Aromatic polycarbonate resin, electrophotographic photoconductor, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming method and apparatus

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a repeat unit of formula (3):

• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization;
• wherein in said formula (3), a unit obtained from formula (9) is 50 mole % and a unit obtained from formula (11) is 50 mole %
• wherein Ar1, A2, Ar3, R1, R2, R3, R4, a and b are as defined above.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a structural unit of formula (4) and a structural unit of formula (2), with the relationship between the composition ratios being 0<k/(k+j)<1 when the composition ratio of said structural unit of formula (4) is k and that of said structural unit of formula (2) is j:

• wherein c and d are each independently an integer of 0 to 5;
• R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R5 and R6 may each be the same or different when c and d are each an integer of 2, 3, 4 or 5;
• and Ar3 is a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• wherein a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• and R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (2) is 58 to 60 mole percent;
• and
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (4) is 40 to 42 mole percent.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a repeat unit of formula (5):

• wherein c and d are each independently an integer of 0 to 5;
• R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R5 and R6 may each be the same or different when c and d are each an integer of 2, 3, 4 or 5;
• Ar3 is a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization;
• wherein in said formula (5), a unit obtained from formula (10) is 50 mole % and a unit obtained from formula (11) is 50 mole %
• wherein Ar3, R3, R4, R5, R6, a, b, c and d are as defined above.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a structural unit of formula (1) and a structural unit of formula (6), with the relationship between the composition ratios being 0<k/(k+j)<1 when the composition ratio of said structural unit of formula (1) is k and that of said structural unit of formula (6) is j:

• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• wherein R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and R7 and R8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (6) is 58 to 60 mole percent;
• and
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (1) is 40 to 42 mole percent.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a repeat unit of formula (7):

• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• R7 and R8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which way have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization;
• wherein in said formula (7), a unit obtained from formula (9) is 50 mole % and a unit obtained from formula (12) is 50 mole %
• wherein Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, R1, R2, R3, R4, R7 and R8 are as defined above.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a structural unit of formula (4) and a structural unit of formula (6), with the relationship between the composition ratios being 0<k/(k+j)<1 when the composition ratio of said structural unit of formula (4) is k and that of said structural unit of formula (6) is j:

• wherein c and d are each independently an integer of 0 to 5;
• R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R5 and R6 may each be the same or different when c and d are each an integer of 2, 3, 4 or 5;
• and Ar3 is a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• wherein R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and R7 and R8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (6) is 58 to 60 mole percent;
• and
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (4) is 40 to 42 mole percent.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a repeat unit of formula (8):

• wherein c and d are each independently an integer of 0 to 5;
• R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl coup having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R5 and R6 may each be the same or different when c and d are each an integer of 2, 3, 4 or 5;
• Ar3 is a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituted;
• R7 and R8 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization;
• wherein in said formula (8), a unit obtained from formula (10) is 50 mole % and a unit obtained from formula (12) is 50 mole %
• wherein Ar3, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, c and d are as defined above.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a structural unit of formula (1), and a structural unit of formula (23), with the relationship between the composition ratios being 0<k/(k+j)<1 when the composition ratio of said structural unit of formula (1) is k and that of said structural unit of formula (23) is j:

• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group;
• wherein R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which way have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and R9 and R10 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (23) is 58 to 60 mole percent;
• and
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (1) is 40 to 42 mole percent.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a repeat unit of formula (25):

• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• R9 and R10 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization;
• wherein in said formula (25), a unit obtained from formula (9) is 50 mole % and a unit obtained from formula (30) is 50 mole %
• wherein Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, R1, R2, R3, R4, R9 and R10 are as defined above.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a structural unit of formula (1), and a structural unit of formula (24), with the relationship between the composition ratios being 0<k/(k+j)<1 when the composition ratio of said structural unit of formula (1) is k and that of said structural unit of formula (24) is j:

• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an amyl group which may have a substituent;
• and Ar1, A2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• wherein R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and R9 and R10 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (24) is 58 to 60 mole percent;
• and
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (1) is 40 to 42 mole percent.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a repeat unit of formula (26):

• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an amyl group which may have a substituent;
• R9 and R10 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization;
• wherein in said formula (26), a unit obtained from formula (9) is 50 mole % and a unit obtained from formula (31) is 50 mole %
• wherein Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, R1, R2, R3, R4, R9 and R10 are as defined above.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a structural unit of formula (4), and a structural unit of formula (23), with the relationship between the composition ratios being 0<k/(k+j)<1 when the composition ratio of said structural unit of formula (4) is k and that of said structural unit of formula (23) is j:

• wherein c and d are each independently an integer of 0 to 5;
• R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R5 and R6 may each be the same or different when c and d are each an integer of 2, 3, 4 or 5;
• and Ar3 is a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• wherein R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and R9 and R10 are each independently a halogen atom, an akyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (23) is 58 to 60 mole percent;
• and
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (4) is 40 to 42 mole percent.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a repeat unit of formula (27):

• wherein c and d are each independently an integer of 0 to 5;
• R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R5 and R6 may each be the same or different when c and d are each an integer of 2, 3, 4 or 5;
• Ar3 is a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• R9 and R10 arc each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization;
• wherein in said formula (27), a unit obtained from formula (10) is 50 mole % and a unit obtained from formula (30) is 50 mole %
• wherein Ar3, R3, R4, R5, R6, R9, R10, c and d are as defined above.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a structural unit of formula (4), and a structural unit of formula (24), with the relationship between the composition ratios being 0<k/(k+j)<1 when the composition ratio of said structural unit of formula (4) is k and that of said structural unit of formula (24) is j:

• wherein c and d are each independently an integer of 0 to 5;
• R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R5 and R6 may each be the same or different when c and d are each an integer of 2, 3, 4 or 5;
• and Ar3 is a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• wherein R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• and R9 and R10 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (24) is 58 to 60 mole percent;
• and
• wherein an amount of said structural unit of formula (4) is 40 to 42 mole percent.

