JP2017058646A - Toner for electrostatic charge image development, electrostatic charge image developer, toner cartridge, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner for electrostatic charge image development that is excellent in low-temperature fixability and suppresses the occurrence of contamination of an image holding body.SOLUTION: There is provided a toner for electrostatic charge image development including toner particles that contains an amorphous resin including a polyester resin segment and a styrene-acrylic resin segment and a crystalline polyester resin dispersed in the amorphous resin, where the loss elastic modulus G" satisfies the following (1) and (2). (1) The loss elastic modulus G" between 40°C and 55°C is 1.0×10Pa or more and 1.0×10Pa or less. (2) The loss elastic modulus G" at 55°C is larger than the loss elastic modulus at 40°C.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrostatic charge image developing toner, an electrostatic charge image developer, a toner cartridge, a process cartridge, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a core-shell structure including a core in which domains of an amorphous resin are dispersed in a matrix of a crystalline resin, and a shell layer made of the amorphous resin, wherein the core is amorphous. Toner particles containing a styrene-acrylic modified polyester resin in which at least one of a crystalline resin or an amorphous resin of a shell layer is bonded to a non-crystalline polyester polymer segment and a styrene-acryl copolymer segment are disclosed.

  For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a binder resin for a toner including a hybrid resin that is a copolymer of a crystalline polyester resin and an amorphous styrene acrylic resin, and an amorphous styrene acrylic resin. ing.

  For example, Patent Document 3 discloses a toner containing a vinyl resin-containing polyester resin containing 5 to 42 wt% of a vinyl resin having a number average molecular weight of 11,000 or less and a glass transition temperature of 50 ° C. to 100 ° C. with respect to the polyester resin, Is disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-4721 Japanese Patent No. 4571975 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-195682

  In the present invention, the loss elastic modulus G ″ at least at a part between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. is outside the scope of the present application, or the loss elastic modulus G ″ at 55 ° C. is smaller than the loss elastic modulus G ″ at 40 ° C. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image that is excellent in low-temperature fixability and hardly causes contamination of an image carrier.

  Specific means for solving the above-described problems include the following modes.

The invention according to claim 1
A toner particle containing an amorphous resin having a polyester resin segment and a styrene acrylic resin segment, and a crystalline polyester resin dispersed in the amorphous resin, and the loss modulus G ″ is the following (1) and An electrostatic image developing toner satisfying (2).
(1) The loss elastic modulus G ″ between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. is 1.0 × 10 ⁷ Pa to 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Pa.
(2) The loss elastic modulus G ″ at 55 ° C. is larger than the loss elastic modulus G ″ at 40 ° C.

The invention according to claim 2
2. The electrostatic charge image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein a mass ratio of the amorphous resin and the crystalline polyester resin contained in the toner particles is 80:20 to 70:30.

The invention according to claim 3
The electrostatic charge image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous resin is an amorphous styrene acrylic modified polyester resin.

The invention according to claim 4
The electrostatic image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the crystalline polyester resin is a crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin.

The invention according to claim 5
The polyester resin segment of the amorphous resin is a condensation polymer of an alcohol component and a carboxylic acid component,
The toner for developing an electrostatic charge image according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the aliphatic diol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms accounts for 70 to 100 mol% of the alcohol component.

The invention according to claim 6
The main chain of the crystalline polyester resin is a condensation polymer of an alcohol component and a carboxylic acid component,
The static according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the alcohol component includes an aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and the carboxylic acid component includes a dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms. Toner for charge image development.

The invention according to claim 7 provides:
An electrostatic charge image developer comprising the electrostatic charge image developing toner according to claim 1.

The invention according to claim 8 provides:
Containing the toner for developing an electrostatic charge image according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A toner cartridge to be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 9 is:
A developing means for containing the electrostatic charge image developer according to claim 7 and developing the electrostatic charge image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image by the electrostatic charge image developer,
A process cartridge attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 10 is:
An image carrier,
Charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier;
An electrostatic charge image forming means for forming an electrostatic charge image on the surface of the charged image carrier;
Development means for containing the electrostatic image developer according to claim 7 and developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image by the electrostatic image developer;
Transfer means for transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

The invention according to claim 11 is:
A charging step for charging the surface of the image carrier;
An electrostatic charge image forming step of forming an electrostatic charge image on the surface of the charged image carrier;
A developing step of developing an electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image by the electrostatic image developer according to claim 7;
A transfer step of transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium;
A fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium;
An image forming method comprising:

According to the first, second, third, and fourth aspects of the invention, the loss elastic modulus G ″ at least in part between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. is outside the scope of the present application, or the loss elastic modulus G ″ at 55 ° C. Compared to a case where the loss elastic modulus G ″ at 40 ° C. is smaller than that, a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image is provided which is excellent in low-temperature fixability and hardly causes contamination of an image carrier.
According to the invention of claim 5, compared with the case where the aliphatic diol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms is less than 70 mol% of the alcohol component in the polyester resin segment of the amorphous resin, the low temperature fixability is excellent. Provided is a toner for developing an electrostatic image that hardly causes contamination of an image carrier.
According to the invention according to claim 6, the main chain of the crystalline polyester resin is an aliphatic diol having 2 or more and 10 or less carbon atoms or a dicarboxylic acid having 6 or more and 12 or less carbon atoms in the polymerization component. Provided is an electrostatic charge image developing toner which has excellent low-temperature fixability and hardly causes contamination of an image carrier.

According to the inventions according to claims 7, 8 and 9, when the loss elastic modulus G ″ of the toner contained in the electrostatic image developer at least partly between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. is outside the scope of the present application, or Electrostatic image developer, toner cartridge, and process excellent in low-temperature fixability and less likely to cause image carrier contamination as compared with loss elastic modulus G ″ at 55 ° C. smaller than loss elastic modulus G ″ at 40 ° C. A cartridge is provided.
According to the inventions according to claims 10 and 11, when the loss elastic modulus G ″ of the toner contained in the electrostatic charge image developer at least partly between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. is out of the present application range or 55 ° C. As compared with the case where the loss elastic modulus G ″ at 40 ° C. is smaller than the loss elastic modulus G ″ at 40 ° C., an image forming apparatus and an image forming method that are excellent in low-temperature fixability and hardly cause image carrier contamination.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of the process cartridge which concerns on this embodiment.

  Embodiments of the invention will be described below. These descriptions and examples illustrate embodiments and do not limit the scope of the invention.

  In this specification, “electrostatic image developing toner” is also simply referred to as “toner”, and “electrostatic image developer” is also simply referred to as “developer”.

<Toner for electrostatic image development>
The toner according to this embodiment includes toner particles containing an amorphous resin having a polyester resin segment and a styrene acrylic resin segment, and a crystalline polyester resin dispersed in the amorphous resin, and has a loss modulus G "Satisfies the following (1) and (2).

(1) The loss elastic modulus G ″ between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. is 1.0 × 10 ⁷ Pa to 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Pa.
(2) The loss elastic modulus G ″ at 55 ° C. is larger than the loss elastic modulus G ″ at 40 ° C.

  In the present embodiment, the “polyester resin” means a polymer having an ester bond (—COO—) in the main chain, and the “styrene acrylic modified polyester resin” means a main chain made of a polyester resin and the main chain. It means a resin having a side chain made of a styrene acrylic resin chemically bonded to.

In the present disclosure, “amorphous resin having a polyester resin segment and a styrene acrylic resin segment” is also referred to as “hybrid amorphous resin”. In the hybrid amorphous resin, the polyester resin segment and the styrene acrylic resin segment are chemically bonded.
In the present embodiment, the hybrid amorphous resin includes a resin having a main chain made of a polyester resin and a side chain made of a styrene acrylic resin chemically bonded to the main chain; a main chain made of a styrene acrylic resin, and the main chain A resin having a side chain made of a polyester resin chemically bonded to a chain; a resin having a main chain formed by chemically bonding a polyester resin and a styrene acrylic resin; and the like.

In the present embodiment, the “crystallinity” of the resin refers to having a clear endothermic peak in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) instead of a stepwise endothermic amount change. The half-value width of the endothermic peak when measured at ° C./min is within 10 ° C.
On the other hand, “amorphous” of the resin means that the half-value width of the endothermic peak exceeds 10 ° C., shows a stepwise endothermic change, or does not show a clear endothermic peak.

  In the present embodiment, the loss elastic modulus G ″ is measured by a sine wave vibration method using an ARES-GII measuring device manufactured by GL Sciences. As a measurement sample, about 0.5 g of toner is compressed and solidified. Using a sample in the form of a pellet, the sample is sandwiched between 8 mm parallel plates, and heat is applied at 90 ° C. to 120 ° C. to adhere to the parallel plate The sample adhered to the parallel plate is cooled to 30 ° C. Hold at 1 ° C. for 1 minute, then apply a sinusoidal vibration at a frequency of 1 Hz while raising the temperature from 30 ° C. to 90 ° C. at a rate of temperature rise of 2 ° C./minute, and measure the loss elastic modulus G ″ at a measurement interval of 30 seconds. To do.

  The toner according to this embodiment includes toner particles containing a hybrid amorphous resin and a crystalline polyester resin dispersed in the amorphous resin, and the loss elastic modulus G ″ is the above (1) and (2). By satisfying this, the low-temperature fixability is excellent and the image carrier is hardly contaminated.

