JP5307523B2 - Seamless belt - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a semiconductive seamless belt which has no variation in surface resistivity, has excellent durability, and, particularly when being used for an intermediate transfer belt or the like in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, has no occurrence of transfer unevenness and transfer defects, and in which toner scattering caused by separating discharge can be sufficiently suppressed. <P>SOLUTION: In the semiconductive seamless belt, the internal layer and the external layer are composed of a polyimide base resin layer comprising carbon black, respectively, and in which the common logarithm value of surface resistivity under the applied voltage of 500 V in the external layer lies in the range of 9 to 13 log&Omega;/sq., and also, a difference in the common logarithm value of the surface resistivity under the applied voltage of 250 V in between the internal layer and the external layer lies in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 log&Omega;/sq. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a seamless belt, and more particularly to an intermediate transfer belt in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a transfer fixing belt that performs fixing at the same time during intermediate transfer, and a transfer conveyance belt for conveying a recording material that also serves as an intermediate transfer. It relates to a suitable semiconductive seamless belt.

  As an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image by an electrophotographic system, a copying machine, a laser beam printer, a facsimile, and a complex machine of these are known. In this type of apparatus, a toner image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum is used as an intermediate transfer belt for the purpose of improving the life of the apparatus and diversity of recording materials. An intermediate transfer method is used in which the image is once transferred to the recording material and transferred onto a recording material in a batch. A transfer fixing method in which a fixing operation is simultaneously performed at the time of the transfer is also being studied. In addition, for the purpose of speeding up the creation of a color image document, a system is also employed in which transfer is performed while a recording material is conveyed by a transfer conveyance belt.

  As a semiconductive belt used for such intermediate transfer belts, transfer fixing belts and transfer conveying belts, a semiconductive material in which a conductive filler such as carbon black is dispersed in a polyimide resin having excellent mechanical properties and heat resistance. A sex belt has been proposed (Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, these semiconductive belts are composed of a single layer, and it is difficult to control both the surface resistance value and the volume resistance value of the belt within an appropriate range. For example, when the surface resistance value is fixed in an appropriate range, it is difficult to control the volume resistance value, and further improvement cannot be achieved with respect to prevention of transfer unevenness, separation failure, image disturbance, and the like.

  In addition, a laminated seamless belt made of a polyimide resin and another material such as a silicone-based or fluorine-based rubber is also known (Patent Document 3, etc.). However, such a laminated (multi-layer) belt has insufficient adhesion between layers, thus causing delamination and lacking durability. Further, the uniform dispersion of the conductive substance in the silicone rubber or fluororubber is not sufficient, and the electric resistance value varies widely, which is not satisfactory in practical use.

On the other hand, there has been proposed a semiconductive belt in which layers composed mainly of a plurality of polyimide resins having different surface resistivity are proposed (Patent Documents 4 and 5). It has been reported that it has an advantageous effect on improving the variation of the electrical resistance value and suppressing the temporal change of the electrical resistance value. However, in these methods, the resin solution must be applied and dried to form one layer, and then the resin solution must be applied and dried again to form another layer, resulting in longer manufacturing time and poor productivity. There's a problem. In addition, in the research by the present inventors, in the case of the semiconductive seamless belt proposed in Patent Documents 4 and 5, peeling discharge when the charged belt is separated from the image carrier in the transfer process is sufficiently improved. However, it has been found that further improvement is necessary to form a high-quality image.
JP-A-63-311263 JP-A-5-77252 JP 59-77467 A JP 7-156287 A JP 2004-287383 A

  In view of the above circumstances, the problem to be solved by the present invention is that there is no variation in surface resistivity and excellent durability, and particularly when used for an intermediate transfer belt or the like of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductive seamless belt in which no transfer failure occurs and toner scattering due to peeling discharge is sufficiently suppressed.

  As a result of diligent research to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor has regularly used the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer in a belt formed by laminating an inner layer and an outer layer of a polyimide resin layer containing carbon black. The logarithmic value is in the range of 9 to 13 log Ω / □, and the difference between the common logarithmic values of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V between the inner layer and the outer layer is adjusted to be within a specific range, so that electrophotography By exhibiting excellent performance in the transfer process of an image forming apparatus, in particular, it has been found that peeling discharge when the belt is separated from the image carrier is suppressed at a very high level, and by further research based on such knowledge The present invention has been completed.

