JP2006071994A - Toner for electrostatic image development, method for manufacturing same, and developer for electrostatic image development, and image forming method using same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner for electrostatic image development excellent in low-temperature fixability and offset resistance, attaining prevention of blocking and excellent also in charge retentivity, a method for manufacturing the toner, and a developer for electrostatic image development and an image forming method using the toner. <P>SOLUTION: The toner for electrostatic image development is obtained by sticking fine resin particles to the surfaces of toner particles having a core-surface structure including a core part and a surface layer coating the core part, wherein a binder resin in the core part is based on a crystalline polyester, a binder resin in the surface layer is based on an amorphous polymer, an average particle diameter of the fine resin particles is 0.01-1 μm, 90% cumulative distribution value of the arithmetic average height distribution of the toner particle surfaces is ≤0.15 μm, and a variation in the arithmetic average height is ≤40. The method for manufacturing the toner, and the developer for electrostatic image development and the image forming method using the toner are also provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic image developing toner used for developing an electrostatic image in an electrophotographic apparatus utilizing an electrophotographic process such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like, a method for producing the same, and a method for producing the same. The present invention relates to a developer for developing an electrostatic image and an image forming method.

  Many methods are known as electrophotographic methods (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In general, a latent image is electrically formed by various means on the surface of a photoreceptor (latent image holding body) using a photoconductive substance, and the formed latent image is developed with toner. After the image is formed, the toner image may be transferred to the surface of a transfer medium such as paper, optionally via an intermediate transfer body, and fixed by heating, pressurization, heat pressurization, solvent vapor, or the like. An image is formed through the process. Further, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor is cleaned by various methods as necessary, and is used again for developing the toner image.

  Generally, as a means for lowering the toner fixing temperature, a technique for lowering the glass transition point of a toner resin (binder resin) is employed. However, if the glass transition point is too low, powder aggregation (blocking) tends to occur, and the storage stability of the toner on the fixed image is reduced. Therefore, the lower limit of the glass transition point of the toner is practically 60 ° C. Although the glass transition point is a design point of many commercially available toner resins, at present, it has not been possible to obtain a toner that can be fixed at low temperature by a method of lowering the glass transition point. Although the fixing temperature can be lowered by using a plasticizer, there is a problem that toner blocking occurs during storage or in the developing machine.

  As a means for preventing toner blocking and improving image storage stability and low-temperature fixability, a method using a crystalline resin as a binder resin has been known for a long time. (See, for example, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3) However, the crystalline resin has a problem that it is difficult to grind and the yield is low, and there is a problem that it is lacking in practicality from the viewpoint of manufacturability. Even if practicality in production can be secured, the fixing temperature can be lowered, but sufficient offset resistance cannot always be obtained. That is, although the melted toner penetrates into the paper, there is an effect of preventing the occurrence of offset, but the viscosity of the melted toner is excessively lowered and the toner remaining on the paper, that is, the toner that has not been completely penetrated. The problem of offsetting occurs.

  As means for solving the above problems, many techniques for using a crystalline resin and an amorphous resin in combination, instead of using a crystalline resin alone as a binder resin, have been proposed. It is also known that when a toner is produced by a kneading pulverization method, pulverization is facilitated by the presence of an amorphous resin portion. For example, a method using a crystalline resin and an amorphous resin in combination (for example, see Patent Document 4) or a method using a resin in which a crystalline resin and an amorphous resin are chemically bonded (for example, Patent Document 5). To 9).

  As described above, in order to improve both the low-temperature fixability and the offset resistance, it is difficult to use a crystalline resin that is effective for the low-temperature fixability and the offset resistance in the melt-kneading pulverization method. However, there is a problem that sufficient performance cannot be obtained even if a resin having a high molecular weight or a crosslinked structure is used. Furthermore, since the pulverization is performed, it is difficult to control the shape of the toner particles. In particular, it is difficult to make the toner particles spherical, and it is difficult to reduce the toner particle size for the purpose of improving the image quality.

As a method for producing a toner for solving the above problem, there is a wet production method in which toner particles are produced by polymerization such as suspension polymerization (see, for example, Patent Document 10). When a wet manufacturing method such as a suspension polymerization method is used, toner particles that are difficult to knead and pulverize can be easily manufactured, and the shape of the toner particles can be controlled, and spherical toner particles can be easily prepared. it can. In addition, the particle size distribution of the toner particles can be controlled. Therefore, there is no need to provide a classification step which is essential for the purpose of homogenizing the toner particles obtained by the kneading and pulverizing method described above.
When the wet manufacturing method is used as described above, there are many advantages compared to the kneading and pulverizing method. However, when the crystalline resin is used, the wet polymerization method using the suspension polymerization method uniformly disperses the colorant in the toner. There is a problem that it is difficult.

  Therefore, as a wet manufacturing method for solving the above problems, an agglomeration step for forming aggregated particles containing the crystalline polyester in a dispersion containing at least crystalline polyester fine particles, and an amorphous high surface on the surface of the aggregated particles. There has been proposed a method for producing an electrostatic image developing toner, comprising at least a coating step for coating molecular fine particles (see Patent Document 11).

  By using the toner for developing an electrostatic charge image produced by the above-mentioned production method, the low-temperature fixability and the offset resistance, which are advantages of the crystalline resin, are satisfied, and further, toner blocking prevention can be achieved. However, even in the above-described manufacturing method, the toner mixed with crystalline and non-crystalline resin is likely to have irregularities on the surface of the toner particles due to compatibility, and external additives are added to the surface of the toner particles due to in-machine stress of the electrophotographic system. It is easy to be buried in the convex part or easily moved to the concave part. For this reason, the maintainability of development and transfer tends to deteriorate, and it is difficult to ensure sufficient charge maintainability at the same time as the low-temperature fixability and offset resistance. Therefore, it is important to provide a toner with an excellent total balance that also achieves charge maintenance.

Japanese Patent Publication No.42-23910 Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-13943 Japanese Examined Patent Publication No.62-39428 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-79860 JP-A-1-163756 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-163757 JP-A-4-81770 JP-A-4-155351 JP-A-5-44032 Japanese Patent Publication No. 36-10231 JP 2001-42564 A

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems. That is, the present invention is a toner for developing an electrostatic image having excellent low-temperature fixing and offset resistance, achieving anti-blocking, and at the same time having excellent charge retention, a method for producing the same, and for developing an electrostatic image using the same. It is an object to provide a developer and an image forming method.

The above problems have been achieved by the inventions listed below.
(1) A toner for developing an electrostatic image in which resin fine particles adhere to the surface of a toner particle having a core-surface structure including a core and a surface layer covering the core, the binder resin in the core being a crystal The binder resin of the surface layer contains an amorphous polymer as a main component, the resin fine particles have an average particle diameter of 0.01 to 1 μm, and the arithmetic average height of the toner particle surface An electrostatic charge image developing toner, wherein the cumulative distribution 90% value of the distribution is 0.15 μm or less, and the variation of the arithmetic average height is 40 or less;
(2) An agglomeration step of forming a dispersion of aggregated core fine particles with the aggregated particles containing crystalline polyester fine particles as a core in a dispersion containing at least crystalline polyester fine particles; A coating step of mixing the dispersion of the shaped polymer fine particles and coating the surface of the aggregated core fine particles with the amorphous polymer fine particles to form the core-surface structured particles; Fusing by heating to a temperature above the glass transition point of the molecule to form a dispersion of toner for developing electrostatic image, drying step for separating and drying the toner for developing electrostatic image from the dispersion medium, and The method for producing a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image according to (1), comprising at least an adhesion step of adhering resin fine particles to the core-surface structured particles;
(3) An electrostatic image developing developer comprising the electrostatic image developing toner according to (1) and a carrier,
(4) A latent image forming step for forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the latent image holding member, and developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image holding member with toner or a developer to form a toner image. An image including a developing step, a transfer step for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the latent image holding member to the surface of the transfer target, and a fixing step for thermally fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the transfer target. A method for forming an image, wherein the developer for developing an electrostatic charge image described in (1) or the developer for developing an electrostatic image described in (3) is used as the developer.

  According to the present invention, a toner for developing an electrostatic image having excellent low-temperature fixing and offset resistance, good anti-blocking properties and sufficient charge retention, a method for producing the same, and an electrostatic charge using the same An image developing developer and an image forming method can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in the order of an electrostatic image developing toner, an electrostatic image developing toner manufacturing method, an electrostatic image developing developer, and an image forming method.

<Toner for electrostatic image development>
The electrostatic charge image developing toner of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as “toner”) includes resin fine particles on the surface of toner particles having a core-surface structure including a core and a surface layer covering the core. A toner for developing an electrostatic image to which the binder is bonded, wherein the binder resin in the core includes a crystalline polyester as a main component, and the binder resin in the surface layer includes an amorphous polymer as a main component. The average particle diameter is 0.01 to 1 μm, the 90% cumulative value of the arithmetic average height distribution on the toner particle surface is 0.15 μm or less, and the variation of the arithmetic average height is 40 or less. It is characterized by that.
Therefore, the toner of the present invention is excellent in low-temperature fixing and offset resistance, achieves blocking prevention, and at the same time has excellent charge maintenance.

The toner particles of the present invention have a core-surface structure including a core part and a surface layer covering the core part. The core binder resin contains crystalline polyester as a main component. In addition to crystalline polyester, it is preferable to include an amorphous polymer as a binder resin for the core. Then, the surface of the core portion is covered with a surface layer mainly composed of an amorphous polymer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “surface layer”). As a result, while maintaining low temperature fixing and offset resistance, which are the advantages of crystalline polyester, it is possible to prevent blocking and deterioration of transferability due to embedding of external additives, which are disadvantages of crystalline resin. It was.
Here, the core portion “having crystalline polyester as a main component” means that the crystalline polyester is contained in an amount of 50% by weight or more, but preferably 60 to 100% by weight. The surface layer “having an amorphous polymer as a main component” means that the amorphous polymer is contained in an amount of 50% by weight or more, but preferably 60 to 100% by weight. More preferably, the surface layer is only an amorphous polymer.
Moreover, it is preferable that the surface layer which has an amorphous polymer as a main component is 2-20 weight part with respect to 100 weight part of core parts which have crystalline polyester as a main component, and it is 5-15 weight part. Is more preferable.

  “Crystallinity” like the crystalline polyester used in the electrophotographic toner of the present invention means that it has a clear endothermic peak, not a stepwise endothermic amount change, in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Specifically, it means that the half-value width of the endothermic peak when measured at a temperature elevation rate of 10 ° C./min is within 6 ° C. On the other hand, a resin whose half width exceeds 6 ° C. or a resin in which no clear endothermic peak is observed means an amorphous resin (amorphous polymer). As an amorphous polymer used in the present invention, It is preferable to use a resin that does not have a clear endothermic peak.

  Further, the “crystalline polyester resin” used in the toner of the present invention is not limited to a polymer whose constituent component is a 100% polyester structure, but is a polymer obtained by polymerizing a component constituting polyester and other components together ( Copolymer) is also meant. However, in the latter case, the other component other than the polyester constituting the polymer (copolymer) is 50% by weight or less.

