Fuser member

A fuser member comprising:

• a substrate layer comprising a polyimide polymer formed from a reaction between a polyamic acid and a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene, wherein the polyamic acid is selected from the group consisting of pyromellitic dianhydride/4,4′-oxydianiline, pyromellitic dianhydride/phenylenediamine, biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride/4,4′-oxydianiline, biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride/phenylenediamine, benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride/4,4′-oxydianiline and benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride/4,4′-oxydianiline/phenylenediamine, wherein the polyimide polymer and the hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene are present in a weight ratio of about 99.9 /0.1 to about 99/5 and wherein the polybutadiene crosslinks with the polyimide polymer;
• an intermediate layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of silicone and fluoroelastomer;
• and
• a release layer disposed on the intermediate layer comprising a fluoropolymer.

A method of forming a fuser belt suitable for use with an image forming system, comprising:

• flow coating a composition of a polyamic acid and a hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene, wherein the polyamic acid is selected from the group consisting of pyromellitic dianhydride/4,4′-oxydianiline, pyromellitic dianhydride/phenylenediamine, biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride/4,4′-oxydianiline, biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride/phenylenediamine, benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride/4,4′-oxydianiline and benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride/4,4′-oxydianiline/phenylenediamine, and a solvent onto an outer surface of a rotating substrate;
• reacting the polyamic acid and the hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene at a temperature of from about 125° C. to about 190° C. for a time of from about 30 to about 90 minutes to form a belt comprising a partially cured polyimide polymer crosslinked with polybutadiene wherein the polyimide polymer and the hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene are present in a weight ratio of about 99.9 /0.1 to about 99/5;
• removing the partially cured belt from the rotating substrate;
• and
• tensioning and rotating the partially cured belt at a temperature of from about 250° C. to about 370° C. for a time of from about 30 to about 150 minutes to fully cure the belt.