EP0018140A1 - Pièce constitutive, procédé et système pour fixer par fusion des images sur un support - Google Patents

Pièce constitutive, procédé et système pour fixer par fusion des images sur un support Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0018140A1
EP0018140A1 EP80301076A EP80301076A EP0018140A1 EP 0018140 A1 EP0018140 A1 EP 0018140A1 EP 80301076 A EP80301076 A EP 80301076A EP 80301076 A EP80301076 A EP 80301076A EP 0018140 A1 EP0018140 A1 EP 0018140A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
metal
elastomer
fuser
release agent
containing filler
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP80301076A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0018140B1 (fr
Inventor
Paul D. Depalma
James A. Lentz
Rabin Moser
Donald A. Seanor
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Xerox Corp
Original Assignee
Xerox Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US06/026,989 external-priority patent/US4272179A/en
Priority claimed from US06/026,870 external-priority patent/US4264181A/en
Priority claimed from US06/026,869 external-priority patent/US4257699A/en
Application filed by Xerox Corp filed Critical Xerox Corp
Publication of EP0018140A1 publication Critical patent/EP0018140A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0018140B1 publication Critical patent/EP0018140B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/20—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat
    • G03G15/2003—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat
    • G03G15/2014—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for fixing, e.g. by using heat using heat using contact heat
    • G03G15/2053—Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating
    • G03G15/2057—Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating relating to the chemical composition of the heat element and layers thereof

