JP4611006B2 - Spherical silica fine particles, toner external additive for developing electrostatic image and toner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group. The present invention also relates to a toner external additive for developing an electrostatic charge image used for developing an electrostatic charge image in an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, etc., and a toner using the same. The present invention relates to an external additive for a small particle size toner used for colorization and a toner using the same.

  A method (sol-gel method) in which tetraalkoxysilane is hydrolyzed and condensed at room temperature in a water-alcohol mixed solvent in the presence of an acid or an alkali catalyst is well known. This method is excellent in that fine spherical particles with a monodisperse particle size can be obtained, that there are very few impurities derived from raw materials, solvents and catalysts, the operation of hydrolysis condensation, the equipment is simple and the productivity is high. ing.

  When imparting a function to such silica fine particles, a method of modifying the surface with a silane coupling agent, a titanium coupling agent, a silylating agent, a hydrophobizing agent, etc. by utilizing the reactivity with silanol groups on the surface of the fine particles, A method of physically adsorbing silicone oil, quaternary ammonium salt or the like on the surface is widely used.

  However, silica fine particles containing functional groups inside the silica fine particles are not known. Thus, it is expected that various characteristics of the whole fine particles can be changed by containing a functional group in the fine silica particles.

  Dry developers used in electrophotography and the like can be broadly classified into a one-component developer using a toner itself in which a colorant is dispersed in a binder resin, and a two-component developer in which the toner is mixed with a carrier, and When performing a copying operation using these developers, in order to have process compatibility, the developer needs to be excellent in fluidity, caking resistance, fixing properties, charging properties, cleaning properties, and the like. . In order to improve fluidity, caking resistance, fixing properties, cleaning properties, etc., inorganic fine particles are often added to the toner. However, the inorganic fine particles have a great influence on the chargeability. For example, generally used silica-based fine powder has a strong negative polarity and excessively increases the chargeability of the negatively chargeable toner, particularly under low temperature and low humidity, while taking up moisture under high temperature and high humidity. Therefore, there is a problem that a large difference is caused in the chargeability between the two. As a result, density reproduction failure and background fogging may occur. In addition, the dispersibility of the inorganic fine particles has a great influence on the toner characteristics. If the dispersibility is not uniform, desired characteristics cannot be obtained in the fluidity, caking resistance, and fixability, or the cleaning performance becomes insufficient. As a result, toner sticking or the like may occur on the photoreceptor, which may cause black spot image defects. In order to improve these points, various types in which the surface of inorganic fine particles has been subjected to a hydrophobic treatment have been proposed (Patent Documents 1 to 4).

  However, when using an organophotoreceptor for higher image quality or using a toner having a smaller particle diameter, sufficient performance cannot be obtained by using the above-mentioned inorganic fine particles. Yes. Organic photoreceptors have a softer surface and higher reactivity than inorganic photoreceptors, so their life is likely to be shortened. Therefore, when an organic photoreceptor is used, the photoreceptor is likely to be altered or scraped by the inorganic fine particles added to the toner. In addition, when the toner has a small particle size, the powder fluidity is poor as compared with a toner having a particle size that is usually used, and thus a larger amount of inorganic fine particles must be added. May cause toner adhesion to the photoreceptor.

JP-A-46-5782 JP-A-48-47345 JP-A-48-47346 JP 2000-330328 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide silica fine particles containing a functional group inside the silica fine particles, and there is no reaction or interaction with the organic photoconductor, which is softer than conventional inorganic fine particles, An external additive for toner that does not cause cracking and has good fluidity so that toner adhesion to the photoreceptor does not occur, and has a charging property that does not depend on environmental conditions, and the external additive is added. To provide a toner.

