JP5541717B2 - Toner production method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing toner used in electrophotography, electrostatic recording, and toner jet recording. More specifically, the present invention is used for a copying machine, a printer, and a fax machine in which a toner image is formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier and then transferred onto a transfer material and fixed under a thermal pressure to obtain a fixed image. The present invention relates to a method for producing a toner.

  In recent years, in electrophotographic apparatuses, energy saving has been considered as a major technical problem, and a great reduction in the amount of heat applied to the fixing apparatus is desired. Therefore, there is a growing need for so-called “low-temperature fixability” that enables fixing with lower energy.

  As a general method for improving the low-temperature fixability of the toner, there is a method of lowering the glass transition temperature of the binder resin to be used. However, by simply lowering the glass transition temperature of the binder resin, the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner is impaired, and it is difficult to achieve both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability.

  As an effective method for achieving both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability of the toner, there is a method of using a sharper melt material for the binder resin, and the polyester resin may exhibit excellent characteristics in this respect. Are known. Among them, the crystalline polyester resin is a resin that has a structure in which polymer chains are regularly arranged and does not have a clear glass transition temperature. It has a property that the crystal melts and the viscosity is suddenly lowered.

  For this reason, crystalline polyester resins have attracted particular attention in recent years as materials for achieving both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability, and studies have been made on toners in which crystalline polyester resins are added to amorphous binder resins. Has been actively conducted.

However, the crystalline polyester resin has a certain molecular weight distribution like a general polymer substance, and cannot always form a structure having complete regularity. In addition, when this is used as a toner material, it is necessary to provide a heat history higher than the melting point or dissolve it in an organic solvent together with other materials in the normal toner production process. Compatibility with the binder resin occurs, and the crystallinity tends to be impaired. Therefore, it is not easy for the crystalline polyester resin to be present in the toner while maintaining the crystallinity, and even when added to the toner, the original sharp melt property is often not exhibited, and the heat-resistant storage stability is rather lowered. Sometimes.

  In addition, toners containing low crystalline components and low molecular weight components produced by compatibility cause further deterioration in crystallinity due to the effects of these components, and change the thermal physical properties of the toner. May be a factor that further lowers the low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability.

To solve these problems, the toner intermediate containing a crystalline polyester resin with reduced crystallinity or the toner is subjected to heat treatment at a temperature lower than the melting point of the crystalline polyester resin to reconstruct the crystal structure. Attempts have been made to try.

For example, a toner manufacturing method is proposed that includes a step of storing an intermediate product of a toner containing crystalline polyester and amorphous polyester as a binder resin, or a step of storing a final product at a temperature of 45 ° C. to 65 ° C. (See Patent Document 1).

  In addition, after melt-kneading the raw material containing crystalline polyester and amorphous polyester, heat treatment is performed under the conditions of not less than the glass transition temperature of the melt-kneaded product and not more than 10 ° C. below the softening point of the amorphous polyester. A method for producing a toner for pulverizing this has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

  In addition, the toner composition containing the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester is heated and held at a temperature (Tra) that is 20 ° C. or more lower than the maximum endothermic peak temperature (Trm) in DSC of the composition, and then (Tra ) Has been proposed (see Patent Document 3).

  Among these conventional examples, according to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the compatible portion at the domain interface between the crystalline polyester and the amorphous polyester is crystallized, but the crystallization requires a long time. In addition, since the crystalline polyester used has a high melting point, the effect is not always sufficient.

  Further, according to the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, the glass transition temperature of the resin derived from the amorphous polyester, which has been lowered by the compatibility, can be recovered, and the heat resistant storage stability of the toner is improved. However, the crystal polyester has not been improved so as to exhibit the sharp melt property, and the effect of improving the low-temperature fixability has not been sufficient.

  Further, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 3, the crystalline composition of the crystalline polyester is first formed by heating and holding the toner composition compatible by melt kneading at a relatively low temperature, and then at a higher temperature. Crystal growth is efficiently performed by heating and holding. This method is effective to some extent for materials that have undergone an excessive thermal history such as melt-kneading, and can achieve the crystallinity of the crystalline polyester to a certain level in a relatively short time. However, as a result of repeated detailed studies by the present inventors based on this technology, the obtained toner shows a variation in crystallinity of the crystalline polyester contained, and the heat-resistant storage stability is insufficient. It has been found that the crystal structure may change during long-term storage.

  As described above, there are still problems in order to sufficiently exhibit the original performance of the crystalline polyester and to stably maintain the low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability of the toner for a long period of time.

JP 2006-065015 A JP 2005-308995 A JP 2009-128653 A

  The present invention provides a toner manufacturing method that solves the above-described conventional problems.

  That is, the present invention provides a method for producing a toner that is excellent in low-temperature fixability but also excellent in heat-resistant storage stability, and that can stably maintain these performances even during long-term storage. .

The present invention is a binder resin containing a crystalline polyester, a colorant, and a method for producing a toner comprising the step of heating and maintaining the toner composition having containing a wax,
The toner composition, the step of dissolving the crystalline polyester in an organic solvent, a and, compositions produced via at least one of the steps of heating to above the melting point of the crystalline polyester,
Wherein the crystalline polyester, the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak in differential scanning calorimetry, is at 8 0 ° C. or less over 50 ° C. or more,
Wherein the step of heating and holding is obtained the toner composition, in the process of heating and holding at a temperature T1 (° C.) under the conditions of the following formula (1) (A), and said step (A) The method includes a step (B) of heating and holding the obtained heated holding material at a temperature T2 (° C.) higher than the temperature T1 (° C.) and represented by the following formula (2). Toner manufacturing method.
Tp1-20 ≦ T1 ≦ Tp1-5 (1)
(In formula (1) , Tp1 represents the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P1) in the differential scanning calorimetry of the toner composition .)
T p2-10 ≦ T2 ≦ Tp2-2 (2)
(In the formula (2) , Tp2 represents the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P2) in the differential scanning calorimetry of the heated holding material obtained in the step (A) .)

  According to the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a toner that is excellent in low-temperature fixability but excellent in heat-resistant storage stability, and that can stably maintain these performances even during long-term storage. be able to.

It is the schematic which shows an example of the manufacturing apparatus of the toner of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments.

The binder resin used in the toner production method of the present invention contains a crystalline polyester. Here, the crystalline polyester is a polyester that is regularly arranged by aggregating a large number of the polyesters to express crystallinity. Specifically, it means a polyester showing a clear melting point peak when differential heat is measured by a differential scanning calorimeter. As described above, in order to use a binder resin containing crystalline polyester as a toner material, it is important to appropriately control the crystallinity of the crystalline polyester. For this purpose, a method of heat-treating a toner composition containing crystalline polyester having lowered crystallinity at a temperature lower than the melting point of the crystalline polyester is effective. Generally, it is known that crystallinity of a crystalline material is increased by performing such heat treatment. The principle is considered as follows. In other words, holding the crystalline material in a high temperature environment increases the molecular mobility of the polymer chain and reorients the polymer chain arrangement to a more stable structure, thus improving the regularity of the crystal structure and improving the crystal structure. It is that progressing. However, when heated to a temperature higher than the melting point of the crystalline material, the polymer chain obtains an energy higher than that required for reorientation, recrystallization does not occur, and the crystallinity is rather lowered.

  Hereinafter, this heat treatment is referred to as annealing treatment, and this heat treatment step is referred to as annealing treatment step.

Incidentally, the degree of crystallinity of the crystalline polyester contained in the toner composition is drawn by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement of the toner composition, a rough idea of the endothermic peak shape and half width derived from the crystalline polyester be able to. That is, the higher the crystallinity, the sharper the peak shape and the narrower the half-value width.

  In the annealing treatment step, the treatment temperature is extremely important for controlling the crystallinity of the crystalline polyester of the toner composition. If the processing temperature is too low, as a matter of course, recrystallization will be insufficient, and the toner manufactured through such an annealing process will not have a sufficient improvement effect on low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability. Rather, the crystalline state may change during long-term storage, causing further performance degradation.

  Therefore, the annealing treatment is preferably performed at a higher temperature in order to activate the molecular movement of the crystalline polyester in the toner composition as much as possible. However, even if the treatment temperature is too high, the heat resistant storage stability is deteriorated. There is. This is because a relatively low molecular weight molecular chain that has been softened by excessive annealing crystallizes in an independent form without being rearranged due to the difference in molecular mobility, and is caused by the low melting point component thus generated. thinking.

  The change in the crystal structure due to the annealing treatment can be confirmed by the shift of the peak temperature to the high temperature side in addition to the sharpening of the endothermic peak and the narrowing of the half-value width by the DSC measurement described above. Moreover, the low melting point component considered to be caused by excessive annealing can also be confirmed by DSC measurement.

  In the method for producing a toner using a binder resin containing crystalline polyester, the present inventors have disclosed a heating temperature in annealing treatment and a peak temperature of a maximum endothermic peak in DSC measurement before and after annealing treatment (that is, crystalline polyester). Focusing on the relationship with the amount of change in the melting point derived from the above, a detailed study was conducted.

Then, heating at annealing (1) be carried out more and stepwise to high temperature from a low temperature condition, (2) at each stage performs beforehand Me DSC measurement, a peak temperature of maximum endothermic peak obtained On the other hand, it has been found that the crystallinity of the crystalline polyester can be effectively improved by performing the annealing treatment within a specific temperature range corresponding to the stage.

The toner produced through the above steps does not change in the crystalline structure of the crystalline polyester contained even during long-term storage, and stably maintains excellent low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability. It was clarified that this was possible and the present invention was completed.

That is, the production method of the toner of the present invention (hereinafter also simply referred to as the production method of the present invention), heating and maintaining the binder resin containing a crystalline polyester, a colorant, and the toner composition containing at least a wax a method of manufacturing a toner comprising the step of, the toner composition includes the steps of dissolving the crystalline polyester in an organic solvent, and, the step of heating above the melting point of the crystalline polyester at least one of a composition prepared by the steps, the crystalline polyester, the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak in differential scanning calorimetry, is at 8 0 ° C. or less over 50 ° C. or more, said step of heating and holding, the toner the composition, process of heating and holding at a temperature T1 (° C.) under the conditions of the following formula (1) (a), and, the heating retentate obtained in step (a), wherein It includes at least a step (B) that is higher than the temperature T1 (° C.) and that is heated and held under the condition of the temperature T2 (° C.) represented by the following formula (2).
Tp1-20 ≦ T1 ≦ Tp1-5 (1)
(In formula (1) , Tp1 represents the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P1) in the differential scanning calorimetry of the toner composition .)
T p2-10 ≦ T2 ≦ Tp2-2 (2)
(In the formula (2) , Tp2 represents the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P2) in the differential scanning calorimetry of the heated holding material obtained in the step (A) .)

Crystalline polyester used in the production method of the present invention, the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak in differential scanning calorimetry to be described later, a crystalline polyester present in the range of 50 ° C. or more on 8 0 ° C..

Here, the maximum endothermic peak is derived from the crystalline polyester, and the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak indicates the melting point of the crystalline polyester. That is, the toner obtained by the production method of the present invention have a melting point which means that it contains 50 ° C. than the 8 0 ° C. or less of crystalline polyester.

When the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak is lower than 50 ° C., it is advantageous for low-temperature fixability of the obtained toner, but the heat-resistant storage stability of the toner is remarkably lowered. On the other hand, if the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak is higher than 80 ° C., excellent heat-resistant storage stability is exhibited, but sufficient low-temperature fixability cannot be achieved. That is, in order to achieve both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storability, the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak in differential scanning calorimetry of the crystalline polyester used is, is at 8 0 ° C. or less over 50 ° C. or more, preferably, 55 ° C. than the 7 5 ° C. or less, more preferably, at the 60 ° C. than 7 0 ° C. or less.