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to heat fusing members, assemblies and methods, and more particularly, to an improved fusing surface and method to prevent offsetting of a resin-based powder fused upon a substrate during the fusing operation in electrostatographic copiers.
  • the fusing surface may be a roll, a belt, a flat surface or any other shape suitable for fixing toner or resin-based powder images.
  • the invention is particularly useful in the field of xerography where images are electrostatically formed and developed with resinous powders known as toners or thermoplastic resin powders, and thereafter fused or fixed onto sheets of paper or other substrates to which the powder images have been transferred.
  • the resin-based powders or toners of this invention are heat softenable, such as those provided by toners which contain thermoplastic resins and used .. conventionally in a variety of commercially known methods.
  • Improvements comprise fusing toner images by forwarding the sheet or web or substrate material bearing the image between two rolls at least one of which was heated, the rolls contacting the .image being provided with an abhesive surface such as a thin coating of tetrafluoroethylene resin and a silicone oil film to prevent toner offset.
  • outer surfaces of such rolls have also been fabricated of fluorinated ethylene/propylene polymers, elastomers which contain hexafluoropropylene as a comonomer such as poly(vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene) or silicone elastomers coated with silicone oil as well as silicone elastomers containing low surface energy fillers such as fluorinated organic polymers, and the like.
  • the tendency of these rolls to pick up the toner generally requires some type of release fluid continuously applied to the surface of the roll to prevent hot offset, and commonly known silicone oils are generally well adapted for this purpose.
  • Bare metal fuser members having functionalized polymeric release agents upon their surfaces are also well-known in the art.
  • the functionalized polymeric release agents such as mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxanes, are generally well adapted for release of thermoplastic resin toner from the heated surfaces of bare metal fuser members.
  • fuser members having elastomeric and resinous layers of material along with a coating of silicone oil to prevent toner offset are of sufficient thickness to constitute a poor thermal conductor, and longer nip dwell and higher fuser roll temperatures are required to deliver the fusing energy required to fix toner.
  • control of the surface temperature of the roll presents a problem due to large temperature variations occurring before and after contacting of the substrate bearing the images.
  • the invention is practised by applying a polymeric release agent having functional groups upon the surface of a fuser member comprising a base member and an elastomer surface, the elastomer having metal-containing filler dispersed therein.
  • the metal-containing filler dispersed in the elastomer must be present in an amount sufficient to interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups on the surface of the fuser member.
  • a metal-containing filler such as a metal, metal alloy, metal salt or metal oxide
  • a fuser member for fixing thermoplastic resin powder images to a substrate in a fuser assembly of the type wherein a polymeric release agent having functional groups is applied to the surface of the fuser member, and the fuser member comprises a base member having an elastomer working surface characterized in that the elastomer contains metal-containing filler dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to interact with a polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • thermoplastic resin toner images to a substrate characterized by the steps of: (a) forming a film of polymeric release agent having functional groups on the elastomer surface of a fuser member at elevated temperatures, said elastomer surface having metal-containing filler dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups; (b) contacting the toner images on the substrate with the coated, heated elastomer surface for a period of time sufficient to soften the toner; and (c) allowing the toner to cool.
  • thermoplastic resin powder is fixed to the substrate by contacting the substrate bearing the thermoplastic resin powder image with the heated surface of the described elastomer containing metal oxide, metal salt, metal or metal alloy filler and covered with a polymeric release agent having functional groups for a time and at a temperature sufficient to permit the fusion of the thermoplastic resin powder to the substrate.
  • the elastomer surface having metal oxide, metal salt, metal, metal alloy or other suitable metal compound filler dispersed therein is abhesive (anti-adhesive).
  • the elastomer having metal oxide, metal salt, metal, metal alloy or other suitable metal compound filler dispersed therein bears a film of polymeric release agent having functional groups which have interacted with the metal, metal alloy, metal salt, metal oxide or other suitable metal compound filler of the elastomer. Because of the synergism between the elastomer having metal oxide, metal salt, metal, metal alloy or other suitable metal compound filler dispersed therein and the polymeric release agent having functional groups, excellent release and the production of high quality copies are obtained even at high rates of speed of electrostatic reproducing machines.
  • a fuser member for fixing thermoplastic resin powder images to a substrate in a fuser assembly of the type wherein a polymeric release agent having functional groups is applied to the surface of the fuser member, wherein the fuser comprises a base member having an elastomer working surface with metal-containing filler dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups, characterized in that said elastomer is cured with a nucleophilic addition curing agent.
  • the preferred range of metal-containing filler for example lead oxide, is used at a concentration of about 0.5 parts to 100 parts of the metal-containing filler by weight per 100 parts by weight of the elastomer.
  • the most preferred concentration of metal-containing filler is about 5 parts to 45 parts by weight per 100 parts of the elastomer.
  • the metal-containing filler must be present in the elastomer in a concentration greater than about 0.05 volume percent based upon the volume of the elastomer.
  • a heated pressure fusing system for fusing toner images in an electrostatic reproducing apparatus in which a fuser roll and a backup roll define a contact arc to fuse toner images onto a substrate and a release agent is applied to the surface of the fuser roll to prevent toner offset upon the fuser roll, said fuser roll having an elastomer a surface, with metal-containing filler dispersed therein, and the release agent applied upon the surface of the elastomer is a polymeric release agent having functional groups which interact with the metal in the filler characterized in that the elastomer is cured with a nucleophilic curing agent.
  • the preferred elastomers in this embodiment are the fluoroelastomers.
  • the use of the polymeric release agents having functional groups upon the surface of the elastomer containing metal oxide, metal salt, metal or metal alloy filler has substantially reduced offset problems which are common to fusing devices and processes of the prior art having fuser members with an outer surface of an elastomer or resinous material.
  • the functional group (of the polymeric release agent) metal (of the metal-containing filler) interaction leads to an overall diminution of the critical or high surface energy of the metal in the metal-containing filler.
  • Polymeric release agents having functional- groups are well known in the prior art. They are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,029,827, 4,078,285, 4,011,362, 4,101,686 and 4,046,795.
  • the polymeric release agents having functional groups as used in this invention may be a solid or a liquid at ambient temperature and a fluid at operating temperatures.
  • polymeric is meant two or more monomer units as a backbone having chemically reactive functional groups attached thereto or attached to side chains and branches of the backbone of the polymer.
  • the reactive functional groups attached to the polymer must be capable of interacting with the metal of the filler dispersed in the elastomer surface of the fuser member.
  • metal-containing filler means any metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, metal salt or other metal compound which can be incorporated in the elastomer, and which can interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups. Since the metal of the metal-containing filler must interact with the functional groups of the polymeric release agent, it may be designated as a reactive metal-containing filler.
  • Metal-containing fillers include metals, metal alloys, metal oxides and metal salts.
  • the polymeric release agent have functional groups (also designated as chemically reactive functional groups) which interact with the metal-containing filler dispersed in the elastomer or resinous material of the fuser member surface to form a thermally stable film which releases thermoplastic resin toner and which prevents the thermoplastic resin toner from contacting the elastomer material itself.
  • the metal oxide, metal salt, metal, metal alloy or other.suitable metal compound filler dispersed in the elastomer or resin upon the fuser member surface be a metal oxide, metal salt, metal, metal alloy or other suitable metal compound capable of interacting with the functional groups of the polymeric release agent.
  • Such metal-containing filler materials preferably do not cause gellation of or have any adverse effect upon the polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • the fuser embodiments of the present invention may be used in any xerographic reproducing or duplicating machine using heated roll fusers.
  • Exemplary of an automatic xerographic reproducing machine is the machine described in U.S. Patent No. 3,937,637. Therein is illustrated a reproducing machine which employs an image recording drum-like member, the outer periphery of which is coated with a suitable photoconductive material.
  • One type of photoconductive material is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,970,906.
  • the photoconductive drum is suitably journalled for rotation within a machine frame by means of a shaft which rotates to bring the image retaining surface thereon past a plurality of xerographic processing stations.
  • Suitable drive means are provided to power and coordinate the motion of the various cooperating machine components whereby a faithful reproduction of the original input scene information is recorded upon a sheet of final support material such as paper or the like.
  • stations A to E the various processing stations for producing a copy of an original are represented as stations A to E.
  • the drum moves the photoconductive surface through a charging station A.
  • charging station A an electrostatic charge is placed uniformly over the photoconductive surface of the drum preparatory to imaging.
  • the charging may be provided by a suitable corona 'generating device.
  • exposure station B the drum is rotated to exposure station B where the charged photoconductive surface is exposed to a light image of the original input scene information, whereby the charge is selectively dissipated in the light exposed regions to record the original input scene in the form of a latent electrostatic image.