That is, the present invention is as follows.
(1) A semiconductive seamless belt comprising a polyimide resin layer in which the inner layer and the outer layer each contain carbon black,
The common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer is in the range of 9 to 13 log Ω / □, and the difference of the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V between the inner layer and the outer layer is 0.5 to A semiconductive seamless belt characterized by being in the range of 1.5 logΩ / □.
(2) By forming the outer layer and the inner layer with a coating film of a carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution on the inner surface of the cylindrical mold, the inner layer and the outer layer are integrally dried and imidized by heating the mold. The semiconductive seamless belt according to (1), which is obtained.
(3) The semiconductive seamless belt according to (2) above, wherein the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution has a viscosity of 50 to 1000 Pa · s (25 ° C.) as measured by a B-type viscometer.

  The semiconductive seamless belt of the present invention has no variation in surface resistivity and is excellent in durability.When used in an intermediate transfer belt or the like of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, transfer unevenness or transfer failure does not occur. In addition, toner scattering due to peeling discharge can be sufficiently suppressed. Therefore, it can contribute to formation of a high quality image in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.
The semiconductive seamless belt (hereinafter also simply referred to as “belt”) of the present invention comprises a polyimide resin layer in which the inner layer and the outer layer each contain carbon black, and has a surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer. The common logarithm is in the range of 9-13 logΩ / □, and the difference between the common logarithmic values of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V between the inner layer and the outer layer is in the range of 0.5-1.5 logΩ / □. Is the main feature.

  The semiconductive seamless belt of the present invention is particularly suitably used for an intermediate transfer belt, a transfer fixing belt, a transfer conveyance belt and the like in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. In the following description, the “intermediate transfer belt”, “transfer fixing belt”, and “transfer conveyance belt” are collectively referred to as “intermediate transfer belt and the like”.

  In the belt of the present invention, the inner layer and the outer layer are both composed of a polyimide resin layer containing carbon black, and the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer is in the range of 9 to 13 logΩ / □. It is important to be. When the common logarithmic value of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer is less than 9 logΩ / □, when the belt of the present invention is used as an intermediate transfer belt for electrophotographic image formation, the intermediate transfer belt and the image carrier, Since an excessive current flows during this period, the toner image transferred to the belt is likely to return to the image carrier, and transfer defects and unclear images are likely to occur. If the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V exceeds 13 logΩ / □, the peeling discharge is not sufficiently suppressed when the intermediate transfer belt or the like is separated from the image carrier during the transfer of the toner image, and is transferred. As a result, a blurred image is generated due to scattering of the toner image. Therefore, the common logarithmic value of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V on the outer layer is preferably in the range of 10.5 to 12.5 logΩ / □.

  The belt of the present invention is characterized in that the surface resistance characteristics of the inner layer are not significantly different from those of the outer layer and are set in a relatively close specific range. That is, it is essential that the difference in the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V between the outer layer and the inner layer is in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 logΩ / □, and the surface at the applied voltage of 250 V between the outer layer and the inner layer. When the difference in resistivity is within the range of 0.5 to 1.5 logΩ / □, the peeling discharge when the belt is separated from the image carrier when the toner image is transferred can be suppressed at a higher level. it can. That is, even if the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer is within the above range (9 to 13 logΩ / □), the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V of the inner layer and the outer layer is If the difference is larger than 1.5 log Ω / □, peeling discharge when the intermediate transfer belt or the like separates from the image carrier during the transfer of the toner image cannot be sufficiently suppressed, and the transferred toner image is scattered. It becomes easy to produce a blurred image. If the difference between the common logarithm values of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V between the inner layer and the outer layer is less than 0.5 log Ω / □, reverse transfer to the photoconductor tends to occur.

  In the present invention, the difference in common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V between the outer layer and the inner layer is more preferably in the range of 0.7 to 1.5 logΩ / □. The common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V between the outer layer and the inner layer may be that of the outer layer may be larger than that of the inner layer, or that of the inner layer may be larger than that of the outer layer. Is preferably greater than that of the inner layer.