  The cumulative distribution 90% value of the arithmetic average height distribution of the toner in the present invention is 0.15 μm or less, preferably 0.06 to 0.10 μm. When the cumulative distribution 90% value of the arithmetic average height distribution is larger than 0.15 μm, the roughness of the fine uneven structure on the surface of the toner particles increases, and the external additive tends to be buried in the fine unevenness on the toner particle surface. . In particular, due to in-flight stress over time, the contact probability between the external additive and the unevenness increases, and the burial tends to increase. The burying of the external additive becomes a cause of deteriorating the chargeability of the toner, particularly the charge maintenance property. Therefore, as shown in the present invention, by defining the uneven structure and preventing the external additive from being buried in the toner surface, it is possible to improve the charge maintaining property.

  Further, the fluctuation of the arithmetic average height of the toner is 40 or less, more preferably 35 or less. The fluctuation of the arithmetic average height represents the distribution of the arithmetic average height, and a smaller value means that the distribution becomes narrower. When the variation of the arithmetic average height is larger than 40, the uneven distribution of the surface roughness of the toner particles becomes wider, and as described above, the external additive attached to the surface of the toner particles moves to the fine concave portions or is buried in the convex portions. In particular, due to in-machine stress over time, the contact probability between the external additive and the unevenness increases, and the embedding tends to increase.

  Here, the arithmetic average height of the toner is a physical quantity which is a surface roughness index and is generally expressed as Ra. Ra is a value obtained by extracting a reference length from the roughness curve of the toner surface in the direction of the average line, and summing and averaging the absolute values of deviations from the average line of the extracted portion to the measurement curve. When the surface is smooth, a large value indicates a state with a large surface.

The arithmetic average height of the toner was measured with an ultra-deep color 3D shape measuring microscope VK-9500 manufactured by Keyence Corporation. In this apparatus, a sample is irradiated with a laser to perform three-dimensional scanning. The laser reflected light at each position is monitored with a CCD camera to obtain three-dimensional surface information of the sample. The obtained surface information is statistically processed to obtain an index related to the surface roughness.
Here, the measurement was repeated over 1,000 toners, the data was statistically processed to obtain the arithmetic average height distribution of the toner, and data such as the average value, median value, and standard deviation of the arithmetic average height were obtained. . The fluctuation of the arithmetic average height referred to here is the percentage of the standard deviation with respect to the average value of the arithmetic average height.

In the toner of the present invention, resin fine particles are formed on the concavo-convex structure on the surface of the toner particle, which includes at least a crystalline polyester and an amorphous polymer as a binder resin, and the surface is coated with a surface layer mainly composed of the amorphous polymer. To attach.
The resin fine particles to be adhered are those having a volume average particle diameter of 0.01 to 1 μm. More preferably, a 0.1-0.5 micrometer thing is used. As described above, if the surface of the toner particles has a concavo-convex structure, the external additive is buried, and the charge retention is deteriorated. Therefore, it is effective to make the resin surface smooth by making the resin fine particles adhere to the unevenness in advance before attaching the external additive. If the volume average particle diameter of the resin fine particles attached to the unevenness is 0.01 μm or less or 1 μm or more, the resin fine particles are too small or too large with respect to the unevenness, and the unevenness is sufficiently smoothed. I can't.

  The volume average particle diameter of the resin fine particles adhering to the toner particle surface is measured by using the SEM (scanning electron microscope) to measure the longest particle diameter of 100 adhering particles per toner particle on the observed image. Then, after converting this into a volume average value, an operation of averaging the values is performed on 100 toner particles, and the obtained average values are further averaged.

The volume average particle size of the electrophotographic toner of the present invention is preferably 1 to 20 μm, more preferably 2 to 8 μm. Moreover, as a number average particle diameter, 1-20 micrometers is preferable and 2-8 micrometers is more preferable.
The volume average particle size and the number average particle size can be measured, for example, by measuring using a Coulter counter [TA-II] type (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) with an aperture diameter of 50 μm. At this time, the measurement is performed after the toner is dispersed in an electrolyte aqueous solution (Isoton-II aqueous solution) and dispersed by ultrasonic waves for 30 seconds.

  The component constituting the toner of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it contains at least a crystalline polyester and an amorphous polymer as a binder resin, as described above. Other components may be included. The method for producing the toner of the present invention is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a wet method. Hereinafter, the components and the production method of the toner of the present invention will be described in detail.

-Binder resin: (crystalline) polyester resin-
The crystalline polyester resin and all other polyester resins used in the toner of the present invention are synthesized from a polyvalent carboxylic acid component and a polyhydric alcohol component. In the present invention, a commercially available product may be used as the polyester resin, or an appropriately synthesized product may be used.

Examples of the polyvalent carboxylic acid component include oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, peric acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, 1,9-nonanedicarboxylic acid, 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid, Preferably, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 2 to 20 carbon atoms such as 1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,14-tetradecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,18-octadecanedicarboxylic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, naphthalene-2 Preferred examples include dibasic acids such as 1,6-dicarboxylic acid, and preferably aromatic dicarboxylic acids having 8 to 12 carbon atoms. Furthermore, these anhydrides and these lower alkyl esters are also included.
The polyvalent carboxylic acid component is preferably composed mainly of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.

  Examples of the trivalent or higher carboxylic acid include 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, and the like, and anhydrides thereof. And lower alkyl esters. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  Moreover, as an acid component, it is preferable that the dicarboxylic acid component which has a sulfonic acid group other than the above-mentioned aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and aromatic dicarboxylic acid is contained. The dicarboxylic acid having a sulfonic acid group is effective in that it can favorably disperse a coloring material such as a pigment. Further, when the entire resin is emulsified or suspended in water to form fine particles, if a sulfonic acid group is present, it can be emulsified or suspended without using a surfactant as described later.

  Examples of the dicarboxylic acid having a sulfone group include, but are not limited to, 2-sulfoterephthalic acid sodium salt, 5-sulfoisophthalic acid sodium salt, and sulfosuccinic acid sodium salt. Moreover, these lower alkyl esters, acid anhydrides, etc. are also mentioned. The divalent or higher carboxylic acid component having a sulfonic acid group is preferably contained in an amount of 1 to 15 mol%, more preferably 2 to 10 mol%, based on all carboxylic acid components constituting the polyester. When the content is in the above range, the temporal stability of the emulsified particles is good, and the crystallinity of the polyester resin is good. Further, it is easy to adjust the toner diameter in the process of fusing the particles after aggregation.

  Furthermore, it is more preferable to contain a dicarboxylic acid component having a double bond in addition to the aforementioned aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and aromatic dicarboxylic acid. A dicarboxylic acid having a double bond can be suitably used to prevent hot offset at the time of fixing because it can be cross-linked by radical polymerization via the double bond. Examples of such dicarboxylic acids include, but are not limited to, maleic acid, fumaric acid, mesaconic acid, 3-hexenedioic acid, and 3-octenedioic acid. In addition, these lower esters, acid anhydrides and the like are also included. Among these, fumaric acid, maleic acid and the like are mentioned in terms of cost.

The polyhydric alcohol component is preferably an aliphatic diol, more preferably a linear aliphatic diol having 2 to 20 carbon atoms in the main chain portion, and further a linear aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms. preferable. When the linear diol is used, the crystallinity of the polyester resin becomes good and the melting point does not drop, so that the toner blocking resistance, the image storage stability, and the low-temperature fixability are good.
Further, when the number of carbon atoms is in the above range, when polycondensing with an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, the melting point does not become high, and low-temperature fixing is good. Moreover, when the carbon number is within the above range, it is easy to obtain a practical material.

  Specific examples of the aliphatic diol suitably used for the synthesis of the crystalline polyester used in the toner of the present invention include ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, and 1,5. -Pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,11-undecanediol, 1,12- Examples include, but are not limited to, dodecanediol, 1,13-tridecanediol, 1,14-tetradecanediol, 1,18-octadecanediol, 1,14-eicosandecanediol, and the like. Among these, considering availability, ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, 1, 8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, and 1,10-decanediol are preferred.

  Examples of the trivalent or higher alcohol include glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

Among the polyhydric alcohol components, the content of the aliphatic diol component is preferably 80 mol% or more, and more preferably 90 mol% or more. When the content of the aliphatic diol component is within the above range, the crystallinity of the polyester resin becomes good and the melting point does not drop, so that toner blocking resistance, image storage stability, and low-temperature fixability are good.
The crystalline polyester used in the present invention contains 80 mol% or more of a linear diol component having 2 to 10 carbon atoms as a polyhydric alcohol component, and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms as a polyvalent carboxylic acid component. It is preferable to contain 80 mol% or more.

  If necessary, monovalent acids such as acetic acid and benzoic acid, and monovalent alcohols such as cyclohexanol and benzyl alcohol can be used for the purpose of adjusting the acid value and the hydroxyl value.

-Binder resin: Amorphous polymer-
Examples of the amorphous polymer resin used in the toner of the present invention include conventionally known thermoplastic binder resins, and specific examples include styrenes such as styrene, parachlorostyrene, and α-methylstyrene. Homopolymer or copolymer (styrene resin) of methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid Homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl-containing esters such as ethyl, n-propyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate ((meth) acrylic ester resins); acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, etc. Homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl nitriles (vinyl nitrile resins) Homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether and vinyl isobutyl ether (vinyl ether resins); Homopolymers or copolymers of vinyl ketones such as vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl ethyl ketone, vinyl isopropenyl ketone ( Vinyl ketone resins); homopolymers or copolymers of olefins such as ethylene, propylene, butadiene, isoprene (olefin resins); epoxy resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyamide resins, cellulose resins, polyether resins, etc. Examples thereof include non-vinyl condensation resins and graft polymers of these non-vinyl condensation resins and vinyl monomers. These resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these resins, the above-mentioned various vinyl resins and polyester resins are particularly preferable.

  In the case of a vinyl resin, it is advantageous in that a resin particle dispersion can be easily prepared by emulsion polymerization or seed polymerization using an ionic surfactant or the like. Examples of the vinyl monomer include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, cinnamic acid, fumaric acid, vinyl sulfonic acid, ethylene imine, vinyl pyridine, vinyl amine, and other vinyl polymer acids and vinyl polymer bases. The monomer used as a raw material is mentioned.

Styrene resins and (meth) acrylic resins, in particular styrene- (meth) acrylic copolymer resins, are useful as amorphous polymer resins in the present invention.
Vinyl aromatic monomer (styrene monomer) 50 to 90 parts by weight, ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester monomer ((meth) acrylic acid ester monomer) 10 to 50 parts by weight, A surfactant obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture comprising 0 to 10 parts by weight of another monomer copolymerizable with the monomer and 1 to 3 parts by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer is surface-active. Dispersion-dispersed with an agent can be preferably used as the amorphous polymer resin component.
The glass transition temperature of the copolymer is preferably 50 to 70 ° C.

Below, the polymerizable monomer which comprises said copolymer resin is demonstrated.
Examples of styrene monomers include styrene, α-methyl styrene, vinyl naphthalene, 2-methyl styrene, 3-methyl styrene, 4-methyl styrene, 2-ethyl styrene, 3-ethyl styrene, 4-ethyl styrene, and the like. Examples include alkyl-substituted styrene having an alkyl chain, halogen-substituted styrene such as 2-chlorostyrene, 3-chlorostyrene, and 4-chlorostyrene, and fluorine-substituted styrene such as 4-fluorostyrene and 2,5-difluorostyrene. Styrene is preferred as the styrene monomer.