  • a suitable exposure system may be provided by one skilled in the art..
  • a suitable development station may include a magnetic brush development system utilizing a magnetizable developer mix having carrier granules and toner comprising electrophotographic resin plus colorant from dyes or pigments.
  • a developer mix is continuously brought through a direction flux field to form a brush thereof.
  • the electrostatic latent image recorded on the photoconductive surface is developed by bringing the brush of developer mix into contact therewith.
  • the developed image on the photoconductive surface is then brought into contact with a sheet of final support material within a transfer station D, and the toner image is transferred from the photoconductive surface to the contacting side of a final support sheet.
  • the final support material may be plain paper, gummed labels, transparencies such as polycarbonate, polysulfone, Mylar, and the like. Mylar is a trademark of E. I. duPont Company.
  • the sheet or substrate with the image thereon is advanced to a suitable fuser assembly which fuses the transfer powder image thereto.
  • the final support material is advanced by a series of rolls to a copy paper tray for subsequent removal therefrom by a machine operator.
  • the residual toner particles remaining on the photoconductive surface after the transfer operation are removed from the drum by any one of several well known cleaning means including cleaning corona generating devices used in conjunction with biased resilient knife blades. It is believed that the foregoing description is sufficient for the purposes of the present application to illustrate the general operation of a preferred automatic xerographic copier which can embody the fuser members and methods of the present invention.
  • the surface for fixing or fusing a thermoplastic resin powder image to a substrate at elevated temperatures may be either a roll, a flat surface, a belt or any other suitable configuration.
  • the surface of the fuser member must comprise an elastomer having a metal oxide, metal salt, metal, metal alloy or other suitable metal compound filler dispersed therein.
  • the metal-containing filler must be one which can interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups applied to the fuser member surface to provide a surface abhesive- (anti-adhesive) to tackified toner and to release molten thermoplastic resin powder therefrom during the fusing operation, and the metal-containing filler dispersed in the elastomer must be present in an amount sufficient to interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • the invention is i applicable to almost any type of surface which may be used in fixing or fusing a thermoplastic resin powder image to a substrate, for convenience, descriptions set forth herein are directed to fuser roll members which are substantially cylindrical in shape.
  • the fuser members may be constructed entirely of the elastomer having the metal containing filler dispersed therein, however, in the preferred embodiments, the roll structure comprises a base member made of a hollow cylindrical metal core such as copper, aluminum, steel and the like or coated layers of copper, steel, and aluminum and the like, overcoated with the layer of elastomer having metal-containing filler, such as metal oxide, metal salt, metal or metal alloy, dispersed therein.
  • the base member may be any suitable material, and the design is not limited to any particular metal, non-metal or composite.
  • the elastomers which may be used in accordance with the present invention must be heat stable elastomer or resin materials which can withstand elevated temperatures generally from about 90°C up to about 200°C or higher depending upon the temperature desired for fusing or fixing the thermoplastic resin powder to the substrate.
  • the elastomers used in the present invention must resist degradation or attack by the particular polymeric release agent having functional groups which is used to promote release of the molten or tackified thermoplastic resin powder or toner from the fuser member surface.
  • Exemplary of the elastomers which may be used in accordance with the present invention are the fluoro-silicone elastomers, the silicone carborane elastomers, various other silicone rubbers, fluoroelastomers, vinylidene fluoride-based elastomers, various organic rubbers such as ethylene/propylene diene, fortified organic rubbers which resist degradation at fusing temperatures, various copolymers, block copolymers, copolymer and elastomer blends, and the like. Any elastomer or resin used in accordance with the present invention must have thermal oxidative stability, i.e., resist thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the fuser member.
  • the organic rubbers which resist degradation at the operating temperature of the fuser member may be used. These include chloroprene rubber, nitrile rubber, chlorobutyl rubber, ethylene propylene terpolymer rubber (EPDM), butadiene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, butyl rubber, butadiene/aerylonitrile rubber, ethylene acrylic rubber, sytrene/butadiene rubber, and the-like or the foregoing rubbers fortified with additives which thermally stabilize the rubber at least at the operating temperature of the fuser member. Most fuser members are operated at temperatures from about 90°C to about 200°C but higher or lower temperatures are also contemplated depending upon the softening or melting point of the toner.
  • Resins having the foregoing properties may also be used in accordance with the present invention.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • FEP fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer
  • PFA Teflon polyfluoroalkoxypolytetrafluoroethylene
  • the preferred elastomers useful in the present invention are the fluoroelastomers and the most preferred fluoroelastomers are the vinylidene ' fluoride-based fluoroelastomers which contain hexafluoropropylene as a comonomer.
  • Two of the most preferred fluoroelastomers are (1) a class of copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene known commercially as Viton A, and (2) a class of terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene known commercially as Viton B.
  • Viton A and Viton B and other Viton designations are trademarks of E. I.
  • Fluorel 2170 Fluorel 2174, Fluorel 2176, Fluorel 2177, Fluorel LVS76, Viton GH, Viton E60C, Viton B910, Viton E430.
  • Fluorel is a trademark of 3M Company.
  • Mixtures of the foregoing vinylidene fluoride-based fluoroelastomers with tetrafluoroethylene, with silicone rubber, with fluorosilicone rubber and the like may also be compounded.
  • any suitable heat resistant elastomer or resin may be used in accordance with the present invention as long as it is resistant to physical and chemical degradation from the particular polymeric release agent having functional groups used as the release agent and as long as the particular metal oxide, metal salt, metal, metal alloy or other metal compound filler or fillers which interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups can be dispersed therein in 2 a sufficient amount to produce the chemical interaction between the metal oxide, metal salt, metal, metal alloy or other metal compound and the polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • the term elastomer is used interchangeably with resin.
  • the molecular weight range may vary from a low of about 1,000 to a high of about 200,000.
  • the vinylidene fluoride-based fluoroelastomers have a molecular weight range of about 50,000 to about 100,000, the molecular weight of commercially available Viton E430 being about 75,000.
  • the most-preferred elastomers especially fluoroelastomers having metal, metal alloy, metal salt, metal oxide or other metal compound in accordance with the present invention are those elastomers which can be cured by a nucleophilic addition cure of crosslinking agent or agents.
  • Crosslinking with basic nucleophiles is well known in the art, but the elastomers having metal, metal alloy, metal salt, metal oxide or other metal compound fillers therein and cured with basic nucleophiles result in improved fuser members.
  • Fuser members having these preferred elastomers with metal, metal alloy, metal salt or metal oxide fillers therein have about a ten fold reduction in wear rate and demonstrate the improved release of the present invention when the metal, metal alloy, metal salt or metal oxide filled elastomers are used upon the surface of the fuser member.
  • the elastomer layer containing metal, metal alloy, metal salt or metal oxide filler or mixtures thereof provides a conformable surface which improves copy quality even at high rates such as 7,000 copies per hour.
  • nucleophilic addition cure system is the bisphenol crosslinking agent with organophosphonium salt accelerator.
  • the phosphonium salt may be exemplified as: where ⁇ represents phenyl groups, and the bisphenol is exemplified as:
  • Another example of the nucleophilic addition cure system is crosslinking with a diamine carbamate type curing agent commonly known as DIAK 1.
  • step 1 shows the loss of HF in the presence of a base
  • step 2 shows the insertion of the diamine carbamate agent
  • step 3 shows post cure in the presence of heat.
  • This mechanism is well known in the art as a crosslinking or curing system.
  • diamine carbamate cure systems are hexamethylenediamine carbamate known commercially as DIAK No. I and N,N'-dicinnamylidene-1,6-hexanediamine known commercially as DIAK No. 3 (DIAK is a trademark of E. I. duPont de Nemours & Co.).
  • nucleophilic addition system is the preferred curing system, especially for fluoroelastomers, in the present invention.
  • nucleophilic addition curing system is generally meant the use of a bifunctional agent such as a bisphenol or a diamine carbamate to generate a covalently crosslinked network polymer formed by the application of heat following basic dehydrofluorin- ation of the copolymer.
  • Viton E60C Some of the commercially available fluoroelastomer polymers which can be cured by the nucleophilic addition system are Viton E60C, Viton B910, Viton E430, Viton A, Viton B, Fluorel 2170, Fluorel 2174, Fluorel 2176 and the like.
  • Viton is a trademark of E. I. duPont de Nemours & Company, and FLUOREL is a trademark of 3M Company.
  • metal oxide, metal salt, metal, metal alloy or other metal compound fillers which may be used in accordance with the present invention, will vary depending upon the particular polymeric release agent having functional groups used as a release agent in the fusing assembly.
  • the metal-containing fillers may be dispersed in the elastomer in any suitable manner, but in the preferred embodiments the metal-containing filler is uniformly dispersed throughout the elastomer layer, coating or body.
  • the metal-containing filler may be dispersed or disposed only proximal the working surface of the fuser member as desired to provide metal at or near the surface for interaction with the polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • the metal of the metal-containing filler dipsersed in the elastomer may be easily selected by one skilled in the art without undue experimentation by testing the metal-containing filler, such as a metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, metal salt or other metal compound, in an elastomer.
  • the general classes of metals which are applicable to the present invention include those metals of Groups lb, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8 and the rare earth elements of the Periodic Table.