  In the present invention, the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V is defined in the inner layer and the outer layer, unlike the surface resistivity measured at an applied voltage of 500 V, and the surface resistivity measured at an applied voltage of 250 V is different between the inner layer and the outer layer. Since it is measured by forming an energized state in a region close to the surface of each layer, it is considered that the characteristics of the inner layer and the outer layer are reflected more clearly. In fact, the surface resistivity of the inner layer and the outer layer at an applied voltage of 250 V is considered. This is because by defining the difference, it has been found that a preferable lamination state of the inner layer and the outer layer can be easily and reliably discriminated.

  In the belt of the present invention, the inner layer only needs to have a difference of 0.5 to 1.5 logΩ / □ in the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V from that of the outer layer. The surface resistivity at a voltage of 500 V is not particularly limited, but the difference between the common logarithmic value and the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer is preferably in the range of 0 to 0.5 logΩ / □. . That is, the inner layer has a difference in surface resistivity of 0.5 to 1.5 logΩ / □ from that of the outer layer at an applied voltage of 250 V, and the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V is at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer. Even when the surface resistivity is equal to or different from each other, the difference between the common logarithmic values is preferably within 0.5 logΩ / □. When the two values are different, the outer layer may be larger than the inner layer or the inner layer may be larger than the outer layer. The difference in the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V between the inner layer and the outer layer is in the range of 0 to 0.5 logΩ / □, so that the difference in charge spread between the inner layer and the outer layer hardly occurs. More favorable results can be obtained in terms of improvement.

  In the belt of the present invention, the thickness of the outer layer and the inner layer is not particularly limited, but the thickness of the outer layer is preferably about 25 to 55 μm and more preferably about 35 to 50 μm from the viewpoint of stable application of varnish. On the other hand, the thickness of the inner layer is preferably about 35 to 50 μm, more preferably about 30 to 45 μm from the viewpoint of stable application of varnish. If the total thickness of the outer layer and the inner layer is too large, it becomes difficult to produce a seamless belt. If the total thickness is too small, a difference in characteristics (electrical characteristics) due to a difference in applied voltage is less likely to occur. The total thickness is preferably in the range of 75 to 85 μm. If the difference in thickness between the outer layer and the inner layer is too large, the belt performance tends not to be improved due to the difference in characteristics (electrical characteristics) due to the difference in applied voltage, so the difference in thickness between the outer layer and the inner layer is 0. Within the range of ˜20 μm, and when the thicknesses of the outer layer and the inner layer are made different, it is preferable to make the thickness of the outer layer larger than the thickness of the inner layer.

  In the belt of the present invention, in each polyimide resin layer constituting the outer layer and the inner layer, carbon black is contained in an amount of 19% by weight or more based on the solid content of the polyimide resin. That is, when the content of carbon black is less than 19% by weight based on the solid content of the polyimide resin, it is difficult to make the outer layer and the inner layer have the above-described surface resistivity. Therefore, it is important that the content of carbon black is 19% by weight or more, preferably 19.5% by weight or more, and more preferably 20% by weight or more based on the solid content of the polyimide resin. If the carbon black content is too high, the high mechanical strength derived from the polyimide resin will not be manifested, leading to a decrease in mechanical strength or problems such as deterioration of the surface properties of the belt. Is preferably 28% by weight or less, and more preferably 25% by weight or less.

  The manufacturing method of the belt of the present invention is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of the adhesion between the outer layer and the inner layer, the uniformity of the laminated structure, the ease of adjustment to the specified range of the surface resistivity of the outer layer and the inner layer, etc. A method in which the outer layer and the inner layer are integrally dried and imidized by heating the mold after forming the outer layer and the inner layer with a coating film of the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution on the inner surface of the cylindrical mold is preferable. .

