JP2005099480A - Transfer material carrying member, intermediate transfer member, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transfer material carrying member capable of obtaining a high dielectric breakdown voltage and high film strength.
In a transfer material carrying member to which a toner image formed on an image carrying body is transferred via a transfer material, the transfer material carrying member comprises carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less and a binder polymer compound. A transfer material carrying member comprising:
[Selection figure] None

Description

  The present invention relates to a transfer material carrier, an intermediate transfer member, and an image forming apparatus, and in particular, a transfer material for transferring a toner image on an image carrier formed by an electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method to a transfer material. The present invention relates to a supporting member, an intermediate transfer member, and an image forming apparatus. Examples of the image forming apparatus in which such a transfer material carrying member or intermediate transfer member is used include black and white, monocolor or full color electrophotographic copying machines, printers, and various other recording machines.

  Conventionally, there are various transfer material carrying members used when transferring an image on an image carrier to a transfer material. For example, in an image forming apparatus having image forming means such as (charging)-(exposure)-(toner development)-(transfer)-(cleaning), a toner image on a photoreceptor is transferred to a transfer material (for example, paper). Examples of the means include a transfer drum and a transfer device as shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an image forming apparatus for transferring an image on an image carrier onto an intermediate transfer member before transferring the image onto a transfer material, and transferring the toner image onto the transfer material from the intermediate transfer member. And a transfer device as shown.

  In FIG. 1, the transfer drum 10 has a support body composed of cylinders 12 and 13 disposed at both ends and a connecting portion 14 that connects these cylinders. A transfer material carrying member 11 is stretched. The connecting portion 14 has a transfer material gripper 15 for gripping the transfer material fed from the paper feeding device.

  The transfer drum 10 configured as described above is disposed in the transfer apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and inside and outside thereof, a transfer discharger 21 and an inner discharger 23 and a discharger for outer discharge are included. Electric appliances 22 and 24 are arranged. Reference numeral 25 denotes a discharge wire, 26 denotes an insulating member, 27 denotes a pressing member, 28 denotes a separation claw, and 31 denotes a rotary developing device.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 3 will be described later.

  In the transfer process in the image forming apparatus as described above, various mechanical or electrical external forces such as transfer material transfer, transfer charging, static elimination, and cleaning are applied to the transfer material carrying member 11, and thus durability against these external forces is applied. That is, various characteristics such as mechanical strength, wear resistance and electrical durability are required.

  Particularly in recent years, in order to realize the colorization and full color of the image together with further speeding up of the electrophotographic process, toner images of three colors of cyan, magenta and yellow, or four colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black are used. 2. Description of the Related Art Image forming apparatuses that perform transfer to a transfer material on a transfer material carrying member sequentially or to an intermediate transfer member have been used. As described above, particularly in the case of full-color, since the transfer process is continuously performed, it is necessary to further tighten the conditions for the charge-up characteristics and the withstand voltage characteristics of the transfer material carrying member or the intermediate transfer member.

  Conventionally, as a transfer material carrying member or intermediate transfer member, resins such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyester, polyvinylidene fluoride, triacetate and polycarbonate, isoprene, butadiene, styrene-butadiene, chloroprene-acrylo rubber, urethane, silicone, acrylic, etc. However, these single-component elastomers have a resistance value that is too high, causing a charge-up phenomenon during continuous transfer, resulting in problems such as transfer omission and transfer failure. In order to reduce the resistance as a measure for charge-up, dispersion of conductive fillers such as carbon black, metal and metal oxide has been proposed. In general, these methods tend to cause a decrease in dielectric breakdown voltage, a decrease in mechanical strength, a deterioration in electrical and mechanical durability, and the like. As a cause, when the conductive filler is dispersed, the dielectric breakdown voltage decreases due to non-uniform dispersion or non-uniform micro resistance due to filler aggregation, etc. It is presumed to reduce the mechanical strength of

  An object of the present invention is to provide a transfer material-carrying member, an intermediate transfer member, and an image forming apparatus including these, which can obtain a high breakdown voltage and a high film strength.

  According to the present invention, in a transfer material carrying member to which a toner image formed on an image carrying body is transferred via a transfer material, the transfer material carrying member comprises carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less and a binder polymer compound. A transfer material carrying member and an intermediate transfer member are provided.

  According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising the image carrier and the transfer material carrying member or the intermediate transfer member.

  According to the present invention, the required resistance value can be obtained with a small amount of carbon added, the film strength is high, and the breakdown voltage is high. It is possible to provide a transfer material carrying member, an intermediate transfer member, and an image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  That is, the present invention uses a carbon fiber having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less, which is a carbon particle having a small bulk density and a large aspect ratio, as the conductive filler of the transfer material-carrying member. It is intended to obtain desired conductivity and high film strength.

  The carbon fiber according to the present invention is preferably a material having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less and a thin shape. In general, carbon nanotubes or carbon nanofibers are representative of such materials. In the case of carbon nanotubes, in a narrow sense, a material in which the plane of the hexagonal mesh of carbon is almost parallel to the axis is called a carbon nanotube, and the case where amorphous carbon exists around the carbon nanotube is also included in the carbon nanotube. .

