Charging member

Abstract

A charging member is disclosed, which charges an electrifiable member, e.g., a photoreceptor, when a voltage is applied thereto while the charging member is kept being pressed against the electrifiable member. This charging member 1 comprises an electroconductive substrate 1a and, fixed thereto, an electroconductive elastomer layer 1b comprising at least a crosslinked silicone rubber, in which the content of uncrosslinked silicone polymer components having a number-average molecular weight of 10,000 or higher is not higher than 1% by weight. The crosslinked silicone rubber is preferably a reaction product obtained by reacting a liquid polymethylsiloxane containing at least two vinyl group substituents and having a viscosity of 3,000 cP or lower with a polyorganohydrogensiloxane as a crosslinking agent in the presence of a platinum catalyst. The charging member need not have an antifouling layer for inhibiting the migration of low-polymerization-degree components to an electrifiable member. It is free from the possibility of causing image defects and has excellent environmental stability of electrical resistance and excellent flexibility.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.