Process cartridge and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus forming an image on a recording material, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• an image bearing member;
• a charging member that is in contact with the image bearing member and charges a surface of the image bearing member;
• exposure unit for exposing the image bearing member, which is charged by the charging member, so as to form an electrostatic image on the surface of the image bearing member;
• developing unit for developing the electrostatic image into a developer image;
• and
• transfer member for transferring the developer image from the image bearing member to a transfer receiving member,
• wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to recover, by the developing unit, developer remaining on the image bearing member after transfer of the developer image to the transfer receiving member,
• wherein the charging member has a shaft that is conductive, and an elastic layer supported by the shaft and being in contact with the image bearing member,
• wherein the elastic layer has a matrix containing a first rubber, and a plurality of domains containing a second rubber and an electron-conductive agent and being interspersed in the matrix,
• wherein an electric resistance of the domains is lower than an electric resistance of the matrix,
• wherein the matrix is exposed on an outer surface of the elastic layer and forms a plurality of depressed portions, and
• wherein the plurality of domains include a domain exposed at a bottom section of the depressed portion.