JP3135875B2 - Flash fixing polymerized toner for electrophotography - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a polymerized toner for flash fixing electrophotography. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flash fixing electrophotographic polymerized toner having good flash fixability and being economically inexpensive.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image fixing method for an object to be printed in an electrophotographic method, a heat roll method is mainly used conventionally. However, in this method, a printing material such as paper on which an image is formed with toner is passed between heating rolls, and the toner is thermocompression-bonded to the printing material.
There are problems such as clogging in the fixing unit, a reduction in resolution due to crushing of the image, and a limitation on the types of printing materials.

The flash fixing method is a type of non-contact fixing method and is an excellent fixing method without any problem in the heat roll method as described above. However, the light of a xenon flash lamp, particularly infrared light, is applied to the toner. Is fused and fixed by the absorption of the component (1), a fixing failure occurs in a color toner that does not have infrared light absorption capability or uses a large amount of a weak colorant.

As a method of solving such a problem of defective fixing, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-161460 discloses a method of dispersing and blending an infrared absorbent having a light absorption peak at a wavelength of 800 to 1100 nm into a flash fixing toner. Has been proposed. Also, JP-A-60-57858, JP-A-60-63546, and JP-A-61-12955.
No. 9 discloses that a specific compound having a light absorption peak at 800 to 1100 nm is contained in an amount of 1% by weight to 1% by weight based on the toner composition.
It has been proposed to add 0% by weight.

[0005]

However, the flash fixing toners described in the above-mentioned prior arts are all toners obtained by a pulverizing method.

[0006] The toner produced by the pulverization method has difficulty in obtaining a toner having a small particle size, and has an irregular shape, so that it is difficult to obtain sufficient fluidity. For this reason, the feature of obtaining high resolution of flash fixing cannot be sufficiently exhibited.

[0007] Therefore, in order to sufficiently dissolve the binder resin by the heat generation due to the light absorption of the infrared absorber, the amount of the infrared absorber added is inevitably increased, which is inefficient and uneconomical.

[0008] In addition, since the amount of addition is large, problems such as color contamination due to the color tone of the infrared absorbing agent and influence on the chargeability due to the structure or functional group of these compounds are also very serious.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel flash fixing electrophotographic toner. Another object of the present invention is to provide a flash-fixed electrophotographic toner which has high infrared absorptivity, good flash fixability, and is economically inexpensive.

[0010]

The above objects are achieved by the following (1) to (4).

(1) A polymerized toner containing at least the resin component, a colorant and an infrared absorber, which is obtained by directly or additionally using particles obtained by coagulating resin particles obtained by polymerization, The infrared absorber is added to a polymerization system or a coagulation treatment system after being finely dispersed, and the infrared absorber has a maximum absorption wavelength at a wavelength of 750 to 1100 nm. Of the toner is 0.0% of the total weight of the toner.
A polymerized toner for flash fixing electrophotography, which is in the range of 1% by weight to 3% by weight.

(2) The flash-fixed electrophotographic toner according to (1), wherein the colorant is a colorant other than black.

(3) A method for producing a polymerized toner containing at least the resin component, a colorant, and an infrared absorbing agent, which comprises using resin particles obtained directly or further by aggregating the resin particles obtained by polymerization. The infrared absorber is added to a polymerization system or a coagulation treatment system after finely dispersing the infrared absorber, and the infrared absorber has a maximum absorption wavelength at a wavelength of 750 to 1100 nm; A method for producing a polymerized toner for non-contact fixing, characterized in that the amount of an absorbent added is in the range of 0.01 to 3% by weight based on the total weight of the toner.

(4) The method according to the above (3), wherein the fine dispersion treatment of the infrared absorbent is performed on a polymerizable monomer, a solvent, an aqueous medium or a resin soluble in the polymerizable monomer. A method for producing the polymerized toner for non-contact fixing according to the above.

[0015]

As described above, in the present invention, a flash-fixed electrophotographic toner is produced by a polymerization method, so that a small particle size toner can be easily obtained. The feature that high resolution is obtained can be fully exhibited.

In the present invention, the infrared absorber added to the toner is added after the fine dispersion treatment, so that the infrared absorber can be finely dispersed uniformly between and within the toner particles. . Further, the infrared absorber used in the present invention has a maximum absorption wavelength at a wavelength of 750 to 1100 nm, and can efficiently absorb xenon flash light.