Generally, the fixing temperature of the toner can be controlled by the glass transition temperature (Tg) or melting temperature (Tm) of the binder resin, and can be lowered by lowering the Tg or Tm of the binder resin. However, the lower the Tg or Tm of the binder resin, the lower the heat resistance of the toner, and filming (image carrier) in the image carrier in an image forming apparatus where the internal temperature becomes a high temperature environment (for example, 50 ° C. to 60 ° C.). The image holding member tends to be contaminated by causing a phenomenon that a film is formed on the surface of the image holding member. That is, the low-temperature fixability and heat resistance (low contamination of the image carrier) of the toner are generally in a contradictory relationship.
Conventionally, attempts have been made to achieve both low-temperature fixability and heat resistance by using a hybrid resin having a polyester resin segment and a styrene acrylic resin segment as a toner binder resin. However, it is difficult to achieve both low-temperature fixability and heat resistance of the toner only by using the hybrid resin.

On the other hand, the toner according to the present embodiment has the low elastic modulus G ″ satisfying the above (1) and (2), so that it has excellent low-temperature fixability and hardly causes contamination of the image carrier.
When the loss elastic modulus G ″ of the toner between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. (all between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C.) is 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Pa or less (below the upper limit of (1)), the toner has a low temperature. (For example, 130 ° C. or less), that is, even when the temperature at which the toner image is heated in the fixing process is low, the image on the fixing member is generated due to an insufficient melting of the toner image. When the loss elastic modulus G ″ of the toner in at least a part between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. exceeds 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Pa, the temperature for heating the toner image is low. In this case, offset is likely to occur, and it is difficult to fix the toner satisfactorily.
On the other hand, if the loss elastic modulus G ″ of the toner at 55 ° C. is larger than the loss elastic modulus G ″ of the toner at 40 ° C., the toner particles are prevented from being excessively soft even when placed in a high temperature environment, and image retention is maintained. It is hard to pollute the body. When the loss elastic modulus G ″ of the toner at 55 ° C. is smaller than the loss elastic modulus G ″ of the toner at 40 ° C., the toner particles become too soft and easily contaminate the image carrier when placed in a high temperature environment.
In general, a toner having a loss elastic modulus G ″ that is less than 1.0 × 10 ⁷ Pa (the lower limit of (1)) at least in part between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. is not practical. Toner having a loss elastic modulus G ″ of less than 1.0 × 10 ⁷ Pa in at least a portion between 1 and 55 ° C. is too soft and tends to show through on the stacked recording media.

The reason why the toner according to the present embodiment satisfies the above (1) and (2) is not necessarily clear, but is presumed as follows.
In the toner particles of the present embodiment, the matrix in which the crystalline polyester resin is dispersed is a hybrid amorphous resin having a polyester resin segment and a styrene acrylic resin segment, so that the crystalline polyester resin has a relatively small domain ( The major axis is considered to be dispersed mainly in two states (major axis: 50 nm or less) and relatively large domains (major axis: 150 nm or more). It is considered that viscoelasticity becomes equal to or less than the upper limit of (1) due to the presence of relatively small domains, and viscoelasticity becomes (2) due to the presence of relatively large domains having a filler effect. That is, it is considered that both (1) and (2) are satisfied by the dispersion state in which both relatively small domains and relatively large domains of the crystalline polyester resin are present in the matrix of the hybrid amorphous resin. .

  In the exemplary embodiment, the dispersion state is more easily expressed, and thus the above (1) and (2) are more easily satisfied. As a result, the toner is more excellent in low-temperature fixability and low contamination on the image carrier. From the viewpoint, the mass ratio of the hybrid amorphous resin and the crystalline polyester resin contained in the toner particles is preferably 80:20 to 70:30. When the mass ratio of the crystalline polyester resin is 20 or more, the resin domain tends to grow larger. On the other hand, when the mass ratio of the crystalline polyester resin is 30 or less, the domains of the resin do not become too large, and both relatively small domains and relatively large domains are likely to be formed in the toner particles. From the above viewpoint, the mass ratio of the hybrid amorphous resin and the crystalline polyester resin contained in the toner particles is preferably 80:20 to 70:30, more preferably 80:20 to 75:25, and 80:20 to 78:22 is more preferred.

  The hybrid amorphous resin is more likely to exhibit the above dispersion state, and thus more easily satisfies the above (1) and (2). As a result, the low temperature fixability of the toner and the low contamination to the image carrier are caused. From an excellent viewpoint, it is preferably an amorphous styrene acrylic modified polyester resin (a resin having a main chain made of a polyester resin and a side chain made of a styrene acrylic resin chemically bonded to the main chain).

  The crystalline polyester resin dispersed in the hybrid amorphous resin is more likely to exhibit the dispersion state, and thus more easily satisfies the above (1) and (2). As a result, the toner has a low temperature fixability and image retention. A crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin (resin having a main chain made of a polyester resin and a side chain made of a styrene acrylic resin chemically bonded to the main chain) from the viewpoint of being superior in terms of low contamination to the body. It is preferable.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the toner according to the exemplary embodiment will be described in more detail.

[Toner particles]
The toner particles contain a hybrid amorphous resin and a crystalline polyester resin. The toner particles may further contain other resins, release agents, colorants, and other additives.

-Hybrid amorphous resin-
The toner particles contain at least one hybrid amorphous resin.
The hybrid amorphous resin is not particularly limited as long as it is an amorphous resin having a polyester resin segment and a styrene acrylic resin segment in one molecule.
As the hybrid amorphous resin, a resin having a main chain made of a polyester resin and a side chain made of a styrene acrylic resin chemically bonded to the main chain; a main chain made of styrene acrylic resin, and a chemical bond to the main chain Any of a resin having a side chain made of a polyester resin; a resin having a main chain formed by chemically bonding a polyester resin and a styrene acrylic resin;
In this embodiment, the hybrid amorphous resin includes an amorphous resin having a main chain made of a polyester resin and a side chain made of a styrene acrylic resin chemically bonded to the main chain, that is, an amorphous styrene acrylic. A modified polyester resin is preferred. In the amorphous styrene acrylic modified polyester resin, the main chain is preferably an amorphous polyester resin.

-Polyester resin segment As a polyester resin segment of a hybrid amorphous resin, the condensation polymer of a polyhydric alcohol and polyhydric carboxylic acid is mentioned, for example.

Examples of the polyhydric alcohol include aliphatic diols (for example, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butanediol, hexanediol, neopentyl glycol, etc.), alicyclic diols (for example, cyclohexanediol, cyclohexanedimethanol, Hydrogenated bisphenol A, etc.) and aromatic diols (for example, ethylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A, propylene oxide adducts of bisphenol A, etc.).
As the polyhydric alcohol, a trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol having a crosslinked structure or a branched structure may be used together with the diol. Examples of the trihydric or higher polyhydric alcohol include glycerin, trimethylolpropane, and pentaerythritol.
A polyhydric alcohol may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

  The alcohol component of the polyester resin segment of the hybrid amorphous resin easily satisfies the above (1) and (2) depending on the dispersion state of the crystalline polyester resin. As a result, the toner has low-temperature fixability and contamination on the image carrier. It is preferable that at least one aliphatic diol having 2 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms is contained from the viewpoint of being more excellent. The aliphatic chain of the aliphatic diol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms may be acyclic or cyclic, and in the case of acyclic, it may be linear or branched. The aliphatic diol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms is preferably an acyclic aliphatic diol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and more preferably a linear aliphatic diol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms.

  Examples of the aliphatic diol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms include ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, propylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2 , 3-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,2-cyclopentanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, pentane-2,3-diol, neopentyl glycol and the like. .

  The proportion of the aliphatic diol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms in the alcohol component of the polyester resin segment of the hybrid amorphous resin is preferably 70 mol% to 100 mol%, more preferably 80 mol% to 100 mol%. Preferably, it is 90 mol% or more and 100 mol% or less.

Examples of the polyvalent carboxylic acid include aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (eg, oxalic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid, itaconic acid, glutaconic acid, succinic acid, alkenyl succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, etc.) Alicyclic dicarboxylic acids (for example, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid), aromatic dicarboxylic acids (for example, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, etc.), their anhydrides, or lower (for example, having 1 or more carbon atoms) 5 or less) alkyl esters. Among these, as polyvalent carboxylic acid, aromatic dicarboxylic acid is preferable, for example.
As the polyvalent carboxylic acid, a tricarboxylic or higher carboxylic acid having a crosslinked structure or a branched structure may be used in combination with the dicarboxylic acid. Examples of the trivalent or higher carboxylic acid include trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, anhydrides thereof, and lower (for example, having 1 to 5 carbon atoms) alkyl esters.
A polyvalent carboxylic acid may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

The carboxylic acid component of the polyester resin segment of the hybrid amorphous resin preferably contains at least one dicarboxylic acid having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond and having a carboxy group at both ends thereof. The dicarboxylic acid becomes a part of the polyester resin segment by polycondensation with polyhydric alcohol, and styrene acrylic acid is added to the carbon-carbon unsaturated bond derived from the dicarboxylic acid to polymerize styrene acrylic. The resin segment is chemically bonded to the polyester resin segment.
As the dicarboxylic acid having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond and having a carboxy group at both ends thereof, an unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid (the aliphatic chain may be acyclic or cyclic) is preferable. , Fumaric acid, maleic acid, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid and the like. As the unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, fumaric acid is preferable from the viewpoint of reactivity.

