Abstract: Disclosed herein are polyurethane elastomers and shaped articles prepared therefrom comprising charge-control agents to provide electrical conductivity to the elastomers, thereby allowing for their use in electrophotographic processes. The elastomers comprise a polyisocyanate prepolymer, a polyether prepolymer, and a hardener mixture comprised of at least one additional polyol and a charge-control agent. When used in an electrophotographic process, the elastomers are capable of exhibiting resistivities of less than 6×109 ohm-cm for 600,000 images or more.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photographic element comprising a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a bicyclic azole dye-forming coupler compound having Formula I: wherein: BA represents a bicyclic azole coupler nucleus with —(C(R1)(R2))P— bonded to a ring carbon in a non-coupling position of the coupler nucleus; p is 1 or 2, and each R1 and R2 is independently selected from H and a substituent group, provided that any two of R1 and R2 may join to form a ring; Ra and Rb are each independently selected from H and a substituent group, provided that substituent groups may join to form a ring; each Y is an independently selected substituent and m is 0-4; X is selected from the group consisting of —C(O)—, —S(O)2—, —S(O)—, and —P(O)(OH)—; W is a connecting group having a chain of up to four atoms between X and Z, and n=0 or 1; and a) when n=0, Z is —NHR5 where R5 is H or a substituent, and

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a toner transfer member for electrostatography comprises a substrate and an outer surface layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of a ceramer comprising a polyurethane silicate hybrid organic-inorganic network and a fluoropolymeric composition comprising a polyester-based polyurethane and polytetrafluoroethylene. The transfer member of the present invention is particularly useful for duplex electrostatographic copying processes; its outer surface layer substantially reduces the migration of release oil from the fusing station to the photoconductor via the transfer member, thereby ensuring high quality fused images on both sides of a receiver sheet.

Abstract: Polyurethanes with reactive 2-cyanoacetamido moieties are cross-linked with selected electrophiles to give polyurethanes with increased network density.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an intermediate toner transfer member includes a substrate and an outer surface layer that includes a ceramer comprising a polyurethane silicate hybrid organic-inorganic network. The ceramer is formed by a crosslinking reaction between a polyurethane with reactive alkoxysilane terminal moieties and a tetraalkoxysilane. The silane-terminated polyurethane is the reaction product of one or more aliphatic polyols with terminal hydroxyl groups and an alkoxysilane-substituted alkyl isocyanate compound. Further in accordance with the present invention is a process for forming an intermediate toner transfer member having an outer surface layer comprising a polyurethane silicate hybrid organic-inorganic network.

Abstract: Polyurethanes with pendant reactive 2-cyanoacetamide moieties derived from a reaction mixture of: a) at least one 2-cyanoacetamido-substituted compound selected from 2-cyanoacetamido-substituted glycol, 2-cyanoacetamido-substituted aromatic diol, aliphatic or aromatic 2-cyanoacetamido-substituted polyol, 2-cyanoacetamido-substituted monohydroxy alcohol or phenol; and b) at least one diisocyanate or polyisocyanate. (2-Cyanoacetamido) alcohols with a hydroxy functionality other than 2 lead to polyurethanes with terminal 2-cyanoacetamido moieties and/or branch sites with 2-cyanoacetamido moieties. The polyurethanes are useful for coatings and in industries where polymers with enhanced physical properties are sought.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying a charge features a moving charge applying member having an electrically conductive structure and a semiconductive layer supported upon the conductive structure. The semiconductive layer is formed of a material having a volume resistivity of between about 1.times.10.sup.7 ohm-cm and about 1.times.10.sup.11 ohm-cm. An electrical bias device electrically biases the charge applying member. The electrical bias device applies an electrical bias to the charge applying member so that an electrical current flows from a peripheral surface of the charge applying member through the semiconductive layer to the conductive structure and from the conductive structure through the semiconductive layer to the member to be charged so that a net charge flowing through the semiconductive layer is about zero. The charge flow in the different directions may be simultaneous or at different times.

Abstract: This invention provides a fuser member comprising a core having a polymeric coating wherein said wrinkle index of said fuser member is less than 75, said wrinkle index (WI) being calculated by the following formula: ##EQU1## where: S is the stiffness of the core in megaPascals (MPa);T is the thickness of said polymeric coating in millimeters (mm); andH is the hardness (Shore A) of the polymeric coating.

Abstract: To assist transfer of toner images from a first transfer surface to a second transfer surface, the first transfer surface is actively cooled to prevent the toner sticking to it. Preferably, the cooling is accomplished by thermoelectric control device strips positioned in heat conducting relation with the first transfer surface. A thermoelectric control device can also be used to heat a second or receiving surface to which the toner is to be transferred to farther assist the transfer process.

