only the above-described laminated photoreceptor, but also a single-layer type photoreceptor and a reverse layer-type laminated photoreceptor, They can also be used as protective layers.
[0035]
Hereinafter, the case where the higher crosslinked product or the three-component reactant of the present invention is used as a protective layer will be described in more detail as an example.
The coating liquid for an electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention is prepared by adding water necessary for hydrolyzing a silicon-containing monomer such as the compound represented by the general formula (3) and / or (5), and adding the solution under acidic conditions. -Hydrolysis under basic conditions may be used.
[0036]
The solvent used in the protective layer coating solution is preferably a mixed solvent of at least one solvent selected from ketone, ester, ether and aromatic solvents and an alcohol solvent.
Examples of ketone solvents include methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, acetone, and cyclohexanone; examples of ester solvents include ethyl acetate and t-butyl acetate; examples of ether solvents include methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, diethyl ether, and dibutyl ether. , Dipropyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, 1,3-dioxolane and the like, and aromatic solvents such as toluene and xylene. Examples of the alcohol solvent include methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol and t-butanol.
Among these, those that dissolve an epoxy group-containing amine compound, an alkoxysilane compound, and a silanol compound are used.
[0037]
The concentration of the solid content in the coating solution for the protective layer is optimally selected depending on the structure of the silanol compound, the alkoxysilane compound, and the amine compound having an epoxy group, the coating method, and the like.
[0038]
In addition, the protective layer coating solution may contain a catalyst for accelerating a crosslinking reaction, such as alkali metal salts of organic carboxylic acid, nitrous acid, sulfurous acid, aluminate, carbonic acid and thiocyanic acid, and organic amine salts (tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetramethyl Ammonium acetate), tin organic acid salts (stannas octoate, dibutyltin diacetate, dibutyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin mercaptide, dibutyltin thiocarboxylate, dibutyltin malate, etc.), octenoic acid, naphthenate of aluminum and zinc, An acetylacetone complex compound may be used. The amount of the catalyst is preferably 0.1 to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the silanol compound and the alkoxysilane compound.
[0039]
Further, the protective layer coating solution may be prepared by further adding a colloid of a metal oxide such as colloidal silica and colloidal alumina. Colloidal silica is an aqueous or alcoholic sol having a particle size of preferably 100 nm or less, particularly preferably 50 nm or less.
The amount of colloidal silica or the like is not particularly limited, but is preferably contained in the curable resin layer after drying in an amount of 1 to 30% by mass.
[0040]
In addition, the coating liquid for the protective layer may also include various materials known as materials for electrophotography, for example, antioxidants such as hindered amine and hindered phenol, leveling agents such as silicone oil, and holes such as amine compounds. A transport agent and an electron transport agent such as quinones may be added.
[0041]
Although the drying temperature of the coating film varies depending on the type of solvent used and the presence or absence of a catalyst, heating is preferably performed at about 60 to 160 ° C for 10 minutes to 5 hours, more preferably 90 to 130 ° C for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Time heating is preferred.
The thickness of the protective layer is usually 0.1 to 15 μm, preferably 0.2 to 7 μm, more preferably 0.5 to 5 μm.
[0042]
As described above, a typical photoreceptor has a structure in which an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a protective layer are sequentially formed on a conductive support such as aluminum.
Hereinafter, components other than the protective layer will be described.
However, for the conductive support, the undercoat layer, the charge generation layer, and the charge transport layer, conventionally known photoconductor components can be applied, and are not limited by the following description.
[0043]
As the charge generating substance used in the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention, any known charge generating substance can be used.
For example, A-type, B-type and Y-type titanyl phthalocyanines, X-type and τ-type metal-free phthalocyanines, metal phthalocyanines such as copper phthalocyanine, naphthalocyanines, and mixed crystals of these two types of phthalocyanines, azo compounds, pyrylium Examples include compounds, perylene compounds, cyanine compounds, squarium compounds, polycyclic quinone compounds, and the like. These charge generating substances are used alone or dispersed in an appropriate binder resin to form a layer.
[0044]
As the charge transporting substance used in the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention, any known substances can be used.
For example, typical examples of hole transporting substances include oxazole, oxadiazole, thiazole, thiadiazole, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic nucleus represented by imidazole, and a compound having a condensed ring nucleus thereof, a compound having a polyarylalkane type, Hydrazone compounds, pyrazoline compounds, triarylamine compounds, styryl compounds, poly (bis) styryl compounds, styryltriphenylamine compounds, β-phenylstyryltriphenylamine compounds, butadiene compounds, hexatriene compounds And carbazole-based compounds, condensed polycyclic compounds, and the like. Representative electron-transporting substances include benzoquinone, naphthoquinone, anthraquinone, thiopyranone, fluorenone, indenone, and indandione-based compounds. These charge transporting substances are usually dissolved in a suitable binder resin to form a layer.
