Toner for electrophotography and developer for electrophotography using the same, process cartridge, apparatus for forming image, and method for forming image

A developer for electrophotography, comprising a toner for electrophotography which comprises:

• a binder resin;
• and
• a wax component,
• characterized in that the wax component contains at least any of:
• a first wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 60 to 90° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of 1.5 or less, and substantially not containing a component having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 500 or less;
• a second wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 100 to 150° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of more than 5 and 20 or less;
• and
• a third wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 150 to 170° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of 1.1 or more.

A process cartridge, comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image carrier;
• and
• means for developing an electrostatic latent image carried on the electrostatic latent image carrier using a toner for electrophotography, and forming a visible image,
• characterized in that the toner for electrophotography comprises:
• a binder resin;
• and
• a wax component,
• and that the wax component contains at least any of:
• a first wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 60 to 90° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of 1.5 or less, and substantially not containing a component having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 500 or less;
• a second wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 100 to 150° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of more than 5 and 20 or less;
• and
• a third wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 150 to 170° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn) of 1.1 or more.

An apparatus for forming an image comprising:

• an electrostatic latent image carrier;
• means for forming an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image carrier;
• means for developing the electrostatic latent image using a toner for electrophotography, and forming a visible image;
• means for transferring the visible image on a recording medium;
• and
• means for flash fixing a transfer image formed by the visible image transferred on the recording medium,
• characterized in that the toner for electrophotography comprises:
• a binder resin;
• and
• a wax component,
• and that the wax component contains at least any of:
• a first wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 60 to 90° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of 1.5 or less, and substantially not containing a component having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 500 or less;
• a second wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 100 to 150° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of more than 5 and 20 or less;
• and
• a third wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 150 to 170° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of 1.1 or more.

A method for forming an image, comprising:

• a step for forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier;
• a step for developing the electrostatic latent image using a toner for electrophotography, and forming a visible image;
• a step for transferring the visible image on a recording medium;
• and
• a step for flash fixing a transfer image formed by the visible image transferred on the recording medium,
• characterized in that the toner for electrophotography comprises:
• a binder resin;
• and
• a wax component,
• and that the wax component contains at least any of:
• a first wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 60 to 90° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of 1.5 or less, and substantially not containing a component having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 500 or less;
• a second wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 100 to 150° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of more than 5 and 20 or less;
• and
• a third wax having an endothermic peak in a temperature region of 150 to 170° C., the endothermic peak occurring in the temperature-rising stage of a DSC curve determined by a differential scanning calorimeter, and having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn)) of 1.1 or more.