Abstract: The present invention relates to a photoelectrographic element having a conductive layer in electrical contact with an acid photogenerating layer which is free of photopolymerizable materials and contains an electrically insulating binder and acid photogenerator. A pigment which absorbs near-infrared radiation is included in the photoelectrographic element so that the element, when used in electrostatic copying, can be exposed with near-infrared radiation. A method for forming images with this element is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition comprising a high molecular weight polyester having a glass transition temperature of 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. and a weight average molecular weight of 30,000 to 100,000 and a low molecular weight polyester in linear, amorphous form defined by the formula: ##STR1## said low molecular weight polyester having a glass transition temperature of 55.degree.-65.degree. C., wherein:R is a hydrocarbon radical having 2 to 5 carbons andm is a number which gives the low molecular weight polyester a number average molecular weight of 500 to 2000.

Abstract: Radiation-sensitive compositions which are especially useful in the production of negative-working lithographic printing plates comprise a photocrosslinkable polymer, containing the photosensitive group ##STR1## as an integral part of the polymer backbone, and a print-out composition which produces an optical density difference upon exposure to activating radiation and thereby enables the exposed image on the printing plate to be seen before the plate is processed. The print-out composition comprises a leuco form of a dye having one or more removable hydrogen atoms, the removal of which forms a compound colored differently from the leuco form; a photooxidant which has a photoscissionable nitrogen-oxygen bond, the photooxidant serving to convert the leuco dye to the differently colored form when the composition is exposed to activating radiation; and a heteroaromatic amine N-oxide which functions to improve the photo-efficiency of the print-out composition and thereby increase the print-out density.

Abstract: Negative-working lithographic printing plates comprise a radiation-sensitive composition having incorporated therein a photocrosslinkable polymer, containing the photosensitive group ##STR1## as an integral part of the polymer backbone, and a print-out composition which produces an optical density difference upon exposure to activating radiation and thereby enables the exposed image on the printing plate to be seen before the plate is processed. The print-out composition comprises a leuco form of a dye having one or more removable hydrogen atoms, the removal of which forms a compound colored differently from the leuco form; a photooxidant which has a photoscissionable nitrogen-oxygen bond, the photooxidant serving to convert the leuco dye to the differently colored form when the composition is exposed to activating radiation; and a heteroaromatic amine N-oxide which functions to improve the photo-efficiency of the print-out composition and thereby increase the print-out density.

Abstract: An electrophotographic coating composition comprising finely-divided photoconductive perylene pigment dispersed in a solvent solution of polymeric binder is prepared by the steps of (1) milling a perylene pigment with milling media comprising inorganic salt and non-conducting particles under shear conditions in the substantial absence of the solvent to provide pigment having a particle size up to 0.2 micrometer, (2) continuing the milling at higher shear at a temperature up to about 50.degree. C., to achieve a perceptible color change of the pigment particles, (3) rapidly reducing the temperature of the milled pigment by at least 10.degree. C., (4) separating the milled pigment from the media and (5) mixing the milled pigment with the solvent solution of polymeric binder to form the coating composition. A very high degree of dispersion of photoconductive perylene pigment in solvent solution of polymeric binder is achieved by this method.

Abstract: Silver halide photographic elements which are capable of high contrast development, when processed in the presence of a hydrazine compound that functions as a nucleating agent, contain both an amino compound which functions as an incorporated booster and a ballasted hydrophobic isothiourea compound comprising a ballasting group, that is attached to the sulfur atom, which serves to restrict the mobility of the compound and thereby aid in retaining it in the photographic element during development. The ballasted hydrophobic isothiourea compound is highly effective in reducing pepper fog and also serves to restrain image spread.

Abstract: Improved lithographic printing plates comprise an aluminum support which has been grained in a novel two-stage electrolytic graining process and a radiation-sensitive layer capable of forming a lithographic printing surface. The aluminum support is subjected to an electric current while immersed in an acidic electrolyte solution, such as a solution comprised of hydrochloric acid and aluminum chloride. Current density in the first stage of the process is at least as great and preferably substantially greater than in the second stage, while both treatment time and current consumption in the first stage are less than in the second stage. The process provides a fine uniform grain that is essentially free of pits. Any radiation-sensitive layer is suitable, which after exposure and any necessary developing and/or fixing provides an area in imagewise distribution which can be used for printing.

Abstract: A protective and decorative sheet material for covering substrates comprisesa flexible carrier film,a paint layer adhered to one surface of the carrier film containing light reflective flakes;a transparent polymeric topcoat overlying and adhered to the paint layer having a thickness of at least about 0.1 millimeter.The sheet material has a substantially unstressed relaxed state and a relaxed area and is heat softenable to a substantially plastic state in which it is extendable to an extended state having an extended area up to at least 50% greater than the relaxed area. The paint and topcoat layers have substantially uniform quality and appearance in both the relaxed and extended states. The thick transparent topcoat provides improved retention of gloss and distinctness of image when the sheet material is stretched. A method of preparing the sheet material comprises the step of extruding in laminar flow a layer of a crosslinkable transparent topcoat composition over the paint layer.

Abstract: A high-contrast room-light-handleable black-and-white photographic element is comprised of a support having on one side thereof a silver halide emulsion layer and having, on the same side of the support as the silver halide emulsion layer, both a filter dye layer in which the dye is immobile and a matte layer comprised of a matting agent dispersed in a hydrophilic colloid that serves as a binder. In this element, the filter dye layer serves to provide uniform filtering of incident light, while the matte layer provides a rough surface which facilitates rapid vacuum draw-down during contact exposure.

