Electrophotographic Photoconductor and Image-Forming Apparatus

An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising:

• a photosensitive layer on a conductive base,
• wherein
• 1) the photosensitive layer includes
• a charge-generating layer including a charge-generating material, and
• a charge-transport layer including a charge-transport material and a binder resin, the charge-generating layer and the charge-transport layer being stacked, in that order, on the conductive base, and the binder resin in the photosensitive layer having a yield strain of about 8% to about 30%, or
• 2) the photosensitive layer includes the charge-generating material, the charge-transport material, and the binder resin in the same layer, the binder resin haying a yield strain of about 8% to about 30%,
• wherein the yield strain is measured using a 10 mm×30 mm rectangular sample having a thickness of 30 μm with both 10-mm sides held at an initial load of 1 N, a strain rate of 0.5%/min, and a temperature of 30° C.,
• wherein the electrophotographic photoconductor is configured for use as image-bearing member of an image-forming apparatus that includes:
• a charging portion configured to charge a surface of the image-bearing member,
• an exposure portion configured to expose the charged surface of the image-bearing member to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image-bearing member,
• a developing portion configured to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image, and
• a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the image-bearing member to an object.