As a result of intensive studies in order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have made the present invention.
That is, the present invention firstly
(1) (A) General formula (I):
Si (OR ¹ ) ₄
(Wherein R ¹ is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms)
A tetraalkoxysilane or a partially hydrolyzed condensate thereof, or a combination thereof, and
(B) hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles obtained by cohydrolysis and condensation reaction of a compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group;
(2) General formula (II):
R ² ₃ SiNHSiR ² ₃
(Wherein R ² is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms)
Or a general formula (III):
R ² ₃ SiX
(Wherein R ² is as described above, and X is an OH group or a hydrolyzable group)
Spherical silica fine particles having an average primary particle diameter of 0.01 to 5 μm, a hydrophobic surface, and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group, obtained by reacting with the silane compound represented by formula (1) or a combination thereof. ,
I will provide a.

  The present invention secondly provides a toner external additive for developing an electrostatic image comprising spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and nuclei containing a hydrophilic group.

  Thirdly, the present invention provides a toner obtained by externally adding the toner external additive for developing an electrostatic charge image.

  The silica fine particles of the present invention contain a functional group inside the fine particles. Accordingly, by applying the toner external additive for developing electrostatic images comprising the silica fine particles of the present invention, not only the fluidity, the caking resistance, the fixing property, and the cleaning property of the toner or developer are excellent, but also the photoreceptor. There are obtained effects such as no deterioration or shaving of the toner, no toner adhesion to the photosensitive member, and imparting charging property independent of environmental conditions.

  The spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group according to the present invention are produced as described above. Details will be described below.

<(1) Spherical silica fine particles containing hydrophilic groups>
(1) As described above, the hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles include (A) a tetraalkoxysilane represented by the general formula (I) or a partial hydrolysis condensate thereof, or a combination thereof (hereinafter referred to as “tetraalkoxysilane”). Etc.), and
(B) It is obtained by cohydrolysis and condensation reaction of a compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group.

-(A) tetraalkoxysilane, etc.-
The (A) component tetraalkoxysilane and the like are those represented by the above general formula (I) or a partially hydrolyzed condensate thereof. In the molecule of the partially hydrolyzed condensate, hydrolyzable groups such as alkoxy groups that can participate in the hydrolysis / condensation reaction described below remain.

In the general formula (I), examples of the monovalent hydrocarbon group represented by R ¹ include alkyl groups such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, and a butyl group.

  Examples of the (A) component tetraalkoxysilane include tetramethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane, tetraisopropoxysilane, and tetrabutoxysilane. Examples of the partially hydrolyzed condensate of tetraalkoxysilane include alkyl silicates such as methyl silicate and ethyl silicate. These tetraalkoxysilanes may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

-(B) Compound having hydrolyzable silyl group and hydrophilic group-
The compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group as the component (B) is not particularly limited as long as it has these functional groups. In addition, the compound which has a hydrolyzable silyl group and hydrophilic group of (B) component may be used individually by 1 type, or may use 2 or more types together.

The hydrolyzable silyl group is a silyl group to which a hydrolyzable group is bonded. For example, the formula: (R ^a ) _x (R ^b ) _3−x Si— (wherein R ^a is a hydrolyzable group. ^Rb is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, for example, an alkyl group and a phenyl group, and x is an integer of 1 to 3. Examples of the hydrolyzable group include an alkoxy group, an amino group, an acyloxy group, an alkenooxy group, a ketoximo group, and an N-methylbenzamide group. Examples of the alkoxy group include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, a butoxy group, and a hexyloxy group.

  A hydrophilic group is a polar group that can interact strongly with water. Examples of the hydrophilic group include a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a sulfonic acid group, and a group having a polyoxyalkylene chain (for example, a polyoxyalkylene chain such as a polyoxyethylene group or a polyoxypropylene group). Preferably, it is a group having a polyoxyethylene chain.

