JPH096048A - Toner resin composition and toner - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A resin composition for a toner, which has excellent low-temperature fixability, has a wide fixing temperature range, and can obtain a sufficiently stable image even when copying using a high-speed type or a small electronic copying machine. And toner. The toner resin composition of the present invention is a vinyl copolymer containing a continuous phase composed of an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer, a styrene monomer and a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer as constituent units. A resin composition for a toner, which is formed with a discontinuous phase comprising a polymer and contains an additive for a toner, wherein the additive for a toner does not undergo a melt-kneading step and the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer It is contained in the resin composition for toner by being mixed with a solvent solution of a polymer and / or a vinyl copolymer and undergoing a solvent removal step. A toner is obtained using this toner resin composition.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a resin composition for a toner used in electrophotography and a toner, and more specifically, a resin composition for a toner used in a dry developing method in a method of developing an electrostatic image. The thing and the toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In electrophotography and the like, a dry developing system is often used as a method for developing an electrostatic charge image. In this dry development method, fine toner powder containing a binder resin containing a colorant such as carbon black and other toner additives is used, and the fine toner powder is mixed with a carrier such as iron powder or glass beads. , And triboelectrically charged toner (developer).

In order to obtain a copy, an electrostatic latent image is usually formed on a photoconductor, and triboelectrically-charged toner is electrically attached to the electrostatic latent image to develop it. The toner image is transferred onto a sheet such as a sheet of paper and then fixed by a hot-pressing roller having releasability to the toner to form a permanent visible image.

This type of toner mainly has anti-offset property (the toner adheres to a heat-pressing roller for fixing and does not stain the paper) and low-temperature fixability (the toner firmly adheres to the paper at low temperature). Of the toner production), blocking resistance (the toner particles do not aggregate), and image stability (there is no change in the charge amount and the image density is uniform and clear). Therefore, a resin composition for toner having good fine pulverizability is also required.

As a toner having improved performance as described above, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 260062/1985 discloses a carbon black formed of a continuous phase composed of a vinyl copolymer and a discontinuous phase composed of a polyester resin. A toner containing an additive for toner such as or nigrosine dye has been proposed.

Further, JP-A-6-194874 discloses, for example, a matrix composed of a binder resin such as a styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer and a crystalline poly (meth) acrylic acid ester such as stearyl polymethacrylate. A toner has been proposed which is formed of a domain composed of a polymer and contains a toner additive such as carbon black or spirone black.

This type of toner usually contains a resin forming the above continuous phase (matrix) and a discontinuous phase (domain).
The resin for forming the toner and the additive for toner such as carbon black, nigrosine dye, and spirone black are melt-kneaded under appropriate conditions using a roll mill, an extruder, etc. It is uniformly dispersed in the powder, cooled, pulverized and classified to obtain a toner fine powder.

[0008]

However, in the toner formed of the continuous phase (matrix) and the discontinuous phase (domain) as described above, the toner additive is uniformly added in the process of manufacturing the toner. When the mixture is melt-kneaded with a roll mill or an extruder to such an extent that it is dispersed, the discontinuous phase is crushed and spread in the melt-kneading step.

As a result, the main performance improving effects such as offset resistance and low-temperature fixing property of the toner are reduced and cannot be fully exerted, and copying is performed using a high-speed type or small-sized electronic copying machine for which demand is growing in recent years. In such a case, the above performance is not always satisfactory, and there is a demand for a toner having a particularly low temperature fixing property and a wide fixing temperature range.

The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the above-mentioned conventional toners, and an object thereof is to have excellent offset resistance, low-temperature fixing property and blocking resistance, and particularly low-temperature fixing property. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner resin composition and a toner, which have a wide fixing temperature range and can obtain a sufficiently stable and clear image even when copying is performed using a high-speed type or small-sized electronic copying machine.

[0011]

The toner resin composition of the present invention comprises a continuous phase comprising an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer, a styrene monomer and a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer. A toner resin composition formed with a discontinuous phase comprising a vinyl-based copolymer as a unit, and containing a toner additive, wherein the toner additive does not undergo a melt-kneading step, It is contained in the resin composition for toner by being mixed with a solvent solution of the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer and / or vinyl-based copolymer and undergoing a solvent removal step.

Further, the toner of the present invention is a toner using the above resin composition for a toner, and thereby the above object can be achieved.

