Abstract: Photothermographic materials comprise heat-bleachable antihalation compositions in antihalation layers. These compositions comprise a hexaarybiimidazole and one or more infrared radiation absorbing compounds that are represented by the following Structure I: A1—L1—A2  I wherein A1 represents a group derived from a dye base, a heterocyclic group, or an electron-donating aromatic group, A2 represents a group derived from a dye base, a heterocyclic group, a group derived from a dye acid, or an electron-donating aromatic group, and L1 represents a conjugated linking group that maintains electron delocalization between A1 and A2 to provide infrared absorbance. The antihalation composition is typically bleached when subjected to a temperature of at least 90° C. for at least 0.5 seconds.

Abstract: Photothermographic materials have increased photospeed provided by gold(III)-containing chemical sensitizers that are used combination with sulfur- and/or tellurium-containing chemical sensitizers. Increased photographic speed is achieved with minimal increase in Dmin. The gold(III)-containing chemical sensitizers are represented by the following Structure GOLD: Au(III)L′rYq GOLD wherein L′ represents the same or different ligands, each ligand comprising at least one heteroatom that is capable of forming a bond with gold, Y is an anion, r is an integer of from 1 to 8, and q is an integer of from 0 to 3.

Abstract: Thermographic and photothermographic materials comprise a barrier layer to provide physical protection and to prevent migration of diffusible imaging components and by-products resulting from high temperature imaging and/or development. The barrier layer comprises a film-forming acrylic or methacrylic acid ester or amide polymer(s) that has a molecular weight of at least 8000 g/mole and comprises hydroxy functionality in from about 15 to 100 mole % of the acrylic or methacrylic acid ester or amide recurring units. This barrier layer is capable of retarding diffusion of mobile chemicals such as fatty carboxylic acids, developers, and toners. This barrier layer can also include at least one other film-forming polymer to provide a clear and scratch-resistant surface.

Abstract: Photothermographic emulsions and materials that are highly sensitive to imaging radiation and that provide high contrast images are provided by making the emulsions with photosensitive silver halide grains that have been formed in the presence of a hydroxytetrazaindene or an N-heterocyclic compound comprising at least one mercapto group, such as a mercapto tetrazole. Such grains can then be chemically sensitized before or after mixing with an organic silver salt using a sulfur-, tellurium-containing, or gold-containing chemical sensitizing compound, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Novel co-developer compounds are useful in combination with hindered phenol developers to produce high contrast black-and-white photothermographic elements. The co-developer compounds have the formula wherein: Y is H, a metal (preferably, an alkali metal), or an alkyl group (preferably, an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms), and the solid curved line represents the atoms and bonds necessary to complete a ring structure (preferably a 5 or 6 membered ring structure). The photothermographic elements may be used as a photomask in a process where there is a subsequent exposure of an ultraviolet or short wavelength visible radiation-sensitive imageable medium.

Abstract: 1-Sulfonyl-1H-benzotriazole compounds have been found to be useful as antifoggants and print stabilizers in photothermographic elements. The photothermographic elements may be used in medical imaging films or as a photomask in a process where there is a subsequent exposure of an ultraviolet or short wavelength visible radiation-sensitive imageable medium.

Abstract: Compounds having general structure (I) have been found to be useful as stabilizers in photothermographic elements. The photothermographic elements comprise a support bearing an imaging coating (specifically, a photosensitive, image-forming, photothermographic coating) comprising:(a) a photosensitive silver halide;(b) a non-photosensitive, reducible source of silver;(c) a reducing agent for the non-photosensitive, reducible source of silver;(d) a binder; and(e) a compound having general structure (I) ##STR1## wherein X is O or S; and Y is NH.sub.2, OH, or O.sup.- M.sup.+ wherein M.sup.+ is a metal atom.The photothermographic elements may be used in medical imaging films or as a photomask in a process where there is a subsequent exposure of an ultraviolet or short wavelength visible radiation-sensitive imageable medium.