In order to obtain a desired image structure by inkjet printer, it is necessary to predict and control the wetting and coalescing behavior of minute droplets on the surface of the medium. The authors have focused on the MPS method which has advantage for free surface analysis of fluids, and developed a surface tension potential model for expressing wettability. As a result of it, it has become possible to simulate the droplet behavior on the medium surface with high accuracy. In this research, we improved the simulation technology based on potential model and reproduced the wetting behavior under hydrophilic conditions with contact angle of 10 degrees or less. By using the developed simulation technology, the prediction of the occurrence of interference of ink droplets which is a basic phenomenon causing image quality defects became possible, and the design guidelines for obtaining a uniform image was quantitatively clarified.

To realize both low power consumption and high image quality of the fusing process, temperature and pressure control of the fusing unit are important, in addition to realizing low fusing temperature by improving the toner material. In this paper, we explain a case study on temperature control simulation of the fusing unit by using MATLAB and Simulink, a set of development environment with a variety of features (e.g. plant modeling, control design, sensitive analysis, and etc.) required for control system design. First, we outline the basic structure of the fusing unit. Following by the plant model that represents the heat conduction of the fusing unit for designing the temperature control system of the fusing unit nip section. And then the optimal control that ensures both the temperature control performance of the nip section and the suppression of the IH heater input power. Furthermore, we show the analysis of the nip section fusing temperature by Monte Carlo simulation to take the variations of component parameters into consideration.

This paper proposes a novel method for controlling the jet velocity using a PVA gel for a new inkjet generator. Recently, we suggested the new inkjet generator using an impulsive force. The generator can eject highly-viscous jets (10,000mm²/s). However, cavitation bubbles occur in the liquid when a strong impulsive force is imposed. It is difficult to control the bubble volume which varies the jet velocity. To control the jet velocity, controlling of the bubble volume is required. In this study, we propose the control method using the PVA gel, which initially contains the bubbles. We conducted experiments with the various volume of PVA gel. We successfully control the bubble-assisted increment of the jet velocity. Furthermore, we discussed the mechanism of the jet acceleration by considering the propagation of the pressure wave in the liquid/gel.

An anodic oxidized niobium (Nb) layer on Nb plate makes various colors. This is caused by thin film interference. The film thickness of oxidized Nb grows, as the voltage of anodic oxidation increases. It can be changed to various colors such as blue, violet, yellow, etc. by thin film interference due to the change in film thickness of Nb. It is impossible to overlay another color on anodic oxidized Nb plate because color development by anodic oxidation is related to the thickness of oxidized Nb layer. The focus of this research is to make a checkerboard pattern on the Nb plate by photolithography and juxtaposed additive color mixture. To avoid recognition of dots, a fine pattern (about 50μm pitch) mask was used for photolithography process. Consequently, we have succeeded in creating a new color with mixing two colors.

In-situ measurements of the charge on simulated fogging toner particles were carried out using MEMS-based actuated tweezers and an AFM cantilever. Because this technique enables picking up a single particle and measuring its charge successively, it has great potential for application to the analysis of abnormal toners, such as those in fogging, i. e. single isolated toner particles. The simulated fogging toner particles were deposited on a flat ITO substrate under several voltage conditions, and the amount of charge on these particles was measured. The relationship between the charge and the applied voltage was analyzed. The amount of toner on the ITO substrate was quantified using image analysis to investigate the relationship with the charge on the toner particles. The results demonstrate that, for the evaluation of negative-charging toners, the amount of toner on the ITO substrate decreases as the charge on the toner becomes more positive.

Dispersants for liquid immersed developers, obtaining strong peel force in soft packaging applications formed by laminating a film on a toner layer fused on a thin PET film, were investigated. It was estimated that commercially available high molecular dispersants with sufficient dispersion stability decrease the toner adhesion with a PET film due to their hydrophobic components for the dispersiblility in a nonpolar carrier solvent and amine components for the affinity with toner resin, which decrease the adhesion caused by the reaction with the isocyanate component of adhesive agents used for the lamination. A laminated application with sufficient peel force can be obtained by using the developer comprising the dispersant optimized both for the structure of amine component and the ratio of hydrophobic component.

