Electrophotographic light-sensitive member

Abstract

Electrophotographic light-sensitive member having a protective coating on a photoconductive layer of the light-sensitive member, said protective coating consisting of an organic high polymer containing Lewis acid.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An electrophotographic light-sensitive member consists essentially of a photoconductive layer formed on an electroconductive support. The photoconductive layer consists of, for example, amorphous selenium or zinc oxide-resin coatings, and the electroconductive support consists of, for example, a metal plate or a metal-coated resin film.

In one of the electrophotographic processes, the following steps (1) to (5) are usually involved:

(1) Sensitizing the photoconductive layer by a corona discharge.

(2) Exposing the photoconductive layer to form an electrostatic latent image.

(3) Developing the latent image with charged fine particles, i.e. toners.

(4) Transferring the developed image to other material such as paper, and

(5) Fixing the image to the paper by fusing or by virtue of the self-fixing quality of the toner.

In the electrophotographic process, some of the toner usually remains on the photoconductive layer after the transferring of the developed toner image. The remaining toner should be removed to carry out the next process. The removal of the remaining toner, i.e. the cleaning of the photoconductive layer, is performed by "brushing". The photoconductive layer receives scratches on the surface by the developing, transferring and cleaning steps. The scratches increase by repeating the process. These scratches have a bad effect on the formation of the toner image, and therefore a vivid copy cannot be obtained.

In order to obviate the defects as stated above, there has been proposed the formation of a protective coating on a photoconductive layer. As material of the protective coating, the following high polymers are conventionally employed: polystyrene, poly-n-butyl methacrylate, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyvinylformal, polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl butyral, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose and acetylcellulose.

In order to protect the photoconductive layer and increase the durability of the light-sensitive member, a thick protective coating is required. However, the thick protective coating gives low resolution. The resolution is expressed as the number of lines per millimeter (lines/mm). Amorphous selenium can give a resolution of 7 to 9 lines/mm. However, amorphous selenium having a protective coating of the organic high polymer as shown above gives various resolutions dependent on the thickness of the coating as follows:

______________________________________Thickness of protective coating Resolution______________________________________0.52.mu. 5-8 lines/mm1.mu. 4-6 lines/mm2.mu. 3-5 lines/mm______________________________________

It is understood that the resolution depends on the kind of organic high polymer employed. As can be seen in the above, high resolution usually can be obtained if the protective coating is less than 0.5.mu. in thickness. When such a thin protective coating is used, however, high durability cannot be obtained, namely, the number of the printed copies which can be obtained is less than twenty thousand.

It is an object of the present invention to provide electrophotographic light-sensitive members which have high durability and resolution.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic light-sensitive member having a protective coating on a photoconductive layer, said protective coating comprising an organic high polymer and Lewis acid.

The electrophotographic light-sensitive members have a protective coating of from 0.5.mu. to 15.mu. in thickness, and have high resolution such as more than 5 lines/mm and high durability which can give about thirty thousand copies of the printed matter.

Preferred Lewis acids used in the protective coating are as follows:

2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone, dicyanomethylene, tetracyanoethylene, 2,6-dinitro-p-benzoquinone, tetracyano-p-benzoquinone, tetracyano-p-quinodimethane, 2,3-dicyano-p-benzoquinone, o-bromanil, o-chloranil, p-bromanil, p-chloranil, p-iodanil, trichloro-p-benzoquinone, 2,6-dichloro-p-benzoquinone, 2,5-dichloro-p-benzoquinone, 2,3-dichloro-p-benzoquinone, 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone, chloro-p-benzoquinone, 1,2-dicarboxy-1,2-dicyanoethylene, pyromellitic anhydride, p-benzoquinone, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, maleic anhydride, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene, m-dinitrobenzene, 1,3,5-tricyanobenzene, 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid, 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid, 4,4'-bis(dimethyl-amino)benzophenone, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, picric acid, 4-nitro benzaldehyde, 2-acetylnaphthalene, phthalic acid and a mixture thereof.

By mixing Lewis acid as shown above in the protective coating of organic high polymer, only resolution of the photoconductive layer can be improved, or both resolution and light decay property of the photoconductive layer can be improved.

Lewis acids are preferably contained in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight in the organic high polymer. The amount of the Lewis acids depends on the kind of the organic high polymer used. If an amount of less than 0.1% by weight is employed, improvement of the resolution cannot be detected, and if an amount of more than 20% by weight is employed, the desired durability of the protective coating cannot be obtained because the mechanical property of the protective coating deteriorates.

