JP2011026617A - Silicone elastomer porous body - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a silicone elastomer porous body of a substantially closed-cell type, having a small cell size. <P>SOLUTION: The silicone elastomer porous body is produced from a liquid silicone rubber material which is cured to form a silicone elastomer, a silicone oil material having the surface activity action, and a water-in-oil type emulsion composition having water, wherein the silicone elastomer porous body has cells with the diameter of ≤50 μm, which occupy ≥50% of a total cell number, and the single cell ratio of ≥60%. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a silicone elastomer porous body, and more specifically to a substantially closed-cell silicone elastomer porous body.

Silicone elastomer porous bodies are used in various fields. For example, image forming parts such as copying machines and laser printers, such as developing rollers, toner supply rollers, transfer rollers, drum cleaning rollers, copying machines, It is used as a paper conveying roller for various printers and plotters, and further used as a pressure roller for fixing devices.
Conventionally, a porous body is mainly manufactured using a foaming phenomenon. As a foaming agent that causes foaming, there are a method using a chemical foaming agent, a method using gas, and a method using water. The production of a porous silicone elastomer is no exception, and in most cases, it is produced using these foaming agents. However, in the conventional method for producing a porous silicone elastomer, the silicone rubber is cured and foamed at the same time. Therefore, the size of the cells (bubbles) in the resulting porous body is not uniform and greatly varies. It is difficult to form a cell with a fine size.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses that a room temperature-curing organopolysiloxane emulsion containing an organopolysiloxane having a silanol group, a specific crosslinking agent, a curing catalyst, an emulsifier and the like is frozen and frozen without thawing. A method for producing a porous silicone elastomer by sublimating water and drying is disclosed. However, even with this method, it is difficult to produce a porous body having cells of uniform and fine size. Moreover, the porous body obtained by this method is an open-cell type.

JP-A-6-287348

Silicone elastomer porous material manufactured using a foaming agent has a large and uneven cell size, so the shape during heating is not stable and the force can be evenly distributed when torque is applied. However, there is a problem that it is easy to break. Moreover, when the cell size is large, when the porous body is used for, for example, a pressure roller, the cell eyes appear in the image. In addition, when the porous body is an open-cell type, there is also a problem that it is easily broken. Accordingly, there is a demand for a closed-cell silicone elastomer porous body having a small cell size and a uniform cell size.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a substantially closed-cell silicone elastomer porous body having a small cell size.

  According to the present invention, it is prepared from a liquid silicone rubber material that is cured to produce a silicone elastomer, a silicone oil material having a surfactant activity, and a water-in-oil emulsion composition containing water, and has a diameter of 50 μm or less. A porous silicone elastomer is provided in which the cells occupy 50% or more of the total number of cells and have a single bubble ratio of 60% or more.

3 is a SEM photograph of a cross section of the silicone elastomer porous body produced in Example 1. FIG. 3 is a SEM photograph of a cross section of the silicone elastomer porous body produced in Example 2. 3 is a SEM photograph of a cross section of the porous silicone elastomer of Comparative Example 1.

The porous body of a closed-cell type silicone elastomer can be expressed as a matrix (matrix) made of silicone elastomer and a large number of closed cells (closed cells) dispersed and distributed in the matrix.
The silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention has a substantially closed-cell type, characterized in that cells having a diameter of 50 μm or less occupy 50% or more of the total number of cells and have a single bubble ratio of 60% or more. It is a silicone elastomer porous body.
If the single bubble ratio, which is an indicator of the ratio of the number of closed cells described in detail below, is less than 60%, the strength of the porous body becomes weak.

