Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer consisting essentially of electrically-conductive fine particles, such as antimony-doped tin oxide particles and, as a binder, water-insoluble polymer particles. The use of water-insoluble polymer particles of an appropriate shear modulus as a binder in the electrically-conductive layer provides a layer with a high degree of conductivity at low concentrations of electrically-conductive fine particles.

Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer consisting essentially of electrically-conductive fine particles, such as antimony-doped tin oxide particles and, as a binder, water-insoluble polymer particles containing sulfonic acid groups. The use of water-insoluble polymer particles containing sulfonic acid groups as a binder in the electrically-conductive layer provides a layer with a high degree of conductivity at low concentrations of electrically-conductive fine particles.

Abstract: Thermally processable imaging elements in which the image is formed by imagewise heating or by imagewise exposure to light followed by uniform heating are comprised of a support, a thermographic or photothermographic imaging layer, a protective overcoat layer and a backing layer and include in at least one layer thereof, polymeric matte particles comprising a polymeric core surrounded by a layer of colloidal inorganic particles. The polymeric matte particles provide enhanced image quality and improved processing characteristics with respect to adhesion, dusting and lack of haze.

Abstract: Lithographic printing is carried out by a novel process utilizing a zirconia ceramic as a printing plate. In this process, the surface of the zirconia ceramic printing plate is imagewise exposed to radiation which transforms it from a hydrophilic to an oleophilic state or from an oleophilic to a hydrophilic state, thereby creating a lithographic printing surface which is hydrophilic in non-image areas and is oleophilic and thus capable of accepting printing ink in image areas. The zirconia ceramic printing plate utilized in this process is capable of extremely long printing runs, is especially well adapted for direct digital laser imaging using images that are electronically captured and digitally stored, and can be reused by erasing the image from the ceramic surface by thermally-activated oxidation or laser-assisted oxidation.

Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, are comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer comprising electronically-conductive fine particles, such as antimony-doped tin oxide particles, and gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles. The use of gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles as a binder in the electrically-conductive layer facilitates the preparation of stable coating compositions and provides a layer with a high degree of conductivity at low concentrations of electronically-conductive fine particles and with excellent abrasion resistant properties.

Abstract: A coating composition that is useful for the preparation of an auxiliary layer of an imaging element, such as a photographic element, is comprised of an aqueous medium having dispersed therein film-forming polymeric particles and non-film-forming polymeric particles and is characterized in that the film-forming polymeric particles are acid-stable polyurethane particles. These coating compositions have excellent stability characteristics, provide auxiliary layers with improved chemical and physical properties when coated and dried to form a coalesced layer, and provide for reduced emission of volatile organic compounds during the drying process.

Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, are comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer produced by coating a layer comprised of a metallo-organic compound and a film-forming binder and subjecting such layer to glow discharge treatment to render it electrically conductive. Use of a metallo-organic compound in combination with a glow discharge treatment provides a controlled degree of electrical conductivity and beneficial chemical, physical and optical properties which adapt the electrically-conductive layer for such purposes as providing protection against static or serving as an electrode which takes part in an image-forming process.

Abstract: A photographic film that is especially useful as a motion picture print film is comprised of a support having, in order, on one side thereof an antihalation undercoat and at least one silver halide emulsion layer and having, in order, on the opposite side thereof an antistatic layer and a protective topcoat; wherein the protective topcoat is comprised of a polyurethane binder and a lubricant and the polyurethane binder has a tensile elongation to break of at least 50% and a Young's modulus measured at 2% elongation of at least 50000 lb/in.sup.2. The polyurethane binder provides a tough but flexible protective topcoat that is capable of resisting abrasion and scratching when the film is conveyed through a projector and capable of standing up to the repeated use to which motion picture print films are typically subjected.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate is comprised of a support having a porous hydrophilic surface, such as grained and anodized aluminum, and an oleophilic imaging layer overlying the porous hydrophilic surface. The imaging layer is comprised of an oleophilic, radiation-absorbing, heat-sensitive, film-forming composition which is readily removable from the porous hydrophilic surface prior to imagewise exposure and which is adapted to form a lithographic printing surface as a result of imagewise exposure to absorbable electromagnetic radiation and subsequent removal of the non-exposed areas to reveal the underlying porous hydrophilic surface. Examples of suitable techniques for removing the non-exposed areas include contact with printing ink on the press, removal by lamination and peel development steps and removal by use of an integral stripping layer.

