Abstract: A process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member has at least one of the following steps a) and b) and the following steps c) and d) of; a) etching an aluminum substrate with at least one of an acid and an alkali; b) abrading an aluminum substrate with an abrasive dispersion containing 5% by volume or more of an abrasive having a 50% diameter of from 5 &mgr;m to 60 &mgr;m as measured in cumulative percentage; c) subjecting the aluminum substrate having been processed by at least one of the steps a) and b), to chemical conversion with an aqueous acid solution containing a salt of titanium or a salt of zirconium; and d) forming a photosensitive layer on the aluminum substrate having been subjected to the chemical conversion.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member has at least one of the following steps a) and b) and the following steps c) and d) of; a) etching an aluminum substrate with at least one of an acid and an alkali; b) abrading an aluminum substrate with an abrasive dispersion containing 5% by volume or more of an abrasive having a 50% diameter of from 5 &mgr;m to 60 &mgr;m as measured in cumulative percentage; c) subjecting the aluminum substrate having been processed by at least one of the steps a) and b), to chemical conversion with an aqueous acid solution containing a salt of titanium or a salt of zirconium; and d) forming a photosensitive layer on the aluminum substrate having been subjected to the chemical conversion.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device of this invention has a semiconductor layer for generating a photovoltaic power and a collector electrode formed on the semiconductor layer to collect the power generated by the semiconductor layer. A conductive layer containing a conductive powder is formed on at least one side of the collector electrode closer to the semiconductor layer, and a metal layer is formed on the side away from the semiconductor layer. The metal layer covers the surface of the conductive layer away from the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device of this invention has a semiconductor layer for generating a photovoltaic power and a collector electrode formed on the semiconductor layer to collect the power generated by the semiconductor layer. A conductive layer containing a conductive powder is formed on at least one side of the collector electrode closer to the semiconductor layer, and a metal layer is formed on the side away from the semiconductor layer. The metal layer covers the surface of the conductive layer away from the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A developer for developing an electrostatic image has a toner containing a binder resin and a colorant. The binder resin is comprised of an AB-type block copolymer having segment-A and segment-B.The segment-A has a copolymer structure comprised of a styrene monomer and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of an acrylic monomer, a methacrylic monomer and a diene monomer, and the segment-B has a copolymer structure comprised of a styrene monomer and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of an acrylic monomer, a methacrylic monomer and a diene monomer, provided that the segment-A and segment-B have copolymer structures different from each other.

Abstract: The present invention provide a toner for developing an electrostatic image. The toner comprises a binder resin and a coloring agent. The binder resin comprises a styrene type binder resin. The amount of an aldehyde contained in the binder resin is not more than 0.005% by weight based on the weight of the toner. The binder resin is produced by a process comprising the steps of preparing a monomer composition comprising a polymerizable monomer containing at least not less than 50% by weight of a styrene monomer, and a polymerization initiator, and subjecting said monomer composition to suspension polymerization in an aqueous medium having dissolved oxygen in an amount of not more than 2.5 mg/lit to form a styrene polymer or copolymer containing an aldehyde monomer in an amount of not more than 0.01% by weight.

Abstract: The present invention provide a toner for developing an electrostatic image. The toner comprises a binder resin and a coloring agent. The binder resin comprises a styrene type binder resin. The amount of an aldehyde contained in the binder resin is not more than 0.005% by weight based on the weight of the toner. The binder resin is produced by a process comprising the steps of preparing a monomer composition comprising a polymerizable monomer containing at least not less than 50% by weight of a styrene monomer, and a polymerization initiator, and subjecting said monomer composition to suspension polymerization in an aqueous medium having dissolved oxygen in an amount of not more than 2.5 mg/lit to form a styrene polymer or copolymer containing an aldehyde monomer in an amount of not more than 0.01% by weight.

Abstract: A magnetic toner for developing electrostatic images, comprising at least a binder resin and a magnetic powder; the binder resin having 10 to 70 wt. % of a THF (tetrahydrofuran)-insoluble and a THF-soluble, the THF-soluble providing a molecular weight distribution in the chromatogram of GPC (gel permeation chromatography) thereof such that it provides a rate (Mw/Mn) of weight-average molecular weight (Mw)/number-average molecular weight (Mn).gtoreq.5, there are a peak in the molecular weight range of 2,000 to 10,000 and a peak or shoulder in the molecular weight range of 15,000 to 100,000 and a component having a molecular weight of 10,000 or smaller is contained in an amount of 10-50 wt. % based on the binder resin; the magnetic powder comprising spherical magnetic particles having a bulk density of 0.6 g/ml or larger.

Abstract: A process for producing a toner comprising:heating a monomer composition containing at least a polymerizable monomer and a release agent to a temperature not lower than the melting point or the softening point of said release agent todissolve the release agent in the polymerizable monomer and therebypreparing a monomer composition in which the release agent is dissolved;cooling the monomer composition to a temperature lower than the melting point or the softening point of the release agent to precipitate said release agent and therebypreparing a monomer composition containing the precipitated releasing agent particles having a number average size of 0.5 to 5 .mu.m;granulating in an aqueous dispersion medium the monomer composition to prepare a particle;carrying out suspension polymerization of the particle of the monomer composition at a temperature lower than the melting point or the softening point of the release agent.