Regarding high concentration contact developing method using a volatile liquid toner of LID (Liquid Ink Development), compositions for the developer supply system were specified. While the high concentration contact developing method has ability in high-speed printing, it is important to obtain high image quality that the process of forming a uniform thin developer layer on a developing roll which is transferred to the photoreceptor. It has not been conducted using the volatile liquid toner in the high concentration contact developing method, therefore, several problems due to the high volatility and the low viscosity of the liquid toner were occurred. In this report, it was determined that the key elements and those basic specifications for the developer supply system.

In recent years, the low temperature fixation toners are required. Toners synthesized by the wet chemical methods are excellent in low temperature fixability and storage stability. Even in the kneading pulverization method, some low temperature fixing toners comparable to the wet chemical method toners have appeared, but the superiority of the chemical method toners are still high. However, some chemical method toners using polyester resins as the material used solvents for the production process, and furthermore, since it requires a large amount of water to remove the surfactant, it places a heavy load on the environment. If use wet process only for encapsulation process in the toner manufacturing process that can be reduced water and the burden of environmental. Moreover, we made a hypothesis that it would be possible to achieve both low temperature fixability and storage stability at a high level if the toner surface can be covered with high melting point and thin thickness film does not inhibit the low-temperature fixability. We have devised a method for producing solid microcapsule toner that forms a thin film on the surface of toner mother particles prepared by the kneading pulverization method by using a chemical method without any solvent and succeeded in commercialization. In this explanation, we report on this manufacturing method and verification results of assumed toner characteristics

Boron complexes often present intense emission originating from high rigidity and planarity. Therefore, these luminescent boron complexes are a promising “element-block”, which is defined as a functional unit containing heteroatoms, for constructing advanced optical materials. Recently, it has been reported that several boron complexes having molecular flexibility provided slight emission under diluted conditions where conventional luminescent boron complexes can show intense emission. Meanwhile, we have accomplished to obtain the series of stimuli-responsive luminescent materials based on these flexible boron complexes through controls of their unique behaviors in the excited state. Herein, we review photochemistry and applications of their optical properties of flexible boron element-blocks. We will demonstrate discovery of the flexible boron complexes and mention recent progresses for the development of aggregation-induced emission-active molecules and luminescent chromic materials including optical sensors based on these flexible boron element-blocks.

Cage octasilsesquioxanes denoted as (RSiO_1.5)₈ or labeled T₈ cages are promising building blocks for organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Polymers incorporating the cage octasilsesquioxanes in their main chains are expected to possess significantly improved hydrophobicity as well as significantly reduced dynamics of the polymer segments. In comparison with polymers containing the cage silsesquioxanes in the side-chain, however, few papers have been reported the synthesis of the polymers with the cage silsesquioxanes in the main chain. This review focuses on our recent efforts to prepare main-chain type element-block polymers based on well-defined T₈ cage monomers having two polymerizable functional groups. Several their unique properties and application are described.

Organic π-electron systems were bridged by a group 14- or 15-element leading to the formation of new element blocks. Enhanced planarity and σ^*-π^* interaction in the LUMO provided extended conjugation of the resulting bridged systems. They showed also sensing and phosphorescent properties depending on the bridging elements. These are indicative of the potential utility of the bridged systems as building units of functional conjugated materials. Highly electron deficient triaryl-borane units and electron rich bithiophenes with a silicon or germanium bridge were polymerized giving new donor-acceptor conjugated polymers. Borepin-containing ring systems were also investigated as stable luminophores.

