Barrier members for use in an electrographic printer
Barrier members for use in an electrographic printer are described. The barrier member has a first layer including thermally insulating particles embedded in a polymer composition, and a second layer including a thermally conductive metallic layer.
1. A barrier member for use in an electrographic printer, the barrier member comprising:
a first layer comprising thermally insulating particles embedded in a polymer composition;
a second layer comprising a thermally conductive metallic layer; and
a third layer comprising a surfactant.
2. The barrier member according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier member is in the form of a sheet.
3. The barrier member according to claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulating particles comprise glass beads, ceramic beads, plastic beads, or a combination thereof.
4. The barrier member according to claim 3 , wherein the beads are hollow.
5. The barrier member according to claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises thermally insulating particles in an amount equal to or greater than 5 wt % of the first layer.
6. The barrier member according to claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is a fluorosurfactant.
7. The barrier member according to claim 1 , wherein the second layer comprises aluminum or copper.
8. The barrier member according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer composition comprises a polyurethane.
9. A drip tray assembly comprising a barrier member as described in claim 1 and a drip tray.
10. A method of manufacturing a barrier member for use in an electrographic printer, the method comprising:
(a) mixing one or more polymer precursors with thermally insulating particles and adding a further polymer of the one or more polymer precursors to provide a polymer composition precursor;
(b) applying the polymer composition precursor to a thermally conductive metallic layer; and
(c) crosslinking the polymer composition precursor.
11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising applying a coating material comprising a surfactant to the thermally conductive metallic layer.
12. A method of manufacturing a barrier member for use in an electrographic printer, the method comprising applying a polymer composition with thermally insulating particles embedded therein to a thermally conductive metallic layer, and applying a coating material comprising a surfactant to the thermally conductive metallic layer.