  The proportion of the dicarboxylic acid having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond and having carboxy groups at both ends in the carboxylic acid component of the polyester resin segment of the hybrid amorphous resin is determined by the low-temperature fixability of the toner. From the viewpoint of being superior in terms of low contamination with respect to the image carrier, it is preferably more than 0 mol% and less than 20 mol%, more preferably 0.5 mol% to 15 mol%, still more preferably 1 mol% to 10 mol%. 1 mol% or more and 5 mol% or less are more preferable, and 1 mol% or more and 3 mol% or less are more preferable.

-Styrene acrylic resin segment As a styrene acrylic resin segment of hybrid amorphous resin, the segment formed by addition polymerization of an addition polymerizable monomer is mentioned, for example. Examples of the addition polymerizable monomer constituting the styrene acrylic resin segment include styrenes, acrylates, and monomers having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, which are generally used for the synthesis of styrene acrylic resins. Specifically, styrenes such as styrene, methyl styrene, α-methyl styrene, β-methyl styrene, t-butyl styrene, chlorostyrene, chloromethyl styrene, methoxy styrene, styrene sulfonic acid or salts thereof; (meth) acryl Acrylic acid esters such as alkyl acid (for example, having 1 to 18 carbon atoms), benzyl (meth) acrylate and dimethylaminoethyl (meth) acrylate; olefins such as ethylene, propylene and butadiene; halovinyls such as vinyl chloride Vinyl esters such as vinyl acetate and vinyl propionate; vinyl ethers such as vinyl methyl ether; vinylidene halides such as vinylidene chloride; N-vinyl compounds such as N-vinyl pyrrolidone;

In this embodiment, the hybrid amorphous resin includes an amorphous resin having a main chain made of a polyester resin and a side chain made of a styrene acrylic resin chemically bonded to the main chain, that is, an amorphous styrene acrylic. A modified polyester resin is preferred.
As a method for producing a styrene acrylic modified polyester resin, an amorphous polyester resin having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond is prepared by condensation polymerization of an alcohol component and a carboxylic acid component. A method of addition polymerization of an addition polymerizable monomer in the presence of a polyester resin is preferred. Specifically, a method in which a polyester resin having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond and an addition polymerizable monomer are directly mixed and subjected to addition polymerization; a polyester having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond A method in which a resin and an addition-polymerizable monomer are dissolved in an organic solvent for addition polymerization; a polyester resin having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond is prepared, and the polyester resin is mixed with an aqueous medium for aqueous dispersion A step of obtaining a liquid, and a step of adding an addition-polymerizable monomer to the aqueous dispersion and subjecting the polyester resin to addition polymerization to obtain an aqueous dispersion of resin particles comprising a styrene acrylic-modified polyester resin; Is mentioned.

  The mass ratio of the polyester resin segment to the styrene acrylic resin segment (polyester resin segment: styrene acrylic resin segment) contained in the hybrid amorphous resin is more likely to express the dispersion state, and thus the above (1) and (2) 90:10 to 70:30 is preferable, and 85:15 to 75:25 is more preferable, from the viewpoint of excellent low temperature fixability of the toner and low contamination on the image carrier.

The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the hybrid amorphous resin is preferably from 5,000 to 50,000, more preferably from 10,000 to 40,000, and even more preferably from 15,000 to 35,000.
The weight average molecular weight and number average molecular weight of the resin are measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The molecular weight measurement by GPC is performed with a THF solvent using a Tosoh GPC / HLC-8120GPC as a measuring device and a Tosoh column / TSKgel SuperHM-M (15 cm). The weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are calculated using a molecular weight calibration curve prepared from a monodisperse polystyrene standard sample from this measurement result.

The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the hybrid amorphous resin is preferably from 50 ° C. to 80 ° C., more preferably from 50 ° C. to 70 ° C., and still more preferably from 50 ° C. to 65 ° C.
The glass transition temperature of the resin is determined from a DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and more specifically, described in the method for determining the glass transition temperature of JIS K7121-1987 “Method for Measuring the Transition Temperature of Plastics”. It is determined by “extrapolated glass transition start temperature”.

-Crystalline polyester resin-
The toner particles contain at least one crystalline polyester resin dispersed in a hybrid amorphous resin.
In this embodiment, the crystalline polyester resin dispersed and contained in the hybrid amorphous resin is preferably a crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin. The crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin is easily dispersed in the hybrid amorphous resin and tends to form relatively small domains. The crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin is mixed with the hybrid amorphous resin in a mass ratio of, for example, 80:20 to 70:30 (hybrid amorphous resin: crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin). Therefore, it is easy to form a relatively large domain.

  In the crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin, the main chain is a crystalline polyester resin. Since the crystalline polyester resin and the main chain of the crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin are common, they will be described together below.

・ Crystalline polyester resin (main chain of crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin)
Examples of the crystalline polyester resin include a condensation polymer of a polyhydric alcohol and a polyvalent carboxylic acid. The crystalline polyester resin is preferably a condensation polymer using a linear aliphatic polymerizable monomer rather than a polymerizable monomer having an aromatic ring in order to easily form a crystal structure.

Examples of the polyhydric alcohol include an aliphatic diol (for example, a linear aliphatic diol having a main chain portion having 7 to 20 carbon atoms). Examples of the aliphatic diol include ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, 1,8- Octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1,11-undecanediol, 1,12-dodecanediol, 1,13-tridecanediol, 1,14-tetradecanediol, 1,18- Examples include octadecanediol and 1,14-eicosandecanediol. Among these, 1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, and 1,10-decanediol are preferable as the aliphatic diol.
As a polyhydric alcohol, you may use together trivalent or more alcohol which takes a crosslinked structure or a branched structure with diol. Examples of the trivalent or higher alcohol include glycerin, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol and the like.
A polyhydric alcohol may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

  The alcohol component of the crystalline polyester resin easily satisfies the above (1) and (2) depending on the dispersion state of the crystalline polyester resin, and as a result, is excellent in low-temperature fixability of the toner and low contamination on the image carrier. From the viewpoint, it is preferable that at least one aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms is contained. The aliphatic chain of the aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms may be acyclic or cyclic, and in the case of acyclic, it may be linear or branched. The aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms is preferably an acyclic aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and more preferably a linear aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms.

  Examples of the aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms include ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, propylene glycol, 1,2-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2 , 3-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,2-cyclopentanediol, 1,2-pentanediol, 1,3-pentanediol, pentane-2,3-diol, neopentyl glycol, 1,6 -Hexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,3-cyclohexanediol, 2,5-hexanediol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, 1,4-heptanediol, 1,6-heptanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 2,4-octanediol, Examples include 6-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,5-nonanediol, 2,8-nonanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 4,7-decanediol, and 1,9-decanediol. .

  The proportion of the aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms in the alcohol component of the crystalline polyester resin is preferably 80 mol% or more and 100 mol% or less, and more preferably 90 mol% or more and 100 mol% or less.

Examples of the polyvalent carboxylic acid include aliphatic dicarboxylic acids (for example, oxalic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, 1,9-nonanedicarboxylic acid, 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid. Acid, 1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,14-tetradecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,18-octadecanedicarboxylic acid, etc.), aromatic dicarboxylic acid (eg phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) Dibasic acids such as acids), anhydrides thereof, or lower (for example, having 1 to 5 carbon atoms) alkyl esters.
As the polyvalent carboxylic acid, a tricarboxylic or higher carboxylic acid having a crosslinked structure or a branched structure may be used in combination with the dicarboxylic acid. Examples of the trivalent or higher carboxylic acids include aromatic carboxylic acids (for example, 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,4-naphthalenetricarboxylic acid, etc.), and the like. Or lower (for example, having 1 to 5 carbon atoms) alkyl esters thereof.
As the polyvalent carboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid having a sulfonic acid group or a dicarboxylic acid having an ethylenic double bond may be used in combination with the dicarboxylic acid.
A polyvalent carboxylic acid may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

The carboxylic acid component of the crystalline polyester resin can easily satisfy the above (1) and (2) depending on the dispersion state of the crystalline polyester resin. From an excellent viewpoint, it is preferable that at least one dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms is contained.
The dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms is preferably a dicarboxylic acid having an aliphatic chain between two carboxy groups. In this case, the aliphatic chain may be acyclic or cyclic. In this case, it may be linear or branched.
The dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms is preferably an acyclic aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and more preferably a linear aliphatic dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms.

  Examples of the dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms include adipic acid (1,4-butanedicarboxylic acid), phthalic acid (benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid), and terephthalic acid (benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid). ), Pimelic acid (1,5-pentanedicarboxylic acid), suberic acid (1,6-hexanedicarboxylic acid), azelaic acid (1,7-heptanedicarboxylic acid), sebacic acid (1,8-octanedicarboxylic acid), Examples include undecanedioic acid (1,9-nonanedicarboxylic acid) and dodecanedioic acid (1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid).

  The proportion of the dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms in the carboxylic acid component of the crystalline polyester resin is preferably 80 mol% or more and 100 mol% or less, and more preferably 90 mol% or more and 100 mol% or less.

In the crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin, the carboxylic acid component of the crystalline polyester resin that is the main chain is a dicarboxylic acid having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond and having a carboxy group at both ends thereof. It is preferable that at least one kind is included. The dicarboxylic acid becomes a part of the main chain by polycondensation with a polyhydric alcohol, and styrene acrylic resin is obtained by addition polymerization of styrene or acrylic acid ester to the carbon-carbon unsaturated bond derived from the dicarboxylic acid. Chemically bond to the main chain.
As the dicarboxylic acid having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond and having a carboxy group at both ends thereof, an unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid (the aliphatic chain may be acyclic or cyclic) is preferable. , Fumaric acid, maleic acid, 1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid and the like. As the unsaturated aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, fumaric acid is preferable from the viewpoint of reactivity.

