Abstract: An intermediate transfer member, including: a layer containing a thermoplastic resin, an electroconductive resin, and electroconductive inorganic particles, wherein the layer has a sea-island structure where discontinuous phases formed from the electroconductive resin are present in a continuous phase formed from the thermoplastic resin, wherein in a cross-sectional surface of the layer perpendicular to a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member, the discontinuous phases formed from the electroconductive resin each have a cross-sectional shape of an ellipse, and a minor axis b of the ellipse is from 0.5 ?m to 5.0 ?m, and wherein in the cross-sectional surface of the layer perpendicular to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member, a rate ? of a total area of the discontinuous phases formed from the electroconductive resin in an area of the cross-sectional surface thereof is from 2.0% to 20.0%.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt includes a thermoplastic resin and a fibrous material. The fibrous material has an orientation angle Fa of from 5° to 30° in a direction perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An intermediate transferer includes a polyvinylidene fluoride resin including polyvinylidene fluoride and a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, a conductive agent and an additive. The additive includes a polymer including a polyalkyleneoxide structure having a number-average molecular weight not less than 1,000. The polyvinylidene fluoride resin includes the vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer in an amount of from 5 to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinylidene fluoride. The intermediate transferer includes the conductive agent in an amount of from 1.0 to 20 parts by weight and the additive in an amount of from 1.0 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinylidene fluoride resin.

Abstract: Provided is a resin composition including at least: polyolefin in an amount of from 50% by mass to 90% by mass; an electro-conductive agent; and a compound represented by General Formula (1) below, In General Formula (1), R is preferably a divalent group having a number overage molecular weight of 1,000 or greater and derived from acrylic polymer.

Abstract: A semiconductive resin composition includes at least two thermoplastic resins and a conductive filler. Each of the two thermoplastic resins has a sea-island structure, and 40% to 75% of the conductive filler are present in the thermoplastic resin in an island portion of the sea-island structure at an areal ratio of a cross section observed with a scanning electron microscope.

Abstract: A semiconductive resin composition includes a plurality of thermoplastic resins forming a sea-island structure including a sea portion and an island portion; and a plurality of conductive fillers. The sea portion includes at least two of the thermoplastic resins, at least one of the at least two of the thermoplastic resins is a copolymer, and the content of the copolymer is from 20% to 60% by weight per 100% by weight of the thermoplastic resins in the sea portion, and the following relation is satisfied: 1.5?B/A?10 wherein A represents an average primary particle diameter of one of the conductive fillers having the smallest average primary particle diameter and B represents an average primary particle diameter of one of the conductive fillers having the largest average primary particle diameter.

Abstract: A composition for seamless belt includes a thermoplastic resin; and a conductive agent. A liquid extracted from the composition with methanol has an intensity not greater than 7×108 in a total ion chromatogram.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member, including: a layer containing a thermoplastic resin, an electroconductive resin, and electroconductive inorganic particles, wherein the layer has a sea-island structure where discontinuous phases formed from the electroconductive resin are present in a continuous phase formed from the thermoplastic resin, wherein in a cross-sectional surface of the layer perpendicular to a rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member, the discontinuous phases formed from the electroconductive resin each have a cross-sectional shape of an ellipse, and a minor axis b of the ellipse is from 0.5 ?m to 5.0 ?m, and wherein in the cross-sectional surface of the layer perpendicular to the rotation direction of the intermediate transfer member, a rate ? of a total area of the discontinuous phases formed from the electroconductive resin in an area of the cross-sectional surface thereof is from 2.0% to 20.0%.

Abstract: An intermediate transferer includes a polyvinylidene fluoride resin including polyvinylidene fluoride and a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, a conductive agent and an additive. The additive includes a polymer including a polyalkyleneoxide structure having a number-average molecular weight not less than 1,000. The polyvinylidene fluoride resin includes the vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer in an amount of from 5 to 30 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinylidene fluoride. The intermediate transferer includes the conductive agent in an amount of from 1.0 to 20 parts by weight and the additive in an amount of from 1.0 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinylidene fluoride resin.

Abstract: A belt-shaped member for image forming apparatus, satisfying the following relationships: E1?E2; and H2>H1 wherein E1 represents an elastic modulus of a center of the belt-shaped member in a thrust direction; E2 represents an elastic modulus of an end thereof; H1 is a breaking elongation of the center; and H2 represents a breaking elongation of the end.