  Examples of a method for forming an outer layer and an inner layer of a coating film of a carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution on the inner surface of a cylindrical mold include, for example, forming a hollow cylindrical layer of a carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution while forming a cylindrical mold A carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution laminated from an extruded cylindrical mold inscribed in the mold is extruded into the cylindrical mold, and a gas is injected into the hollow cylindrical layer, and the carbon black-containing polyamide is injected into the cylindrical mold inner surface. The method of forming the coating film of a carbon black containing polyamic acid solution by apply | coating an acid solution is mentioned. According to this method, the inner layer and the outer layer of the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution can be formed on the inner surface of the mold in a short time, and the belt of the manufactured belt, warping, coating stripes, waviness, resin solution ( The occurrence of the remaining carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution) can be suppressed. Also, using an extrusion cylinder mold that has two pipes inside the extrusion part and discharges two layers at the same time, the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution for the outer layer and the inner layer is discharged simultaneously from different pipes, and the outer layer and the inner layer are separated. A method of simultaneous formation is also suitable. With this method, an inner layer and an outer layer can be stably formed by a coating film, and a stable, semiconductive seamless belt without wavy or warped belt can be produced.

  As described above, in the present invention, as understood from the fact that the carbon black content in the polyimide resin layer (inner layer and outer layer) is set to 19% by weight or more based on the solid content of the polyimide resin, It is important that the content of carbon black in the polyamic acid solution is 19% by weight or more based on the solid content of the polyamic acid.

  Carbon black is not particularly limited, and various known carbon blacks can be used without limitation, and examples thereof include channel black, furnace black, ketjen black, and acetylene black. Carbon black may be a single type or a combination of a plurality of types of carbon black. Of these, channel black and furnace black are preferably used from the viewpoint of dispersibility. Moreover, the thing which prevented the oxidative degradation by the oxidation process, the graft process, etc., and the thing which improved the dispersibility to a solvent can also be used.

  Specific examples of furnace black include “Special Black 550”, “Special Black 350”, “Special Black 250”, “Special Black 100”, “Printex 35”, “Print Mitsubishi 35”, and “Mitsubishi Chemical” manufactured by Degussa Huls. “MA 7”, “MA 77”, “MA 8”, “MA 11”, “MA 100”, “MA 100R”, “MA 220”, “MA 230” manufactured by Cabot Corporation, “MONARCH 1300 manufactured by Cabot Corporation” ”,“ MONARCH 1100 ”,“ MONARCH 1000 ”,“ MONARCH 900 ”,“ MONARCH 880 ”,“ MONARCH 800 ”,“ MONARCH 700 ”,“ MOGUL L ”,“ REGAL 400R ”,“ VULCANXC- 2R ”and the like, and as the channel black,“ Color Black FW200 ”,“ Color Black FW2 ”,“ Color Black FW2V ”,“ Color Black FW1 ”,“ Color Black FW18 ”,“ P18e ”,“ Sp ”made by Degussa Huls, Inc. Black 6 ”,“ Color Black S170 ”,“ Color Black S160 ”,“ Special Black 5 ”,“ Special Black 4 ”,“ Special Black 4A ”,“ Printex 150T ”,“ Print V ”,“ PrintV ” Printex 140U "," Printex 140V ", etc. are mentioned. Among these, Special Black 4 is preferable from the viewpoint of good dependency of the applied voltage on the belt.

  The polyamic acid can be obtained, for example, by subjecting a tetracarboxylic dianhydride and an organic diamine organic polar solvent to a polymerization reaction.

  Examples of the tetracarboxylic dianhydride component include pyromellitic dianhydride, 3,3 ′, 4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3 ′, 4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride. Anhydride, 2,3,3 ′, 4-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,3,6,7-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 1,2,5,6-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, 2,2′-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) propane dianhydride, bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) sulfone Anhydride, perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride, bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) ether dianhydride, ethylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, and the like. It can be used in combination of two or more.