  In the crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin, a dicarboxylic acid having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond and having a carboxy group at both ends is occupied in the carboxylic acid component of the crystalline polyester resin as the main chain. The proportion is preferably more than 0 mol% and less than 20 mol%, more preferably 0.5 mol% or more and 15 mol% or less, more preferably 1 mol from the viewpoint of excellent low-temperature fixability of the toner and low contamination to the image carrier. % To 10 mol% is more preferable, 1 mol% to 5 mol% is more preferable, and 1 mol% to 3 mol% is more preferable.

-Side chain of crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin (styrene acrylic resin)
The styrene acrylic resin which is a side chain of the crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin is preferably a side chain formed by addition polymerization of an addition polymerizable monomer. Examples of the addition polymerizable monomer constituting the styrene acrylic resin include styrenes, acrylates, and monomers having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, which are generally used for the synthesis of styrene acrylic resins. Specifically, the monomer mentioned about hybrid amorphous resin is mentioned.

  As a method for producing a crystalline styrene-acrylic modified polyester resin, a crystalline polyester resin having a non-aromatic carbon-carbon unsaturated bond is prepared by condensation polymerization of an alcohol component and a carboxylic acid component. A method of addition polymerization of an addition polymerizable monomer in the presence of a polymerizable polyester resin is preferred. Specifically, the method similar to the manufacturing method of hybrid amorphous resin is mentioned.

  In the crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin, the mass ratio of the polyester resin as the main chain and the styrene acrylic resin as the side chain (polyester resin: styrene acrylic resin) is more likely to express the dispersion state, and thus ( 95: 5 to 70:30 are preferable, and 95: 5 to 70:30 are preferable from the viewpoint of more easily satisfying 1) and (2) and, as a result, excellent low-temperature fixability of the toner and low contamination to the image carrier. 15 is more preferable.

  The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the crystalline polyester resin (including the crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin) is preferably 6000 or more and 35000 or less, more preferably 10,000 or more and 35000 or less, and further preferably 20000 or more and 35000 or less.

The melting temperature (Tm) of the crystalline polyester resin (including the crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin) is more preferably 60 ° C. or more and 100 ° C. or less, more preferably 65 ° C. or more and 90 ° C. or less, and 65 ° C. or more and 85 ° C. The following is more preferable.
The melting temperature of the resin is obtained from the DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) according to “melting peak temperature” described in JIS K7121-1987 “Method for determining melting temperature of plastic”.

  In this embodiment, the toner particles may contain other resins other than the hybrid amorphous resin and the crystalline polyester resin as a binder resin. However, in the present embodiment, the total amount of the hybrid amorphous resin and the crystalline polyester resin preferably occupies 80% to 100% of the total amount of the binder resin, and occupies 90% to 100%. Is more preferable, and it is still more preferable to occupy 100%.

-Other resins-
Examples of other resins include styrenes (for example, styrene, parachlorostyrene, α-methylstyrene, etc.), acrylates (for example, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate). Lauryl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-propyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, etc.), ethylenically unsaturated nitriles (for example, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile) Etc.), vinyl ethers (eg vinyl methyl ether, vinyl isobutyl ether etc.), vinyl ketones (vinyl methyl ketone, vinyl ethyl ketone, vinyl isopropenyl ketone etc.), olefins (eg ethylene, propylene) A homopolymer of a monomer such as butadiene) and the like, or a vinyl-based resin composed of these monomers with two or more combinations copolymer. Examples of other resins include non-vinyl resins such as epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, polyamide resins, cellulose resins, polyether resins, and modified rosins. These resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The total content of the binder resin is, for example, preferably 40% by mass to 95% by mass, more preferably 50% by mass to 90% by mass, and more preferably 60% by mass to 85% by mass with respect to the entire toner particles. Is more preferable.

-Colorant-
Examples of the colorant include carbon black, chrome yellow, hansa yellow, benzidine yellow, sren yellow, quinoline yellow, pigment yellow, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, vulcan orange, watch young red, permanent red, brilliant carmine 3B, and brilliant. Carmine 6B, Dupont Oil Red, Pyrazolone Red, Resol Red, Rhodamine B Lake, Lake Red C, Pigment Red, Rose Bengal, Aniline Blue, Ultramarine Blue, Calco Oil Blue, Methylene Blue Chloride, Phthalocyanine Blue, Pigment Blue, Phthalocyanine Green, Pigments such as malachite green oxalate; acridine, xanthene, azo, benzox , Azine, anthraquinone, thioindico, dioxazine, thiazine, azomethine, indico, phthalocyanine, aniline black, polymethine, triphenylmethane, diphenylmethane, thiazole, etc. It is done. A coloring agent may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

  As the colorant, a surface-treated colorant may be used as necessary, or it may be used in combination with a dispersant. A plurality of colorants may be used in combination.

  The content of the colorant is, for example, preferably 1% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less, and more preferably 3% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less with respect to the entire toner particles.

-Release agent-
Examples of mold release agents include hydrocarbon waxes; natural waxes such as carnauba wax, rice wax, and candelilla wax; synthetic or mineral / petroleum waxes such as montan wax; and ester waxes such as fatty acid esters and montanic acid esters. And so on. The release agent is not limited to this. A mold release agent may be used individually by 1 type, and may use 2 or more types together.

  The melting temperature of the release agent is preferably 50 ° C. or higher and 110 ° C. or lower, and more preferably 60 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower. The melting temperature is determined from the DSC curve obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) according to the “melting peak temperature” described in JIS K7121-1987 “Method for measuring the melting temperature of plastics”.

  The content of the release agent is, for example, preferably 1% by mass to 20% by mass and more preferably 5% by mass to 15% by mass with respect to the entire toner particles.

-Other additives-
Examples of other additives include known additives such as a magnetic material, a charge control agent, and inorganic powder. These additives are contained in the toner particles as internal additives.

[Characteristics of toner particles]
The toner particles may be toner particles having a single layer structure, or toner particles having a so-called core / shell structure composed of a core (core particle) and a coating layer (shell layer) covering the core. May be. The toner particles having a core / shell structure include, for example, a core that includes a binder resin and, if necessary, other additives such as a colorant and a release agent, and a binder resin. And a coating layer.

  When the toner particles have a core and a coating layer, the mass ratio of the hybrid amorphous resin and the crystalline polyester resin contained in the core is preferably 80:20 to 60:40, and 80:20 to 65:35. Is more preferable, and 80:20 to 70:30 is still more preferable.

  The volume average particle diameter (D50v) of the toner particles is preferably 2 μm or more and 10 μm or less, and more preferably 4 μm or more and 8 μm or less.

Various average particle diameters and various particle size distribution indices of the toner particles are measured using Coulter Multisizer II (manufactured by Beckman Coulter), and the electrolyte is measured using ISOTON-II (manufactured by Beckman Coulter).
In the measurement, 0.5 mg to 50 mg of a measurement sample is added to 2 ml of a 5% by mass aqueous solution of a surfactant (preferably sodium alkylbenzenesulfonate) as a dispersant. This is added to 100 ml or more and 150 ml or less of the electrolytic solution.
The electrolyte in which the sample is suspended is dispersed for 1 minute with an ultrasonic disperser, and the particle size distribution of particles in the range of 2 μm to 60 μm is measured using an aperture with an aperture diameter of 100 μm using a Coulter Multisizer II. To do. The number of particles to be sampled is 50,000.
A cumulative distribution is drawn from the smaller diameter side to the particle size range (channel) divided based on the measured particle size distribution, and the cumulative particle size of 16% is the volume particle size D16v. D16p, the particle size that is 50% cumulative is defined as the volume average particle size D50v, the number average particle size D50p, and the particle size that is cumulative 84% is defined as the volume particle size D84v and the number particle size D84p.
Using these, the volume average particle size distribution index (GSDv) is calculated as (D84v / D16v) ^1/2 and the number average particle size distribution index (GSDp) is calculated as (D84p / D16p) ^1/2 .

  The shape factor SF1 of the toner particles is preferably 110 or more and 150 or less, and more preferably 120 or more and 140 or less.

The shape factor SF1 is obtained by the following equation.
Formula: SF1 = (ML ² / A) × (π / 4) × 100
In the above formula, ML represents the absolute maximum length of the toner, and A represents the projected area of the toner.
Specifically, the shape factor SF1 is quantified mainly by analyzing a microscope image or a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image using an image analyzer, and is calculated as follows. That is, by capturing an optical microscope image of particles dispersed on the surface of a slide glass into a Luzex image analyzer using a video camera, obtaining the maximum length and projected area of 100 particles, calculating by the above formula, and obtaining the average value can get.

[External additive]
Examples of the external additive include inorganic particles. As the inorganic particles, SiO ₂ , TiO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , CuO, ZnO, SnO ₂ , CeO ₂ , Fe ₂ O ₃ , MgO, BaO, CaO, K ₂ O, Na ₂ O, ZrO ₂ , CaO. _{SiO 2, K 2 O · (} TiO 2) n, Al 2 O 3 · 2SiO 2, CaCO 3, MgCO 3, BaSO 4, MgSO 4 , and the like.

