Toner and Toner Binder

Abstract

A polyester resin toner binder which gives a toner with good anti-blocking property at high temperature and high humidity and good low-temperature fixing ability. The present invention is directed to a toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images, which binder comprises a condensation-polymerization polyester resin, the polyester resin being a product formed in the presence of a catalyst (a) represented by the following general formula (I): Ti(—X) m (—OR) n   (I) wherein R is H or a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms which may contain from 1 to 3 ether bonds and/or from 1 to 2 hydroxyl groups; X is a residue formed by removing H of one carboxyl group from an aromatic mono- or polycarboxylic acid, provided that in the case of a polycarboxylic acid, a carboxyl group other than said one carboxyl group may intra molecularly polycondense with an OR group in the same molecule to form a ring structure or may form a structure where it has polycondensed intermolecularly with an OR group in another molecule; m=1 to 3, n=1 to 3, and the sum of m and n is 4.

1 . A toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images, which binder comprises a condensation-polymerization polyester resin, the polyester resin being a product formed in the presence of a catalyst (a) represented by the following general formula (I):
   Ti(—X) m (—OR) n   (I)   
     wherein R is H or a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 24 carbon atoms which may contain from 1 to 3 ether bonds and/or from 1 to 2 hydroxyl groups; X is a residue formed by removing H of one carboxyl group from an aromatic mono- or polycarboxylic acid, provided that in the case of a polycarboxylic acid, a carboxyl group other than said one carboxyl group may intra molecularly polycondense with an OR group in the same molecule to form a ring structure or may intermolecularly polycondense with an OR group in another molecule to form a structure containing from 2 to 5 Ti atoms; m=1 to 3, n=1 to 3, and the sum of m and n is 4. 
   
   
       2 . The toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst (a) has a solubility in water of 5 g/100 ml or less at 30° C. 
   
   
       3 . The toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images according to  claim 1 , wherein not less than 80% of the ester bonds of the polyester resin are formed by dehydration condensation. 
   
   
       4 . The toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the polyester resin is modified with a polyisocyanate (b) and/or polyepoxide (c). 
   
   
       5 . A toner for developing electrostatic charge images comprising the toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images (A) according to  claim 1  and a colorant (B). 
   
   
       6 . The toner for developing electrostatic charge images according to  claim 5 , further comprising at least one additive selected from a mold release agent (C), a charge control agent (D) and a fluidizing agent (E). 
   
   
       7 . The toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images according to  claim 2 , wherein not less than 80% of the ester bonds of the polyester resin are formed by dehydration condensation. 
   
   
       8 . The toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a part of the polyester resin is modified with a polyisocyanate (b) and/or polyepoxide (c). 
   
   
       9 . The toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images according to  claim 3 , wherein at least a part of the polyester resin is modified with a polyisocyanate (b) and/or polyepoxide (c). 
   
   
       10 . The toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images according to  claim 7 , wherein at least a part of the polyester resin is modified with a polyisocyanate (b) and/or polyepoxide (c). 
   
   
       11 . A toner for developing electrostatic charge images comprising the toner binder for developing electrostatic charge images (A) according to  claim 4  and a colorant (B). 
   
   
       12 . The toner for developing electrostatic charge images according to  claim 11 , further comprising at least one additive selected from a mold release agent (C), a charge control agent (D) and a fluidizing agent (E).