Method of preparing toner and toner prepared using the method

Abstract
A method of preparing a toner is provided, including: preparing a core by mixing a polyester resin and a colorant with a macromonomer including a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group, and one or more reactive functional groups, and a nonionic reactive emulsifier; and preparing a shell by polymerizing the exterior surface of the core using one or more polymerizable monomers and an initiator, wherein the macromonomer and the nonionic reactive emulsifier participate in the polymerization. A toner is prepared using the method. An image forming method and an image forming apparatus are provided that use the toner. Using the method, the image forming apparatus can print high quality images at high speed at a low temperature since the core of toner has superior fixability at a low temperature and superior image properties and the shell of toner has superior durability and superior charging properties. Also, using the nonionic reactive emulsifier, stable toner particles having desired sizes are prepared.
Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawing in which:



FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus employing a toner prepared using a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.


Claims
  • 1. A method of preparing a toner, comprising: preparing a core by mixing a polyester resin and a colorant with a macromonomer including a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group, and one or more reactive functional groups, and a nonionic reactive emulsifier; andpreparing a shell by polymerizing an exterior surface of the core using one or more polymerizable monomers and an initiator, wherein the macromonomer and the nonionic reactive emulsifier participate in the polymerization to form the shell.
  • 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight average molecular weight of the polyester resin is in the range of about 5,000 to about 120,000.
  • 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the polyester resin is in the range of about 1,000 to about 10,000 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the colorant.
  • 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight average molecular weight of the macromonomer is in the range of about 100 to about 100,000.
  • 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the macromonomer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol methacrylate, polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol modified urethane, polyethylene glycol modified polyester, polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hexafunctional polyester acrylate, dendritic polyester acrylate, carboxy polyester acrylate, fatty acid modified epoxy acrylate and polyester methacrylate.
  • 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the nonionic reactive emulsifier is formed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of alkyl polyethoxy acrylate, alkyl polyethoxy methacrylate, aryl polyethoxy acrylate, and aryl polyethoxy methacrylate.
  • 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymerizable monomer comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a styrene-based monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, vinyltoluene, and α-methylstyrene; acrylic acid; methacrylic acid; a (meth)acrylic acid derivative selected from the group consisting of methylacrylate, ethylacrylate, propylacrylate, butylacrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, dimethylaminoethylacrylate, methylmethacrylate, ethylmethacrylate, propylmethacrylate, butylmethacrylate, 2-ethylhexylmethacrylate, and dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate; a (meth)acrylic acid derivative of an amide selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide and methacrylamide; an ethylenically unsaturated monoolefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene and butylene; a halogenated vinyl selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and vinyl fluoride; a vinyl ester selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate and vinyl propionate; a vinyl ether selected from the group consisting of vinyl methyl ether and vinyl ethyl ether; a vinyl ketone selected from the group consisting of vinyl methyl ketone and methyl isopropenyl ketone; and a vinyl compound having a nitrogen atom selected from the group consisting of 2-vinyl pyridine, 4-vinyl pyridine and N-vinyl pyrrolidone.
  • 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymerizable monomer is formed of a styrene-based monomer including styrene, vinyltoluene, and α-methylstyrene.
  • 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the colorant comprises a material selected from the group consisting of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black pigments.
  • 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding one or more materials selected from the group consisting of wax, a chain transfer agent, a charge control agent and a release agent.
  • 11. A toner obtained by preparing a core by mixing a polyester resin and a colorant with a macromonomer including a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group, and one or more reactive functional groups, and a nonionic reactive emulsifier; and forming a shell by polymerizing an exterior surface of the core using one or more polymerizable monomers and an initiator, wherein the macromonomer and the nonionic reactive emulsifier participate in the polymerization to form the shell.
  • 12. The toner of claim 11, wherein the average volumetric particle size of toner particles is in the range of about 0.5 to about 20 μm.
  • 13. The toner of claim 11, wherein the polyester resin comprises a polyester moiety and two or more reactive groups selected from the group consisting of a vinyl group, an acrylate group and a methacrylate group.
