EP1191395A1 - Compositions de développement photographique à l'acide ascorbique et leurs procédés d'utilisation - Google Patents

Compositions de développement photographique à l'acide ascorbique et leurs procédés d'utilisation Download PDF

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EP1191395A1
EP1191395A1 EP01203043A EP01203043A EP1191395A1 EP 1191395 A1 EP1191395 A1 EP 1191395A1 EP 01203043 A EP01203043 A EP 01203043A EP 01203043 A EP01203043 A EP 01203043A EP 1191395 A1 EP1191395 A1 EP 1191395A1
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Prior art keywords
group
composition
black
carbon atoms
developing
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EP01203043A
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German (de)
English (en)
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Shirleyanne Elisabeth Haye
Janet Marie Huston
Jacques Roussilhe
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Eastman Kodak Co
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Eastman Kodak Co
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G03C5/29—Development processes or agents therefor
    • G03C5/305—Additives other than developers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/005—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein
    • G03C1/06—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein with non-macromolecular additives
    • G03C1/34—Fog-inhibitors; Stabilisers; Agents inhibiting latent image regression
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G03C5/29—Development processes or agents therefor
    • G03C5/30—Developers
    • G03C2005/3007—Ascorbic acid
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C2200/00—Details
    • G03C2200/52—Rapid processing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G03C5/264—Supplying of photographic processing chemicals; Preparation or packaging thereof
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G03C5/29—Development processes or agents therefor
    • G03C5/30—Developers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
    • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
    • G03C5/29—Development processes or agents therefor
    • G03C5/30—Developers
    • G03C5/3028—Heterocyclic compounds
    • G03C5/3035—Heterocyclic compounds containing a diazole ring

Definitions

  • This invention relates in general to photography and in particular to improved black-and-white developing compositions. More particularly, it relates to improved and stabilized ascorbic acid developing compositions and to methods for their use in processing photographic silver halide materials.
  • Photographic black-and-white developing compositions containing a silver halide black-and-white developing agent are well known in the photographic art for reducing silver halide grains containing a latent image to yield a developed photographic image.
  • Many useful developing agents are known in the art, with hydroquinone and similar dihydroxybenzene compounds and ascorbic acid (and derivatives) being some of the most common.
  • Such compositions generally contain other components such as sulfites, buffers, antifoggants, halides and hardeners.
  • Dihydroxybenzenes are the most common black-and-white developing agents and are quite active to provide development in various black-and-white photographic elements with or without booster and nucleating compounds. However, they are disadvantageous from several technical and environmental considerations. For example, hydroquinone compositions are not completely stable in air, being prone to aerial oxidation. The by-products from instability are often insoluble, black and tarry materials that contaminate the processing solutions and equipment.
  • hydroquinones have become an increasing concern from the point of view of potential toxicity and environmental pollution.
  • An improved black-and-white photographic developing composition is essentially free of dihydroxybenzene compounds and comprises an ascorbic acid developing agent, and the composition characterized as further comprising a stabilizing amount of a sulfur compound represented by one of the following Structures I, II, III and IV: M 1 S-R-CH(NH 2 )-COOM 2 M 1 S-R 1 -COOM 2 R 2 -S-S-R 2 R 3 HN-R 4 -SM 1 wherein R is a divalent aliphatic linking group having at least 1 carbon atom in the chain, R 1 is phenylene or an unsubstituted alkylene having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, R 2 is a monovalent aliphatic group having at least 2 carbon atoms and comprising a -CH(NHR 3 )-COOM 2 or -(C 1 -C 3 )alkylene-CH(NHR 3 )-COOM 2 group, R 3 is hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or phen
  • This invention also provides a method of providing an image comprising contacting an imagewise exposed photographic silver halide material with the black-and-white photographic developing composition described above for at least 10 seconds.
  • This invention also provides a photoprocessing kit comprising the black-and-white developing composition described above, and one or more additional photochemical processing compositions.
  • the present invention provides highly stabilized black-and-white developing compositions by the use of the sulfur-containing compounds represented by Structures I through IV noted above as stabilizing agents. These compositions are substantially free of dihydroxybenzene compounds.
  • the developing composition of this invention can be used as its own replenisher.
  • the activity of the developing compositions of this invention can be suitably maintained using a replenisher composition that has essentially the same components, concentrations and pH.
  • the replenisher composition is equally stable as the working composition.
  • the developing compositions of this invention have increased stability, they can be used as lower replenishment rates during photoprocessing. This would lead to lower effluent volumes and costs.