Furthermore, the silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention may have a cell diameter in the range of 0.1 μm to 70 μm, and the cell diameter may be in the range of 0.1 to 60 μm. In the silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention, cells having a diameter of 50 μm or less can occupy 80% or more of the total number of cells.
In the silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention, the following formula (A)
(A): 0 ≦ (mn) /m≦0.5
(Where m represents the major axis of the cell and n represents the minor axis of the cell), the cells satisfying the relationship between the major axis and the minor axis can occupy 50% or more of the total number of cells. .
Formula (A) is a measure representing how close a cell is to a true sphere (sphericity). In the silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention, the cells satisfying the conditions given by the following formula (B) can occupy 80% or more of the total number of cells.
(B): 0 ≦ (mn) /n≦0.5
Here, the major axis m of the cell means a linear distance between the maximum two points on the outline of the cell passing through the approximate center of each cell appearing in the cross section of the silicone elastomer porous body, and the minor axis n is For each cell, it means the minimum distance between two points on the cell outline that passes through its approximate center. More specifically, an arbitrary cross section of the silicone porous body is photographed by SEM, and the major axis m and minor axis n of each cell are measured in an area where about 100 to 250 cells exist. This measurement can be performed manually using a caliper. The average cell diameter can also be performed by image processing. The image processing can be performed using, for example, TOYOBO analysis software “V10 for Windows (registered trademark) 95 Version 1.3”.

The diameter of each cell corresponds to a value obtained by dividing the sum of the major axis m and minor axis n of each cell by 2.
Needless to say, if the cell is a true sphere, m = n.
The porous silicone elastomer of the present invention can have an average cell diameter of 30 μm or less, and further 10 μm or less.
The porous body of the present invention has a uniform cell diameter as the cell size characteristics in the region where about 100 to 250 cells are present represent the cell size characteristics of the entire porous body. In other words, the porous body of the present invention has a cell size characteristic (cell size, average cell size, 50 μm or less) defined in the present invention in a rectangular region where 100 to 250 cells exist in an arbitrary cross section. The proportion of cells having size, sphericity, etc.). The cell size characteristic in an arbitrary region of such a cross-sectional area is the entire cell size characteristic of the porous body, for example, a porous body having a size up to 160 mm (width) × 400 mm (length) × 15 mm (thickness). It is confirmed that it can represent the overall cell size characteristics of Conventionally, in a rectangular region where 100 to 250 cells exist, there is no porous body that exhibits the cell size characteristics defined in the present invention.

As described above, the silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention is substantially of the closed cell type. The proportion of closed cells (closed cells) in the total number of cells of the porous body can be expressed by “single bubble ratio”. This single bubble rate can be measured as described in the Examples section below. The silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention can have a single bubble rate of 60% or more, and can further have a single bubble rate of 80% or more.
The silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention can be basically produced from a liquid silicone rubber material which is cured to produce a silicone elastomer, and a water-in-oil emulsion containing water. At that time, when the liquid silicone rubber material has a low viscosity, the liquid silicone rubber material and water can be sufficiently stirred to form an emulsion, and then heated and cured immediately thereafter. However, the porous silicone elastomer of the present invention is preferably produced from a water-in-oil emulsion containing a silicone oil material having a surface active action together with a liquid silicone rubber material that cures to form a silicone elastomer and water. Can do.

The liquid silicone rubber material is not particularly limited as long as it is cured by heating to produce a silicone elastomer, but it is preferable to use a so-called addition reaction curable liquid silicone rubber. The addition reaction curable liquid silicone rubber contains a polysiloxane having an unsaturated aliphatic group as a main agent and an active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane as a crosslinking agent. In the polysiloxane having an unsaturated aliphatic group, the unsaturated aliphatic group is introduced at both ends and can also be introduced as a side chain. Such polysiloxane having an unsaturated aliphatic group can be represented by, for example, the following formula (1).

In Formula (1), R ¹ represents an unsaturated aliphatic group, and each R ² represents a C ₁ -C ₄ lower alkyl group, a fluorine-substituted C ₁ -C ₄ lower alkyl group, or a phenyl group. a + b is usually 50 to 2000. The unsaturated aliphatic group represented by R ¹ is usually a vinyl group. Each R ² is usually a methyl group.

The active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane (hydrogen polysiloxane) acts as a crosslinking agent for the polysiloxane having an unsaturated aliphatic group, and has hydrogen atoms (active hydrogen) bonded to silicon atoms in the main chain. It is preferable that 3 or more hydrogen atoms exist per molecule of active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane. Such an active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane can be represented, for example, by the following formula (2).

In the formula (2), R ³ represents hydrogen or a C _{1 to} C ₄ lower alkyl group, and R ⁴ represents a C _{1 to} C ₄ lower alkyl group. c + d is usually 8 to 100. The lower alkyl group represented by R ³ and R ⁴ is usually a methyl group.

