Toner processes and compositions thereof
First Claim
1. A process for the preparation of a dry toner powder from an aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion, the process comprising:
- blending at least an aqueous-based pigment concentrate dispersion and a resin compound to produce a paste;
charging the paste to an extruder to generate a hot melt extrusion;
dispersing the hot melt extrusion in a mixture of a surfactant and a high boiling organic medium in which the resin compound is substantially insoluble;
mixing at elevated temperature and under shear force to form particles of from about 2 microns to about 15 microns particle size;
isolating and washing the particles in a low boiling hydrocarbon solvent; and
drying and collecting the particles for use as a dry toner powder.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a dry toner powder from an aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion by blending at least an aqueous-based pigment concentrate dispersion and a resin compound to produce a paste; charging the paste to an extruder to generate a hot melt extrusion; dispersing the hot melt extrusion in a mixture of a surfactant and a high boiling organic medium in which the resin compound is substantially insoluble; mixing at elevated temperature and under shear force to form uniform particles of from about 2 microns to about 15 microns particle size; isolating and washing the particles in a low boiling hydrocarbon solvent; and drying and collecting the particles for use as a dry toner powder, and to the dry toner product produced by this process.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A process for the preparation of a dry toner powder from an aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion, the process comprising:
- blending at least an aqueous-based pigment concentrate dispersion and a resin compound to produce a paste;
charging the paste to an extruder to generate a hot melt extrusion;
dispersing the hot melt extrusion in a mixture of a surfactant and a high boiling organic medium in which the resin compound is substantially insoluble;
mixing at elevated temperature and under shear force to form particles of from about 2 microns to about 15 microns particle size;
isolating and washing the particles in a low boiling hydrocarbon solvent; and
drying and collecting the particles for use as a dry toner powder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- blending at least an aqueous-based pigment concentrate dispersion and a resin compound to produce a paste;
- 11. A dry toner powder prepared from an aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion, the toner powder comprising small particles of from about 2 microns to about 15 microns particle size and having pigment uniformly dispersed therein, the toner powder having been produced from a mixture of at least a resin and an aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion, wherein the pigment concentrate dispersion exhibits a % solids of from about 30% to about 50%, and wherein the aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion and the resin have been mixed under shear force at elevated temperature to produce a hot melt extrusion, the extrusion then being further dispersed in an organic medium in which the resin is substantially insoluble, and wherein the resin and the organic medium exhibit solubility parameters with a difference therebetween of at least about 1.
Specification