Does Toner Powder Carry an Expiration Date?
Most toner cartridges, whether OEM, compatible or re-manufactured and even toner refill for that matter are shipped with a shelf life of 18 to 24 months. These products come tightly packed and stored in moisture proof packages, obviously to prevent heat, moisture and light from intervening with the laser toner performance. But the 18 to 24 months expiration date will not endure if toner particles are left exposed indefinitely. Heat can cause toner to prematurely fuse while moisture can turn the toner particles soggy and too much exposure to light can totally erase the photosensitive properties of toner. Any of the three – toner, moisture and light exposure, would render the toner powder particles unfit for laser printing. Durable packaging however is not foolproof. Even when tightly packed, toner will prematurely fuse and clump together when left around excessive heat environments. No amount of shaking then could free the toner particles from the clump. In this case, toner could no lon
