Fixing member, method for producing it, and image forming apparatus comprising the fixing member

Abstract

In a fixing member ( 10 ) in which an elastic layer made of heat-resistance synthetic rubber and a releasing layer made of fluorocarbon resin are sequentially provided on a substrate, a melting point of the fluorocarbon resin constituting the releasing layer ( 3 ) is set to be at least 20° C. lower than a temperature for starting an oxidation of the heat-resistance synthetic rubber constituting the elastic layer ( 2 ), and the releasing layer ( 3 ) is burned by a temperature which is higher than the melting point of the fluorocarbon resin constituting the releasing layer ( 3 ), and a burning temperature which does not exceed the starting temperature for the oxidation of the heat-resistance rubber constituting the elastic layer ( 2 ).

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A method for producing a fixing member, comprising: 
 forming a first primer layer by applying a first primer on a substrate;    forming an elastic layer by applying a solution of a heat-resistant synthetic rubber on said first primer layer;    forming a second primer layer by applying a second primer on said elastic layer;    forming a layer of fluorocarbon resin by applying dispersion liquid or powdered paint of fluorocarbon resin including a melting point, which is at least 20° C. lower than a temperature for starting an oxidation of the heat-resistant synthetic rubber constituting said elastic layer on said second primer layer; and    heating said layer of fluorocarbon resin with a temperature, which is higher than of the melting point of said fluorocarbon resin, and a heating temperature, which does not exceed the starting temperature for the oxidation of the heat-resistant synthetic rubber constituting said elastic layer.    
   
   
       12 . (canceled)  
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said substrate is a roller comprising a metal.  
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein said metal is aluminum, stainless-steel, brass or iron.  
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said substrate is formed by (1) a sheet or an endless belt comprising a metal, (2) a sheet or an endless belt comprising a heat-resistant resin, or (3) a laminated sheet or a laminated endless belt recited in the above (1) or (2).  
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said metal is stainless-steel or nickel.  
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said heat-resistant resin is polyamide or polyamideimide.  
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a major component of the heat-resistant synthetic rubber constituting said elastic layer is silicone rubber or fluorosilicone rubber.  
   
   
       19 . A fixing member produced by a method as claimed in  claim 11 .  
   
   
       20 . An image forming apparatus comprising a fixing member produced by a method as claimed in  claim 11 .  
   
   
       21 . A method for producing an image forming apparatus comprising utilizing a fixing member produced by a method as claimed in  claim 11.