Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal composition incorporating a polymerizable liquid crystal compound which displays a low nematic phase temperature, displays excellent compatibility with other polymerizable liquid crystal compounds, and furthermore yields a product following polymerization, of good transparency and high mechanical strength.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polymerizable liquid crystal composition incorporating a polymerizable liquid crystal compound which displays a low nematic phase temperature, displays excellent compatibility with other polymerizable liquid crystal compounds, and furthermore yields a product following polymerization, of good transparency and high mechanical strength.

Abstract: The invention relates to bismaleimides comprising mesogenic groups which consist, corresponding to (I), of two reactive terminal maleimide groups which are linked via linear or singly alkyl-substituted alkylene chains A, which are linked to an aromatic mesogen M via ester, amide or ether groups, wherein A, X, M and R are as defined in the specification. The invention, moreover, relates to oligomeric liquid crystalline bismaleimides of general formula (II) wherein A, X, M and R are as defined above, n represents and integer from 1 to 100 and B represents piperazinyl or a divalent radical which is derived from a primary or secondary para-substituted cyclic diamine, wherein B is bonded via the amino groups of the diamine. The invention also relates to methods of producing said bismaleimides.

Abstract: An image-forming process developing a previously image-exposed silver halide photographic material with an alkaline developer containing a reductone compound as a main developing agent in the presence of a 1,2,5-thiadiazole compound and/or a 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole compound, and the silver halide photographic material and the photographic developer being used for the process are disclosed. In this case, the 1,2,5-thuiadiazole compound and/or the 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole may be contained in the silver halide photographic material and/or the alkaline developer. Super high-contrast images for photomechanical process having a gamma of higher than 15 and having no pepper and less fog can be obtained.

Abstract: An image-forming process developing a previously image-exposed silver halide photographic material with an alkaline developer containing a reductone compound as a main developing agent in the presence of a 1,2,5-thiadiazole compound and/or a 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole compound, and the silver halide photographic material and the photographic developer being used for the process are disclosed. In this case, the 1,2,5-thuiadiazole compound and/or the 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole may be contained in the silver halide photographic material and/or the alkaline developer. Super high-contrast images for photomechanical process having a gamma of higher than 15 and having no pepper and less fog can be obtained.

Abstract: A process of forming a super high-contrast negative image is disclosed, which comprises the steps of imagewise exposing a negative-working silver halide photographic material comprising a support having thereon one or more hydrophilic colloidal layers, at least one of the one or more hydrophilic colloidal layers being a negative-working silver halide emulsion layer, and then developing the photographic material with a developer containing an aminophenol derivative developing agent and a reductone compound in the existence of an organic compound having a negative reduction potential. A negative-working silver halide photographic material and a photographic developer being used for the image-forming process are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of forming a super high-contrast negative image is disclosed, which comprises the steps of imagewise exposing a negative-working silver halide photographic material comprising a support having thereon one or more hydrophilic colloidal layers, at least one of the one or more hydrophilic colloidal layers being a negative-working silver halide emulsion layer, and then developing the photographic material with a developer containing an aminophenol derivative developing agent and a reductone compound in the existence of an organic compound having a negative reduction potential. A negative-working silver halide photographic material and a photographic developer being used for the image-forming process are also disclosed.

Abstract: A direct positive silver halide photographic material and a method for forming a high contrast image using the same are disclosed, in which a pre-fogged direct positive silver halide emulsion layer contains a salt of a nitrogen-containing compound having at least one pyridine nucleus and at least one pyridinium nucleus. The photographic material, after imagewise exposure, is developed with an alkaline developer containing a developing agent, preferably a reductance compound. The photographic material provides high contrast characteristics having a gamma exceeding 10.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic material is disclosed. The photographic material comprises a support having coated thereon one or more hydrophilic colloidal layers, at least one of the hydrophilic colloidal layers being a negative working silver halide emulsion layer, wherein said silver halide emulsion layer or another hydrophilic colloidal layer contains a water-soluble polymer or copolymer having a quaternary ammonium salt in a repeating unit. The process for forming a high contrast negative image using the photographic material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process of forming superhigh-contrast negative images is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of imagewise exposing a substantially surface latent image-type silver halide photographic material which is spectrally sensitized with a sensitizing dye and then developing said photographic material with a developer, wherein said photographic material contains a heterocyclic thione compound and said developer comprises (a) an aminophenol derivative developing agent, (b) a reductone compound, (c) a quaternary ammonium salt, and (d) a compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom, a nitro group, a halogen atom, or a cyano group, and wherein said development processing is carried out in the existence of at least one kind of a polyalkylene oxide or a derivative thereof. The process provides negative images of superhigh contrast having gamma over 10 substantially free from appearance of pepper.

Abstract: A lith-type silver halide photographic material comprising a tetrahydro-1,3,5-triazine-2-thione derivative and a polyalkylene oxide derivative.