  • a certain amount of stabilizing agent from the developing step can be carried over into a later processing bath, such as a photographic fixing bath. This "carry-over" sulfur-containing compound may be helpful to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions as described in US-A-5,629,138 (Faranda et al), and to reduce image dye stain.
  • the improved stability (that is, reduced aerial oxidation) would generally reduce composition color change.
  • stabilizing compounds described herein that comprise both a thiol group and an amino group are useful as photographic fixing agents, and can thus provide what is known in the art as a developing/fixing "monobath" composition. No other photographic fixing agents would be required in such compositions.
  • stabilizing compounds described herein that comprise both a mercapto group and a carboxy group attached to the same carbon can be used as anti-sludging agents in various monobath compositions (see for example, Photogr.Sci. Engr. 10 (5), pages 220-224,1976.
  • FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of the stability data obtained in Examples 7 and 8 below.
  • the present invention is useful for black-and-white development in any photographic silver halide material requiring at least one black-and-white development step.
  • Such types of silver halide materials include, but are not limited to, particularly, radiographic films, aerial films, black-and-white motion picture films, duplicating and copy films, graphic arts films, positive- and negative-working microfilms and amateur and professional continuous tone black-and-white films.
  • the general composition of such materials is well known in the art but specific features that render them particularly adaptable to the present invention are described below in more detail.
  • black-and-white developing composition of this invention can be used in the "first" (black-and-white) development of color reversal photographic silver halide materials (details described below).
  • the black-and-white developing compositions of this invention contain one or more ascorbic acid developing agents.
  • An "ascorbic acid” developing agent means ascorbic acid and derivatives thereof.
  • Ascorbic acid developing agents are described in a considerable number of publications in photographic processes, including US-A-5,236,816 (noted above) and references cited therein.
  • Useful ascorbic acid developing agents include ascorbic acid and the analogues, isomers and derivatives thereof.
  • Such compounds include, but are not limited to, D- or L-ascorbic acid, sugar-type derivatives thereof (such as sorboascorbic acid, ⁇ -lactoascorbic acid, 6-desoxy-L-ascorbic acid, L-rhamnoascorbic acid, imino-6-desoxy-L-ascorbic acid, glucoascorbic acid, fucoascorbic acid, glucoheptoascorbic acid, maltoascorbic acid, L-arabosascorbic acid), sodium ascorbate, potassium ascorbate, isoascorbic acid (or L-erythroascorbic acid), and salts thereof (such as alkali metal, ammonium or others known in the art), endiol type ascorbic acid, an enaminol type ascorbic acid, a thioenol type ascorbic acid, and an enamin-thiol type ascorbic acid, as described for example in US-A-5,
  • D-, L-, or D,L-ascorbic acid and alkali metal salts thereof) or isoascorbic acid (or alkali metal salts thereof) are preferred.
  • Sodium ascorbate and sodium isoascorbate are most preferred. Mixtures of these developing agents can be used if desired.
  • the black-and-white developing composition can also include one or more auxiliary co-developing agents that are also well known (for example, Mason, Photographic Processing Chemistry , Focal Press, London, 1975). Any auxiliary developing agent can be used, but the 3-pyrazolidone developing agents are preferred (also known as "phenidone” type developing agents). Such compounds are described, for example, in US-A-5,236,816 (noted above).
  • the most commonly used compounds of this class are 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 4-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, 5-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1- p -aminophenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1- p -tolyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1- p -tolyl-4-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-3-pyrazolidone, and 1-phenyl-4,4-dihydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone.
  • auxiliary co-developing agents comprise one or more solubilizing groups, such as sulfo, carboxy or hydroxy groups attached to aliphatic chains or aromatic rings, and preferably attached to the hydroxymethyl function of a pyrazolidone, as described for example, in US-A-5,837,434 (Roussilhe et al).
  • a most preferred auxiliary co-developing agent is 4-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone.
  • auxiliary co-developing agents include aminophenols such as p -aminophenol, o -aminophenol, N-methylaminophenol, 2,4-diaminophenol hydrochloride, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)glycine, p -benzylaminophenol hydrochloride, 2,4-diamino-6-methylphenol, 2,4-diaminoresorcinol and N-( ⁇ -hydroxyethyl)- p -aminophenol.