[0045]
Solvents used for dispersing and dissolving the charge generating material and the charge transporting material include hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene; halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride and 1,2-dichloroethane; ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone and cyclohexanone. Esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, methyl cellosolve and ethyl cellosolve and derivatives thereof; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane and 1,3-dioxolane; Amines such as diethylamine; amides such as N, N-dimethylformamide; other fatty acids and phenols; one or more of sulfur and phosphorus compounds such as carbon disulfide and triethyl phosphate;
[0046]
In the photosensitive layer other than the silicon-containing reactant layer in the electrophotographic photosensitive member photosensitive layer of the present invention, polystyrene, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane resin And phenolic resins, polyester resins, alkyd resins, polycarbonate resins, silicone resins, melamine resins, and copolymer resins containing two or more of the repeating units of these resins. In addition to these insulating resins, polymer organic semiconductors such as poly-N-vinylcarbazole can be used.
[0047]
The proportion of the binder resin and the charge generating substance in the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention is preferably 50 to 600 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. The ratio between the binder resin and the charge transporting material is preferably 10 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the binder resin.
[0048]
The thickness of the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention is preferably 0.1 to 10 μm for the charge generation layer and 5 to 30 μm for the charge transport layer. When the photosensitive layer has a single-layer structure, the thickness is preferably 5 to 40 μm.
[0049]
As the conductive support for supporting the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention, a metal plate or metal drum of aluminum, nickel, or the like, or a plastic film on which aluminum, tin oxide, indium oxide, or the like is deposited, or a conductive material Paper, plastic film and drum coated with
[0050]
Examples of the material used for the undercoat layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention include polyamide resins, vinyl chloride resins, vinyl acetate resins, and copolymer resins containing two or more of the repeating units of these resins. Can be Further, a curable metal resin compound obtained by thermally curing an organic metal compound such as a silane coupling agent or a titanium coupling agent may be used.
The thickness of the undercoat layer is preferably 0.01 to 15 μm.
[0051]
In addition, the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention may further contain an additive such as an antioxidant or the like for the dye for color sensitivity correction or the photosensitive layer.
[0052]
As a coating method for producing the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention, dip coating, spray coating, circular amount control type coating, or the like of a coating solution for forming each layer can be used. In particular, in the coating process on the protective layer side of the photosensitive layer, spray coating and circular amount control type coating (a circular slide hopper is a typical example) are used in order to minimize dissolution of the lower layer film and to achieve uniform coating process. Is preferred. The spray coating is described in JP-A-3-90250 and JP-A-3-269238, and the details of the circular amount control type coating are described in JP-A-58-189061. .
[0053]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described specifically with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited by the examples. All parts are parts by weight.
[0054]
Synthesis example
<Synthesis of epoxy group-containing amine compound>
A reaction vessel equipped with a stirring device, a thermometer, a dropping funnel, and a device for condensing and separating an azeotrope of epichlorohydrin and water and returning a lower epichlorohydrin layer was placed in a reaction vessel equipped with 4- [2,2-bis (4-hydroxy). 19.34 g (40.0 mmol) of phenyl) vinyl] phenyl-bis (4-methylphenyl) amine and 37.01 g (400.0 mmol) of epichlorohydrin were added, and the mixture was heated and stirred at 110 ° C. under a nitrogen stream. To this, 19.20 g (96.0 mmol) of a 20 wt% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was added dropwise over 3 hours such that the temperature in the reaction system was maintained at 100 ° C to 120 ° C. Only water and epichlorohydrin distilled off during the reaction were returned to the reaction vessel, and after the completion of the dropwise addition of the aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, the reaction was further carried out at 110 ° C. for 1 hour. This was allowed to cool to room temperature, and excess epichlorohydrin was recovered under reduced pressure. Toluene was added, the organic layer was washed with water, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and the toluene solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure to give a yellow crude product. 20.75 g (yield: 87.1%) of a compound having a melting point of 111.0 to 116.0 ° C was obtained. This was purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent: toluene / ethyl acetate = 20/1 vol.), And then recrystallized from ethyl acetate and ethanol to obtain 15.85 g of pale yellow needle crystals (yield: 66.5%). Got. The melting point was 128.0-129.0 ° C.
FIG. 1 shows an infrared absorption spectrum (NaCl liquid film method).
The results of elemental analysis are shown below.

