Resistance Complemented Carbon-Nanotube Composite for Laser Printer Fusers Element

Resistance dependence on temperature and mechanical deformation (compression and tension) issues have to be solved, in order to utilize carbon nanotubes (CNT) polymer composite for practical heat-related applications. We report a resistance compensated laser printer fuser element using CNT composite that shows rapid heating properties. During electric heating (200 °C), highly conductive CNT/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites show a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) of resistivity resulting in the decrease of resistance (-14%), due to interconnection resistance between the CNTs. We redeem the NTC property through the use of the positive pressure coefficient effect of CNT/PDMS. In a paper-feeding test using a laser printer fuser system, CNT/PDMS film that was properly compressed by pressing roller (120 N/cm
²
) and heating roller showed a constant normalized resistance until 200 °C. The proposed laser printer fuser element could be used as a basis for heating unit applications.