Charge stabilizers: properties and applications

Besides the well known charge control agents (also called charge additives, charge assistants or charge directing agents) for the specific charging of matrix systems like electrophotographic toners, there is a class of compounds which is able to stabilize triboelectric charge. These agents are called charge stabilizers. In comparison with charge control agents, charge stabilizers show lower charging magnitude but higher long term charge stability. A charge stabilizer can be applied within a matrix system or as an external additive which is simply mixed with the system. Surprisingly it is capable of stabilizing both negative as well as positive charges when used in combination with charge control agents. Different examples for the application of a special polymeric charge stabilizer will be presented in this contribution as well as its use with different carrier systems as an external additive. Furthermore, a concept is briefly introduced to explain the way charge stabilizers may work.