  Examples of the (meth) acrylate monomer include n-methyl (meth) acrylate, n-ethyl (meth) acrylate, n-propyl (meth) acrylate, n-butyl (meth) acrylate, ( N-pentyl (meth) acrylate, n-hexyl (meth) acrylate, n-heptyl (meth) acrylate, n-octyl (meth) acrylate, n-decyl (meth) acrylate, n (meth) acrylate -Dodecyl, n-lauryl (meth) acrylate, n-tetradecyl (meth) acrylate, n-hexadecyl (meth) acrylate, n-octadecyl (meth) acrylate, isopropyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acryl Isobutyl acid, t-butyl (meth) acrylate, isopentyl (meth) acrylate, amyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylic acid Pentyl, isohexyl (meth) acrylate, isoheptyl (meth) acrylate, isooctyl (meth) acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth) acrylate, phenyl (meth) acrylate, biphenyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acryl Diphenylethyl acid, t-butylphenyl (meth) acrylate, terphenyl (meth) acrylate, cyclohexyl (meth) acrylate, t-butylcyclohexyl (meth) acrylate, dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth ) Diethylaminoethyl acrylate, methoxyethyl (meth) acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, β-carboxyethyl (meth) acrylate, (meth) acrylonitrile, (meth) acrylamide and the like. As the (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer, n-butyl acrylate is preferable.

The ethylenically unsaturated acid monomer is an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing an acidic group such as a carboxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, or an acid anhydride.
When the styrene resin, the (meth) acrylic resin, and the styrene- (meth) acrylic copolymer resin contain a carboxyl group, it can be obtained by copolymerizing a polymerizable monomer having a carboxyl group. .
Specific examples of such carboxyl group-containing polymerizable monomers include acrylic acid, aconitic acid, atropic acid, allylmalonic acid, angelic acid, isocrotonic acid, itaconic acid, 10-undecenoic acid, elaidic acid, erucic acid, olein. Acid, ortho-carboxycinnamic acid, crotonic acid, chloroacrylic acid, chloroisocrotonic acid, chlorocrotonic acid, chlorofumaric acid, chloromaleic acid, cinnamic acid, cyclohexenedicarboxylic acid, citraconic acid, hydroxycinnamic acid, dihydroxysilicic acid Cinnamic acid, tiglic acid, nitrocinnamic acid, vinylacetic acid, phenylcinnamic acid, 4-phenyl-3-butenoic acid, ferulic acid, fumaric acid, brassic acid, 2- (2-furyl) acrylic acid, bromocinnamic acid, Bromofumaric acid, bromomaleic acid, benzylidene malonic acid, benzo Acrylic acid, 4-pentenoic acid, maleic acid, mesaconic acid, methacrylic acid, methylcinnamic acid, methoxycinnamic acid, etc., and acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, cinnamic acid due to the ease of polymer formation reaction, etc. , Fumaric acid and the like are preferable, and acrylic acid is more preferable.

  The binder resin used in the toner of the present invention can use a chain transfer agent during the polymerization. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular as a chain transfer agent, The compound which has a thiol component can be used. Specifically, alkyl mercaptans such as hexyl mercaptan, heptyl mercaptan, octyl mercaptan, nonyl mercaptan, decyl mercaptan, and dodecyl mercaptan are preferred, and in particular, the molecular weight distribution is narrow, so that the storage stability of the toner at high temperature is improved. preferable.

  The concentration of the dissociating group in the ethylenically unsaturated monomer is, for example, toner particles described in Soichi Muroi, “Polymer Latex Chemistry”, Polymer Publishing Society, 1970. These particles can be determined by, for example, a method of dissolving and quantifying the particles from the surface. It should be noted that the molecular weight of the resin and the glass transition point from the surface of the particle to the inside can also be determined by the above method or the like.

  On the other hand, in the toner of the present invention, when a polyester resin is used as the amorphous polymer, the resin particle dispersion can be easily prepared by emulsifying and dispersing the resin by adjusting the acid value of the resin or using an ionic surfactant. It is advantageous in that it can be prepared. The amorphous polyester resin used for emulsification dispersion is synthesized by dehydration condensation of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol.

  Examples of polyvalent carboxylic acids include terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic anhydride, trimellitic anhydride, pyromellitic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and other aromatic carboxylic acids, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, succinic acid, alkenyl Examples thereof include aliphatic carboxylic acids such as succinic anhydride and adipic acid, and alicyclic carboxylic acids such as cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid. These polyvalent carboxylic acids can be used alone or in combination. Of these polyvalent carboxylic acids, it is preferable to use aromatic carboxylic acids, and in order to take a crosslinked structure or a branched structure in order to ensure good fixability, tricarboxylic or higher carboxylic acids (trimerits) It is preferable to use an acid or an acid anhydride thereof in combination.

  Examples of polyhydric alcohols include ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butanediol, hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, glycerin, and other aliphatic diols, cyclohexanediol, cyclohexanedimethanol, hydrogenated bisphenol A And aromatic diols such as bisphenol A ethylene oxide adduct and bisphenol A propylene oxide adduct. One or more of these polyhydric alcohols can be used. Among these polyhydric alcohols, aromatic diols and alicyclic diols are preferable, and among these, aromatic diols are more preferable. In order to secure good fixing properties, a trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol (glycerin, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol) may be used in combination with the diol in order to take a crosslinked structure or a branched structure.

  In addition, monocarboxylic acid and / or monoalcohol is further added to the polyester resin obtained by polycondensation of polycarboxylic acid and polyhydric alcohol to esterify the hydroxyl group and / or carboxyl group at the polymerization terminal. The acid value of the polyester resin may be adjusted. Examples of the monocarboxylic acid include acetic acid, acetic anhydride, benzoic acid, trichloroacetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, propionic anhydride and the like, and examples of the monoalcohol include methanol, ethanol, propanol, octanol, 2-ethylhexanol, and trifluoroethanol. , Trichloroethanol, hexafluoroisopropanol, phenol and the like.

  The polyester resin can be produced by subjecting the polyhydric alcohol and polyhydric carboxylic acid to a condensation reaction according to a conventional method. For example, the above polyhydric alcohol and polyvalent carboxylic acid, if necessary, a catalyst, and blended in a reaction vessel equipped with a thermometer, a stirrer, a flow-down condenser, and in the presence of an inert gas (such as nitrogen gas), Heat at 150 to 250 ° C. to continuously remove by-product low-molecular compounds out of the reaction system, stop the reaction when a predetermined acid value is reached, cool, and obtain the desired reactant Can be manufactured.

  Examples of the catalyst used for the synthesis of this polyester resin include esterification catalysts such as organic metals such as dibutyltin dilaurate and dibutyltin oxide, and metal alkoxides such as tetrabutyl titanate. The amount of such a catalyst added is preferably 0.01 to 1% by weight based on the total amount of raw materials.

  The amorphous polymer used in the toner of the present invention has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 5,000 to 1,000 by molecular weight measurement by a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method in which tetrahydrofuran (THF) is soluble. The number average molecular weight (Mn) is preferably 2,000 to 100,000, more preferably 7,000 to 500,000. The molecular weight distribution Mw / Mn is preferably 1.5 to 100, more preferably 2 to 60.

  When the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are in the above ranges, the low temperature fixability and the hot offset resistance are good. Further, since the glass transition point of the toner is not lowered, the storage stability such as toner blocking is also improved. Since the bleeding of the crystalline polyester phase present in the toner is not inhibited, the document storage stability is also improved.

  In the present invention, the molecular weight of the resin is determined using THF soluble material, GPC / HLC-8120 manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, column / TSKgel SuperHM-M (15 cm) manufactured by Tosoh Corporation, and THF (tetrahydrofuran). It was. The experimental conditions were as follows: sample concentration 0.5%, flow rate 0.6 ml / min, sample injection volume 10 μl, measurement temperature 40 ° C., IR detector. In addition, calibration curves are “polystylen standard sample TSK standard” manufactured by Tosoh Corporation: “A-500”, “F-1”, “F-10”, “F-80”, “F-380”, “ The molecular weight was calculated using a molecular weight calibration curve prepared from 10 samples of “A-2500”, “F-4”, “F-40”, “F-128”, and “F-700”.

  The acid value of the polyester resin (the number of mg of KOH required to neutralize 1 g of resin) is easy to obtain the molecular weight distribution as described above, and is easy to ensure the granulation property of the toner particles by the emulsion dispersion method. From the standpoint of easy maintenance of the environmental stability (chargeability stability when the temperature and humidity are changed) of the obtained toner, it is preferably 1 to 30 mgKOH / g. The acid value of the polyester resin can be adjusted by controlling the carboxyl group at the terminal of the polyester according to the blending ratio of the raw polyhydric carboxylic acid and polyhydric alcohol and the reaction rate. Or what has a carboxyl group in the principal chain of polyester is obtained by using trimellitic anhydride as a polyvalent carboxylic acid component.

  The glass transition point of the amorphous polymer and the crystalline polyester resin used in the present invention is preferably 35 to 100 ° C., and is 50 to 80 ° C. from the viewpoint of the balance between storage stability and toner fixing property. More preferably. When the glass transition point is within the above range, blocking during storage or in a developing machine (a phenomenon in which toner particles are aggregated into a lump) hardly occurs, and the fixing temperature of the toner does not increase.

-Resin fine particles to be adhered to the toner particle surface-
In the toner of the present invention, resin fine particles are attached to the surface of toner particles. The average particle size of the resin fine particles is 0.01 to 1 μm, but preferably 0.1 to 0.5 μm.
The resin fine particles adhered to the toner particle surface used in the present invention are prepared by drying a resin fine particle dispersion prepared easily by emulsion polymerization or seed polymerization using an ionic surfactant or the like. As a raw material for polymerization, vinyl monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, cinnamic acid, fumaric acid, vinyl sulfonic acid, ethyleneimine, vinyl pyridine, vinyl amine and the like are used. Examples include raw materials for polymer bases.
The resin fine particles to be attached are preferably added in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by weight, more preferably 1 to 5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the toner particles.
The resin fine particles are fixed to the surface of the toner particles. The resin fine particles can be fixed by attaching the resin fine particles to the toner particle surfaces and applying mechanical energy.

-External additive-
Examples of inorganic particles and organic particles externally added to the toner surface include the following.
Organic particles are generally used for the purpose of improving cleaning properties and transfer properties, and specific examples include polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinylidene fluoride, and the like.

  Examples of inorganic particles include silica, alumina, titanium oxide, barium titanate, magnesium titanate, calcium titanate, strontium titanate, zinc oxide, silica sand, clay, mica, wollastonite, diatomaceous earth, cerium chloride, Examples include Bengala, chromium oxide, cerium oxide, antimony trioxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon carbide, and silicon nitride. Among them, silica fine particles and titanium oxide fine particles are preferable, and hydrophobized fine particles are particularly preferable.

