Polymerized toner: Functional control of micron-size particles

Toners used in copiers and printers are one of typical hybrids of both orga nic and inorganic materials. They are some 10 mu m particles made of a poly mer resin binder with several pigments, including carbon black as an inorga nic material, surrounded by nano-meter-size super fine inorganic particles such as metal oxides. Spherical toners have been developed by suspension po lymerization as nonmagnetic toners. These toners have many superior feature s to conventional pulverized toners such as simpler production process, mor e narrow particle size distribution, higher flowability and transfer ratio, better quality of printing images and lower temperature fusing with encaps ulated toner. These features allow printers to meet recent requirements for not only high quality but environmentally friendly design. Since further h igher resolutions and lower fusing temperatures are required in the market, especially in color toners, our suspension polymerized toners are going to play more significant rolls in the near future.