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US 8,124,309 B2Granted
Solvent-free emulsion process
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorsZhen Lai, Chieh-Min Cheng, Shigang Qiu, Emily L. Moore, Tie Hwee Ng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for making a resin emulsion suitable for use in forming toner particles is provided. In embodiments, a suitable process includes melt mixing a resin in the absence of an organic solvent, optionally adding a surfactant to the resin, adding to the resin a basic agent and water, and subjecting the resin, basic agent and water to acoustic mixing at a suitable frequency to form an emulsion of resin particles. In embodiments, the resin emulsion thus produced may be utilized to form a toner.
Claims20
A process comprising:
- melt mixing a resin in the absence of an organic solvent;
- optionally adding a surfactant to the resin;
- adding to the resin a basic agent and water;
- and
- subjecting the resin, basic agent and water to acoustic mixing at a frequency of from about 15 Hertz to about 2000 Hertz to form an emulsion of resin particles.
2 more elements
A process comprising:
- melt mixing a resin in the absence of a organic solvent;
- optionally adding a surfactant to the resin;
- optionally adding one or more additional ingredients of a toner composition to the resin;
- adding to the resin a basic agent and water;
- subjecting the resin, basic agent and water to acoustic mixing at a frequency of from about 15 Hertz to about 2000 Hertz to form an emulsion of resin particles;
- performing a phase inversion to create a phase inversed emulsion including a disperse phase comprising molten resin and the optional ingredients of the toner composition;
- and
- solidifying the toner-sized droplets to result in toner particles.
5 more elements
A process comprising:
- melt mixing a polyester resin possessing acid groups in the absence of an organic solvent;
- adding a surfactant to the resin;
- adding to the resin a basic neutralization agent and water;
- and
- subjecting the resin, basic agent and water to acoustic mixing at a frequency of from about 15 Hertz to about 2000 Hertz to form an emulsion of resin particles,
- wherein the acoustic mixing occurs in an acoustic mixer lacking impellers.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.