For this reason, the addition efficiency of the infrared absorber is high,
Sufficient fixing can be obtained with a small amount of addition, which is economically advantageous, and has little problem of color contamination and little influence on chargeability.

Further, in the production method according to the present invention, fine dispersion can be achieved and good results can be obtained even with an infrared absorber which has been difficult to use due to poor dispersion by the conventional pulverization method.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments.

As the polymerizable monomer used in producing the polymerized toner for flash fixing electrophotography of the present invention, a polymerization method capable of obtaining a polymer such as suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization, dispersion polymerization or the like as spherical fine particles. There is no particular limitation as long as it can be polymerized by various methods. Various vinyl monomers generally used in the field of toner, for example, styrene, o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p -Methylstyrene, α-methylstyrene, p-methoxystyrene, p-tert-butylstyrene, p-phenylstyrene, o-chlorostyrene, m
Styrene monomers such as -chlorostyrene and p-chlorothylene; methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, tetrahydroacrylate (Meth) acrylic such as furfuryl, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, n-octyl methacrylate, dodecyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate Acid ester monomers; olefin monomers such as ethylene, propylene, butylene, and others, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl chloride,
Vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-vinylpyrrolidone and the like can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

In order to obtain a compound having a crosslinked structure between molecules, for example, aromatic divinyl compounds such as divinylbenzene, divinylnaphthalene and derivatives thereof, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylol Diethylenically unsaturated carboxylic esters such as propane triacrylate, allyl methacrylate, t-butylaminoethyl methacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,3-butanediol dimethacrylate, N, N-divinylaniline, divinyl ether, divinyl It is possible to add all divinyl compounds of sulfide and divinyl sulfonic acid and compounds having three or more vinyl groups as a crosslinking component. Further, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, unsaturated polyester, chlorosulfonated polyolefin and the like are also effective.

In the polymerizable monomer composition, a (co) polymer or another (co) polymer composed of the same as the polymerizable monomer composition, for example, a styrene resin, a styrene acrylate Addition of a resin, a rosin derivative, an aromatic petroleum resin, a pinene resin, an epoxy resin, a cumarone resin, or the like can make the particle size distribution uniform. Although not particularly limited as a polymer,
For example, a weight average molecular weight of about 500 to 100,000, more preferably about 1,000 to 50,000 is suitable. The amount of the (co) polymer to be added is suitably about 0 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the polymerizable monomer.

As the coloring agent, any conventionally known coloring agents can be used, for example, black coloring agents such as carbon black, furnace black and acetylene black, graphite, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, titanium yellow, chrome yellow, and the like. Yellow colorants such as naphthol yellow, hansa yellow, pigment yellow, benzidine yellow, permanent yellow, quinoline yellow lake, anthrapyrimidine yellow, permanent orange, molybdenum orange,
Orange colorants such as Vulcan Fast Orange, Benzine Orange, Indanthrene Brilliant Orange, brown colorants such as iron oxide, amber, permanent brown,
Vengara, Rose Vengara, antimony powder, permanent red, fire red, brilliant carmine,
Light fast red toner, permanent carmine, pyrazolone red, bordeaux, helio bordeaux, rhodamine lake, dupont oil red, thioindigo red, thioindigo maroon, watching red strontium and other red coloring agents, cobalt purple, first violet, dioxane violet, methyl Purple colorants such as violet lake, methylene blue, aniline blue, cobalt blue, cerulean blue, calco oil blue, metal-free phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine blue, ultramarine blue, indanthrene blue, blue colorants such as indigo, chrome green, Cobalt Green, Pigment Green B, Green Gold, Phthalocyanine Green, Malachite Green Oxalate, Polyc Can be exemplified a pigment or dye such green colorants such as Muburomu copper phthalocyanine,
These pigments or dyes can be used alone or in combination.

The flash-fixing electrophotographic toner of the present invention is intended to improve flash fixability by adding an infrared absorbing agent, and is particularly effective for a color toner using a coloring agent other than black. Is the big one.

These colorants are not particularly limited, but are preferably 3 to 15% by weight in the toner composition.

The flash-fixed electrophotographic toner of the present invention further comprises an infrared absorber.
The infrared absorber used in the present invention preferably has a maximum absorption wavelength of 750 to 1100 nm, more preferably 800 to 1100 nm.

The infrared absorbent used in the present invention has a maximum absorption wavelength at a wavelength of 750 to 1100 nm as described above, and comprises a polymerizable monomer, a solvent,
There is no particular limitation as long as it can be dispersed rather than dissolved in an aqueous medium, resin, or the like.