  Inorganic particles are generally used for the purpose of improving fluidity. The volume average primary particle diameter of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 1 to 200 nm, and the addition amount is preferably 0.01 to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner.

(Spherical inorganic particles)
The toner of the present invention preferably uses spherical inorganic particles having a volume average particle diameter of 0.01 to 0.3 μm as an external additive.
The addition amount of the spherical inorganic fine powder is preferably 0.3 to 3% by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 2% by weight, based on the toner particles.

  The spherical inorganic particles preferably have a volume average primary particle size of 10 to 300 nm, more preferably 10 to 200 nm. When the volume average primary particle size is in the above range, the toner particle surface becomes larger than the concavo-convex structure on the surface, so that the contribution to transferability is increased. Further, since it is difficult to be detached from the toner particles, it can be stably and uniformly attached to the surface of the toner base particles. Therefore, the transfer efficiency is improved, and the developing machine is not detached from the toner during development and whites the developing machine.

式中、ＭＬはトナー粒子の周囲長を示し、Ａは粒子の投影面積を示す。 The spherical inorganic particles preferably have an average shape factor SF1 of 100 to 130, and more preferably 100 to 125. When the average shape factor (SF1) is in the above range, the dispersibility is good, and the toner can be uniformly attached to the toner surface.
Here, the average shape factor SF1 is an average value of the shape factors, and is calculated by the following method. An optical microscope image of the toner dispersed on the slide glass is taken into a Luzex image analyzer through a video camera, and SF1 is obtained from the perimeter and projection area of 50 toners by the following formula, and an average value is obtained.

In the formula, ML represents the perimeter of the toner particles, and A represents the projected area of the particles.

Specifically, the spherical inorganic particles are not particularly limited as long as the volume average primary particle diameter is 10 to 300 nm and are spherical, but spherical silica is preferably used from the viewpoint of dispersibility. The spherical silica may be obtained by a dry method such as a gas phase oxidation method using SiCl ₄ as a raw material, a deflagration method formed by oxidation of metal Si, or a tetraalkoxysilane as a raw material. It may be obtained by a sol-gel method, a wet method made from a silicate, or a mixture of these spherical silicas. In addition, the spherical silica is preferably obtained by hydrophobizing the surface. By the hydrophobizing treatment, the dispersibility is improved and the adhesion structure on the surface of the toner base particles can be easily controlled.

  A well-known thing can be used as a hydrophobization processing agent. Specifically, methyltrichlorosilane, dimethyldichlorosilane, trimethylchlorosilane, phenyltrichlorosilane, diphenyldichlorosilane, tetramethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, diphenyldimethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane, methyl Triethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane, phenyltriethoxysilane, diphenyldiethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane, decyltrimethoxysilane, hexamethyldisilazane, N, O- (bistrimethylsilyl) acetamide, N, N-bis ( Trimethylsilyl) urea, tert-butyldimethylchlorosilane, vinyltrichlorosilane, vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxy Run, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, β- (3,4-epoxycyclohexyl) ethyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, γ-mercapto Representative examples include propyltrimethoxysilane and γ-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane.

The release rate of the spherical inorganic particles from the toner surface is preferably 7% or less.
The release rate of the spherical inorganic particles is an index indicating the amount of the spherical inorganic particles detached from the toner particle surface, and the emission voltage derived from the elements of the spherical inorganic particles and the emission voltage derived from the carbon of the binder resin are measured. It is obtained with. For example, a toner to be measured (a toner particle having at least the spherical inorganic particles attached as an external additive) is introduced into plasma to excite and emit light, and the emission intensity is measured. When plotted on a graph with the third root voltage (V) of carbon in the toner on the axis and the third root voltage (V) of the main element of the spherical inorganic particles on the vertical axis, the plot on the vertical axis is The light emission of the element derived from the spherical inorganic particles that did not emit light simultaneously with the carbon atoms is shown, and the ratio of the spherical inorganic particles not attached to the toner surface is shown.

  The smaller the value, the more spherical inorganic fine particles are attached to the toner surface. In the present invention, in order to obtain a stable spacer effect, the liberation rate of the spherical inorganic fine particles is preferably 7% or less. If the liberation rate is in the above range, the spherical inorganic fine particles are sufficiently adhered to the toner surface, so that the spacer effect is sufficient, high transfer efficiency is obtained, and the toner causes filming to the photoreceptor in the development and transfer processes. Do not wake up.

Factors affecting the liberation rate of the spherical inorganic particles include the blending conditions with the toner particles and the specific gravity of the spherical inorganic particles. In the present invention, when the spherical silica of a preferred embodiment is used, an external additive defined by the following formula (A) is used in a production method by a dry method in which the spherical silica (S) is added to and mixed with toner particles. It is preferable to add and mix under the condition that the product of the share rate γ and the external mixing time TS (seconds) of the spherical silica (S) satisfies the following formula (B).
γ = V / D (A)
(Γ: external addition share rate, V: blade tip peripheral speed (m / s) in the mixer, D: clearance between the blade tip and the mixer inner wall (m))
1,000,000 ≦ γ × Ts ≦ 2,000,000 (B)
(Ts: mixing time of spherical silica (S) (seconds))

  In this way, in the addition and mixing of toner particles and spherical silica in the dry method, spherical particles are aggregated under the above conditions to eliminate the agglomerates of the spherical silica and obtain sufficient mixing with the toner particles. Silica can be uniformly dispersed on the surface of the toner particles. Further, since the adhesive force to the toner particles becomes appropriate, it is difficult for the toner particles to be separated from and released from, and a sufficient spacer effect can be exhibited.

  The specific gravity of spherical silica, which is another factor that affects the liberation rate, is preferably 1.3 to 1.9. By controlling the specific gravity to be 1.9 or less, the toner particles are peeled off, and by controlling the specific gravity to be 1.3 or more, aggregation and dispersion can be suppressed.

A specific method for measuring the above liberation rate will be described below.
Each toner to be measured collected on a membrane filter (polycarbonate, 0.4 μm) is sucked up by a special aspirator using He gas as a carrier, and He microwave induction plasma (He-MIP: electron density 5 × 10 13 cm) ³ and a high-temperature specific heat equilibrium plasma having a high electron temperature exceeding 3300 K and 20,000 K). Here, the toner emits light by being evaporated, atomized and ionized. The intensity of the emission spectrum is measured using a particle analyzer (PT1000: manufactured by Yokogawa Electric Corporation). For each toner particle obtained as a result of measurement, the horizontal axis represents the cube root voltage (V) of carbon in the toner particles, and the vertical axis represents the cube root voltage (V) of silicon, which is the main element of the spherical silica. And plotting the number of plots of particles on the vertical axis (X = 0) (particles consisting only of the external additive) divided by the number of plots of the whole measurement was taken as the liberation rate. The liberation rate is defined by the following formula (C).
(C)
Release rate = external additive asynchronous count / (external additive asynchronous count + synchronous count) × 100
(External additive asynchronous count: number of plots on the vertical axis, synchronous count: number of plots other than on the vertical axis)

-Colorant-
The colorant used in the toner of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a known colorant, and examples thereof include carbon black such as furnace black, channel black, acetylene black, and thermal black, bengara, bitumen, and titanium oxide. Inorganic pigments, fast yellow, disazo yellow, pyrazolone red, chelate red, brilliant carmine, para brown and other azo pigments, copper phthalocyanine, metal-free phthalocyanine and other phthalocyanine pigments, flavantron yellow, dibromoanthrone orange, perylene red, quinacridone red, Examples thereof include condensed polycyclic pigments such as dioxazine violet.

  Chrome Yellow, Hansa Yellow, Benzidine Yellow, Slen Yellow, Quinoline Yellow, Permanent Orange GTR, Pyrarozone Orange, Vulcan Orange, Watch Young Red, Permanent Red, Dupont Oil Red, Resol Red, Rhodamine B Lake, Lake Red C Rose Bengal, Aniline Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Calco Oil Blue, Methylene Blue Chloride, Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Green, Malachite Green Oxalate, C.I. I. Pigment red 48: 1, C.I. I. Pigment red 122, C.I. I. Pigment 57: 1, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 12, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 97, C.I. I. Pigment yellow 17, C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 1, C.I. I. Examples thereof include various pigments such as CI Pigment Blue 15: 3, and these can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  In the electrophotographic toner of the present invention, the content of the colorant is preferably 1 to 30 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. It is also effective to use a pigment dispersant. By appropriately selecting the type of the colorant, yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, black toner and the like can be obtained.

-Release agent-
The toner of the present invention may contain a release agent.
The release agent used in the toner of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a known release agent. For example, natural waxes such as carnauba wax, rice wax, and candelilla wax, low molecular weight polypropylene, and low molecular weight polyethylene. Synthesis, such as sazol wax, microcrystalline wax, Fischer tropish wax, paraffin wax, montan wax, or ester wax such as mineral / petroleum wax, fatty acid ester, montanic acid ester, etc. Is not to be done. Moreover, these mold release agents may be used individually by 1 type, and may be used together 2 or more types.

  The melting point of the release agent is preferably 50 ° C. or higher, more preferably 60 ° C. or higher, from the viewpoint of storage stability. Moreover, it is preferable that it is 110 degrees C or less from a viewpoint of offset resistance, and it is more preferable that it is 100 degrees C or less.

  The content of the release agent is preferably in the range of 1 to 30 parts by weight and more preferably in the range of 2 to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin. When the content of the release agent is less than 1 part by weight, there is no effect of adding the release agent, and hot offset at a high temperature may be caused. On the other hand, when the amount exceeds 30 parts by weight, the charging property is adversely affected, and the mechanical strength of the toner is reduced. Therefore, the toner is easily destroyed by stress in the developing machine, and may cause carrier contamination. Further, when used as a color toner, a domain tends to remain in a fixed image, which may cause a problem that OHP transparency is deteriorated.

-Other additives-
In addition to the components described above, various components such as an internal additive, a charge control agent, inorganic powder (inorganic particles), and organic particles can be added to the toner of the present invention as necessary. .
Examples of the internal additive include metals such as ferrite, magnetite, reduced iron, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, alloys, and magnetic materials such as compounds containing these metals.

Examples of the charge control agent include quaternary ammonium salt compounds, nigrosine compounds, dyes composed of complexes of aluminum, iron, chromium, and triphenylmethane pigments.
The inorganic powder is added mainly for the purpose of adjusting the viscoelasticity of the toner. For example, silica, alumina, titania, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium phosphate, cerium oxide, etc. Examples include all inorganic particles used as an external additive on the toner surface.

<Method for producing toner for developing electrostatic image>
The production method of the electrophotographic toner of the present invention is not particularly limited, but it is preferably produced by a wet granulation method. Examples of the wet granulation method include known melt suspension methods, emulsion aggregation methods, and dissolution suspension methods. Among these methods, the emulsion aggregation method is preferably used in the present invention.
That is, an agglomeration step of forming a dispersion of aggregated core fine particles with the aggregated particles including the crystalline polyester fine particles as a core in a dispersion containing at least crystalline polyester fine particles, the dispersion of the aggregated core fine particles being amorphous A coating step in which a dispersion of polymer fine particles is mixed and the surface of the aggregated core fine particles is coated with amorphous polymer fine particles to form core-surface structured particles, and the core-surface structured particles are converted into the amorphous polymer. A fusion process for forming a dispersion of toner for developing an electrostatic charge image by heating to a temperature not lower than the glass transition point, a drying process for separating the toner for developing an electrostatic charge image from a dispersion medium and drying, and the core -At least the adhesion process which adheres resin fine particles to surface structure particle | grains is included.
Hereinafter, each step will be described in detail.