Production method toner composition used in the present invention comprises the steps of dissolving the crystalline polyester in an organic solvent, and is manufactured through at least one step of the step of heating above the melting point of the crystalline polyester It is a thing. In the production method of the present invention, the toner composition is annealed stepwise under the specific conditions described above. As the toner composition, comprising the steps, by a conventional method toner particles produced, or, the toner obtained by externally adding inorganic fine particles to the toner particles can be preferably exemplified.

  Hereinafter, the annealing treatment step in the production method of the present invention will be described. Here, the annealing process in the case where toner particles are used will be described, but the same applies to the case where the annealing process is performed on the toner obtained by externally adding inorganic fine particles to the toner particles.

The annealing treatment step in the production method of the present invention includes a step (A) in which the toner particles are heated and held under the condition of temperature T1 (° C.) represented by the following formula (1).
Tp1-20 ≦ T1 ≦ Tp1-5 (1)
(In formula (1) , Tp1 indicates the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P1) in the scanning scanning calorimetry of the toner particles.)

Here, the temperature T1 (° C.) performs beforehand Me differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement for the toner particles used, the peak of the maximum endothermic peak (P1) derived from the obtained crystalline polyester component temperature Tp1 Decide according to the value of (° C). Even if the toner particles are produced using a binder resin containing the same crystalline polyester, the value of the peak temperature Tp1 (° C.) depends on the toner particle production method, the amount of the crystalline polyester component added, and the like. This is because it varies depending on the influence of various conditions in the production process of the toner particles.

  Specifically, the heating and holding step (A) is more than a temperature obtained by subtracting 20 ° C. from the value of the peak temperature Tp1 of the maximum endothermic peak obtained when DSC measurement is performed at a temperature rising rate of 10.0 ° C./min. Heating and holding is performed under the condition of a temperature equal to or lower than the temperature obtained by subtracting 5 ° C. from the value of Tp1.

  When the heating and holding are performed under the condition of less than the temperature obtained by subtracting 20 ° C. from the value of the peak temperature Tp1 of the maximum endothermic peak, the effect of recrystallization by heating and holding cannot be obtained, and the step (B) described later Even if it is carried out properly, a sufficient improvement effect on low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability cannot be obtained.

  On the other hand, in the case where it is heated and maintained under a condition that exceeds the temperature obtained by subtracting 5 ° C. from the value of the peak temperature Tp1 of the maximum endothermic peak, the low melting point component is easily released from the crystalline polyester, However, since this is further promoted, it may cause a decrease in heat resistant storage stability.

  Therefore, in order to realize both low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability, the temperature T1 (° C.) for heating and holding in the step (A) needs to be within the above temperature range. A more preferable temperature range is not less than a temperature obtained by subtracting 10 ° C. from the peak temperature Tp1 of the maximum endothermic peak and not more than a temperature obtained by subtracting 5 ° C. from the value of Tp1.

  Usually, the above-mentioned effect can be achieved by performing the step (A) once, but in view of the crystalline state of the crystalline polyester confirmed by the DSC measurement performed in advance, the step (A) is repeated twice or more as necessary. May be.

In the method of the present invention, the annealing treatment step, a heating and holding of the above step (A), the temperature T1 higher than (° C.), One or represented by the following formula (2) The method further includes a step (B) of heating and holding under a temperature T2 (° C.) condition.
Tp2-10 ≦ T2 ≦ Tp2-2 (2)
(In the formula (2) , Tp2 represents the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P2) in the DSC measurement of the heated product obtained in the step (A).)

Step (B) is the final step of the annealing process. Again, the temperature T2 (° C.), for heating and holding of the above step (A), carried out beforehand Me DSC measurement maximum endothermic peak derived from the obtained crystalline polyester component (P2) It is determined according to the value of the peak temperature Tp2 (° C.). This is because the maximum endothermic peak derived from the crystalline polyester component is shifted to the high temperature side by the step (A), and it is necessary to know the accurate peak temperature. Specifically, the heating and holding step (B) is more than a temperature obtained by subtracting 10 ° C. from the value of the peak temperature Tp2 of the maximum endothermic peak obtained when DSC measurement is performed at a temperature rising rate of 10.0 ° C./min. Heating and holding are performed under the condition of 2 ° C. or less.

  If the heating and holding is performed under the condition of less than the temperature obtained by subtracting 10 ° C. from the value of the peak temperature Tp2 of the maximum endothermic peak, the effect of performing the annealing treatment in stages can be expected. Can not.

  On the other hand, in the case of heating and holding under conditions exceeding the temperature obtained by subtracting 2 ° C. from the peak temperature Tp2 of the maximum endothermic peak, the low melting point component is released from the crystalline polyester as in the case of the step (A). It is likely to occur and may cause deterioration of heat-resistant storage stability.

  That is, by setting the heat holding temperature T2 (° C.) in the step (B) within the above temperature range, the toner capable of stably maintaining excellent low-temperature fixability and heat-resistant storage stability even in long-term storage. Realization is possible. A more preferable temperature range is not less than a temperature obtained by subtracting 5 ° C. from a value of the peak temperature Tp2 of the maximum endothermic peak and not more than a temperature obtained by subtracting 2 ° C.

  The heating and holding temperature is preferably controlled within a temperature range of ± 1.0 ° C.

  As described above, the conditions for annealing the toner obtained by externally adding inorganic fine particles to the toner particles as the toner composition are the same as described above.

That is, in the annealing treatment step, the toner obtained by externally adding inorganic fine particles to the toner particles is heated and held under a temperature T1 (° C.) condition represented by the following formula (1): and, heating the retentate obtained in step (a), higher than the temperature T1 (° C.), and heating maintained at a temperature T2 (° C.) under the conditions represented by the following formula (2) It contains at least (B).
Tp1-20 ≦ T1 ≦ Tp1-5 (1)
(In formula (1) , Tp1 represents the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P1) in the toner scanning scanning calorimetry. )
T p2-10 ≦ T2 ≦ Tp2-2 (2)
(In formula (2) , Tp2 represents the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P2) in the scanning scanning calorimetry of the heated holding material obtained in step (A). )

In the production method of the present invention, the heating heat retention time in the step of holding, the heating holding time in the step (A) (t1) is not more than 1 0 hour on 1 hour or more, heating and holding time in the step (B) (t2) is not more than 2 hours or more on 2 0 hours, or one, the total time of heating and holding (t1 + t2) is preferably not more than 2 4 hours on 5 hours or more.

When the heating and holding time (t1) in the step (A) is less than 1 hour, the recrystallization effect is reduced. On the other hand, even if heating and holding time (t1) exceeds 10 hours, further effects may not be obtained. Heating and holding time (t1) is more preferably not more than 6 hours on 2 hours or more.

Further, when the heating and holding time (t2) in the step (B) is less than 2 hours, the effect of performing the annealing process step by step is reduced. On the other hand, even if heating and holding time (t2) exceeds 20 hours, further effects may not be obtained. Heating and holding time (t2) is more preferably 4 hours or less than the 12 hours.

The total time of heating and holding (t1 + t2) is more preferably not more than 1 6 hours on 6 hours or more.

  In order to efficiently perform the annealing treatment, it is more preferable that the step (A) as the first step is completed in as short a time as possible, and a sufficient time is spent in the step (B) as the final step.

  In the production method of the present invention, the heating and holding time in the annealing step can be appropriately adjusted depending on the type and content of the crystalline polyester contained in the toner composition and the crystalline state. For example, when the crystallinity of the crystalline polyester contained in the toner composition is remarkably lowered, the annealing temperature is set low within a range not departing from the above formula (1) or (2), and the time is set. It is preferable to carry out the treatment.

Here, the crystalline polyester used for the binder resin used in the present invention will be described. The crystalline polyester, an aliphatic diol having 4 or more on 2 0 or less carbon atoms as the alcohol component, and it is preferable to use a polyvalent carboxylic acid as the raw material as the acid component. The aliphatic diol is preferably linear. A resin with higher crystallinity can be obtained by being a linear type.

  Examples of the aliphatic diol include the following compounds.

  1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,7-heptanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, 1,10-decanediol, 1 , 11-undecanediol, 1,12-dodecanediol, 1,13-tridecanediol, 1,14-tetradecanediol, 1,18-octadecanediol, 1,20-eicosanediol.

  Among these, from the viewpoint of melting point, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, and 1,6-hexanediol are more preferable. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  An aliphatic diol having a double bond can also be used. Examples of the aliphatic diol having a double bond include the following compounds.

  2-butene-1,4-diol, 3-hexene-1,6-diol, 4-octene-1,8-diol.

  The polyvalent carboxylic acid is preferably an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, more preferably an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, and particularly preferably a linear dicarboxylic acid from the viewpoint of crystallinity.

  Examples of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid include the following compounds.

  Succinic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, 1,9-nonanedicarboxylic acid, 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid, 1,11-undecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,13-tridecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,14-tetradecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,16-hexadecanedicarboxylic acid, 1,18-octadecanedicarboxylic acid, or a lower alkyl ester or acid anhydride thereof .

  Of these, sebacic acid, adipic acid, 1,10-decanedicarboxylic acid or its lower alkyl ester and acid anhydride are preferred.

  Examples of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid include the following compounds. Terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid.

  Among these, terephthalic acid is preferable in terms of availability and easy formation of a low melting point polymer. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  A dicarboxylic acid having a double bond can also be used. A dicarboxylic acid having a double bond can be suitably used in order to prevent hot offset at the time of fixing, because the entire resin can be crosslinked using the double bond.

  Examples of such dicarboxylic acids include fumaric acid, maleic acid, 3-hexenedioic acid, and 3-octenedioic acid. Moreover, these lower alkyl esters and acid anhydrides are also included. Among these, fumaric acid and maleic acid are more preferable in terms of cost.

  There is no restriction | limiting in particular as a manufacturing method of crystalline polyester, It can manufacture by the polymerization method of the general polyester resin which makes an acid component and an alcohol component react. For example, a direct polycondensation method or a transesterification method can be used, and production can be carried out using different types of monomers.

Preparation of the crystalline polyester is preferably carried out between the 2 30 ° C. or less polymerization temperature of 180 ° C. or more, to reduce the pressure in the reaction system if necessary, react while removing water and alcohol generated during condensation Is preferred. When the monomer is not dissolved or compatible at the reaction temperature, a solvent having a high boiling point is preferably added as a solubilizer and dissolved. In the polycondensation reaction, the dissolution auxiliary solvent is distilled off. In the case where a monomer having poor compatibility exists in the polymerization reaction, it is preferable to condense the monomer having poor compatibility with the monomer and the acid or alcohol to be polycondensed in advance, and then polycondense together with the main component.

  Examples of the catalyst that can be used in the production of the crystalline polyester include the following. Titanium catalysts such as titanium tetraethoxide, titanium tetrapropoxide, titanium tetraisopropoxide, titanium tetrabutoxide. Tin catalysts such as dibutyltin dichloride, dibutyltin oxide, diphenyltin oxide.

  The binder resin used in the present invention preferably contains a resin (amorphous resin) that does not have a crystal structure as a constituent component. By containing an amorphous resin, it is possible to maintain elasticity after the toner is sharp melted, which is preferable. Here, the resin that does not have a crystal structure is a resin that does not form a regular arrangement even when it collects itself and has a random structure.

The amorphous resin is not particularly limited as long as it is amorphous, and an amorphous resin generally used as a toner resin can be used. However, the glass transition temperature of the amorphous resin is preferably in a range 50 ° C. than the 1 30 ° C.. More preferably is 1 30 ° C. or less over 70 ° C. or more. When the glass transition temperature is within this range, the elasticity of the toner in the fixing region is easily maintained.

  Examples of the amorphous resin include polyurethane resin, amorphous polyester resin, styrene acrylic resin, polystyrene, and styrene butadiene resin. These resins may be modified with urethane, urea, or epoxy. Among these, amorphous polyester resins and polyurethane resins can be preferably exemplified from the viewpoint of maintaining elasticity.

