Abstract: A photothermographic material having a Dmin and Dmax optical density. The material includes a support having hereon one or more thermally-developable imaging layers which are developable to produce an image when the photothermographic material is thermally processed; and an area disposed along a length of at least one edge of the photothermographic material, wherein the area has an optical density less than the Dmax and greater than the Dmin of the photothermographic material.

Abstract: A photothermographic emulsion is prepared by chemically sensitizing silver halide grains by oxidative decomposition of an organic sulfur-containing compound on or around the silver halide grains. This procedure uses a unique sequence of steps and provides increased photographic speed and manufacturing reproducibility. The resulting photothermographic emulsion can be used to prepare photothermographic materials.

Abstract: A black and white photothermographic material is imaged and heat developed to provide an image that has an image tone that is characterized such that the value for b* at an optical density of 1.0 is greater than the value for b* at Dmin. This material is useful for recording medical images used for diagnosis, particularly those images which have been captured through computed radiography, digital radiography, or by digitally scanning a conventional wet-processed radiographic film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element support having a first surface and a second surface, a photothermographic composition that is to be exposed to a laser being disposed on the first surface of the support. The element has at least one back layer disposed on the second surface of the support. The photothermographic composition comprises silver halide emulsion grains having a number average grain size of less than 0.1 &mgr;m and that are spectrally sensitized with a sensitizing dye having a spectral sensitivity that corresponds to the spectral properties of the laser. The photothermographic composition further comprises an organic silver salt, a reducing agent for silver ions, and at least one dye. In addition, the photothermographic composition has a transmission optical density greater than 0.1 at the exposure wavelength, and the back layer has a transmission optical density greater than 0.1 at the exposure wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element comprising a support layer having on at least one surface thereof a photothermographic composition which displays uniform image density across its surface when exposed to floodlight or uniform incandescent light exposure at radiation wavelengths to which the element is sensitive, said element comprising at least two layers, including a top layer and a photothermographic emulsion layer, said photothermographic emulsion layer comprising a binder, a light insensitive silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion and infrared radiation sensitive silver halide grains, wherein the coherent radiation is rendered more diffuse in its passage through the element than when it strikes the top layer. This may be accomplished at least in part by 1) the top layer of the element having haze induced therein of 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element comprising a support layer having on at least one surface thereof a photothermographic composition which displays uniform image density across its surface when exposed to floodlight or uniform incandescent light exposure at radiation wavelengths to which the element is sensitive, said element comprising at least two layers, including a top layer and a photothermographic emulsion layer, said photothermographic emulsion layer comprising a binder, a light insensitive silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion and infrared radiation sensitive silver halide grains, wherein the coherent radiation is rendered more diffuse in its passage through the element than when it strikes the top layer. This may be accomplished at least in part by 1) the top layer of the element having haze induced therein of 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element comprising a support layer having on at least one surface thereof a photothermographic composition which displays uniform image density across its surface when exposed to floodlight or uniform incandescent light exposure at radiation wavelengths to which the element is sensitive, said element comprising at least two layers, including a top layer and a photothermographic emulsion layer, said photothermographic emulsion layer comprising a binder, a light insensitive silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion and infrared radiation sensitive silver halide grains, wherein the coherent radiation is rendered more diffuse in its passage through the element than when it strikes the top layer. This may be accomplished at least in part by 1) the top layer of the element having haze induced therein of 0.

Abstract: Chemical sensitization of silver halide photothermographic emulsions used in photothermographic elements, can be effected by the decomposition of sulfur containing compounds on or around the surface of the silver halide grains, usually under oxidizing conditions at elevated temperatures. Alignment of the sulfur containing compounds on the surface of the grains, can be accomplished with spectral sensitizing dyes and appears to be particularly effective in providing strong chemical sensitization effects.

Abstract: A negative-acting photothermographic element comprising a support bearing at least one heat-developable, photosensitive, image-forming photothermographic emulsion layer comprising:(a) an iridium doped, preferably iridium-doped core-shell, photosensitive silver halide grains, generally containing a total silver iodide content of less than 10 mole %, the shell having a second silver iodide content lower than the silver iodide content of the core;(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) optionally at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: a halogen molecule; an organic haloamide; and hydrobromic acid salts of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds which are further associated with a pair of bromine atoms.A process of forming photothermographic emulsions from iridium-doped silver halide grains by forming silver soaps in the presence of those grains is also described.

Abstract: A negative-acting photothermographic element comprising a support bearing at least one heat-developable, photosensitive, image-forming photothermographic emulsion layer comprising:(a) an iridium doped, preferably iridium-doped core-shell, photosensitive silver halide grains, generally containing a total silver iodide content of less than 10 mole %, the shell having a second silver iodide content lower than the silver iodide content of the core;(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) optionally at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: a halogen molecule; an organic haloamide; and hydrobromic acid salts of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds which are further associated with a pair of bromine atoms.A process of forming photothermographic emulsions from iridium-doped silver halide grains by forming silver soaps in the presence of those grains is also described.

Abstract: A welding blanket comprising a layer of flexible protective material comprising unexpanded vermiculite and inorganic heat resistant fibrous material, which layer undergoes localized expansion in a direction normal to its major surfaces when contacted by spatter of molten metal during a welding process; and two relatively thin flexible cover sheets, one attached along each of the major surfaces of the layer of flexible material to maintain its structural integrity.

Abstract: A welding method for metal parts includes preparing the surface areas of the parts to be welded to provide bare metal surfaces which are clean and dry, clamping said parts together, coating the bare metal surface with a liquid coating comprised of zinc dust, manganomanganic oxide fume, and organic binder, permitting the coating to dry, and welding the coated surfaces together by gas metal arc welding.

Abstract: Photothermographic imaging elements are provided with strippable layers which have electrical conductivity in the range of 60 to 1,500 ohms/square. The elements may be exposed to radiation and then thermally developed by applying a voltage across the strippable layer which becomes resistively heated. After development, the strippable layer may be removed.