  On the other hand, the organic diamine component includes 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 3,3′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfide, 3 , 3′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, m-phenylenediamine, p-phenylenediamine, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenyldiamine, benzidine, 3,3′-dimethylbenzidine, 3,3′-dimethoxybenzidine, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfide, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylpropane, 2,4-bis (β-amino-t-butyl) ) Toluene, bis (p-β-amino-t-butylphenyl) ether, vinyl (P-β-methyl-δ-aminophenyl) benzene, bis-p- (1,1-dimethyl-5-amino-pentyl) benzene, 1-isopropyl-2,4-m-phenylenediamine, m-xylyl Rangeamine, p-xylylenediamine, di (p-aminocyclohexyl) methane, hexamethylenediamine, heptamethylenediamine, octamethylenediamine, nonamethylenediamine, decamethylenediamine, diaminopropyltetramethylene, 3-methylheptamethylenediamine 4,4-dimethylheptamethylenediamine, 2,11-diaminododecane, 1,2-bis-3-aminopropoxyethane, 2,2-dimethylpropylenediamine, 3-methoxyhexamethylenediamine, 2,5-dimethylhepta Methylenediamine, 3-methylhept Methylenediamine, 5-methylnonamethylenediamine, 2,11-diaminododecane, 2,17-diaminoeicosadecane, 1,4-diaminocyclohexane, 1,10-diamino-1,10-dimethyldecane, 1,12- Examples include diaminooctadecane and 2,2-bis [4- (4-aminophenoxy) phenyl] propane. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of the organic polar solvent include N, N-dialkyl such as N, N-dimethylformamide, N, N-dimethylacetamide, N, N-diethylformamide, N, N-diethylacetamide, N, N-dimethylmethoxyacetamide and the like. In addition to amides, dimethyl sulfoxide, hexamethylphosphortriamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP)), pyridine, dimethyl sulfoxide, tetramethylene sulfone, dimethyl tetramethylene sulfone and the like can be mentioned. Any of these may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Furthermore, phenols such as cresol, phenol and xylenol, benzonitrile, dioxane, butyrolactone, xylene, cyclohexane, hexane, benzene, toluene and the like can be mixed alone or in combination with the organic polar solvent.

  The monomer concentration (concentration of the tetracarboxylic dianhydride component and the diamine component in the solvent) during the polymerization reaction may be appropriately determined depending on the reaction conditions and the like, but generally 15 wt% to 30 wt%. Appropriate, preferably 18% to 25% by weight. The tetracarboxylic dianhydride or derivative thereof and the diamine component are usually used in equimolar amounts.

  The carbon black-dispersed polyamic acid solution can be obtained by dispersing carbon black in a polyamic acid solution obtained by polymerizing a tetracarboxylic dianhydride and an organic diamine in an organic polar solvent. A method may be used in which a dispersed carbon black dispersion is prepared, and tetracarboxylic dianhydride and a diamine component are dissolved in the carbon black dispersion and polymerized.

  The method for dispersing carbon black is not particularly limited, and for example, known methods such as nanomizer, ultrasonic wave, ball mill, sand mill, basket mill, three roll mill, planetary mixer, bead mill, and homogenizer can be used.

  In the present invention, on the inner surface of the cylindrical mold, in order to form an outer layer and an inner layer with a coating film of a carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution (that is, to form a laminate of the outer layer and the inner layer in a solution state) It is preferable to use a carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution having a viscosity adjusted to a range of 50 to 1000 Pa · s (25 ° C.) in a B-type viscometer. That is, if the viscosity of the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution is less than 50 Pa · s (25 ° C.), the independence of each of the outer layer and the inner layer may not be maintained, and there is a possibility that a non-uniform single layer is formed. On the other hand, if it exceeds 1000 Pa · s (25 ° C.), the solution viscosity is too high, so that it becomes difficult to apply and small bubbles cannot be degassed.

  The outer layer and inner layer formed by the coating of the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical mold are integrally dried and imidized by heating the mold, and the target inner layer and outer layer are each carbon black. A semiconductive seamless belt made of a polyimide-based resin layer containing bismuth is obtained.

  Generally the temperature which heats a metal mold | die is 300 degreeC or more, Preferably it is 340-380 degreeC. Usually, after raising the temperature to the above temperature at a temperature rising rate of 2 to 5 ° C./min and raising the temperature to the above temperature, it is preferable to hold at that temperature for about 10 to 30 minutes. From the viewpoint of preventing variation in the dispersion state of the carbon black and variation in the resistance value of the belt, it is necessary to perform the solvent removal and heating during the imidization reaction evenly. As a method of heating uniformly, a method of heating while rotating the mold at a low speed, a method of improving the circulation of hot air for evaporating the solvent, a method of charging at a low temperature and reducing the temperature rising rate, etc. There is. After drying and imidization in this way, the mold is cooled to room temperature and then taken out from the mold to obtain a semiconductive seamless polyimide belt.