The surface of the inorganic particles as an external additive is preferably subjected to a hydrophobic treatment. The hydrophobic treatment is performed, for example, by immersing inorganic particles in a hydrophobic treatment agent. The hydrophobizing agent is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include silane coupling agents, silicone oils, titanate coupling agents, aluminum coupling agents and the like. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.
The amount of the hydrophobizing agent is usually 1 part by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the inorganic particles, for example.

  As external additives, resin particles (resin particles such as polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, melamine resin, etc.), cleaning activators (for example, metal salts of higher fatty acids represented by zinc stearate, particles of fluorine-based high molecular weight) And so on.

  The external additive amount of the external additive is, for example, preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less, and more preferably 0.01% by mass or more and 2.0% by mass or less with respect to the toner particles.

[Toner Production Method]
Next, a toner manufacturing method according to this embodiment will be described.
The toner according to the exemplary embodiment can be obtained by externally adding an external additive to the toner particles after the toner particles are manufactured.

The toner particles may be produced by any of a dry production method (for example, a kneading and pulverizing method) and a wet production method (for example, an aggregation coalescence method, a suspension polymerization method, a dissolution suspension method, etc.). The production method of the toner particles is not particularly limited, and a known production method is adopted.
Among these, it is preferable to obtain toner particles by an aggregation and coalescence method.

Specifically, for example, when toner particles are produced by an aggregation coalescence method,
A step of preparing a resin particle dispersion in which resin particles to be a binder resin are dispersed (resin particle dispersion preparation step), and a resin particle dispersion (after mixing other particle dispersions as necessary) (In the dispersion), the step of aggregating the resin particles (and other particles as necessary) to form aggregated particles (aggregated particle formation step), and heating the aggregated particle dispersion in which the aggregated particles are dispersed, The toner particles are manufactured through a step of fusing and coalescing the aggregated particles to form toner particles (fusing and coalescing step).

Details of each step will be described below.
In the following description, a method for obtaining toner particles containing a colorant and a release agent will be described. The colorant and the release agent are used as necessary. Of course, you may use other additives other than a coloring agent and a mold release agent.

-Preparation step of resin particle dispersion-
For example, a colorant particle dispersion in which colorant particles are dispersed and a release agent dispersion in which release agent particles are dispersed are prepared together with a resin particle dispersion in which resin particles to be a binder resin are dispersed.

  The resin particle dispersion is prepared, for example, by dispersing resin particles in a dispersion medium using a surfactant.

Examples of the dispersion medium used for the resin particle dispersion include an aqueous medium.
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.

Examples of the surfactant include anionic surfactants such as sulfate ester, sulfonate, phosphate, and soap; cationic surfactants such as amine salt type and quaternary ammonium salt type; polyethylene glycol And nonionic surfactants such as polyphenols, alkylphenol ethylene oxide adducts, and polyhydric alcohols. Among these, an anionic surfactant and a cationic surfactant are particularly mentioned. The nonionic surfactant may be used in combination with an anionic surfactant or a cationic surfactant.
Surfactant may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

Examples of the method for dispersing the resin particles in the dispersion medium in the resin particle dispersion include a general dispersion method such as a rotary shear homogenizer, a ball mill having media, a sand mill, and a dyno mill. Depending on the type of resin particles, the resin particles may be dispersed in the dispersion medium by a phase inversion emulsification method.
The phase inversion emulsification method is a method in which a resin to be dispersed is dissolved in a hydrophobic organic solvent in which the resin is soluble, neutralized by adding a base to the organic continuous phase (O phase), and then an aqueous medium (W phase). ) Is applied to perform phase inversion from W / O to O / W, and the resin is dispersed in the form of particles in the aqueous medium.

The volume average particle size of the resin particles dispersed in the resin particle dispersion is, for example, preferably 0.01 μm to 1 μm, more preferably 0.08 μm to 0.8 μm, and further preferably 0.1 μm to 0.6 μm. preferable.
The volume average particle size of the resin particles is a volume with respect to a divided particle size range (channel) using a particle size distribution obtained by measurement with a laser diffraction particle size distribution measuring apparatus (for example, LA-700 manufactured by HORIBA, Ltd.). The cumulative distribution is subtracted from the small particle diameter side, and the particle diameter that is 50% cumulative with respect to all particles is measured as the volume average particle diameter D50v. The volume average particle size of the particles in the other dispersion is also measured in the same manner.

  As content of the resin particle contained in a resin particle dispersion liquid, 5 to 50 mass% is preferable, for example, and 10 to 40 mass% is more preferable.

  Similar to the resin particle dispersion, for example, a colorant dispersion and a release agent dispersion are also prepared. That is, with respect to the volume average particle size of the particles in the resin particle dispersion, the dispersion medium, the dispersion method, and the content of the particles, the colorant particles dispersed in the colorant dispersion and the release agent dispersion are dispersed. The same applies to the release agent particles.

-Aggregated particle formation process-
Next, the resin particle dispersion, the colorant particle dispersion, and the release agent dispersion are mixed.
Then, resin particles, colorant particles, and release agent particles having a diameter close to the diameter of the target toner particles are obtained by hetero-aggregating the resin particles, colorant particles, and release agent particles in the mixed dispersion. Aggregated particles are formed.

Specifically, for example, a flocculant is added to the mixed dispersion, and the pH of the mixed dispersion is adjusted to acidic (for example, pH 2 to 5), and a dispersion stabilizer is added as necessary. To a temperature close to the glass transition temperature (specifically, for example, the glass transition temperature of the resin particles −30 ° C. or more and the glass transition temperature −10 ° C. or less), the particles dispersed in the mixed dispersion liquid are aggregated, Agglomerated particles are formed.
In the agglomerated particle forming step, for example, the agglomerated agent is added at room temperature (for example, 25 ° C.) while stirring the mixed dispersion with a rotary shear homogenizer, and the pH of the mixed dispersion is adjusted to be acidic (for example, pH 2 to 5) In addition, heating may be performed after adding a dispersion stabilizer as necessary.

Examples of the flocculant include a surfactant having a polarity opposite to that of the surfactant contained in the mixed dispersion, an inorganic metal salt, and a bivalent or higher-valent metal complex. When a metal complex is used as the aggregating agent, the amount of the surfactant used is reduced and the charging characteristics are improved.
If necessary, an additive that forms a complex or a similar bond with the metal ion of the flocculant may be used together with the flocculant. As this additive, a chelating agent is preferably used.

Examples of inorganic metal salts include metal salts such as calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, barium chloride, magnesium chloride, zinc chloride, aluminum chloride, and aluminum sulfate; inorganic metal salts such as polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum hydroxide, and calcium polysulfide Polymer; and the like.
A water-soluble chelating agent may be used as the chelating agent. Examples of the chelating agent include oxycarboxylic acids such as tartaric acid, citric acid, and gluconic acid; aminocarboxylic acids such as iminodiacetic acid (IDA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); .
As addition amount of a chelating agent, 0.01 mass part or more and 5.0 mass part or less are preferable with respect to 100 mass parts of resin particles, for example, and 0.1 mass part or more and less than 3.0 mass parts are more preferable.

-Fusion / unification process-
Next, the agglomerated particle dispersion in which the agglomerated particles are dispersed is heated to, for example, a glass transition temperature or higher of the resin particles (for example, a temperature of 10 ° C. to 30 ° C. higher than the glass transition temperature of the resin particles). Fusing and coalescing to form toner particles.

Through the above steps, toner particles are obtained.
After obtaining the aggregated particle dispersion in which the aggregated particles are dispersed, the aggregated particle dispersion and the resin particle dispersion in which the resin particles are dispersed are further mixed, and the resin particles are further adhered to the surface of the aggregated particles. The second agglomerated particles are agglomerated to form a second agglomerated particle, and the second agglomerated particle dispersion is heated to fuse and coalesce the second agglomerated particles. The toner particles may be manufactured through a step of forming toner particles having a shell structure.

Here, after completion of the fusion / unification process, toner particles formed in the solution are dried through a known washing process, solid-liquid separation process, and drying process to obtain toner particles.
In the washing step, it is preferable to sufficiently carry out substitution washing with ion-exchanged water from the viewpoint of chargeability. The solid-liquid separation step is not particularly limited, but suction filtration, pressure filtration, etc. are preferably performed from the viewpoint of productivity. Also, the drying process is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of productivity, freeze drying, flash jet drying, fluidized drying, vibration fluidized drying, or the like is preferably performed.

  The toner according to the exemplary embodiment is manufactured, for example, by adding an external additive to the obtained dry toner particles and mixing them. Mixing may be performed by, for example, a V blender, a Henschel mixer, a Laedige mixer, or the like. Further, if necessary, coarse toner particles may be removed using a vibration sieving machine, a wind sieving machine, or the like.

<Electrostatic image developer>
The electrostatic charge image developer according to the exemplary embodiment includes at least the toner according to the exemplary embodiment. The electrostatic charge image developer according to this embodiment may be a one-component developer including only the toner according to this embodiment, or may be a two-component developer in which the toner and a carrier are mixed.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a carrier, A well-known carrier is mentioned. Examples of carriers include a coated carrier in which the surface of a core made of magnetic powder is coated with a resin; a magnetic powder-dispersed carrier in which magnetic powder is dispersed in a matrix resin; and a porous magnetic powder impregnated with resin. Resin impregnated type carriers; and the like. The magnetic powder-dispersed carrier and the resin-impregnated carrier may be carriers in which the constituent particles of the carrier are used as a core and the surface is coated with a resin.

