Electrophotographic member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

1. An electrophotographic member comprising an electro-conductive substrate, and an elastic layer as a surface layer, the elastic layer being constituted by a single-layer, wherein

the elastic layer comprises a first resin, a second resin and an anion,

the first resin is a crosslinked urethane resin,

the crosslinked urethane resin has at least one cationic structure selected from the group consisting of the following structural formulae (1) to (6) in a molecule,

the second resin is at least one of a crosslinked acrylic resin having an ether bond and a crosslinked epoxy resin having an ether bond, and

in a first area of the elastic layer, the first area being from an outer surface of the elastic layer to a depth of 0.1 μm, the first resin and the second resin form an interpenetrating polymer network structure:

wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and Z1 to Z3 each independently represent any structure selected from the group consisting of structures represented by structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of Z1 to Z3 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R2 and R3 each represent a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic five-membered ring together with a nitrogen atom to which each is bonded, Z4 and Z5 each independently represent any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z6 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and d1 represents an integer of 0 or 1, provided that at least one of Z4 to Z6 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R4 and R5 each represent a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic six-membered ring together with a nitrogen atom to which each is bonded, Z7 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z8 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, d2 represents an integer of 0 to 2, and when d2 is 2, Z8 may be the same or different from each other; provided that at least one of Z7 and Z8 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R6 and R7 each represent a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing heteroalicyclic group together with a nitrogen atom to which each is bonded, Z9 to Z11 each independently represent any structure selected from the group consisting of the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z12 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, d3 represents an integer of 0 to 2, and when d3 is 2, Z12 may be the same or different from each other; provided that at least one of Z9 to Z12 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R8 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring together with a nitrogen atom to which R8 is bonded, Z13 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z14 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and d4 represents an integer of 0 or 1, provided that at least one of Z13 and Z14 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R9 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing alicyclic group together with a nitrogen atom to which R9 is bonded, Z15 and Z16 each independently represent any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z17 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and d5 represents an integer of 0 or 1, provided that at least one of Z15 to Z17 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102); and

wherein R10 and R11 each independently represent a divalent hydrocarbon group having a straight chain or a branch, the symbol “*” represents a bonding site for bonding to a nitrogen atom in the structural formula (1), or a bonding site for bonding to a nitrogen atom in a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring or a carbon atom in the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring in the structural formulae (2) to (6), and the symbol “**” represents a bonding site for bonding to a carbon atom in a polymer chain constituting the resin having a cationic structure.

2. The electrophotographic member according to claim 1 , wherein

when a peak top temperature of a thermal chromatogram derived from the first resin in the first area is defined as T1 (° C.), and

a peak top temperature of a thermal chromatogram derived from the first resin included in a second area is defined as T2 (° C.), the second area being an area that is 0.1 μm thick from a back surface of the elastic layer on a side facing the substrate toward the outer surface,

T1 and T2 satisfy a relationship represented by the following relational expression (2):

T 1> T 2  (2).

3. The electrophotographic member according to claim 1 , wherein a monomer that forms the second polymer is a bifunctional monomer.

4. The electrophotographic member according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic layer contains carbon black having a volatile content of 0.4% or more.

5. The electrophotographic member according to claim 1 , wherein the cationic structure includes a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring.

6. An electrophotographic member comprising an electro-conductive substrate, and an elastic layer as a surface layer, the elastic layer being constituted by a single-layer, wherein

the elastic layer comprises a first resin, a second resin and an anion,

the first resin is a crosslinked urethane resin, and the crosslinked urethane resin has at least one cationic structure selected from the group consisting of the following structural formulae (1) to (6) in a molecule,

the second resin is at least one of a crosslinked acrylic resin having an ether bond and a crosslinked epoxy resin having an ether bond,

a first area in the elastic layer, the first area being from an outer surface of the elastic layer to a depth of 0.1 μm, includes the first resin and the second resin, and

when a peak top temperature of a thermal chromatogram derived from the second resin measured from a first sample sampled from the first area is defined as A1 (° C.), and

a peak top temperature of a thermal chromatogram derived from the second resin measured from a second sample obtained by decomposing the first resin contained in the sample is defined as A2 (° C.),

