Fuser member coating composition and processes for providing elastomeric surfaces thereon

Abstract

Fuser members and processes are provided for crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer surfaces containing a fluorocarbon elastomer and a non-amino crosslinker together with methods for providing a crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer surface on a fuser member supporting substrate which include mixing together an acid acceptor, an emulsifier, water, and non-amino based crosslinker with a latex fluorocarbon elastomer.

1 . A component comprising a substrate and a hybrid composition comprising a latex fluorocarbon elastomer and a non-amino based crosslinker.  
     
     
         2 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of carbon and siloxane based crosslinkers.  
     
     
         3 . A component in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said siloxane based crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of hydroxysiloxanes, hydrosiloxanes and epoxys.  
     
     
         4 . A component in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of diepoxy and disilylalkoxy based crosslinkers and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A component in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the crosslinker is a polyfunctional epoxy having at least two functional groups and a polymeric backbone of carbon, siloxane, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A component in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said carbon based crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of epoxy terminated hydrocarbons and diols.  
     
     
         7 . A component in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said siloxane based crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of silanol, methoxy and ethoxy terminated siloxanes.  
     
     
         8 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said crosslinker is  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 2 and about 20.  
     
     
         9 . A component in accordance with  claim 8  wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 5 and about 10.  
     
     
         10 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said crosslinker is  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 2 and about 20.  
     
     
         11 . A component in accordance with  claim 10  wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 5 and about 10.  
     
     
         12 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said crosslinker is  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 1 and about 1000.  
     
     
         13 . A component in accordance with  claim 12  wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 5 and about 45.  
     
     
         14 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said crosslinker is  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 1 and about 1000, x is a number between about 1 and about 3, R is either H, CH 3  or (CH 2 ) y  CH 3 , and y is a number between about 1 and about 3.  
     
     
         15 . A component in accordance with  claim 14  wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 5 and about 45.  
     
     
         16 . A component in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the crosslinker is  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         17 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the fluorocarbon elastomer is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a) copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene;    b) terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene; and    c) tetrapolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene and cure site monomer.    
     
     
         18 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the fluorocarbon elastomer is selected from the group consisting of terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         19 . A component in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the fluorine content of the fluorocarbon elastomer is from about 50 to about 80 weight percent.  
     
     
         20 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein hybrid composition is from about 15 to about 50 micrometers thick.  
     
     
         21 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is a cylindrical roll.  
     
     
         22 . A component in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said roll is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper and steel.  
     
     
         23 . A component in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is an endless, flexible belt.  
     
     
         24 . A component in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said substrate is comprised of polyimide.  
     
     
         25 . A component in accordance with  claim 24 , said substrate further comprising from about 1 to about 10 intermediate layers positioned between the substrate and the hybrid composition.  
     
     
         26 . A component in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the intermediate layers is an elastomer layer or an adhesive layer.  
     
     
         27 . A component in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein said intermediate layer is an elastomer layer comprising a silicone elastomer.  
     
     
         28 . A component in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said intermediate layer is an adhesive layer comprising a polymeric compound selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins and silanes.  
     
     
         29 . A component in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the intermediate layers comprises a crosslinked hybrid composition, said hybrid composition comprising a latex fluorocarbon elastomer and a non-amino based crosslinker.  
     
     
         30 . A method which comprises the steps of: 
 mixing an acid acceptor, an emulsifier and water to form a dispersion;    providing a non-amino polymeric based crosslinker;    reacting a latex fluorocarbon elastomer with said dispersion and the non-amino polymeric based crosslinker to form a crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer; and    providing at least one layer of the crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer onto a substrate having an outer surface.    
     
     
         31 . A method in accordance with  claim 30 , further comprising the step of heat curing the layer of crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer on the outer surface of said substrate.  
     
     
         32 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 mixing an acid acceptor, an emulsifier, water and a non-amino based crosslinker to form a dispersion;    adding and reacting a latex fluorocarbon elastomer with said dispersion to form a crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer; and    providing at least one layer of the crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer onto a fuser member supporting substrate.    
     
     
         33 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein said crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of carbon based polymeric crosslinkers and siloxane based polymeric crosslinkers.  
     
     
         34 . A method in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein said siloxane based croslinker is selected from the group consisting of hydroxysilanes and epoxys.  
     
     
         35 . A method in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein said crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of diepoxy and disilylalkoxy based crosslinkers and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         36 . A method in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein said crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 2 and about 20.  
     
     
         37 . A method in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 5 and about 10.  
     
     
         38 . A method in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 1 and about 1000, x is a number between about 1 and about 3, R is either H, CH 3  or (CH 2 ) y  CH 3 , and y is a number between about 1 and about 3.  
     
     
         39 . A method in accordance with  claim 38 , wherein n represents the number of segments and is a number between about 5 and about 45.  
     
     
         40 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the crosslinker is:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         41 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein said latex fluorocarbon elastomer is selected from the group consisting of: copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene; terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene; and tetrapolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene and cure site monomers.  
     
     
         42 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein said latex fluorocarbon elastomer is selected from a group consisting of terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         43 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein said acid acceptor is zinc oxide.  
     
     
         44 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein said emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of octylphenoxpolyethoxy-ethanol-polyethylene glycol, sodium laurylsulphate and ammonium laurylsulphate.  
     
     
         45 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , further comprising the step of adding a metal oxide filler to said non-amino crosslinker dispersion.  
     
     
         46 . A method in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said filler is selected from the group consisting of copper oxide, iron oxide and aluminum oxide.  
     
     
         47 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , further comprising the step of adding a pigment to said non-amino crosslinker dispersion.  
     
     
         48 . A method in accordance with  claim 47 , wherein said pigment is selected from the group consisting of iron II oxide, iron III oxide, titanium dioxide and chromium oxides.  
     
     
         49 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein said water is deionized water.  
     
     
         50 . A method in accordance with  claim 32 , further comprising the step of heat curing the layer of crosslinked fluorocarbon elastomer on the outer surface of said fuser member supporting substrate.  
     
     
         51 . An apparatus comprising: a charge-retentive surface; a development component to apply toner to said charge-retentive surface to develop said electrostatic latent image to form a developed image on said charge retentive surface; a transfer component to transfer the developed image from said charge retentive surface to a substrate; and a fusing component to fuse the developed image to said substrate, wherein said fusing component comprises a supporting substrate and an environmentally friendly outer surface thereon comprising a crosslinked hybrid composition, wherein said hybrid composition comprises a latex fluorocarbon elastomer and an a non-amino based crosslinker.  
     
     
         52 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 51 , wherein said crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of carbon based crosslinkers and siloxane based crosslinkers.  
     
     
         53 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 51  wherein said charge retentive surface is adopted to receive an electrostatic latent image thereon.  
     
     
         54 . A process for transferring at least one toned image from a photoconductor element surface to a receiver comprising: 
 rolling a heated intermediate transfer roller over the element while the temperature of the circumferential surface portions of the roller is sufficient to sinter the toner particles comprising said toned image to each other; and    rolling the heated, toned image bearing roller over the receiver to transfer the tone image to said receiver, wherein said intermediate transfer roller comprises a crosslinked hybrid composition, said hybrid composition comprising a latex fluorocarbon elastomer and a non-amino based crosslinker.    
     
     
         55 . A fuser system member in accordance with  claim 54 , wherein said crosslinker is selected from the group consisting of carbon based crosslinkers and siloxane based crosslinkers.  
     
     
         56 . A fuser member comprising a substrate having a hybrid composition coating thereon, said hybrid composition coating comprising a latex fluorocarbon elastomer and a non-amino based crosslinker.