Layered, flexible electrophotographic imaging member having hole blocking and adhesive layers

A flexible electrophotographic imaging member having an imaging surface adapted to accept a negative electrical charge, comprising a substrate in sequence, a thin metal layer contiguous to said substrate, a hole blocking layer comprising an aminosiloxane, said aminosiloxane comprising a reaction product of a hydrolyzed aminosilane having the structural formula ##STR22## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkylidene group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, a lower alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a poly(ethylene)amino group and an ethylene diamine group, an adhesive layer comprising at least about 90 percent by weight based on the total weight of said adhesive layer of at least one copolyester resin reaction product of at least one diacid and at least one diol, said copolyester resin having the formula:

• ##STR23## wherein said diacid is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and mixtures thereof, said diol comprises ethylene glycol, the mole ratio of diacid to diol is 1:1, and n is a number between about 175 and about 350, said copolyester resin having a T.sub.g of between about 50.degree. C. about 80.degree. C., a charge generation layer comprising photoconductive particles dispersed in a film forming resin binder, and a hole transfer layer comprising a resin binder and a diamine compound.

An electrophotographic imaging member comprising in sequence a substrate, a metal layer contiguous to said substrate, a blocking layer comprising an aminosiloxane, said siloxane comprising a reaction product of a hydrolyzed aminosilane having the general formula ##STR25## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkylidene group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, a lower alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a poly(ethylene)amino group and an ethylene diamine group, an adhesive layer having a thickness between about 200 angstroms and about 900 angstroms comprising at least about 90 percent by weight based on the total weight of said adhesive layer of at least one copolyester resin reaction product of at least one diacid and at least one diol, said copolyester resin having the formula:

• ##STR26## wherein said diacid is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and mixtures thereof, said diol comprises ethylene glycol, the mole ratio of diacid to diol is 1:1, and n is a number between about 175 and about 350, said copolyester resin having a T.sub.g of between about 50.degree. C. about 80.degree. C., a charge generation layer comprising photoconductive particles dispersed in a film forming binder, and a hole transport layer comprising a solid solution of a polycarbonate resin material and a diamine compound, said diamine compound having the general formula:
• ##STR27## wherein X is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms and chlorine.

An electrophotographic imaging process comprising providing a flexible electrophotographic imaging belt comprising in sequence a substrate, a metal layer contiguous to said substrate, a blocking layer comprising an aminosiloxane, said aminosiloxane comprising a reaction product of a hydrolyzed silane having the general formula ##STR28## wherein R.sub.1 is an alkylidene group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, a lower alkyl group containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a poly(ethylene)amino group and an ethylene diamine group, an adhesive layer having a thickness between about 400 angstroms and about 700 angstroms comprising at least about 90 percent by weight based on the total weight of said adhesive layer of at least one copolyester resin reaction product of at least one diacid and at least one diol, said copolyester resin having the formula:

• ##STR29## wherein said diacid is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and mixtures thereof, said diol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, 2,2-dimethyl propane and mixtures thereof, the ratio of diacid to diol is 1:1, and n is a number between about 175 and about 350, said copolyester resin having a T.sub.g of between about 50.degree. C. about 80.degree. C., a charge generation layer comprising photoconductive particles dispersion in a film forming binder, and a hole transport layer comprising a solid solution of a polycarbonate resin material and a diamine compound, said diamine compound having the general formula:
• ##STR30## wherein X is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms and chlorine, uniformly electrostatically charging said imaging belt, exposing said imaging belt to a pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to said pattern, depositing electrostatically attractable marking particles on said imaging belt to form a toner image corresponding to said electrostatic latent image, transferring said toner image to a receiving member, transporting said imaging belt around at least one roller having a diameter of between about 0.5 inch and about 1 inch, and repeating said charging, exposing, depositing, transferring and transporting steps a plurality of times.

A process for preparing a electrophotographic imaging process comprising providing a flexible electrophotographic imaging member comprising in sequence a flexible substrate having an electrically conductive surface, applying a hole blocking layer comprising an aminosilane reaction product, applying an adhesive layer solution comprising at least one solvent and between about 2 percent and about 5 percent by weight of at least one copolyester resin reaction product of at least one diacid and at least one diol to form a dried layer having a thickness between about 200 angstroms and about 900 angstroms and consisting essentially of said copolyester resin reaction product, applying a charge generation layer comprising a film forming polymeric component, and applying a hole transport layer, said hole transport layer being substantially non-absorbing in the spectral region at which said charge generation layer generates and injects photogenerated holes but being capable of supporting the injection of photogenerated holes from said charge generation layer and transporting the holes through said charge transport layer, said copolyester resin having the following formula:

• ##STR31## wherein said diacid is selected from the group consisting of terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and mixtures thereof, said diol comprises ethylene glycol, the mole ratio of said diacid to said diol is about 1:1, n is a number between about 175 and about 350 and the T.sub.g of said copolyester resin is between about 50.degree. C. about 80.degree. C.