Abstract: An amorphous mixture consisting essentially of TiOFPc and TiOPc and containing more than 75 weight percent of substantially chlorine-free TiOPc is produced by forming a mixture of crude crystalline TiOFPc and crude crystalline, substantially chlorine-free TiOPc that contains less than 80 weight percent TiOPc, treating the mixture under conditions effective to form a substantially amorphous mixture of TiOFPc and TiOPc containing less than 75 weight percent TiOPc, which is then treated with water, and dried. A further amount of crude crystalline, substantially chlorine-free TiOPc sufficient to form a new mixture containing more than 75 weight percent of substantially chlorine-free TiOPc is added, and the new mixture is converted to a substantially amorphous mixture of TiOFPc and TiOPc. A nanoparticulate cocrystalline composition is obtained by forming a slurry in an organic solvent of the dried substantially amorphous mixture, and wet milling the slurry to form the cocrystalline composition.

Abstract: Development systems and methods for developing using magnetic toner are disclosed. The present invention further discloses developers used in development systems as well as the toner used in developer for magnetic ink character recognition printing. With respect to the development system, a development system is disclosed which includes a supply of dry developer mixture which contains magnetic toner particles and hard magnetic carrier particles. The development system further includes a non-magnetic, cylindrical shell for transporting the developer between the supply and the development zone, wherein the shell can be rotatable or stationary. A rotating magnetic core of a pre-selected magnetic field strength and means for rotating at least the magnetic core to provide for the transport of the toner particles from the shell to an electrostatic image also provided as part of the development system.

Abstract: In a process for forming an amorphous TiOPc/TiOFPc pigment mixture containing a low concentration of TiOFPc, a mixture containing phthalonitrile and titanium tetrachloride is subjected to reaction conditions effective to form lightly chlorine-substituted crude crystalline Cl—TiOPc. The lightly chlorine-substituted crude crystalline Cl—TiOPc is combined with crude crystalline TiOFPc in a weight ratio from about 75:25 Cl—TiOPc:TiOFPc to about 99.5:0.5 Cl—TiOPc:TiOFPC to form a crude crystalline pigment mixture, which is treated under conditions effective to form a substantially amorphous pigment mixture of Cl—TiOPc and TiOFPc. The substantially amorphous mixture can subsequently be converted to a nanocrystalline Cl—TiOPc/TiOFPc pigment composition containing a low concentration of TiOFPc.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuser member, including fusing apparatus and electrostatographic methods which employ the fuser member, which has improved wear resistance and a reduced tendency to contaminate with toner particles. The fuser member comprises a core and a pliant coating thereon. The coating comprises a base cushion layer comprised of a first elastomeric composition, with a surface layer thereover comprised of a second elastomeric composition. The hardness of the surface layer is equal to or less than the hardness of the base cushion layer. In embodiments, the surface layer further comprises a particulate silica filler in an amount of about 10 volume percent or less, based on total volume of the surface layer.

Abstract: A fusing-station member, which member can be a compliant fuser roller or a compliant pressure roller, for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine, and which member includes a base cushion layer formed on a core member, with the base cushion layer coated by a thin protective gloss control layer. In certain preferred embodiments, the base cushion layer is a highly cross-linked condensation-polymerized polyorganosiloxane material made by thermal curing of a formulation which includes three types of filler particles, namely hollow flexible microballoon particles, strength-enhancing solid particles, and thermal-conductivity-enhancing solid particles. In other preferred embodiments, expandable microspheres are included in lieu of the hollow flexible microballoon particles in an otherwise similar uncured formulation, which expandable microspheres are transformed into expanded hollow microballoon particles during the thermal curing.

Abstract: In a process for forming a self-dispersing crystalline phthalocyanine pigment composition of monodisperse nanoparticles, a mixture containing titanyl fluorophthalocyanines, unsubstituted titanyl phthalocyanine, and an organic monomeric dispersant but substantially free of organic solvents or inorganic salts is dry milled, thereby forming a substantially amorphous phthalocyanine pigment composition. The substantially amorphous composition is contacted with an organic solvent having a hydrogen bonding parameter gammac lower than about 8, thereby forming a self-dispersing cocrystalline phthalocyanine pigment composition of monodisperse nanoparticles containing titanyl fluorophthalocyanines and titanyl phthalocyanine, which can be used to form the charge generation layer of an electrophotographic element.

Abstract: A high heat transfer efficiency fusing roller includes an annular elastomeric base cushion layer around a rigid cylindrical core member, with a high thermal conductivity layer around the base cushion layer, and a thin flexible release layer around the high thermal conductivity layer. The base cushion layer is less thermally conductive than the high thermal conductivity layer, which high thermal conductivity layer has a thermal conductivity equal to or greater than 1 Btu/hr/ft/F.

Abstract: A process for forming a cocrystalline mixture of titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc) and titanyl fluorophthalocyanine (TiOFPc) includes: dry milling a mixture of crude TiOPc and crude TiOFPc, thereby forming an amorphous pigment mixture of TiOPc and TiOFPc; and heating the amorphous pigment mixture at a temperature effective to form a cocrystalline composition comprising titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc) and titanyl fluorophthalocyanine (TiOFPc), the cocrystalline composition being characterized by an X-ray diffraction spectrum exhibiting intensity peaks at 7.2°, 12.9°, 16.3°, 22.3°, 24.6°, 26.2°, and 28.8° with respect to X-rays of Cu K?at a wavelength of 1.54 1 ? of the Bragg angle 2?.

