Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, electrophotographic apparatus, and method of producing electrophotographic photosensitive member

A process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a surface layer,
• wherein the surface layer contains
• a fluorine atom-containing resin particle,
• a binder material, and
• a polymer A, and
• wherein the polymer A is a polymer obtained by polymerizing a composition containing a compound represented by the following formula (1), a compound represented by the following formula (2), and a compound represented by the following formula (3);
• and
• at least one unit selected from the group consisting of:
• a charging unit;
• a developing unit;
• a transfer unit;
• and a cleaning unit,
• the process cartridge integrally supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the at least one unit, and being detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus:
• in the formula (1),
• R11 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
• R12 represents a single bond, a methylene group, or an ethylene group,
• Rf1s each independently represent a perfluoroalkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a perfluoroalkylidene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms,
• Rf2 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and
• “n” represents an integer of from 1 to 3, and
• when “n” represents 2 or 3, “n” Rf1s may be identical to or different from each other;
• in the formula (2),
• R21 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
• Y represents a divalent organic group, and
• Z represents a polymer moiety;
• in the formula (3),
• R31 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and
• R32 represents a phenyl group, a cyano group, or a group represented by the following formula (4);
• in the formula (4),
• R41 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a surface layer,
• wherein the surface layer contains
• a fluorine atom-containing resin particle,
• a binder material, and
• a polymer A, and
• wherein the polymer A is a polymer obtained by polymerizing a composition containing a compound represented by the following formula (1), a compound represented by the following formula (2), and a compound represented by the following formula (3);
• a charging unit;
• an exposing unit;
• a developing unit;
• and
• a transfer unit:
• in the formula (1),
• R11 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
• R12 represents a single bond, a methylene group, or an ethylene group,
• Rf1s each independently represent a perfluoroalkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a perfluoroalkylidene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms,
• Rf2 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and
• “n” represents an integer of from 1 to 3, and
• when “n” represents 2 or 3, “n” Rf1s may be identical to or different from each other;
• in the formula (2),
• R21 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
• Y represents a divalent organic group, and
• Z represents a polymer moiety;
• in the formula (3),
• R31 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and
• R32 represents a phenyl group, a cyano group, or a group represented by the following formula (4);
• in the formula (4),
• R41 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

A method of producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a surface layer, the method comprising:

• preparing a coating liquid for a surface layer containing
• a fluorine atom-containing resin particle,
• at least one selected from a binder material and a raw material for the binder material, and
• a polymer A obtained by copolymerizing a compound represented by the following formula (1), a compound represented by the following formula (2), and a compound represented by the following formula (3);
• and
• forming the surface layer by forming a coating film of the coating liquid for a surface layer, and drying and/or curing the coating film:
• in the formula (1),
• R11 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
• R12 represents a single bond, a methylene group, or an ethylene group,
• Rf1s each independently represent a perfluoroalkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a perfluoroalkylidene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms,
• Rf2 represents a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and
• “n” represents an integer of from 1 to 3, and
• when “n” represents 2 or 3, “n” Rf1s may be identical to or different from each other;
• in the formula (2),
• R21 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group,
• Y represents a divalent organic group, and
• Z represents a polymer moiety;
• in the formula (3),
• R31 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and
• R32 represents a phenyl group, a cyano group, or a group represented by the following formula (4);
• in the formula (4),
• R41 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.