JP2019174564A - Conductive member, process cartridge and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a conductive member excellent in the resistance maintenance property.SOLUTION: There is provided a conductive member including: a conductive base material; and an elastic layer which is arranged on the conductive base material, and contains at least one type of conductive compounds selected from a group consisting of an ion conducive resin and an ion conductive agent, and having the oxidation reduction potential of the elastic layer lower than the oxidation reduction potential of anion of the conductive compound. There is also provided a conductive member including: a conductive base material; and an elastic layer which is arranged on the conductive base material, and contains at least one type of conductive compounds selected from a group consisting of an ion conducive resin and an ion conductive agent, and a metallic compound, having the oxidation reduction potential of the elastic layer lower than the oxidation reduction potential of anion of the conductive compound, and having the content of the metallic compound in at least a portion of the surface part of the elastic layer larger than the content of the metallic compound in a center part of the elastic layer.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

  The present invention relates to a conductive member, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus.

  In many electrophotographic image forming apparatuses (also referred to as electrophotographic apparatuses and electrophotographic image forming apparatuses) such as copying machines and printers, conductive rubber rolls such as a charging roll, a transfer roll, and a developing roll are used. These rubber rolls are required to maintain a uniform nip width by contact with the photoreceptor in order to respond to higher speed and higher image quality of the apparatus. When the rubber layer is a foam, It is desired that the foam cell is dense and uniform.

For example, Patent Document 1 uses a rubber component containing an epichlorohydrin rubber alone or a rubber mixture containing epichlorohydrin rubber and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, and 3 parts by weight of an anti-aging agent with respect to 100 parts by weight of the rubber component. The rubber composition is blended in a ratio of not less than 7 parts by weight and the hydrotalcite, which is an acid acceptor, in a ratio of 1% by weight to 5% by weight with respect to the weight of the epichlorohydrin rubber. A conductive roll characterized in that it is formed into a thin film is disclosed.

Patent Document 2 discloses a conductive support, a semiconductive elastic body layer that is disposed on the outer periphery of the conductive support, includes at least epichlorohydrin rubber and a conductive agent, and has a foam structure. And having a chlorine ion content per unit area of the semiconductive elastic layer extracted from the semiconductive elastic layer when left in water for 30 minutes is 0.06 μmol / cm ² or less Sex rolls are disclosed.

JP 2003-64224 A JP 2014-85536 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention includes an elastic layer that is disposed on a conductive substrate and includes at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of an ionic conductive resin and an ionic conductive agent, When the redox potential of the elastic layer is higher than or equal to the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound, or the group consisting of an ionic conductive resin and an ionic conductive agent disposed on the conductive substrate And an elastic layer containing a metal compound, wherein the redox potential of the elastic layer is higher than or equal to the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound. Or the content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer is less than or the same as the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer. In that compared to the case, it is to provide a conductive member having excellent resistance maintainability.

Specific means for solving the above-described problems include the following modes.
<1> An electroconductive substrate and an elastic layer that is disposed on the electroconductive substrate and includes at least one electroconductive compound selected from the group consisting of an ion conductive resin and an ion conductive agent, A conductive member in which the redox potential of the elastic layer is lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound.
<2> An elastic layer comprising a conductive substrate, at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of an ionic conductive resin and an ionic conductive agent, and a metal compound, disposed on the conductive substrate. The elastic layer has a redox potential lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound, and the content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer is A conductive member having a content greater than the content of the metal compound in the central portion.
<3> The conductive member according to <1> or <2>, in which the elastic layer includes the ion conductive resin.
<4> The conductive member according to <3>, wherein the ion conductive resin includes epichlorohydrin rubber.
<5> The conductive member according to <1> or <2>, in which the elastic layer includes urethane rubber and the ionic conductive agent.
<6> The conductive member according to <5>, wherein the anion of the ionic conductive agent is an ion having at least one structure selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, an alkoxide group, and a sulfonate group.
<7> The conductive member according to <1>, wherein the elastic layer includes the metal compound.
<8> The conductive member according to <7>, wherein a content of the metal compound in at least a part of a surface portion of the elastic layer is larger than a content of the metal compound in a central portion of the elastic layer.
<9> The conductive material according to <1>, <7>, or <8>, wherein the metal compound includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a calcium compound, a magnesium compound, a zinc compound, and a silver compound. Sexual member.
<10> The conductive member according to <9>, wherein the metal compound includes a calcium compound.
<11> The conductive member according to any one of <1> to <10>, which is a transfer roll.
<12> A process cartridge that includes the conductive member according to any one of <1> to <11> and is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus.
<13> An image forming apparatus comprising the conductive member according to any one of <1> to <11>.