  Examples of the magnetic powder include magnetic metals such as iron, nickel, and cobalt; magnetic oxides such as ferrite and magnetite.

  Examples of the coating resin and matrix resin include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl ketone, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-acrylic. Examples include an acid copolymer, a straight silicone resin containing an organosiloxane bond or a modified product thereof, a fluororesin, a polyester, a polycarbonate, a phenol resin, and an epoxy resin. The coating resin and the matrix resin may contain additives such as conductive particles. Examples of the conductive particles include particles of metals such as gold, silver, and copper, carbon black, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, barium sulfate, aluminum borate, and potassium titanate.

  In order to coat the surface of the core material with a resin, a method of coating with a coating layer forming solution in which a coating resin and various additives (used as necessary) are dissolved in an appropriate solvent may be mentioned. The solvent is not particularly limited, and may be selected in consideration of the type of resin used, application suitability, and the like. Specific resin coating methods include a dipping method in which a core material is immersed in a coating layer forming solution; a spray method in which the coating layer forming solution is sprayed on the surface of the core material; A fluidized bed method in which a coating layer forming solution is sprayed; a kneader coater method in which a carrier core material and a coating layer forming solution are mixed in a kneader coater, and then the solvent is removed;

  The mixing ratio (mass ratio) of the toner and the carrier in the two-component developer is preferably toner: carrier = 1: 100 to 30: 100, and more preferably 3: 100 to 20: 100.

<Image forming apparatus and image forming method>
An image forming apparatus and an image forming method according to the present embodiment will be described.
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image carrier, a charging unit that charges the surface of the image carrier, an electrostatic image forming unit that forms an electrostatic image on the surface of the charged image carrier, and an electrostatic charge. Development means for containing an image developer and developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image with the electrostatic image developer, and the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a recording medium Transfer means for transferring to the surface of the recording medium, and fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium. The electrostatic charge image developer according to this embodiment is applied as the electrostatic charge image developer.

  In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, a charging process for charging the surface of the image carrier, an electrostatic charge image forming process for forming an electrostatic image on the surface of the charged image carrier, and an electrostatic charge according to this embodiment. A developing step of developing an electrostatic charge image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image with an image developer; a transfer step of transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of the recording medium; An image forming method (an image forming method according to the present embodiment) including a fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred onto the surface of the recording medium is performed.

The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a direct transfer type apparatus that directly transfers a toner image formed on the surface of an image carrier to a recording medium; the toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier is transferred to an intermediate transfer member An intermediate transfer type apparatus that primarily transfers the toner image transferred to the surface of the intermediate transfer body and then secondary transfer the toner image to the surface of the recording medium; after the toner image is transferred, the surface of the image carrier before charging is cleaned. A known image forming apparatus such as an apparatus provided with cleaning means; an apparatus provided with charge eliminating means for irradiating the surface of the image carrier with charge removing light after the toner image is transferred and before charging is applied.
In the case where the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment is an intermediate transfer type apparatus, for example, the transfer unit intermediately transfers an intermediate transfer body on which a toner image is transferred onto the surface and a toner image formed on the surface of the image holding body. A configuration having primary transfer means for primary transfer onto the surface of the body and secondary transfer means for secondary transfer of the toner image transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer body onto the surface of the recording medium is applied.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, for example, the part including the developing unit may have a cartridge structure (process cartridge) that is detachable from the image forming apparatus. As the process cartridge, for example, a process cartridge including a developing unit containing the electrostatic charge image developer according to the present embodiment is preferably used.

  Hereinafter, an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the following description, the main part shown in the figure will be described, and the description of other parts will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a first electrophotographic system that outputs an image of each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) based on color-separated image data. To fourth image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K (image forming means). These image forming units (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “units”) 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance from each other in the horizontal direction. These units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K may be process cartridges that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.

Above each unit 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K, an intermediate transfer belt (an example of an intermediate transfer member) 20 is extended through each unit. The intermediate transfer belt 20 is provided around a drive roll 22 and a support roll 24 that are in contact with the inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20, and travels in a direction from the first unit 10Y to the fourth unit 10K. Yes. A force is applied to the support roll 24 in a direction away from the drive roll 22 by a spring or the like (not shown), and tension is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 20 wound around the support roll 24. An intermediate transfer body cleaning device 30 is provided on the image holding surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 20 so as to face the drive roll 22.
Each unit 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K developing device (an example of developing means) 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K has yellow, magenta, cyan, black in toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K, respectively. Each toner is supplied.

  Since the first to fourth units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K have the same configuration and operation, the first image forming the yellow image disposed upstream in the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt is formed here. One unit 10Y will be described as a representative.

  The first unit 10Y includes a photoreceptor 1Y that functions as an image holding member. Around the photoreceptor 1Y, a charging roll (an example of a charging unit) 2Y that charges the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y to a predetermined potential, and the charged surface is exposed by a laser beam 3Y based on the color-separated image signal. Then, an exposure device (an example of an electrostatic image forming unit) 3 that forms an electrostatic image, and a developing device (an example of a developing unit) 4Y that develops the electrostatic image by supplying toner charged to the electrostatic image, developed A primary transfer roll (an example of a primary transfer unit) 5Y that transfers a toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 20, and a photoconductor cleaning device (an example of a cleaning unit) 6Y that removes toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 1Y after the primary transfer. Are arranged in order.

  The primary transfer roll 5Y is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 20, and is provided at a position facing the photoreceptor 1Y. A bias power source (not shown) for applying a primary transfer bias is connected to the primary transfer rolls 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K of each unit. Each bias power source changes the value of the transfer bias applied to each primary transfer roll under the control of a control unit (not shown).

Hereinafter, an operation of forming a yellow image in the first unit 10Y will be described.
First, prior to operation, the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y is charged to a potential of −600V to −800V by the charging roll 2Y.
The photoreceptor 1Y is formed by laminating a photosensitive layer on a conductive base (for example, a volume resistivity of 1 × 10 ⁻⁶ Ωcm or less at 20 ° C.). This photosensitive layer usually has a high resistance (general resin resistance), but has a property of changing the specific resistance of the portion irradiated with the laser beam when irradiated with the laser beam. Therefore, the laser beam 3Y is irradiated from the exposure device 3 on the surface of the charged photoreceptor 1Y in accordance with yellow image data sent from a control unit (not shown). Thereby, an electrostatic charge image of a yellow image pattern is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y.

The electrostatic charge image is an image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y by charging, and the specific resistance of the irradiated portion of the photosensitive layer is lowered by the laser beam 3Y, and the charged charge on the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y flows. On the other hand, this is a so-called negative latent image formed by the charge remaining in the portion not irradiated with the laser beam 3Y.
The electrostatic charge image formed on the photoreceptor 1Y rotates to a predetermined development position as the photoreceptor 1Y travels. At this development position, the electrostatic charge image on the photoreceptor 1Y is developed and visualized as a toner image by the developing device 4Y.

  In the developing device 4Y, for example, an electrostatic charge image developer containing at least yellow toner and a carrier is accommodated. The yellow toner is triboelectrically charged by being agitated inside the developing device 4Y, and has a charge of the same polarity (negative polarity) as the charged electric charge on the photoreceptor 1Y, and has a developer roll (a developer holding member). Example) is held on. Then, as the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y passes through the developing device 4Y, the yellow toner is electrostatically attached to the latent image portion on the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y, and the latent image is developed with the yellow toner. The The photoreceptor 1Y on which the yellow toner image is formed continues to run at a predetermined speed, and the toner image developed on the photoreceptor 1Y is conveyed to a predetermined primary transfer position.

  When the yellow toner image on the photoreceptor 1Y is transported to the primary transfer position, a primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roll 5Y, and electrostatic force from the photoreceptor 1Y toward the primary transfer roll 5Y acts on the toner image. The toner image on the photoreceptor 1Y is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20. The transfer bias applied at this time has a (+) polarity opposite to the polarity (−) of the toner, and is controlled to, for example, +10 μA by the control unit (not shown) in the first unit 10Y.

The primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer rolls 5M, 5C, and 5K after the second unit 10M is also controlled according to the first unit.
In this way, the intermediate transfer belt 20 onto which the yellow toner image has been transferred by the first unit 10Y is sequentially conveyed through the second to fourth units 10M, 10C, and 10K, and the toner images of the respective colors are superimposed to perform multiple transfer. Is done.

  The intermediate transfer belt 20 onto which the four color toner images have been transferred in multiple ways through the first to fourth units includes the intermediate transfer belt 20, a support roll 24 in contact with the inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and an image holding surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20. To a secondary transfer portion composed of a secondary transfer roll (an example of secondary transfer means) 26 arranged on the side. On the other hand, recording paper (an example of a recording medium) P is fed at a predetermined timing into a gap where the secondary transfer roll 26 and the intermediate transfer belt 20 are in contact with each other via a supply mechanism, and the secondary transfer bias is supplied to the support roll. 24. The transfer bias applied at this time is a (−) polarity that is the same polarity as the polarity (−) of the toner, and an electrostatic force from the intermediate transfer belt 20 toward the recording paper P acts on the toner image, and the transfer bias is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 20. The toner image is transferred onto the recording paper P. The secondary transfer bias at this time is determined according to the resistance detected by a resistance detecting means (not shown) for detecting the resistance of the secondary transfer portion, and is voltage-controlled.

  Thereafter, the recording paper P is sent to a pressure contact portion (nip portion) of a pair of fixing rolls in a fixing device (an example of a fixing unit) 28, and the toner image is fixed on the recording paper P to form a fixed image. .