  • aminophenols such as p -aminophenol, o -aminophenol, N-methylaminophenol, 2,4-diaminophenol hydrochloride, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)glycine, p -benzylaminophenol hydrochloride, 2,4-diamino-6-methylphenol, 2,4-diaminoresorcinol and N-( ⁇ -hydroxyethyl)- p -aminophenol.
  • a mixture of different types of auxiliary developing agents can also be used if desired.
  • An organic or inorganic antifoggant is also preferably present in the black-and-white developing composition, either singly or in admixture. Such compounds control the gross fog appearance in the processed elements.
  • Useful inorganic antifoggants include various halide salts, including bromides.
  • Suitable organic antifoggants include, but are not limited to, benzimidazoles, benzotriazoles, mercaptotetrazoles, indazoles and mercaptothiadiazoles.
  • antifoggants include 5-nitroindazole, 5- p -nitrobenzoyl-aminoimidazole, 1-methyl-5-nitroindazole, 6-nitroindazole, 3-methyl-5-nitroindazole, 5-nitrobenzimidazole, 2-isopropyl-5-nitrobenzimidazole, 5-nitrobenzotriazole, sodium 4-(2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl-thio)-butanesulfonate, 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-thiol, 5-methylbenzotriazole, benzotriazole and 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole. Benzotriazole is most preferred.
  • the developing composition can also preferably include one or more preservatives or antioxidants. Both organic preservatives such as hydroxylamine and its aryl and alkyl derivatives, and inorganic preservatives such as sulfites can be used. Sulfites are preferred.
  • a "sulfite" preservative is used herein to mean any sulfur compound that is capable of forming or providing sulfite ions in aqueous alkaline solution. Examples include, but are not limited to, alkali metal sulfites, alkali metal bisulfites, alkali metal metabisulfites, amine sulfur dioxide complexes, sulfurous acid and carbonylbisulfite adducts. Mixtures of these materials can also be used.
  • Examples of preferred sulfites include sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, lithium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, potassium metabisulfite, and lithium metabisulfite.
  • the carbonylbisulfite adducts that are useful include alkali metal or amine bisulfite adducts of aldehydes and bisulfite adducts of ketones.
  • Examples of these compounds include sodium formaldehyde bisulfite, sodium acetaldehyde bisulfite, succinaldehyde bis-sodium bisulfite, sodium acetone bisulfite, ⁇ -methyl glutaraldehyde bis-sodium bisulfite, sodium butanone bisulfite, and 2,4-pentandione bis-sodium bisulfite.
  • Various known buffers such as borates, carbonates and phosphates, or combinations of any of these can be included in the compositions to maintain the desired pH when in aqueous form.
  • the pH can be adjusted with a suitable base (such as a hydroxide) or acid.
  • the pH of the developing composition (in aqueous form) is generally from 7 to 12, and more preferably from 8 to 11.
  • the black-and-white developing composition contains one or more sequestering agents that typically function to form stable complexes to counteract the effect of trace metal impurities (such as silver, calcium, iron and copper ions) that may originate in the composition itself or be introduced into it in a number of ways.
  • trace metal impurities such as silver, calcium, iron and copper ions
  • the sequestering agents, individually or in admixture, are present in conventional amounts.
  • sequestering agents are known in the art, but particularly useful classes of compounds include, but are not limited to, multimeric carboxylic acids, polyphosphonic acids and polyaminophosphonic acids, and any combinations of these classes of materials as described in US-A-5,389,502 (Fitterman et al), aminopolycarboxylic acids, polyphosphate ligands, ketocarboxylic acids, and alkanolamines.
  • sequestering agents include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, 1,3-propylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 1,3-diamino-2-propanoltetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminodisuccinic acid, ethylenediaminomonosuccinic acid, 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzenedisulfonic acid, disodium salt (TIRONTM), N,N'-1,2-ethanediylbis ⁇ N-[(2-hydroxyphenyl)methyl] ⁇ glycine (“HBED”), N- ⁇ 2-[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl ⁇ -N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine (“HEDTA”), N- ⁇ 2-[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl ⁇ -N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine, trisodium salt (available as VERSENOLTM from Acros Organics,
  • the black-and-white developing composition can contain other additives including various development restrainers, development accelerators, swelling control agents, dissolving aids, surface active agents, colloid dispersing aids, restrainers (such as sodium or potassium bromide), and sludge control agents (such as 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol, 2-benzoxazolethiol and 1-phenyl-5-mercatoetrazole), each in conventional amounts, each in conventional amounts.
