Mechanism of triboelectrification in xerographic toner

The triboelectrification mechanism of a xerographic toner has been studied using a model toner prepared by solution coating a negative charge control additive, cesium 3,5-di-t-butylsalicylate (0.15% by wt.), on the surface of 9 μm styrene-butadiene toner particles. The toner was electrified by tumbling the toner particles with metal carrier beads (~130 μm). The tribe generated was measured by the standard blow-off technique inside a Faraday cage. The surfaces of the toner and carrier particles, before and after blow-off, were examined by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results suggest that there is a preferential transfer of Cs⁺ ions from the surface of toner particles to the surface of carrier beads during electrification. An ion-transfer mechanism is proposed and discussed