According to the invention according to <1>, <2>, <3>, <6>, <7>, <8>, <9> or <11>, the ion conductive material is disposed on the conductive substrate. An elastic layer containing at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of a resin and an ionic conductive agent, and the redox potential of the elastic layer is higher than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound or Or an elastic layer containing at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of an ionic conductive resin and an ionic conductive agent, and a metal compound, disposed on the conductive substrate, The elastic layer has a redox potential higher than or equal to the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound, or the content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer Is the central portion of the elastic layer As compared with the case which is less or the same amount than the content of the metal compound definitive conductive member is provided which is excellent in resistance maintainability.
According to the invention which concerns on <4>, compared with the case where only chloroprene rubber is used as said ion conductive resin, the electroconductive member which is excellent by resistance maintenance property is provided.
According to the invention which concerns on <5>, the electroconductive member which is excellent by resistance maintenance compared with the case where the said elastic layer contains only ethylene-propylene-diene rubber and an ionic conductive agent is provided.
According to the invention which concerns on <10>, the electroconductive member which is excellent by resistance maintenance compared with the case where the said metal compound is a magnesium compound, a zinc compound, or a silver compound is provided.
According to the invention according to <12>, the elastic layer includes at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of an ionic conductive resin and an ionic conductive agent, disposed on the conductive base material, When using a conductive member in which the redox potential of the elastic layer is higher than or equal to the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound, or disposed on a conductive substrate, the ion conductive resin and ions And at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of conductive agents, and an elastic layer containing a metal compound, wherein the redox potential of the elastic layer is higher than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound. High or the same value, or the content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer is less than the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer. Or in comparison with the case of using a conductive member which is the same amount, the process cartridge including the conductive member is excellent in resistance maintainability is provided.
According to the invention according to <13>, the elastic layer includes at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of an ionic conductive resin and an ionic conductive agent, disposed on the conductive base material, When using a conductive member in which the redox potential of the elastic layer is higher than or equal to the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound, or disposed on a conductive substrate, the ion conductive resin and ions And at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of conductive agents, and an elastic layer containing a metal compound, wherein the redox potential of the elastic layer is higher than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound. High or the same value, or the content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer is less than the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer. Or in comparison with the case of using a conductive member which is the same amount, the image forming apparatus is provided with a conductive member having excellent resistance maintainability.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment which is an example of the present invention will be described in detail.
In this specification, the term “conductive” means that the volume resistivity at 20 ° C. is 1 × 10 ¹⁴ Ωcm or less, and the volume resistivity at 20 ° C. is preferably 1 × 10 ¹⁰ Ωcm or less.

<Conductive member>
The first embodiment of the conductive member according to this embodiment is at least one selected from the group consisting of a conductive base material and an ion conductive resin and an ionic conductive agent disposed on the conductive base material. And an elastic layer containing the conductive compound, and the redox potential of the elastic layer is lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound.
The second embodiment of the conductive member according to this embodiment is at least one selected from the group consisting of a conductive base material and an ion conductive resin and an ionic conductive agent disposed on the conductive base material. And an elastic layer containing a metal compound, wherein the redox potential of the elastic layer is lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound, and at least part of the surface portion of the elastic layer The content of the metal compound in is greater than the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer.
In the following description, the phrase “conductive member according to the present embodiment” includes both the first embodiment and the second embodiment.
Further, the conductive member according to the present embodiment is suitably used for a conductive roll for an electrophotographic apparatus such as a charging roll, a transfer roll, a developing roll, and a power feeding roll.
Among these, it is particularly suitably used for a transfer roll.

Conventionally, nitrile rubber (NBR) / epichlorohydrin-based materials and urethane-based foam materials have been used in conductive members, particularly conductive rolls for electrophotographic apparatuses. However, these materials may not have sufficient resistance maintenance.
On the other hand, the conductive member according to the present embodiment has low resistance and excellent resistance stability due to the above configuration. The reason is not clear, but is presumed as shown below.

In the elastic layer containing a conductive compound, when the elastic layer has a redox potential lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound, the electron transfer reaction is promoted, and there is an uneven distribution of ions that causes resistance fluctuations. It is suppressed and resistance maintenance is improved.
In the elastic layer containing the conductive compound and the metal compound, the redox potential of the elastic layer is lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound, and the elastic layer has at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer. When the content of the metal compound is larger than the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer, the metal compound promotes an electron transfer reaction at the surface portion of the elastic layer, and causes resistance fluctuation. Ion uneven distribution is suppressed, and resistance maintenance is improved.
In addition, when the conductive member according to the present embodiment is used for a transfer roll, the resistance variation is suppressed, so that the occurrence of white spots in the obtained image is suppressed.

  Hereinafter, the detail of the electroconductive member which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated.

(Elastic layer)
In the first embodiment of the conductive member according to the present embodiment, the elastic layer is disposed on the conductive base material, and at least one type of conductive material selected from the group consisting of an ion conductive resin and an ion conductive agent is used. The elastic layer has a lower redox potential than that of the anion of the conductive compound.
In the second embodiment of the conductive member according to this embodiment, the elastic layer is disposed on a conductive substrate, and at least one type of conductive material selected from the group consisting of an ion conductive resin and an ion conductive agent is used. A compound, and a metal compound, wherein the redox potential of the elastic layer is lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound, and the content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer is More than the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer.
In addition, the “surface portion of the elastic layer” in the present embodiment refers to a portion from the surface of the elastic layer or a boundary with another layer (also simply referred to as “end portion of the elastic layer”) to 1 mm.
Furthermore, the location where the content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer is larger than the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer is from the end in the thickness direction of the elastic layer. It is preferable to have a portion up to 0.5 mm.
The surface portion of the elastic layer having a large content of the metal compound is a surface portion on the side opposite to the conductive substrate side of the elastic layer, even if the surface portion of the elastic layer is on the conductive substrate side. However, from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance, the portion where the content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer is larger than the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer is the elastic layer. It is preferable that it is the surface part of the conductive base material side.

-Redox potential-
In the conductive member according to this embodiment, the redox potential of the elastic layer is lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound contained in the elastic layer.
In the conductive member according to the present embodiment, when two or more types of anions of the conductive compound contained in the elastic layer are present, the redox potential of the anion having the largest content of the conductive compound contained in the elastic layer. However, it is sufficient that the redox potential of the elastic layer is low.

