Dendrimeric toner particles for liquid electrophotography

Abstract

This invention comprises a single-component dendrimeric toner particle, and methods of making and using the toner particle in the liquid EP process. By using dendrimeric chemistry, a dendrimeric toner particle may be made that has controlled content, structure and size and that includes a colorant, a binder, and a charge director. The toner particles made this way will have high uniformity, so that toner dispersions containing them may be made to have good stability, print performance, and quality control. The colorant of choice for the toner particle is made the core of the dendrimer toner particle. Dendrons, which are made of generations of building or polymer units, branch out from the core and include a resin or other binder molecule, for binding the colorant to the paper in the EP process. One or more of the final polymer units, located at the terminus of the dendrons, comprise a coordinating or chelating agent for the toner charge director.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.