JPH09109278A - Toner cartridge container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve recycleability and flame retarding properties by adding a specified weight content of a rubber-reinforced styrene resin, a flame retardant, a flame retardation aid and a dispersant as shown by a formula, as a resin composition. SOLUTION: The 3-20 pts.wt. of flame retardant, 0-10 pts.wt. of flame retardation aid and 0.1-3 pts.wt. of dispersant shown by a chemical formula are added to the 100 pts.wt. of rubber-reinforced styrene resin as a resin composition for a container. In the formula, R is a 1-8C alkylene group, X1 -X10 may be different from each other and a bromine atom or a hydrogen atom. However, at least, six of X1 -X10 are the bromine atoms. The styrene monomer of the rubber-reinforced styrene resin is o-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene or 2,4- dimethylstyrene. The flame retardation aid is especially, antimony trioxide or zinc borate showing a high degree of flame retardation effects. The dispersant is preferably the metal slat of higher fatty acid.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner cartridge container having excellent recycling characteristics. More specifically, the present invention relates to a styrene resin, a specific brominated flame retardant, a dispersant having a function of increasing the dispersibility of the flame retardant in the styrene resin, and / or a flame retardant aid such as antimony trioxide. The present invention relates to a toner cartridge container which is made of a resin composition containing a resin and has excellent recycling (reuse) characteristics.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a toner cartridge container used as one of the internal parts of a copying machine or printer is
Plastic products are used for reasons such as weight reduction and ease of shaping. Of these, styrene-based resins are often preferred because of their excellent moldability, dimensional stability, and relatively low cost. Styrene-based resins used in OA equipment such as copying machines are required to have flame retardancy in order to comply with various regulations and to increase safety against fire. The same applies to the resin composition used for the toner cartridge container. Further, in response to the recent ecology boom, the toner cartridge container has come to be reused through a crushing and molding process step from the viewpoint of effective use of resources and reduction of waste.

When shaping a toner cartridge container, an injection molding method is generally adopted. Among them, a sprue-molding method is used to simplify the post-treatment process of the injection molding method.
Hot runners are often used for the purpose of runnerless molding. On the other hand, in order to impart flame retardancy to the styrene resin, which is the base of the toner cartridge container, organic halogen compounds such as tetrabromobisphenol A and hexabromocyclododecane are added. Is generally poor in thermal stability and causes thermal decomposition during hot runner molding,
It reduces the appearance, mechanical strength and flame retardancy of the toner cartridge container, and the decomposed gas corrodes the mold,
In addition, it is harmful to the human body and causes the physical properties of the regenerated material to deteriorate in the recycling (reuse) process.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toner cartridge container having excellent recycling properties and flame retardant properties, and further a toner cartridge container which can be manufactured by hot runner molding. Of. The present inventor has conducted extensive studies to obtain a toner cartridge container having excellent recyclability and flame retardancy. As a result, a specific brominated flame retardant and a dispersant having a function of increasing the dispersibility of the flame retardant in a styrene resin. It has been found that a toner cartridge container having excellent recyclability (reusability) and flame retardancy can be produced by using the above together with the present invention, and the present invention has been completed.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a toner cartridge characterized by molding a resin composition containing the following components (a) to (d): Exists in the container. (A) 100 parts by weight of rubber-reinforced styrene resin (b) Flame retardant represented by the following chemical formula (I): 3 to 20 parts by weight (c) Flame retardant aid: 0 to 10 parts by weight (d) Dispersant: 0.1 to 3 parts by weight

[0006]

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[0007] (wherein R represents an alkylene group of _{C 1 ~C 8, X 1 ~X} 10 shows a good bromine atom or a hydrogen atom be different from each other. However, among the X ₁ to X _10, 6 More than one is a bromine atom.)

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.
The present invention relates to a rubber-reinforced styrenic resin, a flame retardant represented by the chemical formula (I), a dispersant having a function of enhancing the dispersibility of the flame retardant in the styrene resin, and / or a flame retardant aid such as antimony trioxide. A toner cartridge container for use in a copying machine, a printer, or the like, which is obtained by molding a resin composition comprising: and has excellent recycling characteristics.

Rubber-Reinforced Styrenic Resin (A) The rubber-reinforced styrene-based resin (A) used in the present invention is a rubber-like substance and a non-substituted or core and / or
Alternatively, the side-substituted styrene (hereinafter referred to as styrene-based monomer) is a generic term for a polymer formed by polymerizing as a main resin-forming monomer. Specifically, it means one obtained by polymerizing the styrene-based monomer itself in the presence of a rubber-like substance. Among them, the styrene-based monomer is, for example, styrene, α-methylstyrene, or a styrene derivative in which the hydrogen atom of the benzene nucleus is substituted with a halogen atom or an alkyl group of C _{1 to} C _4. These are collectively referred to, and representative examples of such styrene-based monomers include styrene, o-methylstyrene,
Examples include p-methylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, dibromostyrene and tribromostyrene. Also,
The styrene-based monomer may be combined with another copolymerizable vinyl monomer.