  • 14. The toner of claim 11, wherein the nonionic reactive emulsifier is formed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of alkyl polyethoxy acrylate, alkyl polyethoxy methacrylate, aryl polyethoxy acrylate, and aryl polyethoxy methacrylate.
  • 15. The toner of claim 11, wherein the weight average molecular weight of the macromonomer is in the range of about 100 to about 100,000.
  • 16. The toner of claim 11, wherein the macromonomer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol methacrylate, polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol modified urethane, polyethylene glycol modified polyester, polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hexafunctional polyester acrylate, dendritic polyester acrylate, carboxy polyester acrylate, fatty acid modified epoxy acrylate and polyester methacrylate.
  • 17. The toner of claim 11 further comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of wax, a charge control agent, and a release agent.
  • 18. An image forming method comprising: forming a visible image by disposing the toner of claim 11 on an photoreceptor surface having an electrostatic latent image; andtransferring the visible image to a transfer medium.
  • 19. An image forming apparatus comprising: an organic photoreceptor;an image forming unit to form a electrostatic latent image on a surface of the organic photoreceptor;a toner cartridge to contain the toner of claim 11;a toner supplying unit to supply the toner to the surface of the organic photoreceptor to develop the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the organic photoreceptor into a toner image; anda toner transferring unit to transfer the toner image on the surface of the organic photoreceptor to a transfer medium.
  • 20. A method of preparing a toner, comprising: combining a polyester resin and a colorant to form a first mixture;combining said first mixture with a second mixture of a macromonomer and a nonionic reactive emulsifier to form a dispersion of core particles;adding at least one polymerizable monomer and a polymerization initiator to said dispersion and polymerizing said monomer to form a shell and toner particles, wherein said macromonomer and nonionic reactive emulsifier participate in the polymerization reaction to form the shell.
  • 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said polyester resin and colorant are mixed in an organic solvent; and said macromonomer and nonionic reactive emulsifier are mixed in water, said method comprising:removing said organic solvent before adding said polymerizable monomer and polymerization initiator.
  • 22. The method of claim 20, wherein said macromonomer has a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group and at least one reactive functional group.
  • 23. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least one polymerizable monomer is added in a dropwise manner.
  • 24. The method of claim 20, wherein the polyester resin has a weight average molecular weight in the range of about 5,000 to about 120,000.
  • 25. The method of claim 20, wherein the polyester resin is added in an amount of in the range of about 1,000 to about 10,000 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the colorant.
  • 26. The method of claim 20, wherein the macromonomer has a weight average molecular weight in the range of about 100 to about 100,000.
  • 27. The method of claim 20, wherein the macromonomer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol methacrylate, polyethylene glycol ethyl ether methacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol modified urethane, polyethylene glycol modified polyester, polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hexafunctional polyester acrylate, dendritic polyester acrylate, carboxy polyester acrylate, fatty acid modified epoxy acrylate and polyester methacrylate.
  • 28. The method of claim 20, wherein the nonionic reactive emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of alkyl polyethoxy acrylate, alkyl polyethoxy methacrylate, aryl polyethoxy acrylate, aryl polyethoxy methacrylate, and mixtures thereof.
  • 29. The method of claim 20, wherein the polymerizable monomer is selected from the group consisting of a styrene-based monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, vinyltoluene, and α-methylstyrene; acrylic acid; methacrylic acid; a (meth)acrylic acid derivative selected from the group consisting of methylacrylate, ethylacrylate, propylacrylate, butylacrylate, 2-ethylhexylacrylate, dimethylaminoethylacrylate, methylmethacrylate, ethylmethacrylate, propylmethacrylate, butylmethacrylate, 2-ethylhexylmethacrylate, and dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate; a (meth)acrylic acid derivative of an amide selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide and methacrylamide; an ethylenically unsaturated monoolefin selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene and butylene; a halogenated vinyl selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and vinyl fluoride; a vinyl ester selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate and vinyl propionate; a vinyl ether selected from the group consisting of vinyl methyl ether and vinyl ethyl ether; a vinyl ketone selected from the group consisting of vinyl methyl ketone and methyl isopropenyl ketone; and a vinyl compound having a nitrogen atom selected from the group consisting of 2-vinyl pyridine, 4-vinyl pyridine, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, and mixtures thereof.
  • 30. The method of claim 20, wherein the polymerizable monomer a styrene-based monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, vinyltoluene, α-methylstyrene, and mixtures thereof.
  • 31. The method of claim 20, further comprising adding one or more materials selected from the group consisting of wax, a chain transfer agent, a charge control agent and a release agent.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
10-2005-0133155 Dec 2005 KR national