Abstract: A method of processing a photographic imaging element to obtain a protective overcoat is disclosed, which overcoat provides, in the final product, resistance to fingerprints, common stains, and spills. More particularly, the present invention involves a processing-solution-permeable overcoat that becomes water and stain resistant in the photochemically processed product. The overcoat formulation comprises at least one water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer interspersed with a water-soluble polymer. During development or thereafter, before drying, the water-soluble polymer is removed to a significant extent. Subsequently, the imaged element is dried at an elevated temperature to facilitate coalescence of the overcoat to thereby provide enhanced stain resistance and water-resistance.

Abstract: A photothermographic element has on a support a photosensitive layer containing an emulsion of silver halide fine grains having a mean equivalent spherical diameter of 10-50 nm. (1) The silver halide emulsion has been formed independent of an organic fatty acid silver salt rather than by partial halogen conversion of a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, and mixed with the organic silver salt before coating. (2) A reducing agent for silver ion is contained. (3) The silver halide fine grains have been chemically sensitized in the presence of a spectral sensitizing dye. The element is improved in sensitivity and restrained from fog increase during storage in daylight after processing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photothermographic element comprising a support, at least one photothermographic image-receiving layer, and at least one antihalation layer or a filter layer, wherein the antihalation or filer layer comprises an aqueous heat-bleachable composition comprising at least one dye and at least one hexaarylbiimidazole in the form of particles dispersed in a matrix comprising a hydrophilic or aqueous dispersible polymer.

Abstract: In the case where multiple slide hopper is used for simultaneous multilayer bead coating of photosensitive material, streak defect is occasionally cause, particularly in the case of coating photothermographic material, especially when the outermost layer includes materials capable of increasing optical density such as toner it more frequently happens. It is found that streak defect is restrained when meniscus curvature of upper side bead becomes less than 7.2 mm−1. This condition can be kept by selecting a proper value of clearance between the web surface and the lip of the slide hopper, that is from 0.10 mm to 0.40 mm, and a proper value of pressure in a lower side of the bead, that is from −100 Pa to −700 Pa.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photographic elements, including photographic prints, having a protective overcoat that resists fingerprints, common stains, and spills. More particularly, the present invention provides a processing-solution-permeable protective overcoat that is water resistant in the final processed product and which, at the same time, provides improved wet-abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A non-photosensitive core-shell silver salt can be used in thermographic and photothermographic imaging compositions and materials. This core-shell silver salt includes one or more silver salts in the core, at least one of which is different from the one or more silver salts used in the shell. The molar ratio of the different silver salts in the core and shell is from about 0.01:1 to about 100:1.

Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon at least an image forming layer and a first layer on the opposite side of the support from the image forming layer, wherein the first layer contains a vinyl type polymer latex and an aqueous-dispersible polymer selected from the group consisting of an aqueous-dispersible polyester, aqueous-dispersible polyurethane and aqueous-disperible cellulose.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermally processed image recording material having, on a support, an image-forming layer containing at least (a) a silver salt of an organic acid, (b) a reducing agent and (c) a photosensitive silver halide and at least one protective layer provided on the image-forming layer and comprising polymer latex as binders of the image-forming layer and the protective layer, wherein at least one of the image-forming layer and the protective layer contains a viscosity enhancer that increases viscosity of its aqueous solution when the solution is heated and temperature of the solution exceeds a certain transition temperature, and the viscosity enhancer is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers containing a (meth)acrylamide derivative represented by the following formula (1) or (2) in an amount of 50 weight % or more as constituent units: (wherein R1 represents H or CH3, R2 represents an alkylene group, R3 to R6 represent H or CH3, and X represents &m

Abstract: A photographic element comprising a polyester support; an antistatic layer; and a transparent magnetic layer comprising a cellulose binder, ferromagnetic particles and a blocked isocyanate.