In the conductive member according to this embodiment, the elastic layer preferably contains a metal compound from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance, and the metal contained in the elastic layer is higher than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound contained in the elastic layer. More preferably, the redox potential of the anion of the compound is low.
In the conductive member according to the present embodiment, when two or more types of anions of the conductive compound contained in the elastic layer are present, and when two or more types of anions of the metal compound contained in the elastic layer are present, The redox potential of the anion having the highest content of the metal compound contained in the elastic layer is preferably lower than the redox potential of the anion having the highest content of the conductive compound contained in the elastic layer.

The measurement method of the oxidation-reduction potential of the anion and the elastic layer in the present embodiment shall be measured by a cyclic voltammetry method. Cyclic voltammetry is a technique of measuring the response current by sweeping the electrode potential linearly. In the measurement in the present embodiment, platinum is used as a working electrode and a counter electrode, and a silver / silver chloride electrode (Ag / AgCl) is used as a reference electrode. Moreover, lithium perchlorate is used as a supporting electrolyte.
Moreover, you may refer literature value about the anion in which literature value exists.

In the case where the elastic layer contains an ion conductive resin, the redox potential of the elastic layer is preferably 260 kJ / mol or less, from 100 kJ / mol to 250 kJ / from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance and concentration unevenness suppression. More preferably, it is less than or equal to mol.
In the case where the elastic layer contains an ionic conductive agent, the redox potential of the elastic layer is preferably 88 kJ / mol or less, from 30 kJ / mol to 80 kJ / mol from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance and concentration unevenness suppression. The following is more preferable.

-Conductive compounds-
The conductive member according to the present embodiment has an elastic layer containing at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of an ion conductive resin and an ion conductive agent.
The elastic layer may contain either an ion conductive resin or an ion conductive agent, or may contain both.
The elastic layer may contain one kind of ion conductive resin or two kinds or more.
The elastic layer may contain one or more ionic conductive agents, or two or more kinds.
When the elastic layer includes an ion conductive resin, it is preferable that the elastic layer further includes an elastic material to be described later from the viewpoints of conductivity adjustment and durability.
Moreover, when the said elastic layer contains an ionic conductive agent, it is preferable to further contain the elastic material or ionic conductive resin mentioned later from a viewpoint of electroconductivity and durability, and it is more preferable to further contain the elastic material mentioned later.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as an ion conductive resin, Although a well-known ion conductive resin is used, it is preferable that epichlorohydrin rubber is included from a viewpoint of resistance maintenance property.
Epichlorohydrin rubber is a polymer rubber containing at least epichlorohydrin as a polymerization component. The epichlorohydrin rubber may be either an epichlorohydrin homopolymer rubber or a multi-component copolymer rubber (binary copolymer rubber, ternary copolymer rubber, etc.).
As epichlorohydrin rubber, for example, epichlorohydrin homopolymer, epichlorohydrin-allylglycidyl ether copolymer, epichlorohydrin-alkylene oxide (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, or both) copolymer , Epichlorohydrin-alkylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether copolymer, allyl glycidyl ether-modified epichlorohydrin-alkylene oxide copolymer, and the like.

  The content of the ion conductive resin is the total of the ion conductive resin contained in the elastic layer and the elastic material described later (also referred to as “resin component”) from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance, conductivity, and durability. The content is preferably 20 parts by mass or more, more preferably 50 parts by mass or more, and particularly preferably 90 parts by mass or more and 100 parts by mass or less with respect to the content of 100 parts by mass.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as an ionic conductive agent, A well-known ionic conductive agent is used.
Examples of ionic conductive agents include quaternary ammonium salts (for example, lauryltrimethylammonium, stearyltrimethylammonium, octadodecyltrimethylammonium, dodecyltrimethylammonium, hexadecyltrimethylammonium, perchlorates such as modified fatty acid and dimethylethylammonium urine) Chlorate, borofluoride, sulfate, ethosulphate salt, benzyl halide salt (eg, benzyl bromide salt, benzyl chloride salt, etc.), aliphatic sulfonate, higher alcohol sulfate ester salt, Higher alcohol ethylene oxide addition sulfate ester salt, higher alcohol phosphate ester salt, higher alcohol ethylene oxide addition phosphate ester salt, various betaines, higher alcohol ethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol Le fatty acid ester, polyhydric alcohol fatty acid esters, various ionic liquids or fluorine antistatic agents.
Among these, a quaternary ammonium salt is preferably mentioned from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance.

  Among them, the anion possessed by the ionic conductive agent is preferably an anion having at least one structure selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, an alkoxide group, and a sulfonate group from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance. An anion having at least one structure selected from the group consisting of an atom and an alkoxide group is more preferred, an anion having a chlorine atom is more preferred, and a perchlorate ion is particularly preferred. .

  The content of the ionic conductive agent is 0.01 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less with respect to the total content of the resin components contained in the elastic layer from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance, conductivity, and durability. Preferably, it is 0.1 to 3 parts by mass.

The elastic layer may include an elastic material other than the ion conductive resin. When the elastic layer includes an ion conductive agent, it is preferable that the elastic layer further includes an elastic material.
As the elastic material, a rubber material is preferably exemplified.
Specifically, for example, isoprene rubber, chloroprene rubber, epichlorohydrin rubber (ECO), butyl rubber, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, fluorine rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide copolymer rubber , Epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether copolymer rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer rubber (NBR), natural rubber and the like, and rubbers obtained by mixing these.
Among these, it is preferable that urethane rubber is included from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance.