These liquid silicone rubber materials are commercially available. In addition, in the commercial product, the polysiloxane having an unsaturated aliphatic group constituting the addition reaction curable liquid silicone rubber and the active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane are provided in separate packages, and are necessary for curing both described in detail below. The curing catalyst is added to the active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane. Needless to say, two or more liquid silicone rubber materials can be used in combination.
The silicone oil material having a surface active action acts as a dispersion stabilizer for stably dispersing water in the emulsion. That is, the silicone oil material having a surface-active action exhibits affinity for water and also for liquid silicone rubber material. This silicone oil material preferably has a hydrophilic group such as an ether group. Further, this silicone oil material usually exhibits an HLB value of 3 to 13, preferably 4 to 11. More preferably, two types of ether-modified silicone oils having different HLB values of 3 or more are used in combination. In that case, more preferably, a first ether-modified silicone oil having an HLB value of 7 to 11 and a second ether-modified silicone oil having an HLB value of 4 to 7 are used in combination. Any ether-modified silicone oil can be obtained by introducing a polyether group into the side chain of polysiloxane, and can be represented by, for example, the following formula (3).

In the formula (3), R ⁵ represents a C _{1 to} C ₄ lower alkyl group, and R ⁶ represents a polyether group. e + f is usually 8 to 100. The lower alkyl group represented by R ⁵ is usually a methyl group. The polyether group represented by R ⁶ is usually a (C ₂ H ₄ O) _x group, a (C ₃ H ₆ O) _y group, or a (C ₂ H ₄ O) _x (C ₃ H ₆ O). ) _{Contains y} group. The HLB value is determined mainly by the number of x and y. These silicone oil materials having a surface active action are commercially available.

  Needless to say, water is present in the water-in-oil emulsion dispersed as a discontinuous phase in the form of particles (water droplets). As will be described in detail later, the particle size of the water particles substantially determines the cell (bubble) diameter of the porous silicone elastomer of the present invention.

  The water-in-oil emulsion can contain a curing catalyst in order to cure the liquid silicone rubber material. As the curing catalyst, a platinum catalyst can be used as known per se. The amount of the platinum catalyst is about 1 to 100 ppm by weight as platinum atoms. The curing catalyst may be added to the water-in-oil emulsion when producing the silicone elastomer porous body, but can also be added when producing the water-in-oil emulsion.

In the water-in-oil emulsion, the amount of the silicone oil material having a surface active action is 0.2 to 5.5 parts by weight and the amount of water is 10 to 250 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the liquid silicone rubber material. It is preferable to use it in order to obtain an emulsion particularly excellent in water dispersion stability. By using such an emulsion excellent in water dispersion stability, a good porous body can be produced more stably.
When the silicone oil material having a surface active action is a combination of the first ether-modified silicone oil and the second ether-modified silicone oil, the first ether-modified silicone is used with respect to 100 parts by weight of the liquid silicone rubber material. It is preferable to use the oil in an amount of 0.15 to 3.5 parts by weight and the second ether-modified silicone oil in an amount of 0.05 to 2 parts by weight (total 0.2 to 5.5 parts by weight). Moreover, when a liquid silicone rubber material consists of a combination of polysiloxane having an unsaturated aliphatic group and active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane, the weight ratio of the former to the latter is preferably 6: 4 to 4: 6.

  The silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention can contain various additives depending on its application. Examples of such additives include colorants (pigments, dyes), conductivity imparting materials (carbon black, metal powder, etc.), and fillers (silica, etc.). These additives can be blended in the water-in-oil emulsion. Furthermore, the water-in-oil emulsion may contain a non-reactive silicone oil having a low molecular weight in order to adjust the viscosity of the emulsion for the purpose of facilitating defoaming, for example. When the water-in-oil emulsion has a viscosity of 1 cSt to 200,000 cSt, defoaming can be easily performed and it is convenient for handling.