Examples of the compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group as the component (B) include, for example, the general formula (IV):
(R ³ O) _a R ⁴ _3-a SiR ⁵ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) _p (C ₃ H ₆ O) _q R ⁶
(Wherein, a is an integer of 1 to ³ , R ³ is independently an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R ⁴ is independently an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or a phenyl group. , R ⁵ is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 2 to ⁵ carbon atoms, R ⁶ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or —R ⁵ SiR ⁴ _3-a (OR ³ ) _a ( Wherein R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ and a are as described above), p is an integer of 2 to 200, and q is an integer of 0 to 198, provided that p + q is an integer of 3 to 200, and p / q is 1 or more.)
The compound shown by these is preferable.

In general formula (IV), examples of the alkyl group represented by R ³ include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-propyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group, and a nonyl group. Group, decyl group and the like.

Examples of the alkyl group represented by R ⁴ include those exemplified as the alkyl group represented by R ³ .

Examples of the divalent hydrocarbon group represented by R ⁵ include alkylene groups such as an ethylene group, a trimethylene group, and a propylene group.

Examples of the alkyl group represented by R ⁶ include those exemplified as the alkyl group represented by R ³ .

Specific examples of the compound represented by the general formula (IV) include
(CH ₃ O) ₃ SiC ₃ H ₆ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₁₀ H,
(CH ₃ O) ₃ SiC ₃ H ₆ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₁₀ CH ₃ ,
(CH ₃ O) ₃ SiC ₃ H ₆ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₁₀ C ₃ H ₆ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃ ,
(CH ₃ CH ₂ O) ₃ SiC ₃ H ₆ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₂₀ (C ₃ H ₆ O) ₁₀ CH ₃ ,
(CH ₃ O) ₃ SiC ₃ H ₆ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₃₀ C ₂ H ₅ ,
(CH ₃ ) (CH ₃ O) ₂ SiC ₃ H ₆ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₅ C ₃ H ₇ ,
(CH ₃ O) ₃ SiC ₄ H ₈ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₁₀ C ₄ H ₉ ,
(C ₄ H ₉ O) (CH ₃ ) ₂ SiC ₅ H ₁₀ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₂₀ CH ₃
Etc.

(B) The amount of a compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group is not particularly limited, (A) relative to the weight of SiO ₂ units in tetraalkoxy silane, typically, 0.1 to 20 It is mass%, Preferably it is 1-10 mass%. When this blending amount satisfies such a range, the obtained toner or developer is excellent in various properties such as fluidity, caking resistance, fixing property, cleaning property, and charging property independent of environmental conditions.

-Co-hydrolysis / condensation reaction-
The co-hydrolysis and condensation reaction of the aforementioned (A) tetraalkoxysilane and the like and (B) a compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group are usually carried out in the presence of water, a hydrophilic organic solvent, a basic compound, etc. Done in By this reaction, hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles are obtained. It should be noted that substantially no hydrolyzable groups such as alkoxy groups remain in the molecules of the hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles. Here, “substantially does not remain” means that the abundance is 0 or 1% by mass or less.

  The hydrophilic organic solvent is not particularly limited as long as it dissolves (A) tetraalkoxysilane, (B) a compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group, and water. Specific examples thereof include alcohols; cellosolves such as methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, butyl cellosolve, and cellosolve acetate; ketones such as acetone and methylethylketone; ethers such as dioxane and tetrahydrofuran; and preferably alcohols .

Examples of alcohols include, for example, general formula (V):
R ⁷ OH
(Wherein R ⁷ is a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms)
The alcohol shown by is mentioned.

In the general formula (V), examples of the monovalent hydrocarbon group represented by R ⁷ include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, and a butyl group. Examples of the alcohol represented by the general formula (V) include methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol and the like. As the number of carbon atoms of the alcohol increases, the particle size of the silica fine particles to be generated increases. Therefore, it is desirable to select the type of alcohol depending on the particle size of the target silica fine particles.

  Examples of the basic compound include ammonia, dimethylamine, diethylamine and the like, preferably ammonia. The basic compound is usually prepared by dissolving a required amount in water and then mixing the obtained aqueous solution (basic aqueous solution) with the hydrophilic organic solvent.

