Toner

Abstract

A toner prepared by a method comprising granulating while polymerizing a ring-opening polymerizable monomer with a catalyst under the presence of a surfactant and a colorant in a compressible fluid.

1 . A toner which is prepared by a method, comprising:
 granulating while polymerizing a ring-opening polymerizable monomer with a catalyst under the presence of a surfactant and a colorant in a compressible fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is an organic catalyst. 
     
     
         3 . The toner of  claim 2 , wherein the organic catalyst is a nucleophilic nitrogen compound having basicity. 
     
     
         4 . The toner of  claim 2 , wherein the organic catalyst is a cyclic compound having a nitrogen atom. 
     
     
         5 . The toner of  claim 2 , wherein the organic catalyst is a member selected from the group consisting of cyclic amines, cyclic diamines, cyclic diamine compounds having an amidine skeleton, cyclic triamine compounds having a guanidine skeleton, heterocyclic aromatic organic compounds including a nitrogen atom and N-heterocyclic carbene. 
     
     
         6 . The toner of  claim 5 , the organic catalyst is a member selected from the group consisting of 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undeca-7-ene (DBU)), 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]deca-5-ene (TBD), diphenylguanidine (DPG), N,N-dimethyl-4-aminopyridine (DMAP), 4-pyrrolidinopyridine (PPY) and 1,3-di-tert-butylimidazole-2-ylidene (ITBU). 
     
     
         7 . The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the colorant is a pigment. 
     
     
         8 . The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the ring-opening polymerizable monomer is L- or D-lactide. 
     
     
         9 . The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant has affinity with the compressible fluid and the ring-opening polymerizable monomer. 
     
     
         10 . The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant has a perfluoroalkyl group, polydimethylsiloxane group or a polyacrylate group. 
     
     
         11 . The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible fluid is formed of carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         12 . The toner of  claim 1 , wherein the toner has a ratio (Mw/Mn) of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to a number-average molecular weight (Mn) not greater than 1.5.