Specific examples of the infrared absorber that can be used in the present invention include objects such as a polymerizable monomer, a solvent, an aqueous medium, and a resin, which are to be finely dispersed in the infrared absorber. , But it is generally difficult to show them, but for example, cyanine compound, diimonium compound, aminium compound, Ni
Examples include complex compound systems, phthalocyanine compound systems, anthraquinone compound systems, and naphthalocyanine compound systems.

Specifically, Nippon Kayaku Kayasor
b IR-750, IRG-022, IRG-023,
IR-820B, CY-2, CY-4, CY-9, CY
-17, CY-20, and bis (1,2-diphenylene-1,1,2-dithiol) nickel.

The flash fixing differs from the heat roll fixing in that the xenon flash lamp absorbs and irradiates light (mainly near-infrared light having a wavelength of 800 nm to 1100 nm) and generates heat. The temperature reaches about 600 ° C. Therefore, if the thermal decomposition start temperature, that is, the heat-resistant temperature of the infrared absorbent is low, the decomposition gas may cause voids (white spots) in the fixed image. Therefore, the heat-resistant temperature of the infrared absorbent is 230
℃ or more, more preferably 250 ℃
Above, most preferably 300 ° C. or higher.

In the flash-fixed electrophotographic toner of the present invention, the amount of such an infrared absorber added is 0.01 to 3% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 3% by weight of the total weight of the finally obtained toner composition. % By weight to 2% by weight. That is, if the addition amount is less than 0.01% by weight, even if the infrared absorber is sufficiently finely dispersed in the obtained toner particles, there is a high possibility that it is difficult to obtain sufficient fixability, while If the addition amount exceeds 3% by weight, there is no problem in terms of fixability, but it is not only economically disadvantageous but also may adversely affect the color tone and chargeability of the toner. That's why.

The flash fixing electrophotographic toner of the present invention may further contain additives such as a wax component, a charge controlling agent, and a fluidizing agent, if necessary.

As the wax component, a polyolefin wax, a natural wax and the like can be used. As the polyolefin wax, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer,
Ethylene-butene copolymer, ethylene-pentene copolymer, ethylene-3-methyl-1-butene copolymer, or olefin and other monomers such as vinyl esters, haloolefins, and (meth) acrylic acid Examples thereof include copolymers with esters, (meth) acrylic acid or derivatives thereof, and the like.
Desirably, it is about 0 to 45000. Examples of the natural wax include carnauba wax, montan wax, and natural paraffin.

Examples of charge control agents include nigrosine, monoazo dyes, zinc, hexadecyl succinate,
Alkyl esters or alkylamides of naphthoic acid,
Examples thereof include nitrohumic acid, N, N-tetramethyldiaminebenzophenone, N, N-tetramethylbenzidine, triazine, and salicylic acid metal complex. In the form of a color toner in which the colorant used in the flash fixing electrophotographic toner of the present invention is other than black,
The charge control agent is preferably colorless or pale.

Examples of the fluidizing agent include inorganic fine particles such as colloidal silica, hydrophobic silica, hydrophobic titania, hydrophobic zirconia, and talc, and organic fine particles such as polystyrene beads and (meth) acrylic resin beads. Can be used.

The method for producing the flash-fixed electrophotographic toner of the present invention may be any polymerization method capable of obtaining a polymer as spherical fine particles as described above.
Based on the suspension polymerization method, emulsion polymerization method, dispersion polymerization method, etc., based on the polymerizable monomer, additives such as a coloring agent, an infrared absorber, and further the above-mentioned wax component, charge control agent, fluidizing agent, etc. Can be carried out by polymerizing a polymerizable monomer composition obtained by blending However, among these polymerization methods, the suspension polymerization method is most preferable because a toner having the best physical properties can be obtained.

Alternatively, the fine particles obtained by such a polymerization method, in particular, the emulsion polymerization method, can be further subjected to a coagulation treatment to obtain toner particles having a desired particle size. The components other than the monomer are not added to the polymerization system but can be added during the coagulation treatment, or can be added to both the polymerization system and the coagulation treatment system.

