The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a first support and a photosensitive layer; and a charging member. In the photosensitive member when an electric current is measured which flows when a voltage is applied to a surface while being varied, a gradient a.sub.1 of a low electric field region and a gradient a.sub.2 of a high electric field region satisfy a.sub.2/a.sub.1≥1.50, in a graph. The charging member includes a second support having an electroconductive outer surface, and a second electroconductive layer including a matrix and a plurality of domains being dispersed in the matrix, at least a portion of the domain is exposed to an outer surface which includes at least the matrix and at least a portion of the domain, and a volume resistivity ρ.sub.M of the matrix is 1.00×10.sup.5 times or higher of a volume resistivity ρ.sub.D of the domain.

A process cartridge is provided, which is configured to recover, with a developing member, developer remaining on an image bearing member after transfer of a developer image to a transfer receiving member, wherein a charging member has a shaft that is conductive and an elastic layer supported on the shaft and being in contact with the image bearing member; the elastic layer has a matrix containing a first rubber, and a plurality of domains containing a second rubber and an electron-conductive agent and interspersed within the matrix. The electric resistance of the domains is lower than the electric resistance of the matrix. The matrix is exposed on an outer surface of the elastic layer and forms multiple depressed portions, and the domains include a domains exposed at a bottom section of the depressed portion.

An electrophotographic apparatus having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit, and a developing unit for forming a toner image, wherein the charging unit has a conductive member disposed to be contactable with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a conductive layer at the surface of the conductive member has a matrix-domain structure, at least a portion of the domains is exposed at the outer surface of the conductive member, the outer surface of the conductive member is constituted at least of the matrix and these domains, a volume resistivity R1 of the matrix is greater than 1.00×10.sup.12 Ω.Math.cm, a volume resistivity R2 of the domains is less than R1, Martens hardness G1 of the matrix and Martens hardness G2 of the domains satisfy a prescribed relationship, and an onset temperature T(A) for a storage elastic modulus E′ of the toner is not more than 80.0° C.

An electro-conductive layer of an electrophotographic electro-conductive member has a matrix-domain structure. The matrix contains a first rubber. The domain contains a second rubber and electro-conductive particles. Where μ represents an average of ratios of the cross-sectional area of the electro-conductive particles contained in each of the domains to the cross-sectional area of each of the domains appearing on a cross-section of the electro-conductive layer in a thickness direction, and σ represents a standard deviation of the ratios, σ/μ is 0 or more and 0.4 or less, and μ is 20% or more and 40% or less. At least eight of samples with a first cubic shape 9 μm on a side, which are sampled at arbitrary nine positions on the electro-conductive layer, satisfy the specified condition.

There is provided a process cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge including: an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging member, in which when average local potential differences of calculated lengths in the electrophotographic photosensitive member is calculated based on a specific method, a maximum value of the average local potential difference is 2 V or more, the charging member includes a support and an electro-conductive layer, the electro-conductive layer has a matrix and domains dispersed in the matrix, a volume resistivity ρM of the matrix is at least 1.00×10.sup.5 times a volume resistivity ρD of the domain, and a specific calculated length S.sub.CP [μm] and a specific value relating a distance between the domains D.sub.ms [μm] satisfy S.sub.CP≥3×D.sub.ms.

An electrophotographic developing member includes an electro-conductive support and an electro-conductive layer provided on the support, wherein the electro-conductive layer has a matrix containing a first rubber and a plurality of domains dispersed in the matrix, and the domain contains a second rubber and an electronic conductive agent and when a frequency is log-log-plotted on a horizontal axis and an impedance is log-log-plotted on a vertical axis with respect to an impedance measured by applying an alternating current voltage having an amplitude of 1 V on the electro-conductive layer while changing a frequency between 1.0×10.sup.−2 Hz to 1.0×10.sup.7 Hz under a specific environment, an inclination of an impedance on a high frequency side is −0.8 or more and −0.3 or less and an impedance on a low frequency side is 1.0×10.sup.4Ω to 1.0×10.sup.11Ω.

The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a first support and a photosensitive layer; and a charging member. In the photosensitive member when an electric current is measured which flows when a voltage is applied to a surface while being varied, a gradient a.sub.1 of a low electric field region and a gradient a.sub.2 of a high electric field region satisfy a.sub.2/a.sub.1≥1.50, in a graph. The charging member includes a second support having an electroconductive outer surface, and a second electroconductive layer including a matrix and a plurality of domains being dispersed in the matrix, at least a portion of the domain is exposed to an outer surface which includes at least the matrix and at least a portion of the domain, and a volume resistivity ρ.sub.M of the matrix is 1.00×10.sup.5 times or higher of a volume resistivity ρ.sub.D of the domain.

There is provided a process cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge including: an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging member, in which when average local potential differences of calculated lengths in the electrophotographic photosensitive member is calculated based on a specific method, a maximum value of the average local potential difference is 2 V or more, the charging member includes a support and an electro-conductive layer, the electro-conductive layer has a matrix and domains dispersed in the matrix, a volume resistivity M of the matrix is at least 1.0010.sup.5 times a volume resistivity D of the domain, and a specific calculated length S.sub.CP [m] and a specific value relating a distance between the domains D.sub.ms [m] satisfy S.sub.CP3D.sub.ms.

An electrophotographic apparatus having an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit, and a developing unit for forming a toner image, wherein the charging unit has a conductive member disposed to be contactable with the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a conductive layer at the surface of the conductive member has a matrix-domain structure, at least a portion of the domains is exposed at the outer surface of the conductive member, the outer surface of the conductive member is constituted at least of the matrix and these domains, a volume resistivity R1 of the matrix is greater than 1.0010.sup.12 .Math.cm, a volume resistivity R2 of the domains is less than R1, Martens hardness G1 of the matrix and Martens hardness G2 of the domains satisfy a prescribed relationship, and an onset temperature T(A) for a storage elastic modulus E of the toner is not more than 80.0 C.

A process cartridge is provided, which is configured to recover, with a developing member, developer remaining on an image bearing member after transfer of a developer image to a transfer receiving member, wherein a charging member has a shaft that is conductive and an elastic layer supported on the shaft and being in contact with the image bearing member; the elastic layer has a matrix containing a first rubber, and a plurality of domains containing a second rubber and an electron-conductive agent and interspersed within the matrix. The electric resistance of the domains is lower than the electric resistance of the matrix. The matrix is exposed on an outer surface of the elastic layer and forms multiple depressed portions, and the domains include a domains exposed at a bottom section of the depressed portion.