MELTING PROCESS BY FLASH HEATING: EXTERNAL DEFORMATION OF A FINE POLYMER PARTICLE BY STEADY RADIANT LIGHT

The speed of data processing is generally defined by the printing speed of electrophotographic machines such as the laser-beam-printer (LBP). Therefore, to keep step with the latest in computer developments, faster machines are expected. There are currently many problems to be solved, but optimization of the fusing process is important, particularly in the case of flash fusing. In order to improve the printing speed of the LBP with flash heating, clarification of phenomena in the melting process of polymer particles (=toner) by flash heating has become very important. Unfortunately, almost no theoretical or phenomenological explanations are available on the melting mechanism because, as the toner is mainly made of an amorphous high polymer, there are rheological and unsteady heat transfer problems in this process. Therefore, it is necessary to consider not only the electrical properties and melting properties of the bulk toner, but also the microscopic behavior of the toner.