[0055]
Example 1
An undercoat layer coating solution, a charge generation layer coating solution, and a charge transport layer coating solution having the following compositions were successively applied on an aluminum cylinder by dip coating, dried, and dried to a thickness of 3.5 μm. A 2 μm charge generation layer and a 26 μm charge transport layer were formed.
<Coating solution for undercoat layer>
Titanium dioxide powder: 400 parts
Melamine resin: 40 parts
Alkyd resin: 60 parts
2-butanone: 500 parts
<Coating solution for charge generation layer>
Bisazo pigment represented by the following structural formula: 12 parts
Embedded image

Polyvinyl butyral: 5 parts
2-butanone: 200 parts
Cyclohexanone: 400 parts
<Coating solution for charge transport layer>
Polycarbonate (Z Polyka, Teijin Chemicals): 10 parts
Charge transport material represented by the following structural formula: 10 parts
Embedded image

Tetrahydrofuran: 100 parts
1% silicone oil (KF50-100CS,
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1 part tetrahydrofuran solution
Next, a protective layer coating solution having the following composition was further formed on the charge transporting layer by spray coating to form a protective layer of about 3 μm, and then dried by heating at 130 ° C. for 2 hours. Produced.
<Protective layer coating liquid>
The following structural formula obtained by a synthesis example
Epoxy group-containing amino compound represented by the formula: 35 parts
Embedded image

3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane: 13 parts
Methyltrimethoxysilane: 45 parts
Phenyltriethoxysilane: 32 parts
1% acetic acid aqueous solution: 37.6 parts
Tetrahydrofuran: 248.4 parts
n-butanol: 27.6 parts
[0056]
Example 2
An electrophotographic photosensitive member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the coating of the protective layer in Example 1 was performed as follows.
A prescription liquid having the following composition was prepared in advance and stirred at 60 ° C. for 2 hours to silanol alkoxysilane.
<Pre-formulation liquid for protective layer coating liquid>
3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane: 13 parts
Methyltrimethoxysilane: 45 parts
Phenyltriethoxysilane: 32 parts
1% acetic acid aqueous solution: 37.6 parts
Tetrahydrofuran: 248.4 parts
n-butanol: 27.6 parts
Thereafter, 35 parts of the epoxy group-containing amino compound used in Example 1 was added to prepare a coating liquid. Using this coating solution, a protective layer was produced in the same manner as in Example 1.
[0057]
Comparative Example 1
An electrophotographic photoreceptor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that a hydroxy group-containing amine compound represented by the following structural formula was used instead of the epoxy group-containing amino compound.
Embedded image

[0058]
Comparative Example 2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the following coating liquid was used as the coating liquid for the protective layer.
<Protective layer coating liquid>
Hydroxy group-containing amino compound represented by the following structural formula: 7 parts
Embedded image

Methyltrimethoxysilane: 18 parts
1% acetic acid aqueous solution: 10 parts
n-butanol: 55.1 parts
[0059]
Comparative Example 3
An electrophotographic photosensitive member was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the protective layer was not provided.
[0060]
The obtained electrophotographic photoreceptor was set on a Ricoh imagioMF2200 (a modified machine using a 655 nm LD light source), and after running 10,000 sheets of paper running, the amount of wear (change in film thickness) was measured, and the surface of the photoreceptor was observed with a microscope. The potential fluctuations of the dark potential (VD) and the light potential (VL) of the internal potential were measured. Further, the image quality was evaluated visually from the output image of the test chart. In the surface observation, it was evaluated as ○ when only fine linear flaws were present, Δ when some granular dents were generated, and × when granular dents appeared on the entire surface or the film fell off. The image quality was evaluated as ○ when there was no noticeable decrease in image quality, 、 when an abnormal image such as background contamination, white spots, or reduced resolution was generated, △ when the density was reduced or an abnormal image occurred over the entire surface. The results are shown below. Further, a fingerprint was adhered to the surface of the photoreceptor, and the presence or absence of cracks after standing for 48 hours was examined. When no crack was generated, it was evaluated as ○, when it was partially generated, and when it was generated over the entire surface, it was evaluated as ×. The results are shown in Table 1 below.
[0061]
[Table 1]