A1 and A2 satisfy a relationship represented by the following relational expression (1):

A 1> A 2  (1)

wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and Z1 to Z3 each independently represent any structure selected from the group consisting of structures represented by structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, provided that at least one of Z1 to Z3 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R2 and R3 each represent a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic five-membered ring together with a nitrogen atom to which each is bonded, Z4 and Z5 each independently represent any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z6 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and d1 represents an integer of 0 or 1, provided that at least one of Z4 to Z6 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R4 and R5 each represent a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic six-membered ring together with a nitrogen atom to which each is bonded, Z7 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z8 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, d2 represents an integer of 0 to 2, and when d2 is 2, Z8 may be the same or different from each other; provided that at least one of Z7 and Z8 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R6 and R7 each represent a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing heteroalicyclic group together with a nitrogen atom to which each is bonded, Z9 to Z11 each independently represent any structure selected from the group consisting of the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z12 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, d3 represents an integer of 0 to 2, and when d3 is 2, Z12 may be the same or different from each other; provided that at least one of Z9 to Z12 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R8 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring together with a nitrogen atom to which R8 is bonded, Z13 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z14 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and d4 represents an integer of 0 or 1, provided that at least one of Z13 and Z14 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102);

wherein R9 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group necessary for forming a nitrogen-containing alicyclic group together with a nitrogen atom to which R9 is bonded, Z15 and Z16 each independently represent any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), a hydrogen atom, or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, Z17 represents any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102), or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and d5 represents an integer of 0 or 1, provided that at least one of Z15 to Z17 is any structure selected from the group consisting of the structures represented by the structural formulae (Z101) and (Z102); and

wherein R10 and R11 each independently represent a divalent hydrocarbon group having a straight chain or a branch, the symbol “*” represents a bonding site for bonding to a nitrogen atom in the structural formula (1), or a bonding site for bonding to a nitrogen atom in a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring or a carbon atom in the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring in the structural formulae (2) to (6), and the symbol “**” represents a bonding site for bonding to a carbon atom in a polymer chain constituting the resin having a cationic structure.

7. The electrophotographic member according to claim 6 , wherein

when a peak top temperature of a thermal chromatogram derived from the first resin in the first area is defined as T1 (° C.), and

a peak top temperature of a thermal chromatogram derived from the first resin included in a second area is defined as T2 (° C.), the second area being an area that is 0.1 μm thick from a back surface of the elastic layer on a side facing the substrate toward the outer surface,

T1 and T2 satisfy a relationship represented by the following relational expression (2):

T 1> T 2  (2).

8. The electrophotographic member according to claim 6 , wherein a monomer that forms the second polymer is a bifunctional monomer.

9. The electrophotographic member according to claim 6 , wherein the elastic layer contains carbon black having a volatile content of 0.4% or more.

10. The electrophotographic member according to claim 6 , wherein the cationic structure includes a nitrogen-containing aromatic ring.

11. An electrophotographic process cartridge configured to be detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising the electrophotographic member according to claim 1 .

12. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image thereon;

a charging apparatus that primarily charges the image carrier;

an exposure apparatus that forms the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier that is primarily charged;

a developing member that develops the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image; and

a transfer apparatus that transfers the toner image to a transfer material, wherein

the developing member is the electrophotographic member according to claim 1 .

13. An electrophotographic process cartridge configured to be detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising the electrophotographic member according to claim 6 .

14. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image thereon;

a charging apparatus that primarily charges the image carrier;

an exposure apparatus that forms the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier that is primarily charged;

a developing member that develops the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image; and

a transfer apparatus that transfers the toner image to a transfer material, wherein

the developing member is the electrophotographic member according to claim 6 .