The elastic material may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The content of the elastic material in the elastic layer is preferably 30% by mass or more and 90% by mass or less, and 40% by mass or more and 80% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the elastic layer from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance. More preferably, it is more preferably 50% by mass or more and 70% by mass or less.
The content of the resin component in the elastic layer is preferably 30% by mass or more and 100% by mass or less, and 40% by mass or more and 100% by mass with respect to the total mass of the elastic layer, from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance. The content is more preferably 50% by mass or more and 100% by mass or less.

-Metal compound-
The second embodiment of the conductive member according to this embodiment includes a metal compound in the elastic layer, and the redox potential of the elastic layer is lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound contained in the elastic layer, The content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer is larger than the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer.
In the first embodiment of the conductive member according to this embodiment, the elastic layer preferably contains a metal compound from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance and the appearance of the elastic layer. More preferably, the content of the metal compound in at least a part is larger than the content of the metal compound in the central portion of the elastic layer.

There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a metal in a metal compound, A typical metal, a transition metal, etc. are mentioned, Moreover, semimetals, such as B and Si, shall also be included.
The metal in the metal compound is preferably a metal cation from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance.
As the metal compound, from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance and suppression of density unevenness in the obtained image, an alkali metal compound, an alkaline earth metal compound, a copper compound, a silver compound, a gold compound, a zinc compound, an aluminum compound, gallium Preferably, at least one metal compound selected from the group consisting of a compound and an indium compound is included, and at least one selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal compound, a silver compound, a zinc compound, an aluminum compound, a gallium compound, and an indium compound. More preferably, it contains at least one metal compound, more preferably at least one metal compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium compounds, calcium compounds, silver compounds and zinc compounds, and contains magnesium compounds or silver compounds. Is particularly preferred, Most preferably containing compound.

The anion in the metal compound contained in the elastic layer of the second embodiment of the conductive member according to this embodiment has a redox potential lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound contained in the elastic layer.
The anion in the metal compound contained in the elastic layer of the first embodiment of the conductive member according to this embodiment is oxidized more than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound contained in the elastic layer from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance. It is preferable that the reduction potential is low.
The anion of the metal compound preferably includes at least one anion selected from the group consisting of halide ions, carbonate ions, and hydrogen carbonate ions from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance, and includes carbonate ions. Particularly preferred.

Specific examples of the metal compound include calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, zinc carbonate, magnesium oxide, silver oxide and the like.
Among these, from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, or silver oxide is preferable, calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate is more preferable, and calcium carbonate is particularly preferable.

The metal compound may be included singly or in combination of two or more.
The content of the metal compound is preferably 0.1% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less, and preferably 0.5% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the elastic layer from the viewpoint of resistance maintenance. More preferably, the content is 1% by mass or more and 10% by mass or less.
Moreover, the maximum value per 1 mm ³ of the content of the metal compound in at least a part of the surface portion of the elastic layer is 1% by mass or more and 30% by mass with respect to the total mass of the 1 mm ³ portion in the surface portion of the elastic layer. % Or less, and more preferably 5% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less.

-Carbon black-
The elastic layer may contain carbon black.
Examples of the carbon black include carbon black produced by a contact method (for example, channel black, roll black, disk black, etc.), carbon black produced by a furnace method (for example, gas furnace black, oil furnace black, etc.) And carbon black produced by a thermal method (for example, thermal black, acetylene black, etc.).
Among these, from the viewpoints of conductivity and resistance stability, at least one carbon black selected from the group consisting of ketjen black, oil furnace black, channel black, acetylene black, and thermal black is preferable, and includes acetylene black and thermal black. More preferred is at least one carbon black selected from the group.
Carbon black may be used independently and may be used in combination of 2 or more type.

As the carbon black, it is preferable to use two or more types of carbon blacks having different oil absorbability from the viewpoint of reducing variation in resistance. Specifically, it is preferable to use at least one of ketjen black and acetylene black, which have high oil absorption and excellent conductivity, and thermal black, which has low oil absorption and excellent rubber reinforcement. The combined use of these carbon blacks reduces belt resistance variations. Carbon blacks having different oil absorbency indicate carbon blacks having different DBP (dibutyl phthalate) oil absorption. The DBP oil absorption is a value defined in ASTM D2414-6TT.
Here, the use ratio of the carbon black is, for example, preferably at least one of ketjen black and acetylene black: thermal black = 1: 1 to 1: 8, and more preferably 1: 2 to 1: 5 by mass ratio. .

  Further, from the viewpoint of resistance stability, in the elastic layer, among the two or more types of carbon blacks having different oil absorbability, the content of carbon black having the lowest oil absorbency is higher than the content of other carbon blacks. A large amount is preferable.

  The content of carbon black is preferably 1% by mass to 60% by mass and preferably 5% by mass to 50% by mass with respect to the total mass of the elastic layer from the viewpoint of low resistance and resistance stability. Is more preferable, and it is still more preferable that they are 10 mass% or more and 45 mass parts or less.

-Vulcanizing agent-
The elastic layer may include rubber formed by foaming and vulcanization.
Examples of the vulcanizing agent for vulcanizing rubber include organic peroxides in addition to sulfur and organic sulfur-containing compounds. Examples of the organic sulfur-containing compound include tetramethylthiuram disulfide, N, N′-dithiobismorpholine, and the like. Examples of the organic peroxide include dicumyl peroxide and benzoyl peroxide.
A vulcanizing agent may be used individually by 1 type, or may use 2 or more types together.
The addition amount of the vulcanizing agent can be appropriately adjusted depending on the characteristics of the resin used and the use of the conductive member, but 0.3 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin component contained in the elastic layer. The amount is preferably 1 part by mass or less and more preferably 1 part by mass or more and 8 parts by mass or less.