  The carbon nanotubes in the narrow sense are further classified into single wall nanotubes (abbreviated as SWNTs) having a single hexagonal tube structure, while multiwall nanotubes are composed of multiple hexagonal tube tubes. (Abbreviated as MWNT). The structure of carbon nanotubes to be obtained is determined to some extent by the synthesis method and conditions, but it is not possible to produce only carbon nanotubes with the same structure.

  Three types of these carbon nanotube structures are currently used in the above-mentioned carbon nanotube production method. It is a method similar to the vapor growth method with carbon fiber, arc discharge method and laser evaporation method. In addition to these three types, a plasma synthesis method and a solid phase reaction method are known. Here, three typical types will be briefly described below.

1) Thermal decomposition method using catalyst This method is almost the same as the vapor growth method of carbon fiber. Such a production method is referred to as C.I. E. SNYDER et al., International Patent Application, Publication Number = WO89 / 07163. Ethylene and propane are introduced into the reaction vessel together with hydrogen, and at the same time, ultrafine metal particles are introduced. In addition to this, the source gas contains saturated hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, hexane and cyclohexane, unsaturated hydrocarbons such as ethylene, propylene, benzene and toluene, oxygen such as acetone, methanol and carbon monoxide. You can use raw materials. In addition, the ratio of source gas to hydrogen is good at 1:20 to 20: 1, and the catalyst is recommended to be a mixture of Fe, Fe and Mo, Cr, Ce, Mn, which is deposited on fumed alumina. A method to keep it is also proposed. The reaction temperature is in the range of 550 to 850 ° C., and the gas flow rate is preferably about 100 sccm of hydrogen per inch diameter and about 200 sccm of the raw material gas containing carbon, and carbon nanotubes grow in about 30 minutes to 1 hour after introducing fine particles. To do.

  The carbon nanotube thus obtained has a diameter of about 3.5 to 75 nm and a length of 5 to 1000 times the diameter. The carbon network structure is parallel to the tube axis, and there is little adhesion of pyrolytic carbon on the outside of the tube.

  Although the production efficiency is not good, SWNT is produced when Mo is used as a catalyst nucleus and carbon monoxide gas is used as a raw material gas at 1200 ° C. for reaction. Dai et al., Chemical Physics Letters 260 (1996) p. 471-474.

2) Arc Discharge Method The arc discharge method was first found by Iijima et al., Details are described in Nature Vol. 354 (1991) p. 56-58. The arc discharge method is a simple method in which DC arc discharge is performed using a carbon rod electrode in an atmosphere of about 100 Torr of argon. Carbon nanotubes grow with carbon fine particles of 5 to 20 nm on a part of the surface of the negative electrode. The carbon nanotube has a layered structure in which a tube-like carbon network having a diameter of 4 to 30 nm, a length of about 1 μm, and 2 to 50 is overlapped. The carbon network structure is formed in a spiral shape parallel to the axis. The pitch of the spiral is different for each tube and for each layer in the tube, and the interlayer distance in the case of a multilayer tube is 0.34 nm, which is almost the same as the interlayer distance of graphite. The end of the tube is still closed with a carbon network.

  T. W. Ebbesen et al. Set the conditions for generating a large amount of carbon nanotubes by the arc discharge method in Nature Vol. 358 (1992) p. 220-222. Using a carbon rod having a diameter of 9 mm for the cathode and a diameter of 6 mm for the anode, they are placed 1 mm apart from each other in the chamber, and an arc discharge of about 18 V and 100 A is generated in an atmosphere of about 500 Torr of helium. If it is 500 Torr or less, the proportion of carbon nanotubes is small, and even if it is 500 Torr or more, the total amount produced is reduced. Under the optimum condition of 500 Torr, the proportion of carbon nanotubes in the product reaches 75%. Even when the input power was changed or the atmosphere was argon, the collection rate of carbon nanotubes decreased. Many nanotubes exist near the center of the generated carbon rod.

3) Laser evaporation method Guo et al., Chemical Physics Letters 243 (1995) p. 49-54. Thess et al., Science Vol. 273 (1996) p. 483-487 reported the formation of rope-like SWNTs by laser evaporation. The outline of this method is as follows. First, a carbon rod in which Co or Ni is dispersed in a quartz tube is installed, and after the Ar is filled with about 500 Torr in the quartz tube, the whole is heated to about 1200 ° C. The NdYAG laser is condensed from the upstream end of the quartz tube to heat and evaporate the carbon rod. Then, carbon nanotubes are deposited on the downstream side of the quartz tube. This method is promising as a method for selectively producing SWNTs, and is characterized in that SWNTs are likely to gather and form a rope shape.

  As the carbon nanotube, there are known a single-wall type in which only one graphite layer is provided and a multi-wall type in which a graphite layer is wound around a hollow core.

  The multilayer type is a cylindrical fiber having a multilayer structure in which eight graphite layers are wound around a hollow core of 5 nm as described in JP-A-8-508534. It is in the form of needles, snakes, and entanglements, with a bulk density of 0.01 g / ml, a true specific gravity of 2.0 g / ml, an average fiber diameter of 10 nm, and an average aspect ratio of 10 to 1000. It is preferable to use a cylindrical fiber carbon fiber having a multilayer structure.

  The carbon fiber used in the present invention is the above-mentioned carbon nanotube or carbon nanofiber.

  However, the carbon fiber usable in the present invention is not limited to the above as long as it has electrical conductivity, a low bulk density, and a high aspect ratio.

