Process for preparation of electrostatic liquid developing using metallic soap as adjuvant

Claim 2

A process for preparing electrostatic liquid developer for electrostatic imaging comprising (A) dispersing at an elevated temperature in a vessel a thermoplastic resin, a metallic soap, a dispersant nonpolar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of less than 30, while maintaining the temperature in the vessel at a temperature sufficient to plasticize and liquify the resin and below that at which the dispersant nonpolar liquid degrades and the resin decomposes, (B) cooling the dispersion, either (1) without stirring to form a gel or solid mass, followed by shredding the gel or solid mass and grinding by means of particulate media in the presence of additional liquid; (2) with stirring to form a viscous mixture and grinding by means of particulate media in the presence of additional liquid; or (3) while grinding by means of particulate media to prevent the formation of a gel or solid mass in the presence of additional liquid; (C) separating the dispersion of toner particles having an average by area particle size of less than 10 μm from the particulate media, and (D) adding to the dispersion a nonpolar liquid soluble ionic or zwitterionic charge director compound.

Claim 3

A process according to to claim 1 wherein the metallic soap is a polyvalent metal salt of a carboxylic acid of at least 6 carbon atoms.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 2 wherein the polyvalent metal is selected from the group consisting of barium, calcium, magnesium, strontium, zinc, cadmium, aluminum, gallium, lead, chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, and cobalt.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1 wherein there is present in the vessel up to 100% by weight of a polar additive having a Kauri-butanol value of at least 30, the percentage based on the total weight of the liquid.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 1 wherein the particulate media are selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, carbon steel, ceramic, alumina, zirconium, silica and sillimanite.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic resin is a copolymer of ethylene and an α-β-ethylenically unsaturated acid selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic resin is a copolymer of ethylene (80 to 99.9%)/acrylic or methacrylic acid (20 to 0%)/alkyl ester of acrylic or methacrylic acid wherein alkyl is 1 to 5 carbon atoms (0 to 20%).

Claim 9

A process according to claim 7 wherein the thermoplastic resin is a copolymer of ethylene (89%) methacrylic acid (11%) having a melt index at 190° C. of 100.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 1 wherein at least one colorant is present in dispersing step (A), and the temperature is maintained in the vessel at a temperature sufficient to plasticize and liquify the resin and below that at which the dispersant nonpolar liquid degrades and the resin and colorant decomposes.

Claim 11

A process according to claim 1 wherein the charge director compound is Basic Barium Petronate.

Claim 12

A process according to claim 1 wherein the charge director is lecithin.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 1 wherein the additional dispersant nonpolar liquid, polar liquid or combinations thereof is present to reduce the concentration of toner particles to between 0.1 to 15 percent by weight with respect to the liquid.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 36 wherein the concentration of toner particles is reduced by additional dispersant nonpolar liquid.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 1 wherein cooling and dispersion is accomplished while grinding by means of particulate media to prevent the formation of a gel or solid mass in the presence of additional liquid.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 1 wherein cooling the dispersion is accomplished without stirring to form a gel or solid mass, followed by shredding the gel or solid mass and grinding by means of particulate media in the presence of additional liquid.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 1 wherein cooling the dispersion is accomplished with stirring to form a viscous mixture and grinding by means of particulate media in the presence of additional liquid.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 1 wherein an adjuvant compound selected from the group consisting of aminoalcohol, polybutylene succinimide, and an aromatic hydrocarbon is added during the dispersing step (A).

Claim 19

A process according to claim 17 wherein the adjuvant compound is an aminoalcohol.

Claim 20

A process according to claim 18 wherein the aminoalcohol is triisopropanolamine.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 12 wherein an adjuvant compound selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy compound, aminoalcohol, polybutylene succinimide, and an aromatic hydrocarbon is added to the liquid developer.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 20 wherein the adjuvant compound is a polyhydroxy compound.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 21 wherein the polyhydroxy compound is ethylene glycol.

