LOW MELT TONERS AND PROCESSES THEREOF
First Claim
1. A process for preparing a low-melt toner, the process comprising:
- forming a pre-toner mixture comprising a first alkali sulfonated branched polyester resin, a second alkali sulfonated crystalline polyester resin and a colorant;
adding an aggregating agent to the pre-toner mixture and aggregating the mixture to form an aggregate mixture comprising a plurality of aggregate toner particles;
adjusting the pH of the aggregate mixture to between about 5 and about 7;
coalescing the aggregate mixture at a temperature of from about 5 to about 20°
C. above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of one of the first or second alkai sulfonated polyester resins to form a mixture of coalesced toner particles; and
cooling the mixture of coalesced toner particles.
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Abstract
A process for preparing toner particles and compositions adapted for use in preparing toners that comprise a blend of a first polyester resin with a second sharp melting polyester resin. The process includes forming an emulsion resin comprising a branched polyester resin, a crystalline polyester resin, a colorant, and optionally a wax. The resin mixture is aggregated using an aggregating agent, such as a zinc acetate solution, to form an aggregate mixture. The aggregate mixture is then coalesced at a temperature of from about 5 to about 20° C. above the Tg of the emulsion resin to produce the resultant toner particles.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A process for preparing a low-melt toner, the process comprising:
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forming a pre-toner mixture comprising a first alkali sulfonated branched polyester resin, a second alkali sulfonated crystalline polyester resin and a colorant; adding an aggregating agent to the pre-toner mixture and aggregating the mixture to form an aggregate mixture comprising a plurality of aggregate toner particles; adjusting the pH of the aggregate mixture to between about 5 and about 7; coalescing the aggregate mixture at a temperature of from about 5 to about 20°
C. above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of one of the first or second alkai sulfonated polyester resins to form a mixture of coalesced toner particles; andcooling the mixture of coalesced toner particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for forming low melt polyester based toner, the method comprising:
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forming an emulsion resin comprising a branched amorphous polyester resin component and a crystalline polyester resin component; forming a pre-toner mixture by adding a colorant and optionally a wax to the emulsion resin; homogenizing the pre-toner mixture; aggregating the pre-toner mixture by adding an aggregating agent, thereby forming an aggregate mixture comprising a plurality of aggregate toner particles; adjusting the pH of the aggregate mixture to between about 5 and about 7; coalescing the aggregate mixture by heating the aggregate mixture to a temperature from about 5 to about 20°
C. above the glass transition temperature of the branched amorphous polyester resin component, thereby generating a mixture of coalesced toner particles; andcooling the toner particles to room temperature. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for forming a low melt toner, the method comprising:
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forming a pre-toner mixture comprising (i) an emulsion resin comprising an amorphous alkali sulfonated polyester resin and a crystalline alkali sulfonated polyester resin, (ii) a colorant, and (iii) optionally a wax; adjusting the pH of the pre-toner mixture to between about 4 to about 5; homogenizing the pre-toner mixture; forming an aggregate mixture of aggregate toner particle by adding an aggregating agent over a period of about 10 to about 60 minutes; adjusting the pH of the aggregate mixture to between about 5 and about 7; heating the aggregate mixture to a temperature of from about 50 to about 80°
C. thereby forming a mixture coalesced toner particles;controlling toner particle size by adjusting the pH of the mixture of coalesced toner particles to between about 5 and about 7; and cooling the mixture of coalesced toner particles to room temperature. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification