Method of preparing toner and toner prepared using the method

Abstract

A method of preparing a toner, includes: preparing a high molecular weight latex particle by polymerizing a toner composition including a macromonomer having a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group and at least one reactive functional group, and at least one polymerizable monomer; forming a core particle by aggregating the high molecular weight latex particle; forming a shell layer by coating the core particle using a polymer having a higher glass transition temperature than a glass transition temperature of the core particle. Also, provided are a toner prepared using the method, an image forming method using the toner, and an image forming apparatus using the toner. Using the toner, an image can be fused at a low temperature. Also, durability of the toner is improved.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

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

Claims

1. A method of preparing a toner, comprising: preparing a high molecular weight latex particle by polymerizing a toner composition, the toner composition including a macromonomer having a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group and at least one reactive functional group, and at least one polymerizable monomer;forming a core particle by aggregating the high molecular weight latex particle; andforming a shell layer by coating the core particle with a polymer having a higher glass transition temperature than a glass transition temperature of the core particle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shell layer is formed by copolymerizing a polymerizable monomer and the macromonomer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the preparing of the high molecular weight latex particle comprises using at least one material selected from the group consisting of a colorant and a wax.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the core particle comprises using at least one material selected from the group consisting of a colorant and a wax.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the high molecular weight latex particle and the aggregating the high molecular latex weight particle are performed without an emulsifier.

6. 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.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the macromonomer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-methacrylate, PEG-ethyl ether methacrylate, PEG-dimethacrylate, PEG-modified urethane, PEG-modified polyester, polyacrylamide (PAM), PEG-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hexafunctional polyester acrylate, dendritic polyester acrylate, carboxy polyester acrylate, fatty acid modified epoxy acrylate, and polyester methacrylate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the macromonomer is in the range of about 1 to about 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the toner composition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymerizable monomer comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of a vinyl monomer, a polar monomer having a carboxyl group, a monomer having unsaturated polyester, and a monomer having a fatty acid group.

10. The method of claim 9, 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 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 nitrogen selected from the group consisting of 2-vinyl pyridine, 4-vinyl pyridine and N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the polymerizable monomer is in the range of about 3 to about 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the toner composition.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the preparing of the high molecular weight latex particle further comprises using at least one material selected from the group consisting of an initiator, a chain transfer agent, a charge control agent, and a release agent.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the colorant comprises one material selected from the group consisting of yellow, magenta, cyan, black pigments and mixtures thereof.

14. A toner comprising: a core formed by aggregating a high molecular weight latex particle prepared by polymerizing a toner composition comprising a macromonomer having a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group, and at least one reactive functional group, and at least one polymerizable monomer; anda shell layer formed on the surface of the core particle prepared using a polymer having higher glass transition temperature than a glass transition temperature of the core.

15. The toner of claim 14, wherein the preparing and aggregating of the high molecular weight latex particle are performed without an emulsifier.

16. The toner of claim 14, wherein the average volumetric particle size of the toner particles is in the range of about 0.5 to about 20 μm.

17. The toner of claim 14, wherein the macromonomer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-methacrylate, PEG-ethyl ether methacrylate, PEG-dimethacrylate, PEG-modified urethane, PEG-modified polyester, polyacrylamide (PAM), PEG-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hexafunctional polyester acrylate, dendritic polyester acrylate, carboxy polyester acrylate, fatty acid modified epoxy acrylate, and polyester methacrylate.

18. The toner of claim 14, wherein the toner composition further comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of an initiator, a chain transfer agent, a charge control agent, and a release agent.

19. An image forming method comprising: forming a visible image by disposing the toner of claim 14 on an photoreceptor surface where an electrostatic latent image is formed; andtransferring the visible image to a transfer medium.

20. An image forming apparatus comprising: an organic photoreceptor;an image forming unit to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the organic photoreceptor;a toner cartridge to contain the toner of claim 14;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 from the surface of the organic photoreceptor to a transfer medium.

21. A method of preparing a toner having a core-shell structure, the method comprising the steps of: polymerizing a toner composition to produce high molecular weight latex particles having a glass transition temperature, wherein the toner composition includes at least one polymerizable monomer and a first macromonomer having a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group, and at least one reactive functional group;aggregating the high molecular weight latex particles to form core particles; andforming a shell layer on the core particles by copolymerizing at least one polymerizable monomer and a second macromonomer in the presence of the core particles, wherein the copolymer of the shell layer has a glass transition temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the latex particles.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second macromonomer in the shell forming step has a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group, and at least one reactive group.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second macromonomers are the same or different.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the high molecular weight latex particle is formed and aggregating the high molecular latex weight particle are performed without an emulsifier.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the weight average molecular weight of the macromonomers is in the range of about 100 to about 100,000.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the first and second macromonomers are selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-methacrylate, PEG-ethyl ether methacrylate, PEG-dimethacrylate, PEG-modified urethane, PEG-modified polyester, polyacrylamide (PAM), PEG-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hexafunctional polyester acrylate, dendritic polyester acrylate, carboxy polyester acrylate, fatty acid modified epoxy acrylate, and polyester methacrylate.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the amount of the macromonomer is in the range of about 1 to about 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the toner composition.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the polymerizable monomer comprises at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of a vinyl monomer, a polar monomer having a carboxyl group, a monomer having unsaturated polyester, and a monomer having a fatty acid group.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the polymerizable monomer is 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 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 nitrogen selected from the group consisting of 2-vinyl pyridine, 4-vinyl pyridine and N-vinyl pyrrolidone.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the amount of the polymerizable monomer is in the range of about 3 to about 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the toner composition.

31. A method of preparing a toner having a core-shell structure, the method comprising the steps of: introducing a toner composition into a reactor and polymerizing the toner composition to produce high molecular weight latex particles having a glass transition temperature, wherein the toner composition includes at least one polymerizable monomer and a macromonomer having a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group, and at least one reactive group;aggregating the latex particles to form core particles; andintroducing a polymerizable monomer and macromonomer to the reactor and polymerizing to form a polymer shell layer on the core particles to form the toner, wherein the polymer shell has a glass transition temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the latex particles.