The amorphous polyester resin will be described. Examples of the monomer that can be used for the production of the amorphous polyester resin include conventionally known divalent or trivalent monomers as described in “Polymer Data Handbook: Basic Edition” (Edited by Polymer Society: Bafukan). Examples thereof include the above carboxylic acids and divalent or trivalent or higher alcohols. Specific examples of these monomers are as follows.

Examples of the divalent carboxylic acid include the following. Succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, malonic acid, such as dibasic acids dodecenylsuccinic acid, and their anhydrides, lower alkyl esters, maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid An aliphatic unsaturated dicarboxylic acid such as citraconic acid.

Examples of the trivalent or higher carboxylic acid include the following. 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid, 1,2,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid, and anhydrides thereof, lower alkyl esters. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

  Examples of the divalent alcohol include the following. Bisphenol A, hydrogenated bisphenol A, ethylene oxide or propylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A, 1,4-cyclohexanediol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol.

  Examples of trihydric or higher alcohols include the following. Glycerin, trimethylol ethane, trimethylol propane, pentaerythritol. These may be used individually by 1 type and may use 2 or more types together.

For the purpose of adjusting the acid value and hydroxyl value, acetic acid, monovalent acid of benzoic acid, monovalent alcohol such as cyclohexanol and benzyl alcohol can be used as necessary.

Amorphous polyester resin is synthesized using the methods described in, for example, polycondensation (chemical doujin), polymer experiment (polycondensation and polyaddition: Kyoritsu Publishing), and polyester resin handbook (edited by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun). The transesterification method and the direct polycondensation method can be used alone or in combination.

  Next, a polyurethane resin as an amorphous resin will be described. The polyurethane resin is a reaction product of a diol and a substance containing a diisocyanate group, and a resin having various functions can be obtained by adjusting the diol and the diisocyanate.

Examples of the diisocyanate component include the following. The number of carbon atoms (excluding the carbon in the NCO group, hereinafter the same) 6 or on 2 0 following aromatic diisocyanates, aliphatic diisocyanates having 2 or more on 1 to 8 carbon atoms, the number 4 than the 1 5 following alicyclic carbon diisocyanate, having 8 or more on a 5 or less aromatic hydrocarbon diisocyanate carbon, and modified products of these diisocyanates (urethane group, carbodiimide group, allophanate group, urea group, biuret group, uretdione group, uretimine groups, isocyanurate groups , oxazolidone group-containing modified products. hereinafter, also referred to as modified diisocyanates.), if the beauty, a mixture of two or more thereof.

  Examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon diisocyanate include the following. m- and / or p-xylylene diisocyanate (XDI), α, α, α ', α'-tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate.

  Examples of the aliphatic diisocyanate include the following. Ethylene diisocyanate, tetramethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), dodecamethylene diisocyanate.

  Examples of the alicyclic diisocyanate include the following. Isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), dicyclohexylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate, cyclohexylene diisocyanate, methylcyclohexylene diisocyanate.

Preferred are among these, aromatic diisocyanates with 6 or on a 5 or less carbon number 4 or more on 1 2 following aliphatic diisocyanates carbon, and alicyclic diisocyanates having 4 or more on a 5 or less carbon atoms, carbon the number 8 is more than the 1 5 following aromatic hydrocarbon diisocyanates, especially preferred are XDI, IPDI and HDI.

  In addition to the diisocyanate component, a trifunctional or higher functional isocyanate compound can also be used as the polyurethane resin.

  Examples of the diol component that can be used in the polyurethane resin include the following.

  Alkylene glycol (ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol); alkylene ether glycol (polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol); alicyclic diol (1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol); bisphenols (bisphenol) A); alkylene oxide (ethylene oxide, propylene oxide) adduct of the alicyclic diol.

  The alkyl part of the alkylene glycol or alkylene ether glycol may be linear or branched. In the present invention, an alkylene glycol having a branched structure can also be preferably used.

In the production method of the present invention, the binder resin preferably contains a copolymer in which a crystalline polyester and a resin not having a crystal structure (amorphous resin) are chemically bonded. Examples of chemically bonded copolymers include block polymers, graft polymers, star polymers. Among these, it is more preferable that the binder resin contains a block polymer in which a crystalline polyester and an amorphous resin are bonded. A block polymer is a copolymer in which polymers are linked by a covalent bond within one molecule.

  In the production method of the present invention, the binder resin is particularly preferably composed of the block polymer. When the binder resin is the block polymer, the crystalline polyester in the block polymer can uniformly form minute domains in the binder resin. As a result, the sharp melt property of the crystalline polyester is expressed in the whole toner, and the low-temperature fixing effect can be effectively exhibited. Furthermore, the above-described minute domain structure makes it easy to maintain appropriate elasticity even in the fixing temperature region after sharp melting.

  The block polymer is in the form of an AB diblock polymer, an ABA triblock polymer, a BAB triblock polymer, an ABAB... Type multiblock polymer of crystalline polyester (A) and amorphous resin (B). In any form, the above effects can be exhibited.

  In the block polymer, examples of the bonding form in which the crystalline polyester and the amorphous resin are bonded by a covalent bond include an ester bond, a urea bond, and a urethane bond. Among these, a block polymer bonded with a urethane bond is particularly preferable because the elasticity of the toner can be maintained in the fixing temperature region after the toner is sharp melted.

Further, since the elasticity of the toner can be maintained in the fixing temperature region after the toner has been sharp melted, the high temperature offset can be remarkably suppressed.

  As the method for preparing the block polymer, a crystalline polyester and an amorphous resin are separately prepared, the two are combined (two-stage method), the raw materials for the crystalline polyester and the amorphous resin are charged simultaneously, (1 step method) can be used.

  The block polymer can be synthesized by selecting from various methods in consideration of the reactivity of each terminal functional group.

  In the case of a block polymer of crystalline polyester and amorphous polyester, each unit can be prepared separately and then bonded using a binder. In particular, when the acid value of one polyester is high and the hydroxyl value of the other polyester is high, it is not necessary to use a binder, and the condensation reaction can proceed while heating and reducing pressure as it is. At this time, the reaction temperature is preferably about 200 ° C.

  When the binder is used, the following binders are exemplified. Polyvalent carboxylic acid, polyhydric alcohol, polyvalent isocyanate, polyfunctional epoxy, polyanhydride. These binders can be used for synthesis by dehydration reaction or addition reaction.

  On the other hand, when the amorphous resin is a polyurethane resin, each unit is prepared separately, and then it is prepared by urethanizing the alcohol terminal of the crystalline polyester and the isocyanate terminal of the polyurethane. The synthesis can also be performed by a method in which a crystalline polyester having an alcohol terminal and a diol and a diisocyanate constituting a polyurethane resin are mixed and heated. In this case, diol and diisocyanate selectively react at the initial stage when the concentration of diol and diisocyanate is high to form a polyurethane resin, and after the molecular weight has increased to some extent, urethanization of the isocyanate terminal of the polyurethane resin and the alcohol terminal of the crystalline polyester Reaction occurs and can be made into a block polymer.

  In order to effectively express the effect of the block polymer, it is preferable that a homopolymer of crystalline polyester or amorphous resin is not present in the binder resin as much as possible. That is, it is preferable that the blocking rate is high.

In the production method of the present invention, the binder resin preferably contains 50% by mass or more of crystalline polyester. When the binder resin is a block polymer, the composition ratio of the crystalline polyester unit in the block polymer is preferably 50% by mass or more. The content of the crystalline polyester of the binder resin is more preferably less than 60 wt% or more 8 5 mass%. When the content of the crystalline polyester is within the above range, the sharp melt property is easily effectively expressed. When the content of the crystalline polyester with respect to the binder resin is less than 50% by mass, the sharp melt property is hardly exhibited effectively, and it is easily affected by the glass transition temperature of the resin that does not have the above crystal structure.

On the other hand, the content of the amorphous resin is preferably 10 mass% or more of the binder resin, and more preferably at most 15 mass% or more 4 0% by weight. When the content of the amorphous resin is in the above range, it becomes possible to maintain the elasticity after the toner is sharp melted. When the content of the amorphous resin is less than 10% by mass, it is difficult to maintain elasticity after the toner is sharp melted, and high temperature offset may occur.

Further, in the manufacturing method of the present invention, the binder resin, tetrahydrofuran (THF) a number average molecular weight as determined by extractables of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) (Mn) is 8,000 or more on a 3 0, 000 following, weight average molecular weight (Mw) is preferably 15,000 or more on a 6 0,000 or less.

The number average molecular weight (Mn) of and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) that is in the above range, it is possible to impart appropriate viscoelasticity in the toner. If Mn is less than 8,000 and Mw is less than 15,000, the toner becomes too soft and the heat-resistant storage stability tends to decrease. Further, the toner is easily peeled from the fixed image. On the other hand, if Mn is greater than 30,000 and Mw is greater than 60,000, the toner becomes too hard and the low-temperature fixability tends to decrease. A more preferable range of the Mn is 2 or 0,000 or less on the 10,000 or more, more preferably in the range of Mw is the 20,000 or more 5 0,000 or less.

  Furthermore, the ratio of Mn to Mw (Mw / Mn) is preferably 6 or less. When the value of Mw / Mn exceeds 6, the crystalline polyester contained in the binder resin has low crystallinity, and the endothermic peak in DSC measurement is broad. A more preferable range of Mw / Mn is 3 or less.

  In the production method of the present invention, the toner composition contains a wax. Although it does not specifically limit as the said wax, The following are mentioned. Low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight polypropylene, low molecular weight olefin copolymer, aliphatic hydrocarbon wax such as microcrystalline wax, paraffin wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax; oxide of aliphatic hydrocarbon wax such as oxidized polyethylene wax; fat Waxes based on fatty acid esters such as aliphatic hydrocarbon ester waxes; and partially or fully deoxidized fatty acid esters such as deacidified carnauba wax; partial esters of fatty acids and polyhydric alcohols such as behenic acid monoglyceride A methyl ester compound having a hydroxyl group obtained by hydrogenating vegetable oils and fats.

  Among these waxes, aliphatic carbonization is possible because of ease of preparation of the dispersion when using the wax as a dispersion, ease of incorporation into the toner particles, exudation from the toner during fixing, and releasability. Hydrogen wax and ester wax are particularly preferred.

  The ester wax only needs to have at least one ester bond in one molecule, and either natural ester wax or synthetic ester wax may be used.

Examples of the synthetic ester wax include monoester wax synthesized from a long-chain linear saturated fatty acid and a long-chain linear saturated aliphatic alcohol. Long, straight-chain saturated fatty acid is represented by general formula _{C n H 2n + 1 COOH,} n is having 5 or more on the 2 to 8 are preferably used. Furthermore, long chain linear saturated aliphatic alcohols represented by _{C n H 2n + 1 OH,} n is having 5 or more on the 2 to 8 are preferably used. Examples of natural ester waxes include candelilla wax, carnauba wax, rice wax, and derivatives thereof.

  Among the above, more preferable waxes are synthetic ester waxes composed of long-chain linear saturated fatty acids and long-chain linear saturated aliphatic alcohols, or natural waxes based on the above esters. Furthermore, in addition to the linear structure described above, the ester is more preferably a monoester.

The content of the wax in the toner composition, 100 parts by mass of the binder resin, preferably from 2 0 parts by weight or less on the 5 parts by mass or less, and more preferably up to 1 5 parts on 5 parts by mass or less. When the content of the wax is less than 5 parts by mass, the toner releasability tends to be lowered, and the transfer paper is easily wound when the fixing member is at a low temperature. If more than 20 parts by weight, ease exposed wax to the toner surface no longer, heat-resistant storage stability tends to decrease. In addition, there is a tendency have fog or fusion is easy to occur.

Further, the wax, in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement, it is preferable that has a maximum endothermic peak in the range on the 1 20 ° C. below 60 ° C. or more.

If the maximum endothermic peak is lower than 60 ° C., ease exposed wax to the toner surface no longer, heat-resistant storage stability tends to decrease. On the other hand, if the maximum endothermic peak is higher than 120 ° C., the wax does not melt properly at the time of fixing, and the low-temperature fixability and offset resistance tend to be lowered. More preferably, the on 60 ° C. than 9 0 ° C. or less.

