Modified Pigments for Chemically Prepared Toner (CPT)

Abstract

In the field of electrophotographic printing, the emergence of next-generation printing technologies such as chemically prepared toners (CPT) is changing pigment performance requirements. Every CPT processing technology has a unique set of performance requirements imposed on the colorant. In order to ensure optimum color performance, pigment particles (both black and color) must be well-dispersed and compatible within a host resin. The challenge becomes balancing dispersion quality and resin compatibility in the face of other environmental constraints such as transitions from solvent to water, pH changes, the presence of flocculating agents and surfactants, and large temperature ranges. Under these strict conditions, the ability to tune pigment surface properties (e.g. hydrophilic to hydrophobic, ionic to non-ionic, polymeric vs. small-molecule) to meet both improved color performance requirements as well as CPT processing constraints becomes very powerful. In response to these challenges, Cabot has developed several surface modification technologies that enable dispersions of pigments in aqueous and non-aqueous systems. In this presentation, we will highlight Cabot's portfolio of smallmolecule and polymer modified pigments for improved performance in chemical toner systems. We will also discuss how the selection of carbon black morphology can influence key aspects of toner performance, such as color.