Examples of the recording paper P to which the toner image is transferred include plain paper used in electrophotographic copying machines, printers, and the like. As the recording medium, in addition to the recording paper P, an OHP sheet and the like are also included.
In order to further improve the smoothness of the image surface after fixing, it is preferable that the surface of the recording paper P is also smooth. For example, coated paper in which the surface of plain paper is coated with resin, art paper for printing, etc. Preferably used.

  The recording paper P on which the color image has been fixed is carried out toward the discharge unit, and a series of color image forming operations is completed.

<Process cartridge, toner cartridge>
The process cartridge according to this embodiment will be described.
The process cartridge according to the present embodiment accommodates the electrostatic image developer according to the present embodiment, and develops the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image by the electrostatic image developer. And a process cartridge that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.

  The process cartridge according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described configuration, and is selected from a developing unit and other units such as an image holding member, a charging unit, an electrostatic charge image forming unit, and a transfer unit, if necessary. And at least one of the above may be provided.

  Hereinafter, an example of the process cartridge according to the present embodiment will be shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the following description, the main part shown in the figure will be described, and the description of other parts will be omitted.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a process cartridge according to the present embodiment.
The process cartridge 200 shown in FIG. 2 is provided around the photoconductor 107 and the photoconductor 107 by, for example, a housing 117 provided with an attachment rail 116 and an opening 118 for exposure. A charging roller 108 (an example of a charging unit), a developing device 111 (an example of a developing unit), and a photoconductor cleaning device 113 (an example of a cleaning unit) are integrally combined and held to form a cartridge. Yes.

  In FIG. 2, 109 is an exposure device (an example of an electrostatic charge image forming unit), 112 is a transfer device (an example of a transfer unit), 115 is a fixing device (an example of a fixing unit), and 300 is a recording paper (an example of a recording medium). Is shown.

Next, the toner cartridge according to this embodiment will be described.
The toner cartridge according to the present exemplary embodiment is a toner cartridge that accommodates the toner according to the present exemplary embodiment and is detachable from the image forming apparatus. The toner cartridge contains toner for replenishment to be supplied to the developing means provided in the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus having a configuration in which toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are attached and detached. The developing devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K are toner cartridges corresponding to respective colors. And a toner supply pipe (not shown). Further, when the amount of toner stored in the toner cartridge becomes low, the toner cartridge is replaced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail by way of examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these examples. In the following description, “part” and “%” are based on mass unless otherwise specified.

<Synthesis of hybrid amorphous resin and preparation of amorphous resin particle dispersion>
[Hybrid amorphous resin H1 and amorphous resin particle dispersion H1]
-Synthesis of Amorphous Polyester Resin P1-
The inside of a four-necked flask equipped with a nitrogen introduction tube, a dehydration tube, a stirrer, and a thermocouple was purged with nitrogen, and 150 mol parts of ethylene glycol, 84 mol parts of terephthalic acid, and 9 mol parts of dodecenyl succinic anhydride were added. While stirring in an atmosphere, the temperature was raised to 235 ° C. and maintained for 5 hours. Next, the pressure in the flask was lowered and maintained at 8.0 kPa for 1 hour. After returning the pressure in the flask to atmospheric pressure, it was cooled to 190 ° C., 5 mol parts of fumaric acid and 2 mol parts of trimellitic acid were added and maintained at a temperature of 190 ° C. for 2 hours, and then 210 hours over 2 hours. The temperature was raised to ° C. Next, the pressure in the flask was lowered and maintained at 8.0 kPa for 4 hours, and then the alcohol was distilled off to obtain an amorphous polyester resin P1.

-Styrene acrylic modification of amorphous polyester resin P1 and preparation of amorphous resin particle dispersion H1-
80 parts by mass of amorphous polyester resin P1 was placed in a 4-liter flask having an internal volume of 2 liters equipped with a condenser, a stirrer, and a thermocouple, and stirred in a nitrogen atmosphere at a stirring speed of 200 rpm. Thereafter, styrene and ethyl acrylate were added in a ratio of 60 mole parts: 40 mole parts as a total of 20 parts by weight of addition polymerizable monomer, and 500 parts by weight of ethyl acetate was added as a solvent and mixed for 30 minutes.

Further, 6 parts of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether (nonionic surfactant, Kao's Emulgen 430), 15% aqueous solution of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (1000 parts of the total amount of the amorphous polyester resin P1 and the addition polymerizable monomer) Anionic surfactant, 40 parts of Kao's Neoperex G-15), and 233 parts of 5% potassium hydroxide were added, heated to 95 ° C. with stirring, melted, and mixed at 95 ° C. for 2 hours. A resin mixture solution was obtained.
Next, 1145 parts of deionized water was added dropwise at a rate of 6 parts / minute while stirring to obtain an emulsion. Next, the emulsion is cooled to 25 ° C., passed through a 200-mesh wire mesh, deionized water is added to adjust the solid content concentration to 20%, and the amorphous resin in which the hybrid amorphous resin H1 is dispersed. A particle dispersion H1 was obtained.

[Hybrid amorphous resins H2 to H5 and amorphous resin particle dispersions H2 to H5]
A hybrid amorphous material was prepared in the same manner as in the synthesis of the hybrid amorphous resin H1 and the preparation of the amorphous resin particle dispersion H1, except that the alcohol component, the carboxylic acid component, and the addition polymerizable monomer were changed as shown in Table 1. Resin H2 to H5 and amorphous resin particle dispersions H2 to H5 were obtained.

The meanings of the abbreviations in Table 1 are as follows.
EG: ethylene glycol, PG: propylene glycol, BD: 1,4-butanediol, NPG: neopentyl glycol, BPA-PO: bisphenol A propylene oxide 2 mol adduct, TPA: terephthalic acid, DSA: dodecenyl succinic anhydride, SA: sebacic acid, FA: fumaric acid, TMA: trimellitic acid, St: styrene, EA: ethyl acrylate

<Synthesis of crystalline polyester resin and preparation of crystalline resin particle dispersion>
[Crystalline polyester resin CP1 and crystalline resin particle dispersion CP1]
-Synthesis of crystalline polyester resin CP1-
-1,6-hexanediol: 100 mol parts-dodecanedioic acid (1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid): 100 mol parts The above materials are added to a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer, thermometer, condenser and nitrogen gas introduction tube. After replacing the inside of the reaction vessel with dry nitrogen gas, 0.3 part of tin dioctanoate was added to 100 parts of the total amount of the above materials. After stirring and reacting at 160 ° C. for 3 hours under a nitrogen gas stream, the temperature was raised to 180 ° C. over 1.5 hours, the pressure in the reaction vessel was reduced to 3 kPa, and the target molecular weight was reached. The reaction was terminated to obtain a crystalline polyester resin CP1.

-Preparation of crystalline resin particle dispersion CP1-
Crystalline polyester resin CP1: 100 parts Ethyl acetate: 60 parts Isopropyl alcohol: 15 parts The above materials were put into a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and dissolved at 65 ° C. After confirming dissolution, the reaction vessel was cooled to 60 ° C., and 5 parts of a 10% aqueous ammonia solution was added. Next, 300 parts of ion-exchanged water was dropped into the reaction vessel over 3 hours to prepare a resin dispersion. Subsequently, ethyl acetate and isopropyl alcohol were removed with an evaporator, and then ion-exchanged water was added to adjust the solid content concentration to 20%, thereby obtaining a crystalline resin particle dispersion CP1.

[Crystalline polyester resins CP2 to CP5 and crystalline resin particle dispersions CP2 to CP5]
The crystalline polyester resins CP2 to CP5 and the crystalline resin were synthesized in the same manner as the synthesis of the crystalline polyester resin CP1 and the preparation of the crystalline resin particle dispersion CP1, except that the alcohol component and the carboxylic acid component were changed as shown in Table 2. Particle dispersions CP2 to CP5 were obtained.

[Crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resins CP6 to CP7 and crystalline resin particle dispersions CP6 to CP7]
Hybrid amorphous, except that the alcohol component, the carboxylic acid component, and the addition polymerizable monomer were changed as shown in Table 2, and the addition amount of the addition polymerizable monomer was changed to 10 parts by mass with respect to 90 parts by mass of the polyester resin. Crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resins CP6 to CP7 and crystalline resin particle dispersions CP6 to CP7 were obtained in the same manner as the synthesis of the crystalline resin H1 and the preparation of the amorphous resin particle dispersion H1.

The meanings of the abbreviations in Table 2 are as follows.
EG: ethylene glycol, HD: 1,6-hexanediol, DD: 1,10-decanediol, DDD: 1,12-dodecanediol, APA: adipic acid, DDA: dodecanedioic acid, TDA: tridecanedioic acid, FA : Fumaric acid, St: styrene, EA: ethyl acrylate

<Preparation of release agent dispersion>
・ Hydrocarbon wax (Nippon Seiwa Wax, FNP0090): 270 parts ・ Anionic surfactant (Taika, Takeka Power BN2060, active ingredient 60%)
: 13.5 parts · Ion-exchanged water: 700 parts After mixing the above materials and dissolving the release agent at an internal liquid temperature of 120 ° C with a pressure discharge homogenizer (Gorin homogenizer, Gorin), a dispersion pressure of 5 MPa For 120 minutes, followed by dispersion treatment at 40 MPa for 360 minutes. Then, it cooled, the ion exchange water was added, solid content concentration was adjusted to 20%, and the mold release agent dispersion liquid was obtained. This release agent dispersion had a volume average particle diameter D50v of 220 nm.