  • additives including various development restrainers, development accelerators, swelling control agents, dissolving aids, surface active agents, colloid dispersing aids, restrainers (such as sodium or potassium bromide), and sludge control agents (such as 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol, 2-benzoxazolethiol and 1-phenyl-5-mercatoetrazole), each in conventional amounts, each in conventional amounts.
  • composition of this invention can also include one or more fixing agents (described below) to provide what is known in the art as “monobath.”
  • the developing composition preferably includes one or more sulfur-containing compounds as the stabilizing agents for the ascorbic acid developing agent.
  • These compounds can be defined as being represented by Structures I, II, III or IV below.
  • M 1 S-R-CH(NH 2 )-COOM 2 M 1 S-R 1 -COOM 2 R 2 -S-S-R 2 R 3 HN-R 4 -SM 1 wherein R is a divalent aliphatic linking group having at least 1 carbon atom in the chain.
  • divalent aliphatic linking groups include but are not limited to, substituted or unsubstituted alkylene groups (linear or branched) having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexylene group.
  • R is substituted or unsubstituted alkylene having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and more preferably R is methylene or ethylene.
  • R 1 is substituted or unsubstituted phenylene, or an unsubstituted alkylene group having 1 or 2 carbon atoms. Where R 1 is phenylene, the mercapto and carboxy groups are preferably in the 1,3- or 1,4-positions. More preferably R 1 is an unsubstituted alkylene having 2 carbon atoms.
  • R 2 is a monovalent aliphatic group having at least 2 carbon atoms and comprising a -CH(NHR 3 )-COOM 2 or -(C 1 -C 3 )alkylene-CH(NHR 3 )-COOM 2 group wherein the C 1 -C 3 alkylene moiety can comprise substituted or unsubstituted linear or branched alkylene groups.
  • Representative R 2 monovalent aliphatic groups include the same type of groups defined for R above.
  • R 2 is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and more preferably R 2 is methyl or ethyl.
  • R 3 is hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or phenyl, and preferably R 3 is methyl or ethyl.
  • R 4 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group (linear or branched) having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted cyclohexylene group, or a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group.
  • R 4 is a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and more preferably it is ethylene.
  • M 1 and M 2 are independently hydrogen, an alkali metal or ammonium ion, or methyl group and preferably M 1 is hydrogen and M 2 is either hydrogen or an alkali metal ion.
  • the monovalent and divalent aliphatic groups in the Structures noted above can include carbon atom chains that are interrupted with one or more divalent groups containing nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen atoms.
  • Representative compounds of Structure I include cysteine (D or L) and the hydrochloride salt thereof, homocysteine, methionine, 3-mercaptovaline and carboxylate salts thereof.
  • L-cysteine and L-cysteine hydrochloride are preferred in this group of compounds. Mixtures of stereoisomers (where possible) can also be used.
  • Representative compounds of Structure II include 2-mercaptopropanoic acid, 3-mercaptopropanoic acid, 3-mercapto-1-benzoic acid, mercaptoacetic acid, and carboxylate salts thereof.
  • Representative compounds of Structure III include cystine (D or L), mesocystine, 3,3'-dithiobisvaline or hydrochloride salt thereof, and carboxylate salts thereof. Mixtures of stereoisomers can be used where possible.
  • Representative compounds of Structure IV include 2-aminoethanethiol, 2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride and 3-aminopropanethiol hydrochloride.
  • the preferred group of stabilizing agents useful in this invention includes one or more isomers of cysteine or a hydrochloride salt thereof, homocysteine, methionine, 3-mercaptovaline, 2-mercaptopropionic acid, 3-mercaptopropionic acid, 3-mercapto-1-benzoic acid, mercaptoacetatic acid, one or more isomers of cystine or hydrochloride salts thereof, mesocystine, 3,3'dithiobisvaline or a hydrochloride salt thereof, 2-aminoethanethiol, 2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride, 3-aminopropanethiol hydrochloride, or any appropriate carboxylate salts thereof.
  • the developing compositions of this invention are essentially free of dihydroxybenzene compounds (such as hydroquinone).
  • dihydroxybenzene compounds such as hydroquinone.
  • essentially free is meant that such compounds are not purposely added and if inadvertently present, they are present in an amount of less than 0.0001 mol/l so they do not materially affect the performance of the developing composition.
  • compositions in the general and preferred amounts listed in Table I, all minimum and maximum amounts being approximate. If formulated in dry form, the compositions would have the essential components in amounts readily apparent to one skilled in the art suitable to provide the desired liquid concentrations.