-Emulsification process-
In the emulsification step, the raw material dispersion is a dispersion containing a binder resin emulsified particle (hereinafter abbreviated as “resin particle”) containing at least a crystalline polyester, an aqueous medium, and optionally a colorant and a release agent. It is formed by applying a shearing force to the solution mixed with the liquid. Therefore, the binder resin needs to be dispersed in advance as resin particles in the raw material dispersion.

  The volume average particle diameter of the resin particles is usually 1 μm or less and preferably 0.01 to 1 μm. When the volume average particle size exceeds 1 μm, the particle size distribution of the finally obtained electrostatic image developing toner is broadened or free particles are generated, which tends to deteriorate performance and reliability. On the other hand, when the volume average particle size is within the above range, there are no disadvantages, and it is advantageous in that uneven distribution among toners is reduced, dispersion in the toner is improved, and variations in performance and reliability are reduced. . The volume average particle diameter can be measured using, for example, a Coulter counter.

Examples of the dispersion medium in the dispersion include an aqueous medium and an organic solvent.
Examples of the aqueous medium include water such as distilled water and ion exchange water, and alcohols. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together. In the present invention, it is preferable to add and mix a surfactant in the aqueous medium. Although it does not specifically limit as surfactant, For example, anionic surfactants, such as sulfate ester type, sulfonate type, phosphate ester type, soap type; amine salt type, quaternary ammonium salt type, etc. Nonionic surfactants such as polyethylene glycol-based, alkylphenol ethylene oxide adduct-based, polyhydric alcohol-based, and the like. Among these, anionic surfactants and cationic surfactants are preferable. The nonionic surfactant is preferably used in combination with the anionic surfactant or the cationic surfactant. The said surfactant may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

Specific examples of the anionic surfactant include sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium dodecylsulfate, sodium alkylnaphthalenesulfonate, sodium dialkylsulfosuccinate and the like. Specific examples of the cationic surfactant include alkylbenzenedimethylammonium chloride, alkyltrimethylmonium chloride, distearylammonium chloride and the like. Among these, ionic surfactants such as anionic surfactants and cationic surfactants are preferable.
Examples of the organic solvent include ethyl acetate and toluene, which are appropriately selected according to the binder resin.

  When the resin particle is a homopolymer or copolymer (vinyl resin) of a vinyl monomer such as the ester having a vinyl group, the vinyl nitrile, the vinyl ether, or the vinyl ketone. By conducting emulsion polymerization or seed polymerization of the vinyl monomer in an ionic surfactant, resin particles made of a vinyl monomer homopolymer or copolymer (vinyl resin) are made ionic. A dispersion obtained by dispersing in a surfactant is prepared.

  When the resin particle is a resin other than a homopolymer or a copolymer of the vinyl monomer, the resin can be dissolved in an oily solvent having a relatively low solubility in water. The resin is dissolved in the oily solvent, and this solution is dispersed in water together with an ionic surfactant and polymer electrolyte using a disperser such as a homogenizer, and then the oily solvent is evaporated by heating or decompression. Thus, a dispersion liquid in which resin particles made of resin other than vinyl resin are dispersed in an ionic surfactant is prepared.

  On the other hand, when the resin particles are a crystalline polyester and an amorphous polyester resin, some or all of the functional groups that contain a functional group that can be anionic by neutralization, have self-water dispersibility, and can be hydrophilic. Is neutralized with a base and can form a stable aqueous dispersion under the action of an aqueous medium. In the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester resin, the functional group that can become a hydrophilic group by neutralization is an acidic group such as a carboxyl group or a sulfone group. As the neutralizing agent, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, water Examples thereof include inorganic bases such as lithium oxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and ammonia, and organic bases such as diethylamine, triethylamine and isopropylamine.

  Further, when a polyester resin that does not disperse in water, that is, does not have self-water dispersibility, is used as a binder resin, the resin solution and / or an aqueous medium mixed with the resin solution, as described later, 1 μm easily when dispersed with a polymer electrolyte such as a surfactant, polymer acid, polymer base, etc., heated above the melting point, and treated with a homogenizer or pressure discharge type disperser capable of applying a strong shear force The following microparticles can be made. When this ionic surfactant or polymer electrolyte is used, it is appropriate that the concentration in the aqueous medium is about 0.5 to 5 wt%.

As the colorant mixed with the resin dispersion in the emulsification step, the aforementioned colorant can be used.
As a method for dispersing the colorant, any method such as a general dispersion method such as a rotary shear type homogenizer, a ball mill having a medium, a sand mill, or a dyno mill can be used, and is not limited at all. If necessary, an aqueous dispersion of these colorants can be prepared using a surfactant, or an organic solvent dispersion of these colorants can be prepared using a dispersant. Hereinafter, such a colorant dispersion may be referred to as a “colored particle dispersion”. As the surfactant and the dispersing agent used for dispersion, the same dispersing agents that can be used when dispersing the binder resin can be used.

The addition amount of the colorant is preferably 1 to 20% by weight, more preferably 1 to 10% by weight, still more preferably 2 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the polymer. 2 to 7% by weight is particularly preferable, and it is preferably as much as possible as long as the smoothness of the image surface after fixing is not impaired. When the content of the colorant is increased, the thickness of the image can be reduced when an image having the same density is obtained, which is advantageous in terms of prevention of offset.
These colorants may be added to the mixed solvent at the same time as other fine particle components, or may be divided and added in multiple stages.

As the release agent mixed with the resin dispersion in the emulsification step, the release agent described above can be used.
As with the case of emulsifying and dispersing a polyester resin that does not have self-water dispersibility, the release agent is dispersed together with an ionic surfactant or the like in water, heated above the melting point, and can be applied with a strong shearing force. The dispersion particle diameter is adjusted to 1 μm or less using a pressure discharge type disperser. As the dispersion medium in the release agent dispersion, the same dispersion medium as that for the binder resin can be used.

  In the present invention, as an apparatus for mixing and dispersing the binder resin and the release agent with an aqueous medium, for example, a homomixer (Special Machine Industries Co., Ltd.), a slasher (Mitsui Mine Co., Ltd.), Cavitron (stock) Eurotech Co., Ltd., Microfluidizer (Mizuho Industrial Co., Ltd.), Menton Gorin Homizer (Gorin Co., Ltd.), Nanomizer (Nanomizer Co., Ltd.), Static Mixer (Noritake Company), etc. .

  The content of the resin particles contained in the binder resin dispersion in the emulsification step and the contents of the colorant and the release agent in the dispersion of the colorant and the release agent are usually 5 to 50% by weight. , Preferably 10 to 40% by weight. If the content is within the above range, the particle size distribution is narrow and good characteristics can be obtained.

In the present invention, other components such as the internal additive, the charge control agent, and the inorganic powder as described above may be dispersed in the binder resin dispersion according to the purpose.
The charge control agent in the present invention is preferably made of a material that is difficult to dissolve in water in terms of controlling ionic strength that affects the stability of the aggregation process and the fusion process and reducing wastewater contamination.

  The volume average particle size of the other components is usually 1 μm or less, preferably 0.01 to 1 μm. When the volume average diameter exceeds 1 μm, the particle size distribution of the finally obtained toner for developing an electrostatic charge image is broadened or free particles are generated, which tends to cause deterioration in performance and reliability. On the other hand, when the volume average particle size is within the above range, there are no disadvantages, and the uneven distribution among the toners is reduced, the dispersion in the toner is good, and the variation in performance and reliability is reduced.

-Aggregation process-
In the agglomeration step, the resin particles containing at least the crystalline polyester obtained in the emulsification step, and a dispersion of a colorant and a release agent are mixed (hereinafter, this mixture is referred to as “raw material dispersion”), Heating at a temperature in the vicinity of the melting point of the resin and at a temperature not higher than the melting point forms a dispersion of aggregated core fine particles having aggregated particles containing crystalline polyester fine particles as a core.

  Aggregated particles are formed by adding a flocculant at room temperature under stirring with a rotary shearing homogenizer to make the pH of the raw material dispersion acidic. The pH is preferably 3.5 to 6 and more preferably 4 to 6 when a vinyl copolymer is used as the amorphous polymer of the binder resin.

  On the other hand, when a polyester resin is used as the binder resin (amorphous polymer), since the pH of the emulsified dispersion of the polyester resin before adjusting the raw material dispersion is 7-8, the crystalline polyester having a pH of 3-5 When an emulsified dispersion of a resin, a colorant, and a release agent dispersion are mixed, the balance of polarity is lost and slow aggregation occurs. Therefore, when the raw material dispersion is mixed, the pH is adjusted to 4 to 6 and heated to form aggregated particles.

  As the aggregating agent used in the aggregating step, a surfactant having a polarity opposite to that of the surfactant used for the dispersing agent, an inorganic metal salt, or a divalent or higher-valent metal complex can be preferably used. In particular, the use of a metal complex is particularly preferable because the amount of the surfactant used can be reduced and the charging characteristics are improved.

  Examples of the inorganic metal salt include metal salts such as calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, barium chloride, magnesium chloride, zinc chloride, aluminum chloride, and aluminum sulfate, and polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum hydroxide, and calcium polysulfide. Examples thereof include inorganic metal salt polymers. Of these, aluminum salts and polymers thereof are particularly preferred. In order to obtain a sharper particle size distribution, the valence of the inorganic metal salt is bivalent than monovalent, trivalent than bivalent, trivalent than trivalent, and tetravalent than trivalent. The inorganic metal salt polymer is more suitable.

  Further, in the aggregation process, in order to suppress rapid aggregation due to heating, it is preferable to adjust the pH at the stage of stirring and mixing at room temperature and add a dispersion stabilizer as necessary (hereinafter, this stage is referred to as “stage”). "Pre-aggregation process"). As the dispersion stabilizer used in this pre-aggregation step, it is preferable to add 1 to 3% of a known nonionic surfactant so as not to change the polarity. When the dispersion stabilizer is not added, there is a problem that in the heating and agglomeration process, the intake of the fine particles of the raw material particles is deteriorated, and as a result, the particle size distribution becomes broad. Further, it is effective to add the dispersion stabilizer separately in both the pre-aggregation step and the heat aggregation step.

-Coating process-
In the coating step, a surface layer is formed by adhering amorphous polymer particles to the surface of aggregated particles containing crystalline polyester (hereinafter abbreviated as “core aggregated particles”) formed through the above-described aggregation step. Then, core-surface structured particles are formed (hereinafter, the surface of the core aggregated particles provided with a surface layer is abbreviated as “attached aggregated particles”).
The surface layer can be formed by additionally adding a dispersion containing amorphous polymer particles to the dispersion in which the core aggregated particles are formed in the aggregation process, and other components can be added simultaneously as necessary. It may be added. Also in the coating step, the pH and the flocculant are selected in the same manner as in the agglomeration step according to the amorphous polymer to be used, and the binder resin having the lowest melting point among the two or more types of binder resins contained in the adhered aggregated particles Adhesive aggregated particles can be obtained by heating at a temperature below the melting point. This coating step is also effective in leading the raw material fine particles that have not been taken into the aggregated particles at the pre-aggregation stage.

