Aqueous dispersions for use as toners
View Patent ↗A compound that includes an aqueous dispersion, wherein the dispersion includes a thermoplastic resin and at least one stabilizing agent, and at least one selected from the group consisting of a colorant and a magnetic pigment, wherein the dispersion has an average volume diameter particle size from about 0.05 to about 10 microns is described.
1. A method for forming a toner, the method comprising:
forming a compound, the compound comprising:
an aqueous dispersion comprising:
a thermoplastic resin;
a stabilizing agent
wherein the dispersion has an average volume diameter particle size from about 0.05 to about 10 microns; and
at least one selected from the group consisting of a colorant, and a magnetic pigment; and
removing at least a portion of the water in the dispersion to form toner particles
wherein the forming the compound comprises melt kneading.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming the compound comprises melt kneading and dispersing the thermoplastic resin and optionally additional components in an extruder.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming the compound comprises:
melt kneading the thermoplastic resin and optionally additional compounds in a melt kneader to form a resin melt; and
dispersing the resin melt in an aqueous phase.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic resin is a self-stabilizing resin.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispersion further comprises a neutralizing agent.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the dispersion further comprises a stabilizing agent.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising post-treating the toner particles.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the removing comprises spray-drying the compound.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound further comprises at least one of auxiliary fine particles, a charge control agent, a lubricant, and a polishing agent.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the thermoplastic resin is at least one of polyesters, styrene copolymers, ethylene-propylene copolymers, and dicyclopentadiene polymers.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic resin comprises at least one polyester formed by reacting an aliphatic diol with a diacid.
12. A method of using the toner formed in claim 1 , the method comprising:
disposing the toner formed in claim 1 in a process cartridge.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising attaching the process cartridge to an image forming device.