  • Developing Composition General Amount Preferred Amount Ascorbic acid developing agent 0.01 to 0.6 mol/l 0.04 to 0.4 mol/l Auxiliary Co-developing agent 0.0001 to 0.08 mol/l 0.005 to 0.04 mol/l Antifoggant 0.0001 to 0.01 mol/l 0.0005 to 0.002 mol/l Preservative (such as sulfite ions) 0 to 1 mol/l 0 to 0.5 mol/l Buffer 0.001 to 1 mol/l 0.3 to 0.8 mol/l Sulfur-containing stabilizing agent 0.01 to 0.5 mol/l 0.05 to 0.25 mol/l
  • the molar ratio of the stabilizing agent to ascorbic acid developing agent is generally from 0.05:1 to 2.5:1, and preferably from 0.125:1 to 1:1.
  • the developing composition of this invention In most processing methods in which the developing composition of this invention is used, its use is generally followed by a fixing step using a photographic fixing composition containing a photographic fixing agent.
  • the fixing agents generally used are organic compounds such as thiosulfates (including sodium thiosulfate, ammonium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate and others readily known in the art), thiocyanates (such as sodium thiocyanate, potassium thiocyanate, ammonium thiocyanate, amines, halides and others readily known in the art (such as those described by Haist, Modern Photographic Processing , John Wiley & Sons, N.Y., 1979).
  • thiosulfates and thiocyanates are preferred.
  • a mixture of a thiocyanate (such as sodium thiocyanate) and a thiosulfate (such as sodium thiosulfate) is used.
  • the molar ratio of a thiosulfate to a thiocyanate is from 1:1 to 1:10, and preferably from 1:1 to 1:2.
  • the sodium salts of the fixing agents are preferred for environmental advantages.
  • the fixing composition can also include various addenda commonly employed therein, such as buffers, fixing accelerators, sequestering agents, swelling control agents, and stabilizing agents, each in conventional amounts.
  • the fixing composition In its aqueous form, the fixing composition generally has a pH of at least 4, preferably at least 4.5, and generally less than 6, and preferably less than 5.5.
  • the developing and fixing compositions useful in the practice of this invention can be provided in dry or aqueous form, and can be prepared by dissolving or dispersing the components in water and adjusting the pH to the desired value.
  • the compositions can also be provided in concentrated form, and diluted to working strength just before use, or during use.
  • the components of the compositions can also be provided in a kit of two or more parts to be combined and diluted with water to the desired strength and placed in the processing equipment.
  • the compositions can be used as their own replenishers, or another similar solutions can be used as the replenishers.
  • Processing can be carried out in any suitable processor or processing container for a given type of photographic element (for example, sheets, strips or rolls).
  • the photographic material is generally bathed in the processing compositions for a suitable period of time.
  • wash solution can be water, but preferably the wash solution is acidic, and more preferably, the pH is 7 or less, and preferably from 4.5 to 7, as provided by a suitable chemical acid or buffer.
  • the processed elements may be dried for suitable times and temperatures, but in some instances the black-and-white images may be viewed in a wet condition.
  • radiographic films can be undertaken in any convenient conventional manner.
  • the exposure and processing techniques of US-A-5,021,327 and 5,576,156 are typical for processing radiographic films.
  • Other processing compositions are described in US-A-5,738,979 (Fitterman et al), US-A-5,866,309 (Fitterman et al), US-A-5,871,890 (Fitterman et al), US-A-5,935,770 (Fitterman et al), US-A-5,942,378 (Fitterman et al).
  • Such processing can be carried out in any suitable processing equipment including but not limited to, a Kodak X-OMATTM RA 480 processor that can utilize Kodak Rapid Access processing chemistry.
  • a Kodak X-OMATTM RA 480 processor that can utilize Kodak Rapid Access processing chemistry.
  • Other "rapid access processors" are described for example in US-A-3,545,971 (Barnes et al) and EP-A-0 248,390 (Akio et al).
  • compositions of this invention can be used in both what are known as “slow access” and “rapid access” processing methods and equipment.
  • slow access and “rapid access” processing methods and equipment.
  • black-and-white motion picture films, industrial radiographic films and professional films and papers are generally developed over a longer period of time (for example, for at least 1 minute and up to 12 minutes). Total processing including other steps (for example fixing and washing) would be even longer.
  • Rapid access methods are generally used to process medical radiographic X-ray films, graphic arts films and microfilms and development may be at least 10 seconds and up to 60 seconds (preferably from 10 to 30 seconds).