  The amount of water used at this time is 0.5 to 5 mol with respect to 1 mol of alkoxy group in the compound having (A) tetraalkoxysilane and the like and (B) hydrolyzable silyl group and hydrophilic group. preferable. Moreover, it is preferable that the ratio of water and a hydrophilic organic solvent is 0.5-10 by mass ratio. Furthermore, the amount of the basic compound is preferably 0.01 to 1 mol with respect to 1 mol of the alkoxy group in the compound having (A) tetraalkoxysilane and the like and (B) a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group. .

  The cohydrolysis / condensation reaction of (A) tetraalkoxysilane and the like and (B) a compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group can be performed, for example, in a mixture of a basic compound, a hydrophilic organic solvent, and water. (A) Tetraalkoxysilane and the like and (B) a compound having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a hydrophilic group may be added dropwise.

(2) Silazane compound / silane compound (2) The silazane compound and the silane compound are represented by the general formula (II) and the general formula (III), respectively.

In the general formula (II) and general formula (III), examples of the monovalent hydrocarbon group represented by R ² include alkyl such as methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, butyl, pentyl, and hexyl groups. Groups and the like.

  In the general formula (III), examples of the hydrolyzable group represented by X include those exemplified above and halogen atoms such as chlorine atom.

  Examples of the silazane compound represented by the general formula (II) include hexamethyldisilazane. Examples of the silane compound represented by the general formula (III) include monosilanol compounds such as trimethylsilanol and triethylsilanol; monochlorosilanes such as trimethylchlorosilane and triethylchlorosilane; monoalkoxysilanes such as trimethylmethoxysilane and trimethylethoxysilane; Examples thereof include monoaminosilanes such as trimethylsilyldimethylamine and trimethylsilyldiethylamine; monoacyloxysilanes such as trimethylacetoxysilane. These silazane compounds and silane compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The amount of these silazane compounds and / or silane compounds used is usually 0.1 to 0.5 moles, preferably 0.2 moles per mole of SiO ₂ units in (A) tetraalkoxysilane and the like. ~ 0.3 mol.

-Reaction of component (1) and component (2)-
The (1) hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles are usually obtained in the form of a dispersion using the hydrophilic organic solvent and water as a dispersion medium. The hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles may be reacted with the (2) silazane compound / silane compound as they are, or may be reacted after converting the dispersion medium to an organic solvent having no active hydrogen. Good. By the reaction with (2) silazane compound / silane compound, (1) silanol groups remaining on the surface of the hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles are trialkylsilylated to prevent aggregation.

  Examples of the organic solvent having no active hydrogen include toluene, xylene, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, acetylacetone, and the like. When converting the dispersion medium into an organic solvent having no active hydrogen, an operation of adding an organic solvent having no active hydrogen to the dispersion and distilling off the hydrophilic solvent and water is performed (if necessary). Repeat this operation). The amount of the organic solvent having no active hydrogen added is usually 0.5 to 5 times, preferably 1 to 2 times the mass ratio of the hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particle dispersion. Amount.

By the reaction, spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group are obtained. Further, the spherical silica fine particles can be obtained from the above dispersion as a powder dried by a conventional method. In the spherical silica fine particles, a hydrophilic group is incorporated by a covalent bond in a silica structure in which a nucleus (a main body part excluding a surface part affected by a reaction with a silazane compound and / or a silane compound) is made of SiO _2. The surface has a structure in which R ² ₃ SiO _1/2 units (R ² is as described above) are introduced on the surface.

  In addition, spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group are further treated with various silane coupling agents, silanes such as dimethyldimethoxysilane, and silicones such as dimethylsilicone as necessary. Surface hydrophobing treatment may be performed.

-Spherical silica fine particles with hydrophobic surface and nuclei containing hydrophilic groups-
The spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group express a function as an external additive in the form of primary particles, so that secondary particles are not formed by coalescence or aggregation. Is preferred.