  The water-in-oil emulsion can be produced by various methods. In general, it is produced by mixing a liquid silicone rubber material, a silicone oil material having a surface-active action, and water together with further additives as necessary, and stirring sufficiently. When the liquid silicone rubber material is provided by a combination of a polysiloxane having an unsaturated aliphatic group and an active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane, a silicone oil material having a surface active activity with a polysiloxane having an unsaturated aliphatic group A first mixture can be obtained by mixing and stirring a part of the mixture, and the second mixture can be obtained by mixing and stirring the active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane and the remainder of the silicone oil material having a surface active action. Next, while mixing and stirring the first mixture and the second mixture, water is gradually added and stirred to obtain a desired emulsion. Needless to say, the method for producing the water-in-oil emulsion is not limited thereto. The order of addition of the liquid silicone rubber material, the silicone oil material having a surface-active action, water, and the additive added as necessary may be arbitrary. Stirring to form a suitable water-in-oil emulsion can be performed, for example, at a stirrer speed of 300 rpm to 1000 rpm. After the formation of the emulsion, the water-in-oil emulsion can be subjected to a defoaming treatment to remove air present in the emulsion without heating, for example, using a vacuum decompressor.

  In order to produce a silicone elastomer porous body using the water-in-oil emulsion, the water-in-oil emulsion is subjected to heat curing (primary heating) conditions of the liquid silicone rubber material in the presence of a curing catalyst. Can do. In the primary heating, it is preferable to use a heating temperature of 130 ° C. or lower in order to heat and cure the liquid silicone rubber material without volatilizing water in the emulsion. The heating temperature at the time of primary heating is usually 80 ° C. or higher, and the heating time is usually about 5 to 60 minutes. By this primary heating, the liquid silicone rubber material is cured, and water particles in the emulsion are confined in the state of the emulsion. The cured silicone rubber is cured to such an extent that it can withstand the expansion force upon evaporation of water by secondary heating described below.

  Next, secondary heating is performed to remove moisture from the cured silicone rubber in which water particles are trapped. This secondary heating is preferably performed at a temperature of 70 ° C to 300 ° C. If the heating temperature is less than 70 ° C., it takes a long time to remove water, and if the heating temperature exceeds 300 ° C., the cured silicone rubber may deteriorate. In heating at 70 ° C. to 300 ° C., moisture is volatilized and removed in 1 hour to 24 hours. The water is volatilized and removed by the secondary heating, and the final curing of the silicone rubber material is also achieved. The volatilized and removed water leaves cells having a diameter approximately equal to that of water particles in the cured silicone rubber material (silicone elastomer).

  Thus, the silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention can be produced from the above water-in-oil emulsion without causing a foaming phenomenon. The water particles in the water-in-oil emulsion are confined in the silicone rubber cured by the primary heating, and only volatilize during the secondary heating.

  The silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention can be used in various fields. For example, it can be used for image forming parts such as copying machines and laser printers, for example, developing rollers, toner supply rollers, transfer rollers, drum cleaning rollers, and paper conveying rollers for copying machines, various printers, and plotters. Can also be used as a pressure roller of a fixing device. All the rollers have the same basic configuration, and have an elastic layer made of the porous silicone elastomer of the present invention around the cored bar. The thickness of the elastic layer varies depending on individual rollers, but is generally about 0.1 mm to 15 mm, and the length is usually up to 400 mm. The outer diameter of the core metal also varies depending on the individual rollers, but is usually about 5 mm to 50 mm.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example demonstrates this invention, this invention is not limited to these Examples.
In the following examples, the single bubble ratio of the silicone elastomer porous material was determined as follows.
<Measurement of single bubble ratio>
Since the silicone elastomer porous body of the present invention has high surface tension and its cells are fine, it is difficult for water to enter. Accordingly, a surfactant is used in order to improve the wettability of the silicone elastomer porous body to water.
That is, the surface layer (about 1.0 mm from the surface) of the produced silicone elastomer porous body is removed, and the weight of the porous body (the weight of the porous body before water absorption) is measured. This porous body is immersed in a mixed solution of 100 parts by weight of water and 1 part by weight of hydrophilic silicone oil (polyether-modified silicone oil (KF-618 manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.)) and left under reduced pressure (70 mmHg) for 10 minutes. To do. Then, it returns to atmospheric pressure, takes out a porous body from a mixed solution, wipes off the water adhering to the porous body surface cleanly, and measures the weight (porous body weight after water absorption) of the porous body. A water absorption rate, a continuous bubble rate, and a single bubble rate are sequentially calculated from the following formula.
Water absorption rate (%) = {(weight of porous body after water absorption−weight of porous body before water absorption) / weight of porous body before water absorption} × 100
Open cell ratio (%) = (specific gravity of porous body × water absorption / 100) / {specific gravity of mixed solution− (specific gravity of porous body / specific gravity of silicone elastomer)} × 100
Single bubble rate (%) = 100-open bubble rate (%)
Here, the specific gravity of the silicone elastomer is the specific gravity of a liquid silicone rubber material cured as it is, and is also described in the product catalog.