Abstract: High-contrast room-light-handleable contact-exposed ultraviolet-sensitive black-and-white silver halide photographic elements useful in the field of graphic arts are provided with an electrically-conductive layer which serves to provide antistatic protection. The electrically-conductive layer is comprised of electrically-conductive metal-containing particles, such as particles of antimony-doped tin oxide, a film-forming polymer, such as gelatin, and an ultraviolet-absorber, such as a solid particle filter dye, in an amount sufficient to provide halation protection.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition especially adapted to prepare a lithographic printing plate that is sensitive to both ultraviolet and infrared radiation and capable of functioning in either a positive-working or negative-working manner is comprised of (1) a resole resin, (2) a novolac resin, (3) a haloalkyl-substituted s-triazine and (4) an infrared absorber. The solubility of the composition in aqueous alkaline developing solution is both reduced in exposed areas and increased in unexposed areas by the steps of imagewise exposure to activating radiation and heating.

Abstract: Hydrophilic colloids, such as gelatin, which are employed in the manufacture of photographic elements are commonly treated with a hardening composition, among the most useful of which are hardening compositions containing vinyl sulfone hardening agents such as bis(vinylsulfonyl)methane. In accordance with this invention, citric acid or salts of citric acid are utilized as an effective inhibitor of homopolymerization in such hardening compositions.

Abstract: Improved photopolymerization initiator systems are comprised of a spectral sensitizer that sensitizes in the ultraviolet or visible regions of the spectrum and an N-aryl, O-aryl or S-aryl polycarboxylic acid co-initiator. The improved initiator systems are incorporated in photo-polymerizable compositions containing one or more addition-polymerizable ethylenically-unsaturated compounds to form compositions suitable for the preparation of radiation-sensitive layers in lithographic printing plates adapted to be imagewise-exposed with ultraviolet- or visible-light-emitting lasers such as argon-ion lasers and frequency doubled Nd:YAG lasers. Such plates are able to effectively meet the dual requirements of very high photospeed and very good shelf-life required in computer-to-plate systems.

Abstract: An improved photographic element comprises a support bearing at least one silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a hydrazide compound that functions as a scavenger for oxidized developing agent. The hydrazide compound includes an electron-withdrawing and aqueous-solubilizing group on an aromatic ring linked to the carbonyl of the hydrazide group and a ballasting group on an aromatic ring linked to a nitrogen atom of the hydrazide group. Preferably, the hydrazide compound is incorporated in a photographic element which comprises a four-equivalent 5-pyrazolone magenta-dye-forming coupler.

Abstract: Flexible digital optical media, such as optical tapes, are provided with an aqueous-applied backing layer which provides excellent performance with regard to runnability, scratch resistance, abrasion resistance, frictional properties and curl characteristics. The backing layer comprises a film-forming water-dispersible polymeric binder and water-dispersible static-dissipative filler particles and a water-dispersible lubricant is either incorporated within the backing layer or forms a thin film over the surface of the backing layer.

Abstract: An improved photographic element comprises a support bearing at least one silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a two-equivalent 5-pyrazolone magenta-dye-forming coupler. The coupler has a coupling-off group in the 4-position and an activity-modifying ballasting group in the 3-position. The ballasting group includes a hydrogen-bonding substituent and provides a unique combination of steric, hydrophobic and conformational properties which allows the coupling activity to be controlled.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate is comprised of an anodized aluminum support having thereon an oleophilic image-forming layer comprising an infrared-absorbing agent dispersed in a film-forming cyanoacrylate polymer binder. The plate is imagewise exposed to a focused high-intensity infrared laser beam which removes the oleophilic image-forming layer by thermal ablation to thereby reveal the underlying hydrophilic support surface. The cyanoacrylate polymers provide superior performance due to their combination of low decomposition temperature, good ink receptivity, good adhesion to the support and good wear characteristics.

Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic films and papers, are comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and at least one auxiliary layer containing solvent-dispersible polymer particles. The auxiliary layer is coated from a dispersion of core/shell polymer particles in a liquid organic medium, the polymer particles comprising a core portion which is insoluble in the organic medium and a shell portion which has an affinity for both the core portion and the organic medium.

Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic films and papers, are comprised of a support, an image-forming layer, an electrically-conductive layer and a protective overcoat layer that overlies the electrically-conductive layer. The protective overcoat layer is coated from a dispersion of core/shell polymer particles in a liquid organic medium, the polymer particles comprising a core portion which is insoluble in the organic medium and a shell portion which has an affinity for both the core portion and the organic medium.

Abstract: A high-contrast photographic material, adapted for use in the field of graphic arts, includes a hydrazide nucleating agent and comprises a silver halide emulsion layer containing silver halide grains which are spectrally sensitized with a non-desorbing sensitizing dye and silver halide grains which are not spectrally sensitized. Preferably, the photographic material also contains a booster compound which enables it to be processed in a developer having a pH of below 11.