  As for the average aspect-ratio of the carbon fiber used by this invention, 5-1000 are preferable, A more preferable average aspect-ratio is 50-1000, Furthermore, a preferable average aspect-ratio is 100-1000.

  Carbon fibers having an average aspect ratio of less than 5 have a low probability that the carbon fibers are in contact with each other in the thermoplastic resin, and the effect of obtaining a desired resistance value with a small amount of carbon may be reduced. Conversely, carbon fibers having an average aspect ratio of more than 1000 may cause a reduction in image quality due to an increase in surface roughness.

  In the carbon fiber having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less according to the present invention, 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of carbon fiber having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less is preferably added to 100 parts by mass of the binder polymer compound. If the blending amount of carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less is less than 0.1 parts by mass, the effect of lowering the resistance value is small, and if it exceeds 30 parts by mass, the strength of the film may be lowered.

  Next, specific examples of the binder polymer compound used in the present invention include polycarbonate, polyarylate, polyester, polyimide, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyolefin, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetherimide and polyetheretherketone, However, it is not limited to these. Further, two or more of the above polymer compounds may be mixed, or may be a copolymer.

  Various additives can be blended in the transfer material carrying member or intermediate transfer member of the present invention as desired. For example, stabilizers, antioxidants, mold release agents, flame retardants and the like can be added. .

  The transfer material carrying member or the intermediate transfer member of the present invention can be blended with the following compounds as long as the object of the present invention is not impaired. That is, examples of the impact modifier include polyester elastomers, polyolefin elastomers, SEBS, SBR, MBS, MAS, acrylate core-shell graft copolymers, and styrene core-shell graft copolymers.

  Examples of the thermoplastic resin include PET, PBT, PEN, PBN, PMMA, AS, ABS, polystyrene, PE, PP, PPE, PPS, PEI, and PEEK.

  Examples of the stabilizer include hindered phenol compounds, phosphorus compounds, sulfur compounds, epoxy compounds, hindered amine compounds, and the like. Among these, at least one kind of antioxidant selected from hindered phenol compounds and phosphorus compounds is preferably used.

  Specific examples of the hindered phenol compound include n-octadecyl-3- (3 ′, 5′-di-t-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, 1,6-hexanediol-bis [3- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], pentaerythrityl-tetrakis [3- (3 ′, 5′-di-t-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], 3 , 9-bis [1,1-dimethyl-2- {β- (3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) propionyloxy} ethyl] -2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro [ 5,5] undecane, triethylene glycol-bis [3- (3-tert-butyl-5-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] 3,5-di-tert-butyl 4-hydroxybenzylphosphonate-diethyl ester, 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) benzene, 2,2-thio- Diethylenebis [3- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate], tris- (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) -isocyanurate and N, N ′ -Hexamethylenebis (3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxy-hydrocinnamide) and the like. Among these, n-octadecyl-3- (3 ′, 5′-di-t-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, 1,6-hexanediol-bis [3- (3 ′, 5′- t-butyl-4′-hydroxyphenyl) propionate] and 3,9-bis [1,1-dimethyl-2- {β- (3-t-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) propionyloxy} ethyl ] -2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro [5,5] undecane and the like are preferred.

  The phosphorus compound is preferably a trivalent phosphorus compound. In particular, at least one ester in the phosphite is esterified with phenol and / or phenol having at least one alkyl group having 1 to 25 carbon atoms. And at least one selected from phosphorous ester or tetrakis (2,4-di-t-butylphenyl) -4,4′-biphenylene-diphosphonite. Specific examples of phosphites include 4,4′-butylidene-bis (3-methyl-6-tert-butylphenyl-ditridecyl) phosphite, 1,1,3-tris (2-methyl-4-ditri). Decyl phosphite-5-tert-butylphenyl) butane, trisnonylphenyl phosphite, dinonylphenyl pentaerythritol diphosphite, tris (2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite, bis (2,4- Di-t-butylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite, di (2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite, 2,2′-ethylidene-bis (4,6-di) -T-butylphenyl) fluorinated phosphite, 2,2'-methylene-bis (4,6-di-t-butylphenyl) octylphos Fight, and bis (2,4-dicumylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite, mono- nonylphenol and phosphite consisting di nonylphenol. Moreover, the improvement effect of coloring property increases by using a phosphorus compound and a phenol compound together.

  Examples of the ultraviolet absorber include organic ultraviolet absorbers such as benzotriazole compounds, benzophenone compounds, and triazine compounds in addition to inorganic ultraviolet absorbers such as titanium oxide, cerium oxide, and zinc oxide. In the present invention, among these, organic ultraviolet absorbers are preferred, and in particular, benzotriazole compounds, 2- (4,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl) -5-[(hexyl) oxy]- Phenol, 2- [4,6-bis (2,4-dimethylphenyl) -1,3,5-triazin-2-yl] -5- (octyloxy) phenol, 2,2 ′-(1,4-phenylene) It is preferably at least one selected from bis [4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one] and [(4-methoxyphenyl) -methylene] -propanedioic acid-dimethyl ester. Specific examples of the benzotriazole compound include 2-bis (5-methyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- (3,5-di-t-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- (3 ', 5'-di-t-butyl-2'-hydroxyphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2- (3-t-butyl-5-methyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2 -(2'-hydroxy-5'-t-octylphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- (3,5-di-t-amyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole, 2- [2-hydroxy-3,5- Bis (α, α-dimethylbenzyl) phenyl] -2H-benzotriazole and [methyl-3- [3-tert-butyl-5- (2H-benzotria) Zol-2-yl) -4-hydroxyphenyl] propionate-polyethylene glycol] condensate. Among these, 2- (2′-hydroxy-5′-t-octylphenyl) benzotriazole and 2- [2-hydroxy-3,5-bis (α, α-dimethylbenzyl) phenyl are particularly preferable. ] -2H-benzotriazole, 2- (4,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl) -5-[(hexyl) oxy] -phenol and 2- [4,6-bis (2 , 4-dimethylphenyl) -1,3,5-triazin-2-yl] -5- (octyloxy) phenol.