  In the production method of the present invention, the toner composition contains a colorant in order to impart coloring power. Preferred examples of the colorant include organic pigments, organic dyes, inorganic pigments, carbon black as a black colorant, and magnetic powder. Colorants that are conventionally used in toners can be used.

  Examples of the colorant for yellow include the following. Condensed azo compounds, isoindolinone compounds, anthraquinone compounds, azo metal complexes, methine compounds, allylamide compounds. Specifically, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 62, 74, 83, 93, 94, 95, 109, 110, 111, 128, 129, 147, 168, 180 are preferably used.

  Examples of the magenta colorant include the following. Condensed azo compounds, diketopyrrolopyrrole compounds, anthraquinones, quinacridone compounds, basic dye lake compounds, naphthol compounds, benzimidazolone compounds, thioindigo compounds, perylene compounds. Specifically, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 23, 48: 2, 48: 3, 48: 4, 57: 1, 81: 1, 122, 144, 146, 166, 169, 177, 184, 185, 202, 206, 220, 221, and 254 are preferably used.

  Examples of the colorant for cyan include the following. Copper phthalocyanine compounds and derivatives thereof, anthraquinone compounds, basic dye lake compounds. Specifically, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 1, 7, 15, 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3, 15: 4, 60, 62, 66 are preferably used.

These colorants can be used alone or in combination, and further in a solid solution state. The colorant to be used is selected from the viewpoints of hue angle, saturation, brightness, light resistance, OHP transparency, and dispersibility in the toner composition.
The colorant, preferably 100 parts by mass of the binder resin in the toner composition is used by adding 1 part by mass or more on the 2 0 parts by weight or less. Similarly, when carbon black is used as the black colorant, it is preferable to use by adding 2 0 parts by weight or less on 1 part by weight or more.

When producing toner particles as a toner composition in an aqueous medium, it is preferable that these colorants pay attention to water phase transferability, and surface modification such as hydrophobic treatment may be performed as necessary. preferable. On the other hand, for carbon black, in addition to the same treatment as the above dye, a grafting treatment may be performed with a substance that reacts with the surface functional group of carbon black, for example, polyorganosiloxane. In the case of using the magnetic powder as the black colorant, the amount added is 100 parts by mass of the binder resin in the toner composition is preferably 1 50 parts by on 40 parts by weight or less.

The magnetic powder is mainly composed of iron oxide such as triiron tetroxide and γ-iron oxide, and generally has hydrophilicity. Therefore, when producing toner particles as a toner composition in an aqueous medium, the magnetic powder tends to be unevenly distributed on the surface of the toner particles due to the interaction with water, and the resulting toner particles are magnetic powder exposed on the surface. However, it tends to be inferior in fluidity and frictional charging uniformity. Therefore, the surface of the magnetic powder is preferably subjected to a hydrophobic treatment uniformly with a coupling agent. Examples of the coupling agent that can be used include a silane coupling agent and a titanium coupling agent, and a silane coupling agent is particularly preferably used.

  In the production method of the present invention, a charge control agent can be used in the toner composition as necessary. By blending the charge control agent, the charge characteristics of the obtained toner are stabilized, and the optimum triboelectric charge amount can be controlled according to the development system.

  As the charge control agent, a known one can be used, and a charge control agent that has a high charging speed and can stably maintain a constant charge amount is particularly preferable.

As the charge control agent for controlling the obtained toner to be negatively charged, organometallic compounds and chelate compounds are effective, and monoazo metal compounds, acetylacetone metal compounds, aromatic oxycarboxylic acids, aromatic dicarboxylic acids, and oxycarboxylic acids. And dicarboxylic acid-based metal compounds. These charge control agent had the sole can be used in combination of two or more.

The blending amount in the case of using the charge control agent, 2 0 parts by on 0.01 parts by following or less with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin, more preferably less than 1 0 parts by on 0.5 part by weight or less It is.

In the production method of the present invention, when a toner particle as a toner composition, its preparation is not particularly limited, step of dissolving the crystalline polyester in an organic solvent, and the melting point of the crystalline polyester A known toner particle production method including at least one of the heating steps described above can be used. In the present invention, as the method, dissolution suspension method to be described later, and, the emulsion aggregation method may be preferably exemplified.

Here, in the dissolution suspension method, the binder resin component is dissolved in an organic solvent, the resin solution is dispersed in a liquid medium (for example, in an aqueous medium) to form oil droplets, and then the organic solvent is removed. This is a method for obtaining toner particles. On the other hand, the emulsion aggregation method comprises at least a resin particle dispersion produced by a method such as dispersion emulsification or emulsion polymerization, a colorant particle dispersion produced by dispersing a colorant in an aqueous medium, and a wax. A method for producing toner particles, comprising: an aggregating step of aggregating a wax particle dispersion produced by dispersing in an aqueous medium in an aqueous medium to form aggregated particles; and a fusing step of fusing the aggregated particles.

  Among these production methods, the toner particles are more preferably produced in a state of not being heated to the melting point of the crystalline polyester contained in the binder resin (hereinafter also referred to as “non-heated state”). Crystallinity of the polyester is remarkably lowered by heating to the melting point or higher, but without maintaining the state of not heating above the melting point of the crystalline polyester in each production step of the toner particles without greatly reducing the crystallinity. It becomes possible to produce toner particles.

In the present invention, the heating in “Do not heat above the melting point of the crystalline polyester contained in the binder resin” does not include the heating in the process of producing the crystalline polyester as a raw material.

A preferred example of the method for producing toner particles in the non-heated state is the method using the dissolution suspension method. For example, in the production of toner particles containing a binder resin containing a crystalline polyester as in the present invention, granulation is performed by dispersing a resin solution in carbon dioxide in a high-pressure state and is included in the particles after granulation. A method of producing toner particles can be suitably exemplified by extracting the organic solvent into the carbon dioxide phase and removing the organic solvent, and then separating the carbon dioxide by releasing the pressure. The high pressure carbon dioxide preferably used in the present invention is liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide.

Here, liquid carbon dioxide is a gas passing through a triple point (temperature = −57 ° C., pressure = 0.5 MPa) and a critical point (temperature = 31 ° C., pressure = 7.4 MPa) on the phase diagram of carbon dioxide. liquid boundary, isotherm critical temperature, and represent a carbon dioxide in the temperature of the enclosed solid-liquid boundary portion, the pressure conditions. Moreover, the carbon dioxide in a supercritical state represents carbon dioxide under temperature and pressure conditions above the critical point of the carbon dioxide.

  In the present invention, the dispersion medium may contain an organic solvent as another component. In this case, it is preferable that carbon dioxide and the organic solvent form a homogeneous phase.

  According to this method, the granulation under high pressure is not only easy to maintain the crystallinity of the crystalline polyester, but is particularly preferable because it can be further enhanced.

  Hereinafter, a method for producing toner particles in carbon dioxide in a liquid or supercritical state, which is suitable for obtaining toner particles used in the production method of the present invention, will be described in detail.

First, the binder resin containing a crystalline polyester, a colorant, and wax, if the beauty, other additives optionally together with an organic solvent capable of dissolving the binder resin containing a crystalline polyester And uniformly dissolved or dispersed using a disperser such as a homogenizer, a ball mill, a colloid mill, or an ultrasonic disperser. Next, granulation is performed by dispersing a solution of the material constituting the toner particles in a liquid filled in a container or carbon dioxide in a supercritical state.

When granulating in the liquid or carbon dioxide in a supercritical state, it is preferable to use a dispersant. Examples of the dispersant include inorganic or organic fine particles, and may be used alone or in combination of two or more according to the purpose. That is, as the dispersing agent, an inorganic particle dispersant, an organic fine particle dispersion agent, or may be any of those mixtures.

  Examples of the inorganic fine particle dispersant include inorganic fine particles of silica, alumina, zinc oxide, titania, and calcium oxide.

  Examples of the organic fine particle dispersant include vinyl resin, urethane resin, epoxy resin, ester resin, polyamide, polyimide, silicone resin, fluorine resin, phenol resin, melamine resin, benzoguanamine resin, urea resin, aniline resin, ionomer resin. , Polycarbonate, cellulose fine particles, and mixtures thereof.

  When fine particles of resin are used as a dispersant, if fine particles of amorphous resin are used, liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide dissolves in the resin and plasticizes it, thereby lowering the glass transition temperature. They tend to aggregate together. Therefore, it is preferable to use a resin having crystallinity as the fine particles of the resin, and when an amorphous resin is used, it is preferable to introduce a crosslinked structure. Moreover, the fine particle which coat | covered the amorphous resin fine particle with the crystalline resin may be sufficient.

The dispersant is, it may also be used as bur, for imparting adsorptivity to the oil droplet surface of the dissolution liquid materials constituting the toner particles in the granulation, also be surface modified by various processes Good. Specifically, for example, surface treatment with a silane-based, titanate-based, or aluminate-based coupling agent, surface treatment with various surfactants, and coating treatment with a polymer can be given.

Since the dispersant adsorbed on the surface of the oil droplets remains as it is after the toner particles are formed, when the resin fine particles are used as the dispersant, toner particles whose surfaces are coated with the resin fine particles may be formed. it can. In this case, the particle size of the fine particles is preferably in number average particle size is less than 30nm or more on 3 nm. More preferably, the on 50nm than 1 nm or less. If the particle size of the fine particles is too small, the stability of the oil droplets during granulation tends to decrease. If it is too large, it will be difficult to control the particle size of the oil droplets to a desired size.

The amount of the fine particles is preferably from 1 5.0 part by weight on the 3.0 parts by mass or less relative to the solid content, 100 parts by weight in a solution in the material constituting the toner particles, It can be appropriately adjusted according to the stability of the oil droplets and the desired particle size.

  In the production of toner particles used in the production method of the present invention, any method may be used as a method of dispersing the dispersant in liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. As a specific example, there is a method in which the dispersant and liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide are charged in a container and directly dispersed by stirring or ultrasonic irradiation. Another example is a method in which a dispersion liquid in which the dispersant is dispersed in an organic solvent is introduced into a container charged with liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide using a high-pressure pump.

  Further, any method may be used as a method of dispersing the solution of the material constituting the toner particles in a dispersion medium composed of liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. As a specific example, there may be mentioned a method in which the resin solution is introduced into a container containing a liquid in which the dispersant is dispersed or carbon dioxide in a supercritical state using a high-pressure pump. In addition, a liquid in which the dispersant is dispersed or carbon dioxide in a supercritical state may be introduced into a container charged with the resin solution.

  The dispersion medium of carbon dioxide in the above-described liquid or supercritical state is preferably a single phase. When granulation is performed by dispersing a solution of the material constituting the toner particles in liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide, a part of the organic solvent in the oil droplets moves into the dispersion. At this time, it is not preferable that the organic solvent phase is present in a separated state in addition to the phase containing carbon dioxide, which causes the stability of the oil droplets to be impaired. Therefore, it is preferable to adjust the temperature and pressure of the dispersion medium and the amount of the solution with respect to the liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide within a range in which the carbon dioxide and the organic solvent can form a homogeneous phase.

In addition, regarding the temperature and pressure of the dispersion medium, attention should be paid to granulation properties ( ease of oil droplet formation) and solubility of the constituent components in the resin solution in the dispersion medium. For example, the resin or wax in the resin solution may be dissolved in the dispersion medium depending on temperature conditions and pressure conditions. Usually, low temperature, but the solubility in the dispersion medium of the components as would the low pressure is suppressed, the formed oil droplets ease cause aggregation and coalescence no longer, granulation is reduced. On the other hand, high temperatures, although the improved granulation as higher pressure, the component indicates the ease Kunar trend was dissolved in the dispersion medium.

  Furthermore, the temperature of the dispersion medium must be lower than the melting point of the crystalline polyester component so that the crystallinity of the crystalline polyester component is not impaired.