The ethylene-α-olefin copolymer used in the present invention has a releasing action and a plasticizing action.
As olefins, propylene, butene, pentene,
Hexene, methylpentene, tetradecene, pentadecene and the like are used, and α-olefins having 7 or less carbon atoms are particularly preferable. Here, the ethylene component is preferably 50 mol% or more, more preferably the ethylene component is 70 mol% or more. On the other hand, when the α-olefin component decreases, the crystallinity increases and the dispersibility with the vinyl-based copolymer that forms the discontinuous phase decreases, so that the α-olefin component is preferably 4 mol% or more.

Further, when the ethylene component is highly blocked, the crystallinity increases and the dispersibility with the vinyl copolymer forming the discontinuous phase decreases, so that the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer is a random copolymer. Those close to a polymer are preferable.

Further, the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer plasticizes a vinyl-based copolymer which forms a discontinuous phase when the molecular weight becomes too low, thereby deteriorating the storability of the toner and fixing the toner to paper. The weight average molecular weight of the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer is preferably 1,000 or more, and more preferably 2,000 or more, because cohesive failure may occur at the interface.

Further, the vinyl copolymer used in the present invention has an offset resistance, a low temperature fixing property, a blocking resistance,
It imparts basic properties such as image stability and fine pulverizability, and contains a styrene-based monomer and a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer as constituent units. As the styrene-based monomer, in addition to styrene, o-methylstyrene,
m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, α-methylstyrene, p-ethylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, pn-butylstyrene, pt-butylstyrene, pn-hexylstyrene, p- n-octylstyrene, pn-dodecylstyrene, p-methoxystyrene, p-phenylstyrene, p-chlorostyrene, 3,
4-dichlorostyrene and the like can be mentioned, and an appropriate one is selected from these in consideration of the glass transition point of the resin composition and the like.

As the (meth) acrylic acid ester-based monomer, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, propyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isopropyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, N-octyl acrylate, dodecyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, stearyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, propyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, n-octyl methacrylate, isobutyl, Dodecyl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, etc. may be mentioned, among which appropriate ones are selected in consideration of the glass transition point of the resin composition and the like.

Besides, 2-chloroethyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, methyl α-chloroacrylate, phenyl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, bisglycidyl. Methacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, methacryloxyethyl phosphate and the like can be mentioned, and an appropriate one is selected from these in consideration of the glass transition point of the resin composition and the like.

The styrene monomer and (meth)
In addition to the acrylate-based monomer, other vinyl-based monomer may be included as a constituent unit of each vinyl-based polymer component.

Examples of such other vinyl monomers include vinyl monomers having a carboxyl group such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, α-ethylacrylic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, citraconic acid and itaconic acid. Monomers, succinic acid monoacryloyloxyethyl ester, succinic acid monomethacryloyloxyethyl ester, acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide and the like, in consideration of the glass transition point of the resin composition from these. Appropriate ones are selected.

The above vinyl copolymer can be prepared by a known polymerization method such as suspension polymerization, emulsion polymerization, solution polymerization and the like. The vinyl-based copolymer obtained by such a method,
A differential scanning calorimeter (D
It is preferable that the glass transition point measured by SC) is 50 ° C. or higher. Further, in the molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), those having a plurality of peaks and shoulders are preferable, and particularly, a molecular weight in the range of 1 × 10 ³ to 8 × 10 ⁴ and a molecular weight of 1 × 10 ⁵
Those having a peak or shoulder in the range of up to 4 × 10 ⁶ are more preferable.

The vinyl copolymer having a plurality of peaks and shoulders can be prepared by a method of melt-kneading a low molecular weight vinyl copolymer and a high molecular weight vinyl copolymer. In order to disperse more homogeneously, a method of dissolving and mixing a low molecular weight vinyl copolymer and a high molecular weight vinyl copolymer using an organic solvent is preferable. Further, a method of copolymerizing and mixing the monomers constituting the low molecular weight vinyl copolymer in the presence of the high molecular weight vinyl copolymer is also preferable.

In the present invention, the mixing ratio of the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer and the vinyl-based copolymer is such that the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer is a continuous phase (matrix) and the vinyl-based copolymer is discontinuous. In order to form a phase (domain), the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer has 1 to 3
It is preferable that the vinyl copolymer is blended in an amount of 99 to 65% by weight at 5% by weight, and 100% by weight in total (all resin components). In particular, it is more preferable that the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer is 3 to 25% by weight and the vinyl copolymer is 97 to 75% by weight, and the total (all resin components) is 100% by weight.