  Examples of the release agent include at least one compound selected from aliphatic carboxylic acids, aliphatic carboxylic acid esters, aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds having a number average molecular weight of 200 to 15000, and polysiloxane silicone oil. Among these, at least one selected from aliphatic carboxylic acids and aliphatic carboxylic acid esters is preferably used. Examples of the aliphatic carboxylic acid include saturated or unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, dicarboxylic acid, and tricarboxylic acid. Here, the aliphatic carboxylic acid also includes an alicyclic carboxylic acid. Among these, preferable aliphatic carboxylic acids are mono- or dicarboxylic acids having 6 to 36 carbon atoms, and aliphatic saturated monocarboxylic acids having 6 to 36 carbon atoms are more preferable.

  Specific examples of such aliphatic carboxylic acids include palmitic acid, stearic acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, arachidic acid, behenic acid, lignoceric acid, serotic acid, mellic acid, and tetrariacontanoic acid. , Montanic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid and azelaic acid.

  As the aliphatic carboxylic acid component constituting the aliphatic carboxylic acid ester, the same aliphatic carboxylic acid as that described above can be used. On the other hand, examples of the alcohol component constituting the aliphatic carboxylic acid ester include saturated or unsaturated monohydric alcohols and saturated or unsaturated polyhydric alcohols. These alcohols may have a substituent such as a fluorine atom or an aryl group. Among these alcohols, monovalent or polyvalent saturated alcohols having 30 or less carbon atoms are preferable, and aliphatic saturated monohydric alcohols or polyhydric alcohols having 30 or less carbon atoms are more preferable. Here, the aliphatic alcohol also includes an alicyclic alcohol. Specific examples of these alcohols include octanol, decanol, dodecanol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, glycerin, pentaerythritol, 2,2-dihydroxyperfluoropropanol, neopentylene glycol, ditrimethylolpropane and dipentaerythritol. Etc. These aliphatic carboxylic acid esters may contain an aliphatic carboxylic acid and / or alcohol as impurities, and may be a mixture of a plurality of compounds.

  Specific examples of the aliphatic carboxylic acid ester include beeswax (mixture based on myricyl palmitate), stearyl stearate, behenyl behenate, octyldodecyl behenate, glycerin monopalmitate, glycerin monostearate, glycerin Examples thereof include distearate, glycerin tristearate, pentaerythritol monopalmitate, pentaerythritol monostearate, pentaerythritol distearate, pentaerythritol tristearate and pentaerythritol tetrastearate.

  As the colorant, a compound having an anthraquinone skeleton, a compound having a phthalocyanine skeleton, or the like can be used. Among these, a compound having an anthraquinone skeleton is preferably used from the viewpoint of heat resistance.

  Specific examples of the colorant include: MACROLEX Blue RR, MACROLEX Violet 3R, MACROREX Violet B (manufactured by Bayer), Sumiplast Violet RR, Sumiplast Violet B, Sumiplast Blue OH Industrial Co., Ltd. D, Diaresin Blue G, Diaresin Blue N (manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation) and the like.

  Examples of the flame retardant include metal sulfonate flame retardants, halogen-containing compound flame retardants, antimony-containing compound flame retardants, phosphorus-containing compound flame retardants, and silicon-containing compound flame retardants. Here, examples of the sulfonic acid metal salt include aliphatic sulfonic acid metal salts and aromatic sulfonic acid metal salts. Examples of the metal of the sulfonic acid metal salt preferably include alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, and examples of the alkali metal and alkaline earth include sodium, lithium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and the like. Barium etc. are mentioned. A sulfonic acid metal salt may be used independently, and 2 or more types can also be mixed and used for it. Preferred examples of the sulfonic acid metal salt include aromatic sulfonesulfonic acid metal salts and perfluoroalkane-sulfonic acid metal salts from the viewpoints of flame retardancy and thermal stability. Preferred examples of the aromatic sulfonesulfonic acid metal salt include an aromatic sulfonesulfonic acid alkali metal salt and an aromatic sulfonesulfonic acid alkaline earth metal salt. An aromatic sulfonesulfonic acid alkali metal salt, an aromatic sulfonesulfone, and the like. The acid alkaline earth metal salt may be a polymer. Specific examples of the aromatic sulfonesulfonic acid metal salt include sodium salt of diphenylsulfone-3-sulfonic acid, potassium salt of diphenylsulfone-3-sulfonic acid, and 4,4′-dibromodiphenyl-sulfone-3-sulfonic acid. Sodium salt, potassium salt of 4,4′-dibromodiphenylsulfone-3-sulfone, calcium salt of 4-chloro-4′-nitrodiphenylsulfone-3-sulfonic acid, diphenylsulfone-3,3′-disulfonic acid Examples include disodium salt and dipotassium salt of diphenylsulfone-3,3′disulfonic acid. Preferred examples of the perfluoroalkane-sulfonic acid metal salt include alkali metal salts of perfluoroalkane-sulfonic acid, alkaline earth metal salts of perfluoroalkane-sulfonic acid, and the like, and more preferably 4 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples thereof include sulfonic acid alkali metal salts having 8 perfluoroalkane groups and sulfonic acid alkaline earth metal salts having 4 to 8 carbon perfluoroalkane groups.