  • the metal-containing fillers include the oxides, the salts and the alloys of the metals in foregoing groups of the Periodic Table. In certain instances, especially in salts and alloys, certain metals of group la of the Periodic Table are also included as metal-containing fillers in accordance with the present invention.
  • the metal oxide filler dispersed in the elastomer may be any metal oxide which can be incorporated in the elastomer without adverse effect upon the elastomer or upon the polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • the release characteristics of the polymeric release agent having functional groups will vary depending upon the particular metal oxide filler dispersed in the elastomer surface because of the kinetics of the interaction between the particular metal oxide and the particular functional group or groups, and it will also depend upon the elastomer material itself. This invention will also produce superior release when certain preferred metal oxide fillers are used.
  • the advantages of this invention can be obtained when the metal oxide filler ; dispersed in the elastomer is an oxide of aluminum, copper, tin, zinc, lead, iron, platinum, gold, silver, antimony, bismuth, zinc, iridium, ruthenium, tungsten, manganese, cadmium, mercury, vanadium, chromium, magnesium and nickel and alloys thereof.
  • the metal oxide filler dispersed in the elastomer is an oxide of aluminum, copper, tin, zinc, lead, iron, platinum, gold, silver, antimony, bismuth, zinc, iridium, ruthenium, tungsten, manganese, cadmium, mercury, vanadium, chromium, magnesium and nickel and alloys thereof.
  • the most preferred metal-containing fillers such as the metal oxides, are those which interact with the sulfur in the mercapto functional group to form metal sulfides.
  • the preferred metal oxide fillers are those which have greater thermal conductivity.
  • more desirable metal oxide fillers dispersed in the elastomer material may comprise copper, silver, gold, lead, and the like.
  • any stable metal or metal alloy may be used as long as there is no adverse effect upon the elastomer or the polymeric release agent having functional groups and as long as the metal or metal alloy interacts with the functional group or groups of the polymeric release agent.
  • the preferred metals are discussed above relative to their location in the Periodic Table of the Elements. Certain metal or metal alloy fillers will produce superior release when incorporated in the elastomer over other metals or metal alloys, and one skilled in the art can compare the release of various fuser members made in accordance with this invention to determine which metals or metal alloys produce optimum results.
  • Exemplary of the metal or metal alloy fillers useful in the present invention are aluminum, brass, copper, tin, zinc, lead, beryllium, beryllium/copper, steel, iron, platinum, gold, silver, bronze, monel, iridium, ruthenium, tungsten, vanadium, cadmium, chromium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, bismuth, antimony, nickel and alloys of the foregoing metals.
  • Metal salts may also be incorporated as the metal-containing filler in the elastomers in accordance with the present invention. Any stable salt or salts of the metals discussed relative to their location in the Periodic Table of Elements capable of interacting with the functional group or functional groups of the polymeric release agent may be used as an elastomeric filler as long as there is no adverse effect upon the elastomer or the polymeric release agent having functional groups. For example, when the functional group of the polymeric release agent is a mercapto or thio group, then the metal salt must be able to interact with the sulfur in the mercapto or thio group to form a metal sulfide interaction product.
  • a metal salt such as lead carbonate, lead iodide or lead fluoride would interact with the sulfur in the mercapto or thio group to form a lead sulfide interaction product.
  • the functional group of the polymeric release agent is an amino group
  • the metal salt must interact with the nitrogen in the amino group to form a metal-nitrogen interaction product.
  • the functional group of the polymeric release agent is a hydroxyl group
  • the metal salt must interact with the oxygen in the hydroxyl group to form a metal-oxygen interaction product.
  • Exemplary of some of the metal salts of the present invention are the acetates, halides (chlorides, fluorides, iodides, and bromides), carbonates, sulfides, sulfates, phosphates, nitrates and the like of lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, aluminum, cadmium, silver, lead, tin, gold, chromium, tungsten and the like.
  • the most preferred metal salts are the salts of heavy metals which form highly insoluble salts, and there is less tendency of such salts to dissolve in the polymeric release agent having functional groups and thereby produce an adverse effect thereon such as gellation.
  • the least preferred metal salts are those which are soluble in the polymeric release agents having functional groups because such salts would become depleted as a function of time, solubility and use from the surface area of .the elastomer (the working surface) and thereby diminish the interaction between the metal and the functional group or groups of the polymeric release agent.
  • one or more metals, one or more metal alloys, one or more metal oxides or one or more metal salts may be used in the elastomer, or mixtures of any of the foregoing such as one or more metals with one or more metal oxides, or one or more metal oxide with one or more metal salt or one or more metal alloy with one or more metal, and the like may be used in the elastomer in accordance with the present invention.
  • a particular metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, metal salt, or other metal compound may have an adverse effect upon the elastomer or the polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • calcium oxide causes gellation of mercapto functional polyorganosiloxanes and therefore it is detrimental to the release of thermoplastic resin toners.
  • certain of the metal-containing fillers may lessen the useful life of an elastomer such as when they are soluble in the polymeric release agent and are leached or otherwise depleted from the working surfaces of the elastomer. When these conditions arise, alternative fillers, elastomers and/or polymeric release agents should be used to produce optimum results.
  • Other intermediate or inner elastomer layers may be used between the outer layer elastomer and the base layer elastomer, and these are included in the phrase "at least one base layer”.
  • the same elastomer material, having the same metal-containing filler dispersed therein, may be used in all layers, or the same elastomer material having different metal-containing fillers.
  • the elastomers used in the inner layer or layers and/or the base layer optionally contain a metal-containing filler, that is, depending upon the circumstances, e.g. to promote thermal conductivity, strength, aging stability, to promote cure initiation, and the like, a metal-containing filler may be incorporated in the elastomer of the base layer and any other inner layer or layers, or it may be omitted therefrom.
  • the metal-containing filler must be incorporated in the outer or release layer elastomer.
  • the metal-containing filler is also used as desired (optionally) in the base layer and inner layer or layers to promote mechanical (thermal) stability of the elastomer, to promote adhesion to the outer layer, and to promote thermal conductivity.
  • the designation "optionally having metal-containing filler dispersed therein” as used herein defines an elastomer which may have no metal-containing filler therein, trace amounts (less than I part by weight based upon the weight of the elastomer) of metal-containing filler therein,or substantially large amounts of metal-containing filler therein, e.g. greater than about 1 part by weight and more preferably from about one to about 95 parts per hundred.
  • the metal-containing filler may be dispersed in the elastomer material in any suitable or convenient form and manner.
  • the metal containing filler may be in the form of a powder, flakes, spheroids, fibers or any suitable particulate form. It is preferably uniformly dispersed in the elastomer during the' compounding of the elastomer, for example, when the elastomer is in the form of a gum, the particulate metal, metal oxide or metal salt or mixture thereof is milled into the gum prior to the curing of the gum to form the elastomer.
  • the metal-containing filler is dispersed in the elastomer layer by mixing the selected particulate metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, metal salt or other metal compound or mixtures thereof with the elastomer gum or other millable form of the elastomeric compound preferably prior to solution or homogenization before application to the base member or other surface undergoing coating.
  • the metal-containing filler may be dispersed in the elastomer by conventional methods known to those skilled in the art, as by any suitable means of stirring or blending the particulate metal, metal alloy, metal oxide, metal salt or other metal compound which is generally in the form of a powder or flakes, into the dissolved, elastomer, homogenized elastomer or gum.
  • the elastomer gum having the metal-containing filler and the curing agent dispersed therein is then coated upon the base member, for example a cylindrical fuser roll, or any other suitable surface used in making fuser members by any conventional means.
  • Conventional gum compounding agents and solvents may be chosen by one skilled in the art and depends upon the particular elastomer.
  • the vinylidene fluoride copolymers may be dissolved in polar oxygenated solvents such as ketones, acetates and the like. Organic rubbers are soluble in such solvents as toluene.
  • the surface of the elastomer layer having the metal-containing filler dispersed therein must be positioned so that it will contact the thermoplastic resin powder image upon the substrate to which it is to be fused or fixed at elevated temperatures.
  • a polymeric release agent having functional groups for the prevention of offsetting or sticking of the thermoplastic resin powder resin or toner to the fuser surface as the thermoplastic resin powder image or toner image contacts the fuser surface at elevated temperatures.
  • the surfaces of the fuser members of the present invention are preferably prepared by applying either in one application or by successively applying to the surface to be coated with the elastomer having metal-containing filler dispersed therein, a thin coating or coatings of the elastomer having metal-containing filler dispersed therein. Coating is most conveniently carried out by spraying, dipping, the like, a solution or homogenized suspension of the elastomer containing the filler. Molding, extruding and wrapping are also alternative techniques which may be used to make fuser members in accordance with the present invention. When successive applications are made to the surface to be coated, it is generally necessary to heat the film-coated surface to a temperature sufficient to flash off any solvent contained in the film.
  • the elastomer having metal-containing filler dispersed therein is ! successively applied to the roll in thin coatings, and between each application, evaporation of the solvent in the film-coated roll is carried out at temperatures of at least about 25°C to about 90°C or higher so as to flash off most of the solvent contained in the film.