The following organic high polymers are used as a material of the protective coating:

polyamide, polyester, polyurethane and other organic high polymers which can form a coating, for example polystyrene, poly-n-butylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinylformal, polyvinylacetal, polyvinylbutyral, ethylcellulose, nitrocellulose and acetylcellulose.

Thickness of the protective coating is in the range of 0.5 to 15.mu.. If the thickness is less than 0.5.mu., satisfactory durability cannot be obtained. On the contrary, if the thickness is more than 15.mu., resolution of the toner image decreases and contamination of the copy increases.

As a material of the electroconductive support, metals such as aluminium, zinc, brass, copper, tin and nickel, and other electroconductive substance such as polyvinyl alcohol can be used. Metal-coated paper or plastic film may be used as the electroconductive support.

The protective coating of the present invention can be applied to the photoconductive layer as shown below:

(1) a photoconductive layer consisting essentially of amorphous selenium, (2) a photoconductive layer consisting essentially of a mixture of a photoconductive substance such as zinc oxide, titanium oxide, zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide and copper phthlocyanine, and a binding agent such as silicone resin, acrylic resin, alkyd resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer, and (3) a photoconductive layer consisting essentially of an organic photoconductive substance such as N-vinylcarbazole, oxazole, triazole, imidazol, pyrazoline and derivatives thereof and polymers thereof.

The photoconductive layer as shown above may be a single layer or a multiple layer of more than two layers. A barrier layer may intervene between the photoconductive layer and the electroconductive layer, said barrier layer condisting essentially of a thin layer of aluminium oxide or a synthetic resin.

In the protective coating of the present invention, other additives such as pigment, dye and hardener may be contained.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following examples are given by way of illustration only:

EXAMPLE 1

A barrier layer of polyamide of 0.1.mu. in thickness was formed on an aluninium support of 0.2 mm in thickness, and then selenium was vacuum evaporated on the barrier layer to form a photoconductive layer of 50.mu. in thickness. A solution of 10 g of cellulose propionate (sold by Eastman Kodak under the trademark of HSP) and 0.6 g of 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid (Lewis acid) dissolved in a mixture of 60 g of butyl acetate and 20 g of ethyl acetate was coated on the photoconductive layer by dipping and dried with warm air of 40.degree. C. for one hour to form a protective coating of 2.mu. in thickness on the photoconductive layer. In this way, an electrophotographic light-sensitive member (No. 1) having the protective coating of the present invention was obtained.

A control electrophotographic light-sensitive member (No. 2) was obtained by repeating the same procedure as that described above except that a protective coating was formed in thickness of 2.mu. by using cellulose propionate only.

Electrostatic properties and resolution of two electrophotographic light-sensitive members (No. 1 and No. 2) were measured in an atmosphere of 20.degree..+-.5.degree. C. and 50.+-.10% RH (relative humidity), and Vs, Vo, E.sub.1/10, Vp.sub.30 and resolution were obtained as follows:

______________________________________ Paper Analyser SP 428 soldTesting machine by Kawaguchi Denki K.K.______________________________________Voltage of corona discharge +6kV or -6kVCurrent of corona discharge 10.mu.AVs : Acceptance potential (V) of Potential after coronaphotoconductive layer discharge for 20 secondsVo : Surface potential (V) of Potential after standingphotoconductive layer in dark for 20 seconds after discontinuance of corona dischargeE.sub.1/10 : Amount of exposure Exposure in illuminance of(lux-sec) 10/7 lux required to reduce the surface potential to one tenth of its original value (Vo)V.sub.p30 : Surface potential (V) Potential after exposure in illuminance of 10/7 lux for 30 secondsResolution : (lines/mm) The resolution test was effected by using "Image Testing Machine".______________________________________

The results obtained are shown in the following Table-1:

Table 1______________________________________Light-sensitive Vs Vo E.sub.1/10 V.sub.p30 Resolutionmember (V) (V) (lux . sec) (V) (lines/mm)______________________________________No. 1 1180 870 12.6 28 7No. 2 1170 860 12.5 27 4______________________________________

As can be seen from the results, light-sensitive members (No. 1 and No. 2) are similar in the electrostatic properties, but the light-sensitive material (No. 1) of the present invention is superior to their control light-sensitive member (No. 2) in the resolution.

