Fixing member, method for producing the same, fixing apparatus, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus

A method for producing a fixing member having an endless belt shape or a roller shape, wherein

• the fixing member comprises a base layer and a surface layer, wherein
• the surface layer contains a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, and has a pore communicating with an opening of an outer surface thereof, perfluoropolyether is contained in at least a part of the pore;
• and
• when an average value of loss elastic moduli E″ of the surface layer in a direction orthogonal to a circumferential direction of the fixing member measured at a frequency of 10 Hz at a temperature of 100° C. to 150° C. is defined as E″(1), and
• the average value of loss elastic moduli E″ of the surface layer in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the fixing member measured at the frequency of 10 Hz at a temperature of 100° C. to 150° C. after removal of the perfluoropolyether contained in the pores is defined as E″(2),
• E″(1)/E″(2) is 0.60 or larger and smaller than 1.00,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• (I):
• providing a layered product having the base layer and a resin layer containing the tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA),
• (II):
• bringing a first perfluoropolyether that has been heated to a temperature in the vicinity of a melting point of the PFA into contact with a first surface constituting an outer surface of the resin layer to impregnate the resin layer with the first perfluoropolyether,
• (III):
• cooling to room temperature the layered product obtained in the step (II) in which the resin layer is impregnated with the first perfluoropolyether,
• (IV):
• removing, from the first surface side of the resin layer, at least a part of the first perfluoropolyether impregnated in the resin layer using a fluorine-based solvent to thereby form a pore opened on the first surface of the resin layer, in the resin layer, and
• (V):
• allowing at least a part of the pore to contain a mixture containing a second perfluoropolyether and a mixture for forming a fluoropolymer, and curing the mixture for forming the fluoropolymer.

A fixing apparatus comprising:

• a fixing member;
• and
• a heating unit for heating the fixing member, wherein
• the fixing member comprises a base layer and a surface layer, wherein
• the surface layer contains a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, has a pore communicating with an opening of an outer surface thereof, and
• perfluoropolyether is contained in at least a part of the pore;
• and
• when an average value of loss elastic moduli E″ of the surface layer in a direction orthogonal to a circumferential direction of the fixing member measured at a frequency of 10 Hz at a temperature of 100° C. to 150° C. is defined as E″(1), and
• the average value of loss elastic moduli E″ of the surface layer in the direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the fixing member measured at the frequency of 10 Hz at a temperature of 100° C. to 150° C. after removal of the perfluoropolyether contained in the pores is defined as E″(2),
• E″(1)/E″(2) is 0.60 or larger and smaller than 1.00.