Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, electrophotographic apparatus, and method of manufacturing electrophotographic photosensitive member

A process cartridge, comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• at least one unit selected from the group consisting of a charging unit, a developing unit and a cleaning unit;
• the process cartridge integrally supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the at least one unit, and being removably mounted onto a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus;
• and
• the electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support having a cylindrical shape having a surface formed of Al and/or an Al alloy, with an undercoat a layer formed on the support, the undercoat layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a polyvinyl butyral resin and a monomer having a blocked isocyanate group, and the cured film containing surface-treated zinc oxide particles;
• a charge-generating layer on the undercoat layer, the charge-generating layer containing a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal;
• a charge-transporting layer on the charge-generating layer, the charge-transporting layer containing a charge-transporting substance and a polycarbonate resin;
• and
• a protective layer on the charge-transporting layer, the protective layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a monomer having a polymerizable acrylic functional group or a polymerizable methacrylic functional group, wherein
• A≥0.75 in an IR peak area ratio of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy when A represents a ratio a/z of a peak area “a” in a range of 1,016-1,130 cm−1 to a peak area “z” in a range of 650-1,130 cm−1.

An electrophotographic apparatus, comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a charging unit;
• an exposing unit;
• a developing unit;
• and
• a transferring unit;
• the electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support having a cylindrical shape having a surface formed of Al and/or an Al alloy, with an undercoat layer formed on the support, the undercoat layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a polyvinyl butyral resin and a monomer having a blocked isocyanate group, and the cured film containing surface-treated zinc oxide particles;
• a charge-generating layer on the undercoat layer, the charge-generating layer containing a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal;
• a charge-transporting layer on the charge-generating layer, the charge-transporting layer containing a charge-transporting substance and a polycarbonate resin;
• and
• a protective layer on the charge-transporting layer, the protective layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a monomer having a polymerizable acrylic functional group or a polymerizable methacrylic functional group, wherein
• A≥0.75 in an IR peak area ratio of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy when A represents a ratio a/z of a peak area “a” in a range of 1,016-1,130 cm−1 to a peak area “z” in a range of 650-1,130 cm−1.

A method of manufacturing an

• electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support having a cylindrical shape an undercoat layer formed on the support, the undercoat layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a polyvinyl butyral resin and a monomer having a blocked isocyanate group, and the cured film containing surface-treated zinc oxide particles;
• a charge-generating layer on the undercoat layer, the charge-generating layer containing a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal;
• a charge-transporting layer on the charge-generating layer, the charge-transporting layer containing a charge-transporting substance and a polycarbonate resin;
• and
• a protective layer on the charge-transporting layer, the protective layer being a cured film formed by polymerizing a composition containing a monomer having a polymerizable acrylic functional group or a polymerizable methacrylic functional group, comprising the steps of:
• forming the support by immersing a cylindrical body formed of Al and/or an Al alloy in pure water, the pure water having a temperature of 91 to 98° C., and the cylindrical body being immersed in the pure water for a time period of 60 to 300 seconds, wherein
• A≥0.75 in an IR peak area ratio of the surface of the support determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy when A represents a ratio a/z of a peak area “a” in a range of 1,016-1,130 cm−1 to a peak area “z” in a range of 650-1,130 cm−1.