When the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer is reduced and the vinyl-based copolymer is increased, the low temperature fixing property of the toner is deteriorated, and conversely, the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer is increased and the vinyl-based copolymer is reduced. If so, the resin composition becomes too tough, and the pulverizability becomes poor, so that it becomes difficult to obtain a toner.

Further, a colorant is used as an additive for toner used in the present invention, and other known additives for toner such as a charge control agent, an anti-offset agent and magnetic powder are used, if necessary. . Such toner additives are generally contained in an amount of 1 to 30% by weight, preferably 3 to 20% by weight, based on all resin components.

Examples of the coloring agent include carbon black,
Examples include chrome yellow and aniline blue. Examples of the charge control agent include dyes such as nigrosine and spirone black (produced by Hodogaya Chemical Co., Ltd.), and other phthalocyanine pigments.

Examples of the anti-offset agent include polypropylene wax, polyethylene wax, higher fatty acid, higher fatty acid amide, higher fatty acid ester, higher alcohol and inorganic fine particles. Magnetic powder is used to obtain magnetic toner, and magnetite, ferrite,
Examples include alloys that exhibit ferromagnetism such as hematite.

The toner resin composition of the present invention is produced, for example, by the following method. (1) A method in which an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer and a vinyl-based copolymer are dissolved in a suitable organic solvent such as toluene or xylene, and a toner additive is dispersed or dissolved in the solvent solution to remove the solvent.

(2) The ethylene-α-olefin copolymer is dissolved in a suitable organic solvent such as toluene or xylene, and the additive for toner is dispersed or dissolved therein, and such ethylene-α-olefin copolymer or A method in which a vinyl-based monomer constituting a vinyl-based copolymer is solution-polymerized in the presence of a toner additive to remove the solvent.

(3) The ethylene-α-olefin copolymer and the high molecular weight vinyl copolymer are dissolved in a suitable organic solvent such as toluene or xylene, and the toner additive is dispersed or dissolved in this solvent solution. , Such ethylene-α
A method of solution-polymerizing a vinyl monomer constituting a low molecular weight vinyl copolymer in the presence of an olefin copolymer, a high molecular weight vinyl copolymer, and a toner additive to remove the solvent.

Thus, a continuous phase composed of an ethylene-α olefin copolymer and a discontinuous phase composed of a vinyl copolymer containing a styrene monomer and a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer as constituent units. And a resin composition for toner containing the additive for toner is obtained. These micro phase-separated structures (multi-phase structures) can be confirmed by, for example, an ultramicrotome section with a transmission electron microscope or a phase contrast electron microscope.

In this case, the types of the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer and the vinyl-based copolymer, the polymerization conditions of the vinyl-based copolymer, the average molecular weight, the glass transition temperature and the mixing ratio, or the organic solvent used for the dissolution mixing, the dissolution By appropriately setting the conditions and the desolvation conditions, the dispersion state of both resin components in the resin composition for toner can be controlled.

If the ethylene-α olefin copolymer and the vinyl copolymer are not completely compatible with each other,
A part of the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer and the vinyl copolymer may be chemically bonded in the form of block copolymer, graft copolymer, or the like.

In the toner resin composition of the present invention, it is particularly preferable that the discontinuous phase is formed into particles, and the size of the particles is about 0.01 to 5 μm in diameter. The larger the discontinuous phase particles, the better the low-temperature fixability of the toner, and the smaller the discontinuous phase particles, the better the blocking resistance.

Thus, the toner resin composition of the present invention is obtained. When a toner is obtained using this toner resin composition, the toner resin composition already contains a toner additive such as a colorant and a charge control agent. Crush and classify to obtain toner particles.

In order to improve the fluidity of the toner particles, hydrophobic silica or the like may be uniformly mixed (externally added) to the toner particles.

[0037]

[Function] Formed by a continuous phase composed of an ethylene-α olefin copolymer and a discontinuous phase composed of a vinyl copolymer containing a styrene monomer and a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer as constituent units. And a toner resin composition containing an additive for a toner, wherein the additive for a toner is prepared from the above-mentioned ethylene-α-olefin copolymer and / or vinyl-based copolymer without undergoing a melt-kneading step. By being mixed with a solvent solution and undergoing a solvent removal step, when contained in a toner resin composition, a strong shearing force is not applied to the resin composition, and the discontinuous phase is crushed and spreads. Is prevented.