When the polymerizable toner for non-contact fixing of the present invention is obtained based on the suspension polymerization method, the polymerizable monomer composition as described above is added to an aqueous medium, and the mixture is stirred to obtain a desired particle size. (Polymerizable monomer composition particles) are formed to perform polymerization. In the suspension polymerization, it is preferable to carry out the reaction after regulating the particle diameter of the droplets or while regulating the particle diameter, but it is particularly preferable to carry out the reaction after regulating the particle diameter. The regulation of the particle size is, for example,
A suspension in which a predetermined component is dispersed in an aqueous medium is referred to as T.V. K. Stir with a homomixer. Alternatively, it is carried out by passing once or several times through a high-speed stirrer such as a line mixer (for example, Ebara Milder). In this way, the particle size of the droplet is a predetermined size, for example, 0.1
５００500 μm, preferably about 0.5-100 μm, more preferably about 0.5-50 μm. In other polymerization methods, when performing polymerization based on each polymerization method, it is preferable to perform the same particle size regulation.

In the present invention, in the process of producing a toner by the above-mentioned polymerization method, the above-mentioned infrared absorber is added after finely dispersing, and it is added at the time of polymerization. There is no particular limitation as long as it is between the step of preparing the hydrophilic monomer composition and the step of drying the finally obtained toner particles.

Specifically, for example, a step of preparing a polymerizable monomer composition in a polymerization system, a step of dispersing the polymerizable monomer composition in a dispersion medium, and a step of polymerizing the polymerizable monomer composition In the case where the coagulation treatment is further performed, it can be performed in any of the treatment steps.

Further, as a method of dispersing the infrared absorbing agent,
Various modes can be adopted, and specific examples include a method in which an infrared absorber is finely dispersed and added to a polymerizable monomer, a solvent, an aqueous medium, a resin, or the like used in a polymerization system or an aggregation treatment system. In addition, among these, the resin does not mean spherical fine particles obtained as a result of polymerizing the polymerizable monomer composition, but a polymerizable monomer which can be added to such a polymerizable monomer composition. It refers to a resin that can be dissolved in the body composition, or a resin that can be added and dissolved in a solvent used for a polymerization system.

The method for finely dispersing the infrared absorbent in a liquid material such as a polymerizable monomer or a solvent may be, for example, a high-speed shearing disperser such as a homomixer, a biomixer or an ebala milder, a colloid mill, or a homomic line. Grinding type dispersing machines such as mills, ball mills, side grinding mills, pearl mills,
A method using a media mill such as an attritor can be exemplified.

The method of dispersing in a resin or the like includes, for example, a roll mill, a kneader, a pressure kneader, a Banbury mixer,
An example is a method in which a resin or the like and an infrared absorbing agent are melt-kneaded using a Labo Plastomill, a single-screw or twin-screw kneading extruder, and the infrared absorbing agent is finely dispersed in a solid substance such as a resin.

The degree of the fine dispersion treatment of the infrared absorber depends on the type of the polymerizable monomer, solvent, aqueous medium, resin, etc. to be dispersed by adding the infrared absorber.
For example, it is desirable that the dispersed infrared absorber has a particle size of about 0.5 μm or less, more preferably about 0.01 to 0.3 μm.

It should be noted that there is no problem even if a colorant such as a pigment, a charge controlling agent, a wax and the like are simultaneously dispersed in the pulverization for finely dispersing the infrared absorbent by these methods. May be performed at a high concentration.

Examples of the dispersant or emulsifier used in suspension polymerization, dispersion polymerization and emulsion polymerization include polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, tragacanth, starch, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium polyacrylate, sodium polymethacrylate and polyvinyl Polymer dispersants such as pyrrolidone, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, sodium tetradecyl sulfate, sodium pentadecyl sulfate, sodium octyl sulfate, sodium allyl-alkyl-polyethersulfonate, sodium oleate, sodium laurate, sodium caprylate, caproic acid Sodium, sodium stearate, potassium oleate, 3,3′-disulfonediphenylurea
4,4'-diazo-bis-amino-8-naphthol-6
Sodium sulfonate, ortho-carboxybenzene-azo-dimethylaniline, sodium 2,2 ′, 5,5′-tetramethyl-triphenylmethane-1,1′-diazo-bis-β-naphthol-disulfonate, alkyl Sodium naphthalene sulfonate, sodium dialkyl sulfosuccinate, sodium alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonate, sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfate, triethanolamine polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, ammonium polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate, sodium alkyl sulfonate, β-naphthalene sulfone Sodium salt of acid formalin condensate, sodium salt of special aromatic sulfonic acid formalin condensate, special carboxylic acid type polymer surfactant, polyoxyethylene Ralyl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether, polyoxyethylene octyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene sorbitan alkylate, lauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride, stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, cetyl trimethyl ammonium Surfactants such as chloride, distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, alkylbenzyl dimethyl ammonium, other alginates, zein, casein,
Barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, barium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium phosphate, talc, clay, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, titanium hydroxide, thorium hydroxide,
Metal oxide powder and the like.