  • the temperature of evaporation depends upon the solvent system used.
  • the elastomer having metal-containing filler dispersed therein may also be applied as a sleeve to a roll or as a mat to flat or other suitable surfaces.
  • Conventional methods known in the art may be used in providing a surface in accordance with this invention, and the method for coating rollers as taught by Aser et al. in U.S. Patent No. 3,435,500 may be used.
  • the metal-containing filler must be present in the elastomer or gum in an amount sufficient to interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups. This generally comprises an amount greater than about 0.05 volume percent based upon the volume of the elastomer. Preferably, the metal-containing filler or mixtures of metal-containing fillers are present in an amount from about 1.0 to about 15 volume percent based upon the volume of the elastomer. The most preferred range is from about 2.0 volume percent to about 8.0 volume percent.
  • the particle size of the metal-containing filler dispersed in the elastomer is preferably from about 1 to about 10 microns in size, although particle size is not a limiting factor except the size of the particle cannot be greater than the thickness of the elastomer layer or coating unless the particles have one dimension which is less than the thickness of the elastomer coating, for example when the metal containing filler is in the form of a fiber, flake or flat plate dispersed in the elastomer.
  • the fuser roll members of the present invention may be constructed entirely of the elastomer having metal-containing filler dispersed therein, however, in the preferred embodiments, the roll structure comprises a hollow cylindrical core such as copper, aluminum, steel and the like overcoated with at least two layers of elastomer, at least the outer layer of the elastomer forming the working surface having metal-containing filler dispersed therein.
  • the elastomer coatings are generally at least 0.013mm in thickness and more preferably about 0.10mm to about 0.25mm in thickness.
  • variables which must be taken into consideration in order to provide the most effective fusing operation include such variables as hardness of the fusing surface, thermal conductivity, pressure, roll or contact speed, heat input, heat source and location thereof and the like.
  • the selection and balancing of these variables is well-known in the art and may effect the selection of the particular elastomer, the particular metal-containing filler and the particular polymeric release agent having functional groups which are to be utilized in the fusing process and assembly.
  • the fuser roll is internally heated, and the thicker elastomer coatings are used therein, then j in certain instances additional additives may be used in the elastomerto promote thermal conductivity.
  • Conventional adhesives are generally used to adhere elastomer to the core or base member.
  • the metal-containing filler may be directly incorporated or dispersed in the elastomer, in an alternative embodiment, the metal-containing filler may be thoroughly washed and treated before it is dispersed in the elastomer.
  • One of the preferred methods embraces washing or treating the metal-containing filler with the particular polymeric release agent having functional groups to be used in the fuser assembly prior to dispersion of the metal-containing material as a filler in the elastomer. This process may aid in the dispersion of the metal, metal alloy, metal salt, metal oxide or other metal compound filler in the elastomer and may also be used as a means of controlling the interaction between the metal, the elastomer and the release agent having functional groups applied to the surface of the elastomer. Furthermore, it provides an internal source of the release agent and in certain cases eliminates the need for the external application of the polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • adjuvants and fillers may be incorporated in the elastomer or gum in accordance with the present invention as long as they do not effect the integrity of the elastomer or the interaction between the metal-containing filler and the polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • Such fillers normally encountered in the compounding of elastomers and gums including coloring agents, reinforcing fillers, cross-linking agents, processing aids, accelerators and polymerization initiators, may be used.
  • the invention is also directed to a method of fusing thermoplastic resin toner images to a substrate comprising: (a) forming a film of polymeric release agent having functional groups on the elastomer surface of a fuser member at elevated temperatures, said elastomer surface having metal-containing filler dispersed therein in an amount sufficient to interact with the polymeric release agent having functional groups; (b) contacting the toner images on the substrate with the coated, heated elastomer surface for a period of time sufficient to soften the toner; and (c) allowing the toner to cool.
  • the polymeric release agent having functional groups may be applied intermittently or continuously as necessary to maintain release of the molten thermoplastic resin toner and to prevent offsetting.
  • the thickness of the film of polymeric release agent having functional groups is not critical, however, in preferred embodiments, the film is maintained at about 0.1 to about 2 microns in thickness.
  • the working surface of the fuser member is the elastomer having metal-containing filler dispersed therein.
  • working surface of the fuser member is that surface which contacts the toner to cause the toner to fuse to the substrate upon which it is to be affixed permanently.
  • a release material is applied to the "working surface” to prevent offsetting of the toner, especially heated, molten or tackified toner, to the elastomer surface having metal-containing filler dispersed therein.
  • these release materials or release agents are polymeric release agents having functional groups which are well known in the art and include the polymer release materials which have reactive functionality and react with the metal-containing filler in the working elastomer surface of the fuser member.
  • these polymer release materials which have functional groups or reactive functionality are the functionalized polymeric release agents described in U.S. Patent 4,101,686 incorporated herein by reference.
  • the referenced polymer materials having designated functional groups are applied to a heated fuser member in an electrostatic reproducing apparatus to form thereon a thermally stable layer having excellent toner release properties for electroscopic thermoplastic resin toners.
  • the polyorganosiloxane fluids and other polymeric fluids having functional groups interact with the metal fuser members therein in such a manner as to form an interfacial barrier at the surface of the bare metal fuser member while leaving an unreacted low surface energy release fluid as an outer layer or film.
  • Other release materials are well known in the art and include the polymer release materials which oxidize and react with a metal or metal alloy surface of the fuser member exemplary of which are those described and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 3,937,637 and U.S. Patent No. 4,078,285.
  • Other exemplary polymeric release agents having functional groups are those described in U.S. Patent No. 4,046,795, 4,029,827 and 4,011,362.
  • that characteristic of the polymeric release agent or material applied to the elastomer having metal-containing filler dispersed therein upon the working surface of a fuser member and designated as "reactive functionality" is defined in the foregoing disclosures, and encompasses those polymers which either oxidize and thereby form a functional group which reacts or interacts with the metal filler in the fuser member surface to form the desired toner release layer, or have a built-in functional group or groups which react or interact with the metal of the filler in the fuser member surface to form the desired toner release layer.
  • a typical fuser member of the present invention is described in conjunction with a fuser assembly as shown in Figure 1 where the numeral 1 designates a fuser roll comprising elastomer surface 2 having metal-containing filler dispersed, therein (not shown) upon suitable base member 4 which is a hollow cylinder or core fabricated from any suitable metal such as aluminum, anodized aluminum, steel, nickel, copper, and the like, having a suitable heating element 6 disposed in the hollow portion thereof which is coextensive with the cylinder.
  • Backup or pressure roll 8 cooperates with fuser roll 1 to form a nip or contact arc 10 through which a copy paper or other substrate 12 passes such that toner images 14 thereon contact elastomer surface 2 of fuser roll 1.
  • the backup roll 8 has a rigid steel core 16 with an elastomer surface or layer 18 thereon.
  • Sump 20 contains polymeric release agent 22 which has chemically reactive functional groups thereon which are capable of interacting with the metal-containing filler dispersed in elastomer surface 2.
  • the polymeric release agent 22 having functional groups thereon may be a solid or liquid at room temperature, but it is a fluid at operating temperatures.
  • the chemically reactive groups of polymeric release material 22 in sump 20 are mercapto, carboxy, hydroxy, isocyanate, epoxy, and amino.
  • the most preferred polymeric release agents having functional groups thereon used in accordance with the present invention are the mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxanes.
  • a metering blade 24 preferably of conventional non-swelling rubber is mounted to sump 20 by conventional means such that an edge 26 thereof contacts elastomer surface 2 to serve as a metering means for applying the release agent 22 having chemically reactive groups to fuser member I in its liquid or fluid state.
  • a layer of polymeric release fluid 22 can be applied to elastomer 2 in controlled thicknesses ranging from submicron thicknesses to thicknesses of several microns of release fluid.
  • a pair of end seals 28, for example, of sponge rubber are provided to contain the release material 22 in sump 20.
  • One or more stripper fingers 30 may be provided for insuring removal of the substrate 12 from the surface of elastomer 2.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown a fragmentary view of part of the fuser member of the present invention magnified many times over the member shown in Figure 1 in order to show the thin layers on the fuser member surface.
  • the base member or other solid structure upon which the elastomer is applied is designated by numeral 70.
  • Elastomer 64 is deposited upon base member 70 by any suitable means such as curing elastomer 64 containing metal-containing filler 66 directly upon base member 70 or most preferably by using various adhesive materials to cause the adhesion of elastomer 64 containing metal filler 66 to base member 70 or by fitting a sleeve of elastomer 64 containing metal filler 66 to base member 70 by any suitable means or by any other manner as desired.
  • base member 70 is preferably a metal, but it may also be glass or any other suitable material, or as described above the entire fuser member may comprise the elastomer having metal-containing filler therein and the heating element may be external (not shown) rather than internal.
  • the metal-containing filler particles 66 shown in Figure 2 are illustrated as having irregular shapes, however, any form of metal may be used in elastomer 64 including powders, flakes, platelets, spheroids, fibers, ovoid particles and the like.