The elastic layer may include rubber formed by foaming and peroxide vulcanization.
In the present embodiment, the crosslinking by the peroxide does not use a sulfur atom, but is also referred to as peroxide vulcanization.
The peroxide vulcanization in the production of the foamed resin is preferably performed using a peroxide.
The peroxide may be an inorganic peroxide or an organic peroxide, but an organic peroxide is preferred.
Examples of the organic peroxide include diisopropylbenzene hydroperoxide, 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, t-butyl perbenzoate, cumyl hydroperoxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, 1,1. -Di (t-butylperoxy) -3,3,5-trimethylhexane, n-butyl-4,4-di (t-butylperoxy) valerate, α, α'-bis (t-butylperoxyisopropyl) ) Benzene, 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di (t-butylperoxy) hexyne-3, t-butylperoxycumene and the like.

A peroxide may be used individually by 1 type, or may use 2 or more types together.
The amount of the peroxide used can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the characteristics of the resin used and the use of the conductive member, but it is 0.1 parts by mass or more and 20 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin component of the elastic layer. It is preferable that it is 0.5 mass part or more and 10 mass parts or less.

-Vulcanization accelerator-
A vulcanization accelerator may be used for forming the elastic layer in the conductive member according to the present embodiment.
As the vulcanization accelerator, various conventionally used ones are used, and it is particularly preferable to use a sulfenamide vulcanization accelerator. The addition amount of the vulcanization accelerator is preferably 0.3 parts by mass or more and 4 parts by mass or less, and 0.5 parts by mass or more and 3 parts by mass or less with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin component of the elastic layer. More preferred.

-Foaming agent-
The elastic layer may be formed using a foaming agent.
A known foaming agent can be used as the foaming agent, and it may be a chemical foaming agent or a physical foaming agent, but a chemical foaming agent is preferred from the viewpoint of handleability and storage stability.
The chemical foaming agent may be an inorganic compound or an organic compound, or two or more kinds may be used in combination.
Examples of organic chemical foaming agents include nitrosamine compounds such as dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine (DPT), azo compounds such as azodicarbonamide (ADCA), 4,4′-oxybisbenzenesulfonyl hydrazide (OBSH), and hydrazodicarbon. And hydrazine compounds such as amide (HDCA).
Examples of the inorganic chemical foaming agent include bicarbonates such as sodium bicarbonate, carbonates, combinations of bicarbonates and organic acid salts, and the like.
Among them, organic chemical foaming agents are preferable, nitrosamine compounds, azo compounds and hydrazine compounds are more preferable, azodicarbonamide (ADCA), 4,4′-oxybis (benzenesulfonylhydrazide) (OBSH), and dinitrosopentamethylenetetramine. Particularly preferred is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of (DTP).

  Examples of the physical foaming agent include inert gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. Among them, it is preferable to use an inert gas, and it is preferable to use supercritical carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or a mixture thereof.

When using a chemical foaming agent, it is preferable to mix with the composition containing an elastic material and to foam by heat.
When a physical foaming agent is used, it may be mixed and foamed with a composition containing an elastic material under normal pressure or under pressure, or the composition may be impregnated with a physical foaming agent and foamed. .
There are no particular restrictions on the foaming method, but specific examples include a batch foaming method, a press foaming method, an atmospheric pressure foaming method, an atmospheric pressure secondary foaming method, and steam pressure heating foaming in a vulcanizer. Can be mentioned.
As the foaming agent and foaming method, the foaming agent and foaming method described in JP-A No. 11-106543, “Basic edition of new edition rubber technology”, edited by Japan Rubber Association can be referred to.

A foaming agent may be used individually by 1 type, may use 2 or more types together, and may use a chemical foaming agent and a physical foaming agent together.
Although the usage-amount of a foaming agent can be suitably adjusted with the characteristic of the resin to be used, or the use of an electroconductive member, it is 0.1 mass part-30 mass parts with respect to 100 mass parts of resin components of an elastic layer. It is preferably 0.5 parts by mass to 20 parts by mass, more preferably 1 part by mass to 15 parts by mass, and particularly preferably 2 parts by mass to 10 parts by mass. It is excellent in resistance stability as it is the said range.

-Other additives-
The elastic layer may contain other additives.
Examples of other additives include various known rubber additives. Specifically, for example, processing aids (such as stearic acid), foaming aids, softeners, plasticizers, curing agents, antioxidants, surfactants, coupling agents, fillers (silica, calcium carbonate, etc.) Etc.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular in the thickness of the said elastic layer, What is necessary is just to select suitably according to a use. For example, when the conductive member according to this embodiment is used for the transfer roll, the thickness of the elastic layer is preferably 2 mm or more and 20 mm or less, and more preferably 2 mm or more and 15 mm or less.

The method for forming the elastic layer is not particularly limited, but a method of forming a foamed rubber layer by vulcanizing and foaming a composition containing a resin component containing a conductive compound, a vulcanizing agent, and a foaming agent is preferable. Can be mentioned.
Vulcanization and foaming in the step of obtaining the foamed resin may be performed simultaneously or sequentially. When performing sequentially, it is preferable to foam after vulcanization.
The temperature and time during vulcanization and foaming are not particularly limited, and may be set as appropriate according to the vulcanization and foaming agent used.
Vulcanization and foaming are preferably performed by heating, and the heating temperature is preferably 50 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower.
The vulcanization may be performed by microwave vulcanization.
As a method for performing microwave vulcanization, for example, a method described in JP 2008-176027 A can be mentioned.