Abstract: A fusing-station member, which member can be a compliant fuser roller or a compliant pressure roller for use in a fusing station of an electrostatographic machine, and which member includes a base cushion layer formed on a core member, with the base cushion layer coated by a thin protective gloss control layer. The base cushion layer is a highly crosslinked addition-polymerized polyorganosiloxane material made by thermally curing, below 100° C., a formulation which includes three types of filler particles, namely hollow flexible microballoon particles, strength-enhancing solid particles, and thermal-conductivity-enhancing solid particles.

Abstract: A controlled modulus fusing-station member inclusive of a durable, tough, elastically deformable layer incorporating hollow flexible filler particles. The elastically deformable layer is preferably a single layer on a substrate, the substrate preferably a core member of a fuser roller or a pressure roller. The elastically deformable layer is made from a dry formulation inclusive of: a fluoro-thermoplastic polymer powder; microspheres in the form of unexpanded microspheres or expanded microballoons; and solid filler particles including strength-enhancing filler particles and thermal-conductivity-enhancing filler particles. The dry formulation can be thermally cured or electron-beam cured. Preferably, the dry formulation is thermally cured and further includes a curing catalyst, preferably a peroxide catalyst. Alternatively, the curing catalyst can be a bisphenol residue.

Abstract: A controlled-modulus fusing station member inclusive of a durable, tough, elastically deformable layer incorporating hollow flexible filler particles. The elastically deformable layer can be a single layer on a substrate, the substrate preferably a core member of a fuser roller or a pressure roller. Alternatively, a protective or gloss control fluoropolymer layer is formed on the elastically deformable layer. The elastically deformable layer is made from a dry formulation inclusive of: a fluoroelastomer powder; microspheres in the form of unexpanded microspheres or expanded microballoons; and solid filler particles including strength-enhancing filler particles and thermal-conductivity-enhancing filler particles. The dry formulation is thermally cured or electron-beam cured.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of providing an imaging element which includes providing a gravure cylinder having an outer surface having a plurality cells. The surface of the cylinder is moved through a coating solution of a film forming organic polymer to fill the cells with coating solution. An imaging element is moved across the outer surface of the gravure cylinder to deposit the coating solution onto the imaging element such that a fraction of the imaging element of from 0.02 to 0.98 remains uncovered with coating solution. The coating solution is dried to form a discontinuous overcoat on the imaging element.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support and a processing solution permeable protective overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer. The processing solution permeable overcoat is composed of a urethane-vinyl copolymer having acid functionalities wherein a weight ratio of a urethane component in the copolymer comprises from 20 to 100 percent and a weight ratio of a vinyl component in the copolymer comprises from 0 to 80 percent and a second polymer composed of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose ethers, n-vinyl amides, polyesters, poly(ethylene oxide), starch, proteins, whey, albumin, poly(acrylic acid), alginates or gums. The present invention is a method of making a photographic element which includes providing an photographic element having a support, a silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support and a processing solution permeable protective overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a polymer latex that includes polymer particles having a core portion and a shell portion. The core portion contains polymerized hydrophobic ethylenically unsaturated monomers with a water solubility less than 1% at room temperature. The shell portion contains polymerized monomers defined by formula (I) wherein X is O or NH, or NCH3, R1 and R2 are H, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, or C4H9, R3 and R4 are H or CH3, n1 and n2 are integers, n1 is from 1 to 4, n2 is from 1 to 20. The polymer particles having a size of less than 50 nm.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, an imaging layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the imaging layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the imaging layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. The present invention is a photographic which includes a support, a silver halide emulsion layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the silver halide layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the silver halide emulsion layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. In one embodiment, the discontinuous overcoat is a series of parallel stripes.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion superposed on a front side of the support and an outermost backing layer superposed on a backside of the support. The outermost backing layer is composed of a hydrophobic binder and a hydrophilic binder wherein the backing layer has an advancing water contact angle of 70 or greater and a receding water contact angle of at least 40 less than the advancing water contact angle.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for reducing gelatin insolubles which includes providing a gelatin solution and adding to the gelatin solution amylase in an amount to provide a concentration of amylase of at least 0.1 ppm for a time sufficient to reduce gelatin insolubles. The present invention also provides a gelatin having a Bloom strength of from 60 to 400 and a concentration of amylase of greater than 0.1 ppm.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, an image forming layer superposed on the support and at least one layer superposed on the support. The at least one layer is formed from a non-aqueous coating composition composed of a composite wax particle having a wax phase and a non-crosslinked polymer phase. The wax phase includes a wax having a melting point of greater than 30° C., the wax comprising greater than 80% by weight of the wax phase. The at least one layer has a dry coating weight of from 1 to 300 mg/m2.

Abstract: The present invention is a photographic element including a support with a polyolefin resin layer, which is preferably polypropylene, on each surface of the support. The photographic element includes a print or backmark retaining and spliceable antistatic layer having a dry coverage of from 10 mg/m2 to 10,000 mg/m2 on one of the free surfaces of the polyolefin layers. An imaging layer may be superimposed on the other free surface of the polyolefin layers. The antistatic layer includes a (i) conductive agent, preferably a combination of an alkali metal salt and a polymerized alkylene oxide, (ii) colloidal silica, preferably aluminum modified colloidal silica and (iii) a polymeric film-forming binder with a peel strength of 200 g or above on a polypropylene surface on which the antistatic layer of the present invention is to be formed.

Abstract: The present invention is a composition for removing scratches from photographic elements. The composition includes a solvent, an abrasive particle, a petroleum distillate, hard wax and water.