  In the present invention, as a stirring tank for performing the coating step, a stirring shaft that can be rotated from the outside of the tank is disposed at the center of the stirring tank, and the bottom of the tank is brought into sliding contact with the bottom wall surface of the stirring tank. It is preferable to use a stirring tank equipped with a bottom paddle disposed in the upper portion of the stirring shaft and a grid formed by an arm paddle and a strip extending in a direction perpendicular to the arm paddle. At this time, you may use the stirring tank provided with the stirrer which arrange | positioned the several baffle (baffle plate) along the axial direction from the lower part to the upper part of the stirring tank at intervals.

In the present invention, the full zone blade is not particularly limited, but it is particularly preferable to use Max Blend (manufactured by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.).
Explain the structure and function of Max Blend.
A stirring tank equipped with Max Blend is described in JP-A-61-200842. The agitation tank has an agitation blade in which a lattice part (grid part) composed of an upper arm paddle and a strip extending in a direction perpendicular to the arm paddle and a lower flat plate part (bottom paddle part) are integrated. .
If a stirring blade such as a four-paddle is used without using a full-zone blade, the stirring state in the polymerization vessel becomes insufficient, and the outermost stirring and mixing of the vessel becomes insufficient. For this reason, due to the heat history, the adhesion of coarse powder agglomerates occurs on the outermost part of the pot. When these deposits are analyzed, there is a colorless toner containing no irregular shape or colorant. Amorphous toners are considered to be produced in a different process from normal polymerized toners. If this ratio is increased, toner characteristics such as triboelectric chargeability and development characteristics when image evaluations are adversely affected, image density fluctuations, whiteness Generation of streaks and fog is observed. Therefore, in the production method of polymerized toner, preventing the generation of irregular shaped toner is an important matter not only in terms of toner characteristics but also in production cost.

When these hook wall adhering substances are mixed in the toner, the toner characteristics are deteriorated, and there are concerns about gloss, color gamut, peeling, and chargeability. Furthermore, the cleaning ability of the kettle after the toner production deteriorates, and the peeled aggregates clog the pipes and the dispersing machine, making it difficult to maintain the equipment. A worsening problem occurs.
Therefore, by using full zone blades, especially Max Blend blades, the stirring state in the kettle becomes sufficient, the amorphous polymer adheres to the core aggregate particles thinly and uniformly, and the expected transfer rate, chargeability, A toner having a cohesion degree can be produced.

  By using a full zone blade such as a Max blend blade when the solid content concentration when blending the core agglomerated particles and the amorphous polymer is a high concentration of 30 to 50%, the amorphous polymer Aggregation is prevented and adhesion to the core toner (core portion) is thin and uniform, and the effect is most noticeable.

-Fusion process-
In the fusing step, the core-surface structured particles are fused by heating to a temperature equal to or higher than the glass transition degree of the amorphous polymer to form a dispersion of the electrostatic charge image developing toner.
In the fusion step, under the same agitation as in the aggregation step, the pH of the suspension of adhering aggregated particles is set in the range of 6.5 to 8.5 to stop the progress of aggregation, and as a binder resin The adhered aggregated particles are fused by heating at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the crystalline resin contained. Although depending on the liquidity of the dispersion containing the adhered aggregated particles, if the pH at which aggregation is stopped is not an appropriate pH, the particle size of the adhered aggregated particles cannot be controlled in the temperature rising process for fusing, resulting in a yield. It may get worse.

  There is no problem if the heating temperature at the time of fusion is not lower than the melting point of the binder resin contained in the adhered and agglomerated particles. The heating time may be performed so that the fusion is sufficiently performed, and may be performed for about 0.5 to 1.5 hours. Within the above range, the crystalline polyester contained in the core agglomerated particles (aggregated core fine particles) is difficult to be exposed on the toner surface, so that the fixing property, document storage property, and charging property are improved.

  In the fusion step, a crosslinking reaction may be performed when the binder resin is heated to the melting point or higher, or after the fusion is completed. In addition, a crosslinking reaction can be performed simultaneously with the fusion. When the crosslinking reaction is performed, for example, an unsaturated sulfonated crystalline polyester resin obtained by copolymerizing a double bond component as a binder resin is used, and a radical reaction is caused to the resin to introduce a crosslinked structure. . At this time, the following polymerization initiator is used.

  Examples of the polymerization initiator include t-butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate, cumyl perpivalate, t-butyl peroxylaurate, benzoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, octanoyl peroxide, di-t. -Butyl peroxide, t-butyl cumyl peroxide, dicumyl peroxide, 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2'-azobis (2-methylbutyronitrile), 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2′-azobis (4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 1,1-bis (t-butylperoxy) 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane 1,1-bis (t-butylperoxy) cyclohexane, 1,4-bis (t-butylperoxyca) Bonyl) cyclohexane, 2,2-bis (t-butylperoxy) octane, n-butyl 4,4-bis (t-butylperoxy) valerate, 2,2-bis (t-butylperoxy) butane, , 3-bis (t-butylperoxyisopropyl) benzene, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di (t-butylperoxy) hexane, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di (t-butylper) Oxy) hexane, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di (benzoylperoxy) hexane, di-t-butyldiperoxyisophthalate, 2,2-bis (4,4-di-t-butylperoxy) (Cyclohexyl) propane, di-t-butylperoxy α-methylsuccinate, di-t-butylperoxydimethylglutarate, di-t-butylperoxyhexahydrotereph Tartrate, di-t-butylperoxyazelate, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di (t-butylperoxy) hexane, diethylene glycol-bis (t-butylperoxycarbonate), di-t-butylper Oxytrimethyl adipate, tris (t-butylperoxy) triazine, vinyltris (t-butylperoxy) silane, 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine dihydrochloride), 2,2'-azobis [N- (2-carboxyethyl) -2-methylpropionamidine], 4,4′-azobis (4-cyanovaleric acid) and the like.

The polymerization initiator for introducing a crosslinked structure can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The amount and type of the polymerization initiator are selected depending on the amount of unsaturated sites in the polymer and the type and amount of the coexisting colorant.
The polymerization initiator may be mixed with the polymer in advance before the emulsification step, or may be incorporated into the aggregate in the aggregation step. Further, it may be introduced after the fusion step or after the fusion step. When the polymerization initiator is introduced after the aggregation step, the coating step, the fusion step, or the fusion step, a solution in which the polymerization initiator is dissolved or emulsified is added to the particle dispersion (resin particle dispersion or the like). These polymerization initiators may be added with known crosslinking agents, chain transfer agents, polymerization inhibitors and the like for the purpose of controlling the degree of polymerization.

  The fused particles obtained by fusing can be made into toner particles through a solid-liquid separation process such as filtration and, if necessary, a washing process and a drying process. In this case, in order to ensure sufficient charging characteristics and reliability as a toner, it is preferable to sufficiently wash in the washing step.

  In the drying process, an arbitrary method such as a normal vibration type fluidized drying method, a spray drying method, a freeze drying method, or a flash jet method can be adopted. It is desirable that the toner particles have a moisture content after drying of 1.0% or less, preferably 0.5% or less.

-Adhesion process-
The toner particles granulated through the drying process as described above have resin fine particles attached to the surface thereof.
The resin fine particles are fixed to the toner particle surfaces. For example, resin fine particles can be fixed to the toner particle surfaces using a powder surface modification device.
Examples of the powder surface modification device include a hybridization system (NHS) manufactured by Nara Machinery Co., Ltd., a mechano-fusion system AMS type manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation, and a sheeter composer manufactured by Okada Seiko Co., Ltd.
The hybridization system is a dry system that enables bonding of fine powders. First, toner particles and resin fine particles are mixed and dispersed using an OM dither to form an ordered mixture. The resin fine particles can be fixed to the surface of the toner particles by applying the mechanical thermal energy mainly composed of impact force while being dispersed in a high-speed air stream while being put in a hybridizer.

-Mixing process-
As other components, various known external additives such as inorganic fine particles and organic fine particles as described above can be added according to the purpose.
In the present invention, the external additive is preferably added to the toner particles and mixed. The mixing can be performed by a known mixer such as a V-type blender, a Henschel mixer, and a Redige mixer.

<Developer for developing electrostatic image>
The electrostatic image developing toner of the present invention is used as it is as a one-component developer or as a two-component developer. When used as a two-component developer, it is used by mixing with a carrier.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a carrier which can be used for a two-component developer, A well-known carrier can be used. Examples thereof include magnetic metals such as iron oxide, nickel and cobalt, magnetic oxides such as ferrite and magnetite, resin-coated carriers having a resin coating layer on the surface of the core material, and magnetic dispersion carriers. Further, a resin-dispersed carrier in which a conductive material or the like is dispersed in a matrix resin may be used.

  Coating resins and matrix resins used for carriers include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl ketone, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-acrylic. Examples thereof include, but are not limited to, acid copolymers, straight silicone resins composed of organosiloxane bonds or modified products thereof, fluororesins, polyesters, polycarbonates, phenol resins, epoxy resins and the like.

  Examples of the conductive material include metals such as gold, silver and copper, carbon black, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, barium sulfate, aluminum borate, potassium titanate, tin oxide, and carbon black. It is not limited.

Examples of the core material of the carrier include magnetic metals such as iron, nickel, and cobalt, magnetic oxides such as ferrite and magnetite, and glass beads. However, in order to use the carrier for the magnetic brush method, it is a magnetic material. It is preferable.
The volume average particle size of the core material of the carrier is generally 10 to 500 μm, preferably 30 to 100 μm.

  In order to coat the surface of the core material of the carrier with a resin, there may be mentioned a method of coating with a coating layer forming solution in which the coating resin and, if necessary, various additives are dissolved in an appropriate solvent. The solvent is not particularly limited and may be appropriately selected in consideration of the coating resin to be used, coating suitability, and the like.

  Specific resin coating methods include an immersion method in which the carrier core material is immersed in the coating layer forming solution, a spray method in which the coating layer forming solution is sprayed onto the surface of the carrier core material, and the carrier core material is fluidized air. And a kneader coater method in which the carrier core material and the coating layer forming solution are mixed in a kneader coater and the solvent is removed in a kneader coater.

  The mixing ratio (weight ratio) of the toner of the present invention and the carrier in the two-component developer is in the range of toner: carrier = 1: 100 to 30: 100, and about 3: 100 to 20: 100. A range is more preferred.

<Image forming method>
The image forming method of the present invention includes a latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the latent image holding member, and developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image holding member with a toner or a developer. A developing step for forming a toner image, a transfer step for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the latent image holding member to the surface of the transfer target, and a fixing step for thermally fixing the toner image transferred on the surface of the transfer target. And a developer containing the toner for developing an electrostatic charge image of the present invention is used as the developer.

  The developer may be either a one-component system or a two-component system. As each of the above steps, a known step in the image forming method can be used. The image forming method of the present invention may include steps other than the steps described above.

