The morphology of the dry toner particle for laser printer plays a very important role in the electrophotography (EP) process. For example, spherical shape of the toner particle provides good development efficiency, whereas irregular shape of the toner particle gives good blade cleanability. Thus, controlling the morphology of toner particle is a key technology to satisfy both preferences. Chemically Prepared Toner (CPT) has many advantages in that way.In this study, the factor to control the morphology of the emulsion/aggregation toner is discussed. Since emulsion/aggregation toner is prepared by thermally coalescing aggregates of toner components, the morphology of the coalesced toner particle depends on the thermal process and the thermal properties of the aggregates. Thermal property such as Tg has close relationship with the property of the toner components such as molecular weight of the binder emulsion. Thus, we demonstrate that how the control of the properties of the emulsion would impact on the morphology of the toner particle. It was found that the molecular weight of the emulsion plays a role in forming the toner shape and the surface morphology.
Jun-Young Lee, Chang-Kook Hong, Min young Chung, Kyung-yol Yon, "Study on the Factor for the Morphological Control of the Chemically Prepared Toner" in Proc. IS&T Int'l Conf. on Digital Printing Technologies (NIP21), 2005, pp 644 - 646, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2005.21.1.art00080_2