Example 1
In this example, liquid silicone rubber (trade name KE-1353) obtained from Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. was used as the liquid silicone rubber material. In this liquid silicone rubber, active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane (viscosity: 16 Pa · S) and vinyl group-containing polysiloxane (viscosity: 15 Pa · S) are provided as separate packages. An amount of platinum catalyst was added. Hereinafter, the former is indicated as silicone rubber A agent, and the latter is indicated as silicone rubber B agent. The active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane has a structure of the above formula (2) in which each R ⁴ is a methyl group, while the vinyl group-containing silicone oil has each R ¹ is a vinyl group and each R ² is a methyl group. It has a certain structure of the above formula (1). Further, as dispersion stabilizers, KF-618 (HLB value: 11), which is a polyether-modified silicone oil manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd .; hereinafter, “dispersion stabilizer I”) and KF-6015 (HLB value: 4). Hereinafter, dispersion stabilizer II) was used. The specific gravity of the silicone elastomer itself obtained from the liquid silicone rubber material used in this example is 1.04 (catalog value).

  Add a mixture of 0.7 parts by weight of dispersion stabilizer I and 0.3 parts by weight of dispersion stabilizer II in advance to 50 parts by weight of silicone rubber A agent, and stir for 5 minutes with a hand mixer. To prepare a mixture A. On the other hand, a mixture prepared by previously mixing 0.7 parts by weight of dispersion stabilizer I and 0.3 parts by weight of dispersion stabilizer II is added to 50 parts by weight of silicone rubber B agent, and stirred for 5 minutes with a hand mixer. Mix well and prepare mixture B.

  The obtained mixture A and mixture B were mixed, and 10 parts by weight of water was added while stirring with a hand mixer for 3 minutes, followed by further stirring for 2 minutes. While stirring this mixture with a hand mixer, 90 parts by weight of water was gradually added to prepare an emulsion.

The obtained emulsion is defoamed in a vacuum decompressor to remove mixed air, and then poured into a 6 mm deep compression mold and heated (primary heating) at a set temperature of 100 ° C. for 30 minutes using a press machine. Molded. The obtained molded body (porous body precursor) was heated (secondary heating) at 150 ° C. for 5 hours in an electric furnace to remove water. In this way, a rectangular elastomeric silicone elastomer porous test piece having a length of 42 mm, a width of 20 mm, and a thickness of 6 mm was produced. The test piece was cut in the width direction, the cut surface was observed with an SEM, the major axis and minor axis of the cell were measured with calipers, and the cell size characteristics were determined. Moreover, the single bubble rate was measured about this test piece. The results are shown in Table 1 below. Moreover, when the specific gravity of the porous elastomer obtained in the present Example was measured, it was 0.66 and the hardness (Asker-C) was 40. In addition, the SEM photograph (magnification 100 times) of the cut surface of this test piece is shown in FIG. Thus, a closed cell porous body having a very fine and uniform cell diameter was obtained.
Example 2
In this example, liquid silicone rubber (trade name DY35-7002) obtained from Toray Dow Corning was used as the liquid silicone rubber material. In this liquid silicone rubber, active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane (viscosity: 15 Pa · S) and vinyl group-containing polysiloxane (viscosity: 7.5 Pa · S) are provided as separate packages. A catalytic amount of platinum catalyst was added. Hereinafter, the former is indicated as silicone rubber A agent, and the latter is indicated as silicone rubber B agent. The active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane has a structure of the above formula (2) in which each R ⁴ is a methyl group, while the vinyl group-containing silicone oil has each R ¹ is a vinyl group and each R ² is a methyl group. It has a certain structure of the above formula (1). As the dispersion stabilizer, the above dispersion stabilizer I and dispersion stabilizer II were used. The specific gravity of the silicone elastomer itself obtained from the liquid silicone rubber material used in this example is 1.03 (catalog value).

