IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,326,690
Granted Patent B2
US 12,326,690 · App. 17/654,481 · Granted Jun 10, 2025

Toner and method for producing toner

Inventors: Kazuki Murata (Tokyo, JP); Takeshi Hashimoto (Ibaraki, JP); Yukihiro Abe (Chiba, JP); Miki Ueda (Tokyo, JP); Hayato Ida (Ibaraki, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G03G9/0825G03G9/0815G03G9/0819G03G9/08711G03G9/08755
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,326,690
App. No.
17/654,481
Granted
Jun 10, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A toner comprising a toner particle comprising a binder resin, wherein the binder resin comprises a first resin and a second resin, the first resin is a crystalline resin, the second resin is an amorphous resin, in an observation of a cross section of the toner particle with a transmission electron microscope, a matrix-domain structure composed of a matrix comprising the first resin and domains comprising the second resin is present, an area ratio occupied by the matrix in a total area of the matrix and the domains is from 35 area % to 70 area %, a [hydrocarbon group index (Ge)]/[hydrocarbon group index (DIA)] after washing the toner with hexane is 1.10 or more.

Claims (26)

1. A toner, comprising:

a toner particle comprising a binder resin;

the binder resin comprising a first resin and a second resin;

the first resin being a crystalline resin;

the second resin being an amorphous resin; and

a matrix-domain structure composed of a matrix comprising the first resin and domains comprising the second resin is present when a cross section of the toner particle is observed with a transmission electron microscope, with an area ratio occupied by the matrix in a total area of the matrix and the domains being 35 to 70 area %, wherein

a ratio [hydrocarbon group index (Ge)]/[hydrocarbon group index (DIA)] after washing the toner with hexane is 1.10 or more,

the hydrocarbon group index (Ge) is a value of A (Ge)/B (Ge) where A (Ge) is a maximum absorption peak intensity in a range of 2800 to 2900 cm −1 corresponding to a stretching vibration of C—H and B (Ge) is a maximum absorption peak intensity in a range of 1500 to 1800 cm −1 corresponding to a stretching vibration of C═O in an FT-IR spectrum obtained by using Ge as an ATR crystal and performing measurements by an ATR method under condition of an infrared light incident angle being 45°, and

the hydrocarbon group index (DIA) is a value of A (DIA)/B (DIA) where A (DIA) is a maximum absorption peak intensity in a range of 2800 to 2900 cm −1 corresponding to the stretching vibration of C—H and B (DIA) is a maximum absorption peak intensity in a range of 1500 to 1800 cm −1 corresponding to the stretching vibration of C═O in an FT-IR spectrum obtained by using diamond as an ATR crystal and performing measurements by the ATR method under condition of the infrared light incident angle being 45°.

2. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the number average circle-equivalent diameter of the domains is 20 to 500 nm.

3. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein a charge decay rate coefficient of the toner particle measured in an environment of 30° C. and 80% RH is 10 to 70.

4. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the first resin has a first monomer unit represented by formula (1):

where R Z1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R1 represents an alkyl group having 18 to 36 carbon atoms.

5. The toner according to claim 4 , wherein a content ratio of the first monomer unit in the first resin is 30 to 80.0% by mass.

6. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the second resin is a polyester resin, a styrene acrylic resin, or a hybrid resin of a polyester resin and a styrene acrylic resin.

7. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the second resin is a styrene acrylic resin.

8. The toner according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio [hydrocarbon group index (Ge)/hydrocarbon group index (DIA)] is 1.20 to 1.60.

9. A method for producing a toner comprising a toner particle comprising a binder resin, comprising the step of:

surface-treating the toner particle with hot air to obtain a heat-treated toner particle;

the binder resin comprising a first resin and a second resin;

the first resin being a crystalline resin;

the second resin being an amorphous resin; and

a matrix-domain structure composed of a matrix comprising the first resin and domains comprising the second resin is present when a cross section of the toner particle is observed with a transmission electron microscope, with an area ratio occupied by the matrix in a total area of the matrix and the domains being 35 to 70 area %, wherein

a ratio [hydrocarbon group index (Ge)]/[hydrocarbon group index (DIA)] after washing the toner with hexane is 1.10 or more,

the hydrocarbon group index (Ge) is a value of A (Ge)/B (Ge) where A (Ge) is a maximum absorption peak intensity in a range of 2800 to 2900 cm −1 corresponding to a stretching vibration of C—H and B (Ge) is a maximum absorption peak intensity in a range of 1500 to 1800 cm −1 corresponding to a stretching vibration of C═O in an FT-IR spectrum obtained by using Ge as an ATR crystal and performing measurements by an ATR method under condition of an infrared light incident angle being 45°, and

the hydrocarbon group index (DIA) is a value of A (DIA)/B (DIA) where A (DIA) is a maximum absorption peak intensity in a range of 2800 to 2900 cm −1 corresponding to the stretching vibration of C—H and B (DIA) is a maximum absorption peak intensity in a range of 1500 to 1800 cm −1 corresponding to the stretching vibration of C═O in an FT-IR spectrum obtained by using diamond as an ATR crystal and performing measurements by the ATR method under condition of the infrared light incident angle being 45°.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2022
From: MURATA, KAZUKI; HASHIMOTO, TAKESHI; ABE, YUKIHIRO; UEDA, MIKI; IDA, HAYATO
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 060615/0285 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-045565 · Mar 19, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220299901A1 · Sep 22, 2022
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