<Preparation of colorant dispersion>
・ C. I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 (Daiichi Seika Kogyo): 50 parts ・ Anionic surfactant (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku, Neogen RK, active ingredient amount 20%): 2 parts ・ Ion-exchanged water: 180 parts Then, the mixture was dispersed for 1 hour using a high-pressure impact disperser ultimateizer (HJP30006, Sugino Machine), and ion-exchanged water was added to prepare a solid content concentration of 20% to obtain a colorant dispersion. The volume average particle diameter D50v of this colorant dispersion was 150 nm.

<Preparation of resin-coated carrier>
Mn-Mg-Sr ferrite particles (average particle size 40 μm): 100 parts Toluene: 14 parts Polymethyl methacrylate: 2 parts Carbon black (Cabot's VXC72): 0.12 parts Above mentioned excluding ferrite particles The material and glass beads (φ1 mm, same amount as toluene) were stirred at 1200 rpm for 30 minutes using a sand mill manufactured by Kansai Paint to obtain a resin coating layer forming solution. The resin-coated carrier was obtained by putting the resin coating layer forming solution and ferrite particles in a vacuum degassing kneader, reducing the pressure, distilling off toluene and drying.

<Example 1>
[Preparation of toner particles]
Amorphous resin particle dispersion H2 (solid content concentration 20%): 485 parts Crystalline resin particle dispersion CP1 (solid content concentration 20%): 214 parts Release agent dispersion (solid content concentration 20%) : 120 parts-Colorant dispersion (solid content concentration 20%): 147 parts-Anionic surfactant (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku, Neogen RK, active ingredient amount 20%): 4 parts-Ion-exchanged water: 333 parts The material was put into a reaction vessel equipped with a thermometer, a pH meter and a stirrer, heated to 30 ° C. from the outside with a mantle heater, and held for 30 minutes while stirring at a stirring speed of 150 rpm. Thereafter, a 0.3N nitric acid aqueous solution was added to adjust the pH to 3.0. Next, a 3% aqueous solution of polyaluminum chloride was added while being dispersed with a homogenizer (Ultra Turrax T50, IKA). Subsequently, it heated up to 50 degreeC, stirring, and hold | maintained for 30 minutes. Thereafter, 372 parts of amorphous resin particle dispersion H2 was added and held for 1 hour, and the pH was adjusted to 8.5 by adding a 0.1 N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. And heated for 5 hours. Thereafter, the mixture was cooled, filtered, thoroughly washed with ion exchange water, and dried to obtain toner particles having a volume average particle diameter of 6.0 μm.

[Preparation of external toner]
100 parts of the toner particles obtained above and 1.5 parts of hydrophobic silica (manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd., RY50) are mixed for 30 seconds at 13000 rpm using a sample mill, and sieved with a vibrating sieve having an opening of 45 μm. Thus, an externally added toner was obtained.

[Developer preparation]
36 parts of the externally added toner and 414 parts of the resin-coated carrier obtained above were placed in a 2 liter V blender, stirred for 20 minutes, and sieved at 212 μm to obtain a developer.

<Examples 2-9, Comparative Examples 1-3>
The amorphous resin particle dispersion H2 and the crystalline resin particle dispersion CP1 are changed to the amorphous resin particle dispersion and the crystalline resin particle dispersion shown in Table 3, and the mixing ratio of the amorphous resin and the crystalline resin is changed. The toner particles, externally added toners and developers of Examples 2 to 9 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 were produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that was changed as shown in Table 3.

<Evaluation>
[Measurement of loss modulus G "]
The loss elastic modulus G ″ of the toner was measured by the measurement method described above. Table 3 shows the results.

[Low temperature fixability]
The developer of a modified DocuCenter Color 400 CP manufactured by Fuji Xerox (equipped with an external fixing device with a variable fixing temperature) is filled with a developer, and the size is 50 mm × 50 mm, the image density is 100%, on Fuji Xerox C2 paper. Image formation with a toner applied amount of 10 g / m ² was performed. The toner image was fixed on the paper at a fixing pressure of 10 kgf / cm ² and a fixing speed of 180 mm / sec. The temperature at which the fixing temperature is raised from 110 ° C. to 160 ° C. in increments of 5 ° C., and the low temperature side offset (the phenomenon that the image is transferred to the fixing member caused by insufficient melting of the toner image) does not occur. (Minimum fixing temperature) was classified as follows. Table 3 shows the results.
5: Minimum fixing temperature is 120 ° C. or lower 4: Minimum fixing temperature is higher than 120 ° C. and lower than 125 ° C. 3: Minimum fixing temperature is higher than 125 ° C. and lower than 130 ° C. 2: Minimum fixing temperature is higher than 130 ° C. and lower than 140 ° C. 1: Minimum fixing temperature Over 140 ° C

[Contamination to image carrier]
A test chart of 5% image density on C2 paper A4 size manufactured by Fuji Xerox under the environment of 25 ° C./55% relative humidity, with the image forming apparatus filled with a developer, the fixing temperature set at 130 ° 30,000 sheets of images were formed. The surface of the photoreceptor and the output image surface were visually observed every 10,000 sheets and classified as follows. Table 3 shows the results. When the toner causes filming on the surface of the photoreceptor, the filmed portion is difficult to be charged, and as a result, an image defect in which the image is whitened occurs.
4: On the 30,000th sheet, no foreign matter is observed on the surface of the photoreceptor, and no image defect is observed.
3: On the 30,000th sheet, no foreign matter is observed on the surface of the photoreceptor, but a slight image defect is observed.
2: On the 30,000th sheet, foreign matter is observed on the surface of the photoreceptor and image defects are recognized, but this is within an acceptable range.
1: In the 30,000th sheet, foreign matter is recognized on the surface of the photoreceptor, image defects are recognized, and this is an unacceptable range.

1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K photoconductor (an example of an image carrier)
2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K charging roll (an example of charging means)
3. Exposure device (an example of electrostatic charge image forming means)
3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K Laser beams 4Y, 4M, 4C, 4K Developing device (an example of developing means)
5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K primary transfer roll (an example of primary transfer means)
6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K Photoconductor cleaning devices 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K Toner cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K Image forming unit 20 Intermediate transfer belt (an example of an intermediate transfer member)
22 Drive roll 24 Support roll 26 Secondary transfer roll (an example of secondary transfer means)
28 Fixing device (an example of fixing means)
30 Intermediate transfer member cleaning device P Recording paper (an example of a recording medium)

107 photoconductor (an example of an image carrier)
108 Charging roll (an example of charging means)
109 Exposure apparatus (an example of electrostatic charge image forming means)
111 Developing device (an example of developing means)
112 Transfer device (an example of transfer means)
113 photoconductor cleaning device (an example of cleaning means)
115 Fixing device (an example of fixing means)
116 Mounting rail 117 Housing 118 Opening 200 for exposure Process cartridge 300 Recording paper (an example of a recording medium)

Claims (11)

A toner particle containing an amorphous resin having a polyester resin segment and a styrene acrylic resin segment, and a crystalline polyester resin dispersed in the amorphous resin, and the loss modulus G ″ is the following (1) and An electrostatic image developing toner satisfying (2).
(1) The loss elastic modulus G ″ between 40 ° C. and 55 ° C. is 1.0 × 10 ⁷ Pa to 1.0 × 10 ⁸ Pa.
(2) The loss elastic modulus G ″ at 55 ° C. is larger than the loss elastic modulus G ″ at 40 ° C.   2. The electrostatic charge image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein a mass ratio of the amorphous resin and the crystalline polyester resin contained in the toner particles is 80:20 to 70:30.   The electrostatic charge image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous resin is an amorphous styrene acrylic modified polyester resin.   The electrostatic image developing toner according to claim 1, wherein the crystalline polyester resin is a crystalline styrene acrylic modified polyester resin. The polyester resin segment of the amorphous resin is a condensation polymer of an alcohol component and a carboxylic acid component,
The toner for developing an electrostatic charge image according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the aliphatic diol having 2 to 5 carbon atoms accounts for 70 to 100 mol% of the alcohol component. The main chain of the crystalline polyester resin is a condensation polymer of an alcohol component and a carboxylic acid component,
The static according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the alcohol component includes an aliphatic diol having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, and the carboxylic acid component includes a dicarboxylic acid having 6 to 12 carbon atoms. Toner for charge image development.   An electrostatic charge image developer comprising the electrostatic charge image developing toner according to claim 1. Containing the toner for developing an electrostatic charge image according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A toner cartridge to be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. A developing means for containing the electrostatic charge image developer according to claim 7 and developing the electrostatic charge image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image by the electrostatic charge image developer,
A process cartridge attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus. An image carrier,
Charging means for charging the surface of the image carrier;
An electrostatic charge image forming means for forming an electrostatic charge image on the surface of the charged image carrier;
Development means for containing the electrostatic image developer according to claim 7 and developing the electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image by the electrostatic image developer;
Transfer means for transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium;
Fixing means for fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium;
An image forming apparatus comprising: A charging step for charging the surface of the image carrier;
An electrostatic charge image forming step of forming an electrostatic charge image on the surface of the charged image carrier;
A developing step of developing an electrostatic image formed on the surface of the image carrier as a toner image by the electrostatic image developer according to claim 7;
A transfer step of transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to the surface of a recording medium;
A fixing step of fixing the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium;
An image forming method comprising: