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		Toner Technology



		Question: I've noticed that the same toners sometimes perform differently in different types of operating environments. Why? Answer: The relative humidity level in an operating environment can significantly influence toner performance in copiers, printers, and facsimile machines. Humidity directly affects the electrical charge on the toner, which in turn determines image density and background levels on copies, toner yield per cartridge or bottle, and the level of toner dusting within the machine. When evaluating toner performance, or attempting to determine the source of a change in copy quality or toner yield, it is important to keep this in mind. Indirectly, temperature also plays an important role in toner performance, because it influences the air's ability to hold moisture (i.e., humidity). The warmer the air, the greater the amount of moisture it can hold. As a result, the moisture content (humidity level) in a cubic meter of air is typically much higher in a warm operating environment than in a cool one. Both high and low humidity can affect toner performance. In a typical dual-component development system, high humidity reduces the electrical charge on the toner. The toner particles attraction to the carrier is weakened, and toner transfer to the drum is increased--typically resulting in darker copies, lower toner yields, and increased toner dusting within the machine. Conversely, low humidity increases the electrical charge on a toner. Consequently, the toner particles' attraction to carrier is strengthened, and toner transfer to the drum is decreased typically resulting in lighter copies, greater toner yields, and decreased toner dusting within the machine. In a monocomponent development system like that in most Canon copiers, environmental changes can have even more dramatic -- but opposite -- effects on toner performance. High humidity reduces the electrical charge on toner particles, but, because carrier is not used, this decreases toner transfer to the drum. Therefore, in a monocomponent system, high humidity typically results in lighter copies, greater toner yields, and decreased toner dusting within the machine. Conversely, low humidity increases the electrical charge on toner particles, and toner transfer to the drum is increased. In a monocomponent system, low humidity typically results in darker copies, lower toner yields, and increased toner dusting within the machine. Generally speaking, humidity's effects on toner performance are uncontrollable. Making specific machine adjustments to minimize the effects of high or low humidity levels is not an effective solution; these will only temporarily improve toner performance, and make it difficult to readjust the machine once the humidity returns to a more moderate level. However, certain measures to prevent humidity and temperature extremes within a machine's operating environment can be somewhat successful. Specifically, running air conditioning or dehumidifiers during more humid months, and humidifiers during less humid months, can help stabilize a toner's performance throughout the year. Although you may not be able to control environmental conditions in your end-users' offices or other work areas, understanding the reasons for copy quality variations can help prevent misdiagnosis of machine performance problems. In addition, if you are evaluating the performance of one toner brand versus that of another in the same machine, it is critical to recognize that any significant change in humidity or temperature will influence your results.

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Question: I've noticed that the same toners sometimes perform differently in different types of operating environments. Why?