Toner
An object of the present invention is to improve resistance to wraparound during fixing while achieving both low-temperature fixability and resistance to hot offset. A further object is to suppress image density variations and fogging in white background regions during use at high print coverage rate at high temperature and high humidity. A toner containing inorganic fine particles and toner particles containing a binder resin and a wax being provided, the toner being characterized in that the binder resin contains a polyester resin A obtained by condensation polymerization of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and an alcohol component mainly containing an aromatic diol and a polyester resin B obtained by condensation polymerization of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and an alcohol component mainly containing an aliphatic diol, and in that the degree of segregation of the wax in the toner depth direction from the toner surface toward the toner center is controlled.
1. A toner comprising toner particles, each of which contains a binder resin and a wax, and inorganic fine particles,
wherein the binder resin contains
a polyester resin A obtained by condensation polymerization of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and an alcohol component mainly containing an aromatic diol, and
a polyester resin B obtained by condensation polymerization of a polyvalent carboxylic acid and an alcohol component mainly containing an aliphatic diol, and
wherein the toner satisfies the following formula (1)
1.05≦ P 1/ P 2≦2.00 (1)
[in the formula (1), P1=Pa/Pb and P2=Pc/Pd]
wherein
Pa is the intensity of the highest absorption peak in the range from 2843 cm −1 to 2853 cm −1 in a FT-IR spectrum obtained by attenuated total reflectance (ATR) method by using Ge as the ATR crystal and under the condition of an infrared light-incidence angle of 45°, and
Pb is the intensity of the highest absorption peak in the range from 1713 cm −1 to 1723 cm −1 in the FT-IR spectrum obtained by attenuated total reflectance (ATR) method by using Ge as the ATR crystal and under the condition of an infrared light-incidence angle of 45°,
and wherein
Pc is the intensity of the highest absorption peak in the range from 2843 cm −1 to 2853 cm −1 in a FT-IR spectrum obtained by attenuated total reflectance (ATR) method by using KRS5 as the ATR crystal and under the condition of an infrared light-incidence angle of 45°, and
Pd is the intensity of the highest absorption peak in the range from 1713 cm −1 to 1723 cm −1 in the FT-IR spectrum obtained by attenuated total reflectance (ATR) method by using KRS5 as the ATR crystal and under the condition of an infrared light-incidence angle of 45°.
2. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the content ratio between the polyester resin A and the polyester resin B in the binder resin (A/B) is from at least 55/45 to not more than 90/10 on a mass basis.
3. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the polyester resin A has a softening point, measured using a constant load extrusion-type capillary rheometer, of from at least 70° C. to not more than 95° C.,
and wherein the polyester resin A has a hydroxyl value of from at least 30 mg KOH/g to not more than 90 mg KOH/g.
4. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the polyester resin B has a softening point, measured using a constant load extrusion-type capillary rheometer, of from at least 100° C. to not more than 150° C., and wherein the polyester resin B has a hydroxyl value of not more than 20 mg KOH/g.
5. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein toner particles have been subjected to a surface treatment using a hot air current.