  Therefore, in the production of the toner particles of the present invention, the temperature of the dispersion medium is preferably in the temperature range of 20 ° C. or higher and lower than the melting point of the crystalline polyester component.

The pressure in the container to form the dispersion medium is preferably from 3MPa than on 2 0 MPa, more preferably not more than 5MPa or more on 1 5MPa. In addition , the pressure in this invention shows the total pressure, when components other than a carbon dioxide are contained in a dispersion medium.

  The mass fraction of carbon dioxide in the dispersion medium in the present invention is usually 70% or more, preferably 80% or more, more preferably 90% or more.

  After the granulation is completed in this manner, the organic solvent remaining in the oil droplets is removed through a dispersion medium of carbon dioxide in a liquid or supercritical state. Specifically, liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide is further mixed with the dispersion medium in which oil droplets are dispersed, and the remaining organic solvent is extracted into a carbon dioxide phase, and carbon dioxide containing the organic solvent is removed. Further, it is performed by substituting with carbon dioxide in a liquid or supercritical state.

  In the mixing of the dispersion medium and the liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide, a higher pressure liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide may be added to the dispersion medium. May also be added to low pressure liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide.

  And as a method of further replacing carbon dioxide containing an organic solvent with liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide, there is a method of circulating liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide while keeping the pressure in the container constant. . At this time, the toner particles to be formed are performed while being supplemented by a filter.

When the liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide is not sufficiently substituted, and the organic solvent remains in the dispersion medium, the container is decompressed in order to recover the obtained toner particles. In some cases, the organic solvent dissolved in the toner may condense and the toner particles may be redissolved or the toner particles may coalesce. Therefore, the substitution with carbon dioxide in the liquid or supercritical state must be performed until the organic solvent is completely removed. The amount of carbon dioxide in liquid or supercritical state is circulated is preferably 1 00 times or less on 1 more than double the volume of the dispersion medium, more preferably 5 0 times on 1 more than double or less, and most preferably 1-fold or more on a 3 is 0 times or less.

  When extracting toner particles from a liquid containing toner particles dispersed or a dispersion containing carbon dioxide in a supercritical state, the container may be depressurized to room temperature and normal pressure at once, but the container is pressure controlled independently. The pressure may be reduced stepwise by providing multiple stages. The decompression speed is preferably set within a range where the toner particles do not foam.

Note that the organic solvent, liquid, or supercritical carbon dioxide used in the present invention can be recycled.

  In the production method of the present invention, a toner obtained by externally adding inorganic fine particles to toner particles can be used as the toner composition. The inorganic fine powder has a function of improving the fluidity of the toner and a function of making the toner charge uniform.

  Examples of the inorganic fine powder include fine powder such as silica fine powder, titanium oxide fine powder, alumina fine powder, and composite oxide fine powder thereof. Among these inorganic fine powders, silica fine powder and titanium oxide fine powder are preferable.

The silica fine powder, dry silica or fumed silica produced by vapor phase oxidation of a silicon halide, and include wet silica produced from water glass. As the inorganic fine powder, less silanol groups on the inner surface and the fine silica powder, also, Na 2 _O, who SO ₃ ^2-less dry silica is preferable. Further, fumed silica, in the production process, aluminum chloride, titanium other such metal chloride halide prepared by using together with a silicon halide, a composite fine powder of silica and other metal oxides but it may also .

In addition, as the inorganic fine powder, the inorganic fine powder itself is hydrophobized, so that adjustment of the charge amount of the toner, improvement of environmental stability, and improvement of characteristics under a high humidity environment can be achieved. More preferably, an inorganic fine powder subjected to a hydrophobic treatment is used. When externally added inorganic fine powder absorbs moisture to the toner, decreases the charge amount of the toner, lowering of developing performance and transferability friendliness occur Kunar.

As treatment agents for the hydrophobic treatment of inorganic fine powder, unmodified silicone varnish, various modified silicone varnishes, unmodified silicone oil, various modified silicone oils, silane compounds, silane coupling agents, other organosilicon compounds, organotitanium Compounds. These processing agents have is alone but it may also be used in combination.

Among these, inorganic fine powder treated with silicone oil is preferable. More preferably, the inorganic fine powder after the treatment had in the same time as hydrophobic treatment with a coupling agent, a charge amount of the toner even under silicone oil-treated hydrophobic treatment inorganic fine powder treated with silicone oil high humidity Is kept high and the selective developability is reduced.

The addition amount of the inorganic fine powder, the toner particles 100 parts by weight 0.1 parts by weight or more on 4. Preferably 0 or less parts by mass, more preferably 0.2 part by weight or more on 3. 5 parts by mass or less. Is less than 0.1 part by mass, there is a tendency have flow improvers and toner charging uniformity of the toner becomes hard to be exhibited. Also, more than 4.0 parts by mass, excessive inorganic fine powder easy to contaminate the various members Kunar.

The toner manufactured by the method of the present invention has a volume average particle diameter (D4), 3.0 [mu] m or more on 8. It is preferably 0 μm or less. More preferably, 5.0 .mu.m or more on 7. 0 μm or less. The use of a toner having such a volume average particle diameter (D4) is preferable from the viewpoint of satisfactorily satisfying the dot reproducibility while improving the toner handling property.

  Further, the ratio (D4 / D1) of the weight average particle diameter (D4) and the number average particle diameter (D1) of the obtained toner is preferably 1.25 or less. More preferably, it is 1.20 or less.

  Here, a method for measuring various physical properties in the production method of the present invention will be described below.

<Weight average particle diameter of the toner (D4), and the measurement method of the number average particle diameter (D1)>
In the present invention, the weight average particle diameter (D4) and the number average particle diameter (D1) of the toner are calculated as follows.

As a measuring device, a precise particle size distribution measuring device “Coulter Counter Multisizer 3” (registered trademark, manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) using a pore electrical resistance method equipped with a 100 μm aperture tube is used. For setting the measurement conditions and analyzing the measurement data, the attached dedicated software “Beckman Coulter Multisizer 3 Version 3.51” (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) is used. The measurement is performed with 25,000 effective measurement channels.

  As the electrolytic aqueous solution used for the measurement, special grade sodium chloride is dissolved in ion-exchanged water so as to have a concentration of about 1% by mass, for example, “ISOTON II” (manufactured by Beckman Coulter, Inc.) can be used.

The measurement, before the analysis, the dedicated software settings as follows performed.
On the “Change Standard Measurement Method (SOM)” screen of the dedicated software, set the total count in the control mode to 50,000 particles, set the number of measurements once, and set the Kd value to “standard particles 10.0 μm” (Beckman Coulter Set the value obtained using By pressing the “Threshold / Noise Level Measurement Button”, the threshold and noise level are automatically set. In addition, the current is set to 1600 μA, the gain is set to 2, the electrolyte is set to ISOTON II, and the “aperture tube flush after measurement” is checked.

  In the “Pulse to particle size conversion setting” screen of the dedicated software, the bin interval is set to logarithmic particle size, the particle size bin is set to 256 particle size bin, and the particle size range is set to 2 μm to 60 μm.

  The specific measurement method is as follows.

  (1) About 200 ml of the electrolytic solution is placed in a glass 250 ml round bottom beaker exclusively for Multisizer 3, set on a sample stand, and the stirrer rod is stirred counterclockwise at 24 rpm. Then, the dirt and bubbles in the aperture tube are removed by the “aperture flush” function of the dedicated software.

  (2) About 30 ml of the electrolytic aqueous solution is put into a glass 100 ml flat bottom beaker. In this, "Contaminone N" (nonionic surfactant, anionic surfactant, 10% by weight aqueous solution of neutral detergent for pH7 precision measuring instrument cleaning, made by organic builder, manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd. About 0.3 ml of a diluted solution obtained by diluting 3) with ion-exchanged water is added.

  (3) Two oscillators with an oscillation frequency of 50 kHz are incorporated with the phase shifted by 180 degrees, and an ultrasonic disperser “Ultrasonic Dissipation System Tetora 150” (manufactured by Nikkaki Bios Co., Ltd.) having an electrical output of 120 W is prepared. About 3.3 l of ion-exchanged water is placed in the water tank of the ultrasonic disperser, and about 2 ml of Contaminone N is added to the water tank.

  (4) The beaker of (2) is set in the beaker fixing hole of the ultrasonic disperser, and the ultrasonic disperser is operated. Then, the height position of the beaker is adjusted so that the resonance state of the liquid surface of the electrolytic aqueous solution in the beaker is maximized.

(5) In a state where the electrolytic aqueous solution in the beaker of (4) is irradiated with ultrasonic waves, about 10 mg of toner is added to the electrolytic aqueous solution little by little and dispersed. Then, the ultrasonic dispersion process is continued for another 60 seconds. In ultrasonic dispersion, the water temperature in the water tank is appropriately adjusted so as to be 10 ° C. or higher and 40 ° C. or lower.

(6) Using a pipette, drop the dispersed electrolyte aqueous solution of (5) above into the round bottom beaker of (1) installed in a sample stand, and adjust the measured concentration to about 5%. Measurement is performed until the number of measured particles reaches 50,000.

(7) The measurement data is analyzed with the dedicated software attached to the apparatus, and the weight average particle diameter (D4) and the number average particle diameter (D1) are calculated. Incidentally, when set to graph /% by volume the dedicated software, a "analysis / volume statistics (arithmetic average)""averagediameter" is the weight average particle diameter of the screen (D4), the graph in the dedicated software / When the number% is set, the “average diameter” on the “analysis / number statistics (arithmetic average)” screen is the number average particle diameter (D1).

<Maximum endothermic peak temperature (Tp), half width measurement method>
In the present invention, the peak temperature (Tp) of the maximum endothermic peak of the toner composition, heated holding material, crystalline polyester and block polymer contained in the toner composition is the scanning scanning calorimeter DSC Q1000 (manufactured by TA Instruments). Use and measure under the following conditions.

Temperature increase rate: 10 ° C / min
Measurement start temperature: 20 ° C
Measurement end temperature: 180 ° C

  The temperature correction of the device detection unit uses the melting points of indium and zinc, and the correction of heat uses the heat of fusion of indium.

  Specifically, about 5 mg of a sample is precisely weighed, placed in a silver pan, and measured once. A silver empty pan is used as a reference. The peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak at that time is defined as Tp. Here, the maximum endothermic peak is a peak having the maximum endothermic amount when there are a plurality of peaks. Further, the temperature width at a half height with respect to the peak height of the maximum endothermic peak is defined as a half width.

<Measurement method of content (mass basis) of crystalline polyester>
In the present invention, the content (mass basis) of the crystalline polyester in the block polymer used is measured by 1H-NMR under the following conditions.

Measuring apparatus: FT NMR apparatus JNM-EX400 (manufactured by JEOL Ltd.)
Measurement frequency: 400MHz
Pulse condition: 5.0μs
Frequency range: 10500Hz
Integration count: 64 times Measurement temperature: 30 ° C

A sample (block polymer) 50 mg is put into a sample tube having an inner diameter of 5 mm, deuterated chloroform (CDCl ₃ ) is added as a solvent, and this is dissolved in a constant temperature bath at 40 ° C. to prepare a measurement sample. The measurement sample is measured under the above conditions to obtain a 1H-NMR chart. From the obtained IH-NMR chart, from the peak attributed to the components of the crystalline polyester, to select an independent peak and peak attributable to other components, the integrated values S ₁ for the peak calculate. Similarly, among the peaks attributed to the components of the amorphous region, to select an independent peak and peak attributable to other components, an integrated value S ₂ is calculated for this peak. The content of the crystalline polyester, by using the integrated value S ₁ and the integrated value S _2, obtained as follows. Incidentally, n _1, n ₂ is the number of your Keru hydrogen components peak focuses are assigned.

