Imaging members having stress/strain free layers

A flexible imaging member comprising:

• a flexible substrate;
• a charge generating layer disposed on the substrate;
• at least one charge transport layer disposed on the charge generating layer;
• and a ground strip layer disposed adjacent to the charge transport layer and at an edge of the imaging member, wherein the charge transport layer comprises a film forming polycarbonate binder, a charge transport compound and a plasticizing liquid compound having a high boiling point, and the ground strip layer comprises a film forming polymer, a carbon black or a graphite dispersion, a silica particle dispersion, and a plasticizing liquid compound having a high boiling point, and further wherein the liquid plasticizing compound is selected from the group consisting of diethyl phthalate, diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), monomeric bisphenol A carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

An image forming apparatus for forming images on a recording medium comprising:

• a) a flexible imaging member having a charge retentive-surface for receiving an electrostatic latent image thereon, wherein the flexible imaging member comprises
• a flexible substrate;
• a charge generating layer disposed on the substrate;
• at least one charge transport layer disposed on the charge generating layer;
• and
• a ground strip layer disposed adjacent to the charge transport layer and at an edge of the imaging member, wherein the charge transport layer comprises a film forming polycarbonate binder, a charge transport compound and a plasticizing liquid compound having a high boiling point, and the ground strip layer comprises a film forming polymer, a carbon black or a graphite dispersion, a silica particle dispersion, and a plasticizing liquid compound having a high boiling point;
• b) a development component for applying a developer material to the charge-retentive surface to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on the charge-retentive surface;
• c) a transfer component for transferring the developed image from the charge-retentive surface to a copy substrate;
• and
• d) a fusing component for fusing the developed image to the copy substrate.