π-Conjugated polymers are important functional materials for versatile optoelectronic applications. The appropriate molecular design of the repeating chemical structures is essential to obtain the materials with expected functions. While the introduction of elements-blocks into the π-electronic functions would be effective to realize the π-conjugated polymers having desired optoelectronic features, the lack of the synthetic methods made it rather difficult to produce these classes of materials. In this review article, a new method to produce π-conjugated polymers containing elements-blocks through regioregular reactive precursor polymers is described. Unique functions of the resulting π-conjugated polymers containing elements-blocks such as luminescent properties and their potential applications to chemosensors and electronic devices are also described.

A polymer material containing linked cage silsesquioxanes was synthesized by the dehydrogenative reaction of cage silsesquioxane with water, alkanediol, or siloxanediol. This polymer is consisted of silicon and oxygen and one of the element block polymeric materials, which are formed by arranging elements freely. The condensation reaction of octakishydridooctasilsesquioxane with water gives element block polymeric materials, which is converted to gas separation film with high permeability for hydrogen and helium to separate nitrogen effectively. On the other hand, octakis (dimethylsilyl) octasilicate was synthesized from water glass (No.3) via two steps in high yield and applied to the preparation of free-standing film with high transparency and softness by the condensation of octakis (dimethylsilyl) octasilicate with alkanediols.

“Element-block” materials with various groups of elements possess unique optical, electrical and reactive properties. The “element-block” also shows attractive properties at restricted surface and interface. Therefore, the “element-block” is accepted in the field of adhesion including image displays. Herein, we focused the cobalt complex as one of typical “element-block” for surface treatment and investigated the primer effect of adhesion properties in detail. From the various measurements, the spatial interface, namely “interphase”, was observed and the thickness of the interphase defined adhesive strength. In addition, we evaluated the thickness of interphase using various adhesion systems and revealed the relationship between the thickness of interphase and adhesion strength. We clarified the formation mechanism of the interphase region.

Hybrid materials prepared by dispersing inorganic nanoparticles in organic polymers are expected as functional substances with synergistic properties. Recently, high refractive index thin films are most important materials for optical devices such as flat panel display, touch panel, etc. These hybrids with dispersion of surface modified zirconia nanoparticles can provide the controlled refractive index materials. It is necessary for the preparation of transparent hybrid materials to disperse zirconia nanoparticles in organic solvent by using a process of beads mill. Effective surface modifications of zirconia nanoparticles were successfully developed by two treatments of 1) with silane coupling agent and isocyanate compound and 2) with dual-site silane coupling agent. These dispersions can be applied to prepare the high refractive index thin films.

Lanthanides are well-known as one of typical elements with high-pure color luminescence. Among them, terbium (Tb(III)), europium (Eu(III)), and samarium (Sm(III)) ions show green, red, and deep-red luminescence for various display and imaging applications, respectively. In this report, Luminescent lanthanide coordination polymers composed of lanthanide ions and organic joint ligands “lanthanide element-block polymers” are introduced as novel imaging materials. The lanthanide element-block polymer show characteristic thermostable and enhanced luminescence properties that are different from typical luminescent lanthanide complex. One-, two-, and three-dimensional alternating sequences of lanthanide ions and organic ligands exhibit remarkable characteristics as novel organic materials with various structures, and unique photo-physical properties. Here, lanthanide element-block polymer for novel imaging applications such as display devices, thermosensors, and future imaging applications have been demonstrated.

We describe “Elemental analysis method” of metallic cross-sectional microstructure by EPMA, Electron Probe Micro-Analyzer.

High quality elemental analysis results are obtained when we understand the principals of an equipment and we analyze appropriate specimen. Furthermore, we describe typical three elemental analytical modes by EPMA. They are Point, Line and Map analysis. Typical analytical results and understanding method of analytical results are described.

Quality of an elemental analytical result at the metallic cross-sectional microstructure depends on a specimen production process for analysis and observation. We introduce tips for a specimen production process for analysis and observation. It is required that the three-dimensionally-understanding of microstructure at the analytical point.