[0062]
As described above, the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention has extremely high abrasion resistance, has small potential fluctuations when used repeatedly, has good crack resistance, and has a long life having both high image quality stability and abrasion resistance. It can be seen that a photoreceptor can be provided.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
Conventionally, in order to impart charge transporting ability to a polyorganosiloxane crosslinked film, crosslinking is carried out only by a condensation reaction, the film shrinks greatly during the reaction, internal stress in the film increases, internal defects occur, Sufficient mechanical strength was not obtained due to slight peeling of the film or the like. In addition, it was not easy to synthesize a polyfunctional charge transporting compound, and the crosslink density of a film obtained by reacting these compounds was reduced, and it was difficult to produce a sufficiently hard film.
In the present invention, the surface layer and the protective layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor are formed by a structure in which a crosslinked body formed mainly by a condensation reaction of silanol and a crosslinked body formed by a reaction of an epoxy group and an amine can perform both reactions. A higher-order crosslinked product linked together, for example, by forming a reaction product of an epoxy group-containing amine compound, an amino group-containing silanol compound and a silanol compound having no amino group, allows the epoxy group and the amino group to react with each other. Since the charge transporting group is introduced by an addition reaction involving ring opening, shrinkage of the film is reduced and a film with less distortion is obtained.Hydroxy groups generated by ring opening of the epoxy group can also contribute to the crosslinking reaction, and the number of functional groups is small. Can perform the same function as a polyfunctional compound, so that a crosslink density is high and a hard and scratch-resistant film can be produced.
As described above, in the present invention, a two-dimensional cross-linking reaction of a siloxane bond and an epoxy group-amino group reaction bond is used to form an advanced three-dimensional matrix cross-linked body having excellent mechanical properties. An object of the present invention is to provide a long-life electrophotographic photosensitive member having both excellent photographic characteristics.
Further, in the present invention, when the compounds represented by the general formulas (1) and (2) having high hole mobility are used as the epoxy group-containing amine compound, the charge transporting compound can be introduced into the crosslinked film. Therefore, it is possible to provide a highly durable electrophotographic photosensitive member which is excellent in charge transfer, exhibits excellent electrophotographic characteristics, and has high durability.
Further, since the charge transporting group of the charge transporting layer compound is multiply crosslinked as described above, a free substance is hardly generated, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member is resistant to cracks and the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an infrared absorption spectrum of an epoxy group-containing amine compound obtained in a synthesis example (NaCl liquid membrane method).

Claims (13)

A crosslinked product formed by a condensation reaction of silanol and a crosslinked product formed by a reaction of an epoxy group and an amine have a layer containing a higher-order crosslinked product integrally connected by a structure capable of performing both reactions. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, characterized in that: The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein a part of the structure of the higher crosslinked product has a charge transporting group. 3. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the higher crosslinked product is a reaction product of an epoxy group-containing amine compound, an amino group-containing silanol compound, and a silanol compound having no amino group. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 3, wherein the silanol compound is generated by hydrolysis of an alkoxysilane compound. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 3, wherein the epoxy group-containing amine compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (1).

(Wherein, R ¹ represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. Ar ¹ is an aryl group having at least one tertiary amino group, and at least one tertiary amino group. ^.Ar 2, Ar ^3, which represents a heterocyclic group having an amino group or a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group. However, Ar ² and Ar ³ are optionally be the same or different .n represents an integer of 0 to 100 Represents.) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the epoxy group-containing amine compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (2).

(In the formula, R ^{4 to} R ²⁵ represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, and may be the same or different. N represents an integer of 0 to 100.) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the silanol compound having no amino group is a compound represented by the following general formula (3).

(In the formula, R represents an organic group in which a carbon atom is directly bonded to a silicon atom, n represents an integer of 0 to 3, when n is 3, Y represents a hydroxyl group, and when n is 0 to 2, Y represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group, and at least one is a hydroxyl group.) The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the silanol compound having no amino group comprises a mixture of two or more kinds. The electrophotographic photoconductor according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the silanol compound having no amino group is a compound having at least one aromatic group. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a photosensitive layer provided on a conductive support, wherein the surface layer contains the higher crosslinked product according to any one of claims 1 to 9. In an electrophotographic photoreceptor in which an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer, and a protective layer are sequentially laminated on a conductive support, the protective layer is mainly composed of the higher crosslinked product according to any one of claims 1 to 9. An electrophotographic photoreceptor, comprising: 12. A coating solution prepared from an epoxy group-containing amine compound, an amino group-containing alkoxysilane compound, and an alkoxysilane compound having no amino group as a raw material, and applied, dried and cured. A method for producing an electrophotographic photoreceptor as described in the above item. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the drying and curing are performed at a temperature of 80 [deg.] C. or higher.

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