Readily Deinkable Toners

Abstract

Broadly the invention provides for a deinkable toner composition, an image made with the deinkable toner, and a method for making the toner including a coloring agent; a thermoplastic polymer; and a protein. In another embodiment the toner includes a coloring agent and a thermoplastic polymer where the protein has been incorporated into the polymer itself. In typical embodiments the protein is derived from soybeans but may be from other plant or animal sources. Typically the toner has a positive triboelectric charge of between about 10 to about 40 microCoulomb/g, or a negative triboelectric charge of between about 10 to about 40 microCoulomb/g.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A polyamide comprising the reaction product of:
 a. a dimer acid;   b. a diamine;   c. a protein derivative; and   d. an aliphatic acid.   
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the aliphatic acid comprises adipic acid. 
     
     
         34 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the protein derivative is a dibasic amino acid. 
     
     
         35 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the dimer acid comprises one or more dimers of C18 unsaturated fatty acids. 
     
     
         36 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the dimer acid comprises one or more dimer acids selected from: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         37 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the dimer acid is a soy-based dimer acid. 
     
     
         38 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the dimer acid comprises formula 1: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         39 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the diamine is a rigid diamine. 
     
     
         40 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the diamine is bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)methane. 
     
     
         41 . The polyamide of  claim 34 , wherein the dibasic amino acid is selected from the group consisting of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the polyamide comprises a polystyrene acrylate. 
     
     
         43 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the polyamide comprises a polyester. 
     
     
         44 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the polyamide comprises a polyester ether. 
     
     
         45 . The polyamide of  claim 29 , wherein the polyamide comprises a polyurethane.