(Conductive substrate)
The conductive member according to the present embodiment has a conductive base material.
As a conductive base material, metal members, such as iron (free-cutting steel etc.), copper, brass, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, are mentioned, for example.
Examples of the conductive substrate include a member (for example, a resin or a ceramic member) whose outer surface is plated, a member in which a conductive agent is dispersed (for example, a resin or a ceramic member), and the like.
Further, the conductive substrate may be a hollow member (cylindrical member) or a non-hollow member.
Moreover, the magnitude | size and shape of an electroconductive base material do not have a restriction | limiting in particular, What is necessary is just to set suitably according to a desired use.

The conductive member according to the present embodiment may further include other layers, for example, a surface layer, a rubber coating layer, an adhesive layer, and the like depending on the application.
There is no restriction | limiting in particular as another layer, A well-known layer is provided according to a use.

  The conductive member according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a charging roll for charging the surface on the image carrier in an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrostatic printer, and the like, and a toner image formed on the image carrier as a transfer medium. Transfer roller for transferring, toner conveying roll for conveying toner onto the image carrier, conductive roller for feeding or driving in combination with a conductive belt for electrostatically conveying paper, removing toner on the image carrier Used for cleaning rolls and the like. Further, in an ink jet image forming apparatus, the ink is used as a power supply roll for charging an intermediate transfer body before ink is ejected from an ink jet head.

<Image forming apparatus and process cartridge>
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus including the conductive member according to the present embodiment, and is preferably an image forming apparatus including the conductive member according to the present embodiment as a transfer roll. A latent image forming means for forming a latent image on the surface of the charged image carrier, and a latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier with toner. Developing means for forming a toner image, and transfer means for transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the image holding member to a recording medium having the conductive member according to the present embodiment as a transfer roll. An image forming apparatus is more preferable.

In the transfer means, for example, a structure of a direct transfer system to a recording medium provided with a transfer roll alone, or an intermediate transfer member to which a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier is transferred and the surface of the image carrier are used. The intermediate transfer system includes a primary transfer roll that transfers the formed toner image onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member and a secondary transfer roll that transfers the toner image transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium. It is done.
In the configuration of the direct transfer system, it is preferable that the transfer roll according to the present embodiment is provided as a transfer roll disposed to face the image carrier.
In the configuration of the intermediate transfer system, it is preferable that the transfer roll according to the present embodiment is provided as at least one of the primary transfer roll and the secondary transfer roll.
Furthermore, the conductive roll according to the present embodiment may be used as a power feeding or driving roll within the paper transport belt.

  As the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, for example, a normal monocolor image forming apparatus in which only a single color toner is accommodated in a developing device, a toner image held on an image holding member is directly transferred to a recording medium. An image forming apparatus, a color image forming apparatus that sequentially repeats primary transfer of a toner image held on an image holding member to an intermediate transfer member, and a plurality of image holding members each having a developing device for each color are connected in series on the intermediate transfer member. Any of the tandem type color image forming apparatuses arranged in the above may be used.

The process cartridge according to the present embodiment is a process cartridge that includes the conductive member according to the present embodiment and is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, and the process cartridge that includes the conductive member according to the present embodiment as a transfer roll. Preferably, a process cartridge that includes the conductive member according to the present embodiment as a transfer roll, includes a transfer unit that transfers a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to a recording medium, and is detachable from the image forming apparatus. It is more preferable that
Further, the process cartridge according to the present embodiment includes an image carrier, a charging unit that charges the image carrier, a latent image forming unit that forms a latent image on the surface of the charged image carrier, and an image carrier, as necessary. You may provide at least 1 type of means chosen from the image development means which develops the latent image formed on the surface of the body with toner, and forms a toner image.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus forms an image in which the conductive member according to the present embodiment is adapted to a primary transfer roll and a secondary transfer roll. Device.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a first to first electrophotographic method that outputs yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) images based on color-separated image data. Fourth image forming units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K (image forming means) are provided. These image forming units (hereinafter simply referred to as “units”) 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are juxtaposed at a specific distance in the horizontal direction. The units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K may be process cartridges that are detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

Above each of the units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K, an intermediate transfer belt 20 as an intermediate transfer member is disposed through each unit. The intermediate transfer belt 20 is wound with tension applied to a drive roll 22 and a support roll 24 that are in contact with the inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20 that are spaced apart from each other in the left to right direction in FIG. The transfer unit for the image forming apparatus is configured to run in the direction toward the fourth unit 10K.
The support roll 24 is biased in a direction away from the drive roll 22 by a spring or the like (not shown), and a specific tension is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 20 wound around the support roll 24. An intermediate transfer member cleaning device 30 is provided on the side of the image carrier of the intermediate transfer belt 20 so as to face the drive roll 22.
Further, each of the developing devices (developing means) 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K of the units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K includes yellow, magenta, cyan, and black contained in the toner cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K. The four color toners can be supplied.

  Since the first to fourth units 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K described above have the same configuration, here, the first unit 10Y that forms a yellow image disposed on the upstream side in the intermediate transfer belt traveling direction. This will be explained as a representative. It should be noted that the second to fourth units are denoted by adding reference numerals with magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) instead of yellow (Y) to the same parts as the first unit 10Y. Description of 10M, 10C, 10K is omitted.

