Patent ID: 7199811
Filing Date: 2007-04-03
Classification: B41M,G03C,G03G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A qualification assessment method of assessing an electrophotographic image recording media, comprising the steps: providing a substrate coated with an image recording layer consisting of at least one thermoplastic layer formed at one side thereof providing a scanning type thermal microscope having a thermal probe operative as both heater and position sensor, the thermal probe comprising a Pt alloy containing 10% of Rh, the thermal probe having a cantilever spring constant of 1 N/in, a diameter of 6 μm and a curvature radius of 5 μm at an extreme end thereof under a condition that said thermal probe is changed in probe temperature at a programming rate in a range of from 0.03° to 25° C./sec within a programmed temperature range of from a room temperature to 200° C. under a load of 20 nA in 4-split T-B (Top-Bottom) value; using the thermal type scanning microscope and the probe to subject the coated substrate to heated probe penetration analysis by measuring probe penetration depth for a change in temperature of said probe from 50° to 150° C.; and characterizing the tested image recording medium to be competent to form nondefective images if the measured penetration depth is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, and characterizing the image recording medium not to be competent to form nondefective images if the measured penetration depth is less than the predetermined threshold value.