  Add a mixture of 0.7 parts by weight of dispersion stabilizer I and 0.3 parts by weight of dispersion stabilizer II in advance to 50 parts by weight of silicone rubber A agent, and stir for 5 minutes with a hand mixer. To prepare a mixture A. On the other hand, a mixture prepared by previously mixing 0.7 parts by weight of dispersion stabilizer I and 0.3 parts by weight of dispersion stabilizer II is added to 50 parts by weight of silicone rubber B agent, and stirred for 5 minutes with a hand mixer. Mix well and prepare mixture B.

  The obtained mixture A and mixture B were mixed, and 10 parts by weight of water was added while stirring with a hand mixer for 3 minutes, followed by further stirring for 2 minutes. While stirring this mixture with a hand mixer, 90 parts by weight of water was gradually added to prepare an emulsion.

Using this emulsion, a porous test piece of silicone elastomer was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, the cell size characteristics were measured in the same manner as in Example 1, and the single bubble ratio was measured. The results are also shown in Table 1 below. When the specific gravity of the porous elastomer obtained in this example was measured, it was 0.55 and the hardness (Asker-C) was 56. In addition, the SEM photograph (100-times multiplication factor) of the cut surface of this test piece is shown in FIG. Thus, a closed cell porous body having a very fine and uniform cell diameter was obtained.
Example 3
The silicone rubber A agent and the silicone rubber B agent used in Example 2 were mixed, and 10 parts by weight of water was added while stirring with a hand mixer for 3 minutes, followed by further stirring for 2 minutes. While stirring this mixture with a hand mixer, 90 parts by weight of water was gradually added to prepare an emulsion.

  Using this emulsion, a porous test piece of silicone elastomer was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, the cell size characteristics were measured in the same manner as in Example 1, and the single bubble ratio was measured. The results are also shown in Table 1 below. The specific gravity of the porous elastomer obtained in this example was measured and found to be 0.53 and the hardness (Asker-C) was 58.

Example 4
In this example, the liquid silicone rubber material used in Example 2 and the liquid silicone rubber obtained from Toray Dow Corning (trade name DY35-615) were used. In this liquid silicone rubber DY35-615, active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane (viscosity: 113 Pa · S) and vinyl group-containing polysiloxane (viscosity: 101 Pa · S) are provided as separate packages. In which a catalytic amount of a platinum catalyst was added. Hereinafter, the former is indicated as the present silicone rubber A agent and the latter as the present silicone rubber B agent. The active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane has the structure of the above formula (2) in which each R ⁴ is a methyl group, while the vinyl group-containing silicone oil has each R ¹ is a vinyl group and each R ² is a methyl group. It has a certain structure of the above formula (1).

  In 50 parts by weight of a 50:50 volume ratio of the present silicone rubber A agent and the silicone rubber A agent used in Example 2, 0.7 part by weight of dispersion stabilizer I and 0.3 part by weight of dispersion stabilizer. A mixture preliminarily mixed with II was added, stirred for 5 minutes with a hand mixer, and sufficiently dispersed to prepare a mixture A. On the other hand, 0.7 parts by weight of dispersion stabilizer I and 0.3 parts by weight of dispersion were added to 50 parts by weight of a 50:50 volume ratio of the silicone rubber B agent and the silicone rubber B agent used in Example 2. A mixture pre-mixed with Stabilizer II was added, stirred for 5 minutes with a hand mixer, and fully dispersed to prepare Mixture B.

  The obtained mixture A and mixture B were mixed, and 10 parts by weight of water was added while stirring with a hand mixer for 3 minutes, followed by further stirring for 2 minutes. While stirring this mixture with a hand mixer, 90 parts by weight of water was gradually added to prepare an emulsion.