Therefore, the performance improving action of the continuous phase composed of the ethylene-α-olefin copolymer and the discontinuous phase composed of the vinyl-based copolymer (offset resistance, low-temperature fixing property, resistance to resistance by the vinyl-based copolymer). Basic performance expressing action such as blocking property, image stability and fine pulverization property, ethylene-α
The releasing action and plasticizing action of the olefin copolymer are sufficiently exhibited, and these actions are combined with the performance improving action of the additive for toner, and excellent offset resistance, low temperature fixing property and blocking resistance are obtained. Express.

[0039]

EXAMPLES Examples and comparative examples of the present invention will be described below.

Example 1 Preparation of Resin Composition for Toner 900 g of toluene was placed in a 3 liter separable flask, and a vinyl copolymer (70% by weight of styrene component, 20% by weight of n-butyl methacrylate component, methacryl). Methyl acid component 10% by weight, weight average molecular weight 500,000) 3
00 g was added, and an ethylene-butene copolymer (D
T032: Mitsui Petrochemical Co., Ltd.) 200 g and carbon black (colorant) (MA-10 as an additive for toner)
0: 87 g of Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd. and 37 g of polypropylene wax (anti-offset agent) (Viscor 550P: Sanyo Chemical Co., Ltd.) were mixed and dispersed.

The gas phase was then replaced with nitrogen gas and the system was heated to the boiling point of toluene. Then, 370 g of styrene and 80% of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate were added to the mixed dispersion while stirring under the reflux of toluene.
g, 150 g of methyl methacrylate and 30 g of t-butylperoxy 2-ethylhexanoate (polymerization initiator) were added dropwise over 2 hours to carry out solution polymerization.

After the dropping of the mixed solution was completed, the mixture was aged for 2 hours while stirring at the boiling temperature of toluene. Then, while gradually raising the temperature of this system to 180 ° C., the solvent was removed from toluene under reduced pressure to obtain a resin composition. This resin composition was cooled and coarsely pulverized to produce a resin composition for toner.

The obtained resin composition for toner has peaks at a molecular weight of 7 × 10 ³ and a molecular weight of 3.5 × 10 ⁵ in the molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and has a glass transition point. 65
Two observations were made at temperatures of 85 ° C and 85 ° C, and the softening flow temperature (Tf) was 96 ° C.

The above softening flow temperature (Tf) was measured by a high-performance flow tester (CFT-500A manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation).
The sample is heated from the nozzle (diameter 1 mmΦ x length 1 mm) while heating the sample under the conditions of a heating rate of 6 ° C / min and a load of 20 kgf. Indicated.

When an ultramicrotome section of the resin composition for toner of the present invention is observed by a transmission electron microscope, a continuous phase composed of an ethylene-butene copolymer having a micro phase separation structure (multiphase structure), It was formed with a discontinuous phase composed of a vinyl-based copolymer, and this discontinuous phase was formed into particles, and the size of the particles was about 3 μm.

Manufacture of Toner The above resin composition for toner was finely pulverized with a jet mill (Labo Jet: manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Co., Ltd.) to obtain a toner powder having an average particle size of about 8 to 12 μm. Further, this toner powder was classified by a classifier (MDS-2: manufactured by Nippon Pneumatic Co., Ltd.) to obtain a toner fine powder having an average particle diameter of about 10 μm. To 100 parts by weight of this toner fine powder, 0.3 parts by weight of hydrophobic silica powder (R-972: manufactured by Nippon Aerosil Co., Ltd.) was uniformly mixed (externally added) to produce a toner.

Toner Performance Evaluation 10 g of the above toner was placed in a 100 ml sample bottle and 5
After standing in a constant temperature bath of 0 ° C. for 16 hours, the powder tester was used to observe the cohesiveness of the toner. No cohesion was found in the toner.

Also, 4 parts by weight of this toner and an average particle size of about 5
A developer was prepared by uniformly mixing (externally adding) 96 parts by weight of an iron powder carrier of 0 to 80 μm, and using this developer, the minimum fixing temperature range was measured as follows. As a result, the minimum fixing temperature was 140 ° C., the low-temperature fixability was good, the image was not fogged, and clear images up to fine lines were obtained.