The above-mentioned rubber-like substance is a rubber-like substance at room temperature, and specific examples include (1) homopolymers or copolymer rubbers of conjugated 1,3-dienes such as polybutadiene rubber and styrene. Butadiene copolymer rubber, styrene / butadiene / styrene block copolymer rubber, butadiene / acrylonitrile copolymer rubber, styrene / isobutylene / butadiene copolymer rubber, polyisoprene rubber and polychloroprene rubber, (2) amorphous polyolefin such as ethylene / propylene There are terpolymer rubber, (3) butyl rubber, (4) acrylic rubber and the like, and these can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Polymerization of the styrenic monomer in the presence of such a rubber-like substance can be carried out by, for example, polymerizing the monomer in a state where the rubber-like substance is dissolved or emulsified and dispersed. . The rubber-reinforced styrenic resin used in the present invention may be further combined with a styrene-based monomer or a copolymer in combination with one or more other copolymerizable vinyl monomers. It may be

Such rubber-reinforced styrenic resin to be flame-retarded according to the present invention, even if one kind or a combination of two or more kinds, is used for other resins and rubbers such as polycarbonate, polybutylene terephthalate,
It may be a combination with polyamide, polyphenylene ether resin, thermoplastic rubber or the like.

Flame Retardant (b) The compound represented by the chemical formula (I) used in the present invention is a brominated flame retardant, wherein R represents a C _{1 to} C ₈ alkylene group, and X _{1 to} X ₁₀ Represents a bromine atom or a hydrogen atom which may be different from each other.

[0014]

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However, 6 or more of X _{1 to} X ₁₀ are bromine atoms. Furthermore, since the flame retardant efficiency of the resin composition is almost proportional to the bromine content, it is preferable that all X _{1 to} X ₁₀ are bromine atoms. This compound is sold, for example, by Albemarle under the trade name of "Saytex 8010" [chemical formula name: decabromodiphenylethane]. In order to obtain the toner cartridge container excellent in the recycling property and the flame retardant property which is the object of the present invention, the amount of the brominated flame retardant represented by the chemical formula (I) is 3 to 20 relative to 100 parts by weight of the styrene resin. It is preferably 5 to 15 parts by weight, and when the amount of the brominated flame retardant represented by the chemical formula (I) is less than 3 parts by weight,
The obtained resin composition does not have satisfactory flame retardancy, and thus 2
If it exceeds 0 parts by weight, the impact strength of the resin composition forming the toner cartridge container is lowered, and the appearance is deteriorated, which makes it unusable for practical use.

Flame Retardant Auxiliary Agent (c) The flame retardant auxiliary agent (c) is generally known to be used in combination with a halogen-containing flame retardant agent to significantly enhance the flame retardant effect. Specifically, there are antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide, zinc borate, barium metaborate, zinc stannate, barium stannate, zinc oxide, zirconium oxide, iron oxide, and the like, and in the present invention, these are particularly antimony trioxide and boric acid. Zinc is effective in efficiently obtaining a resin composition having high flame retardancy. These flame retardant auxiliaries can be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds. As a method for adding them, a simple substance may be added as it is, but in consideration of dispersibility, it is added after being processed into a masterbatch. Is preferred. Further, the addition amount thereof is in the range of 0 to 10 parts by weight as a flame retardant aid component, and preferably 2 to 100 parts by weight of the rubber-reinforced styrene resin.
6 parts by weight. When the amount of the flame retardant aid (C) is 0 parts by weight, if the amount of the flame retardant (B) added is increased up to 20 parts, the flame retardancy is usually improved. If the amount exceeds 10 parts by weight, the mechanical strength of the resin composition forming the toner cartridge container tends to decrease, and flameless combustion time increases, which may make it difficult to achieve the flame retardancy standard. is there.

Dispersant (d) The dispersant (d) is not particularly limited as long as it is an additive having a function of enhancing the dispersibility of the flame retardant in the styrene resin, and examples thereof include higher fatty acids and their metal salts and fatty acids. Ester, fatty acid amide, higher alcohol, mineral oil,
Examples thereof include polyethylene wax, polyethylene glycol, phosphoric acid ester, and styrene oligomer. Higher fatty acids and metal salts thereof are preferable, and higher fatty acid metal (Zn, Mg, Ca, Ba, etc.) salts are more preferable. These dispersants can be used alone or in combination of two or more, and the addition amount thereof is 100% by weight of the rubber-reinforced styrene resin.
It is in the range of 0.1 to 3 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 to 1.5 parts by weight, based on parts by weight. When the blending amount of the dispersant (d) is less than 0.1 parts by weight, the flame retardant (b) and / or the flame retardant aid (c) cannot be well dispersed in the resin, and the toner cartridge Impair the appearance of the container. Further, if the addition amount exceeds 3 parts by weight, the mechanical properties of the toner cartridge container are deteriorated.

In the present invention, in addition to the components defined in the claims, additives and heat stabilizers which are generally used in the toner cartridge container or the resin composition used therefor as necessary, Antioxidant, light stabilizer,
Treatment or compounding with an ultraviolet absorber, an antistatic agent, a release agent, a lubricant, a coating agent, a coloring agent, etc. can be carried out.

