MICROSTRUCTURE STUDY ON OXIDE MEMBRANE OF IRON POWDER TONER FOR ELECTROSTATIC DUPLICATOR

The mcrostructure analysis and Study was made on the oxide membrane of the iron powder toner for electrostatic duplicator with optical microscope, X-ray,scanning electron microscopy and Aguer electron energy spectroscopy. The results indicated that when the oxygen content is about 2% a ferroferric oxide membrane of about 2μm thick was formed at the particle surface of iron powder toner and when the oxygen Content of iron powder toner is more than 5%,the thickness of ferroferric oxide membrane at the surface of some iron Powder particles will apparently thicken even if the thickness can increase to 5-8μm. However,it is not a single ferroferric oxide membrane, the ferrous oxide the thickness of which is not homogneous,isformed between the ferroferric oxide membrane and the α-Fe matrix. The presence of FeO will decrease the properties and the service life of the iron powder toner.