Preparation and Characterization of Magnetic Toner Particles by Direct Polymerization Method

Abstract

In this study a kind of black toner, containing polymer, magnetic iron oxide pigment, and several other additives, was prepared by a suspension polymerization method. The morphology, influence factor of particle size, and glass transition of prepared toner were discussed. SEM image showed that the produced micron-sized particles have a spherical surface and the various chemicals were mixed into monomers during manufacturing of the particles. Discussion about particle formation and stability concluded that the toner particle size related with stabilizer concentration, stirrer speed, and crosslinking agent concentration. The bigger particles, resulted from droplets coalescence during polymerization process, disappeared when enough PVA stabilizer was used in the aqueous medium. .Increasing the stirrer speed corresponded to the decrease of the particles size. But any increase in stirrer speed t did not contribute to size reduction in small particles below 2μm. It was found that particle size decrease with the addition of crosslinking agent. The DSC result indicated the glass transition of polymerized toner could be effectively adjusted according to Fox equation through change the monomer ratio.