EXAMPLE 2

Selenium was vacuum evaporated on an aluminium support of 0.2 mm in thickness to form a first photoconductive layer of 1.5.mu. in thickness and then a 10% chlorobenzene solution of brominated poly-N-vinylcarbazole was coated on the first photoconductive layer and dried to form a second photoconductive layer of 10.mu. in thickness. A solution of 10 g of nitrocellulose (sold by Daicel Ltd. under the trademark SS1/2) and 0.4 g of p-bromanil (Lewis acid) dissolved in a mixture of 50 g of methyl alcohol and 50 g of ethyl alcohol was coated on the second photoconductive layer by dipping and dried with warm air of 40.degree. C. for 10 minutes to form a protective coating of 3.mu. in thickness on the photoconductive layer. In this way, an electrophotographic light-sensitive member (No. 3) of the present invention was obtained.

A control electrophotographic light-sensitive member (No. 4) was obtained by repeating the same procedure as that described above except that a protective coating was formed in thickness of 3.mu. by using nitrocellulose only.

Electrostatic properties and resolution of two light-sensitive members (No. 3 and No. 4) were measured in the same manner as that of Example 1 except that voltage of -6 kV was applied in corona discharge and toners having a positive polarity was used.

The results obtained are shown in the following Table-2:

Table 2______________________________________Light-sensitive Vs Vo E1/10 V.sub.p30 Resolutionmember (V) (V) (lux . sec) (V) (lines/mm)______________________________________No. 3 -1650 -1350 12.5 16 8No. 4 -1660 -1360 12.5 16 4______________________________________

As can be seen from the results, light-sensitive members (No. 3 and No. 4) are similar in the electrostatic properties, but the light-sensitive member (No. 3) of the present invention is superior to the control light-sensitive member (No. 4) in the resolution.

EXAMPLE 3

100 g of fine powder of photoconductive copper phothalocyanine was added in a solution of 150 g of epoxy resin (sold by Shell Oil Co. under the trademark of Epikote) in 600 g of methyl ethyl ketone, and the mixture was dispersed in a ball mill for 4 hours, and then to the dispersion was added 15 g of diethyltetramine (amine hardener) and the mixture was dispersed for three minutes to obtain a dispersion containing the photoconductive substance. This dispersion was coated on an aluminium support of 0.2 mm in thickness and dried with heated air of 150.degree. C. for 20 minutes to form a photoconductive layer of 20.mu. in thickness on the support and the coated member was allowed to stand at room temperatures for one week to harden the photoconductive layer. A solution of 1 g of tetracyano-p-quinodimethane (Lewis acid) in 100 g of tetrahydrofuran was added to 100 g of 55% solution of mineral spirit (sold by Mitsuitoatsu Chemicals, Inc. under the trademark of Olestar F-77- 55MS) of oil modified polyurethane resin, and further to the mixture was added 80 g of mineral spirit. The mixture thus obtained was coated on the hardened photoconductive layer by dipping and dried with warm air of 100.degree. C. for one minute to form a protective coating of 3.mu. in thickness on the photoconductive layer. In this way, an electrophotographic light-sensitive member (No. 5) of the present invention was obtained.

A control electrophotographic light-sensitive member (No. 6) was obtained by repeating the same procedure as that described above except that a protective coating was formed in thickness of 3.mu. by using oil modified polyurethane resin only.

Electrostatic properties and resolution of two light-sensitive members (No. 5 and No. 6) were measured in the same manner as that of Example 1.

The results obtained are shown in the following Table-3:

Table 3______________________________________Light-sensitive Vs Vo E.sub.1/10 V.sub.p30 Resolutionmember (V) (V) (lux . sec) (V) (lines/mm)______________________________________No. 5 820 430 28 22 7No. 6 830 450 36 75 3______________________________________

As can be seen from the results, the electrophotographic light-sensitive member (No. 5) of the present invention is superior to the control light sensitive member (No. 6) in the electrostatic properties (E.sub.1/10 and Vp.sub.30) and in the resolution.

EXAMPLE 4

Selenium was vacuum evaporated on an aluminium cylinder having surface length of 285 mm and external diameter of 120 mm to form a first photoconductive layer of 50.mu. in thickness and then selenium (93%)-tellurium (7%) alloy was vacuum evaporated on the first photoconductive layer to form a second photoconductive layer of 5.mu. in thickness. 100 g of ethyl cellulose (sold by Hercules Powder Co. under the trademark K-50) was dissolved in a mixture of 200 g of ethyl acetate and 600 g of n-butyl alcohol and to this solution was added a solution of 5 g of 2,6-dinitro-p-benzoquinone (Lewis acid) in 100 g of ethyl alcohol. This mixture was coated on the photoconductive layer by an electrostatic coating method and dried at a temperature of 40.degree. C. for 30 minutes to form a protective coating of 5.mu. in thickness on the photoconductive layer. In this way, an electrophotographic light-sensitive member (No. 7) of the present invention was obtained.

