Electrophotographic toner and electrophotographic developer and image forming method

1. An electrophotographic toner, comprising a colorant, a release agent, a non-crystalline resin and a crystalline resin, wherein

the crystalline resin is a polyalkyl acrylate or polyalkyl methacrylate having an alkyl group of approximately 18 or more carbon atoms, and is produced by copolymerization with approximately 10 mol % or more, but no more than approximately 50 mol %, of a vinyl monomer having a carboxyl group.

2. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein the non-crystalline resin is a resin comprising a styrene-based resin.

3. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of a tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble fraction of the non-crystalline resin, measured using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), is within a range from approximately 5,000 to 50,000.

4. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein an acid value of the crystalline resin is within a range from approximately 20 to 120 mgKOH/g.

5. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein a weight average molecular weight of the crystalline resin, measured by a molecular weight measurement method, is within a range from approximately 3,000 to 70,000.

6. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein the non-crystalline resin is a polyester-based resin.

7. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein the toner is prepared using an aggregation method.

8. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein the toner comprises a coating layer, and a thickness of the coating layer is approximately 0.05 μm or greater but no more than approximately 0.5 μm.

9. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein the toner comprises a coating layer.

10. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 9 , wherein the coating layer comprises a non-crystalline polyester, and comprises alkyl groups of 6 or more carbon atoms as side chains.

11. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio between the non-crystalline resin and the crystalline resin is within a range from approximately 60/40 to approximately 95/5.

12. The electrophotographic toner according to claim 1 , wherein a quantity added of the release agent is within a range from approximately 0.5 to 50% by weight relative to a total weight of the toner.

13. An electrophotographic developer, comprising:

an electrophotographic toner, comprising a colorant, a release agent, a non-crystalline resin and a crystalline resin, wherein the crystalline resin is a polyalkyl acrylate or polyalkyl methacrylate having an alkyl group of approximately 18 or more carbon atoms, and is produced by copolymerization with approximately 10 mol % or more, but no more than approximately 50 mol %, of a vinyl monomer having a carboxyl group; and

a carrier.

14. The electrophotographic developer according to claim 13 , wherein a volume average particle size of core particles of the carrier is within a range from approximately 30 to 200 μm.

15. The electrophotographic developer according to claim 13 , wherein the non-crystalline resin within the electrophotographic toner is a resin comprising a styrene-based resin.

16. The electrophotographic developer according to claim 13 , wherein a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of a tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble fraction of the non-crystalline resin within the electrophotographic toner, measured using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), is within a range from approximately 5,000 to 50,000.

17. The electrophotographic developer according to claim 13 , wherein an acid value of the crystalline resin within the electrophotographic toner is within a range from approximately 20 to 120 mgKOH/g.

18. An electrophotographic developer that uses the electrophotographic developer according to claim 13 .