Eastman-kodak Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Carestream Health, Inc.

Thomas C Geisler

Mark C Skinner

James C Vanous

Thomas J Ludemann

Paul C Schubert

Thomas J Kub

Darlene F Stewart

Bryan V Hunt

Steven H Kong

Aparna V Bhave

Gary E Labelle

Gary E LaBelle

Darlene F Philip

Robert R Brearey

Jerry L Warren

Kimberly K Marquardt

Anne E Crump

A photothermographic material having a Dmin and Dmax optical density. The material includes a support having hereon one or more thermally-developable imaging layers which are developable to produce an image when the photothermographic material is thermally processed; and an area disposed along a length of at least one edge of the photothermographic material, wherein the area has an optical density less than the Dmax and greater than the Dmin of the photothermographic material.

Thermally developable imaging material

Thermally developable materials such as photothermographic and thermographic materials have a backside conductive layer with increased conductive efficiency. This backside conductive layer is a buried conductive coating and is overcoated with a layer that contains a smectite clay modified with a quaternary ammonium compound.

Thermally developable materials with improved backside layers

The present invention provides a spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element comprising a support layer having on at least one surface thereof a photothermographic composition which displays uniform image density across its surface when exposed to floodlight or uniform incandescent light exposure at radiation wavelengths to which the element is sensitive, said element comprising at least two layers, including a top layer and a photothermographic emulsion layer, said photothermographic emulsion layer comprising a binder, a light insensitive silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion and infrared radiation sensitive silver halide grains, wherein the coherent radiation is rendered more diffuse in its passage through the element than when it strikes the top layer. This may be accomplished at least in part by 1) the top layer of the element having haze induced therein of 0.05 to 30% by surface modification of that layer, 2) there being a random refractive pattern on the top layer, 3) haze being induced in the silver halide containing layer, 4) the reflective characteristics of a surface of the support layer facing the photothermographic composition have been altered to reduce reflection of coherent radiation into said composition, and/or 5) having a radiation absorbing material contained within the photothermographic element to decrease light reflected off of the support.

Photothermographic element with reduced woodgrain interference patterns

The present invention provides a spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element comprising a support layer having on at least one surface thereof a photothermographic composition which displays uniform image density across its surface when exposed to floodlight or uniform incandescent light exposure at radiation wavelengths to which the element is sensitive, said element comprising at least two layers, including a top layer and a photothermographic emulsion layer, said photothermographic emulsion layer comprising a binder, a light insensitive silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion and infrared radiation sensitive silver halide grains, wherein the coherent radiation is rendered more diffuse in its passage through the element than when it strikes the top layer. This may be accomplished at least in part by 1) the top layer of the element having haze induced therein of 0.05 to 306 by surface modification of that layer, 2) there being a random refractive pattern on the top layer, 3) haze being induced in the silver halide containing layer, 4) the reflective characteristics of a surface of the support layer facing the photothermographic composition have been altered to reduce reflection of coherent radiation into said composition, and/or 5) having a radiation absorbing material contained within the photothermographic element to decrease light reflected off of the support.

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 &ldquo;carrier&rdquo; layer during coating operations so that desired imaging effects and functional properties are obtained.

Thermographic material with adhesion-promoting layer and method of making

Multilayer articles (including imaging elements) 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 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. This adhesion-promoting layer can be provided as a very thin &ldquo;carrier&rdquo; layer during coating operations so that desired sensitometric effects and functional properties are obtained. Preferred imaging elements having such adhesion-promoting layers are photothermographic films.

Multi-layer article with improved adhesion and method of making

A spectrally sensitized photothermographic silver halide element comprising a support layer having on at least one surface thereof a photothermographic composition, said composition comprising a polyvinyl acetal binder, a light insensitive silver source, a reducing agent for silver ion and infrared radiation sensitive silver halide grains, wherein said composition also comprises a polymeric component which is not a polyvinyl acetal, or a metal soap other than a silver soap of an organic acid (especially not the long chain fatty acid normally present in silver halide based photothermographic elements) which is dispersed in said composition in an amount of from 0.3 to 20% by weight of said polyvinyl acetal, which polymeric component has higher strength of adhesion to polyester film than does the polyvinyl acetal, and said polymeric may exist as a separate phase within said polyvinyl acetal.

Photothermographic element with improved adherence between layers

Photothermographic imaging chemistry, and particularly color chemistry, can be contained within solid particles. Photothermographic media can then be made by dispersing these particles within a binder in the concentrations and proportions desired.

Photothermographic element comprising particles each containing silver

An imageable toner powder comprising a solid material capable of existing as a supercooled liquid after being heated above its melting temperature and subsequently cooled and a colorant.

Imageable toner powder

A stabilizing agent for use in electron donor-acceptor carbonless copying systems. The stabilizing agent is 2,2'-methylene-bis(4-methyl-6-t-butyl phenol). Systems in which the stabilizing agent is useful comprise a color-forming composition comprising at least one leuco dye which is fadeable or discolorable after development, a color-developing composition comprising an acidic coreactant material capable of reacting with the color-forming composition to provide colored products, and the stabilizing agent. The stabilizing agent prevents discoloration or fade of images produced by reaction of the color-forming composition with the color-developing composition. In a preferred embodiment, the color-forming composition additionally comprises dithiooxamide and/or dithiooxamide derivatives, the color-developing composition additionally comprises a transition metal ion capable of reacting with the dithiooxamide compound to produce a purple-colored product, and the reaction of the color-forming composition with the color-developing composition results in a neutral black colored product.

Growing community of inventors

Cottage Grove, MN, United States of America

Thomas C Geisler