Content (% by mass) of crystalline polyester = {(S ₁ / n ₁ ) / ((S ₁ / n ₁ ) + (S ₂ / n ₂ ))} × 100

<Measuring method of glass transition temperature (Tg)>
In the present invention, the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the amorphous resin used is measured using an inspection scanning calorimeter DSC Q1000 (manufactured by TA Instruments) under the following conditions.

Measurement mode: Modulation mode Temperature increase rate: 2 ° C / min
Modulation temperature amplitude: ± 0.6 ° C / min
Frequency: 1 time / min
Measurement start temperature: 20 ° C
Measurement end temperature: 150 ° C

  The temperature correction of the device detection unit uses the melting points of indium and zinc, and the correction of heat uses the heat of fusion of indium.

  Specifically, about 5 mg of a sample is precisely weighed, placed in a silver pan, and measured using an empty silver pan as a reference. The measurement is performed only once. From the obtained reversing heat flow curve at the time of temperature rise, draw the tangent line between the endothermic curve and the baseline before and after, and find the midpoint of the straight line connecting the intersection of each tangent line This is the glass transition temperature.

<Measurement method of melting point of wax>
In the present invention, the melting point of the wax used is measured under the following conditions using DSC Q1000 (manufactured by TA Instruments).

Temperature increase rate: 10 ° C / min
Measurement start temperature: 20 ° C
Measurement end temperature: 180 ° C

  The temperature correction of the device detection unit uses the melting points of indium and zinc, and the correction of heat uses the heat of fusion of indium.

  Specifically, about 2 mg of a sample is precisely weighed, placed in a silver pan, and measured using an empty silver pan as a reference. In the measurement, the temperature is once raised to 200 ° C., subsequently lowered to 30 ° C., and then heated again. In the second temperature raising process, the temperature showing the maximum endothermic peak of the DSC curve in the temperature range of 30 ° C. to 200 ° C. is defined as the melting point of the wax. The maximum endothermic peak means a peak having the largest endothermic amount when there are a plurality of peaks.

<Method of measuring number average molecular weight (Mn) and weight average molecular weight (Mw)>
In the present invention, the number average molecular weight (Mn) and the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble part of the resin are measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) as follows.

(1) Preparation of measurement sample Resin (sample) and THF were mixed at a concentration of about 0.5 to 5 mg / ml (for example, about 5 mg / ml) and left at room temperature for several hours (for example, 5 to 6 hours). After that, the mixture was sufficiently shaken, and the THF and the sample were mixed well until there was no union of the sample. Furthermore, it left still at room temperature for 12 hours or more (for example, 24 hours). At this time , the time from the start of mixing the sample and THF to the end of standing was set to 24 hours or longer.

Thereafter, a sample processing filter (pore size 0.45 to 0.5 μm, Mysori Disc H-25-2 [manufactured by Tosoh Corp.], Excro Disc 25CR [manufactured by Gelman Science Japan Ltd.] is preferably used) is passed. This was used as a GPC sample.

(2) A column is stabilized in a heat chamber of the measurement of the sample 40 ° C., to your Keru column at this temperature, THF as a solvent at a flow rate per minute 1 ml, the sample concentration to 0.5 ~ 5 mg / ml Measurement was performed by injecting 50 to 200 μl of a THF sample solution of the prepared resin.

  In measuring the molecular weight of the sample, the molecular weight distribution of the sample was calculated from the relationship between the logarithmic value of the calibration curve prepared from several monodisperse polystyrene standard samples and the number of counts.

As a standard polystyrene sample for preparing a calibration curve, Pressure Chemical Co. Ltd. is stomach made by Toyo Soda Kogyo Co., molecular weight of ^{6.0 × 10 2, 2.1 × 10} 3, 4.0 × 10 3, 1.75 × 10 4, 5.1 × 10 4, 1. 1 × 10 ⁵ , 3.9 × 10 ⁵ , 8.6 × 10 ⁵ , 2.0 × 10 ⁶ , 4.48 × 10 ⁶ were used. An RI (refractive index) detector was used as the detector.

In addition , as the column, in order to accurately measure a molecular weight region of 1 × 10 ³ to 2 × 10 ⁶ , a plurality of commercially available polystyrene gel columns were used in combination as described below. The measurement conditions of GPC in the present invention are as follows.

[GPC measurement conditions]
Apparatus: LC-GPC 150C (manufactured by Waters)
Column: 7 series of Showdex KF801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806, 807 (manufactured by Showa Denko KK) Column temperature: 40 ° C
Mobile phase: THF (tetrahydrofuran)

<Method for measuring particle diameter of resin fine particles>
In the present invention, the particle diameter of the resin fine particles is measured using a Microtrac particle size distribution measuring apparatus HRA (X-100) (manufactured by Nikkiso Co., Ltd.) with a range setting of 0.001 μm to 10 μm, and the number average particle diameter (μm Or nm). Note that water is selected as the dilution solvent.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although an Example and a comparative example demonstrate this invention concretely, this does not limit this invention at all. Incidentally, parts and% in the examples and comparative examples are particularly if no otherwise specified, all weight.

<Synthesis of crystalline polyester 1>
The following raw materials were charged into a heat-dried two-necked flask while introducing nitrogen.

Sebacic acid 136.8 parts by mass 1,4-butanediol 63.2 parts by mass Dibutyltin oxide 0.1 parts by mass

  After replacing the interior of the system with nitrogen by depressurization, the mixture was stirred at 180 ° C. for 6 hours. Thereafter, the temperature was gradually raised to 230 ° C. under reduced pressure while continuing the stirring, and was further maintained for 2 hours. Crystalline polyester 1 was synthesize | combined by air-cooling when it became a viscous state and stopping reaction. The obtained crystalline polyester 1 had Mn of 4,900, Mw of 11,300, and Tp of 66 ° C.

<Synthesis of crystalline polyester 2>
In the synthesis of the crystalline polyester 1, the crystalline polyester 2 was synthesized in the same manner except that the raw materials were changed as follows. The obtained crystalline polyester 2 had Mn of 5,000, Mw of 11,500, and Tp of 61 ° C.

Sebacic acid 112.5 parts by mass Adipic acid 22.0 parts by mass 1,4-butanediol 65.5 parts by mass Dibutyltin oxide 0.1 parts by mass

<Synthesis of crystalline polyester 3>
In the synthesis of the crystalline polyester 1, the crystalline polyester 3 was synthesized in the same manner except that the raw material charge was changed as follows. The obtained crystalline polyester 3 had Mn of 4,900, Mw of 10,800, and Tp of 74 ° C.

-Tetradecanedioic acid 135.0 parts by mass-1,6-hexanediol 65.0 parts by mass-Dibutyltin oxide 0.1 parts by mass

<Synthesis of Amorphous Resin 1>
The following raw materials were charged into a heat-dried two-necked flask while introducing nitrogen.

Polyoxypropylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane 30.0 parts by mass Polyoxyethylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane 34 0.0 parts by mass-30.0 parts by mass of terephthalic acid-6.0 parts by mass of fumaric acid-0.1 parts by mass of dibutyltin oxide

  After the inside of the system was purged with nitrogen by depressurization, stirring was performed at 215 ° C. for 5 hours. Thereafter, the temperature was gradually raised to 230 ° C. under reduced pressure while continuing the stirring, and was further maintained for 2 hours. When it became a viscous state, it was air-cooled to stop the reaction, thereby obtaining an amorphous resin 1 which was an amorphous polyester. The obtained amorphous resin 1 had Mn of 2,200, Mw of 9,800, and Tg of 60 ° C.

<Synthesis of Amorphous Resin 2>
Amorphous resin 2 was obtained in the same manner as in the synthesis of amorphous resin 1 except that the raw material charge was changed as follows. The obtained amorphous resin 2 had Mn of 7,200, Mw of 43,000, and Tg of 63 ° C.

Polyoxypropylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane 30.0 parts by mass Polyoxyethylene (2.2) -2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane 33 0.0 part by mass-21.0 parts by mass of terephthalic acid-1.0 part by mass of trimellitic anhydride-3.0 parts by mass of fumaric acid-12.0 parts by mass of dodecenyl succinic acid-0.1 parts by mass of dibutyltin oxide

<Synthesis of block polymer 1>
-Crystalline polyester 1 210.0 parts by mass-Xylylene diisocyanate 56.0 parts by mass-Cyclohexanedimethanol 34.0 parts by mass-Tetrahydrofuran 300.0 parts by mass

  The above was charged into a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer while purging with nitrogen. The mixture was heated to 50 ° C. and subjected to urethanization reaction for 15 hours. Thereafter, 3.0 parts by mass of tertiary butyl alcohol was added to modify the isocyanate terminal. The solvent, THF, was distilled off to obtain block polymer 1. The obtained block polymer 1 had Mn of 15,900, Mw of 33,700, and Tp of 58 ° C. Moreover, the ratio of the crystalline polyester in the block polymer 1 computed from the result of 1H-NMR measurement was 70 mass%.

<Synthesis of block polymer 2>
-Crystalline polyester 2 165.0 parts by mass-Amorphous resin 1 135.0 parts by mass-Dibutyltin oxide 0.1 parts by mass

  The above was charged into a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a thermometer while purging with nitrogen. The mixture was heated to 200 ° C. and subjected to esterification reaction for 5 hours to obtain block polymer 2. The obtained block polymer 2 had Mn of 18,700, Mw of 71,100, and Tp of 52 ° C. Moreover, the ratio of the crystalline polyester in the block polymer 2 calculated from the result of 1H-NMR measurement was 55 mass%.

<Preparation of block polymer resin solution 1>
In a beaker equipped with a stirrer, 500.0 parts by mass of acetone, 1 part of block polymer, and 500.0 parts by mass were added, and stirring was continued until the polymer was completely dissolved to prepare a block polymer resin solution 1.

<Preparation of block polymer resin solution 2>
Into a beaker equipped with a stirrer, 500.0 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone, 2 parts of block polymer, and 500.0 parts by mass were added, and stirring was continued until it was completely dissolved to prepare a block polymer resin solution 2.

<Preparation of crystalline polyester dispersion 1>
-Crystalline polyester 3 115.0 parts by mass-Ionic surfactant Neogen RK (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku) 5.0 parts by mass-Ion-exchanged water 180.0 parts by mass

  The above components were mixed, heated to 100 ° C., and sufficiently dispersed with IKA Ultra Turrax T50, followed by dispersion treatment with a pressure discharge type gorin homogenizer for 1 hour, a number average particle size of 200 nm, solid content Of 40% by weight of crystalline polyester dispersion 1 was obtained.

<Preparation of amorphous resin dispersion 1>
An amorphous resin dispersion 1 was prepared in the same manner as in the preparation of the crystalline polyester dispersion 1, except that the crystalline polyester 3 was changed to the amorphous resin 2.

<Preparation of resin fine particle dispersion 1>
A two-necked flask equipped with a dropping funnel was dried by heating and charged with 870.0 parts by mass of normal hexane. In a separate beaker, 42.0 parts by mass of normal hexane, 52.0 parts by mass of behenyl acrylate (an acrylate of an alcohol having a linear alkyl group with 22 carbon atoms), and 0.3 parts by mass of azobismethoxydimethylvaleronitrile are charged. The monomer solution was prepared by stirring and mixing at 20 ° C. and introduced into the dropping funnel.

  After the reaction vessel was purged with nitrogen, the monomer solution was added dropwise over one hour at 40 ° C. in a sealed state. Stirring was continued for 3 hours after the completion of dropping, and a mixture of 0.3 parts by mass of azobismethoxydimethylvaleronitrile and 42.0 parts by mass of normal hexane was added again, followed by stirring at 40 ° C. for 3 hours.

  Then, it cooled to room temperature and obtained the resin fine particle dispersion 1 with a number average particle diameter of 200 nm and solid content of 20 mass%.

<Preparation of resin fine particle dispersion 2>
The following monomers were charged in a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer, a condenser, a thermometer, and a nitrogen introduction tube, heated to 67 ° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere, and reacted for 1 hour with stirring.

