Sliding member for electrophotographic apparatus and fixing device using the same

1. A sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus, in which at least a sliding surface thereof is made of a non-porous sheet including a fluorocarbon resin, wherein a surface roughness depth Rt of the sliding surface is in a range of 1.0 μm to 50.0 μm.

2. A sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fluorocarbon resin is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluoroalkoxy resin (PFA), and modified resins thereof.

3. A sliding member for an electrophotograhic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fluorocarbon resin is a modified polytetrafluoroethylene resin (PTFE) obtained by irradiating a fluorocarbon resin with ionizing radiation.

4. A sliding member for an electrophotograhic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a filler is contained in the non-porous sheet.

5. A sliding member for an electrophotograhic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a filler is contained in the non-porous sheet.

6. A sliding member for an electrophotograhic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a filler is contained in the non-porous sheet.

7. A sliding member for an electrophotograhic apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a filler is contained in the non-porous sheet.

8. A sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the filler is a lubricative filler having a layered structure.

9. A sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the filler is a conductive filler.

10. A sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the filler includes a heat resistant resin selected from the group consisting of an imide-type resin, an amide-type resin and an aromatic polyester-type resin.

11. A sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the filler is a reinforcing filler having a needle-shaped, fiber-shaped or tetrapod-shaped structure.

12. A sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the filler includes at least two kinds of fillers.

13. A sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein an amount of the filler to be added is in a range of 1.0 part by mass to 30 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the fluorocarbon resin.

14. A sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the non-porous sheet is provided on a substrate which has depressions and protrusions on a surface thereof.

15. A fixing device comprising:

a driving member;

a tubular body for fixing, which is pressed to the driving member so that the tubular body can be driven to rotate by the driving member, a recording medium on which an unfixed toner image is formed being sandwiched between the tubular body and the driving member at a nip portion formed between the tubular body and the driving member,

a press member disposed inside the tubular body that presses the tubular body toward the driving member;

a sheet-shaped member interposed between the tubular body and the press member;

a lubricant provided between the tubular body and the sheet-like member; and

a heat source for heating the nip portion,

wherein the sheet-shaped member is a sliding member for an electrophotographic apparatus in which at least a sliding surface of the sliding member is made of a non-porous sheet including a fluorocarbon resin.

16. A fixing device according to claim 15 , wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of a synthetic lubricating oil grease, a dimethylsilicone oil, dimethylsilicone oil to which an organic metal salt is added, dimethylsilicone oil to which a hindered amine is added, dimethylsilicone oil to which an organic metal salt and hindered amine are added, a methylphenylsilicone oil, amino-modified silicone oil to which an organic metal salt is added, amino-modified silicone oil to which a hindered amine is added, a perfluoropolyether oil and a modified perfluoropolyether oil.