Process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus

A process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a surface layer;
• a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with toner to form a toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• a cleaning unit configured to remove the toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a cleaning blade after the toner image is transferred to a transfer material,
• the process cartridge integrally supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit, and being detachably attachable onto a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus,
• wherein a total ion chromatogram (TIC) obtained by subjecting a polymer component recovered from the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member to pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry under coexistence with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) has a mass spectrum including components satisfying at least m/z=242 and m/z=227, and a mass spectrum including components satisfying at least m/z=296, m/z=253, m/z=145, and m/z=121,
• wherein the polymer component has peaks at 2.35±0.02 ppm and 2.40±0.02 ppm in a 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum with deuterated chloroform,
• wherein the toner contains:
• a toner particle containing a resin;
• and an external additive,
• wherein the external additive contains a particle of a silicon atom-containing compound, and
• wherein a content ratio of the particle of the silicon atom-containing compound in the toner is 2.0 to 3.0 mass % with respect to a total mass of the toner.

An electrophotographic apparatus comprising a process cartridge,

• the process cartridge comprising:
• an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a surface layer;
• a developing unit configured to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with toner to form a toner image on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• a cleaning unit configured to remove the toner remaining on the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member with a cleaning blade after the toner image is transferred to a transfer material,
• the process cartridge integrally supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the developing unit, and the cleaning unit, and being detachably attachable onto a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus,
• wherein the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a polycarbonate resin having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1), a structural unit represented by the following formula (2), and a structural unit represented by the following formula (3),
• wherein the toner contains:
• a toner particle containing a resin;
• and an external additive,
• wherein the external additive contains a particle of a silicon atom-containing compound, and
• wherein a content ratio of the particle of the silicon atom-containing compound in the toner is 2.0 to 3.0 mass % with respect to a total mass of the toner.