As the polymerization initiator used for the polymerization, oil-soluble peroxide-based or azo-based initiators usually used for suspension polymerization and dispersion polymerization can be used. For example,
For example, benzoyl peroxide, lauroyl peroxide, octanoyl peroxide, orthochlorobenzoyl peroxide, orthomethoxybenzoyl peroxide, methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate,
Peroxide initiators such as cumene hydroperoxide, cyclohexanone peroxide, t-butyl hydroperoxide, diisopropylbenzene hydroperoxide, 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2′-azobis (2 , 4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2'-azobis (2,3-dimethylbutyronitrile), 2,2'-azobis (2-methylbutyronitrile), 2,2'-azobis (2 3,3-trimethylbutyronitrile), 2,2'-azobis (2-isopropylbutyronitrile), 1,1'-azobis (cyclohexane-1-carbonitrile), 2,2'-azobis (4-methyloxy) -2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2- (carbamoylazo) isobutyronitrile,
4,4'-azobis (4-cyanovaleric acid), dimethyl-2,2'-azobisisobutyrate and the like. Examples of the water-soluble initiator used in the emulsion polymerization include, for example, sodium persulfate, potassium persulfate, persulfates such as ammonium persulfate, tertiary isobutyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, paramenthan hydroperoxide and the like. Organic peroxides, hydrogen peroxide and the like can be mentioned. Such a polymerization initiator is used in an amount of 0.01 to 20% by weight, particularly 0.1% by weight, based on the polymerizable monomer.
It is preferred to use 1 to 10% by weight.

The thus obtained flash-fixed electrophotographic toner according to the present invention has an average particle size of, for example, 5 to 15 μm, and more preferably an average particle size, although it depends on the intended resolution in electrophotography. 5-10 μm
It is of the order.

The xenon flash lamp is used for fixing the flash fixing electrophotographic toner according to the present invention, and the electric input energy of the xenon flash lamp can be fixed at 1.6 to 3 J / cm ² per unit area. When the degree of fixation is 70% or more, no problem occurs during use.
In the case of 0% or less, there is a problem that separation occurs due to frictional force and the like, and contaminants contaminate other objects in contact.

The flash fixing electrophotographic toner of the present invention can be used for, for example, bar code printing, label printing, tag printing,
It can be suitably used for various applications such as printers and copiers such as the Carlson method or the ion flow method, and in particular, in order to provide a product exhibiting good flash fixability at low cost even in the color embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to easily cope with a demand for colorization of an image in these applications.

[0051]

The present invention will be described more specifically below with reference to examples. In the following, “%” and “parts” are by weight unless otherwise specified.

Example 1 874 parts of styrene, 6 parts of nickel bis (1,2′-diphenylene-1,2-dithiol) infrared absorber, red pigment (Lionel Red CP-A, manufactured by Toyo Ink) 10
0 parts and 20 parts of a charge control agent (Bontron E82, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries) were mixed, and Dynomill (manufactured by Shinmaru Enterprises) was used.
mm zirconia beads are filled to 80% of the vessel volume, the disk peripheral speed is 15 m / s, and the flow rate is 1500 ml / mi.
n was subjected to a fine dispersion treatment for 10 minutes to prepare a mill base.

50 parts of this mill base, 41.3 styrene
Parts, n-butyl acrylate 15 parts, divinylbenzene 0.1 part, 2,2′-azobisbutyronitrile (ABN
R, 2 parts of 2,2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (ABNV) were uniformly mixed to obtain a polymerizable monomer composition.

This polymerizable monomer composition was added to 430 parts of water containing 0.04% of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and 4% of calcium phosphate prepared in advance,
5 at 8000 rpm using a homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika)
After stirring for a minute, a suspension was obtained.

The suspension was heated under a nitrogen atmosphere while uniformly stirring the whole to such an extent that the polymer particles did not settle.
Polymerization was carried out at a temperature of 5 ° C. for 5 hours.