<Measurement of Fixing Temperature Region> Copying is performed by changing the set temperature of the fixing heat-pressing roller of the electrophotographic copying machine stepwise, and there is no offset (double image), and this copied image is typed. When rubbing with a sand eraser for a lighter and the decrease in the density of the copied image was less than 10%, the fixing was judged to be good, and the minimum temperature range at that time was determined. The electrophotographic copying machine used was Viva manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
The temperature of the hot pressing roller for fixing the CE300 is 120 to 2
It was modified so that it could be changed up to 00 ° C.

Example 2 Production of Resin Composition for Toner 1200 g of xylene was placed in a 3 liter separable flask.
Then, 300 g of a vinyl-based copolymer (styrene component 80% by weight, n-butyl acrylate component 20% by weight, weight average molecular weight 600,000) is added thereto, and an ethylene-propylene copolymer (Lucant HC-600 is further added. : Mitsui Petrochemical Co., Ltd.) 180 g and carbon black (colorant) as an additive for toner (MA-100: Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd.) 1
35g, polypropylene wax (anti-offset agent)
68 g of (Viscor 660P: manufactured by Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) were mixed and dispersed.

The gas phase was then replaced with nitrogen gas and the system was heated to the boiling point of xylene. Then, while stirring under reflux of xylene, a mixed solution of 800 g of styrene, 100 g of n-butyl acrylate, 100 g of methyl methacrylate, and 15 g of benzoyl peroxide (polymerization initiator) was added to the above mixed dispersion 4 times. Solution polymerization was carried out while dropping the solution over time.

After the dropping of the mixed solution was completed, aging was carried out for 5 hours while stirring at the boiling temperature of xylene. Then, while gradually raising the temperature of this system to 180 ° C., xylene was removed under reduced pressure to obtain a resin composition. This resin composition was cooled and coarsely pulverized to produce a resin composition for toner.

The obtained resin composition for toner has peaks at a molecular weight of 1.5 × 10 ⁴ and a molecular weight of 4.5 × 10 ⁵ in the molecular weight distribution measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and has a glass transition. Two points were observed at 67 ° C and 89 ° C, and the softening flow temperature (T
f) was 98 ° C.

When the resin composition for toner of the present invention is observed with a transmission electron microscope, it has a microphase-separated structure (multiphase structure) and a continuous phase comprising an ethylene-propylene copolymer and a vinyl-based copolymer. And the discontinuous phase was formed into particles, and the size of the particles was about 4 μm.

Production of Toner and Evaluation of Toner Performance Example 1 was repeated except that the above resin composition for toner was used.
A toner was manufactured in the same manner as in 1. and the performance of this toner was evaluated. As a result, no aggregation was observed in the toner. Further, the minimum fixing temperature was 140 ° C., the low-temperature fixing property was good, there was no fogging on the image, and clear images were obtained even to fine lines.

Example 3 Production of Resin Composition for Toner : 1200 g of xylene was placed in a 3 liter separable flask.
Then, 150 g of a vinyl-based copolymer (styrene component 80% by weight, n-butyl acrylate component 20% by weight, average weight molecular weight 900,000) is added thereto, and an ethylene-butene copolymer (DT024: Mitsui Sekiyu KK). Made by Kagaku) 55g
And carbon black (colorant) as an additive for toner
(MA-100: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) 52 g, polypropylene wax (anti-offset agent) (Viscor 660
P: manufactured by Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) 26 g were mixed and dispersed, and further polystyrene (having a peak at a molecular weight of 1 × 10 ⁴ ) 350.
g was added and dissolved.

The gas phase was then replaced with nitrogen gas and the system was heated to the boiling point of xylene. Then, the mixture was stirred for 1 hour while the xylene was refluxed. Then, while gradually raising the temperature of this system to 180 ° C., xylene was removed under reduced pressure to obtain a resin composition. This resin composition was cooled and coarsely pulverized to produce a resin composition for toner.

The resin composition for toner thus obtained was
Measured by Meation Chromatography (GPC)
In the molecular weight distribution shown, the molecular weight is 9 × 10^ThreeAnd 7x
10 ^FiveThere are peaks at the glass transition points of 45 ° C and 60 ° C.
And two were observed.

When the resin composition for toner of the present invention is observed with a transmission electron microscope, it has a microphase-separated structure (multiphase structure) and a continuous phase comprising an ethylene-butene copolymer, and a vinyl-based copolymer. And the discontinuous phase was formed into particles, and the size of the particles was about 4 μm.