Three control electrophotographic light-sensitive members (No. 8, No. 9 and No. 10) were obtained by repeating the same procedure as that described above except that a protective coating was formed in thickness of 0.5.mu., 1.mu. and 5.mu., respectively, by using ethyl cellulose only.

Resolution and durability of four light-sensitive members Nos. 7, 8, 9 and 10 were measured using PPC Copying Machine DT-1200 (sold by K. K. Ricoh). The results obtained are shown in the following Table-4:

Table 4______________________________________ DurabilityLight-sensitive Thickness of Resolution (the number ofmember protective coating (lines/mm) printed matter)______________________________________No. 7 5.mu. 7 30,000No. 8 0.5.mu. 8 500No. 9 1.mu. 5 2,000No. 10 5.mu. 3 30,000______________________________________

As can be seen from the results, Light-sensitive member No. 8 shows resolution of 8 lines/mm. This resolution is similar to the resolution in the light-sensitive member not having a protective coating. However, this member (No. 8) has low durability. Light-sensitive member No. 9 shows low resolution and durability. Light-sensitive member No. 10 shows high durability, but very low resolution. On the contrary, Light-sensitive member No. 7 of the present invention has high resolution and durability.

Claims

1. In an electrophotographic light-sensitive plate, comprising an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer overlaying said support, the improvement which comprises: said photoconductive layer is overcoated with an outermost protective coating layer having a thickness of from 0.5 microns to 15 microns, said coating layer consisting essentially of at least one organic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, polystyrene, poly-N-butylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyvinylformal, polyvinylacetal, polyvinylbutyral, ethyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, cellulose propionate and acetylcellulose, said organic polymer containing from 0.1 to 20 percent by weight of Lewis acid mixed therein, said coating layer being effective to protect the photoconductive layer from abrasion and to provide high resolution on development of electrostatic latent images thereon.

2. An electrophotographic light-sensitive plate according to claim 1 wherein said Lewis acid is at least one member selected from the group consisting of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone, dicyanomethylene, tetracyanoethylene, 2,6-dinitro-p-benzoquinone, tetracyano-p-benzoquinone, tetracyano-p-quinodimethane, 2,3-dicyano-p-benzoquinone, o-bromanil, o-chloranil, p-bromanil, p-chloranil, p-iodanil, trichloro-p-benzoquinone, 2,6-dichloro-p-benzoquinone, 2,5-dichloro-p-benzoquinone, 2,3-dichloro-p-benzoquinone, 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone, chloro-p-benzoquinone, 1,2-dicarboxy-1,2-dicyanoethylene, pyromellitic anhydride, p-benzoquinone, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, maleic anhydride, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene, m-dinitrobenzene, 1,3,5-tricyanobenzene, 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid, 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid, 4,4'-bis(dimethyl-amino)benzophenone, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, picric acid, 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-acetylnaphthalene, phthalic acid and a mixture thereof.

3. An electrophotographic light-sensitive plate according to claim 2 in which the photoconductive layer is made of a material selected from the group consisting of (1) amorphous selenium, (2) a mixture of a photoconductive substance selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, titanium oxide, zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide and copper phthalocyanine, and a binder selected from the group consisting of silicone resin, acrylic resin, alkyd resin and styrene-butadiene copolymer, and (3) an organic photoconductive selected from the group consisting of N-vinyl carbazole, oxazole, triazole, imidazole, pyrazoline and polymers thereof.

4. An electrophotographic light-sensitive plate according to claim 1 in which said organic polymer is cellulose propionate and said Lewis acid is 2,4-dinitrobenzoic acid.

5. An electrophotographic light-sensitive plate according to claim 1 in which said organic polymer is nitrocellulose and said Lewis acid is p-bromanil.

6. An electrophotographic light-sensitive plate according to claim 1 in which said organic polymer is oil modified polyurethane and said Lewis acid is tetracyano-p-quinodimethane.

7. An electrophotographic light-sensitive plate according to claim 1 in which said organic polymer is ethyl cellulose and said Lewis acid is 2,6-dinitro-p-benzoquinone.