  The average particle diameter of the primary particles of spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and nuclei containing hydrophilic groups improves the flowability, caking resistance and fixability of the developer, and reduces adverse effects on the photoreceptor. From the viewpoint, it is necessary to be 0.01 to 5 μm, and preferably 0.05 to 0.5 μm. When the primary particle size is smaller than 0.01 μm, the developer fluidity, caking resistance, and fixing property may not be obtained due to aggregation. When the primary particle size exceeds 5 μm, the photoreceptor may be modified or scraped. In some cases, adhesion to the toner may be reduced.

In the present specification, the “average particle diameter” means the volume average particle diameter of primary particles of spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group. In addition, “spherical” means the following formula:
(Spherical coefficient) = (Surface area of sphere having the same volume as actual particle) / (Surface area of actual particle)
It means that the spherical coefficient of the particle defined by is usually 0.6 to 1, preferably 0.8 to 1.

  The spherical silica particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group according to the present invention have (i) a hydrophilic group in the nucleus (particle nucleus) and can retain a certain amount of water and the surface is hydrophobized. (Ii) Highly dispersible. (Iv) Highly dispersible. (Iv) Highly dispersible For example, when used as a toner external additive as will be described later, the toner or developer has excellent fluidity and resistance. It has various characteristics such as caking property, fixing property, cleaning property, and charging property independent of environmental conditions.

  The spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group according to the present invention can be used as an external toner additive. The blending amount of the toner external additive composed of the fine particles (hereinafter also simply referred to as “spherical silica fine particles”) with respect to the toner is usually 0.01 to 20 parts by mass, preferably 0 with respect to 100 parts by mass of the toner. .1 to 5 parts by mass. When the blending amount satisfies such a range, the amount of adhesion to the toner becomes appropriate, and more excellent fluidity can be obtained, and further, the toner charging property and economical efficiency are also excellent.

  As the toner particles to which the toner external additive is added, known particles produced by a pulverization method or a polymerization method, which contain a binder resin and a colorant, can be used. Moreover, the charge control agent may be added as needed.

  The positive charge image developing toner to which the toner external additive of the present invention is added can be used as a one-component developer, but it can also be used as a two-component developer by mixing it with a carrier. When used as a two-component developer, the toner external additive may not be added to the toner particles in advance, but may be added when the toner and the carrier are mixed to coat the surface of the toner. As the carrier, iron powder or the like, or a known one whose surface is resin-coated is used.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example and a comparative example are shown and this invention is demonstrated concretely, this invention is not restrict | limited to these Examples.

Example 1
[Synthesis of spherical silica particles with hydrophobic surface and nuclei containing hydrophilic groups 1]
In a 3 liter glass reactor equipped with a stirrer, a dropping funnel and a thermometer, 623.7 g of methanol, 41.4 g of water, and 49.8 g of 28% by mass ammonia water were added and mixed. The mixed solution was adjusted to 35 ° C., and while stirring, 1143.0 g (7.52 mol) of tetramethoxysilane and the following general formula (VI):
(CH ₃ O) ₃ SiCH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₁₀ CH ₃
A mixture of 24.1 g (0.038 mol) of the compound represented by formula (41) and 418.1 g of 5.2% by mass aqueous ammonia were simultaneously started and added dropwise over 4 hours. After completion of the dropping, stirring was continued for 0.5 hour to carry out cohydrolysis and condensation reaction, thereby obtaining a dispersion of hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles. After adding 242.0 g (1.5 mol) of hexamethyldisilazane to this dispersion at room temperature, the dispersion was heated to 60 ° C. and reacted for 3 hours to trimethylsilylate the silica fine particles. Thereafter, the solvent was distilled off from the dispersion under reduced pressure to obtain 536 g of spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group. The obtained spherical silica fine particles were tested according to the following criteria. The results obtained are shown in Table 1.