The first unit 10Y has a photoreceptor 1Y that functions as an image holding member. Around the photoreceptor 1Y, a charging roll 2Y for charging the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y to a specific potential, and the charged surface is exposed by a laser beam 3Y based on the color-separated image signal to form an electrostatic image. An exposure device 3; a developing device (developing means) 4Y for developing the electrostatic image by supplying toner charged to the electrostatic image; a primary transfer roll 5Y (primary) for transferring the developed toner image onto the intermediate transfer belt 20; A transfer unit) and a photoconductor cleaning device (cleaning unit) 6Y for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 1Y after the primary transfer with a cleaning blade are sequentially arranged.
The primary transfer roll 5Y is disposed inside the intermediate transfer belt 20, and is provided at a position facing the photoreceptor 1Y. Further, a bias power source (not shown) for applying a primary transfer bias is connected to each of the primary transfer rolls 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K. Each bias power source varies 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 the operation, the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y is charged to a potential of about −600V to −800V by the charging roll 2Y.
The photoreceptor 1Y is formed by laminating a photosensitive layer on a conductive (volume resistivity at 20 ° C .: 1 × 10 ⁶ Ωcm or less) substrate. This photosensitive layer usually has a high resistance (a resistance equivalent to that of a general resin), but has a property that the specific resistance of the portion irradiated with the laser beam changes when irradiated with the laser beam 3Y. Therefore, a laser beam 3Y is output to the surface of the charged photoreceptor 1Y via the exposure device 3 in accordance with yellow image data sent from a control unit (not shown). The laser beam 3Y is applied to the photosensitive layer on the surface of the photoreceptor 1Y, whereby an electrostatic charge image of a yellow print 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, it 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 in this way is rotated to a specific development position as the photoreceptor 1Y travels. At this development position, the electrostatic charge image on the photoreceptor 1Y is visualized (developed image) by the developing device 4Y.

  For example, yellow toner is accommodated in the developing device 4Y. 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 charge on the photoreceptor 1Y, and a developer roll (developer holder). Is held on. 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 photoconductor 1Y on which the yellow toner image is formed continues to run at a specific speed, and the toner image developed on the photoconductor 1Y is conveyed to a specific primary transfer position.

When the yellow toner image on the photoconductor 1Y is conveyed to the primary transfer portion, a specific primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roll 5Y, and the electrostatic force from the photoconductor 1Y toward the primary transfer roll 5Y generates toner. By acting on the image, the toner image on the photoreceptor 1 </ b> Y is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 20. The transfer bias applied at this time is a (+) polarity opposite to the polarity (−) of the toner, and is controlled to about +10 μA by the control unit (not shown) in the first unit 10Y, for example.
On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photoreceptor 1Y is removed and collected by the cleaning device 6Y.

Further, 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.
Thus, 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 and transferred in a multiple manner.

  The intermediate transfer belt 20 onto which the four color toner images have been transferred through the first to fourth units is disposed on the image transfer surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 20, the support roll 24 that contacts the inner surface of the intermediate transfer belt 20. To the secondary transfer portion constituted by the secondary transfer roll (secondary transfer means) 26. Note that a cleaning blade made of an elastic material is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the secondary transfer roll 26, and does not transfer from the intermediate transfer belt 20 to the recording medium P and adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the secondary transfer roll 26. The removed toner is removed.

  On the other hand, the recording medium P is fed at a specific timing into a gap where the secondary transfer roll 26 and the intermediate transfer belt 20 are in contact via the supply mechanism, and a specific secondary transfer bias is applied 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 medium P is applied to the toner image, so The toner image is transferred onto the recording medium P. The secondary transfer bias at this time is determined in accordance with 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 medium P is sent to a fixing device (fixing means) 28, the toner image is heated, and the color-superposed toner image is melted and fixed on the recording medium P. The recording medium P on which the color image has been fixed is unloaded to the discharge unit, and a series of color image forming operations is completed.

  The image forming apparatus exemplified above is configured to transfer the toner image to the recording medium P via the intermediate transfer belt 20, but the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is limited to the above configuration. Instead, a structure in which the toner image is directly transferred from the photosensitive member to the recording medium P may be employed.

  Examples will be described below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In the following description, “part” and “%” are all based on mass unless otherwise specified.

<Example 1>
(Production of elastic roll (conductive member))
The following mixture is kneaded with an open roll to obtain a rubber kneaded material A and a rubber kneaded material B, respectively, and the rubber kneaded material B is adjusted to have a thickness ratio of 1: 3 inside the rubber kneaded material A. Inside, a shaft made of SUS having a surface roughness Rz of 0.8 μm and a diameter of 6 mm was simultaneously extruded to form a cylindrical roll. Next, the cylindrical roll was heated at 160 ° C. for 30 minutes for vulcanization and foaming.
Next, air was blown into the cylindrical roll shaft, and the rubber after vulcanization and foaming was extracted and cut into a length of 224 mm.
Next, a shaft having a surface roughness Rz of 0.4 μm made of SUS and having a diameter of 6 mm (an example of a conductive substrate) is inserted into the hole in the center of the rubber after vulcanization and foaming, and the outer peripheral surface of the roll is polished to an outer diameter of 16 mm ( An elastic roll having an elastic layer thickness of 4 mm (a roll having a conductive elastic layer formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft) was obtained.

