TONER COMPOSITIONS AND PROCESSES

• US 20110003243A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Zhou, Ke, Farrugia, Valerie M., Sacripante, Guerino G., Zwartz, Edward G., Hawkins, Michael S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,318,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 430/109.4
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0819 characterised by the dimensions of the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0823 Electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0827 characterised by their shape, e.g. degree of sphericity
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08755 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08775 Natural macromolecular compounds or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08795 characterised by their chemical properties, e.g. acidity, molecular weight, sensitivity to reactants
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08797 characterised by their physical properties, e.g. viscosity, solubility, melting temperature, softening temperature, glass transition temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09371 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds

Abstract

Environmentally friendly toner particles are provided which may include a bio-based amorphous polyester resin, optionally in combination with another amorphous resin and/or a crystalline resin. Methods for providing these toners are also provided.

Claims

1. A toner comprising:

at least one bio-based amorphous polyester resin derived from a dimer diol, D-isosorbide, naphthalene dicarboxylate, and a dicarboxylic acid;

at least one crystalline polyester resin; and

optionally, one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of colorants, waxes, coagulants, and combinations thereof.

2. The toner of claim 1, wherein the at least one bio-based amorphous polyester resin has a carbon/oxygen ratio of from about 1.5 to about 6.

3. The toner of claim 1, wherein the dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of azelaic acid, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, dimer diacid, terephthalic acid, and combinations thereof.

4. The toner of claim 1, wherein the at least one crystalline polyester resin and the bio-based amorphous resin comprise a core, and the amorphous polyester resin comprises a shell over the core having a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 5 microns.

5. The toner of claim 4, wherein the core comprises the bio-based amorphous resin, the amorphous polyester resin, and the crystalline resin.

6. The toner composition of claim 1, wherein the bio-based amorphous resin is present in an amount of from about 30 percent by weight of the toner to about 60 percent by weight of the toner.

7. The toner of claim 1, wherein the toner has a volume average diameter of from about 3 to about 25 μ

m, a GSD number of from about 1.15 to about 1.38, and a circularity of from about 0.92 to about 0.99.

8. The toner of claim 1, wherein the toner has a charge of from about 10 μ

C/g to about 100 μ

C/g.

9. The toner of claim 1, wherein the at least on bio-based amorphous polyester resin has a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2 to about 5.

10. The toner composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one crystalline polyester resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene-adipate), poly(propylene-adipate), poly(butylene-adipate), poly(pentylene-adipate), poly(hexylene-adipate), poly(octylene-adipate), poly(ethylene-succinate), poly(propylene-succinate), poly(butylene-succinate), poly(pentylene-succinate), poly(hexylene-succinate), poly(octylene-succinate), poly(ethylene-sebacate), poly(propylene-sebacate), poly(butylene-sebacate), poly(pentylene-sebacate), poly(hexylene-sebacate), poly(octylene-sebacate), poly(decylene-sebacate), poly(decylene-decanoate), poly-(ethylene-decanoate), poly-(ethylene-dodecanoate), poly(nonylene-sebacate), poly (nonylene-decanoate), copoly(ethylene-fumarate)-copoly(ethylene-sebacate), copoly(ethylene-fumarate)-copoly(ethylene-decanoate), copoly(ethylene-fumarate)-copoly(ethylene-dodecanoate), and combinations thereof.

11. A toner comprising:

at least one bio-based amorphous polyester resin derived from a dimer diol, D-isosorbide, naphthalene dicarboxylate, and a dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of azelaic acid, cyclohexanedioic acid, dimer diacid, and combinations thereof, the at least one bio-based amorphous polyester resin having a carbon/oxygen ratio of from about 1.5 to about 6;

at least one crystalline polyester resin; and

optionally, one or more ingredients selected from the group consisting of colorants, waxes, coagulants, and combinations thereof.

12. The toner of claim 11, wherein the at least one bio-based amorphous polyester resin has a particle size of from about 50 nm to about 250 nm in diameter and is present in the toner in an amount of from about 30 percent by weight of the toner components to about 60 percent by weight of the toner components.

13. The toner of claim 11, wherein the at least on bio-based amorphous polyester resin has a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2 to about 5.

14. The toner of claim 11, wherein the toner particles comprise a core with a shell thereover, the shell having a thickness of from 0.1 to about 5 microns.

15. The toner of claim 11, wherein the toner has a volume average diameter of from about 3 to about 25 μ

m, a GSD number of from about 1.15 to about 1.38, and a circularity of from about 0.92 to about 0.99.

16. The toner of claim 11, wherein the toner has a charge of from about 20 μ

C/g to about 100 μ

C/g.

17. A process for preparing a toner, comprising:

contacting at least one bio-based amorphous polyester resin derived from a dimer diol, D-isosorbide, naphthalene dicarboxylate, and a dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of azelaic acid, naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, dimer diacid, terephthalic acid, and combinations thereof, and a crystalline polyester resin in an emulsion,

contacting the emulsion with an optional colorant dispersion, an optional wax, and an optional coagulant to form a mixture;

aggregating small particles in the mixture to form a plurality of larger aggregates;

contacting the larger aggregates with a shell resin to form a shell over the larger aggregates;

coalescing the larger aggregates possessing the shell to form toner particles; and

recovering the particles.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein the at least one bio-based amorphous polyester resin is present in an amount of from about 30 percent by weight of the toner components to about 60 percent by weight of the toner components, and wherein the at least one bio-based amorphous polyester resin has a carbon/oxygen ratio from about 1.5 to about 6.

19. The process of claim 17, wherein the toner has a charge of from about 20 μ

C/g to about 100 μ

C/g.

20. The toner of claim 17, wherein the at least on bio-based amorphous polyester resin has a carbon to oxygen ratio of from about 2 to about 5.