Polyester diol having a number average molecular weight of about 2000 obtained from a 40:50:10 (molar basis) mixture of propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and butanediol and an equimolar mixture of terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid: 127.2 parts by mass Propylene glycol: 49.3 parts by mass Dimethylol propanoic acid: 62.3 parts by mass Sodium N, N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) -2-aminoethanesulfonate: 5.2 parts by mass Isophorone diisocyanate: 57.1 parts by mass Acetone: 60.0 parts by mass

  Next, 218.0 parts by mass of hexamethylene diisocyanate was added, and the mixture was further reacted at a temperature of 67 ° C. for 30 minutes, and then cooled. After adding 100.0 parts by mass of acetone to this, 70.0 parts by mass of triethylamine was further added.

  The acetone solution was added dropwise to 1000 parts by mass of ion-exchanged water with stirring at 500 rpm to prepare a fine particle dispersion. Next, an elongation solution was carried out by adding an aqueous solution in which 50.0 parts by mass of ethylenediamine was dissolved in 100.0 parts by mass of 10% ammonia water and reacting at a temperature of 50 ° C. for 8 hours.

  Then, it cooled to room temperature and ion-exchange water was added, and the resin fine particle dispersion 2 with a number average particle diameter of 180 nm and solid content of 20 mass% was obtained.

<Preparation of Colorant Dispersion 1>
・ C. I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 100.0 parts by mass Acetone 150.0 parts by mass Glass beads (1 mm) 300.0 parts by mass

  The above material was put into a heat-resistant glass container, dispersed for 5 hours with a paint shaker (manufactured by Toyo Seiki), glass beads were removed with a nylon mesh, and a colorant dispersion 1 was obtained.

<Preparation of Colorant Dispersion 2>
・ C. I. Pigment Blue 15: 3 45.0 parts by mass-Ionic surfactant Neogen RK (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku) 5.0 parts by mass-Ion-exchanged water 200.0 parts by mass

  The above materials were put into a heat-resistant glass container, dispersed for 5 hours with a paint shaker (manufactured by Toyo Seiki), glass beads were removed with a nylon mesh, and a colorant dispersion 2 was obtained.

<Preparation of wax dispersion 1>
Carnauba wax (melting point 81 ° C.) 16.0 parts by mass Nitrile group-containing styrene acrylic resin (styrene 65.0 parts by mass, n-butyl acrylate 35.0 parts by mass, acrylonitrile 10.0 parts by mass, peak molecular weight 8500)
8.0 parts by mass Acetone 76.0 parts by mass

  The above was put into a glass beaker (made by IWAKI glass) with a stirring blade, and the inside of the system was heated to 70 ° C. to dissolve carnauba wax in acetone.

  Next, the system was gradually cooled while gently stirring at 50 rpm, and cooled to 25 ° C. over 3 hours to obtain a milky white liquid. This solution was put into a heat-resistant container together with 20.0 parts by mass of 1 mm glass beads, and dispersed for 3 hours with a paint shaker to obtain wax dispersion 1.

  When the wax particle size in the wax dispersion 1 was measured with a Microtrac particle size distribution analyzer HRA (X-100) (manufactured by Nikkiso Co., Ltd.), the number average particle size was 200 nm.

<Preparation of wax dispersion 2>
Paraffin wax HNP10 (melting point: 75 ° C., Nippon Seiwa Co., Ltd.) 45.0 parts by mass Cationic surfactant Neogen RK (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku) 5.0 parts by mass ion exchanged water 200.0 parts by mass

  The above is mixed and heated to 95 ° C., and sufficiently dispersed with IKA Ultra Turrax T50, then dispersed with a pressure discharge type gorin homogenizer, and a wax having a number average particle size of 200 nm and a solid content of 25% by mass. Dispersion 2 was obtained.

<Example 1>
(Manufacturing process of toner particles)
In the apparatus of FIG. 1, first, the valves V1 and V2 and the pressure adjustment valve V3 are closed, and the resin fine particle dispersion 1 is placed in a pressure-resistant granulation tank T1 having a filter and a stirring mechanism for capturing toner particles. The internal temperature was adjusted to 30 ° C. Next, the valve V1 was opened, carbon dioxide (purity 99.99%) was introduced into the granulation tank T1 from the cylinder B1 using the pump P1, and the valve V1 was closed when the internal pressure reached 5 MPa.

  On the other hand, the block polymer resin solution 1, the wax dispersion 1, the colorant dispersion 1, and acetone were charged into the resin solution tank T2, and the internal temperature was adjusted to 30 ° C.

  Next, the valve V2 is opened and the contents of the resin solution tank T2 are introduced into the granulation tank T1 using the pump P2 while stirring the inside of the granulation tank T1 at 2000 rpm. Valve V2 was closed. After the introduction, the internal pressure of the granulation tank T1 was 8 MPa.

In addition , the preparation amount (mass ratio) of various materials is as follows.
-Block polymer resin solution 1 160.0 parts by mass-Wax dispersion 1 62.5 parts by mass-Colorant dispersion 1 12.5 parts by mass-Acetone 35.0 parts by mass-Resin fine particle dispersion 1 37.5 parts by mass・ 320.0 parts by mass of carbon dioxide

The mass of the introduced carbon dioxide is calculated from the temperature equation of carbon dioxide (30 ° C.) and the pressure (8 MPa), and the density of carbon dioxide is calculated from the state equation described in the following document. Calculated by multiplying. (Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference data, vol. 25, P. 1509-1596)

  After the introduction of the contents of the resin solution tank T2 into the granulation tank T1, granulation was performed by further stirring at 2000 rpm for 3 minutes.

  Next, the valve V1 was opened, and carbon dioxide was introduced into the granulation tank T1 from the cylinder B1 using the pump P1. At this time, the pressure regulating valve V3 was set to 10 MPa, and carbon dioxide was further circulated while maintaining the internal pressure of the granulation tank T1 at 10 MPa. By this operation, carbon dioxide containing the organic solvent (mainly acetone) extracted from the granulated droplets was discharged to the solvent recovery tank T3, and the organic solvent and carbon dioxide were separated.

  The introduction of carbon dioxide into the granulation tank T1 was stopped when it reached 5 times the mass of carbon dioxide initially introduced into the granulation tank T1. At this point, the operation of replacing carbon dioxide containing an organic solvent with carbon dioxide containing no organic solvent was completed.

  Further, the pressure adjusting valve V3 was opened little by little, and the internal pressure of the granulation tank T1 was reduced to atmospheric pressure to obtain toner particles 1 supplemented by the filter.

(Annealing process)
[Step (A)]
The obtained toner particles 1 were subjected to DSC measurement, and the peak temperature (Tp1) of the maximum endothermic peak (P1) was determined to be 58 ° C. Moreover, the half width of the peak (P1) was 4.9 ° C.

  The annealing treatment was performed using a constant temperature dryer (Satake Chemical 41-S5). First, the internal temperature of the constant temperature dryer was adjusted to 48 ° C. Next, the toner particles 1 were spread evenly in a stainless steel vat, placed in the constant temperature dryer and allowed to stand for 4 hours, and then taken out.

  In this way, annealing treatment was performed at a temperature (T1) of 48 ° C. and a time (t1) of 4 hours.

[Step (B)]
After the annealing treatment was completed, a part of the toner particles 1 was extracted and subjected to DSC measurement, and the peak temperature (Tp2) of the maximum endothermic peak (P2) was determined. Moreover, the half width of the peak (P2) was 3.4 ° C.

  The internal temperature of the constant temperature dryer was raised to 56 ° C., and the stainless steel vat containing the toner particles 1 was again placed in the constant temperature dryer and allowed to stand for 8 hours, and then taken out.

Thus, annealing treatment was performed at a temperature (T2) of 56 ° C. and a time (t2) of 8 hours to obtain toner particles 1 subjected to the annealing treatment.

(Toner preparation process)
1.8 parts by mass of hydrophobic silica fine powder treated with hexamethyldisilazane (number average primary particle size: 7 nm), rutile type titanium oxide fine powder with respect to 100.0 parts by mass of the annealed toner particles 1 Toner 1 was obtained by dry-mixing 0.15 parts by mass (number average primary particle size: 30 nm) for 5 minutes with a Henschel mixer (Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.). The properties of the obtained toner 1 are shown in Table 1.

<Comparative Examples 1 and 2>
In Example 1, the temperature in the annealing step (A) (T1), and, to change time (t1) to the conditions shown in Table 1, except for not performing the annealing process (B) is that of Example 1 In the same manner, toners 2 and 3 were obtained. The properties of the obtained toners 2 and 3 are shown in Table 1.

<Examples 2 to 4, Comparative Examples 3 and 4>
In Example 1, except that the temperature (T1) in the annealing process (A) and the temperature (T2) in the annealing process (B) were changed to the conditions shown in Table 1, all were the same as in Example 1. Toners 4 to 8 were obtained. The properties of the obtained toners 4 to 8 are shown in Table 1.

<Examples 5 to 7, Comparative Examples 5 and 6>
In Example 1, toners 9 to 13 were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the temperature (T2) in the annealing process (B) was changed to the conditions shown in Table 1. Table 1 shows the properties of the obtained toners 9 to 13.

<Examples 8 to 12>
In Example 1, except that the time (t1) in the annealing process (A) and the temperature (T2) in the annealing process (B) were changed to the conditions shown in Table 1, all were the same as in Example 1. Toners 14 to 18 were obtained. The properties of the obtained toners 14 to 18 are shown in Table 1.

<Examples 13 to 17>
In Example 1, toners 19 to 23 were obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the time (t2) in the annealing process (B) was changed to the conditions shown in Table 1. Table 1 shows the properties of the obtained toners 19 to 23.

<Example 18>
Toner particles 2 were obtained in the following manner to obtain toner particles 2.

The obtained toner particles 2 were used except that the temperature (T1) in the annealing process (A) of Example 1 and the temperature (T2) in the annealing process (B) were changed to the conditions shown in Table 1. In the same manner as in Example 1, a toner 24 was obtained. The properties of the obtained toner 24 are shown in Table 1.

(Manufacturing process of toner particles)
[Preparation of oil phase]
-Block polymer resin solution 2 154.0 parts by mass-Wax dispersion 1 62.5 parts by mass-Colorant dispersion 1 20.0 parts by mass-Triethylamine 0.5 parts by mass-Ethyl acetate 13.0 parts by mass

  The above materials are put into a container, and a homodisper (manufactured by Tokushu Kika Kogyo Co., Ltd.) is used to stir and disperse at a rotational speed of 5000 rpm for 10 minutes to prepare a solution of the material constituting the toner particles. did.

[Preparation of aqueous phase]
The following was put into a container, and the mixture was stirred for 1 minute at a rotational speed of 5000 rpm using a TK homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika Co., Ltd.) to prepare an aqueous phase.

-Ion-exchanged water 225.5 parts by mass-Resin fine particle dispersion 2 25.0 parts by mass-50% aqueous solution of dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate sodium (Eleminol MON-7, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical Industries) 25.0 parts by mass-Ethyl acetate 30 .0 parts by mass

[Emulsification / solvent removal]
The oil phase is charged into the water phase, and a TK homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika Co., Ltd.) is used for stirring for 1 minute at a rotation speed of 8000 rpm to suspend the solution of the material constituting the toner particles, and drop the droplets. Formed.

Then, a stirring blade in a vessel, with stirring at 200rpm the temperature of the system was raised to 40 ° C., One or was carried out over 3 hours desolvation in a state of reduced pressure of 500 mmHg.

  After cooling, a 0.2 mol / liter hydrochloric acid aqueous solution was added until the pH of the dispersion reached 1.5, and stirring was further continued for 30 minutes, followed by filtration, washing with water and drying to obtain toner particles 2. The obtained toner particles 2 had a maximum endothermic peak (P1) peak temperature (Tp1) of 52 ° C. and a half-value width of 5.2 ° C. as measured by DSC.

<Comparative Example 7>
In Example 18, the temperature (T1) and the time (t1) in the annealing process (A) were changed to the conditions shown in Table 1, and the annealing process (B) was not performed. In the same manner, toner 25 was obtained. The properties of the obtained toner 25 are shown in Table 1.

<Example 19>
Toner particles were produced in the following manner to obtain toner particles 3.

The obtained toner particles 3 were used except that the temperature (T1) in the annealing process (A) of Example 1 and the temperature (T2) in the annealing process (B) were changed to the conditions shown in Table 1. In the same manner as in Example 1, a toner 26 was obtained. Table 1 shows the properties of the obtained toner 26.

(Manufacturing process of toner particles)
-Crystalline polyester dispersion 1 63.7 parts-Amorphous resin dispersion 1 148.8 parts-Colorant dispersion 2 27.8 parts-Wax dispersion 2 55.6 parts-Polyaluminum chloride 0.41 parts by mass

  Each of the above components was charged into a round stainless steel flask, and thoroughly mixed and dispersed with Ultra Turrax T50 (manufactured by IKA). Next, 0.36 parts by mass of polyaluminum chloride was added thereto, and the dispersion operation was continued with an ultra turrax T50. The flask was heated to 47 ° C. with stirring in an oil bath for heating, and maintained at this temperature for 60 minutes. Then, 17.5 parts by mass of the resin fine particle dispersion 1 was gradually added thereto. Thereafter, the pH of the system was adjusted to 5.4 with a 0.5 mol / L sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, and then the stainless steel flask was sealed and heated to 96 ° C. while continuing to stir using a magnetic seal for 5 hours. Retained.

  After completion of the reaction, the mixture was cooled, filtered, thoroughly washed with ion exchange water, and then subjected to solid-liquid separation by suction filtration. Further, this was redispersed in 3 L of ion exchange water at 40 ° C., and stirred and washed at 300 rpm for 15 minutes. This was repeated five more times, and when the pH of the filtrate reached 7.0, solid-liquid separation was performed by suction filtration. Next, vacuum drying was continued for 12 hours to obtain toner particles 3. The obtained toner particles 3 had a maximum endothermic peak (P1) peak temperature (Tp1) of 63 ° C. and a half width of 5.8 ° C. as measured by DSC.

<Comparative Example 8>
In Example 19, the temperature in the annealing step (A) (T1), and, to change time (t1) to the conditions shown in Table 1, except for not performing the annealing process (B) is that of Example 19 The toner 27 was obtained in the same manner. Table 1 shows the characteristics of the obtained toner 27.

<Example 20>
(Toner preparation process)
Using toner particles 1 obtained in the toner particle production process of Example 1, hydrophobic silica fine powder and rutile titanium oxide fine powder were mixed in the same manner as in Example 1, and inorganic fine particles were externally added to toner particles 1. An attached toner was obtained.

(Annealing process)
[Step (A)]
The toner obtained by adding inorganic fine particles to the toner particle 1 was subjected to DSC measurement, and the peak temperature (Tp1) of the maximum endothermic peak (P1) was determined to be 58 ° C. Moreover, the half width of the peak (P1) was 4.9 ° C.

  The toner was annealed in the same manner as in Example 1 by adjusting the internal temperature of the thermostatic dryer to 48 ° C., and setting the temperature (T1) to 48 ° C. and the time (t1) to 4 hours.

[Step (B)]
After the annealing treatment was completed, a part of the toner was taken out and subjected to DSC measurement, and the peak temperature (Tp2) of the maximum endothermic peak (P2) was determined. Moreover, the half value width was 3.4 degreeC.

  In the same manner as in Example 1, the internal temperature of the constant temperature dryer was raised to 56 ° C., and annealing treatment was performed at a temperature (T2) of 56 ° C. and a time (t2) of 8 hours.

  Thus, the annealed toner 28 was obtained. The properties of the obtained toner 28 are shown in Table 1.

<Examples 21 and 22, Comparative Examples 9 and 10>
Example 20 except that the temperature (T1) in the annealing process (A) and the temperature (T2) in the annealing process (B) were changed to the conditions shown in Table 1 in Example 20.
In the same manner, toners 29 to 32 were obtained. The properties of the obtained toners 29 to 32 are shown in Table 1.

<Evaluation method>
Toner 1-32 obtained in this manner, respectively, normal temperature and normal humidity environment (23 ℃, 60% RH) which was allowed to stand for 24 hours, and, 40 ° C., which was left for 60 days in severe environment of 95% RH Were prepared and evaluated as follows. The evaluation results are shown in Table 2.

(Heat resistant storage stability)
Normal-temperature, normal-humidity environment (23 ℃, 60% RH) each toner was left standing for 24 hours, and placed 40 ° C., each toner about 10g was left for 60 days in severe environment of 95% RH in plastic cup of 100 ml, 50 After standing for 3 days in a thermostat adjusted to ℃ and 55 ℃, it was visually evaluated.

Evaluation criteria for heat-resistant storage stability are as follows. In addition , the following A, B, and C have no problem. The following D and E cause problems in practice.

A: No agglomerates are confirmed, and the state is almost the same as in the initial stage.
B: Although slightly agglomerated, it is in a state where it collapses by shaking the polycup lightly 5 times.
C: Although it is agglomerated, it is in a state where it can be easily loosened when loosened with a finger.
D: At a level where aggregation is severe and problems occur in actual use.
E: Solidified and cannot be used.

(Low temperature fixability)
For each toner left for 24 hours in a normal temperature and humidity environment (23 ° C., 60% RH), a low-temperature fixability was evaluated using a commercially available Canon printer LBP5300.

The LBP 5300 employs one-component contact development and regulates the amount of toner on the development carrier by a toner regulating member. As the evaluation cartridge, the toner contained in a commercially available cartridge was removed, the inside was cleaned by air blow, and the one filled with the toner was used. The cartridge was attached to the cyan station, and a dummy cartridge was attached to the other. Next, an unfixed toner image (toner applied amount per unit area of 0.6 mg / cm ² ) was formed on a thick A4 paper (“Prober Bond paper”: 105 g / m ² , manufactured by Fox River).

  The fixing device of a commercially available Canon printer LBP5900 was modified so that the fixing temperature could be manually set, and the rotation speed of the fixing device was changed to 245 mm / s, and the pressure in the nip was changed to 98 kPa. Using this modified fixing device, the fixing temperature at each temperature of the unfixed image is increased while increasing the fixing temperature by 5 ° C. in the range of 80 ° C. to 180 ° C. in a normal temperature and humidity environment (23 ° C., 60% RH). I got an image.

  The image area of the obtained fixed image was covered with a soft thin paper (for example, trade name “Dasper”, manufactured by Ozu Sangyo Co., Ltd.), and rubbed 5 times while applying a load of 4.9 kPa on the thin paper.

  The image density before and after the rubbing was measured, the image density reduction rate ΔD (%) was calculated by the following formula, and the temperature at which this ΔD (%) was 10% or less was defined as the fixing start temperature.

  The image density was measured with a color reflection densitometer (Color reflection densitometer X-Rite 404A: manufacturer X-Rite).

  ΔD (%) = (image density before rubbing−image density after rubbing) / image density before rubbing × 100

Evaluation criteria for low-temperature fixability are as follows. In addition , the following A, B, and C have no problem. The following D and E cause problems in practice.

A: Fixing start temperature is less than 100 ° C. (low temperature fixing performance is particularly excellent)
B: Fixing start temperature is 100 ° C. or higher and lower than 110 ° C. (low temperature fixing performance is excellent)
C: Fixing start temperature is 110 ° C. or higher and lower than 120 ° C. (low-temperature fixing performance is at a level where there is no problem)
D: Fixing start temperature is 120 ° C. or higher and lower than 130 ° C. (low temperature fixing performance is slightly inferior)
E: Fixing start temperature is 130 ° C. or higher (low temperature fixing performance is poor)

(Hot offset resistance)
For each toner left for 24 hours in a normal temperature and humidity environment (23 ° C., 60% RH), the paper used in the evaluation of the low-temperature fixability is plain paper A4 paper (“Office Planner”: 64 g / m ² , manufactured by Canon). And fixed in the same procedure to obtain a fixed image at each temperature.

  With respect to the obtained fixed image, the presence or absence of an offset due to the previous period toner in the second round portion of the fixing device was visually observed, and the maximum temperature lower than the temperature at which the offset was observed was determined as the upper limit fixing temperature. For those in which no offset occurred up to 180 ° C., 180 ° C. was set as the upper limit fixing temperature.

The difference between the fixing start temperature of the low temperature fixability and the fixing upper limit temperature (fixing upper limit temperature−fixing starting temperature) was set as a fixable temperature region, and hot offset resistance was evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria. In addition , the following A, B, and C have no problem. The following D and E cause problems in practice.

A: Fixable temperature range is 50 ° C. or higher B: Fixable temperature range is 40 ° C. or higher and 45 ° C. or lower C: Fixable temperature range is 30 ° C. or lower and 35 ° C. or lower D: Fixable temperature range is 20 ° C. or higher and 25 ° C. or lower E : Fixable temperature range is below 15 ° C

(Image density)
The image density of each toner left for 60 days in a harsh environment of 40 ° C. and 95% RH was evaluated as follows.

Using the above-described evaluation machine and the above-described cartridge, the toner application amount is 0.35 mg / cm ² in a solid image on a Canon color laser copier paper in a normal temperature and humidity environment (23 ° C., 60%). The image after adjustment was prepared.

  The density of the produced image was evaluated using a reflection densitometer (500 Series Spectrodensimeter) manufactured by X-rite.

The evaluation criteria are as follows. In addition , the following A, B, and C have no problem. The following D and E cause problems in practice.

A: Reflection density 1.50 or more B: Reflection density 1.45 or more and less than 1.50 C: Reflection density 1.40 or more and less than 1.45 D: Reflection density 1.30 or more and less than 1.40 E: Reflection density Less than 30

T1 granulation tank T2 resin solution tank T3 solvent recovery tank B1 carbon dioxide cylinder P1, P2 pump V1, V2 valve V3 pressure adjustment valve

Claims (5)

Binder resin containing a crystalline polyester, a colorant, and a method for producing a toner comprising the step of heating and maintaining the toner composition having containing a wax,
The toner composition, the step of dissolving the crystalline polyester in an organic solvent, a and, compositions produced via at least one of the steps of heating to above the melting point of the crystalline polyester,
Wherein the crystalline polyester, the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak in differential scanning calorimetry, is at 8 0 ° C. or less over 50 ° C. or more,
Wherein the step of heating and holding is obtained the toner composition, in the process of heating and holding at a temperature T1 (° C.) under the conditions of the following formula (1) (A), and said step (A) The method includes a step (B) of heating and holding the obtained heated holding material at a temperature T2 (° C.) higher than the temperature T1 (° C.) and represented by the following formula (2). Toner manufacturing method.
Tp1-20 ≦ T1 ≦ Tp1-5 (1)
(In formula (1) , Tp1 represents the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P1) in the differential scanning calorimetry of the toner composition .)
T p2-10 ≦ T2 ≦ Tp2-2 (2)
(In the formula (2) , Tp2 represents the peak temperature of the maximum endothermic peak (P2) in the differential scanning calorimetry of the heated holding material obtained in the step (A) .) The binder resin, method for producing a toner according to the crystalline polyester in 50 wt% or more including claim 1. Heating and holding time in the step (A) (t1) is not more than 1 0 hour on 1 hour or more,
The heating and holding time in the step (B) (t2) is not more than 2 hours or more on 2 0 hours, One or,
The total time of heating and holding (t1 + t2) is, Ru der less on 2 4 hours 5 hours or less
Method for producing a toner according to 請 Motomeko 1 or 2. The binder resin, method for producing a toner according to the any one of the crystalline polyester and ~ including claim 1 block polymer and is bonded resin that does not take a crystal structure 3. It said block polymer, method for producing a toner according to the crystalline polyester and the resin which does not take a crystal structure Ru block polymer der linked by a urethane bond 請 Motomeko 4.

Images