As the latent image holding member, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a dielectric recording member can be used.
In the case of an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is uniformly charged by a corotron charger, a contact charger or the like and then exposed to form an electrostatic latent image (latent image forming step). Next, the toner particles are attached to the electrostatic latent image by contacting or approaching a developing roll having a developer layer formed on the surface, thereby forming a toner image on the electrophotographic photosensitive member (developing step). The formed toner image is transferred onto the surface of a transfer medium such as paper using a corotron charger or the like (transfer process). Further, the toner image transferred to the surface of the transfer target is heat-fixed by a fixing device, and a final toner image is formed.

Examples of the transfer target (recording material) to which the toner image is transferred include plain paper used for electrophotographic copying machines and printers, OHP sheets, intermediate drums used for color image formation, and intermediate transfer belts. Etc.
In order to further improve the smoothness of the image surface after fixing, it is preferable that the surface of the transfer object is as smooth as possible. For example, coated paper in which the surface of plain paper is coated with a resin or the like, art paper for printing Etc. can be used suitably.

  Since the image forming method of the present invention uses the developer of the present invention (the toner of the present invention), it can be fixed at a low temperature and has excellent offset resistance, and the toner has an appropriate charge maintaining property in development and transfer. Can be held. Further, it is excellent in blocking resistance, and it is possible to prevent in-machine contamination due to toner scattering and the like caused by deterioration of powder fluidity due to blocking. As described above, it is excellent in energy saving and maintenance during image formation, and a good image can be formed while preventing in-machine contamination.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention, this invention is not limited to these Examples.
-Preparation of crystalline polyester resin dispersion (1)-
In a heat-dried three-necked flask, 92.5 mol% of dimethyl sebacate and 7.5 mol% of 5-t-butylisophthalic acid, ethylene glycol (200 mol% with respect to the acid component), and titanium tetrabutoxide as a catalyst (0.012% by weight with respect to the acid component) was added, and the air in the container was decompressed by a decompression operation, and further inerted with nitrogen gas and refluxed at 180 ° C. for 5 hours with mechanical stirring. Went. Thereafter, excess ethylene glycol was removed by distillation under reduced pressure, the temperature was gradually raised to 230 ° C., and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours. When the mixture became viscous, the molecular weight was confirmed by GPC, and the weight average molecular weight was 13,000. Then, distillation under reduced pressure was stopped and air-cooled to obtain crystalline polyester (1).

  Next, 80 parts of this crystalline polyester (1) and 720 parts of deionized water are placed in a stainless beaker, placed in a warm bath and heated to 95 ° C. When the crystalline polyester resin was melted, the mixture was stirred at 8,000 rpm using a homogenizer (manufactured by IKA: Ultra Turrax T50). Next, while 20 parts of an aqueous solution obtained by diluting 1.6 parts of an anionic surfactant (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd .: Neogen RK) is added dropwise, it is emulsified and dispersed, and a crystalline polyester resin having an average particle size of 0.18 μm. Dispersion liquid (1) [resin particle concentration: 10% by weight] was prepared.

—Preparation of Crystalline Polyester Resin Dispersion (2) Synthesize with the same formulation as the above crystalline polyester (1), and react in the process of distillation under reduced pressure until the weight average molecular weight in GPC reaches about 10,000. Proceed. When the target molecular weight is reached, 0.05 mol of trimellitic acid is added, the reaction proceeds for 30 minutes after the trimellitic acid melts, and heating is stopped. Furthermore, it was put into an excess amount of methanol in a viscous state, and reprecipitation purification was performed to obtain a crystalline polyester (2) having a weight average molecular weight of 12,000 and an acid value of 24, which had been subjected to acid value treatment.

  Next, 80 parts of this crystalline polyester (2) and 720 parts of deionized water are placed in a stainless beaker, placed in a warm bath and heated to 95 ° C. When the crystalline polyester resin is melted, the mixture is stirred at 8,000 rpm using a homogenizer (manufactured by IKA: Ultra Tarrax T50). Then, while adding 15 parts of an aqueous solution obtained by diluting 1.2 parts of an anionic surfactant (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd .: Neogen RK), the emulsion is dispersed and a crystalline polyester resin having an average particle size of 0.15 μm. Dispersion liquid (2) [resin particle concentration: 10% by weight] was prepared.

-Preparation of amorphous polymer dispersion-
-Styrene: 360 parts-n-Butyl acrylate: 35 parts-Acrylic acid: 4 parts-Dodecanethiol: 24 parts-Carbon tetrabromide: 4 parts Disperse in a flask in 6 parts of Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd .: Nonipol 400) and 10 parts of an anionic surfactant (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd .: Neogen SC) dissolved in 560 parts of ion-exchanged water. Emulsified, slowly mixed for 10 minutes, and then charged with 50 parts of ion-exchanged water in which 4 parts of ammonium persulfate had been dissolved. After nitrogen substitution, the contents were brought to 70 ° C. while stirring the flask. It heated in the oil bath until it became, and emulsion polymerization was continued as it was for 5 hours. Thus, an amorphous polymer dispersion (resin particle concentration: 40% by weight) in which resin particles having an average particle diameter of 180 nm, a glass transition point of 57 ° C., and a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 15,000 are dispersed. Prepared.

-Preparation of release agent dispersion-
・ Ester wax (Nippon Yushi Co., Ltd .: WEP-2, melting point 65 ° C.): 50 parts ・ Anionic surfactant (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd .: Neogen RK): 5 parts ・ Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts The above was heated to 95 ° C. and dispersed using a homogenizer (manufactured by IKA: Ultra Tarrax T50), and then dispersed at 110 ° C., 350 kg / cm ² , 30 minutes using a Manton Gorin high-pressure homogenizer (manufactured by Gorin). A release agent dispersion liquid (release agent concentration: 20% by weight) prepared by dispersing a release agent having a volume average particle size of 230 nm was prepared.

-Preparation of colorant dispersion-
-Preparation of colored dispersion (1)-
-Cyan pigment (CI Pigment Blue B15: 3): 70 parts-Nonionic surfactant (Nonipol 400: manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd.): 5 parts-Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts A colored dispersant (1) in which colorant (Cyan pigment) particles having a volume average particle size of 220 nm are dispersed by dissolving and dispersing for 10 minutes using a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50: manufactured by IKA). Prepared.

-Preparation of colored dispersion (2)-
-Magenta pigment (CI Pigment Red 122): 70 parts-Nonionic surfactant (Nonipol 400: manufactured by Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd.): 5 parts-Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts Dissolved and dispersed for 10 minutes using a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50: manufactured by IKA) to prepare a color dispersant (2) in which colorant (Magenta pigment) particles having a volume average particle size of 210 nm are dispersed. .

-Preparation of colored dispersion (3)-
Yellow pigment (CI Pigment Yellow 180): 100 parts Nonionic surfactant (Nonipol 400: manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd.): 5 parts Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts Dissolving and dispersing for 10 minutes using a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50: manufactured by IKA) to prepare a color dispersant (3) in which colorant (Yellow pigment) particles having a volume average particle diameter of 250 nm are dispersed.

-Preparation of colored dispersion (4)-
Carbon black (Mogal L: Cabot): 50 parts Nonionic surfactant (Nonipol 400: Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd.): 5 parts Ion-exchanged water: 200 parts or more of ingredients are mixed and dissolved. Dispersing for 10 minutes using a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50: manufactured by IKA), a color dispersant (4) in which colorant (black pigment) particles having a volume average particle diameter of 200 nm are dispersed was prepared.

Example 1
-Production of toner particles (1)-
-Crystalline polyester resin dispersion (1): 600 parts-Amorphous polymer dispersion: 75 parts-Colorant dispersion (1): 22.87 parts-Nonionic surfactant (IGEPAL CA897: manufactured by Rhône-Poulenc) ): 1.05 parts The above raw materials are placed in a 5 L cylindrical stainless steel container, and dispersed and mixed for 30 minutes while applying a shearing force at 8,000 rpm with an Ultraturrax. Subsequently, 0.14 part of a 10% nitric acid aqueous solution of polyaluminum chloride as a flocculant began to be dropped to promote preaggregation. When each dispersed particle starts to aggregate, the viscosity of the raw material dispersion itself increases. Therefore, when thickening was started, the above-mentioned aqueous flocculant solution was dropped while confirming the size of the aggregated particle with an optical microscope. At this time, the pH of the raw material dispersion was kept at about 4.3 for about 2 hours to form aggregated particles. At this time, the volume average particle diameter of the aggregated particles measured using a Coulter counter [TA-II] type (aperture diameter: 50 μm; manufactured by Beckman-Coulter) was 2.5 μm. Next, 25 parts of the amorphous polymer dispersion (1) was additionally added to the obtained aggregated particles to adhere the amorphous polymer particles to the surface of the aggregated particles.

  Thereafter, the raw material dispersion was transferred to a polymerization kettle equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, and started to be heated with a mantle heater to promote the growth of adhered aggregated particles at 40 ° C. Then, granulation is advanced while confirming the size and form of the adhered aggregated particles with an optical microscope and a Coulter counter. When the volume average particle diameter becomes 6.5 μm, the pH is adjusted to fuse the adhered aggregated particles. After raising to 9.0, the temperature was raised to 90 ° C. After confirming that the particles were fused with a microscope, the pH was lowered to 6.5 again while maintaining the temperature at 90 ° C., heating was stopped after 1 hour, and the mixture was allowed to cool. Thereafter, the mixture was sieved with a 45 μm mesh, washed repeatedly with water, and then dried with a vacuum dryer. Granulation was carried out as described above to obtain toner particles (1). To the obtained toner particles, 1.2 parts by weight of polymethyl methacrylate particles having a volume average particle diameter of 0.30 μm (weight average molecular weight 22000) are added with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner, and the peripheral speed is 33 m / min using a Henschel mixer. The mixture was mixed for 30 minutes at s to adhere to the irregularities on the toner surface.

(Example 2)
-Production of toner particles 2-
Toner particles 2 were obtained in the same manner as in the production of toner particles 1 except that the colorant dispersion (2) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of toner particles 1.

(Example 3)
-Production of toner particles 3-
Toner particles 3 were obtained in the same manner as in the production of toner particles 1 except that the colorant dispersion (3) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of toner particles 1.

Example 4
-Production of toner particles 4-
In the production of toner particles 1, toner particles 4 were obtained in the same manner as in the production of toner particles 1 except that the colorant dispersion (4) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1).

(Example 5)
-Production of toner particles (5)-
-Crystalline polyester resin dispersion (2): 400 parts-Amorphous polymer dispersion: 100 parts-Colorant dispersion (1): 22.87 parts-Release agent dispersion: 50 parts-Nonionic surface activity Agent (IGEPAL CA897: manufactured by Rhône-Poulenc): 0.5 part The process was advanced to agglomeration under the same conditions as in Example 1 except that each dispersion was used as a raw material. Next, the aggregated particles were grown to a volume average diameter of 2.6 μm while adjusting the pH of the raw material dispersion to 4.7.