Production of Toner and Evaluation of Toner Performance Example 1 was repeated except that the above resin composition for toner was used.
A toner was manufactured in the same manner as in 1. and the performance of this toner was evaluated. As a result, no aggregation was observed in the toner. Further, the minimum fixing temperature was 140 ° C., the low-temperature fixing property was good, there was no fogging on the image, and clear images were obtained even to fine lines.

Comparative Example 1 Production of Resin Composition for Toner In the same manner as in Example 1 except that carbon black (colorant) and polypropylene wax (anti-offset agent) which are additives for toner are not used in Example 1. A resin composition for toner was obtained in the same manner. Then, to the resin composition for toner, as an additive for toner, 87 g of carbon black (colorant) (MA-100: manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Co., Ltd.), 37 g of polypropylene wax (anti-offset agent) (Viscole 550P: manufactured by Sanyo Kasei Co., Ltd.) Was blended and melt-kneaded at 120 ° C. with a roll mill to obtain a resin composition for toner.

The softening flow temperature (Tf) of this resin composition for toner was 133 ° C. When the resin composition for a toner is observed with a transmission electron microscope, it has a microphase-separated structure (multiphase structure) and a continuous phase composed of an ethylene-butene copolymer and a discontinuous phase composed of a vinyl-based copolymer. However, the particles of the discontinuous phase were in a stretched state, and the microphase-separated structure (multiphase structure) was about to collapse.

Production of Toner and Evaluation of Toner Performance Example 1 was repeated except that the above resin composition for toner was used.
A toner was manufactured in the same manner as in 1. and the performance of this toner was evaluated. As a result, no aggregation was observed in the toner, but the minimum fixing temperature was 150 ° C., which was inferior to the low-temperature fixing property of Example 1.

The toner resin composition was melt-kneaded with a roll mill at 120 ° C. to obtain a toner resin composition kneaded twice. When the resin composition for a toner that was kneaded twice was observed with a transmission electron microscope, no microphase separation structure (multiphase structure) was observed.

Further, a toner was produced in the same manner as above using the resin composition for toner which was kneaded twice, and the performance of this toner was evaluated. As a result, no aggregation was observed in the toner, but the minimum fixing temperature was 155 ° C., and the low-temperature fixing property was further inferior.

Comparative Example 2 Production of Resin Composition for Toner The resin composition for toner obtained in Example 1 was melt-kneaded at 120 ° C. by a roll mill, cooled and coarsely pulverized to obtain a resin composition for toner. Manufactured. The softening flow temperature (Tf) of this toner resin composition was 133 ° C. When the resin composition for a toner was observed with a transmission electron microscope, the microphase-separated structure (multiphase structure) was about to collapse.

Production of Toner and Evaluation of Toner Performance Example 1 was repeated except that the above resin composition for toner was used.
A toner was manufactured in the same manner as in 1. and the performance of this toner was evaluated. As a result, no aggregation was observed in the toner, but the minimum fixing temperature was 150 ° C., which was inferior to the low-temperature fixing property of Example 1.

Comparative Example 3 Production of Resin Composition for Toner A toner resin composition was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the ethylene-butene copolymer was not used. The softening flow temperature (Tf) of this resin composition for toner was 135 ° C. When the resin composition for a toner was observed with a transmission electron microscope, no microphase-separated structure was observed.

Production of Toner and Evaluation of Toner Performance Example 1 was repeated except that the above resin composition for toner was used.
A toner was manufactured in the same manner as in 1. and the performance of this toner was evaluated. As a result, no aggregation was observed in the toner, but the minimum fixing temperature was 170 ° C., which was inferior to the low temperature fixing property in Example 1.

[0070]

As described above, according to the resin composition for a toner and the toner of the present invention, the offset resistance, the low-temperature fixability and the blocking resistance are excellent, and the fine pulverizability is good, and particularly the low-temperature fixability is excellent. The outstanding effect is that a sufficiently stable image can be obtained even when copying is performed using a high-speed type or small-sized electronic copying machine which is more excellent and has a wide fixing temperature range.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A continuous phase composed of an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer and a discontinuous phase composed of a vinyl copolymer containing a styrene monomer and a (meth) acrylic acid ester monomer as constituent units. And a toner resin composition containing a toner additive, wherein the toner additive is prepared from the ethylene-based resin composition without undergoing a melt-kneading step.
A resin composition for a toner, which is contained in a resin composition for a toner by being mixed with a solvent solution of an α-olefin copolymer and / or a vinyl-based copolymer and undergoing a solvent removal step. 2. A toner using the resin composition for a toner according to claim 1.