Abstract: A particle toner image is formed on a primary image member (21), such as a photoconductor; electrostatically transferred to an intermediate transfer member (42); and then electrostatically transferred to a receiving sheet. The intermediate transfer member (42) includes a substrate, a compliant blanket (19), and a thin, hard overcoat (80) sectioned into small, discreet segments (81), said segments being separated cracks (85) having a width less than 20 .mu.

Abstract: A transfer member includes separately addressable electrodes separated from the surface of the member by a compliant layer. Preferably, the member is an intermediate transfer member having a thin, hard outer layer usable to receive toner images from an image member and to transfer them to a receiving sheet.

Abstract: A small particle toner image is formed on a primary image member (21), such as a photoconductor; electrostatically transferred to an intermediate transfer member (42); and then electrostatically transferred to a receiving sheet. The intermediate transfer member (42) includes a substrate, a compliant blanket (19), and a thin, hard overcoat (80) sectioned into small, discreet segments (81).

Abstract: A fuser member useful for heat-fixing an electrographic toner to a substrate. The fuser member has a core and a layer overlying the core. That layer includes a cured fluorocarbon random copolymer having subunits with the general structures: ##STR1## where x is from 30 to 90 mole percent, y is from 10 to 70 mole percent, and z is from 0 to 34 mole percent. The layer incorporates particulate filler. The filler includes aluminum oxide and a material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, and combinations thereof. The filler has a total concentration in the layer of from about 25 to 50 percent of the total volume of the layer. The aluminum oxide has a concentration of from 20 to 40 percent of the total volume of the layer.

Abstract: An electrically conductive or semi-conductive polymeric material which includes a blend of:(i) a bis[oxydiethylenebis(polycaprolactone)yl]sulfoaryldicarboxylate or a bis[oxydiethylenebis(polycaprolactone)yl]sulfonamidosulfonylaryldicarboxyl ate, and(ii) a complex of a ferric halide and ethylene glycol or an oligoethylene glycol selected from di-, tri-, or tetraethylene glycol,to provide the material with its conductive properties.The material has a resistivity of from about 10.sup.6 to about 5.times.10.sup.11 ohm cm and can be used in the fabrication of biasable transfer members such as, for example, a biasable transfer roll to transfer electrostatographic toner images from a photoconductor to a final support material such as a sheet of paper wherein the member electrically cooperates with the photoconductor to establish a directional force field therebetween.

Abstract: A fuser member useful for heat-fixing an electrographic toner to a substrate, a composition of matter and a preparation method. The fuser member has a core and a base cushion layer overlying the core. The base cushion layer includes a crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane-fluoroalkylsiloxane) elastomer that has tin oxide particles dispersed therein in a concentration of from 20 to 40 percent of the total volume of the base cushion layer.

Abstract: A member for electrically cooperating with a conductive support surface to attract charged toner particles from the surface towards the member is disclosed. The member comprises a conductive substrate capable of supporting a uniform bias potential thereon and at least one coating comprising a resilient elastomeric polyurethane.

Abstract: The invention provides rolls, belts and other biasable members having at least one layer or coating of an elastomeric resilient polyurethane. The polyurethane is formed by reacting:(a) a polyisocyanate prepolymer;and(b) a hardening mixture comprising:(i) a polyol and(ii) as a conductivity control agent an ammonium tetrahaloferrate salt of the formula ##STR1## The R substituents are defined in the specification.

Abstract: This invention provides the method of centrifugal casting consisting of the steps of: adding a polymeric material to a centrifugal apparatus; centrifuging said polymeric material until said polymeric material is cast; removing said cast polymeric material from said centrifugal apparatus; and mounting said cast polymeric material to an outside surface of a support, whereby the air interface side of said cast polymeric material is furthest from the outside surface of the support.

Abstract: A fuser member useful for heat-fixing an electrographic toner to a substrate, a composition of matter and a preparation method. The fuser member has a core and a base cushion layer overlying the core. The base cushion layer includes a crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane-fluoroalkylsiloxane) elastomer that has tin oxide particles dispersed therein in a concentration of from 20 to 40 percent of the total volume of the base cushion layer.

Abstract: A fuser member useful for heat-fixing an electrographic toner to a substrate. The fuser member has a core and a layer overlying the core. That layer includes a cured fluorocarbon random copolymer having subunits with the general structures:--(CH.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.x --, --(CF.sub.2 CF.sub.2).sub.z --,and ##STR1## where x is from 30 to 90 mole percent, y is from 10 to 70 mole percent, and z is from 0 to 34 mole percent. The layer incorporates particulate filler. The filler includes tin oxide and a material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, and combinations thereof. The filler has a total concentration in the layer of from about 25 to 50 percent of the total volume of the layer. The tin oxide has a concentration of from 20 to 40 percent of the total volume of the layer.