In a longitudinal direction of a heater, a distance from a center portion of the heater to a first temperature detection element is a first distance, and a distance from the center portion of the heater to a second temperature detection element is a second distance greater than the first distance. In a first area which is farther from the center portion of the heater than the second temperature detection element is from the center portion of the heater in the longitudinal direction of the heater, a distance between a first conductor and a second conductor in a transverse direction of the heater is a first inter-conductor distance and a distance between a third conductor and a fourth conductor in the transverse direction is a second inter-conductor distance longer than the first inter-conductor distance.

A fixing belt includes a base member containing a metal, a sliding layer containing a filler and formed on a base member inner side, and a separation layer formed on a base member outer side. Assume that (i) a sliding layer cross section is obtained by cutting the sliding layer along a sliding layer thickness direction and is divided into sections each having a length that is the same as a sliding layer thickness in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction, and (ii) a ratio of a filler area to a sliding layer area in each cross section sections is an area ratio. A period coefficient is calculated using the formula (Ave %?Min %)/Ave %, where an average of area ratios of filler areas in all the sections is Ave % and a minimum of the area ratios is Min %, and the calculated period coefficient is 0.6 or more.

A tubular body for a fixing member includes: a first layer having a thermal conductivity of 1.0 W/m.Math.K or more; and a second layer containing a resin and particles of a solid material in which heat absorption/release associated with electronic phase transition occurs.

Provided is a fixing member includes: a substrate; and an elastic layer on the substrate, wherein the elastic layer contains a rubber and fillers dispersed in the rubber, and wherein an average value of area ratios of large-particle diameter fillers is 20% or more and 40% or less, and the large-particle diameter fillers have an average array degree f.sub.L of 0.00 or more and 0.15 or less, an average value of an area ratios of small-particle diameter fillers is 10% or more and 20% or less, the small-particle diameter fillers have an average array degree f.sub.S of 0.20 or more and 0.50 or less, and the small-particle diameter fillers have an average array angle .sub.S of 60 or more and 120 or less.

A tubular film used for a fixing apparatus includes a heat generating layer, and a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer respectively provided at one end and another end of the film in a longitudinal direction of the film so as to contact the heat generating layer. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer each has a volume resistivity that is less than that of the heat generating layer. A low resistance layer is formed in an area of the heat generating layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer in the longitudinal direction, so as not to contact the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The low resistance layer has a volume resistivity that is less than that of the heat generating layer, and extends in a circumferential direction of the heat generating layer.

A fixing device includes an endless belt, a rotatable pressing member, a pad member inside of the belt, and a sliding member held by the pad member and sliding on an inner circumferential surface of the belt in a nip. The rotatable pressing member nips and feeds a recording material in the nip in cooperation with the belt and fixes a toner image on the recording material by applying heat and pressure. The sliding member includes a base material layer on which a plurality of projections projecting toward the rotatable pressing member are formed on a side sliding with the belt and a sliding layer provided on an outer surface of the plurality of projections. A leading end of the plurality of projections is a plane and an average roughness (Ra) of the plane satisfies 0.13 ?m?Ra?1.67 ?m.

A fixing device capable of stably performing a fixing operation for a long time is provided. The fixing device includes a cylindrical fixing belt and a heater. The fixing belt includes a resin layer forming an inner circumferential surface contactable with the heater. The heater includes a surface layer forming a sliding surface sliding on the fixing belt. The surface layer is an amorphous carbon film containing graphite particles. The sliding surface includes protrusions derived from the graphite particles. The protrusions have a distribution density of 50 to 2000 per 1 square millimeter of the sliding surface.

A roller for use with an image fixing device for fixing an image on a recording material includes a core metal, and an elastic layer provided around the core metal. In the elastic layer, a filler bundle including a plurality of fiber-like fillers is dispersed.

Disclosed herein is a release fluid, a fuser member and an image forming apparatus. The release fluid is a blend an amino functional silicone fluid and a non-functional silicone fluid. The amount of the amino functional silicone fluid is from about 10 weight percent to about 90 weight percent of the release fluid. The amount of the non-functional silicone fluid is from about 10 weight percent to about 90 weight percent of the release fluid. The amount of silanol (SiOH) is less than 200 ppm in the release fluid.

In a fixing apparatus, a width of a first portion of a first heat generating resistor is narrower than a width of a second portion, at least a portion of an outline of the first portion on the near side with respect to a power shut-off member is provided at a position closer to the power shut-off member than an outline of the second portion on the near side with respect to the power shut-off member, and at least a portion of an outline of the first portion on the far side with respect to the power shut-off member is provided at a position closer to the power shut-off member than an outline of the second portion on the far side with respect to the power shut-off member.