As a result of measuring the particle size of the polymer in the polymerization solution using a Coulter Multisider II (manufactured by Coulter Inc.),
The volume average particle size was 7.3 μm.

Next, after solid-liquid separation and washing were repeatedly performed, drying was performed for 24 hours using a reduced pressure dryer at a temperature of 50 ° C. to obtain colored resin fine particles (1).

As a result of observing the dispersion state of the infrared absorbent in the colored resin fine particles (1) with a TEM photograph, the particles were uniformly finely dispersed in the particles, and the size of the particles was 0.1 μm.
m or less.

The colored resin fine particles (1) are used as a raw powder of toner for electrophotography, and 0.3% of hydrophobic silica (Aerosil R-972, manufactured by Nippon Aerosil) is added thereto and sufficiently mixed to obtain toner (1). I got

The toner (1) thus obtained was evaluated for the degree of fixation, color tone, fog on the image, and resolution by the following methods. Table 1 shows the obtained results.

Example 2 A polymerizable monomer composition comprising 70 parts of styrene and 30 parts of n-butyl acrylate was added to 230 parts of a 0.9% hytenol N08 (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku) aqueous solution prepared in advance. Then, the mixture was polymerized at 70 ° C. for 8 hours with stirring to obtain an emulsion polymer having a solid content of 30%.

To this emulsion polymer, 100 parts of a dispersion of an infrared absorbent, 100 parts of a dispersion of a pigment and a charge control agent, and 5 parts of a 10% aqueous solution of polyaluminum chloride, which were previously prepared under the following conditions, were added, and stirred. And kept at 70 ° C. for 1 hour. In the meantime, resin particles, infrared absorbers, pigments,
Formation of an aggregate composed of the charge control agent was confirmed by an optical microscope.

Thereafter, solid-liquid separation, washing and drying were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, and further, air classification was carried out to obtain colored resin fine particles (2) of about 8 μm.

As a result of measuring the particle size of the colored resin fine particles (2) in the same manner as in Example 1, the volume average particle size was 7.8.
μm.

Using the colored resin fine particles (2) as raw toner powder for electrophotography, a toner (2) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

The performance of the toner (2) thus obtained was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. Table 1 shows the obtained results.

Fine dispersion treatment of infrared absorber Infrared absorber Kayasorb CY-10 (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku)
5 parts, 45 parts of methanol and 253.5 parts of water were mixed, and the mixture was mixed with a batch type sand mill (beads capacity of 1 L and a bead diameter of 1.2 parts).
mm zirconia beads filled to 80% of the vessel volume,
Perform a fine dispersion process at a disk peripheral speed of 8 m / s) for 30 minutes.
An infrared absorbent / methanol / water dispersion was obtained.

The particle size of the infrared absorbing agent in this dispersion was confirmed by an optical microscope, and it was found that the particles were finely dispersed to 0.3 μm or less.

Fine dispersion treatment of pigment and charge control agent 15 parts of phthalocyanine blue (Lionol Blue ES, manufactured by Toyo Ink), 3 parts of charge control agent (Bontron E82, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries), 45 parts of methanol, 237 parts of water
The resulting mixture was finely dispersed under the same conditions as those for the fine dispersion treatment of the infrared absorbent to obtain a dispersion of the pigment and the charge control agent.

Example 3 Polyester resin (Tuffton NE1110, manufactured by Kao)
Two parts of Kayasorb CY-10 infrared absorbent (manufactured by Nippon Kayaku) were mixed and melt-kneaded with a hot roll at a roll temperature of 115 ° C for 20 minutes to prepare a master batch in which the infrared absorbent was finely dispersed in the resin.

The masterbatch was dissolved in toluene (the infrared absorbent did not dissolve), and the particle diameter of the dispersed infrared absorbent was observed with a microscope. As a result, it was found that the dispersion was finely dispersed to 0.5 μm or less.

64 parts of styrene, 11.5 parts of n-butyl acrylate, 0.1 part of divinylbenzene, phthalocyanine blue (Lionol Blue ES, manufactured by Toyo Ink) 5
Parts, charge control agent (Bontron E82, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries) 1 part, 2,2′-azobisbutyronitrile (AB
2 parts, 2,2′-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (ABNV) 2
The parts were mixed and dispersed with a biomixer (manufactured by Nichion Medical Rikiki Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) at 20,000 rpm for 10 minutes. 25 parts of the previously prepared masterbatch was added thereto, followed by stirring and mixing to obtain a polymerizable monomer composition.