  As described above, the belt of the present invention has a common logarithmic value of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer in the range of 9 to 13 logΩ / □, and the surface resistance characteristics of the inner layer are not significantly different from those of the outer layer. The surface resistance of the inner layer and the outer layer is adjusted by adjusting the surface resistance of the inner layer and the outer layer by (i) the carbon black content in the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution for the inner layer and the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution for the outer layer. At least one of various technical items such as (ii) carbon black dispersion state, (iii) polyamic acid composition, (iv) coating film thickness, and (v) heating conditions may be different. The simplest method is to make the carbon black content different between the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution for the inner layer and the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution for the outer layer (technical items other than the carbon black content are basically matched) ) Method. The dispersion state of the carbon black in the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution can be observed with, for example, an optical microscope, and the carbon black in the final product is obtained by performing a dispersion operation while regularly observing the dispersion. What is necessary is just to determine the dispersion state. For each item of (i) to (v), if several preliminary experiments are performed, the tendency of the relationship between each item and the surface resistivity of the polyimide resin layer can be known, and based on that trend, Surface resistance at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer is prepared by preparing carbon black-containing polyamic acid solutions for the inner layer and outer layer, forming the outer layer and inner layer with a coating film of the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution, and then drying and imidizing. The common logarithm of the rate is in the range of 9-13 logΩ / □, and the difference of the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 250 V between the inner layer and the outer layer is in the range of 0.5-1.5 logΩ / □. The semiconductive seamless belt inside can be easily manufactured.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example and a comparative example are shown and this invention is demonstrated more concretely, this invention is not limited at all by the following Examples. In addition, the evaluation in an Example and a comparative example was performed with the following method.

(Measurement of surface resistivity)
・ Measurement sample: Cylindrical belt with diameter 300mm x width 500mm ・ Measurement device: Cylindrical electrode (ring probe, URSS probe)
Made by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Hiresta MCP-HT450 type ・ Measurement conditions: 25 ° C., 60% RH
・ Measurement method: Measured by applying a voltage of 10 seconds and applying a weight of 2 kg to the probe.
After measurement by applying a voltage of 250 V, the electric charge was gradually reduced, a voltage of 500 V was applied to the same point again, and the surface resistivity at each voltage was measured. In addition, 12 points (4 points in the width direction (4 points spaced at 100 mm intervals)) × 3 points in the circumferential direction (separated at 120 degree intervals on the same circumference) for one sample (cylindrical belt) Measurement was carried out at three measurement points), and the average value thereof was determined.

Example 1
30.4 g of carbon black (Special Black 4) dried in 761 g of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (hereinafter referred to as NMP) (equivalent to 19% by weight relative to the solid content of the polyimide resin) was ball-milled at room temperature for 6 hours. Mixed. In this carbon black-dispersed NMP solution, 129 g of 3,3 ′, 4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 47.2 g of p-phenylenediamine are dissolved and stirred for 4 hours at room temperature in a nitrogen atmosphere. Reaction was performed to obtain a carbon black-dispersed polyamic acid solution (polyamic acid concentration: 16.5% by weight, solution viscosity: 400 Pa · s (25 ° C.)). Such a carbon black-dispersed polyamic acid solution is designated as a liquid.

  40.0 g of carbon black (special black 4 manufactured by Degussa Co., Ltd.) (equivalent to 25% by weight based on the solid content of the polyimide resin) was mixed in 800 g of NMP with a ball mill at room temperature for 6 hours. In this carbon black-dispersed NMP solution, 128.6 g of 3,3 ′, 4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 47.2 g of p-phenylenediamine are dissolved and stirred at room temperature for 4 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. Then, a carbon black-dispersed polyamic acid solution was obtained (concentration of polyamic acid: 15.8 wt%, solution viscosity: 350 Pa · s (25 ° C.)). Such a carbon black-dispersed polyamic acid solution is designated as solution b).

