| abstract |
An image forming apparatus capable of preventing chemical deterioration of a surface of a charged body due to the discharge in a method of charging a charged body using an alternating current applied discharge by a charging member arranged in contact or close proximity, To provide a process cartridge. A charging device comprising a charging member 2a arranged in contact with or in close proximity to a movable object 1 to be charged, and charging the object 1 by applying a voltage containing an AC component to the charging member 2a. In the image forming apparatus, the protective material 32 for preventing deterioration of the surface of the charged body 1 due to discharge is present on the charged body 1 to form the outermost surface of the charged body 1 detected by XPS. The element number ratio [%] of the specific element of the protective substance 32 detected by XPS with respect to the total element number of all the elements of the substance was configured to be in an appropriate state according to the charging conditions and the like. [Selection] FIG. |