Eastman-Kodak Company

Bausch-Lomb Incorporated

Amy E Jasek

Thomas Henry Whitesides

Hwei-Ling Yau

Elmer C Flood

Jill E Fornalik

Jay Friedrich Kunzler

Anne E Bohan

Vito A DePalma

William K Goebel

Richard I Blackwell

Silicone hydrogels formed from a hydrated polymerization product of a monomer mixture comprising (a) a major amount of a non-silicone-containing hydrophilic monomer; and (b) a minor amount of a silicone-containing monomer, wherein the hydrogel has a water content of greater than 50 weight percent are disclosed.

High water content silicone hydrogels

The present invention is a method of forming a protective overcoat on a photographic element which element includes a processing-solution-permeable overcoat that becomes water-resistant in the final product without lamination or fusing. The method involves the incorporation of a small amount of a water-soluble organic solvent in the last step of the photographic process, i.e., during the washing step. This method allows the use of durable water-resistant protective overcoat materials with relatively high glass transition temperatures, that normally do not convert to impermeable films at low temperature, or without fusing.

Method of activating a protective layer on a photographic element employing an organic solvent in the wash solution

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.

Protective overcoat for an imaging element comprising an enzyme-treated biopolymer

The present invention relates to imaging elements, including photographic elements and recording media, 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. The overcoat, before formation of the image, comprises hydrophobic polymeric particles in a gelatin matrix. Subsequent treatment of the overcoat, after formation of the image, to remove the gelatin, causes coalescence of the hydrophobic particles, resulting in the formation of a water-resistant continuous protective overcoat.

Hydrolyzed water-resistant protective overcoat for an imaging element

The present invention provides a gelatin-based aqueous-coatable overcoat for a photographic element that allows for appropriate diffusion of photographic processing solutions. The overcoat comprises 10 to 50% by weight gelatin and 50 to 90% by weight of hydrophobic particles (by weight of dry laydown of the entire overcoat) having an average diameter of 10 to 500 nm. A proteolytic enzyme is applied to the clement in reactive association with the overcoat layer. A photographic element according to one embodiment of the invention can be exposed and processed using normal photofinishing equipment, with no modifications, to provide an imaged element together with a protective, water-resistant layer.

Enzyme-activated water-resistant protective overcoat for a photographic element

The present invention is an imaged photographic element having a protective overcoat thereon. The protective overcoat is formed by providing a photographic element having at least one silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer; and applying an aqueous coating comprising polymer particles having an average size of 0.1 to 50 microns at a weight percent of 5 to 50 percent, a soft polymer latex binder at a weight percent of 1 to 3 percent, over the at least one silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer. The silver halide light sensitive emulsion layer is developed to provide an imaged photographic element. The hydrophobic polymer particles is fused to form a protective overcoat.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Amy E Jasek