A belt fixing unit, an image forming apparatus, and a toner material are
disclosed capable of obviating undesirable fixing belt deformation and
low image quality. The belt fixing unit includes a fixing roller, a
heating roller, a fixing belt, and a pressing roller in contact with the
fixing roller to form a fixing nip having the fixing belt intervening
there between, the fixing belt including at least a base member formed of
a heat-resisting resin having a thickness of 90 .mu.m or smaller and
acted upon by a tensile force of 0.49 N/mm or less. The toner is a
low-melting point toner formed by subjecting a toner preparatory solution
containing at least a prepolymer having a functional group containing a
nitrogen atom, a polyester, a colorant and a releasing agent dispersed in
an organic solvent to extension and/or crosslinking reactions in an
aqueous medium.