Intermediate transfer members comprised of hydrophobic carbon nanotubes

摘要

Exemplary embodiments provide intermediate transfer members that can be used in electrostatographic devices and methods for using them in forming an image. The disclosed intermediate transfer members can include a plurality of nanotubes with high electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, and/or low humidity sensitivity. The hydrophobicity of the nanotubes can be controlled by covalently grafting hydrophobic components onto one or more nanotubes; surface treating one or more nanotubes; and encapsulating one or more nanotubes with hydrophobic components. In an exemplary embodiment, the nanotubes can be dispersed in polymer matrices and/or formed on the surface of polymer matrices of the intermediate transfer members. The intermediate transfer members can take various forms of belts, sheets, webs, films, rolls, tubes or any shape that can provide a smooth surface and rotatable function.

主权项

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a humidity resistant intermediate transfer member for transferring a developed toner image to an image receiving substrate, the humidity resistant intermediate transfer member comprising:
a polymer matrix; anda plurality of nanotubes incorporated into the polymer matrix, wherein the plurality of nanotubes are hydrophobic with a water contact angle of about 160° to about 180°, the plurality of nanotubes comprise organically modified nanotubes, the organically modified nanotubes comprise nanotube-tethering organic portions having a hydrophobic polyether backbone, the hydrophobic polyether backbone comprises a poly(oxypropylene) hydrophobic group, and the humidity resistant intermediate transfer member has a bulk electrical resistivity of about 1×104 ohm-cm to about 1×1013 ohm-cm.