  Using this emulsion, a porous test piece of silicone elastomer was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, the cell size characteristics were measured in the same manner as in Example 1, and the single bubble ratio was measured. The results are also shown in Table 1 below. The specific gravity of the silicone elastomer itself obtained from the liquid silicone rubber material used in this example was 1.07. Moreover, the specific gravity of the porous body obtained in this example was 0.60, and the hardness (Asker-C) was 35.

Comparative Example 1
Remove the pressure roller from Fuji Xerox printer Able 1405, and remove the test piece from the silicone elastomer porous material (foamed with 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile as the foaming agent), which is the elastic layer. Cut out. About this test piece, the cell size characteristic and the single bubble rate were measured similarly to Example 1. The results are also shown in Table 1 below. In addition, the SEM photograph (100-times multiplication factor) of the cut surface of this test piece is shown in FIG.

The invention described in the scope of the claims of the original application is appended below.
[1] A substantially closed-cell silicone elastomer porous body characterized in that cells having a diameter of 50 μm or less occupy 50% or more of the total number of cells and have a single-bubble ratio of 60% or more.
[2] Formula (A): 0 ≦ (mn) /m≦0.5
(Where m represents the major axis of the cell, and n represents the minor axis of the cell). The porous material according to the above [1], wherein the cells satisfying the relationship represented by 50% or more of the total number of cells. body.
[3] Formula (B): 0 ≦ (mn) /n≦0.5
The porous body according to the above [2], wherein the cells satisfying the relationship represented by occupy 50% or more of the total number of cells.
[4] The porous body according to any one of [1] to [3] above, which has an average cell diameter of 30 μm or less.
[5] The porous body according to any one of [1] to [4] above, which has a single bubble ratio of 80% or more.
[6] The porous body according to any one of [1] to [5] above, wherein the cell diameter is in the range of 0.1 μm to 70 μm.

Claims (8)

  Prepared from a liquid silicone rubber material that cures to produce a silicone elastomer, a silicone oil material having a surfactant activity, and a water-in-oil emulsion composition containing water, and the number of cells having a diameter of 50 μm or less is the total number of cells A silicone elastomer porous body that occupies 50% or more and has a single-bubble ratio of 60% or more. Formula (A): 0 ≦ (mn) /m≦0.5
2. The porous body according to claim 1, wherein the cells satisfying the relationship represented by (where m represents the major axis of the cell and n represents the minor axis of the cell) account for 50% or more of the total number of cells. . Formula (B): 0 ≦ (mn) /n≦0.5
The porous body according to claim 2, wherein the cells satisfying the relationship represented by: occupy 50% or more of the total number of cells.   The porous body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the porous body has an average cell diameter of 30 µm or less.   The porous body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which has a single bubble ratio of 80% or more.   The porous body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a cell diameter is in a range of 0.1 µm to 70 µm. The liquid silicone rubber material includes a vinyl group-containing polysiloxane represented by the following formula (1) and an active hydrogen-containing polysiloxane represented by the following formula (2), and the silicone oil material is represented by the following formula (3): The first ether-modified silicone oil having an HLB value of 7 to 11 and the first ether-modified silicone oil represented by the following formula (3) and having an HLB value of 4 to 7, The porous body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the HLB value of the silicone oil and the HLB value of the second ether-modified silicone oil differ by 3 or more.
Formula (1):

(In formula (1), R ¹ represents a vinyl group, each R ² is .a + b representing the C ₁ -C ₄ lower alkyl group is from 50 to 2,000.)
Formula (2):

(In formula (2), R ³ represents a C ₁ -C ₄ lower alkyl group, R ⁴ is, .c + d representing a C ₁ -C ₄ lower alkyl group is 8 to 100.)
Formula (3):

(In formula (3), R ⁵ represents a C ₁ -C ₄ lower alkyl group, R ⁶ represents a polyether group .e + f is 8 to 100.)   The water-in-oil emulsion contains 0.15 to 3.5 parts by weight of the first ether-modified silicone oil and 100% by weight of the second ether-modified silicone oil per 100 parts by weight of the liquid silicone rubber material. The porous body according to claim 7, wherein water is contained in a proportion of 0.05 to 2 parts by weight and 10 to 250 parts by weight of water.

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