  • a film of polymeric release agent having functional groups is shown on the surface of elastomer 64 and is designated by numeral 60.
  • Figures 3 and 4 show one form of fuser member in which there is a layer 68 intermediate the base member 70 and the outer layer 64.
  • the layer 68 may be bonded to member 70 similarly to the way layer 64 was bonded to member 70 as described above with reference to Figure 2.
  • the layer 68 may be referred to as the base layer.
  • layer 68 contains no metal-containing filler 66, while Figure 4 shows it as having such a filler 72 dispersed in it.
  • Additional layers of elastomer may be positioned between layer 64 and 68, and they may similarly contain, or be devoid of, filler.
  • intermediate layers may be deposited upon the base layer elastomer 68 by any of the methods described above.
  • the intermediate or inner layers may be optionally used to promote strength and conformability or compressibility when used in conjunction with a backup or pressure roll.
  • metal-containing filler 66 is dispersed in elastomer 64 in a concentration from about 1.0 to about 15.0 parts by weight of metal-containing filler 66 per 100 parts by weight of elastomer 64.
  • trace amounts of metal-containing filler would be used in elastomer 68, I eg less than about 0.5 parts of metal containing filler per 100 parts of elastomer.
  • the same concentrations of metal-containing filler also apply to the intermediate or inner layers.
  • FIG 4 there is shown a fragmentary view of part of the fuser member of the present invention magnified many times compared with the member shown in Figure 1, in order to show the thin layers on the fuser member surface.
  • the base member or other solid structure upon which the layers of elastomer are applied is designated by numeral 70.
  • Elastomer 68 is deposited upon base member 70 by any suitable means, such as curing elastomer 68 directly upon base member 70 or by any of the alternative methods suggested above for Figure 3.
  • metal-containing filler 72 is incorporated or dispersed in elastomer 68. This filler 72 may be the same as, or different from, filler 66 in elastomer layer 64.
  • Elastomer 68 in Figure 4 is also described herein as base layer elastomer or the base layer of elastomer.
  • Elastomer layer 64 is deposited upon elastomer layer 68 by any suitable means, preferably by curing elastomer 64 directly upon elastomer layer 68 or by any other means as described for the elastomer layer of Figure 3.
  • the intermediate layers may be deposited upon the base elastomer 68 by any of the methods described above. These intermediate or inner layers may be optionally used to promote strength and conformability or compressibility when used in conjunction with a backup or pressure roll.
  • the thickness of the elastomer having metal-containing filler dispersed therein is not critical in the practice of the present invention. Generally where the fuser member is heated by internal means, the elastomer having metal filler therein is preferably of such thickness as to constitute a minimal thermal barrier to heat radiating from inside the fuser member to the outermost layer of elastomer having metal filler therein. Recommended thicknesses are generally greater than 0.013 nm but may be from 0.025 mm to about 5 mm the most preferred ranges being from about 0.1 mm to about 2.5 mm. The preferred thickness depends upon the fuser member configuration and the particular backup or pressure member (hard or conformable) being used with the fuser member.
  • the preferred base layer elastomer thickness is about 0.15 mm with an outer layer elastomer thickness of about 0.05 mm.
  • the most preferred base layer has about 5.0 to about 20.0 parts by weight metal-containing filler such as magnesium oxide, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer, and the outer layer elastomer has about one to about 95 parts by weight metal-containing filler such as lead oxide, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer.
  • the release agent may be applied by any suitable means.
  • the sump is illustrated in the drawing, however, the polymeric release agent having functional groups may be applied by spraying from jets or other orifices, by padding from a flat, contoured or other shaped pad made of fabric, sponge, felt or other suitable material, by metering with an applicator roller or series of applicator rollers, or by means of a belt, by means of a solid bar or blade of the release agent material wiping against the fuser members, or by any other suitable applicator means or device.
  • An applicator roll or applicator belt having an elastomer surface with metal-containing filler dispersed therein may also be used to apply the polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • the adhesive or primer layer upon the base member to promote the adhesion of elastomer thereto is not critical.
  • anyone skilled in the art can easily select one of many well-known commercial adhesives or primers for adhering particular elastomers or resins to substrates.
  • silicone rubbers are often adhered to substrates with such primers as vinyltrimethoxysilane, gamma-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and vinyltris (t-butylperoxy) silane and partially hydrolyzed products thereof.
  • Organic rubbers may be adhered to the core material by a primer/rubber adhesive system such as Chemlok 205/236 which may be applied to a metal core.
  • Chemlok 205 is a mixture of polymers, organic compounds and mineral fillers in a methyl isobutyl ketone solvent system.
  • Chemlok 220 and 236 may be used with Chemlok 205 when the bond must have exceptional resistance to adverse environmental conditions.
  • Chemlok 220 is also used as a single coat adhesive for bonding nitrile elastomers. Dissolved organic polymers and dispersed fillers in a xylene and perchloroethylene solvent system may be used for bonding uncured elastomers to metals during vulcanization.
  • Chemlok 220 One commercial embodiment of this primer is known as Chemlok 220.
  • Chemlok 608 and other well-known dissolved silane polymers are excellent primers for the fluoroelastomers.
  • Chemlok is a trademark of Hughson Chemical Company.
  • Commercial epoxy compounds are also excellent for the bonding of elastomers to metal, plastic and glass substrates.
  • One family of epoxy adhesives or cements is known commercially by the trademark Thixon.
  • Thixon 300 is an epoxy resin well suited for bonding fluoroelastomers such as the Viton elastomers to metal.
  • Thixon is a trademark of Dayton Chemical Products Laboratories.
  • a solution of silicone resin is prepared by mixing the silicone resin with toluene. About 50 grams of Ventron micron-sized copper particles are washed with toluene and dried. The dried copper particles are dispersed in. the toluene solution of silicone resin, and after the particles are evenly dispersed throughout the solution, the solution is sprayed on the surface of an aluminum cylinder coated with a conventional silane adhesive material known commercially as Chemlok 608. This results in a fuser roll similar to the type shown in Figure 1. The ratio of copper particles to silicone resin is about 5 volume percent.
  • the roll prepared in the foregoing manner is placed in a fuser assembly as shown in Figure 1 and is used with a mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane release agent having a molecular weight of about 14,000 and a mercapto ( - SH) concentration of about 0.17 weight percent (based upon the weight of the mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane).
  • the life of the fuser roll is suitable and excellent release of thermoplastic resin toner is observed with the foregoing fuser roll having copper particles dispersed in silicone rubber. No hot offset is observed when this fuser roll heated at 180 0 C is used to fix toner images to paper.
  • Example II This was similar to Example I except particles of aluminium oxide were used instead of copper.
  • sufficient solution was sprayed on the adhesive-coated cylinder to produce a dried layer 0.15 mn thick.
  • the elastomer was dried under vacuum at 90°C to remove the solvent.
  • a silicone resin in n-hexane solvent containing 1.5 weight percent micron-sized silver powder (based upon the weight of the resin) uniformly dispersed therein was sprayed upon the dried silicone elastomer layer containing aluminium oxide particles.
  • Sufficient silicone resin solution was sprayed thereon to form a dried layer of about 0.25 mm thick.
  • the n-hexane was evaporated at 60°C.
  • the resulting roll had a configuration similar to that shown in Figure 4.
  • a fuser member was prepared in accordance with Example I except that two elastomer layers were used, both elastomer layers being of poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) copolymer having a molecular weight of 75,000 and identified as 'Viton' GH. Both layers were cured with a peroxide cure system. Both layers were deposited as dispersion in methyl ethyl ketone. The base layer or first layer of 'Viton' GH was about 0.10 nm thick, and the outer layer or second layer of 'Viton' GH was about 0.05 mm thick.
  • the base layer of 'Viton' GH contained about 3 parts by weight based upon the weight of the 'Viton' GH of lead oxide particles having an average particle size of 2 microns to assist the curing of the elastomer.
  • Excellent release was obtained when particles of silver having an average particle size of about 2 microns were present in the outer layer of poly(vinylidene fluoridehexafluoropropylene) at a concentration of about 1.5 volume percent based upon the volume of the elastomer, and the fuser roll was used in a configuration similar to the fuser assembly shown in Figure 1 with a release agent of mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane blended with polydimethylsiloxane, the blend having a molecular weight of about 11,500 and a mercapto content of about 0.17 weight percent.
  • a fuser roll was prepared in accordance with the procedure of Example I except the micron-sized copper particles (50 grams) were reacted with 100 g of a mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane having a molecular weight of 14,000 and a mercapto content of about 0.17 weight percent for 1 hour at 149°C. The copper particles were then separated from the mercapto functional polyorganosiloxane fluid, washed with toluene and dried. The dried copper particles (representing about 5 volume percent of the silicone resin) were evenly dispersed in a solution of silicone resin in toluene and sprayed on an aluminum cylinder coated with the adhesive material of Example I.
  • a fuser member was prepared in- accordance with Example I except the elastomer was poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) copolymer having a molecular weight of about 100,000 -and identified as Viton A. The copolymer was dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone solvent.
  • a fuser roll was made similar to the fuser roll described in Example III except that the layers of elastomer were poly(vinylidene fluoridehexafluoropropylene-tetrafluorethylene) terpolymer having a molecular weight of 100,000 and known under the tradename of 'Viton' B using a bisphenol cure system. Excellent release and excellent wear rate were obtained when about 45 parts by weight micron-sized copper particles per 100 parts by weight of 'Viton' B were used in the outer layer, and 3 parts by weight lead oxide were used in the base layer. Excellent release of thermoplastic resin toner and improved wear are observed when the mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane of Example I is used as the release agent in a fuser assembly similar to that shown in Figure 1.