Abstract: A toner for producing electrostatic latent images is produced by smoothing classified resinous particles so that the ratio of the smallest diameter to the largest diameter thereof is 0.70-0.90, mixing the smoothed base particles (A) with modifier particles (B) to attach the modifier particles (B) to the surfaces of the base particles (A), and fixing the modifier particles (B) to the base particles (A) under the action of a mechanical impact force.

Abstract: A dispersion stabilizer having a nitrogen-containing organic group and a water-soluble acidic substance are added to an aqueous medium. Into the aqueous medium, a monomer composition comprising at least a polymerizable monomer, an anionic polymer, a polymerization initiator and a colorant is added and dispersed therein into a prescribed particle size. The particles of the monomer composition are subjected to suspension polymerization. The resultant toner is caused to have a sharp particle size distribution and an improved anti-blocking property because of the combined effects of the dispersion stabilizer and the acidic substance contained in the aqueous medium and the anionic polymer contained in the monomer composition.

Abstract: A toner for producing electrostatic latent images is produced by mixing base particles (A) with specific modifier particles (B) to attach the modifier particles (B) to the surfaces of the base particles (A), and passing the resultant mixture through a specific impact zone thereby to fix the modifier particles (B) to the base particles (A) under the action of a mechanical impact force.

Abstract: A toner for developing electrostatic latent images is produced by a process comprising the steps of: (a) stirring at least water, hardly water-soluble inorganic fine powder and a specific compound thereby to prepare an aqueous dispersion medium; (b) adding a polymerizable monomer composition comprising at least a polymerizable monomer and a polymerization initiator to the aqueous dispersion medium; (c) forming particles of the polymerizable monomer composition in the aquoeus dispersion medium; (d) subjecting the particles of the polymerizable monomer composition to suspension polymerization, thereby to produce toner particles; and (e) removing the hardly water-soluble inorganic fine powder attached to the surfaces of the toner particles by an aqueous alkaline or acidic solution.

Abstract: A process for preparing a toner obtained by a suspension polymerization method comprises stirring a mixture containing at least a polymerizable monomer containing 5 to 500 ppm of a polymerization inhibitor dissolved in the polymerizable monomer and a colorant; preparing a polymerizable monomer composition by adding a polymerization initiator to said mixture; stirring the prepared polymerizable monomer composition; and carrying out suspension polymerization of the polymerizable monomer composition dispersed in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A polymerizable mixture containing a monomer, a polymerization initiator and a colorant is subjected to suspension polymerization, and an additional monomer is adsorbed onto the resultant polymer particles and grown by polymerization in the presence of an oil-soluble polymerization initiator to give a toner for development of electrostatic charges excellent in toner characteristics such as triboelectric charging characteristic, storage stability and free flowing property.

Abstract: Toner for developing electrostatically charged images comprising nuclear particles formed by polymerization, hydrophobic silica, and a resin, wherein said resin is coated on said nuclear particles and said silica is dispersed in said resin. A method for producing said toner is also disclosed, said method comprising polymerizing nuclear particles, dissolving a resin in a solvent, which asserts a lesser solvating action against said nuclear particles than against said resin, to form a solution, dispersing said hydrophobic silica in said solution, mixing said nuclear particles with said dispersion, and drying said mixture.

Abstract: Spherical toners with magnetic material dispersed internally of the toner particles are obtained by a process for producing toners having the step of suspension polymerization of a dispersion of a toner material containing a magnetic material, a synthetic resin monomer and a polymerization initiator dispersed in a dispersion medium which is substantially incompatible with said monomer.

Abstract: A polymerizable mixture containing a monomer, a polymerization initiator and a colorant is subjected to suspension polymerization, and an additional monomer is adsorbed onto the resultant polymer particles and grown by polymerization to give a toner for development of electrostatic charges excellent in toner characteristics such as triboelectric charging characteristic, storage stability and free flowing property.

Abstract: A process for producing toner, which comprises dispersing a monomer system comprising a polymerizable monomer and a polar polymer in a dispersion medium containing a dispersant having a charging polarity opposite to that of said polar polymer, and subjecting said monomer system to the suspension polymerization. By this process, toner particles excellent in fixing characteristic, developing characteristic and abrasion resistance can be obtained with a narrow particle size distribution.

Abstract: A suspension polymerization of polymerizable monomers containing a prepolymer is conducted in a system containing an inorganic dispersion stabilizer and occasionally, an inorganic pigment and/or black coloring agent, in which the polymerizable monomers have an opposite charge in water to the inorganic dispersion stabilizer whereby the former is ionically bound with the latter. The suspension polymerization during the middle stage in which polymer particles are apt to stick together is stabilized and the polymer particles are prevented from coalescing so that fine spherical polymer particles are obtained with a uniform particle size distribution.Also, the suspension polymerization is conducted having liquid resins involved in polymerizable monomers thereby to obtain non-sticky, free flowing particles. These particles adhere to paper sheets by mechanically smashing.