Claim 24

A process for preparing electrostatic liquid developer comprising (A) dispersing a metallic soap in a thermoplastic resin in the absence of a dispersant nonpolar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of less than 30 to form a solid mass, (B) shredding the solid mass, (C) grinding the shredded solid mass by means of particulate media in the presence of a liquid selected from the group consisting of a polar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of at least 30, a nonpolar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of less than 30, and combinations thereof, (D) separating the dispersion of toner particles having an average by area particle size of less than 10 μm from the particulate media, and (E) adding additional nonpolar liquid, polar liquid or combinations thereof to reduce the concentration of toner particles to between 0.1 to 15.0 percent by weight with respect to the liquid; and (F) adding to the dispersion a liquid soluble ionic or zwitterionic charge director compound.

Claim 25

A process for preparing electrostatic liquid developer comprising (A) dispersing a metallic soap in a thermoplastic resin in the absence of a dispersant nonpolar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of less than 30 to form a solid mass, (B) shredding the solid mass, (C) grinding the shredded solid mass by means of particulate media in the presence of a liquid selected from the group consisting of a polar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of at least 30, a nonpolar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of less than 30, and combinations thereof, (D) separating the dispersion of toner particles having an average by area particle size of less than 10 μm from the particulate media, and (E) adding additional nonpolar liquid, polar liquid or combinations thereof to reduce the concentration of toner particles to between 0.1 to 15.0 percent by weight with respect to the liquid; and (F) adding to the dispersion a liquid soluble ionic or zwitterionic charge director compound.

Claim 26

A process for preparing electrostatic liquid developer comprising (A) dispersing a metallic soap in a thermoplastic resin in the absence of a dispersant nonpolar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of less than 30 to form a solid mass, (B) shredding the solid mass, (C) redispersing the shredded solid mass at an elevated temperature in a vessel in the presence of a dispersant nonpolar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of less than 30, while maintaining the temperature in the vessel at a temperature sufficient to plasticize and liquify the resin and below that at which the dispersant nonpolar liquid degrades and the resin decomposes, (D) cooling the dispersion, either (1) without stirring to form a gel or solid mass, followed by shredding the gel or solid mass and grinding by means of particulate media in the presence of additional liquid; (2) with stirring to form a viscous mixture and grinding by means of particulate media in the presence of additional liquid; or (3) while grinding by means of particulate media to prevent the formation of a gel or solid mass in the presence of additional liquid; (E) separating the dispersion of toner particles having an average by area particle size of less than 10 μm from the particulate media, and (F) adding additional nonpolar liquid, polar liquid or combinations thereof to reduce the concentration of toner particles to between 0.1 to 15.0 percent by weight with respect to the liquid; and (G) adding to the dispersion a liquid soluble ionic or zwitterionic charge director compound.

Claim 27

A process for preparing electrostatic liquid developer comprising (A) dispersing a metallic soap in a thermoplastic resin in the absence of a dispersant nonpolar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of less than 30 to form a solid mass, (B) shredding the solid mass, (C) redispersing the shredded solid mass at an elevated temperature in a vessel in the presence of a dispersant nonpolar liquid having a Kauri-butanol value of less than 30, while maintaining the temperature in the vessel at a temperature sufficient to plasticize and liquify the resin and below that at which the dispersant nonpolar liquid degrades and the resin decomposes, (D) cooling the dispersion, either (1) without stirring to form a gel or solid mass, followed by shredding the gel or solid mass and grinding by means of particulate media in the presence of additional liquid; (2) with stirring to form a viscous mixture and grinding by means of particulate media in the presence of additional liquid; or (3) while grinding by means of particulate media to prevent the formation of a gel or solid mass in the presence of additional liquid; (E) separating the dispersion of toner particles having an average by area particle size of less than 10 μm from the particulate media, and (F) adding additional nonpolar liquid, polar liquid or combinations thereof to reduce the concentration of toner particles to between 0.1 to 15.0 percent by weight with respect to the liquid; and (G) adding to the dispersion a liquid soluble ionic or zwitterionic charge director compound.

Claim 28

A process according to claim 24 wherein at least one colorant is present in redispersing step (C), and the temperature is maintained in the vessel at a temperature sufficient to plasticize and liquify the resin and below that at which the dispersant nonpolar liquid degrades and the resin and colorant decomposes.