Electrophotographic photoreceptor, process cartridge, image forming apparatus and coating composition

Abstract

The invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive substrate having a photosensitive layer and a protective layer thereon, the protective layer comprising a crosslinked film having a phenolic structure, in which the relationship between a pH of the exfoliated protective layer extracted with distilled water (pHOCL) and a pH of said distilled water (pHw) satisfies the following formula (A):pHOCL−pHW≦0.5.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial sectional view showing a preferred embodiment of an electrophotographic photoreceptor of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial sectional view showing another preferred embodiment of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial sectional view showing another preferred embodiment of the electrophotographic photoreceptor of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing a process cartridge of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing a tandem type image forming apparatus of the invention; and

FIG. 6 (A) to FIG. 6 (C) are explanatory drawings showing criteria for a ghost evaluation.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive substrate having a photosensitive layer and a protective layer thereon, the protective layer comprising a crosslinked film having a phenolic structure, in which the relationship between the pH of the exfoliated protective layer extracted with distilled water (pHOCL) and the pH of said distilled water (pHw) satisfies the following Formula (A): pHOCL−pHw≦0.5   Formula (A).

2. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer comprises a film which is cured after a solution comprising a phenolic resin and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of the following Formulae (I) to (V) is applied on the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor: F—[(X1)nR1—CO2H]m   Formula (I)wherein in Formula (I), F represents an organic group derived from a compound having a hole transporting ability, R1 represents an alkylene group, m denotes an integral number of 1 to 4, X1 represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, and n denotes 0 or 1; F—[(X2)n1—(R2)n2—(Z2)n3G]n4   Formula (II)wherein in Formula (II), F represents an organic group derived from a compound having a hole transporting ability, X2 represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, R2 represents an alkylene group, Z2 represents an alkylene group, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, NH or COO, G represents an epoxy group, n1, n2 and n3 each independently denotes an integral number of 0 or 1, and n4 denotes an integral number of 1 to 4;

3. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the crosslinked film having the phenolic structure is formed by using a coating agent composition containing a phenol-based resin obtained by dissolving a crosslinking film precursor material having a phenolic structure in a solvent and bringing the material into contact with an acidic substance.

4. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the crosslinked film having the phenolic structure has a charge transporting property.

5. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 3, wherein the crosslinking film precursor material having a phenolic structure is a resol phenolic resin.

6. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 3, wherein the acidic substance is a solid acid.

7. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer contains a curing catalyst.

8. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer contains conductive particles.

9. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer contains a coupling agent.

10. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer contains a fluorine compound.

11. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer contains a resin that is soluble in an alcohol.

12. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer contains an antioxidant.

13. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer contains silicon-containing particles.

14. The electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1, wherein a subbing layer is provided between the conductive substrate and the photosensitive layer.

15. An electrophotographic process cartridge integrally comprising the electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1 and at least one selected from the group consisting of a charging device and an exposure device, the process cartridge being detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

16. An image forming apparatus comprising the electrophotographic photoreceptor according to claim 1 and a charging device for charging the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, an exposure device for forming an electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image, and a transfer device for transferring a developed image to an image receiving medium.

17. A coating agent composition which forms a crosslinked film having a phenolic structure by heating, the coating agent composition containing a phenolic resin obtained by dissolving a crosslinking film precursor material having a phenolic structure in a solvent, then bringing the material into contact with an acidic substance.

18. The coating agent composition according to claim 17, wherein the phenolic resin is a resol phenolic resin.

19. The coating agent composition according to claim 17, wherein the acidic substance is a solid acid.

20. The coating agent composition according to claim 17, wherein the crosslinked film having the phenolic structure has a charge transporting property.