  Specific examples of perfluoroalkane-sulfonic acid metal salt include perfluorobutane-sodium sulfonate, perfluorobutane-potassium sulfonate, perfluoromethylbutane-sodium sulfonate, perfluoromethylbutane-potassium sulfonate, perfluoro Examples include octane-sodium sulfonate, potassium perfluorooctane-sulfonate, and tetraethylammonium salt of perfluorobutane-sulfonic acid. Halogen-containing compound flame retardants include tetrabromobisphenol A, tribromophenol, brominated aromatic triazine, tetrabromobisphenol A epoxy oligomer, tetrabromobisphenol A epoxy polymer, decabromodiphenyl oxide, tribromoallyl ether, tetrabromo Examples thereof include bisphenol A carbonate oligomer, ethylene bistetrabromophthalimide, decabromodiphenylethane, brominated polystyrene, and hexabromocyclododecane. These halogen-containing compound flame retardants may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  When blending the halogen-containing compound flame retardant into the polycarbonate resin composition, an antimony-containing compound flame retardant can be blended as a flame retardant aid. Examples of the antimony-containing compound flame retardant compounded as a flame retardant aid include antimony trioxide, antimony pentoxide, and sodium antimonate. These antimony-containing compound flame retardants may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Examples of phosphorus-containing compound flame retardants include red phosphorus, coated red phosphorus, polyphosphate compounds, phosphate esters, cyanursan acid, melamine cyanurate, and phosphazene.

  Examples of phosphate ester compounds include trimethyl phosphate, triethyl phosphate, tributyl phosphate, trioctyl phosphate, tributoxyethyl phosphate, triphenyl phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, cresyl diphenyl phosphate, octyl diphenyl phosphate, diisopropyl phenyl phosphate, tris (Chloroethyl) phosphate, tris (dichloropropyl) phosphate, tris (chloropropyl) phosphate, bis (2,3-dibromopropyl) -2,3-dichloropropyl phosphate, tris (2,3-dibromopropyl), bis (chloro Propyl) monooctyl phosphate, bisphenol A bisphosphate, hydroquinone bisphosphate, resorcin bisphosphate Feto and trioxybenzene phosphate and the like, preferably triphenyl phosphate and various bisphosphate. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  Polytetrafluoroethylene may be used for preventing dripping at the time of combustion of the polycarbonate resin composition in the present invention, and it is easily dispersed in the polymer and shows a tendency to form a fibrous material by bonding the polymers together. Those are preferred. Anti-dripping polytetrafluoroethylene is classified as type 3 according to the ASTM standard. For preventing dripping, for example, it is commercially available as Teflon (registered trademark) 6J or Teflon (registered trademark) 30J from Mitsui / Dupont Fluorochemical Co., Ltd., or as Polyflon F201L from Daikin Chemical Industries, Ltd.

  Inorganic fillers include glass fiber, glass milled fiber, glass flake, carbon fiber, silica, alumina, titanium oxide, calcium sulfate powder, gypsum, gypsum whisker, barium sulfate, talc, mica, calcium silicate, carbon black, graphite , Iron powder, copper powder, molybdenum disulfide, silicon carbide, silicon carbide fiber, silicon nitride, silicon nitride fiber, brass fiber, stainless steel fiber, potassium titanate fiber or whisker and aromatic polyamide fiber, etc. Examples of the filler include fibrous, plate-like, flake-like and powdery fillers. Preferred examples of the inorganic filler include glass fiber, carbon fiber, glass milled fiber, and glass flake. In addition, the inorganic filler is for the purpose of improving the adhesion with the resin, for the purpose of surface treatment with a silane coupling agent such as aminosilane and epoxysilane, or for the purpose of improving the handleability, such as an acrylic resin or a urethane resin. You may use by performing the focusing process by.

  Furthermore, additives such as a compatibilizing agent, an antifogging agent, an antiblocking agent, a slipping agent, a dispersing agent, an antibacterial agent and a fluorescent whitening agent can be blended as necessary.

  The transfer material carrying member or intermediate transfer member used in the present invention can be formed into a film shape, a sheet shape, a belt shape or a drum shape by a method such as extrusion molding, injection molding or cast molding, and the shape is a sheet shape. However, the end portion of the sheet may be formed in an endless belt shape by means such as heat fusion, ultrasonic fusion, or adhesion with an adhesive, and may be any most preferable shape depending on the image forming apparatus to be used. The film thickness of the transfer material carrying member or intermediate transfer member of the present invention varies depending on the Young's modulus and volume resistance value of the binder, but is preferably 50 μm to 2000 μm, and particularly preferably 70 μm to 800 μm.

