Compositions and method for enhancing electrical life of polymers used in xerographic devices
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsJames A. Lentz, George J. Safford
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Abstract
Butadiene copolymers having controlled electrical life and controlled resistivity are described. A method is disclosed for enhancing the electrical life of butadiene copolymers having solubilized conductivity control agents incorporated therein by varying specified quantities of terminally unsaturated hydrocarbon nitriles in copolymers of the butadiene and the specified nitriles by using mixtures of such copolymers having conductivity control agents therein. The method and polymers are useful for enhancing the electrical life and polymer stability in xerographic devices where control of conductivity and/or relaxation behavior is important, e.g., in bias transfer rolls.
Claims28
A transfer roll having improved electrical life for electrically cooperating with a photoconductive plate when brought into contact therewith to attract charged toner particles from the plate toward the roll comprising a rigid cylindrical core of electrically conductive material having at least one coating thereon of a resilient elastomeric material comprising a copolymer of about 1.0 percent to about 12.0 percent terminally unsaturated hydrocarbon nitrile and the balance butadiene, said copolymer containing a sufficient amount of conductivity control agent to produce a copolymer having the desired resistivity, the conductivity control agent being solubilized in the copolymer.
A biasable transfer member comprising a conductive substrate for supporting a uniform bias potential thereon and at least one coating thereon comprising an elastomeric material having improved electrical life and comprising a copolymer of butadiene and a terminally unsaturated hydrocarbon nitrile having solubilized conductivity control agent therein, the copolymer having from about 1.0 percent to about 12.0 percent of the terminally unsaturated hydrocarbon nitrile therein, the coating being placed over the conductive substrate.
A method of improving the electrical life of a biasable transfer member having at least one coating of an elastomeric reaction product of a butadiene/nitrile-containing copolymer and a diisocyanate upon a conductive substrate for supporting a uniform bias potential thereon comprising adjusting the nitrile content in the copolymer to a level within the range of about 12.0 percent to about 1.0 percent (by weight);
- dissolving a conductivity control agent in the copolymer in an amount which produces the desired resistivity;
- reacting the copolymer having the conductivity control agent solubilized therein with the diisocyanate to produce a reaction product;
- and coating the reaction product on the conductive substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.