Emulsion aggregation toner formulation
AssigneeLexmark International, Inc.
InventorsMichael James Bensing, Craig Michael Bartelsen, John Joseph Kraseski, Bryan Patrick Livengood, Jing X. Sun, Vincent Wen-Hwa Ting
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An emulsion aggregation toner formulation for electrophotography and a method for preparation thereof. The emulsion aggregation toner formulation includes a polyester resin emulsion formed using an extruded polyester binder resin having a broad molecular weight distribution. The extruded polyester binder resin is formed using a plurality of polyester binder resins. Further, the emulsion aggregation toner formulation comprises at least one colorant dispersion and a wax dispersion.
Claims18
A method for preparing an emulsion aggregation toner formulation for electrophotography, the method comprising:
- loading a plurality of pre-emulsified cross-linked polyester binder resins into an extruder and extruding the plurality of pre-emulsified cross-linked polyester binder resins together in their pre-emulsified state to break down the cross-links in the polyester binder resins and form an extruded polyester binder resin that is characterized by a cross-linked gel content of less than or equal to about 5 percent by weight of the extruded polyester binder resin and has a broader molecular weight distribution than the pre-emulsified polyester binder resins;
- after extruding the plurality of pre-emulsified cross-linked polyester binder resins and forming the extruded polyester binder resin, preparing a polyester resin emulsion using the extruded polyester binder resin;
- and
- combining and agglomerating the prepared polyester resin emulsion with at least one colorant dispersion and a wax dispersion to form the emulsion aggregation toner formulation.
A method for preparing an emulsion aggregation toner formulation for electrophotography, the method comprising:
- loading a plurality of dry cross-linked polyester binder resins into an extruder and melt mixing the plurality of cross-linked polyester binder resins in the extruder to break down the cross-links in the polyester binder resins and form an extruded polyester binder resin that is characterized by a cross-linked gel content of less than or equal to about 5 percent by weight of the extruded polyester binder resin and has a broader molecular weight distribution than the plurality of dry polyester binder resins,
- after melt mixing the plurality of dry cross-linked polyester binder resins and forming the extruded polyester binder resin, preparing a polyester resin emulsion using the extruded polyester binder resin;
- and
- combining and agglomerating the prepared polyester resin emulsion with at least one colorant dispersion and a wax dispersion using acid agglomeration without using multivalent metal ions to form the emulsion aggregation toner formulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.