  • a fuser roll is made similar to the fuser roll described in Example V except the elastomer is poly(vinylidene fluoride- hexafluoropropylene-tetrafluorethylene) terpolymer known under the tradename of Viton B.
  • Excellent release is obtained when about 9 percent (by weight based upon the weight of the elastomer) of micron-sized copper particles similar to the copper particles of Example I, is used.
  • Excellent release of thermoplastic resin toner is observed when the mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane of Example I is used as the release agent in a fuser assembly similar to that shown in Figure 1.
  • a fuser member was prepared in accordance with Example V except the elastomer was a poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) known commercially as Viton E430 (Viton is a trademark of E. I. duPont de Nemours and Co.).
  • the elastomer contained 45 parts by weight lead oxide per 100 parts by weight of the elastomer.
  • In excess of 150,000 copies were fixed in the Xerox 9200 duplicator (Xerox and 9200 are trademarks of Xerox Corporation) using a mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane release agent having a mercapto content of 0.04 weight percent (based upon the weight of the polyorganosiloxane).
  • a fuser member was prepared in accordance with Example VIII except a base layer of a poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) known commercially as 'Viton' E60C was interposed between the roll core and the outer layer of 'Viton' E430.
  • An epoxy adhesive known comnercially as 'Thixon' 300 was used on the metal core.
  • Both elastomers were cured with the nucleophilic addition curing agent, bisphenol, known commercially as 'Viton' Curatives 20 and 30.
  • the base layer of 'Viton' E60C was 0.15 mm thick, and the outer layer of 'Viton' E430 was 0.025 to 0.05 mm thick.
  • the outer elastomer layer contained 45 parts by weight lead oxide per 100 parts by weight of the elastomer.
  • the inner layer contained 30 parts by weight carbon black and 15 parts by weight magnesium oxide per 100 parts by weight 'Viton' E60C.
  • 'Xerox 9200' duplicator 'Xerox' and '9200' are trademarks of Xerox Corporation
  • a mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane release agent having a mercapto content of 0.10 weight percent (based upon the weight of the polyorganosiloxane) metred upon the fuser roll by a wick. Only minimal wear was observed upon the fuser roll surface 0.0013 mm per 100,000 copies).
  • a fuser member is prepared in accordance with Example V except the elastomer is poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer known as Viton A cured by a bisphenol curing agent. About 6 percent (by weight based upon the weight of the elastomer) of lead carbonate is dispersed in the elastomer by blending on a rubber mil prior to dissolving in methyl ethyl ketone. Suitable release of thermoplastic resin toner is obtained when mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane is used as the release agent in the fuser assembly similar to that shown in Figure 1.
  • a fuser roll was prepared by coating an aluminum cylinder having an epoxy adhesive known commercially as Thixon 300 thereon, with a a solution of Viton GH containing an aliphatic peroxide curing agent. Only trace amounts (less than 1 part by weight based upon the weight of the elastomer) of metal-containing filler were incorporated or dispersed in the poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) terpolymer known as Viton GH to assist the cure. The elastomer was cured at 232°C for 24 hours and was placed in a fuser assembly similar to the one shown in Figure 1. A 250 centistoke polyorganosiloxane fuser oil (polydimethylsiloxane) was used as the release agent. Less than 1,000 copies were fused with this system before release failure.
  • a fuser roll identical to the fuser roll of Example XI was prepared with only a trace amount of a metal-containing filler to assist curing.
  • a metal-containing filler instead of the linear polydimethylsiloxane (silicone oil) used as the i release agent in Example XI, a branched silicone oil (branched polydimethylsiloxane having branching of the siloxane backbone) having a viscosity of about 250 centistokes was used. There was only some improvement over the number of copies fused when conventional silicone oil was used as the release agent.
  • a fuser roll identical to the fuser roll of Example XI having an elastomer coating of Viton A cured with a diamine carbamate curing system (DIAK No. 1) and having only trace amounts of metal-containing filler to assist the cure was used.
  • a mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane fluid having a viscosity of about 250 centistokes, a molecular weight of about ll,500 and a mercapto content of about 0.06 percent (based upon the weight of the polyorganosiloxane) was used as the release agent. Although substantially more copies were fused with the fuser member and release agent of this example over the fuser member and release agent of Example VIII, the results were still less than desirable..
  • a fuser roll having a 0.04mm layer of Viton E430 with a metal-containing filler was placed upon an aluminum roll having the epoxy adhesive of Example XI thereon identical to the procedure and roll of Example XI except there was an intermediate 0.15mm layer of Viton E60C coated upon the epoxy-covered aluminum roll. All conditions were identical to the conditions of Example XI except a metal-containing filler, lead oxide, was incorporated into the 0.04mm thick poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) copolymer known as Viton E430 prior to curing with a bisphenol curing system. The lead oxide was about 45 parts per 100 weight of the Viton E430 (7.5 percent by volume).
  • the release agent used in the sump was identical to the release agent used in Example XIILNearly 1,000,000 copies were fused with the fuser member and the mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane release agent before release failure was observed.
  • Example XI through Example XIV shows the remarkable improvement of the present invention when a metal-containing filler is incorporated in the elastomer used as the surface coating of a fuser member when the polymeric release agents having functional groups are used as release agents to fuse thermoplastic resin toner images to substrates suchas paper.
  • the number of copies which can be fused with the metal-containing filler in the elastomer are multiples of hundreds of thousands more than the same fuser member containing no filler or only trace amounts of filler in the elastomer even when the system is used with the same polymeric release agent having functional groups.
  • a fluoroelastomer copolymer of poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) known as Viton E430 having 45 parts of lead oxide filler per 100 parts by weight of the fluoroelastomer blended therein was dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone solvent.
  • the curing or crosslinking agent for both fluoroelastomers was fluorinated bisphenol A.
  • the solution was repeatedly sprayed upon the degreased aluminum base member or core to yield a final thickness of about 0.05 mm.
  • the fluoroelastomer was cured by heating for 16 hours at 232°C. The layer was cooled and sanded.
  • the final thickness of the Viton E430 layer was about 0.04 mm.
  • the roll was placed in a Norman Abrader and wear data were recorded.
  • Another roll prepared identical to that shown above was placed in a Xerox 9200 duplicator having a wick applicator for applying the release agent to the roll (Xerox and 9200 are trademarks of Xerox Corporation) and tested for wear data and release.
  • About 500,000 copies were fused by the roll in the xerographic duplicator using the polymeric release agent of Example XIII.
  • the wear data taken from the xerographic duplicator showed less than 0.0015mm of wear per 100,000 copies and the Norman Abrader showed 100 microinches of wear per 40 cycles.
  • Example XV An aluminium roll core similar to that of Example XV was coated with a solution containing 15 parts magnesium oxide filler per 100 parts by weight of the 'Viton' E60C blended therein along with 3.0 parts of carbon black filler per 100 parts by weight of the 'Viton' E60C, was dissolved in methyl ethyl ketone solvent to make an 18 percent solution.
  • the curing or crosslinking agent for this fluoroelastomer was fluorinated bisphenol A.
  • the solution was repeatedly sprayed upon a primed degreased aluminium base member or core to yield a final thickness of 0.15-0.2 mm.
  • the fluorelastomer was cured by heating for one hour at 165°C. The layer was cooled and sanded.
  • the final thickness of the sanded roll was about 1.3-1.8 mm.
  • the fluoroelastomer coating (outer layer) was cured by heating for 16-24 hours at 232°C. The surface of this layer was polished to 0.3-0.4 mm.
  • the roll was placed in a Norman Abrader, and wear data were recorded.
  • Another roll prepared identical to that shown above was placed in a 'Xerox 9200' duplicator having a wick release agent applicator, and tested for-wear data and release. Over 1,000,000 copies were fused by the roll in the xerographic duplicator using the polymeric release agent of Example XII.
  • the wear data taken from the xerographic duplicator showed less than 0.0013 nm of wear per 100,000 copies, and the Norman Abrader showed 40 microinches of wear per 40 cycles.
  • the two layers of fluoroelastomer deposited upon the aluminium cylinder displayed no tendency to separate from the cylinder or from each other.
  • Example XV Two rolls identical to those described in Example XV were prepared for this experiment except the rolls were coated with a fluoroelastomer terpolymer of poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene-tetrafluoroethylene) having a copolymerized cure site monomer conferring greatly enhanced curability with aliphatic peroxide systems.
  • the fluoroelastomer contained 45 parts by weight lead oxide per 100 parts by weight of the fluoroelastomer.
  • the fluoroelastomer commercially available under the trade designation Viton GH(a trademark of E. I. duPont Company) was cured with a conventional aliphatic peroxide curing agent.
  • a fuser roll similar to the fuser roll of Example XV was prepared for this experiment except only 15 parts by weight per 100 parts of the fluoroelastomer identified commercially as Viton E430 (Viton is a trademark of E. I. duPont Company) was used. All other conditions and materials were identical to those set forth in Example XV.
  • the fuser roll prepared with this poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) copolymer showed an even greater improvement in wear rate with acceptable release performance when used with mercapto-functional polyorganosiloxane release agent in a Xerox 9200 copier/duplicator (Xerox and 9200 are trademarks of Xerox Corporation).
  • the Norman Abrader showed 40 microinches of wear per 40 cycles.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fixing For Electrophotography (AREA)
EP80301076A 1979-04-04 1980-04-03 Pièce constitutive, procédé et système pour fixer par fusion des images sur un support Expired EP0018140B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26869 1979-04-04
US26989 1979-04-04
US26870 1979-04-04
US06/026,989 US4272179A (en) 1979-04-04 1979-04-04 Metal-filled elastomer fuser member
US06/026,870 US4264181A (en) 1979-04-04 1979-04-04 Metal-filled nucleophilic addition cured elastomer fuser member
US06/026,869 US4257699A (en) 1979-04-04 1979-04-04 Metal filled, multi-layered elastomer fuser member

