Coating Printer Components Increases Lifespan

Printing giant Xerox has developed a method for extending the lifespan of printer components.

The new "chemical armour" is used to protect photoreceptors - the light-sensitive parts of xerographic machines such as printers, faxes and copiers.

Xerox says that when a photoreceptor has been coated with the new substance it can go through over one million revolutions, which is nearly double its usual life span.

Giuseppa DiPaola-Baranyi, laboratory manager of materials integration Xerox's Canadian research centre, said that the "the ultimate goal is to develop photoreceptors that will last the entire life of the machine".

She added: "For example, when you scratch your hand and you heal, that's a biological process. We are looking at how to mimic nature and leverage our expertise in smart materials design and nanotechnology to create molecules for next-generation photoreceptors with self-healing capabilities."

The new photoreceptors will be introduced on the Xerox 4112/4127.

Posted by Elaine Richards

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