Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic latent image is provided that can prevent occurrence of blister even with coated paper having a coated surface, exhibits excellent releasing performance in oilless fixing, and realizes both high glossiness and OHP transparency for an image to be formed. A process for producing the toner, a developer containing the toner, and a process for forming an image using the toner are also provided. The toner for developing an electrostatic latent image contains a binder resin, a releasing agent and a colorant, in which the binder resin has a number average molecular weight (Mn) in a range of from 9,000 to 18,000 and a molecular weight distribution represented by a ratio (Mw/Mn) of a weight average molecular weight (Mw) and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 2.5 or less, and the binder resin contains a vinyl resin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming images. The method includes the steps of forming electrostatic latent images on an electrostatic image carrier, forming toner images with a toner-containing developer by developing the electrostatic latent images on the electrostatic image carrier, transferring the toner images onto a transfer material, and thermally fixing the toner images, wherein an electrophotographic toner including containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent in the range of 10 to 25% by mass relative to toner particles and having a shape factor SF1 of 140 or less is used as the toner, and the thermal fixing step is carried out so as to satisfy, at a process speed of at least 170 mm/sec., the relationship (A): 200<0.7×&agr;+2000×&bgr; wherein &agr; is a fixing temperature (° C.), &bgr; is a heating time (second), and &agr; is 160° C. or higher.

Abstract: Such a toner for developing an electrostatic image is to be provided that has a wide fixable temperature range, is excellent in development and transfer performance and excellent in releasing performance, realizes both glossiness and transparency, and is capable of providing an image (particularly a color image) of a wide color reproduction range having high quality and high durability, a developer for an electrostatic image, and a process for forming an image. The toner for developing an electrostatic image contains a binder resin, a colorant and an inorganic metallic salt, and an amount of a toluene insoluble component (provided that the colorant, a releasing agent and inorganic and organic insoluble particles are excluded therefrom) is from 0.5 to 10% by weight. The developer for an electrostatic image and the process for forming an image use the toner for developing an electrostatic image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for producing an essential oil from a plant material. Concretely, the process produces an essential oil in a short time and by a simple procedure by treating a plant material with supercritical water or subcritical water to liberate essential oil components, which are contained in the plant material, as an ester-free essential oil, and separating and purifying this essential oil.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method includes a charging step, an exposure step, a developing step and a transfer step in the rotation of an electrostatic latent image bearing member, in which a process speed of the electrostatic latent image bearing member is 200 to 500 mm/sec, an outer diameter of the electrostatic latent image bearing member is 15 to 35 mm, an outer diameter of a developer bearing member is 10 to 25 mm, and a magnetic single component developer of which the residual magnetization in a measured magnetic field of 796 kA/m is 0.5 to 5.0 Am2/kg is used as the developer. The electrophotographic image forming method can provide a good image quality without causing scattering of toner in downsizing, weight reduction of an electrophotographic apparatus and speed-up of an electrophotographic process.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming method includes a charging step, an exposure step, a developing step and a transfer step in the rotation of an electrostatic latent image bearing member, in which a process speed of the electrostatic latent image bearing member is 200 to 500 mm/sec, an outer diameter of the electrostatic latent image bearing member is 15 to 35 mm, an outer diameter of a developer bearing member is 10 to 25 mm, and a magnetic single component developer of which the residual magnetization in a measured magnetic field of 796 kA/m is 0.5 to 5.0 Am2/kg is used as the developer. The electrophotographic image forming method can provide a good image quality without causing scattering of toner in downsizing, weight reduction of an electrophotographic apparatus and speed-up of an electrophotographic process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing aromatic compounds or polymers thereof from a plant material in a short period of time and by a simple procedure. Concretely, the process treats the plant material with supercritical water or subcritical water to liberate aromatic compounds, which are contained in the plant material, and/or aromatic compounds, which have been generated upon decomposition of components of the plant material, to the outside of the plant material, and isolates the liberated aromatic compounds to produce aromatic compounds or polymers thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mono-component developer comprising toner particles containing a binding resin, a colorant and an additive and a method of forming images by use thereof. In the present invention said additive is preferably a titanium compound prepared by through the reaction between TiO(OH).sub.2 and a silane compound or through the reaction between TiO(OH).sub.2 and a silicone oil. The specific gravity of the said titanium compound is in the range of 2.8 to 3.6. The average particle diameter thereof is in the range of 10 to 70 nm. The said toner particle is preferably a non-magnetic particle. By making use of the mono-component developer and the method for forming an image using it, charging of the toner, and carriage of the toner can be stabilized over a long period of time, and stable image formation can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner for developing an electrostatic image which inhibits the filming of a wax on the development sleeve and photoreceptor to obtain a stable image. The present invention also provides a toner for developing an electrostatic image which provides a practically sufficiently wide fixing latitude. The present invention further provides an image formation process for forming a copied image with an excellent dot reproducibility, fine line reproducibility and gradation. A novel toner for developing an electrostatic image is provided, which comprises a particulate toner containing a polyolefin wax and a modified polyolefin wax, wherein the average diameter of wax particles dispersed in the particulate toner is not more than 0.5 .mu.m and the amount of wax exposed on the surface of said particulate toner is from 40 to 65% by weight. The particulate toner may comprise a finely divided magnetic powder in an amount of from 30 to 70% by weight.

Abstract: A toner composition for electrostatic charge development having high cleaning property and inhibiting wear of a photoreceptor, filming and deletion. The toner composition comprises toner particles and fluorine-containing cerium oxide fine particles added to the toner particles. The fluorine content of the fluorine-containing cerium oxide fine particles is from 0.1 to 10% by weight. The toner composition is used in an image forming process comprising the steps of (a) charging a latent image carrier, (b) forming an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier, (c) developing the electrostatic latent images with a developing agent to form a toner image, (d) transferring the resulting toner image to a receiving material, and (e) removing a toner remaining on the latent image carrier.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge developing toner composition comprising (i) toner particles containing a low-molecular weight polypropylene wax and/or a low-molecular weight polyethylene wax, having a volume average particle size of from 4 to 9 .mu.m, and an exposed amount (X% by weight) of the wax on the surface of the toner in the range of 40.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.65, and (ii) abrasive fine particles having an average particle size of from 0.5 to 5.5 .mu.m, and an image-forming process using the toner.By the toner composition, the occurrence of filming with the wax in the toner particles is prevented and images excellent in the development stability with the passage of time can be formed.