[Measurement of average particle size]
After adding spherical silica fine particles to methanol so as to have a mass ratio of 1: 0.005, the spherical silica fine particles were dispersed in methanol with an ultrasonic irradiator. The particle size distribution of the spherical silica fine particles treated in this way was measured with a laser diffraction / scattering particle size distribution analyzer (trade name: LA910, manufactured by Horiba Seisakusho), and the average particle size was determined (the average particle size thus determined is The so-called volume average particle diameter). In addition, the average particle diameter of the spherical silica fine particles was measured using an electron microscope, and compared with the average particle diameter obtained from the measurement result by the apparatus, it was confirmed that those values coincided, and the By confirming that the spherical silica fine particles were not aggregated, it was determined that the average particle size was that of primary particles.

[Hydrophobicity]
The degree of hydrophobicity was measured by a methanol titration test. Specifically, methanol was dropped from a burette while stirring the spherical silica fine particle mixture until the total amount of 0.2 g of spherical silica fine particles added in 50 ml of water was wetted, and methanol at the end point The value represented by the percentage of methanol in the mixture of water and water was taken as the degree of hydrophobicity. The larger the value of the degree of hydrophobicity, the higher the hydrophobicity, and the smaller the value, the higher the hydrophilicity.

[Production of external additive mixed toner]
96 parts by mass of a polyester resin having a glass transition point (Tg) of 60 ° C. and a softening point of 110 ° C. and 4 parts by mass of a colorant (trade name: Carmine 6BC, manufactured by Sumika Color Co., Ltd.) are melted and kneaded and pulverized. After classification, a toner having an average particle diameter of 7 μm was obtained. 10 g of this toner was mixed with 0.3 g of spherical silica fine particles by a sample mill to obtain an external additive mixed toner. Using this, the degree of aggregation was evaluated by the following method.

[Cohesion]
The degree of aggregation is a value representing the fluidity of the powder. This degree of aggregation was measured using a powder tester (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation) and a three-stage sieve in which 200, 100 and 60 mesh sieves were stacked in this order from the bottom. As a measuring means, a powder consisting of 5 g of toner is placed on the upper 60 mesh screen of the three-stage sieve, a voltage of 2.5 V is applied to the powder tester, and the three-stage sieve is vibrated for 15 seconds. From the powder mass a (g) remaining on the mesh screen, the powder mass b (g) remaining on the 100 mesh screen, and the powder mass c (g) remaining on the 200 mesh screen, Calculate the degree of aggregation (%).
Aggregation degree (%) = (a + b × 0.6 + c × 0.2) × 100/5
It can be evaluated that the smaller the degree of aggregation, the better the fluidity, and the higher the degree of aggregation, the poorer the fluidity.

[Preparation of developer]
A developer was prepared by mixing 3 parts of the external additive mixed toner and 97 parts of ferrite (trade name: FL100, manufactured by Powdertech) as a carrier. Using this, the toner charge amount and toner adhesion to the photoreceptor were evaluated by the following methods.

[Toner charge amount]
The developer was allowed to stand for 1 day under conditions of high temperature and high humidity (30 ° C., 90% RH) and low temperature and low humidity (10 ° C., 15% RH), and then sufficiently mixed under the same conditions for triboelectric charging. The charge amount of each sample was measured using a blow-off powder charge amount measuring device (Toshiba Chemical Co., Ltd., TB-200 type) under the same conditions.

[Toner adherence to photoconductor and photoconductor wear]
The developer was put into a two-component modified developing machine equipped with an organic photoreceptor, and a print test of 30000 sheets was performed. At this time, the adhesion of the toner to the photoconductor can be detected as white spots in all solid images. Here, the degree of white spots, the white number of missing points are "many" more than 10 / cm ^2, 1-9 / cm ² or "small", and the 0 / cm ² was evaluated as "none" .