The resin composition used in the toner cartridge container of the present invention does not require any special means or order, and a conventional kneading device such as a heat roll, a pressure kneader, a Banbury mixer, a single screw extruder or a twin screw extruder. It can be easily kneaded and pelletized. Also in the subsequent molding step, the toner cartridge container can be economically and easily molded by the injection molding machine, especially the hot runner molding. Further, the toner cartridge container obtained by the present invention can be effectively used as a returnable part in OA equipment such as a copying machine or a printer.

[0020]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and comparative examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following description unless it exceeds the gist.

The raw materials and auxiliaries used in Examples and Comparative Examples are shown below. 1) Rubber-reinforced styrene-based resin (a) Styrene-butadiene-graft copolymer (Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd., brand name Dialex HT-443: HT-
76 = 30: 70) was used. 2) Flame retardant (b) Decabromodiphenylethane (manufactured by Albemarle Corp., trade name Saytex 8010) was used.

3) Flame retardant aid (c) Antimony trioxide (manufactured by Suzuyu Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name AT3)
B) was used. 4) Dispersant (d) Magnesium stearate (Daiwax M, manufactured by Dainichi Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used. 5) Tetrabromobisphenol A (e) Tetrabromobisphenol A (GLC, BA59
P) was used.

6) Hexabromocyclododecane (f) Hexabromocyclododecane (manufactured by Suzuyu Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name P880M) was used. 7) Other auxiliaries (G) Hindered phenolic antioxidants (Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
Manufactured by Tominox SS), sulfur antioxidant (manufactured by Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., trade name DSTP), liquid paraffin (Muramatsu Sekiyu KK, Rambus M260).

Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 9 The raw material auxiliaries of the above 1) to 7) were blended in a blending ratio (weight basis) shown in Table 1 to obtain a twin-screw extruder (cylinder temperature: 200). (° C) and pelletized to obtain a resin composition. Further, this was molded by an injection molding machine (cylinder temperature 200 ° C.) to obtain each test piece.

[0025]

[Table 1]

[0026]

[Table 2]

The test pieces obtained in Examples and Comparative Examples are
Various physical properties were measured according to the following test methods. The results are shown in Table 1. Izod impact strength Measurement was carried out based on JIS K-7110 (3.2 mm width test piece, post notch processing, 23 ° C measurement). Melt flow rate JIS K-7210 (temperature: 200 ° C, load: 5k
The measurement was carried out according to g).

Heat distortion temperature JIS K-7207 (load 18.56 Kg / c〓, 6.
The measurement was carried out based on a 4 mm wide test piece (without annealing). Flame Retardant Test Underwriters Laboratories (U
Based on Subject No. 94 (UL94) standardized in L), it was carried out using a test piece of 125 mm in length x 12.5 mm in width x 1.5 mm in thickness, and V-0, V-1, V-2, NC
It was classified into four flame retardant classes (non-standard).

Appearance By visually observing an injection-molded test piece of 74 mm × 160 mm × 2.6 mm, spots or streaky appearance defects (hereinafter abbreviated as pits) due to aggregates of 0.1 mm or more were observed on the surface of the test piece. Judgment was made based on whether there was none (displayed as ◯) or whether there were one or more pits (displayed as x).

Hot runner property (injection molding machine retention heat stability test) Assuming deterioration of the resin retained in the hot runner manifold, a mold clamping pressure of 120 tons and a screw diameter of 4
0mm injection molding machine (Product name: Sumitomo Nestal 120)
After the resin composition was allowed to stay in the cylinder at 220 ° C. for 10 minutes, the weight of the molded product was 120 g and the total projected area was 6
A 7.5 cm ² molded product was molded with 4 pin gates (gate diameter 1 mm) for 5 shots. Then, by visually observing each molded product, it was confirmed whether there was no silver strip defect (silver streak) (determined as ◯) or one or more streaks occurred (determined as x). Recyclability At the compounding ratio shown in Table 2, the process of molding → (crushing → molding) n was repeated n = 6 times to compare various physical properties of the virgin material without recycling and the sixth recycled product.

[0031]

[Table 3]

[0032]

The toner cartridge container of the present invention has various physical properties (impact, heat resistance, etc.) that can be practically used.
In addition, it is provided with flame retardancy, and at the same time has excellent recycling characteristics and excellent thermal stability that can withstand hot runner molding, so its industrial utility value is extremely high.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A toner cartridge container formed by molding a resin composition containing the following components (a) to (d). (A) 100 parts by weight of rubber-reinforced styrene resin (b) Flame retardant represented by the following chemical formula (I): 3 to 20 parts by weight (c) Flame retardant aid: 0 to 10 parts by weight (d) Dispersant: 0.1 to 3 parts by weight [Chemical formula 1] (In the formula, R represents a C _{1 to} C ₈ alkylene group, and X _{1 to} X ₁₀
Represents a bromine atom or a hydrogen atom which may be different from each other. However, among X _{1 to} X ₁₀ , 6 or more are bromine atoms. ) 2. The toner cartridge container according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge container is formed by hot runner molding.