Abstract: Provided is a resin composition including at least: polyolefin in an amount of from 50% by mass to 90% by mass; an electro-conductive agent; and a compound represented by General Formula (1) below, In General Formula (1), R is preferably a divalent group having a number overage molecular weight of 1,000 or greater and derived from acrylic polymer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a latent image bearing member, a charger, an irradiator, a developing member, a transfer device, and a surface potential equalizer. The transfer device includes an intermediate transfer member comprising a high-resistivity body having a surface resistivity of 1013?/? or more under dark conditions, a primary transfer member that transfers the toner image from the latent image bearing member onto the intermediate transfer member at a primary transfer nip, and a secondary transfer member that transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium at a secondary transfer nip. The surface potential equalizer includes a surface potential equalizing member that equalizes a surface potential of the intermediate transfer member at a predetermined positive or negative potential. The surface potential equalizer is provided on a migration path of the intermediate transfer member from the secondary transfer nip to the primary transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming method for fixing a toner image on a recording medium by passing the recording medium through a fixing nip defined between a first member and a second member under heat and pressure. The toner includes a specific amount of a shear buffer. The first and second members extend along respective first and second longitudinal axes, and have respective at least one convex portion curving outward and at least one concave portion curving inward with respect to each of the respective first and second longitudinal axes. At least one of the first and second members is heated, and the first convex portion engages the second concave portion and the first concave portion engages the second convex portion, to define the fixing nip therebetween.

Abstract: A toner including a resin having a polyester skeleton, a coloring agent, a vinyl based copolymer resin, and a releasing agent, wherein the toner is manufactured by dissolving or dispersing a resin including the resin having a polyester skeleton and a mixture of the vinyl based copolymer resin and the releasing agent in an organic solvent to obtain a lysate and/or a dispersion material, dispersing the lysate and/or the dispersion material in an aqueous medium to obtain a liquid dispersion and removing the organic solvent from the liquid dispersion.

Abstract: A conductive composition including a matrix resin comprising a thermoplastic resin, a conductive agent comprising a carbon black having an amine value of 1 to 100 mgKOH/g, and a stiffening agent comprising an acid anhydride, a carboxylic acid, or a compound having an epoxy group.

Abstract: A belt-shaped member for image forming apparatus, satisfying the following relationships: E1?E2; and H2>H1 wherein E1 represents an elastic modulus of a center of the belt-shaped member in a thrust direction; E2 represents an elastic modulus of an end thereof; H1 is a breaking elongation of the center; and H2 represents a breaking elongation of the end.

Abstract: An image forming method for fixing a toner image on a recording medium by passing the recording medium through a fixing nip defined between a first member and a second member under heat and pressure. The toner has a specific loss elastic modulus. The first and second members extend along respective first and second longitudinal axes, and have respective first and second elastic layers whose thickness vary along the respective first and second longitudinal axes to define at least one convex portion curving outward and at least one concave portion curving inward with respect to each of the respective first and second longitudinal axes. The first convex portion engages the second concave portion and the first concave portion engages the second convex portion, to define the fixing nip therebetween.

Abstract: To provide an image forming method for obtaining excellent image quality under high humidity. The image forming method including charging a surface of a latent electrostatic image bearing member, exposing the charged surface of the latent electrostatic image bearing member so as to form a latent electrostatic image, developing the latent electrostatic image using a developer so as to form a toner image, and transferring the toner image from the latent electrostatic image bearing member to a transfer medium, wherein in the developing step, a toner is used that has an interparticle adhesion force of 500 nN to 1,200 nN when pressed at 500 nN and a volume average particle diameter of 4 ?m to 8 ?m, and in the transferring step, the transfer pressure applied to the transfer medium is 20 N/m to 60 N/m, and wherein a tandem image forming apparatus is used in the image forming method.

Abstract: A developer including a toner and a carrier, wherein the carrier is a ferrite carrier coated with a silicone resin and the following relationships are satisfied: log(?Q(t)/Q?)=?kobt ?Q(t)=Q??Q(t) ?2.5 ?log(kob)??1 wherein Q(t) is a charge quantity (?C/g) of the developer after t sec which is a stirring time of the toner and the carrier; Q? is a saturated charge quantity (?C/g) of the developer; and kob is a chargeable speed of the developer.

Abstract: A conductive composition including a matrix resin comprising a thermoplastic resin, a conductive agent comprising a carbon black having an amine value of 1 to 100 mgKOH/g, and a stiffening agent comprising an acid anhydride, a carboxylic acid, or a compound having an epoxy group.