  Further, the photoconductor wear is detected as image disturbance in the print test. Here, an image having no image disturbance is evaluated as good and indicated as A, and an image having no large image disturbance (no problem in practical use) is evaluated as slightly good and indicated as B. If there is any, it is evaluated as defective and indicated as C.

-Example 2-
[Synthesis of spherical silica particles with hydrophobic surface and nuclei containing hydrophilic groups 2]
In Example 1, instead of the compound represented by the general formula (VI), the following general formula (VII):
(CH ₃ O) ₃ SiC ₃ H ₆ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₁₀ C ₃ H ₆ Si (OCH ₃ ) ₃
In the same manner as in Example 1 except that 29.7 g (0.038 mol) of the compound represented by formula (1) was used, 531 g of spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group were obtained. The obtained spherical silica fine particles were tested according to the above criteria. The external additive mixed toner was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. The results obtained are shown in Table 1.

-Comparative Example 1-
[Synthesis of spherical hydrophobic silica fine particles 1]
In a 3 liter glass reactor equipped with a stirrer, a dropping funnel and a thermometer, 623.7 g of methanol, 41.4 g of water, and 49.8 g of 28% by mass ammonia water were added and mixed. The mixed solution was adjusted to 35 ° C., and 1163.7 g of tetramethoxysilane and 418.1 g of 5.4 mass% aqueous ammonia were simultaneously added while stirring. The former was added dropwise over 6 hours and the latter over 4 hours. Stirring was continued for 0.5 hour after completion of the dropwise addition of tetramethoxysilane to carry out hydrolysis and condensation reaction to obtain a dispersion of silica fine particles. An ester adapter and a condenser tube were attached to a glass reactor, and the dispersion was heated to 60 to 70 ° C. to distill off 1132 g of methanol, and then 1200 g of water was added, and then the dispersion was further added to 70 to 90 ° C. And 273 g of methanol was distilled off to obtain an aqueous dispersion of silica fine particles. To this aqueous dispersion, 11.6 g of methyltrimethoxysilane (a molar ratio of 0.1 with respect to tetramethoxysilane) was added dropwise at room temperature over 0.5 hours, and after the addition, the mixture was stirred for 12 hours and the surface of silica fine particles Hydrophobic treatment was performed.

After 1440 g of methyl isobutyl ketone was added to the dispersion thus obtained, the dispersion was heated to 80 to 110 ° C. and methanol water was distilled off over 7 hours. To the obtained dispersion, 357.6 g of hexamethyldisilazane was added at room temperature, heated to 120 ° C. and reacted for 3 hours, and the silica fine particles were trimethylsilylated. Thereafter, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure to obtain 477 g of spherical hydrophobic silica fine particles.
The obtained spherical silica fine particles were tested according to the above criteria. The external additive mixed toner was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. The results obtained are shown in Table 2.

-Comparative Example 2-
[Synthesis of spherical hydrophobic silica fine particles 2]
In a 3 liter glass reactor equipped with a stirrer, a dropping funnel and a thermometer, 623.7 g of methanol, 38.9 g of water, and 52.3 g of 28% by mass ammonia water were added and mixed. The mixed solution was adjusted to 35 ° C., and 1163.7 g (7.65 mol) of tetramethoxysilane and 418.1 g of 5.48% by mass ammonia water were simultaneously added while stirring. The former was added dropwise over 6 hours and the latter over 5 hours. After completion of the dropwise addition of tetramethoxysilane, the mixture was stirred for 0.5 hours for hydrolysis to obtain a dispersion of silica fine particles. To the obtained dispersion, 184.7 g (1.14 mol) of hexamethyldisilazane was added at room temperature and heated to 120 ° C. for reaction for 3 hours to trimethylsilylate the silica fine particles. Thereafter, the solvent was distilled off from the dispersion under reduced pressure to obtain 540 g of spherical hydrophobic silica fine particles.
The obtained spherical silica fine particles were tested according to the above criteria. The external additive mixed toner was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. The results obtained are shown in Table 2.

