Fuser topcoats comprising superhydrophobic nano-fabric coatings

摘要

In accordance with the invention, there are image forming apparatuses, fusing subsystems, and methods of making a member of the fusing subsystems. The method of making a member of a fusing subsystem can include providing a fuser member, the fuser member including a substrate and providing a dispersion including a plurality of carbon nanotubes, a stabilizer, a hydrophobic polymer, and a solvent, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes is selected from the group consisting of single wall carbon nanotubes and multiple wall carbon nanotubes. The method can also include applying the dispersion over the substrate to form a coated substrate and heating the coated substrate to form a hydrophobic composite coating such that a top surface of the fuser member has a water contact angle of at least about 120°.

主权项

1. A fusing subsystem comprising:
a fuser member, the fuser member comprising:
a substrate; anda top coat layer comprising a superhydrophobic composite disposed over the substrate, wherein the superhydrophobic composite has a water contact angle of at least about 150° and comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a hydrophobic perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin, a loading of the carbon nanotubes ranging from about 50% to about 95% by weight of the total solid weight of the superhydrophobic composite, the superhydrophobic composite comprising a plurality of pores filled with air and having an average size ranging from about 0.025 μm to about 3 μm, wherein the top coat layer has a thickness from about 50 nm to about 80 μm, and wherein the fuser member is selected from the group consisting of a fuser roll, a fuser belt, a pressure roll, a pressure belt, a transfix roll and a transfix belt.