# US 6,720,123 B2 · Process for producing toner for developing electrostatic image > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,720,123 B2 - Document ID: US6720123B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/066,614 - Filed: 2002-02-06 - Published: 2003-01-02 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2001-02-09 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation - Inventors: Yuqing Xu; Kazuo Mitsuhashi; Tomohiko Tokunaga; Toyomasa Hoshino - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6720123B2 ## CPC - G03G 9/0804: {whereby the components are brought together in a liquid dispersing medium} - G03G 9/0806: {whereby chemical synthesis of at least one of the toner components takes place} - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY ## Abstract A process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image is described, which involves an agglomerate step wherein a dispersion liquid containing at least primary polymer particles and colorant particles is stirred in a stirring tank to agglomerate the particles to thereby obtain agglomerate of the particles and an aging step wherein the resultant agglomerate of the particles is kept at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the primary polymer particles by 10° C. or more for a predetermined period of time to thereby fuse the particles, which process is characterized in that the concentration of solid content (C1) in the agglomerate step is 10 to 40% by weight, and that the concentration of the solid content (C2) in the aging step is in the range of 0.3C1≦C2≦0.8C1. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image comprising an agglomerate step wherein a dispersion liquid containing at least primary polymer particles and colorant particles is stirred in a stirring tank to agglomerate the particles to thereby obtain agglomerate of the particles and an aging step wherein the resultant agglomerate of the particles is kept at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the primary polymer particles by 10° C. or more for a predetermined period of time to thereby fuse the particles, wherein the concentration of solid content C1 in the agglomerate step is 10 to 40% by weight, and the concentration of the solid content C2 in the aging step is in the range of 0.3C1≦C2≦0.8C1, wherein the primary polymer particles are those obtained by emulsion polymerization, and wherein the primary polymer particles obtained by emulsion polymerization contains 1000 to 3000 ppm, based on the polymer component therein, of residual monomers, and a pyrolytic free radical initiator is added to the dispersion liquid containing agglomerate of the particles in the aging step. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispersion liquid containing the agglomerate of the particles to be subjected to the aging step contains 1000 to 3000 ppm, based on the polymer component therein, of residual monomers. ### Claim 3 A process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image comprising an agglomerate step wherein a dispersion liquid containing at least primary polymer particles and colorant particles is stirred in a stirring tank to agglomerate the particles to thereby obtain agglomerate of the particles and an aging step wherein the resultant agglomerate of the particles is kept at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the primary polymer particles by 10° C. or more for a predetermined period of time to thereby fuse the particles, wherein the concentration of solid content C1 in the agglomerate step is 10 to 40% by weight, and the concentration of the solid content C2 in the aging step is in the range of 0.3C1≦C2≦0.8C1, wherein a particulate resin is added to the dispersion liquid containing the agglomerate of the particles before or during the aging step to thereby adhere or fix the particulate resin to the agglomerate of the particles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 3, wherein water is mixed upon or after completion of the agglomerate step. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 4, wherein water is mixed before the temperature of the dispersion liquid reaches Tg+10° C. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 3, wherein the agglomerate step and the aging step are conducted in the same stirring tank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 3, wherein water is mixed together with an agglomerate terminator upon completion of the agglomerate step. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 3, wherein the primary polymer particles are those obtained by emulsion polymerization. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 8, wherein the primary polymer particles are those obtained by emulsion polymerization using a particulate wax as a seed. ### Claim 10 A process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image comprising an agglomerate step wherein a dispersion liquid containing at least primary polymer particles and colorant particles is stirred in a stirring tank to agglomerate the particles to thereby obtain agglomerate of the particles and an aging step wherein the resultant agglomerate of the particles is kept at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the primary polymer particles by 10° C. or more for a predetermined period of time to thereby fuse the particles, wherein the concentration of solid content C1 in the agglomerate step is 10 to 40% by weight, and the concentration of the solid content C2 in the aging step is in the range of 0.3C1≦C2≦0.8C1, wherein the primary polymer particles are those obtained by emulsion polymerization using a particulate wax as a seed, and wherein the toner contains residual monomers in an amount of 100 ppm or less. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 10, wherein water is mixed upon or after completion of the agglomerate step. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 11, wherein water is mixed before the temperature of the dispersion liquid reaches Tg+10° C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 10, wherein the agglomerate step and the aging step are conducted in the same stirring tank. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 10, wherein water is mixed together with an agglomerate terminator upon completion of the agglomerate step. ### Claim 15 A process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image comprising an agglomerate step wherein a dispersion liquid containing at least primary polymer particles and colorant particles is stirred in a stirring tank to agglomerate the particles to thereby obtain agglomerate of the particles and an aging step wherein the resultant agglomerate of the particles is kept at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the primary polymer particles by 10° C. or more for a predetermined period of time to thereby fuse the particles, wherein the concentration of solid content C1 in the agglomerate step is 10 to 40% by weight, and the concentration of the solid content C2 in the aging step is in the range of 0.3C1≦C2≦0.8C1, wherein the toner has a storage modulus G′ and a loss modulus G″ at 200° C. of 400 Pa or more with respect to dynamic viscoelasticity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 15, wherein water is mixed upon or after completion of the agglomerate step. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 16, wherein water is mixed before the temperature of the dispersion liquid reaches Tg+10° C. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 15, wherein the agglomerate step and the aging step are conducted in the same stirring tank. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 15, wherein water is mixed together with an agglomerate terminator upon completion of the agglomerate step. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 15, wherein the primary polymer particles are those obtained by emulsion polymerization. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The process for producing a toner for developing electrostatic image as claimed in claim 20, wherein the primary polymer particles are those obtained by emulsion polymerization using a particulate wax as a seed.