HIGH-MOLECULAR SEAMLESS BELT AND MANUFACTURE OF IMAGE FORMING MEMBER

摘要

PURPOSE: To produce a seamless belt for an electrophotographic and ionographic image forming member. CONSTITUTION: A preform 1 including a high-polymer material formed to allow the introduction of fluid under a pressure is used. This preform 1 is heated to a suitable stretching temp. higher than the glass transition temp. of the high-polymer material and lower than the melting temp. The heated preform 1 is placed in a cylindrical mold having a polished seamless inside surface. The fluid is introduced under the pressure into the heated preform 1 while the preform is axially aligned in the mold to expand the preform 1 without bringing the preform into contact with the mold surface. Then, the preform 1 is expanded until the preform is in contact with the mold surface. The expanded preform 1 is heated to the suitable thermal curing temp. higher than the stretching temp. and lower than the melting temp. while the fluid pressure is maintained. The cured preform 1 is then cooled. As a result, the biaxially oriented seamless belt is produced.