  Next, in the same manner as in Example 1, 25 parts of the amorphous polymer dispersion liquid is additionally added to form the amorphous aggregated particles by adhering the amorphous polymer particles to the surface of the aggregated particles. After adding 1.5 parts of a nonionic surfactant (IGEPAL CA897) in order to stabilize the adhered aggregated particles, heating was started. When the volume average diameter of the adhered and agglomerated particles after 6.5 hours from the start of heating reached 6.5 μm, the temperature was raised to 90 ° C. after adjusting the pH to 8.3 for fusion. After confirming that the adhered and agglomerated particles were fused with a microscope, the pH was lowered to 6.5 again while maintaining at 90 ° C., and heating was stopped after 1 hour and the mixture was allowed to cool. Thereafter, sieving, washing and drying were performed under the same conditions as in Example 1 to obtain toner particles (5). To the obtained toner particles, 3.0 parts by weight of polymethyl methacrylate (weight average molecular weight 22000) fine particles having an average particle size of 0.15 μm is added with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner, and the peripheral speed is 33 m / s using a Henschel mixer. And mixed in 20 minutes to adhere to the irregularities on the toner surface.

(Example 6)
-Production of toner particles 6-
Toner particles 6 were obtained in the same manner as in the production of the toner particles 5 except that the colorant dispersion (2) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of the toner particles 5.

(Example 7)
-Production of toner particles 7-
Toner particles 7 were obtained in the same manner as in the production of the toner particles 5 except that the colorant dispersion (3) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of the toner particles 5.

(Example 8)
-Production of toner particles 8-
Toner particles 8 were obtained in the same manner as in the production of the toner particles 5 except that the colorant dispersion (4) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of the toner particles 1.

(Comparative Example 1)
-Production of toner particles (9)-
Crystalline polyester resin dispersion (1): 600 parts Amorphous polymer dispersion: 75 parts Colorant dispersion (1): 22.87 parts Nonionic surfactant (IGEPAL CA897): 1.05 Part The above raw materials are placed in a 5 L cylindrical stainless steel container, and dispersed and mixed for 30 minutes while applying a shearing force at 8000 rpm with Ultraturrax. Subsequently, 0.14 part of a 10% nitric acid aqueous solution of polyaluminum chloride as a flocculant began to be dropped to promote preaggregation. When each dispersed particle starts to aggregate, the viscosity of the raw material dispersion itself increases. Therefore, when thickening was started, the above-mentioned aqueous flocculant solution was dropped while confirming the size of the aggregated particle with an optical microscope. At this time, the pH of the raw material dispersion was kept at about 4.3 for about 2 hours to form aggregated particles. At this time, the volume average particle diameter of the aggregated particles measured using a Coulter counter [TA-II] type (aperture diameter: 50 μm; manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) was 2.6 μm. Next, 25 parts of the amorphous polymer dispersion (1) was additionally added to the obtained aggregated particles to adhere the amorphous polymer particles to the surface of the aggregated particles.

  Thereafter, the raw material dispersion was transferred to a polymerization kettle equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer, and started to be heated with a mantle heater to promote the growth of adhered aggregated particles at 40 ° C. Then, granulation is advanced while confirming the size and form of the adhered aggregated particles with an optical microscope and a Coulter counter, and when the volume average particle diameter becomes 6.6 μm, the pH is adjusted to fuse the adhered aggregated particles. After raising to 9.0, the temperature was raised to 90 ° C. After confirming that the particles were fused with a microscope, the pH was lowered to 6.5 again while maintaining the temperature at 90 ° C., heating was stopped after 1 hour, and the mixture was allowed to cool. Thereafter, the mixture was sieved with a 45 μm mesh, washed repeatedly with water, and then dried with a vacuum dryer. Granulation was carried out as described above to obtain toner particles (9).

(Comparative Example 2)
-Production of toner particles 10-
Toner particles 10 were obtained in the same manner as in the production of the toner particles 9 except that the colorant dispersion (2) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of the toner particles 9.

(Comparative Example 3)
-Production of toner particles 11-
Toner particles 11 were obtained in the same manner as in the production of the toner particles 9 except that the colorant dispersion (3) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of the toner particles 9.

(Comparative Example 4)
-Production of toner particles 12-
Toner particles 12 were obtained in the same manner as in the production of the toner particles 9 except that the colorant dispersion (4) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of the toner particles 9.

(Comparative Example 5)
-Production of toner particles 13-
Amorphous polymer dispersion: 180 parts Colorant dispersion (1): 250 parts Mold release dispersion (1): 50 parts Cationic surfactant (Sanisol B50: manufactured by Kao Corporation): 1 .5 parts After mixing and dispersing the above components in a round stainless steel flask with Ultra Turrax T50 (IKA), the temperature was raised to 60 ° C. over 300 minutes while stirring the flask in an oil bath for heating. I let you. After adding 50 parts of the amorphous polymer dispersion (1) at 60 ° C. and allowing to stand for 15 minutes, 3 parts of an anionic surfactant (Neogen RK, manufactured by Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) was added, and a stainless steel flask was added. Sealed and heated to 95 ° C. with continued stirring using a magnetic seal and held at 95 ° C. for 5 hours. After cooling, the reaction product was filtered, thoroughly washed with ion exchange water, and dried to obtain toner particles 13.

(Comparative Example 6)
-Production of toner particles 14-
Toner particles 14 were obtained in the same manner as the toner particles 13 except that the colorant dispersion (2) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of the toner particles 13.

(Comparative Example 7)
-Production of toner particles 15-
Toner particles 15 were obtained in the same manner as the toner particles 13 except that the colorant dispersion (3) was used instead of the colorant dispersion (1) in the production of the toner particles 13.

(Comparative Example 8)
-Production of toner particles 16-
Toner particles 16 were obtained in the same manner as the toner particles 13 except that the colorant dispersion liquid (4) was used instead of the colorant dispersion liquid (1) in the production of the toner particles 13.

<Arithmetic mean height of toner>
The arithmetic average height of the toner was determined by the above-described method using a super-advanced color 3D shape measuring microscope VK-9500 manufactured by Keyence Corporation. The obtained arithmetic average height data was statistically processed to obtain an index relating to the surface roughness.
<Number average particle diameter>
Measurement was performed with an aperture diameter of 50 μm using a Coulter counter [TA-II] type (manufactured by Beckman-Coulter).

<Evaluation of toner fixing property, blocking property, and charging property>
(Evaluation of fixing property and blocking property)
To the toner particles (1) to (16), 1.2 parts by weight of titania particles (T805: manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) having a volume average particle diameter of 20 nm as an external additive are added with respect to 100 parts by weight of the toner. Then, the toner (1) to (16) for developing an electrostatic image was obtained by mixing at a peripheral speed of 22 m / s for 5 minutes.
Next, 5 parts by weight of each of these toners and 100 parts by weight of polyethylene resin-coated ferrite particles (volume average particle diameter 35 μm) were mixed to prepare a two-component developer, which was then used as an electrophotographic copying machine (Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.). The fixing machine portion of A-Color 635) was removed and the image was printed out to obtain an unfixed solid image (25 mm × 25 mm, toner loading 13.5 g / m ² ). The paper used was Fuji Xerox J paper. Next, using a belt nip type external fixing machine, the fixing temperature of the image and the hot offset property were evaluated while gradually increasing the fixing temperature between 90 ° C. and 220 ° C.
The low-temperature fixability is determined by fixing an unfixed solid image, then bending the image, placing a weight of 1 kg on the load for 10 seconds, then returning the bent portion, grading the degree of image loss, and grade classification as follows: From this, the minimum fixing temperature was determined and used as an index of low-temperature fixability. The fixing temperature is 110 ° C.
There are almost no image defects.
There is some image defect ――――――― ○ (Minimum fixing temperature)
There is an image defect ――――――――― △
Image loss is remarkable ―――――――― ×

(Evaluation of chargeability)
1.5 parts by weight of each of the electrostatic image developing toners (1) to (16) prepared during the evaluation of the fixing property and 30 parts by weight of ferrite particles (volume average particle diameter 35 μm) coated with polyethylene resin are covered. Were weighed in a glass bottle and seasoned for 24 hours under high temperature and high humidity (temperature 28 ° C., humidity 85%) and low temperature and low humidity (temperature 10 ° C., humidity 15%). Stirred for hours. The charge amount (μC / g) of the toner in both environments was measured with a blow-off charge amount measuring device (TB-200 manufactured by Toshiba Corporation), and the charge amounts after 10 minutes and 10 hours were compared. The difference in charge amount was graded as follows and used as an index of charge maintenance.
Less than 3μC / g ――――――――――― ◎ (Target)
± 3μC / g or more to less than 5μC / g
± 5μC / g or more and less than 8μC / g ---
± 8μC / g or more ――――――――― ×
The grade of the charge amount is determined in the environment of high temperature and high humidity and low temperature and low humidity, and the value of the environment having the lower grade is determined.

  Tables 1 and 2 show the evaluation results of the toner characteristics (1) to (16), the fixing characteristics, the powder fluidity, and the charge retention.

  From the results shown in Tables 1 and 2, in Examples (1) to (8), since the polymethyl methacrylate particles are filled in the irregularities on the surface of the toner and the surface is smooth, charging is good over time. While maintaining the amount, the toner surface had many irregularities as in Comparative Examples (9) to (16) and the surface was not smooth, so that a sufficient charge amount could not be maintained over time.

  In addition, all of Examples (1) to (8) and Comparative Examples (9) to (12) were excellent in low-temperature fixing and offset resistance and excellent in blocking resistance. On the other hand, Comparative Examples (13) to (16) were all poor in low-temperature fixing and offset resistance, and inferior in blocking resistance.

Claims (4)

A toner for developing an electrostatic charge image, in which resin fine particles adhere to the surface of toner particles having a core-surface structure including a core and a surface layer covering the core,
The core binder resin contains crystalline polyester as a main component,
The surface layer binder resin contains an amorphous polymer as a main component,
The resin fine particles have an average particle size of 0.01 to 1 μm,
The cumulative distribution 90% value of the arithmetic average height distribution on the toner particle surface is 0.15 μm or less, and
A toner for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the variation in arithmetic average height is 40 or less. An agglomeration step of forming a dispersion of aggregated core fine particles having a core portion of the aggregated particles including the crystalline polyester fine particles in a dispersion containing at least the crystalline polyester fine particles;
A coating step in which a dispersion of amorphous polymer fine particles is mixed with the dispersion of the aggregated core fine particles, and the surface of the aggregated core fine particles is coated with the amorphous polymer fine particles to form core-surface structured particles;
A fusion step of fusing the core-surface structured particles by heating to a temperature above the glass transition point of the amorphous polymer to form a dispersion of an electrostatic charge image developing toner;
A drying step of separating the electrostatic charge image developing toner from the dispersion medium and drying; and
The method for producing a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image according to claim 1, further comprising an attaching step of attaching resin fine particles to the core-surface structured particles.   An electrostatic charge image developing developer comprising the electrostatic charge image developing toner according to claim 1 and a carrier. A latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the latent image holding member;
A developing step of developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image holding body with toner or developer to form a toner image;
A transfer step of transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the latent image carrier to the surface of the transfer target;
A fixing step of thermally fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the transfer material,
An image forming method comprising using the electrostatic image developing toner according to claim 1 or the electrostatic image developing developer according to claim 3 as the developer.