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: There is disclosed a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material which comprises a support and provided thereon at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and at least one hydrophilic colloidal layer comprising a solid particle dispersion of a water-insoluble photographically useful compound, said solid particle dispersion being a dispersion comprising both a water-insoluble photographically useful compound of the formula 1 and a specific polymer having a carboxyl group and an alkoxycarbonyl group: wherein A is an acidic nucleus, L1, L2 and L3 each are a methine group which may be substituted, R1 and R3 each are a hydrogen atom or a substituent (including an atom), R2 is a substituent (including an atom), n is 0 or 1, m is an integer of 0 to 4, when m is an integer of 2 to 4, R2 may be the same or different, X is an electron-withdrawing group having Hammett's substitution constant &sgr;m of 0.3 to 1.5.

Abstract: A photothermographic material affording a sufficient image density under general image producing conditions and capable of suppressing the time-dependent tint of the white background after the development processing is provided. Such photothermographic material contains in elsewhere on one side of a support at least one species of photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent for reducing silver ion and a binder, in which the reducing agent comprises a combination of at least one species of o-polyphenol compound and at least one species of hindered phenol.

Abstract: A photothermographic material which contains on one side of a support (a) a catalytically active amount of a photocatalyst, (b) a reducing agent, (c) a reducible silver salt, and (d) a binder, wherein a matting agent having a softening temperature of from 100 to 500° C. is contained at least on one side of the support.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of depositing a lubricating layer on an imaging element. The method includes providing a polymer or a wax selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), fluorinated ethylene copolymers, polyethylenes, high density polyethylene, natural waxes such as Carnauba wax, synthetic waxes, and silicone waxes in a deposition chamber. The chamber is evacuated to a pressure of 10−1 Torr or less. A carrier gas, preferably selected from N2, O2, Ar, is bled into the chamber while maintaining the pressure in the chamber to 100 mTorr or less. The polymer or wax is heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the polymer or wax, and the imaging element is continuously moved through the chamber depositing the polymer or wax on the imaging element to form the lubricating layer.

Abstract: Multilayer thermographic materials have improved adhesion between a polymeric support and film-forming polymer-containing layers disposed thereon. This improved adhesion is provided by including in the adhesion-promoting layer next to the support two or more polymers having specific properties. At least one of the polymers adheres the layer to the support, and at least one other polymer is compatible or of the same class as the film-forming polymer in the upper layer, such as a thermographic imaging layer. This adhesion-promoting layer can be provided as a very thin “carrier” layer during coating operations so that desired imaging effects and functional properties are obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides an overcoat for a photographic element that allows for appropriate diffusion of photographic processing solutions. The overcoat comprises 10 to 50% by weight of a enzyme-degradable biopolymer and 50 to 90% by weight of hydrophobic particles (by weight of dry laydown of the entire overcoat). An enzyme is applied to the element before, during, or after conventional photoprocessing. According to one embodiment of the invention, the photographic element can be exposed and processed using normal photofinishing equipment, with no modifications, to provide an imaged element together with a protective, water-resistant layer.

Abstract: A silver halide photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising on a support an organic silver salt and a silver halide, wherein the support has thereon a sublayer containing an infrared absorbing compound exhibiting an absorption maximum at a wavelength of 700 to 900 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermally processed image recording material having an image-forming layer that contains a non-photosensitive silver salt of an organic acid, a reducing agent for silver ions and a binder on a support, wherein the binder is coated as a dispersion of polymer microparticles having a core/shell structure, glass transition temperature of shell part of the core/shell structure is higher than glass transition temperature of core part, and the binder shows a minimum film-forming temperature of 30° C. or lower. According to the present invention, there is provided a thermally processed image recording material that provides improved image storability after heat development, i.e., improved coloration of white portions when the material is left at a high temperature, and has a transparent coated film with low haze that is also excellent in brittleness.

Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support, an image forming layer containing organic silver salt grains, light sensitive silver halide grains and a reducing agent and a surface protective layer on the image forming layer, wherein the element composition on the surface of image forming layer side, obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy exhibits a ratio of the number of carbon elements to the number of oxygen elements of not more than 9.

