Toner with increased amount of surface additives and increased surface additive adhesion
View Patent ↗A process for making a toner. The process includes mixing a toner resin and a colorant; extruding the resin and colorant mixture; attriting the resin and colorant mixture; classifying the attrited particles into particles averaging 4 to about 10 microns in size; and blending sufficient surface additive particles and the classified particles in a high intensity blender such that the weight of attached surface additives is greater than two (2) of the weight of the classified particles and such that the blending is intense enough to yield Additive Adhesion Force Distribution percent values after 10 minutes of sonification and 12 kilojoules of energy greater than 40 percent.
1. A process for making toners, comprising:
(a) mixing a toner resin and a colorant;
(b) extruding the resin and colorant mixture;
(c) attriting the resin and colorant mixture;
(d) classifying the attrited particles into particles averaging sizes within a range between 4 to about 10 microns in size; and
(e) blending sufficient surface additive particles averaging less than about 50 nanometers in size with the classified particles in a high intensity blender such that the weight of surface additives that become attached is greater than two (2) percent of the weight of the classified particles and such that the blending is intense enough to yield Additive Adhesion Force Distribution percent values after 10 minutes of sonification and 12 kilojoules of energy greater than 40 percent.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the toner is blended for less than 10 minutes.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the Additive Adhesion Force Distribution values were obtained using four (4) ⅝ inch horns emitting at a frequency of 19.95 kilohertz from a distance of approximately 2 mm.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the step of mixing further comprises mixing internal additives with the resin and colorant.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the amount of surface additives average greater than three (3) percent of the combined weight of resin and colorant in the toner.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the amount of surface additives average greater than four (4) percent of the combined weight of resin and colorant in the toner.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the toner is blended for more than 10 minutes.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the surface additive particles average between about 30 to about 50 nanometers.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein the surface additive particles average between about 30 to about 40 nanometers.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the Additive Adhesion Force Distribution percent value after 5 minutes of sonification and 6 kilojoules of energy is greater than 60 percent.
11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the Additive Adhesion Force Distribution percent value after 2.5 minutes and 3 kilojoules of energy is greater than 80 percent.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the surface additive particles average between about 30 and about 50 nanometers in size and wherein the amount of such surface additives average greater than four (4) percent of the combined weight of resin and colorant in the toner.
13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the Additive Adhesion Force Distribution values were obtained using four (4) ⅝ inch horns emitting at a frequency of 19.95 kilohertz from a distance of approximately 2 mm.
14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the Additive Adhesion Force Distribution valve after 2.5 minutes of sonification and 3 kilojoules of energy is greater than 80 percent.
15. The improved process of claim 12 , wherein the Additive Adhesion Force Distribution value after 5 minutes of sonification and kilojoules of energy is greater than 60 percent.