TUNABLE GLOSS TONERS

• US 20110207044A1
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: McAneney, T. Brian, Zwartz, Edward Graham, Wosnick, Jordan H., Rotberg, Eric, Veregin, Richard P.N., Farrugia, Valerie M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,431,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 430/105
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08755 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08793 Crosslinked polymers
• 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 9/0902 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09708 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09733 Organic compounds G03G9/08782 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09741 cationic
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0975 anionic
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09775 containing atoms other than carbon, hydrogen or oxygen G03G9/09741 - G03G9/09766 take precedence

Abstract

The present disclosure provides toners having a tunable gloss level, electrophotographic apparatuses for using such toners as well as processes for making such toners.

Claims

1. A process comprising:

forming at least one clear glossy toner having an aluminum content from about 20 ppm to about 200 ppm;

forming at least one clear matte toner having an aluminum content from about 500 ppm to about 1000 ppm; and

contacting the at least one clear glossy toner and the at least one clear matte toner at a weight ratio from about 10;

90 to about 90;

10 to obtain a blended toner having a gloss level from about 5 ggu to about 90 ggu.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one clear glossy toner and the at least one matte toner includes:

at least one amorphous resin;

at least one crystalline resin;

at least one ionic crosslinker;

optionally, at least one chelating agent; and

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

3. A process according to claim 2, wherein the at least one ionic crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of aluminum sulfate, polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum sulfosilicate, and combinations thereof and the at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), L-glutamic acid N,N diacetic acid, humic acid, fulvic acid, peta-acetic acid, tetra-acetic acid, methylglycine diacetic acid, ethylenediamine disuccinic acid and salts and combinations thereof.

4. A process according to claim 2, wherein the at least one amorphous resin is of the formula:

5. A process according to claim 2, wherein the at least one amorphous resin and the crystalline resin are present at a weight ratio of from about 99% to about 80% of the amorphous resin, to from about 1% to about 20% of the crystalline resin.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein forming the at least one clear glossy toner further includes:

contacting at least one amorphous resin and at least one crystalline resin in an emulsion;

contacting the emulsion with at least one ionic crosslinker comprising aluminum;

contacting the emulsion with at least one chelating agent;

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

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

coalescing the larger aggregates to form clear glossy toner particles; and

recovering the particles.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein forming the at least one clear matte toner further includes:

contacting at least one amorphous resin and at least one crystalline resin in an emulsion;

contacting the emulsion with at least one ionic crosslinker comprising aluminum;

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

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

coalescing the larger aggregates to form clear matte toner particles; and

recovering the particles.

8. A toner comprising:

at least one clear glossy toner having an aluminum content from about 50 ppm to about 100 ppm; and

at least one clear matte toner having an aluminum content from about 600 ppm to about 800 ppm;

wherein the at least one clear glossy toner and the at least one clear matte toner are present at a weight ratio from about 10;

90 to about 90;

10 and the toner has a gloss level from about 5 ggu to about 90 ggu.

9. A toner according to claim 8, wherein each of the at least one clear glossy toner and the at least one matte toner comprises:

at least one amorphous resin;

at least one crystalline resin;

at least one ionic crosslinker;

at least one chelating agent; and

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

10. A toner according to claim 9, wherein the at least one ionic crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of aluminum sulfate, polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum sulfosilicate, and combinations thereof and the at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), L-glutamic acid N,N diacetic acid, humic acid, fulvic acid, peta-acetic acid, tetra-acetic acid, methylglycine diacetic acid, ethylenediamine disuccinic acid and salts and combinations thereof.

11. A toner according to claim 9, wherein the at least one amorphous resin is of the formula:

12. A toner according to claim 9, wherein the at least one amorphous resin and the crystalline resin are present at a weight ratio of from about 99% to about 80% of the amorphous resin, to from about 1% to about 20% of the crystalline resin.

13. A process comprising:

forming at least one clear glossy toner having an aluminum content from about 50 ppm to about 100 ppm;

forming at least one clear matte toner having an aluminum content from about 600 ppm to about 800 ppm; and

contacting the at least one clear glossy toner and the at least one clear matte toner at a weight ratio from about 10;

90 to about 90;

10 to obtain a blended toner having a gloss level from about 5 ggu to about 90 ggu;

wherein each of the at least one clear glossy toner and the at least one matte toner comprises;

at least one amorphous resin;

at least one crystalline resin;

at least one ionic crosslinker; and

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

14. A process according to claim 13, wherein the at least one ionic crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of aluminum sulfate, polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum sulfosilicate, and combinations thereof.

15. A process according to claim 13, wherein the at least one amorphous resin is of the formula:

16. A process according to claim 13, wherein the at least one amorphous resin and the crystalline resin are present at a weight ratio of from about 99% to about 90% of the amorphous resin, to from about 1% to about 10% of the crystalline resin.

17. A process according to claim 13, wherein forming of the at least one clear glossy toner further includes:

contacting at least one amorphous resin and at least one crystalline resin in an emulsion;

contacting the emulsion with at least one ionic crosslinker comprising aluminum;

contacting the emulsion with at least one chelating agent;

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

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

coalescing the larger aggregates to form clear glossy toner particles; and

recovering the particles.

18. A process according to claim 17, wherein the at least one ionic crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of aluminum sulfate, polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum sulfosilicate, and combinations thereof and the at least one chelating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), L-glutamic acid N,N diacetic acid, humic acid, fulvic acid, peta-acetic acid, tetra-acetic acid, methylglycine diacetic acid, ethylenediamine disuccinic acid and salts and combinations thereof.

19. A process according to claim 13, wherein forming of the at least one clear matte toner further includes:

contacting at least one amorphous resin and at least one crystalline resin in an emulsion;

contacting the emulsion with at least one ionic crosslinker comprising aluminum;

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

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

coalescing the larger aggregates to form clear matter toner particles; and

recovering the particles.

20. A process according to claim 19, wherein the at least one ionic crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of aluminum sulfate, polyaluminum chloride, polyaluminum sulfosilicate, and combinations thereof.