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0018140A1 true EP0018140A1 (fr) 1980-10-29
EP0018140B1 EP0018140B1 (fr) 1984-08-01

Family

ID=27362865

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80301076A Expired EP0018140B1 (fr) 1979-04-04 1980-04-03 Pièce constitutive, procédé et système pour fixer par fusion des images sur un support

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0018140B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3068768D1 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0613068A3 (fr) * 1993-02-22 1995-09-20 Kinyosha Kk Rouleau.
EP0698835A1 (fr) * 1994-06-29 1996-02-28 Eastman Kodak Company Elément de fusionnement recouvert d'élastomer fluorocarboné containant oxyde d'étain
EP0709749A1 (fr) * 1994-09-29 1996-05-01 Konica Corporation Dispositif de fixage et méthode de fixage
EP0657788A3 (fr) * 1993-12-10 1998-01-21 Xerox Corporation Elément d'appareil de fixage à coefficient d'élasticité bas
WO1999023537A1 (fr) * 1997-10-31 1999-05-14 Eastman Kodak Company ELEMENT FIXEUR TRAITE EN SURFACE A L'Al2O3 ET AU MOYEN DE FLUIDES DE LIBERATION FONCTIONNALISES
WO1999023535A1 (fr) * 1997-10-31 1999-05-14 Eastman Kodak Company ELEMENT FIXEUR A MATIERE DE CHARGE AU SnO2 AYANT SUBI UN TRAITEMENT DE SURFACE
EP1093032A1 (fr) * 1999-10-11 2001-04-18 Xerox Corporation ELément de fixage par fusion ayant une couche d' élastomère fluorée durcie avec un époxysilane, procédé de Formation d' image et appareil pour la formation d' images
US6951667B2 (en) * 2002-01-08 2005-10-04 Xerox Corporation Fuser member coating composition and processes for providing elastomeric surfaces thereon
EP1168102A3 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2010-09-29 Eastman Kodak Company Composition de copolymère statistique fluoroplastique thermoconductive pour un dispositif de fusion

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4567349A (en) * 1982-11-15 1986-01-28 Xerox Corporation Heat and pressure fuser apparatus
DE3469077D1 (en) * 1984-03-07 1988-03-03 Junkosha Co Ltd A roller fixing device
US4763158A (en) * 1987-09-11 1988-08-09 Xerox Corporation Boron nitride filled fuser rolls
JPH0776856B2 (ja) * 1988-03-10 1995-08-16 ゼロツクス コーポレーシヨン 融着部材
US4853737A (en) * 1988-05-31 1989-08-01 Eastman Kodak Company Roll useful in electrostatography
JP2644593B2 (ja) * 1989-09-14 1997-08-25 キヤノン株式会社 弾性回転体及び定着装置
US5035950A (en) * 1990-02-09 1991-07-30 Ames Rubber Corporation Fluoroelastomer coated fuser roll
JP2690630B2 (ja) * 1991-05-17 1997-12-10 株式会社日立製作所 電子写真の定着装置および電子写真装置
EP0641361B1 (fr) * 1992-05-22 1998-02-18 Ames Rubber Corporation Element de fusion renfermant de compositions fluoroelastomeres exemptes d'oxydes metalliques
DE4327168A1 (de) * 1993-08-13 1995-02-16 Ptg Plasma Oberflaechentech Trockenkopierer, Transporteinrichtung für Papier sowie Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Walze
US6716502B1 (en) * 1999-10-11 2004-04-06 Xerox Corporation Fuser member coating composition and processes for providing elastomeric surfaces thereon

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2053167B2 (de) * 1969-10-17 1974-04-25 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Co., St. Paul, Minn. (V.St.A.) Einrichtung zum Wärme-Druck-Fixieren von Tonerbildern
DE2306440B2 (de) * 1972-02-09 1976-04-29 KJC. Ricoh, Tokio Waermefixierrolle
JPS522439A (en) * 1975-06-24 1977-01-10 Shin Etsu Chem Co Ltd Fixing roller
DE2529957B2 (de) * 1974-07-24 1979-02-01 Xerox Corp., Rochester, N.Y. (V.St.A.) Trennmittel für Tonerbilder bei der Heißwalzenfixierung auf der Grundlage von Polyalkylsiloxanen

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2053167B2 (de) * 1969-10-17 1974-04-25 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Co., St. Paul, Minn. (V.St.A.) Einrichtung zum Wärme-Druck-Fixieren von Tonerbildern
DE2306440B2 (de) * 1972-02-09 1976-04-29 KJC. Ricoh, Tokio Waermefixierrolle
DE2529957B2 (de) * 1974-07-24 1979-02-01 Xerox Corp., Rochester, N.Y. (V.St.A.) Trennmittel für Tonerbilder bei der Heißwalzenfixierung auf der Grundlage von Polyalkylsiloxanen
JPS522439A (en) * 1975-06-24 1977-01-10 Shin Etsu Chem Co Ltd Fixing roller

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 001, no. 058 6 June 1977 (1977-06-06) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 003, no. 056 15 May 1979 (1979-05-15) *

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0613068A3 (fr) * 1993-02-22 1995-09-20 Kinyosha Kk Rouleau.
EP0657788A3 (fr) * 1993-12-10 1998-01-21 Xerox Corporation Elément d'appareil de fixage à coefficient d'élasticité bas
EP0698835A1 (fr) * 1994-06-29 1996-02-28 Eastman Kodak Company Elément de fusionnement recouvert d'élastomer fluorocarboné containant oxyde d'étain
EP0709749A1 (fr) * 1994-09-29 1996-05-01 Konica Corporation Dispositif de fixage et méthode de fixage
WO1999023537A1 (fr) * 1997-10-31 1999-05-14 Eastman Kodak Company ELEMENT FIXEUR TRAITE EN SURFACE A L'Al2O3 ET AU MOYEN DE FLUIDES DE LIBERATION FONCTIONNALISES
WO1999023535A1 (fr) * 1997-10-31 1999-05-14 Eastman Kodak Company ELEMENT FIXEUR A MATIERE DE CHARGE AU SnO2 AYANT SUBI UN TRAITEMENT DE SURFACE
EP1093032A1 (fr) * 1999-10-11 2001-04-18 Xerox Corporation ELément de fixage par fusion ayant une couche d' élastomère fluorée durcie avec un époxysilane, procédé de Formation d' image et appareil pour la formation d' images
EP1168102A3 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2010-09-29 Eastman Kodak Company Composition de copolymère statistique fluoroplastique thermoconductive pour un dispositif de fusion
US6951667B2 (en) * 2002-01-08 2005-10-04 Xerox Corporation Fuser member coating composition and processes for providing elastomeric surfaces thereon

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0018140B1 (fr) 1984-08-01
DE3068768D1 (en) 1984-09-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4264181A (en) Metal-filled nucleophilic addition cured elastomer fuser member
US4257699A (en) Metal filled, multi-layered elastomer fuser member
US4272179A (en) Metal-filled elastomer fuser member
EP0018140B1 (fr) Pièce constitutive, procédé et système pour fixer par fusion des images sur un support
EP0455470B1 (fr) Unité de fixage par fusion comprenant un élément donneur d'agent séparateur
US5370931A (en) Fuser member overcoated with a fluoroelastomer, polyorganosiloxane and copper oxide composition
US5366772A (en) Fuser member
US5401570A (en) Coated fuser members
CA2051568C (fr) Ensemble de materiaux pour la fabrication d'elements de fusion
JP3913829B2 (ja) フューザシステム部材
US5141788A (en) Fuser member
US5017432A (en) Fuser member
JP3805563B2 (ja) 現像ローラ、その製造方法、それを用いた画像形成装置及びそれに用いる現像ユニット、プロセスユニット
US5700568A (en) Fluoroelastomer members
US5531813A (en) Fusing system with monoamino functional silicone release agent
DE69838123T2 (de) Schmelzfixierelement mit Polymer- und Zinkverbindungsschicht
JPH09507307A (ja) Ｔ型アミノ官能性のシリコーン剥離剤を用いた溶着システム
JPH0798551A (ja) ふっ素エラストマーで表面被覆された融着ロール
DE69914247T2 (de) Schmelzfixierelement mit einer Schicht aus Polyphenylensulfid
US4146659A (en) Fusing toner on fuser members made of noble metals and alloys thereof
US6447918B1 (en) Interpenetrating polymer network of polytetra fluoroethylene and silicone elastomer for use in electrophotographic fusing applications
US5999787A (en) Fabric fuser film
EP0332438A2 (fr) Membre de fixage à chaleur
US6759118B2 (en) Electrophotographic system with member formed from boron nitride filler coupled to a silane
JP3639331B2 (ja) モノアミノ官能シリコーン剥離剤を用いた溶融定着システム

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19810119

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3068768

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19840906

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Effective date: 19890403

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19890430

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: XEROX CORP.

Effective date: 19890430

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Effective date: 19900103

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19990409

Year of fee payment: 20