An aromatic polycarbonate resin comprising a repeat unit of formula (28):

• wherein c and d are each independently an integer of 0 to 5;
• R5 and R6 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R5 and R6 may each be the same or different when c and d are each an integer of 2, 3, 4 or 5;
• Ar3 is a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent R9 and R10 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization;
• wherein in said formula (28), a unit obtained from formula (10) is 50 mole % and a unit obtained from formula (31) is 50 mole %
• wherein Ar3, R3, R4, R5, R6, R9, R10, c and d are as defined above.

An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin which comprises a structural unit of formula (2) and a structural unit with charge transporting properties, each of said structural units being contained in an amount of 5 wt. % or more of the total weight of said polycarbonate resin:

• wherein a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• and R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• wherein said structural unit with charge transporting properties is represented by formula (1′):
• wherein R11 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1 and Ar2 are each an arylene group which may have a substituent and R12 is an aryl group which may have a substituent.

An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin which comprises a structural unit of formula (2) and a structural unit with charge transporting properties, each of said structural units being contained in an amount of 5 wt. % or more of the total weight of said polycarbonate resin:

• wherein a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• and R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• wherein said aromatic polycarbonate resin comprises a repeat unit of formula (3′):
• wherein R11 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1 and Ar2 are each an arylece group which may have a substituent, R12 is an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• R3 and R1 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization.

An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin which comprises a structural unit of formula (2) and a structural unit with charge transporting properties, each of said structural units being contained in an amount of 5 wt. % or more of the total weight of said polycarbonate resin:

• wherein a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• and R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• wherein said aromatic polycarbonate resin comprises a repeat unit of formula (3):
• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization.

An electrophotographic image forming method comprising:

• charging the surface of a photoconductor,
• exposing the charged surface of said photoconductor to a light image corresponding to an original image to be reproduced, thereby forming a latent electrostatic image on said photoconductor,
• developing said latent electrostatic image to a visible image,
• transferring said visible image to an image receiving member,
• cleaning the surface of said photoconductor, and
• quenching the residual potential on the surface of said photoconductor, wherein said photoconductor comprises an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin which comprises a structural unit of formula (2) and a structural unit with charge transporting properties, each of said structural units being contained in an amount of 5 wt. % or more of the total weight of said polycarbonate resin:
• wherein a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• and R3and R4are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photoconductor capable of forming a latent electrostatic image thereon,
• charging means for charging the surface of said photoconductor,
• light exposure means for exposing the charged surface of said photoconductor to a light image corresponding to an original image to be reproduced, thereby forming a latent electrostatic image on said photoconductor,
• development means for developing said latent electrostatic image to a visible image,
• image transfer means for transferring said visible image to an image receiving member,
• cleaning means for cleaning the surface of said photoconductor, and
• quenching means for quenching the residual potential on the surface of said photoconductor, wherein said electrophotographic photoconductor comprises an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin which comprises a structural unit of formula (2) and a structural unit with charge transporting properties, each of said structural units being contained in an amount of 5 wt. % or more of the total weight of said polycarbonate resin:
• wherein a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• and R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• wherein said aromatic polycarbonate resin comprises a repeat unit of formula (3′):
• wherein R11 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1 and Ar2 are each an aryleue group which may have a substituent;
• R12 is an aryl group which may have a substituent, a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a ubstituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photoconductor capable of forming a latent electrostatic image thereon,
• charging means for charging the surface of said photoconductor,
• light exposure means for exposing the charged surface of said photoconductor to a light image corresponding to an original image to be reproduced, thereby forming a latent electrostatic image on said photoconductor,
• development means for developing said latent electrostatic image to a visible image,
• image transfer means for transferring said visible image to an image receiving member,
• cleaning means for cleaning the surface of said photoconductor, and
• quenching means for quenching the residual potential on the surface of said photoconductor, wherein said electrophotographic photoconductor comprises an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin which comprises a structural unit of formula (2) and a structural unit with charge transporting properties, each of said structural units being contained in an amount of 5 wt. % or more of the total weight of said polycarbonate resin:
• wherein a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• and R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• wherein said aromatic polycarbonate resin comprises a repeat unit of formula (3):
• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization.

An electrophotographic process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photoconductor capable of forming a latent electrostatic image thereon, wherein said photoconductor comprises an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin which comprises a structural unit of formula (2) and a structural unit with charge transporting properties, each of said structural units being contained in an amount of 5 wt. % or more of the total weight of said polycarbonate resin:

• wherein a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• and R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• wherein said aromatic polycarbonato resin comprises a repeat unit of formula (3′):
• wherein R11 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, Ar1 and Ar2 are each an arylene group which may have a substituent;
• R12 is an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization.

An electrophotographic process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photoconductor capable of forming a latent electrostatic image thereon, wherein said photoconductor comprises an electroconductive support, and a photoconductive layer formed thereon comprising as an effective component an aromatic polycarbonate resin which comprises a structural unit of formula (2) and a structural unit with charge transporting properties, each of said structural units being contained in an amount of 5 wt. % or more of the total weight of said polycarbonate resin:

• wherein a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• and R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• wherein said aromatic polycarbonate resin comprises a repeat unit of formula (3):
• wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, are each an acyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent;
• Ar1, Ar2, and Ar3 are each a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group;
• a and b are each independently an integer of 1 to 4;
• R3 and R4 are each independently a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and R3 and R4 may each be the same or different when a and b are each an integer of 2, 3 or 4;
• and n is an integer of 2 to 5,000, which represents a degree of polymerization.