Fuser member with tunable gloss level and methods and apparatus for using the same to fuse toner images

Apparatus for fusing a toner image to a receiver medium to obtain a desired level of gloss for the resulting fused toner image, the apparatus comprising:

• a fusing member which contacts the toner image on the receiver medium and fuses the toner image to said receiver medium, the fusing member comprising an outer layer having a contact surface thereon comprised of the reaction product of a mixture comprising a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a curing agent having a bisphenol residue, an acid accelerator, a fluorinated resin, and an aminosiloxane, the contact surface having a G60 gloss of up to about 35;
• a pressure member positioned adjacent to and in contact with the outer contact surface of the fusing member such that a pressure nip is formed between the contact surface of the fusing member and the pressure member;
• and
• a heat source for transferring heat to at least one of the fusing member and the pressure member so that heat is transferred to the toner image under pressure while the toner image is passed through the pressure nip.

Apparatus for fusing a toner image to a receiver medium to obtain a desired level of gloss for the resulting fused toner image, the apparatus comprising:

• a fusing member which contacts the toner image on the receiver medium and fuses the toner image to said receiver medium, the fusing member comprising an outer layer having a contact surface thereon comprised of a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer co-cured with a fluorinated resin and having a G60 gloss of up to about 35;
• a pressure member positioned adjacent to and in contact with the outer contact surface of the fusing member such that a pressure nip is formed between the contact surface of the fusing member and the pressure member;
• and
• a heat source for transferring heat to at least one of the fusing member and the pressure member so that heat is transferred to the toner image under pressure while the toner image is passed through the pressure nip.

A method of fusing a thermoplastic toner image to a receiver medium to provide a fused toner image thereon with a desired amount of gloss comprising contacting the receiver with the toner image thereon with a contact surface having a G60 gloss of up to about 35 and comprising a cured mixture which includes a fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer, a curing agent having a biphenol residue, an acid accelerator, a fluorinated resin, and an aminosiloxane, the cured fluorocarbon thermoplastic random copolymer having subunits of:

• —(CH2CF2)x-, —(CF2CF(CF3))y-, and —(CF2CF2)z-,
• wherein:
• x is from 1 to 50 or 60 to 80 mole percent,
• y is from 10 to 90 mole percent,
• z is from 10 to 90 mole percent,
• x+y+z equals 100 mole percent,
• the contact being under conditions of temperature and pressure such that the thermoplastic toner image is fused to the receiver medium.