Toner processes

A process for the preparation of toner particles comprising:

• (i) preparing a latex emulsion by agitating in water a mixture of a sodio sulfopolyester, a first nonpolar olefinic monomer, a second polar olefinic monomer, a free radical initiator and a chain transfer agent, and which latex emulsion is heated to form olefinic resin particles;
• (ii) preparing a pigment dispersion in a water by dispersing in water from about 10 to about 25 weight percent of a sulfonated polyester, and from about 1 to about 5 weight percent of pigment, which dispersion is prepared with a shearing device at from about 35.degree. C. to about 45.degree. C. for a duration of from about 1 hour to about 3 hours;
• (iii) adding the pigment dispersion (ii) with shearing to a latex mixture comprised of sulfonated polyester and olefinic resin particles (i) in water, followed by the addition of from about 1 to about 2 weight percent of an alkali halide in water to enable aggregation of latex and pigment as indicated by an increase in viscosity of from about 2 centipoise to about 100 centipoise;
• (iv) heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of from about 45.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C. thereby causing further aggregation and coalescence, resulting in toner particles comprised of a pigment, sulfopolyester and olefinic resin of from about 4 to about 9 microns in volume average diameter size, and with a geometric distribution of less than about 1.3;
• and optionally
• (v) cooling the toner particles product mixture to about 25.degree. C., followed by washing and drying.

A process for the preparation of toner particles comprising:

• (i) preparing a latex emulsion by agitating in water a mixture of a sodio sulfopolyester, a first nonpolar olefinic monomer, a second polar olefinic monomer, a free radical initiator and a chain transfer agent, and which latex emulsion is heated to form olefinic resin particles;
• (ii) preparing a pigment dispersion in a water by dispersing in water from about 10 to about 25 weight percent of a sulfonated polyester, and from about 1 to about 5 weight percent of pigment, which dispersion is prepared with a shearing device, and wherein said shearing is accomplished by homogenizing at from about 1,000 revolutions per minute to about 10,000 revolutions per minute at a temperature of from about 25.degree. C. to about 35.degree. C. for a duration of from about 1 minute to about 120 minutes;
• (iii) adding the pigment dispersion (ii) with shearing to a latex mixture comprised of sulfonated polyester and olefinic resin particles (i) in water, followed by the addition of from about 1 to about 2 weight percent of an alkali halide in water to enable aggregation of latex and pigment as indicated an increase in viscosity of from about 2 centipoise to about 100 centipoise, and wherein said shearing is accomplished by microfluidization at a temperature of from about 20.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C.;
• (iv) heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of from about 45.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C. thereby causing further aggregation and coalescence, resulting in toner particles comprised of a pigment, sulfopolyester and olefinic resin of from about 4 to about 9 microns in volume average diameter size, and with a geometric distribution of less than about 1.3;
• and optionally
• (v) cooling the toner particles product mixture to about 25.degree. C., followed by washing and drying.