Mechanically viable developer materials

Claim 2

A carrier particle for electrostatographic developer mixtures, said carrier particle having an average particle diameter from between about 30 microns and about 1,000 microns, said carrier particle comprising a core having an outer coating, said outer coating comprising a mixture of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine) and polyurethane.

Claim 3

A carrier particle for electrostatographic developer mixtures in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer coating comprises from between about 90 percent and about 10 percent by weight of polyurethane and from between about 10 percent and about 90 percent by weight of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine), based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 4

A carrier particle for electrostatographic developer mixtures in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer coating comprises from between about 70 percent and about 30 percent by weight of polyurethane and from between about 30 percent and about 70 percent by weight of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine), based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 5

A carrier particle for electrostatographic developer mixtures in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer coating comprises from between about 60 percent and about 40 percent by weight of polyurethane and from between about 40 percent and about 60 percent by weight of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine), based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 6

A carrier particle for electrostatographic developer mixtures in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polyurethane has a tensile strength of between 5300 psi and about 5700 psi, a tensile modulus of between about 700 psi and about 1700 psi, elongation of between about 300 percent and about 500 percent, and a tear strength of between about 300 pounds and about 400 pounds.

Claim 7

A carrier particle for electrostatographic developer mixtures in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polyurethane has a molecular weight of less than about 50,000.

Claim 8

A carrier particles for electrostatographic developer mixtures in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer coating comprises from about 0.1 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight based on the weight of said carrier particle.

Claim 9

A carrier particle for electrostatographic developer mixtures in accordance with claim 1 wherein said outer coating contains from between about 5 and about 20 percent by weight of poly(vinylbutyral) based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 10

An electrostatographic developer mixture comprising finely-divided toner particles electrostatically clinging to the surface of carrier particles, said carrier particles having an average diameter from between about 30 microns and about 1,000 microns, said carrier particles comprising a core having an outer coating, said outer coating comprising a mixture of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine) and polyurethane.

Claim 11

An electrostatographic developer mixture comprising finely-divided toner particles electrostatically clinging to the surface of carrier particles, said carrier particles having an average diameter from between about 30 microns and about 1,000 microns, said carrier particles comprising a core having an outer coating, said outer coating comprising a mixture of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine) and polyurethane.

Claim 12

An electrostatographic developer mixture in accordance with claim 9 wherein said outer coating comprises from between about 90 percent and about 10 percent by weight of polyurethane and from between about 10 percent and about 90 percent by weight of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine), based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 13

An electrostatographic developer mixture in accordance with claim 9 wherein said outer coating comprises from between about 70 percent and about 30 percent by weight of polyurethane and from between about 30 percent and about 70 percent by weight of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine), based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 14

An electrostatographic developer mixture in accordance with claim 9 wherein said outer coating comprises from between about 60 percent and about 40 percent by weight of polyurethane and from between about 40 percent and about 60 percent by weight of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine), based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 15

An electrostatographic developer mixture in accordance with claim 9 wherein said polyurethane has a tensile strength of between 5300 psi and about 5700 psi, a tensile modulus of between about 700 psi and about 1700 psi, elongation of between about 300 percent and about 500 percent, and a tear strength of between about 300 pounds and about 400 pounds.

Claim 16

An electrostatographic developer mixture in accordance with claim 9 wherein said polyurethane has a molecular weight of less than about 50,000.

Claim 17

An electrostatographic developer mixture in accordance with claim 9 wherein said outer coating comprises from about 0.1 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight based on the weight of said carrier particles.

Claim 18

An electrostatographic developer mixture in accordance with claim 9 wherein said outer coating contains from between about 5 and about 20 percent by weight of poly(vinylbutyral) based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 19

An electrostatographic imaging process comprising the steps of forming an electrostatic latent image on a recording surface and developing said latent image by contacting said recording surface with a developer mixture comprising finely-divided toner particles electrostatically clinging to the surface of carrier particles, said carrier particles having an average diameter from between about 30 microns and about 1,000 microns, said carrier particles comprising a core having an outer coating, said outer coating comprising a mixture of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine) and polyurethane, whereby at least a portion of said finely-divided toner particles are attracted to and deposited on said recording surface in conformance with said electrostatic latent image.

Claim 20

An electrostatographic imaging process comprising the steps of forming an electrostatic latent image on a recording surface and developing said latent image by contacting said recording surface with a developer mixture comprising finely-divided toner particles electrostatically clinging to the surface of carrier particles, said carrier particles having an average diameter from between about 30 microns and about 1,000 microns, said carrier particles comprising a core having an outer coating, said outer coating comprising a mixture of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine) and polyurethane, whereby at least a portion of said finely-divided toner particles are attracted to and deposited on said recording surface in conformance with said electrostatic latent image.

Claim 21

An electrostatographic imaging process in accordance with claim 17 wherein said outer coating comprises from between about 90 percent and about 10 percent by weight of polyurethane and from between about 10 percent and about 90 percent by weight of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine), based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 22

An electrostatographic imaging process in accordance with claim 17 wherein said outer coating comprises from between about 70 percent and about 30 percent by weight of polyurethane and from between about 30 percent and about 70 percent by weight of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine), based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 23

An electrostatographic imaging process in accordance with claim 17 wherein said outer coating comprises from between about 60 percent and about 40 percent by weight of polyurethane and from between about 40 percent and about 60 percent by weight of poly(2-vinyl-pyridine), based on the weight of said outer coating.

Claim 24

An electrostatographic imaging process in accordance with claim 17 wherein said polyurethane has a tensile strength of between 5300 psi and about 5700 psi, a tensile modulus of between about 700 psi and about 1700 psi, elongation of between about 300 percent and about 500 percent, and a tear strength of between about 300 pounds and about 400 pounds.

Claim 25

An electrostatographic imaging process in accordance with claim 17 wherein said polyurethane has a molecular weight of less than about 50,000.

Claim 26

An electrostatographic imaging process in accordance with claim 17 wherein said outer coating comprises from about 0.1 percent to about 1.0 percent by weight based on the weight of said carrier particles.

Claim 27

An electrostatographic imaging process in accordance with claim 17 wherein said outer coating contains from between about 5 and about 20 percent by weight of poly(vinylbutyral) based on the weight of said outer coating.