A method of preparing a cylindrical metal member includes preparing a metallic ingot having at least one surface having a mean width with respect to ruggedness Sm in a range of from 100 μm to 220 μm; imparting a lubricant to the at least one surface of the metallic ingot; and subjecting the metallic ingot to impact pressing while the surface coated with the lubricant with respect to the metallic ingot is set as a bottom surface, to thereby mold a cylindrical metal member.

An electrophotographic photosensitive member capable of maintaining a charging ability during repeated use is provided. An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support, a conductive layer, a photosensitive layer and a protective layer in this order, wherein the protective layer contains a binding resin and a metal oxide particle, the metal oxide particle has a core and a coating layer, the core and the coating layer each contain titanium oxide, and the coating layer further includes niobium.

A base material for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, in which in a spectrum of a period and an amplitude obtained by performing fast Fourier transform of surface roughness of a 10 mm portion in an axial direction of a surface of the base material for an electrophotographic photoreceptor, an amplitude in a range of a period of 0.4 mm or more and 0.7 mm or less is 0.22 mm or less.

An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical substrate; and a surface layer located on an outer surface of the cylindrical substrate. At least a substrate central portion in a cylindrical axial direction of the outer surface of the cylindrical substrate is formed as a rough surface, and a surface roughness of a surface-layer central portion in the cylindrical axial direction of an outer surface of the surface layer is larger than that of at least one of two surface-layer end portions in the cylindrical axial direction of the outer surface of the surface layer. An image forming apparatus includes the electrophotographic photoreceptor; and a peripheral member capable of contacting a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor.

A photoconductive drum includes an elongated support element with a shaped charge generation layer. The layer extends from the support element at a single thickness along about two-thirds of a length thereof. Thicker charge generation portions provides denser optical densities compared to thinner portions allowing tailoring the photoconductive drum to compensate for imperfect optical scanning systems. A charge transport layer overcoats the charge generation layer. Optionally, an oxidation layer underlies the charge generation layer as does a protective overcoat overlying the charge transport layer.

Provided is an electrophotographic apparatus including: an electrophotographic photosensitive member; a voltage application unit configured to cause discharge from an electroconductive member to the electrophotographic photosensitive member; a charge transfer amount detection unit configured to detect a charge transfer amount per unit time resulting from the discharge from the electroconductive member to the electrophotographic photosensitive member; and a charging potential control unit, wherein V.sub.1 and V.sub.2 defined by specific procedures for the electrophotographic photosensitive member satisfy a relationship represented by the following expression (E-4): 100V.sub.1<V.sub.2−V.sub.1 (E-4), and wherein the charging potential control unit is configured to control the charging potential of the electrophotographic photosensitive member at the time of image formation.

A support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a cylindrical body having an inner diameter at each of both end parts in an axial direction larger than an inner diameter at a central part in the axial direction, the cylindrical body having a stepped part between the inner diameter at each of the both end parts in the axial direction and the inner diameter at the central part in the axial direction, wherein a coaxiality C between an outer diameter of the cylindrical body and the inner diameter at the central part in the axial direction is 0.3 mm or less.

Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including: a support having a cylindrical shape; and a photosensitive layer, wherein the support has a surface formed of Al and/or an Al alloy, the surface of the support includes Al crystal grains having: (α) a plane at −15° or more and less than +15° with respect to a {001} orientation; (β) a plane at −15° or more and less than +15° with respect to a {101} orientation; and (γ) a plane at −15° or more and less than +15° with respect to a {111} orientation, a ratio of an area occupied by the Al crystal grain having the (β) to a total area of the surface of the support is 10% or less, and a ratio of an area occupied by the Al crystal grain having the (γ) to the total area of the surface of the support is more than 10%.

The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes: a support; and a photosensitive layer, wherein a surface of the support is formed of Al and/or an Al alloy, wherein the surface of the support includes Al crystal grains having: (α) a plane at −15° or more and less than +15° with respect to a {001} orientation; (β) a plane at −15° or more and less than +15° with respect to a {101} orientation; and (γ) a plane at −15° or more and less than +15° with respect to a {111} orientation, and wherein a ratio of an area occupied by Al crystal grains each having the (γ) to a total area of the surface of the support is more than 10% and 50% or less, and a ratio of an area occupied by Al crystal grains each having the (α) or the (β) to the remaining area is 80% or more.

An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises: a support having a cylindrical shape; and a photosensitive layer, wherein the support has a surface formed of Al and/or an Al alloy, and includes Al crystal grains having: (α) a plane at −15° or more and less than +15° with respect to a {001} orientation; (β) a plane at −15° or more and less than +15° with respect to a {101} orientation; and (γ) a plane at −15° or more and less than +15° with respect to a {111} orientation, and wherein a ratio of an area occupied by the Al crystal grain having the (α) to a total area of the surface of the support is 10% or less, and a ratio of an area occupied by the Al crystal grain having the (γ) to the total area of the surface of the support is more than 10%.