Abstract: This invention provides composition and method to overcome the very high viscosity of prior small-particle dispersions when admixed with gelatin in aqueous solution for coating a photographic film element.The invention is generally accomplished by the utilization of a second surfactant in the melt formulated by the admixture of the small-particle dispersion and the gelatin solution. The surfactants of this invention, that is, utilized to control the rheology of such said melts, have the following general structure: ##STR1## wherein n=5 to 20 andx=1 to 4.

Abstract: The invention creates a selective oxygen barrier around individual coupler or other photographically active particles by surrounding each particle with a layer of water applicable oxygen barrier polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which will also act as a steric barrier to coalescence of the particles. Photographic products formed with such materials are more dye stable. The dispersions of this invention are prepared by mechanical milling or homogenization procedures.

Abstract: A stabilized photographic dispersion is prepared by adding a hydrophobic, photographically inert compound which has a logP.sub.(calc) greater than about 9 and does not solidify or gel the dispersed phase to a photographic dispersion comprising an aqueous medium and a dispersed liquid organic phase comprising a photographically useful compound which is (i) soluble in organic solvents, (ii) substantially insoluble in water, and (iii) subject to particle growth of at least 10% of its initial particle size when maintained in said dispersion in the absence of the added photographically inert compound.

Abstract: The invention discloses a continuous method of manufacture of gelled dispersion melts of "small-particle" microprecipitated photographic agents. The continuous melt manufacturing process of this invention provides dispersion melts that are invariant in agent concentration, melt viscosity, and turbidity as a function of the run time and are also very reproducible and robust in repetitive preparations. Many photographic melts of this invention exhibit high photographic activity and light stability of the agents when exposed to light.

Abstract: This invention provides composition and method to overcome the very high viscosity of prior small-particle dispersions when admixed with gelatin in aqueous solution for coating a photographic film element.The invention is generally accomplished by the utilization of a second surfactant in the melt formulated by the admixture of the small-particle dispersion and the gelatin solution. The surfactants of this invention, that is, utilized to control the theology of such said melts, have the following general structure: ##STR1## wherein n=5 to 20 andx=1 to 4.