This polymerizable monomer composition was added to 430 parts of an aqueous solution of 0.2% Hytenol N08 (manufactured by Daiichi Kogyo Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) which had been prepared in advance and uniformly mixed. The mixture was passed once under an operating condition of 12,000 rpm and a flow rate of 230 kg / Hr to obtain a suspension.

This suspension was polymerized in the same manner as in Example 1. The particle diameter of the obtained polymerization solution was measured in the same manner as in Example 1, and as a result, the volume average particle diameter was 5.8 μm.

Next, solid-liquid separation, washing and drying were performed to obtain colored resin fine particles (3).

Using the colored resin fine particles (3) as raw toner powder for electrophotography, a toner (3) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

The performance of the toner (3) thus obtained was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. Table 1 shows the obtained results.

Comparative Example 1 Styrene acrylic resin (TB-1000, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical) 80 parts Styrene acrylic resin (ST-95, manufactured by Sanyo Chemical) 20 parts Red pigment (Lionel Red CP-A, manufactured by Toyo Ink) 5 parts Electric charge Control agent (Bontron E82, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries) 1 part Infrared absorber 3 parts (bis (1,2′-diphenylene-1,1,2-dithiol) nickel) Powder mixing machine of the above toner composition (high speed mixer) And Fukae Kogyo Co., Ltd.), and then melt-mixed with a Labo Plastomill (Toyo Seiki). After cooling this mixture,
It was roughly pulverized and then finely pulverized by a jet mill. The obtained finely pulverized product was classified with an air classifier, and the average particle size was 10.1 μm.
m colored resin particles for comparison (C1) were obtained. This comparative colored resin particle (C1) was used as a raw toner powder for electrophotography, and a comparative toner (C1) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. The performance of the obtained comparative toner (C1) was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. Table 1 shows the obtained results.

Comparative Example 2 85 parts of styrene, 15 parts of n-butyl acrylate, 0.1 part of divinylbenzene, 2 parts of 2,2′-azobisbutyronitrile (ABNR, manufactured by Nippon Hydrazine Industry), 2,2
2'-azobis (2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile)
(ABNV) 2 parts, phthalocyanine blue (Lionol Blue ES, manufactured by Toyo Ink) 6 parts, charge control agent (Bontron E82, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industries) 1 part, infrared absorber (Kayasorb CY-17, manufactured by Nippon Kayaku) 0.5 part of the polymerizable monomer composition was placed in a 450 ml mayonnaise bottle together with 130 g of glass beads having a diameter of 2.5 mm and dispersed and mixed with a paint shaker for 60 minutes.

This polymerizable monomer composition was added to 430 parts of water containing 0.04% of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and 4% of calcium phosphate prepared in advance,
5 at 8000 rpm using a homomixer (manufactured by Tokushu Kika)
After stirring for a minute, a suspension was obtained.

This suspension was polymerized in the same manner as in Example 1. As a result of measuring the particle diameter of the obtained polymerization liquid in the same manner as in Example 1, the volume average particle diameter was 6.2 μm.

Next, after dissolving tricalcium phosphate with hydrochloric acid, solid-liquid separation and washing were repeated, followed by drying in a vacuum drier at a temperature of 50 ° C. for 24 hours to obtain comparative colored resin fine particles (C2).

As a result of observing the dispersion state of the infrared absorbent in the comparative colored resin fine particles (C2) with a TEM photograph, the particles were uniformly finely dispersed in the particles, and the size of the particles was 2 μm or less.

Using the comparative colored resin fine particles (C2) as raw toner powder for electrophotography, a toner (C2) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

The performance of the toner (C2) thus obtained was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. Table 1 shows the obtained results.

Comparative Example 3 The same procedure as in Example 1 was repeated except that the infrared ray absorbing agent was not added to the polymerizable monomer composition of Example 1, and the comparative colored resin particles (C3) were used. Obtained.

Using the comparative colored resin fine particles (C3) as raw toner powder for electrophotography, a toner (C3) was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

The performance of the toner (C3) thus obtained was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. Table 1 shows the obtained results.

(Evaluation of Performance) Fixing degree test 4 parts of toner, acrylic-modified silicone resin-coated carrier 9
The developer consisting of 6 parts was supplied to a commercially available copying machine (Leo Dry 76).
10, manufactured by Toshiba Corporation) to form an unfixed image, and then fixed by flash using a xenon flash lamp.

