Continuous toner coalescence processes

摘要

Processes for continuously coalescing particles from an aggregated particle slurry are disclosed. An aggregated particle slurry is further heated in a first heat exchanger, and the heated slurry then flows through a residence time reactor. The slurry, now containing coalesced particles, then flows through a second heat exchanger and is quenched. The recovered coalesced particle slurry is then suitable for washing and drying. No moving parts are needed in this system.

主权项

1. A continuous process for coalescing toner particles, comprising:
heating an aggregated polyester particle slurry to a first temperature beyond its glass transition temperature in a first heat exchanger to form a heated mixture; coalescing the heated mixture in a residence time reactor to form a coalesced particle slurry; quenching the coalesced particle slurry to a second temperature below the glass transition temperature after a residence time; and recovering the quenched coalesced particle slurry at an outlet; wherein the circularity of the particles in the aggregated particle slurry is from about 0.900 to about 0.940, and the circularity of the particles in the coalesced particle slurry has increased to a value from about 0.940 to about 0.999; and wherein the residence time reactor has no moving parts.