Abstract: Multi-layer sheet materials useful as protective laminates for application to substrates, such as photographic elements, which require the protection of an abrasion-resistant material, are comprised of a strippable carrier, an abrasion-resistant layer which overlies the carrier, a structural interlayer which overlies the abrasion-resistant layer, and an adhesive layer which overlies the structural interlayer. The structural interlayer is very thin in relation to the thickness of the carrier, and is permanently bonded to one surface of the abrasion-resistant layer, whereas the carrier is releasably bonded to the other surface of the abrasion-resistant layer so as to permit it to be stripped away after it has served its purpose.

Abstract: Radiation-sensitive compositions which are especially useful in the production of negative-working lithographic printing plates comprise a photocrosslinkable polymer containing the photosensitive group ##STR1## as an integral part of the polymer backbone and, in an amount sufficient to improve the properties of the composition, both a polymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and an unsaturated polyester such as a polyester derived from fumaric acid and a 4,4'-isopropylidine-diphenol. The combination of a polymer of vinyl pyrrolidone and an unsaturated polyester improves the properties of the radiation-sensitive composition in regard to such factors as shelf life, image contrast, developability and ink receptivity and thereby provides a superior lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: Radiation-sensitive compositions which are especially useful in the production of negative-working lithographic printing plates comprise a photocrosslinkable polymer containing the photosensitive group ##STR1## as an integral part of the polymer backbone and, in an amount sufficient to improve the properties of the composition, a polymer of vinyl pyrrolidone. The polymer of vinyl pyrrolidone improves the properties of the radiation-sensitive composition in regard to such factors as shelf life, image contrast, and developability and thereby provides a superior lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: An environmentally advantageous photographic bleaching solution for use in the color processing of photographic elements comprises (1) as a bleaching agent, a potassium salt of a ferric complex of an aminopolycarobxylic acid, (2) as an agent which functions to convert silver to silver halide, a potassium halide, and (3) as an agent which functions to inhibit bleach induced dye formation, a water-soluble aliphatic carboxylic acid. The bleaching solution is especially useful in the processing of photographic elements containing a low pKa, high-activity, yellow-dye-forming coupler in that it serves to effectively avoid the undesirable increase in blue D.sub.min that can occur in such elements as a result of bleach induced dye formation.

Abstract: A high-contrast room-light-handleable black-and-white silver halide photographic film especially adapted for use as a dry-dot-etchable contact film in the graphic arts is comprised of a support having in order on one side thereof (1) a radiation-sensitive layer comprising silver halide grains, a hydrophilic colloid and a polymer latex, (2) an interlayer comprising a hydrophilic colloid and a polymer latex, and (3) an overcoat layer comprising a hydrophilic colloid, a matting agent and a light-scattering agent, wherein the interlayer has a refracive index in the range of from about 1.4 to about 1.7 and a thickness which is in the range of from about 0.5 to about 5 microns and is at least twice that of the overcoat layer. The combination of the light-scattering agent in the overcoat layer and the thick interlayer facilitates optical spreading of the image during contact exposure, and thereby enhances the performance of the contact film in use with multi-layer originals and in processes of dry dot etching.

Abstract: A single-phase homogeneous composition for the protection of lithographic printing plate surfaces is provided which comprises an aqueous solution of(a) a hydrophilic film forming compound which is essentially cold-water soluble,(b) a hydrophilizing agent(c) a wet film forming agent,(d) a nonionic surfactant,(e) a greasing agent,and(f) one or more desensitizing salts.

Abstract: An aqueous lithographic conditioner solution or fix composition for use with lithographic plates made by the silver salt diffusion transfer process comprises (a) an oleophilic argentophile, (b) a quaternary ammonium surfactant and (c) a quaternary ammonium surfactant solubilized by the addition of alkyleneoxy units, the proportions and nature of the components being such as to provide the desired solution.

Abstract: Radiation-sensitive compositions which are especially useful in the production of negative-working lithographic printing plates comprise a photocrosslinkable polymer containing the photosensitive group ##STR1## as an integral part of the polymer backbone and, in an amount sufficient to improve the properties of the composition, an unsaturated polyester such as a polyester derived from fumaric acid and a 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol. The unsaturated polyester additive improves the properties of the radiation-sensitive composition in regard to processing characteristics and ink receptivity and thereby provides a superior lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: An aqueous solution useful as a coating composition to form a fire-retardant protective overcoat on a surface requiring such protection, such as one or both surfaces of a photographic element, comprises (1) a water-soluble film-forming cross-linkable copolymer of methyl vinyl ether and maleic anhydride, (2) a water-soluble polyhydric alcohol which serves to cross-link the copolymer when a coating of the composition is applied over the surface to be protected and dried, and (3) a water-soluble ammonium polyphosphate which reacts with the polyhydric alcohol to form a fire-retardant composition when the protective overcoat is exposed to the heat of a fire.

Abstract: Radiation-sensitive compositions which are especially useful in the production of negative-working lithographic printing plates comprise a photocrosslinkable polymer containing the photosensitive group ##STR1## as an integral part of the polymer backbone and, in an amount sufficient to improve the properties of the composition, both a poly(N-acyl-alkyleneimine) and an unsaturated polyester such as a polyester derived from fumaric acid and a 4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol. The combination of a poly(N-acylalkyleneimine) and an unsaturated polyester improves the properties of the radiation-sensitive composition in regard to such factors as shelf life, image contrast, developability, ink receptivity and reduction in mottle and thereby provides a superior lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: Radiation-sensitive compositions which are especially useful in the production of negative-working lithographic printing plates comprise a photocrosslinkable polymer containing the photosensitive group ##STR1## as an integral part of the polymer backbone and, in an amount sufficient to improve the properties of the composition, a poly(N-acyl-alkleneimine). The poly(N-acyl-alkyleneimine) improves the properties of the radiation-sensitive composition in regard to such factors as shelf life, image contrast, developability and reduction in mottle and thereby provides a superior lithographic printing plate.