-Comparative Example 3-
[Synthesis of hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles]
In a 3 liter glass reactor equipped with a stirrer, a dropping funnel and a thermometer, 623.7 g of methanol, 41.4 g of water, and 49.8 g of 28% by mass ammonia water were added and mixed. The mixed solution was adjusted to 35 ° C., and stirred with stirring, 1143.0 g (7.52 mol) of tetramethoxysilane and the following general formula (VI):
(CH ₃ O) ₃ SiCH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) ₁₀ CH ₃
A mixture of 24.1 g (0.038 mol) of the compound represented by formula (41) and 418.1 g of 5.2% by mass aqueous ammonia were simultaneously started and added dropwise over 4 hours. After completion of the dropping, stirring was continued for 0.5 hours to carry out cohydrolysis and condensation reaction, thereby obtaining a dispersion of hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles. Thereafter, the solvent was distilled off from the dispersion under reduced pressure to obtain 527 g of hydrophilic group-containing spherical silica fine particles.
The obtained spherical silica fine particles were tested according to the above criteria. The external additive mixed toner was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. The results obtained are shown in Table 2.

-Comparative Example 4-
Hydrophobic silica obtained by hydrophobizing fumed silica instead of spherical silica particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group obtained in Example 1 (trade name: Aerosil R972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) An external additive mixed toner was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that was used. The obtained external additive mixed toner was tested in the same manner as in Example 1. The results obtained are shown in Table 2.

-Comparative Example 5-
Instead of spherical silica fine particles having a hydrophobic surface and a nucleus containing a hydrophilic group obtained in Example 1, high-purity spherical amorphous silica having an average particle diameter of 0.3 μm (trade name: Admafine SO-22R, manufactured by Admatech) ) Was used in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain an external additive mixed toner. The obtained external additive mixed toner was tested in the same manner as in Example 1. The results obtained are shown in Table 2.

Claims (4)

(1) (A) General formula (I):
Si (OR ¹ ) ₄
(Wherein R ¹ is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms)
A tetraalkoxysilane or a partially hydrolyzed condensate thereof, or a combination thereof, and
(B) obtained by cohydrolysis and condensation reaction of a compound having a group having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a polyoxyethylene chain, and spherical silica particles containing a group having a polyoxyethylene chain,
(2) General formula (II):
R ² ₃ SiNHSiR ² ₃
(Wherein R ² is independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms)
Or a general formula (III):
R ² ₃ SiX
(Wherein R ² is as described above, and X is an OH group or a hydrolyzable group)
A group having a primary particle average particle diameter of 0.01 to 5 μm, a hydrophobic surface, and a nucleus having a polyoxyethylene chain. spherical silica particles containing. The compound (B) having a hydrolyzable silyl group and a group having a polyoxyethylene chain is represented by the general formula (IV):
(R ³ O) _a R ⁴ _3-a SiR ⁵ O (C ₂ H ₄ O) _p (C ₃ H ₆ O) _q R ⁶
(Wherein, a is an integer of 1 to ³ , R ³ is independently an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R ⁴ is independently an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or a phenyl group. , R ⁵ is a divalent hydrocarbon group having 2 to ⁵ carbon atoms, R ⁶ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or —R ⁵ SiR ⁴ _3-a (OR ³ ) _a ( Wherein R ³ , R ⁴ , R ⁵ and a are as described above), p is an integer of 2 to 200, and q is an integer of 0 to 198, provided that p + q is an integer of 3 to 200, and p / q is 1 or more.)
The spherical silica fine particle according to claim 1, which is a compound represented by the formula: Claim 1 or 2 surface nuclei polyoxyethylene chain based on the electrostatic image developing toner external additive consisting of spherical silica fine particles containing having a hydrophobic described. A toner obtained by externally adding the toner external additive for developing an electrostatic charge image according to claim 3 .