Electrophotographic photoconductor, image forming method and apparatus, and process cartridge using the photoconductor, and long-chain alkyl group containing bisphenol compound and polymer made therefrom

An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising:

• an electroconductive support,
• a photoconductive layer formed thereon, and
• a protective layer which is formed on said photoconductive layer and comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, and a polycarbonate resin, each of said resins comprising at least a structural unit represented by formula (1):
• 40
• wherein R1 and R2 are each a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkyl group represented by —(CH2)mCH3;
• a and b are each an integer of 0 to 4, and when a and b are each an integer of 2 to 4, a plurality of groups represented by R1 or R2 may be the same or different;
• and n and m are each an integer of 8 to 27.

An electrophotographic image forming method comprising the steps of:

• charging a surface of an electrophotographic photoconductor,
• exposing said charged photoconductor to a light image to form a latent electrostatic image on said photoconductor,
• developing said latent electrostatic image to a visible image, and
• transferring said visible image formed on said photoconductor to an image receiving member, wherein said electrophotographic photoconductor comprises an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer which is formed on said electroconductive support and comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, and a polycarbonate resin, each of said resins comprising at least a structural unit represented by formula (1):
• 41
• wherein R1 and R2 are each a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkyl group represented by —(CH2)mCH3;
• a and b are each an integer of 0 to 4, and when a and b are each an integer of 2 to 4, a plurality of groups represented by R1 or R2 may be the same or different;
• and n and m are each an integer of 8 to 27.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photoconductor,
• means for charging a surface of said photoconductor,
• means for exposing said photoconductor to a light image to form a latent electrostatic image on said photoconductor,
• means for developing said latent electrostatic image to a visible image, and
• means for transferring said visible image formed on said photoconductor to an image receiving member,
• wherein said electrophotographic photoconductor comprises an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer which is formed on said electroconductive support and comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, and a polycarbonate resin, each of said resins comprising at least a structural unit represented by formula (1):
• 42
• wherein R1 and R2 are each a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkyl group represented by —(CH2)mCH3;
• a and b are each an integer of 0 to 4, and when a and b are each an integer of 2 to 4, a plurality of groups represented by R1 or R2 may be the same or different;
• and n and m are each an integer of 8 to 27.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photoconductor,
• a charging unit configured to charge a surface of said electrophotographic photoconductor,
• a light exposure unit configured to expose said charged photoconductor to a light image to form a latent electrostatic image on said photoconductor,
• a development unit configured to develop said latent electrostatic image to a visible image, and
• a transferring unit configured to transfer said visible image formed on said photoconductor to an image receiving member,
• wherein said electrophotographic photoconductor comprises an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer which is formed on said electroconductive support and comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, and a polycarbonate resin, each of said resins comprising at least a structural unit represented by formula (1):
• 43
• wherein R1 and R2 are each a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkyl group represented by —(CH2)mCH3;
• a and b are each an integer of 0 to 4, and when a and b are each an integer of 2 to 4, a plurality of groups represented by R1 or R2 may be the same or different;
• and n and m are each an integer of 8 to 27.

A process cartridge which is freely attachable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and detachable therefrom, said process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photoconductor, and at least one means selected from the group consisting of a charging means for charging a surface of said photoconductor, a light exposure means for exposing said photoconductor to a light image to form a latent electrostatic image on said photoconductor, a development means for developing said latent electrostatic image to a visible image, and an image transfer means for transferring said visible image formed on said photoconductor to an image receiving member, wherein said electrophotographic photoconductor comprises an electroconductive support and a photoconductive layer which is formed on said electroconductive support and comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a polyester resin, and a polycarbonate resin, each of said resins comprising at least a structural unit represented by formula (1):

• 44
• wherein R1 and R2 are each a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 0.6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;
• R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an alkyl group represented by —(CH2)mCH3;
• a and b are each an integer of 0 to 4, and when a and b are each an integer of 2 to 4, a plurality of groups represented by R1 or R2 may be the same or different;
• and n and m are each an integer of 8 to 27.

A long-chain alkyl group containing bisphenol compound of formula (2):

• 45
• wherein R1 and R2 are each a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;
• a and b are each an integer of 0 to 4, and when a and b are each an integer of 2 to 4, a plurality of 2 groups represented by R1 or R2 may be the same or different;
• and n is an integer of 9 to 15.

A polymer comprising a structural unit of formula (3):

• 46
• wherein R1 and R2 are each a halogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group;
• a and b are each an integer of 0 to 4, and when a and b are each an integer of 2 to 4, a plurality of groups represented by R1 or R2 may be the same or different;
• and n is an integer of 9 to 15.