Chlorofluoro elastomer compositions for use in electrophotographic fusing applications

Abstract

Elastomer compositions comprising a blend of a fluoroelastomer comprising a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene and a chlorofluoroelastomer comprising a co-or terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, chlorotrifluoroethylene and 0-40 mole % of hexafluoropropylene are provided. The composition may be cured and is particularly suitable for use as a surface release layer for fusing systems used in electrostatographic imaging systems.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for preparing a cross-linked fuser composition comprising mixing solutions of 
 a] a fluoroelastomer comprising a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and    b] a chlorofluoroelastomer comprising a copolymer or terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, chlorotrifluoroehtylene and from 0 to about 40 mole percent of a monomer selected from the group consisting of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoropropylene;    in an appropriate solvent, where the fluoroelastomer comprises from about 5 to about 95 weight percent of the elastomer solids content of the solution;    adding a nucleophilic dehydrofluorinating agent selected from the group consisting of aminosilanes and hydrocarbon diamines; and    mixing the resulting solution until the polymers have a crosslink density value of at least about 1×10 −4  mole of chains/cc as measured by the Flory-Rehner equation.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  where the chlorofluoroelastomer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, chlorotrifluoroehtylene and from about 1 to about 40 mole percent of a monomer selected from the group consisting of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoropropylene.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  where the nucleophilic dehydrofluorinating agent is an aminosilane.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  where the nucleophilic dehydrofluorinating agent is an functional polyorganosiloxane.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  where the fluoroelastomer comprises at least about 50 weight percent of the elastomer solids content of the solution.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the composition is cured.  
     
     
         7 . The product of the process of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         8 . A process for fabricating a fuser member having an outer elastomeric coating comprising applying a coating of the product of the process of  claim 1  to the fuser member and curing the elastomeric coating.  
     
     
         9 . A fuser system member comprising a supporting substrate and an outer surface layer of the cured product of the process of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . The fuser system member of  claim 9  wherein the supporting substrate is a fuser roll, a pressure roll or a release agent donor roll.  
     
     
         11 . The fuser system member of  claim 9  wherein the supporting substrate is a cylindrical sleeve, a drum or a belt.  
     
     
         12 . The fuser system member of  claim 9  wherein said outer surface layer has a thickness of about 10 to 250 micrometers.  
     
     
         13 . A elastomer composition comprising a blend of 
 a] a fluoroelastomer comprising a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene; and    b] a chlorofluoroelastomer comprising a copolymer or terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, chlorotrifluoroehtylene and from 0 to about 40 mole percent of a monomer selected from the group consisting of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoropropylene;    where the fluoroelastomer comprises from about 5 to about 95 weight percent of the elastomer solids content of the solution;    and the polymers have a crosslink density value of at least about 1×10 −4  mole of chains/cm3 as measured by the Flory-Rehner equation.    
     
     
         14 . The elastomer composition. of  claim 13  where the chlorofluoroelastomer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, chlorotrifluoroethylene and from about 1 to about 40 mole percent of a monomer selected from the group consisting of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoropropylene.  
     
     
         15 . The elastomer composition of  claim 13  further including a filler material.  
     
     
         16 . The elastomer composition of  claim 8  wherein said filler is treated with a silane coupling agent.