Abstract: A heat-developable photosensitive material having: (a) at least one layer of photosensitive image-forming layer containing an organic silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent and an organic binder; and (b) a functional layer containing a binder and a solid dispersion; the binder consisting of a water-dispersed thermoplastic resin, and the solid dispersion being made of a precursor of a photographically useful compound capable of releasing the photographically useful compound when heated to 100° C. or higher and not higher than heat development temperature is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photographic elements having a protective overcoat that resists fingerprints, common stains, and spills. The overcoat comprises an epoxy material, an acid polymer, and a water-soluble hydrophilic binder. In one embodiment, a photographic element includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support and a processing-solution-permeable overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer that becomes water-resistant in the final product without requiring lamination or fusing. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a print involving developing the photographic element.

Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon an image recording layer comprising an organic silver salt, a silver halide, a reducing agent and a binder, wherein the outermost surface of the image recording layer side of the photothermographic material exhibits a difference in center-line mean roughness of not more than 10 nm between before and after being subjected to thermal processing.

Abstract: A thermally developable photosensitive material comprising organic silver salts, photosensitive silver halides, and reducing agents. The thermally developable photosensitive material has a support having am moisture content of not more than 0.5 percent by weight.

Abstract: A process for forming an abrasion-resistant antistatic layer for an imaging element comprises: adjusting the pH of an aqueous composition of an electronically-conductive polymer to a pH of about 3 to about 10, and combining the pH-adjusted aqueous composition of the electronically-conductive polymer with an aqueous composition at a pH greater than 7 of a polyurethane film-forming binder having a tensile elongation to break of at least 50% and a Young's modulus measured at 2% elongation of at least 50000 psi. The process further comprises applying the resulting coating composition to the imaging element, thereby forming an abrasion-resistant antistatic layer on the element. The antistatic layer coating composition of the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of imaging elements, including, for example, photographic, electrostatographic, photothermographic, migration, electrothermographic, dielectric recording and thermal-dye-transfer imaging elements.

Abstract: A photothermographic image recording element has on a support a photosensitive layer containing a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, and a binder, wherein the organic silver salt has been formed in the presence of a tertiary alcohol. The photosensitive layer and/or a layer disposed adjacent thereto contains a nucleating agent. Alternatively, the photosensitive layer contains the silver halide which has been formed independent from the organic silver salt and added during preparation of a coating solution, and the main binder is a polymer latex having a Tg of −30° C. to 40° C. The element shows low fog, high contrast, and high sensitivity.

Abstract: A photographic element comprising a film support base, an adhesion promoting layer, a subbing layer and at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the adhesion promoting layer is close to the support and contains a silane compound and a polyurethane, and the subbing layer, selected within the group consisting of a hydrophilic colloidal layer or a layer comprising a continuous gelled network of inorganic particles, is positioned between the adhesion promoting layer and the emulsion layer. The present invention also refers to a photographic element comprising a film support base having coated on one side thereof at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and on the opposite side thereof an adhesion promoting layer and at least one auxiliary layer, wherein the adhesion promoting layer is close to the support and contains a silane compound and a polyurethane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photographic element comprising at least one layer of photosensitive silver halide, a base material wherein said base material comprises at least one bottom sheet of biaxially oriented polymer sheet and deformable tie layer material, wherein said deformable tie layer material yield stress of between 6 and 10 MPa in compression which is less than 10% the yield stress of any of the other layers in the element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photographic elements, including photographic prints, having a protective overcoat that resists fingerprints, common stains, and spills. More particularly, the present invention provides a processing-solution-permeable protective overcoat that is water resistant in the final processed product and which, at the same time, provides improved wet-abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A single-side coated light-sensitive silver halide photographic film material has been disclosed, having on one side of a subbed support, one or more light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer(s) overcoated with an outermost protective layer; and, at the other side of said support, a backing layer, covered with a protective outermost layer, characterized in that at least said backing layer is provided with a layer wherein, besides a cross-linked or cross-linkable first binder an organic component free from cross-linking upon reaction with a hardener is present as a second binder having a low molecular weight.

Abstract: A heat developable photosensitive material comprising at least two layers is disclosed. The first layer is formed by coating a first coating composition containing the organic silver salt, the photosensitive silver halide, the reducing agent, polymer latex in an amount of at least 30 percent by weight of the first layer at dried state and a solvent, the solvent comprising water in an amount of at least 50 percent by weight of the solvent, and the second layer is formed by coating a second coating composition comprising a polymer latex in an amount of at least 50 percent of the second layer at dried state and a solvent, the solvent comprising water in an amount of at least 60 percent by weight of the solvent, and the second coating composition having a viscosity of from 50 to 1,000 cP at 25 ° C., and the viscosity at 5° C being at least 1.5 times higher than that at 25° C.

Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support and at least one imaging layer superposed on the support. The imaging layer includes a scratch resistant outermost layer either overlying the imaging layer or on the side opposite the imaging layer, and is composed of a ductile polymer having a modulus greater than 100 MPa measured at 20° C. and a tensile elongation to break greater than 50 percent, and a stiff filler having a modulus greater than 10 GPa at a volume concentration in the scratch resistant layer of 30 to 60%. The scratch resistant layer has a thickness of at least 0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to imaged elements having a protective overcoat that resists fingerprints, common stains, and spills. In particular, an overcoat composition comprising water-dispersible epoxy-functional particles is coated over an imaging element, including photographic elements and recording media. In one embodiment, a photographic element includes a support, at least one silver halide emulsion layer superposed on the support and a processing-solution-permeable protective overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer that, after fusing, becomes water-resistant in the final product. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a print involving developing the photographic element and subsequently fusing the overcoat.

Abstract: A photothermographic material which contains on one side of a support (a) a catalytically active amount of a photocatalyst, (b) a reducing agent, (c) a reducible silver salt, and (d) a binder, wherein a matting agent having a softening temperature of from 100 to 500° C. is contained at least on one side of the support.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a heat-developable photosensitive material of improved fluctuation of photographic performance (sensitivity, Dmin) arisen from fluctuation of development temperature condition (temperature, time) and storage time after heat development.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photographic element consisting essentially of a transparent biaxially oriented polymer sheet, at least one emulsion adhering layer, and at least one light sensitive silver halide grain containing emulsion layer adhered to said emulsion adhering layer, wherein said polymer sheet is less than 76 micrometers.

Abstract: The present application discloses a heat developable photosensitive material having on a support a non-photosensitive silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, and a binder, which has a layer formed by coating a coating composition comprising an emulsion containing both of the photosensitive silver halide and a low molecular weight gelatin having a molecular weight of 500 to 60,000. The heat developable photosensitive material provides excellent photographic properties such as low fog, high Dmax, high sensitivity, and the like, as well as good coating surface.

Abstract: A surface treatment method for enhancing hydrophobicity of the surface of a film support is disclosed, comprising subjecting at least one side of the surface to a gas-discharge plasma treatment in a gas phase atmosphere comprising (a) an inert gas comprising argon or helium and (b) a reactive gas comprising a hydrocarbon gas or fluorinated hydrocarbon gas. There is also disclosed a photothermographic material by the use of the support having been subjected to the surface treatment.

Abstract: A photothermographic image forming element contains a non-photosensitive silver salt which has been formed by simultaneously adding and mixing previously prepared solutions of silver nitrate and an organic acid alkali metal salt. A photosensitive layer containing a photosensitive silver halide or a layer disposed adjacent thereto or both contain a nucleating agent. The element produces a low fog, high contrast image.

Abstract: The present invention can relate to an imaging element including a support, an image-forming layer superposed on the support, and an outermost scratch resistant antistatic layer superposed on the support. The scratch resistant layer may include a polymer having a modulus greater than 100 MPa measured at 20° C., a filler particle with the proviso that the filler particle is not an electronically conductive crystalline metal oxide or a compound oxide thereof, and an electronically conducting polymer. The volume ratio of the polymer to the filler particle may be between 70:30 and 40:60 and the electronically conducting polymer can be present at a weight concentration based on a total dried weight of the scratch resistant layer of between 1 and 10 weight percent.

Abstract: A photothermographic element has a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, and a binder on a support. A polymer latex constitutes at least 50% by weight of the binder in an image forming layer containing the photosensitive silver halide. The image forming layer has been formed by applying a coating solution in which at least 60% by weight of a solvent is water. The image forming layer contains a specific compound as a nucleating agent and has been formed by applying a coating solution having added thereto a water dispersion of the compound. The element exhibits a high contrast, long-term storage stability, and no increase of Dmin upon printing to PS plates.