  Moreover, the transfer material carrying member or the intermediate transfer member of the present invention can have a protective layer, a dielectric layer, a resistance layer, and a conductive layer on the front surface and the back surface.

  Examples of the form of the contact charging member used in the image forming apparatus include a roller, a brush (magnetic brush), and a blade. The material of the contact charging member is selected from various metals, conductive metal oxides, conductive carbon, and a mixture thereof. Or what disperse | distributed the said electroconductive powder in resin and an elastomer may be used.

  Specific examples of aspects of the image forming apparatus having the transfer material carrying member of the present invention are shown in FIGS. Each of the image forming apparatuses shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 is an example of a multicolor (full color) image forming apparatus.

  First, a brief description will be given with reference to FIG. The multicolor electrophotographic copying apparatus shown in FIG. 3 includes an image carrier, that is, a photosensitive drum 33 that is rotatably supported and rotates in the direction of arrow a, and an image forming unit is disposed on the outer periphery thereof. Although this image forming means can be any means, in this example, a primary charger 34 that uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 33 and a color-separated light image or a corresponding light image are irradiated to sensitize the photosensitive drum 33. An exposure unit 32 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the drum 33, such as a laser beam exposure device, and a rotary developing device 31 that converts the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 33 into a visible image are provided.

  The rotary developing device 31 includes four developing devices 31Y, 31M, 31C, and 31BK that respectively store four color developers, a yellow color developer, a magenta color developer, a cyan color developer, and a black color developer. The four developing units are held and a substantially cylindrical casing rotatably supported. The rotary developing device 31 conveys a desired developing device to a position facing the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 33 by rotating the casing, develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, and performs full color for four colors. It is configured so that development is possible.

  The visible image on the photosensitive drum 33, that is, the toner image, is transferred to the transfer material P that is carried and conveyed by the transfer device 10. In this example, the transfer device 10 is a transfer drum that is rotatably supported.

  Hereinafter, a full-color image forming process by the multicolor electrophotographic copying apparatus having the above-described configuration will be briefly described.

  After the photosensitive drum 33 is uniformly charged by the primary charger 34, the light image E corresponding to the image information is irradiated by the exposure unit 32, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 33. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by the rotary developing device 31 with toner having a resin base material on the photosensitive drum 33.

  On the other hand, the transfer material P is fed to the transfer drum 10 by the registration roller 36 in synchronism with the image, gripped at the tip by the gripper 15 and the like, and conveyed in the direction of arrow b in the figure.

  Next, in a region in contact with the photosensitive drum 33, a corona discharge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is received by the transfer discharger 21 from the back surface of the transfer material carrying member 11 of the transfer drum 10 according to the present invention. The toner image is transferred onto the transfer material P.

  The transfer material P is peeled off from the transfer drum 10 by the action of the separation claw 28 while being discharged by the dischargers 22, 23, and 24 for discharging after the necessary number of transfer steps, and is fixed by the conveying belt 38. After being fixed by heat at 39, it is discharged out of the machine.

  On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 33 is subjected to the image forming process again after the residual toner on the surface is cleaned by the cleaning device 37.

  Further, the surface of the transfer material carrying member 11 of the transfer drum 10 is also cleaned by the action of the cleaning device 35a and the cleaning auxiliary means 35b similarly having a blade or a fur brush, and then again subjected to the image forming process.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, an insulating member 26, such as a polycarbonate resin plate, is provided on the shield plate on the downstream side in the rotation direction (arrow b direction) of the transfer drum 10 of the transfer corona discharger 21, It is preferable that the transfer corona has a larger transfer corona amount toward the photosensitive drum 33.

In the present invention, an elastic pressing member 27 may be provided that extends from the introduction side of the transfer material carrying member 11 toward the downstream side in the moving direction. The pressing member 27 is made of a synthetic resin film such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and polyethylene terephthalate, preferably having a volume resistivity of 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm or more, particularly preferably 10 ¹⁴ Ω · cm or more. , Disposed over the entire area of the transfer portion.

  Further, the pressing member 27 presses the transfer material carrying member 11 by its own elastic force, and the front end portion on the transfer material carrying member 11 side is a position where the transfer material P has finished contacting the photosensitive drum 33, or the contact. It is preferable to set a position corresponding to a position where the start is started or a position as close as possible.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which a brush charger 21a is provided as a transfer charger 21 for applying a charge opposite in polarity to the toner from the back surface of the transfer material carrying member 11 in the multicolor electrophotographic copying apparatus shown in FIG. Show. In FIG. 4, the configuration and operation of the other elements are substantially the same as those in FIG.

  FIG. 5 discloses a specific example of an image forming apparatus using the transfer material carrying member of the present invention when the shape is an endless belt.

  The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5 includes photosensitive drums 41a to 41d, around which primary chargers 42a to 42d, exposure means 43a to 43d, developing devices 44a to 44d, transfer chargers 45a to 45d, The neutralizing dischargers 46a to 46d and 47a to 47d, and the photosensitive drum cleaning devices 48a to 48d are arranged, and the endless belt-like transfer material carrying member 40 of the present invention is provided below the photosensitive drum so as to penetrate these units. A transfer material carrying member cleaning device 50 having a urethane blade 49 is disposed.