  Using an extrusion cylinder mold that has two pipes inside the extrusion part of the resin solution on the inner surface of a mold having an inner diameter of 300 mm and a length of 500 mm, the a liquid has a thickness of 150 μm and the b liquid has a thickness of 150 μm. The coating was applied to a thickness of 250 μm. The mold coated simultaneously with two layers is heated from room temperature to 350 ° C. at a rate of 2 ° C./min, and further heated at 350 ° C. for 30 minutes to remove the solvent, remove dehydrated ring-closing water, and convert the imide. A complete reaction was performed. Then, it returned to room temperature, peeled from the metal mold | die, and obtained the target semiconductive belt. The total thickness of this semiconductive belt was 83 μm, the thickness of the outer layer was 43 μm, and the thickness of the inner layer was 40 μm. When the surface resistivity of this belt was measured, the surface resistivity (common logarithmic value) of the outer layer at an applied voltage of 500 V was 11.0 logΩ / □, and the surface resistivity (common logarithmic value) of the inner layer was 11.1. log Ω / □, the difference in surface resistivity between the inner and outer layers is 0.1 log Ω / □, the surface resistivity (common logarithm) of the outer layer at an applied voltage of 250 V is 11.9 log Ω / □, and the surface resistance of the inner layer The ratio (common logarithm) was 11.4 logΩ / □, and the difference in surface resistivity (absolute value) between the inner and outer layers was 0.5 logΩ / □. When this belt was used as an intermediate transfer belt in an actual copying machine and image formation was performed, there was no transfer unevenness or transfer failure, and a good image in which toner scattering was suppressed at a high level could be obtained.

Example 2
In the same manner as above, the solution a was applied to a thickness of 250 μm and the solution b was applied to a thickness of 150 μm. After application, it was leveled by centrifugal molding. The total thickness was 82 μm, the thickness of the outer layer was 50 μm, and the inner layer was 32 μm. When the surface resistivity of this belt was measured, the surface resistivity (common logarithmic value) of the outer layer at an applied voltage of 500 V was 12.4 logΩ / □, and the surface resistivity (common logarithmic value) of the inner layer was 12.0 logΩ. / □, the difference between the inner and outer layers is 0.4 logΩ / □, the surface resistivity (common logarithm) of the outer layer at an applied voltage of 250 V is 13.3 logΩ / □, the surface resistivity of the inner layer (common logarithm) Was 12.3 logΩ / □, and the difference between the inner and outer layers was 1.0 logΩ / □. When this belt was used as an intermediate transfer belt in an actual copying machine and image formation was carried out, there was no transfer unevenness or transfer failure, and a good image in which toner scattering was suppressed at a high level could be obtained.

Comparative Example 1
Using the liquid b, the inner surface of the mold was applied to a thickness of 400 μm with a dispenser and then leveled by centrifugal molding. A semiconductive belt was obtained in the same manner as above. The total thickness was 82 μm. When the surface resistivity of this belt was measured, the surface resistivity (common logarithmic value) of the outer layer at an applied voltage of 500 V was 10.7 logΩ / □, and the surface resistivity (common logarithmic value) of the inner layer was 10.8 logΩ. / □, the difference between the inner and outer layers is 0.1 logΩ / □, the surface resistivity (common logarithmic value) of the outer layer at an applied voltage of 250 V is 10.9 logΩ / □, the surface resistivity of the inner layer (normal logarithm value) Was 11.0 logΩ / □, and the difference between the inner and outer layers was 0.1 logΩ / □. When this belt was used as an intermediate transfer belt in an actual copying machine and an image was formed, only an image with a slight image defect could be obtained from the start.

Claims (3)

A semiconductive seamless belt comprising a polyimide resin layer in which the inner layer and the outer layer each contain carbon black,
The common logarithmic value of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V of the outer layer is in the range of 9 to 13 logΩ / □,
Difference common logarithm value of the surface resistivity at the applied voltage 250V of the inner layer and the outer layer Ri is 0.5 to 1.5 log .OMEGA / □ range near the,
The difference between the common logarithm values of the surface resistivity at an applied voltage of 500 V between the inner layer and the outer layer is in the range of 0 to 0.5 logΩ / □,
A semiconductive seamless belt characterized in that the common logarithm of the surface resistivity at 250 V is that the outer layer is larger than the inner layer .   It was obtained by forming the outer layer and the inner layer with a coating film of a carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution on the inner surface of the cylindrical mold and then drying and imidizing the inner layer and the outer layer integrally by heating the mold. The semiconductive seamless belt according to claim 1, which is a belt.   The semiconductive seamless belt according to claim 2, wherein the carbon black-containing polyamic acid solution has a viscosity of 50 to 1000 Pa · s (25 ° C) measured by a B-type viscometer.