Abstract: A photothermographic material for laser exposure excellent in granularity and having no blocking trouble, which comprises a support having provided thereon at least one image formation layer containing at least one silver halide, and at least one non-image recording protective layer provided on the side far away from the support of said image formation layer, wherein said protective layer contains a matte agent composed of an inorganic compound and an organic polymer compound.

Abstract: An imaging element is disclosed comprising a support, an imaging layer, and an outermost protective layer on at least one side of the support which comprises a lubricant and an additive which is immiscible with and more surface active than the lubricant, wherein the lubricant is present in an amount of at least 5 mg/m2 and the additive is present in an amount of at least 25 wt percent relative to that of the lubricant, the amount of additive being effective to increase the coefficient of friction for the outermost layer after coating and drying thereof relative to that obtained in the absence of the additive material. Imaging elements comprising highly lubricated protective outermost layers in accordance with the invention advantageously provide increased scratch and wear resistance, while the presence of an additive which is immiscible with and more surface active than the lubricant surprisingly has been found to increase the coefficient of friction to provide good manufacturability of the imaging element.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising a solution of an electrically-conductive polymer and an organic solvent media wherein the solvents are selected from the group consisting of alcohols, ketones, cycloalkanes, arenes, esters, glycol ethers and their mixtures; the media having a water content of less than 12 weight percent. Such a coating composition provides a means to protect an imaging element against the accumulation of static electrical charges before and after image processing while also providing the element with improved manufacturability and physical properties.

Abstract: The present invention is also directed to a method of photoprocessing a photographic imaging element having a processing-solution-permeable overcoat that comprises at least one water-dispersible hydrophobic polymer interspersed with a water-soluble hydrophilic polymer. During photoprocessing, a surface-active water-soluble hydrophilic polymer is leached into a photoprocessing solution. However, foaming due to the hydrophilic polymer in the photoprocessing solution is prevented by the presence of a non-ionic surfactant having an HLB of less than 12.

Abstract: An image forming method is disclosed, comprising the steps of processing image data or setting an exposure condition so that an image size is enlarged or reduced, imagewise exposing a photothermographic material to laser to form an image enlarged or reduced based on the processed image data or the set exposure condition, and subjecting the exposed photothermographic material to thermal development, in which the photothermographic material comprises an organic silver salt, a photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent, and a contrast increasing agent or a quaternary onium salt.

Abstract: Anti-reflective compositions are prepared from cellulosic binders with improved etch rates.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heat-developable photographic light-sensitive material, wherein the degree of warp at the edge portion of each of four sides of the light-sensitive material after heat development is in the range of from 0 mm/50 cm to 4 mm/50 cm. Further, there is disclosed a heat-development method thereof. The heat-developable photographic light-sensitive material can exhibits such an excellent effect that the planar property after a heat development is good, and consequently the problem of printing blur does not occur, not only in ordinary use but also even in use as a light-sensitive material for printing. Further, the heat-development method can exerts an excellent effect as a method for maintaining excellent planar property and consequently restraining the occurrence of the printing blur problem, when the heat-developable photographic light-sensitive material is subjected to heat development.

Abstract: A heat-developable image-recording material comprising, on a support, a silver-supplying layer containing an organic silver salt, a reducing agent and an organic binder, and a separate photosensitive layer containing a photosensitive silver halide, the heat-developable image-recording material further containing an electron-transfer agent; and a method for forming an image by heat development comprising; imagewise exposing the heat-developable image-recording material and then heat-developing, whereby development of the photosensitive layer forms a silver image in the silver-supplying layer.

Abstract: A photothermographic dry imaging material is disclosed. The imaging material comprises a support, a photosensitive layer containing at least an organic silver salt, photosensitive silver halide, reducing agent and a binder, and a subbing layer containing a water-soluble polymer having a hydroxy group, provided on the support.

Abstract: A photothermographic material is disclosed, comprising a support, an image forming layer containing organic silver salt grains, light sensitive silver halide grains and a reducing agent and a surface protective layer on the image forming layer, wherein the element composition on the surface of image forming layer side, obtained by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy exhibits a ratio of the number of carbon elements to the number of oxygen elements of not more than 9.