  After the transfer material P is fed by a paper feed roller, the transfer material P is conveyed by the endless belt-shaped transfer material carrying member 40 through a transfer section in which the respective transfer dischargers 45a to 45d are arranged.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which transfer blade chargers 45e to 45h are used in place of the transfer chargers 45a to 45d in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, the configuration and operation of other elements are substantially the same as those in FIG.

  FIG. 7 shows another image forming apparatus using an endless belt-like intermediate transfer member. This image forming apparatus has a photosensitive drum 51, around which a primary charging roller 52, an exposure means 53, a rotary developing device 54, a primary corona transfer charging device 55, and a photosensitive drum cleaning device 56 are arranged. An endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member 57 is disposed below the photosensitive drum, and a secondary transfer charger 58 is disposed in the intermediate transfer member unit.

  The transfer material P is fed by a paper feed roller and then conveyed through a secondary transfer portion between an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member 57 and a secondary transfer roller 58.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which a primary transfer roller charger 55b is used in place of the primary corona transfer charger 55a in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the configuration and operation of the other elements are substantially the same as those in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.

  100 parts by weight of polycarbonate resin (Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name “Iupilon S-1000”) and 15% by weight carbon nanotube-dispersed polycarbonate A masterbatch (Hyperion, average fiber diameter 10 nm, average aspect ratio 100) 2.5 The parts by mass were pelletized using a vented twin screw extruder. The obtained pellets were compression molded to produce a film having a thickness of 100 μm.

  The resulting film was measured for volume resistance at an electric field of 1 V / μm using a Hiresta. The results are shown in Table 1, where the MIT test was performed 50000 times, and the case where it did not break at 50000 times was marked as ◯, and the case where it broke at less than 50000 times was marked as x.

In the MIT test, MIT-D (manufactured by Toyo Seiki Co., Ltd.) was used. The conditions were as follows: a winding curvature diameter of 20 mm, an angle of 90 degrees, and a load of 2 kg / mm ² .

  A transfer drum as shown in FIG. 1 was prepared using the resin film. That is, as the transfer material carrying member 11 shown in FIG. 1, the resin film was stretched between two aluminum cylinders 12 and 13 to produce a transfer drum 10. Both end portions of the transfer material carrying member 11 were fixed on a connecting portion 14 for connecting two aluminum cylinders 12 and 13 constituting the transfer drum 10.

  In this embodiment, the diameter of the transfer drum 10 is set to 160 mm, and the moving speed is set to 160 mm / sec. At the same time, the process speed, which is the moving speed of the photosensitive drum 33, was set to 160 mm / sec. The opening width of the transfer corona discharger 21 is 19 mm, the distance between the discharge wire 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 33 is 10.5 mm, and the distance between the discharge wire 25 and the bottom of the shield plate of the transfer corona discharger 21 is The distance was set to 16 mm. Further, as the pressing member 27, a polyethylene terephthalate resin film was used.

  In this embodiment, a negative image is formed by an image forming apparatus as shown in FIG. 3 to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 33, and a toner image is obtained by reversal development using toner having an average particle diameter of 8 μm. It was. At this time, the toner is composed of a colorant and a small amount of additives for improving charge controllability and lubricity and the like, and the toner is triboelectrically charged with carrier particles in the developing unit and is charged to a negative polarity. .

Thereafter, the toner image was transferred to a transfer material with a positive polarity by the transfer device having the above-described configuration. Next, the transfer material was separated from the transfer drum 10 and fixed by a fixing device.
In this embodiment, the surface of the transfer material carrying member 11 of the transfer drum 10 is cleaned by a cleaning device 35a having a urethane blade and a cleaning auxiliary means 35b.

  An endurance test for 10000 sheets of images was performed with the multicolor electrophotographic copying machine having the above-described configuration. As a result, the initial image was a good image with no transfer unevenness, and a good image similar to the initial image could be obtained even after durability.

  Implementation was performed except that 100 parts by mass of polyethylene terephthalate resin was used instead of the polycarbonate resin used in Example 1, and a master batch in which carbon nanotubes (average fiber diameter 200 nm, average aspect ratio 5) were dispersed in polyethylene terephthalate was used. A transfer material carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 and evaluated in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

  A transfer material carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 100 parts by mass of polyarylate (product name “U-100”, manufactured by Unitika) was used instead of the polycarbonate resin used in Example 1. Evaluation was performed in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

  In place of the polycarbonate resin used in Example 1, 100 parts by mass of polybutylene terephthalate resin was used, and a master batch in which carbon nanotubes (average fiber diameter 10 nm, average aspect ratio 100) were dispersed in polybutylene terephthalate was added. A transfer material carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount was adjusted, and was similarly evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

  Instead of the polycarbonate resin used in Example 1, 100 parts by mass of polyphenylene sulfide resin was used, and a master batch in which carbon nanotubes (average fiber diameter: 10 nm, average aspect ratio: 100) were dispersed in polyphenylene sulfide was used. A transfer material-carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the adjustment was made, and was similarly evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

  Instead of the polycarbonate resin used in Example 1, 100 parts by mass of polyether ether ketone resin was used, and a master batch in which carbon nanotubes (average fiber diameter 10 nm, average aspect ratio 100) were dispersed in polyether ether ketone was used. A transfer material carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the addition amount was adjusted, and evaluated in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

  Instead of the polycarbonate resin used in Example 1, 100 parts by mass of a polyetherimide resin was used and added using a master batch in which carbon nanotubes (average fiber diameter 10 nm, average aspect ratio 100) were dispersed in polyetherimide. A transfer material carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount was adjusted, and was similarly evaluated. The results are shown in Table 1.