-Rubber paste A-
Rubber material: 100 parts by mass (epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether copolymer rubber (ECO): CG102: 50% manufactured by Osaka Soda Co., Ltd., acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR): N230SV: 50%: JSR ( Made by Co., Ltd.)
Carbon black (# 55: Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd.): 15 parts by mass Vulcanizing agent (sulfur) 200 mesh: Tsurumi Chemical Co., Ltd .: 1 part by mass Vulcanization accelerator (Noxeller DM: Ouchi) Shinsei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.): 1.5 parts by mass, vulcanization accelerator (Noxeller TET: Ouchi Shinsei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.): 1.0 parts by mass, calcium carbonate (Whiteon SSB: Calcium Shiraishi ( Co., Ltd.): 20 parts by mass / stearic acid (stearic acid S: manufactured by Kao Corporation): 1 part by mass

-Rubber paste B-
Rubber material: 100 parts by mass (epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether copolymer rubber: CG102: 50% manufactured by Osaka Soda Co., Ltd., acrylonitrile butadiene rubber: N230SV: 50%: manufactured by JSR Co., Ltd.)
Carbon black (# 55: Asahi Carbon Co., Ltd.): 15 parts by mass Vulcanizing agent (sulfur) 200 mesh: Tsurumi Chemical Co., Ltd .: 1 part by mass Vulcanization accelerator (Noxeller DM: Ouchi) Shinsei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.): 1.5 parts by mass, vulcanization accelerator (Noxeller TET: Ouchi Shinsei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.): 1.0 parts by mass, calcium carbonate (Whiteon SSB: Calcium Shiraishi ( Co., Ltd.): 10 parts by mass / stearic acid (stearic acid S: manufactured by Kao Corporation): 1 part by mass

<Examples 2 and 3 and Comparative Example 1>
A conductive member was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the calcium carbonate in the rubber kneaded materials A and B was changed to the compounds shown in Table 1.

<Examples 4 to 6 and Comparative Example 2>
The ECO and NBR in the rubber kneaded materials A and B are the ionic conductive agent (C ₁₂ H ₂₅ N (CH ₃ ) ₃ ⁺ ClO ₄ ⁻ ) and elastic materials described in Table 1, and the contents thereof. A conductive member was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the above was changed.

<Evaluation>
The following evaluation was performed with respect to the obtained electroconductive member, respectively.

(Resistance change of conductive member)
The resistance value of the conductive roll was measured before (initial) and after (time) the following actual machine evaluation A1 (evaluation of density unevenness). In addition, resistance value is shown by common logarithm.
The resistance value of the conductive roll was measured as follows.
In an environment of a temperature of 22 ° C. and a humidity of 55% RH, a conductive roll is placed on a metal plate and a load of 500 g is applied to both ends of the shaft. In this state, an applied voltage of 1000 V was applied between the shaft and the metal plate, the current value I (A) after 10 seconds was read, and the resistance value (R) was calculated by the equation “R = V / I”. . This measurement and calculation were performed at four points by rotating the conductive roll 90 ° in the circumferential direction, and the average value was taken as the resistance value of the conductive roll.

(Actual machine evaluation A (Evaluation of density unevenness))
The conductive roll of each example was mounted as a charging roll on an evaluation machine “DocuPrint CP400d: manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.”.
Test to output 100,000 halftone images with 20% image density on A4 paper using an evaluator (50,000 output at 28 ° C. and 85% RH environment, then 50,000 under 10 ° C. and 15% RH environment) Test). Then, the image (initial image) output on the 1st to 10th sheets and the image (time-lapse image) output on the 100,000th sheet were observed by the presence or absence of density unevenness, and evaluated according to the following criteria.
A: No defect such as density unevenness B: Very slight density unevenness generated C: Minor density unevenness generated D: Density unevenness that cannot be actually used E: Large density unevenness that cannot be actually used

(appearance)
The surface of the elastic layer of the obtained conductive member was visually observed and evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria.
A: The elastic layer surface is uniform or almost uniform B: There is a non-uniform portion on the elastic layer surface

  Table 1 summarizes the composition of the conductive compound and metal compound in the elastic layer of each conductive member of each example, each oxidation-reduction potential, and the evaluation results.

Perchlorate ions in Table _{1, C 12 H 25 N (CH} 3) 3 + ClO 4 - represents a.
As shown in Table 1, the conductive member of the example was superior in resistance maintenance than the conductive member of the comparative example.

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 device (an example of cleaning means)
8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K Toner cartridge 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)
30 Intermediate transfer member cleaning device P Recording paper (an example of a recording medium)

Claims (13)

A conductive substrate;
An elastic layer that is disposed on the conductive substrate and includes at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of an ion conductive resin and an ion conductive agent;
The conductive member, wherein the redox potential of the elastic layer is lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound. A conductive substrate;
An elastic layer containing at least one conductive compound selected from the group consisting of an ionic conductive resin and an ionic conductive agent, and an elastic layer disposed on the conductive substrate;
The redox potential of the elastic layer is lower than the redox potential of the anion of the conductive compound,
The conductive member has a content of the metal compound in at least a part of a surface portion of the elastic layer larger than a content of the metal compound in a central portion of the elastic layer.   The conductive member according to claim 1, wherein the elastic layer includes the ion conductive resin.   The conductive member according to claim 3, wherein the ion conductive resin contains epichlorohydrin rubber.   The conductive member according to claim 1, wherein the elastic layer includes urethane rubber and the ionic conductive agent.   The conductive member according to claim 5, wherein the anion of the ionic conductive agent is an ion having at least one structure selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom, an alkoxide group, and a sulfonate group.   The conductive member according to claim 1, wherein the elastic layer contains the metal compound.   The conductive member according to claim 7, wherein a content of the metal compound in at least a part of a surface portion of the elastic layer is larger than a content of the metal compound in a central portion of the elastic layer.   The conductive member according to claim 1, 7, or 8, wherein the metal compound includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a calcium compound, a magnesium compound, a zinc compound, and a silver compound.   The conductive member according to claim 9, wherein the metal compound includes a calcium compound.   The conductive member according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which is a transfer roll.   A process cartridge comprising the conductive member according to claim 1 and attached to or detached from an image forming apparatus.   An image forming apparatus comprising the conductive member according to claim 1.