The flash-fixed image was obtained by using a Scotch mending tape (3M) having a width of 40 mm and a diameter of 100 m.
After bonding with a 1.5 kg metal roller and leaving for 30 minutes,
The film was subjected to a tape peeling test in which the film was peeled at an angle of about 135 ° at a speed of about 20 cm at an angle of about 135 °.

The image remaining rate after the tape was peeled was calculated by the following equation by measuring the image density before and after the tape was peeled.

[0092]

## EQU1 ## Degree of fixation (%) = (image density after tape peeling / image density before tape peeling) × 100 The image density is a Macbeth reflection densitometer RD514 type (A div.
ision kollmorgen Corp).

Fog on Image Toner fog on the white image portion was observed and evaluated using a loupe with a magnification of 20 times. The evaluation was based on the following three criteria.

○ No toner fog.

(4) There is no problem with toner fog.

X: Many problems with toner fog.

Resolution Using the electrophotographic society test chart No1-R (1975), dot reproducibility of 65 lines / inch and 3.2 lines / m
The reproducibility of the fine line of m was observed with a stereoscopic microscope (× 60)
Was photographed and evaluated. The evaluation was based on the following three criteria.

The test chart is almost reproduced, with little dot or fine line thickening or thinning. .

(4) Thick or thin dots and fine lines are slightly recognized, but at a level that does not cause any problem.

X The dots and fine lines are remarkably thick or thin, and there are missing portions.

Evaluation of Color Tone A toner containing no infrared absorber was prepared with the respective compositions of the examples and comparative examples, and was used as a standard color tone toner. The color tone of the flash fixation of the toner of the example and the comparative example and the color tone of the oven-fixed image of the color tone standard toner were compared with the naked eye, and the effect of the infrared absorber on the color tone was examined. In addition,
The evaluation was based on the following four criteria.

A: No effect on the color tone was observed.

影響 The effect on the color tone was slightly recognized, but there was no problem.

(4) Influence on color tone is observed.

X: The influence on the color tone is large, and the color tone is clearly changed.

[0106]

[Table 1]

[0107]

As described above, according to the present invention, toner particles are obtained by a polymerization method, so that a toner having a small particle size can be easily obtained. It is good and can sufficiently exhibit the feature that the high resolution of the flash fixing electrophotographic method can be obtained. Further, in the present invention, since the infrared absorbent added to the toner is added after the fine dispersion treatment, the infrared absorbent can be finely dispersed uniformly between and within the toner particles. Further, the infrared absorber used in the present invention has a maximum absorption wavelength at a wavelength of 750 to 1100 nm, and can efficiently absorb xenon flash light. For this reason, the addition efficiency of the infrared absorber is high, sufficient fixation can be obtained with a small amount of addition, it is economically advantageous, and there is little problem of color contamination and little influence on the charging property.

Further, according to the production method of the present invention, even an infrared absorber which has been difficult to use due to poor dispersion by the conventional pulverization method can be finely dispersed and good results can be obtained.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 9/08

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A polymerized toner containing at least the resin component, a colorant and an infrared absorber, which is obtained by directly or further using particles obtained by coagulating the resin particles obtained by polymerization, The infrared absorbent is added to a polymerization system or a coagulation treatment system after being finely dispersed, and the infrared absorbent has a wavelength of 750.
A polymerized toner for flash fixing electrophotography, wherein the polymerized toner has a maximum absorption wavelength in the range of from 1 to 1100 nm, and the addition amount of the infrared absorber is in the range of 0.01% by weight to 3% by weight of the total weight of the toner . 2. The flash-fixed electrophotographic toner according to claim 1, wherein the colorant is a colorant other than black. 3. A method for producing a polymerized toner containing at least the resin component, a colorant and an infrared absorber, which comprises using resin particles obtained directly or further by coagulating the resin particles obtained by polymerization. The infrared absorber is added to a polymerization system or a coagulation treatment system after finely dispersing the infrared absorber, and the infrared absorber has a maximum absorption wavelength at a wavelength of 750 to 1100 nm; The amount of the additive is 0.0% of the total weight of the toner.
A method for producing a polymerized toner for non-contact fixing, wherein the content is in the range of 1% by weight to 3% by weight. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the fine dispersion treatment of the infrared absorbent is performed on a polymerizable monomer, a solvent, an aqueous medium or a resin soluble in the polymerizable monomer. A method for producing a polymerized toner for non-contact fixing.