  70 parts by mass of unvulcanized CR rubber and 1 part by mass of 20% by mass carbon nanotube-dispersed polycarbonate A masterbatch (manufactured by Hyperion, average fiber diameter 10 nm, average aspect ratio 100) are mixed using a kneader and heated. A rubber sheet having a thickness of about 400 μm was prepared using a compression molding machine. This sheet was molded into an endless belt to produce an intermediate transfer member, and the image was evaluated using the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 7 and the same toner as in Example 1. I was able to get an image. The results are shown in Table 1.

  The film used in Example 1 was molded into an endless belt to produce a transfer material carrying member, and when the image was evaluated using the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5 and the same toner as in Example 1, A stable image without transfer unevenness could be obtained.

  Further, an endurance test for 20,000 sheets of images was performed with the multicolor electrophotographic copying apparatus. As a result, it was possible to obtain a stable image with no unevenness even after the endurance. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 1]
100 parts by weight of polycarbonate resin (product name “Iupilon S-1000” manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical) and conductive carbon black having a specific surface area of 800 m ² / g (trade name “Ketjen Black EC” manufactured by Ketjen Black International Co., Ltd.) A transfer material carrying member was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 5 parts by mass was used, and evaluated in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 2]
Example 1 except that 100 parts by mass of polyethylene terephthalate resin and 4.5 parts by mass of conductive carbon black having a specific surface area of 800 m ² / g (trade name “Ketjen Black EC” manufactured by Ketjen Black International Co., Ltd.) were used. In the same manner as described above, a transfer material carrying member was produced and evaluated in the same manner. The results are shown in Table 1.

[Comparative Example 3]
Instead of the film used in Example 9, the film of Comparative Example 1 was molded into an endless belt shape to produce a transfer material carrying member, and the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5 and the same toner as in Example 1 were used. And evaluated the images. The results are shown in Table 1.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the transfer drum using the transfer material holding member of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the transfer apparatus using the transfer material holding member of this invention. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus using a sheet-like transfer material carrying member of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus using a sheet-like transfer material carrying member of the present invention. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus using an endless belt-shaped transfer material carrying member of the present invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the other image forming apparatus using the transfer material holding member of an endless belt form of this invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus using an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of another image forming apparatus using an endless belt-shaped intermediate transfer member.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Transfer drum 11 Transfer material holding member 12, 13 Cylinder 14 Connection part 15 Transfer material gripper 21 Transfer charger 22, 24 Outer discharger 23 Outer discharger 31 Rotary developing device 32 Exposure means 33 Photosensitive drum 34 Primary charger 35a Cleaning device 35b Cleaning auxiliary means 36 Registration roller 37 Cleaning device 38 Conveying belt 39 Fixing device 40 Transfer material carrying members 41a to 41d Photosensitive drums 42a to 42d Primary chargers 43a to 43d Exposure means 44a to 44d Developer 45a to 45d, 45e to 45h Transfer chargers 46a to 46d, 47a to 47d Static dischargers 48a to 48d Photosensitive drum cleaning device 51 Photosensitive drum 52 Primary charging roller 53 Exposure means 54 Rotating developer 55a Primary transfer corona charger 55b Primary transcription Ra charger 56 cleaning the photosensitive drum unit 57 the intermediate transfer member 58 a secondary transfer charger

Claims (14)

In a transfer material carrying member to which a toner image formed on an image carrying body is transferred via a transfer material, the transfer material carrying member contains carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less and a binder polymer compound. A transfer material carrying member. The transfer material-carrying member according to claim 1, wherein the binder polymer compound is at least one selected from polycarbonate, polyarylate, polyester, polyimide, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyolefin, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetherimide, and polyetheretherketone. . The transfer material carrying member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an average aspect ratio (fiber length / fiber diameter) of carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less is 5 to 1000. The transfer material carrying member according to claim 1, wherein the carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less are cylindrical fibers having a multilayer structure. The transfer material carrying member according to claim 1, wherein the transfer material carrying member has a sheet shape. The transfer material carrying member according to claim 1, wherein the transfer material carrying member has an endless belt shape. An image forming apparatus comprising the image carrier and the transfer material carrying member according to claim 1. An intermediate transfer member to which a toner image formed on an image carrier is directly transferred, wherein the intermediate transfer member contains carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less and a binder polymer compound. . The intermediate transfer member according to claim 8, wherein the binder polymer compound is at least one selected from polycarbonate, polyarylate, polyester, polyimide, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyolefin, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetherimide, and polyetheretherketone. The intermediate transfer member according to claim 8 or 9, wherein an average aspect ratio (fiber length / fiber diameter) of carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less is 5 to 1000. The intermediate transfer member according to claim 8, wherein the carbon fibers having an average fiber diameter of 200 nm or less have a multilayer structure. The intermediate transfer member according to claim 8, wherein the shape of the transfer material carrying member is a sheet. The intermediate transfer member according to claim 8, wherein the shape of the transfer material carrying member is an endless belt shape. An image forming apparatus comprising an image carrier and the intermediate transfer member according to claim 8.

Images