  • the total processing time (for example including fixing and washing) is as short as possible, but generally from 20 to 120 seconds.
  • An example of a "rapid access" system is that commercially available as the KODAK RP X-OMATTM processing system that also includes a conventional photographic fixing composition.
  • the development temperature can be any temperature within a wide range as known by one skilled in the art, for example from 15 to 50°C.
  • the black-and-white photographic silver halide elements processed using the present invention are generally composed of a conventional flexible, transparent film support (polyester, cellulose acetate or polycarbonate) that has applied to each side one or more photographic silver halide emulsion layers.
  • a conventional flexible, transparent film support polyyester, cellulose acetate or polycarbonate
  • blue-tinted support materials to contribute to the blue-black image tone sought in fully processed films.
  • Polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate are preferred film supports.
  • the support can take the form of any conventional element support.
  • Useful supports can be chosen from among those described in Research Disclosure, September 1996, Item 38957 XV. Supports and Research Disclosure, Vol. 184, August 1979, Item 18431, XII.
  • Film Supports They can be transparent or translucent polymeric film supports, or opaque cellulosic papers.
  • the support is preferably a transparent film support.
  • the film support consists of a material chosen to allow direct adhesion of the hydrophilic silver halide emulsion layers or other hydrophilic layers. More commonly, the support is itself hydrophobic and subbing layers are coated thereon to facilitate adhesion of the hydrophilic silver halide emulsion layers.
  • the photographic materials include one or more silver halide emulsion layers that comprise one or more types of silver halide grains responsive to suitable electromagnetic radiation.
  • Such emulsions include silver halide grains composed of, for example, silver bromide, silver iodobromide, silver chlorobromide, silver iodochlorobromide, and silver chloroiodobromide, or any combinations thereof.
  • the silver halide grains in each silver halide emulsion unit (or silver halide emulsion layers) can be the same or different, or mixtures of different types of grains.
  • the silver halide grains can have any desired morphology (for example, cubic, tabular, octahedral), or mixtures of grains of various morphologies. In some embodiments, at least 50% (and preferably at least 70%) of the silver halide grain projected area is provided by tabular grains having an average aspect ratio greater than 8, and preferably greater than 12.
  • Imaging contrast can be raised by the incorporation of one or more contrast enhancing dopants.
  • Rhodium, cadmium, lead and bismuth are all well known to increase contrast by restraining toe development. Rhodium is most commonly employed to increase contrast and is specifically preferred.
  • dopants are known individually and in combination, to improve contrast as well as other common properties, such as speed and reciprocity characteristics.
  • Dopants capable providing "shallow electron trapping" sites commonly referred to as SET dopants are specifically contemplated.
  • SET dopants are described in Research Disclosure, Vol. 367, Nov. 1994, Item 36736. Iridium dopants are very commonly employed to decrease reciprocity failure.
  • a summary of conventional dopants to improve speed, reciprocity and other imaging characteristics is provided by Research Disclosure, Item 36544, cited above, Section I. Emulsion grains and their preparation, subsection D. Grain modifying conditions and adjustments, paragraphs (3), (4) and (5).
  • Low COV emulsions can be selected from among those prepared by conventional batch double-jet precipitation techniques.
  • a general summary of silver halide emulsions and their preparation is provided by Research Disclosure, Item 36544, cited above, Section I. Emulsion grains and their preparation. After precipitation and before chemical sensitization the emulsions can be washed by any convenient conventional technique using techniques disclosed by Research Disclosure, Item 36544, cited above, Section III. Emulsion washing.
  • the emulsions can be chemically sensitized by any convenient conventional technique as illustrated by Research Disclosure, Item 36544, Section IV. Chemical sensitization. Sulfur and gold sensitization is specifically contemplated.
  • the silver halide emulsion and other layers forming the layers on the support contain conventional hydrophilic colloid vehicles (peptizers and binders) that are typically gelatin or a gelatin derivative (identified herein as "gelatino-vehicles").
  • hydrophilic colloid vehicles preptizers and binders
  • Conventional gelatino-vehicles and related layer features are disclosed in Research Disclosure, Item 36544, Section II. Vehicles, vehicle extenders, vehicle-like addenda and vehicle related addenda.
  • the emulsions themselves can contain peptizers of the type set out in Section II noted above, paragraph A. Gelatin and hydrophilic colloid peptizers.
  • the hydrophilic colloid peptizers are also useful as binders and hence are commonly present in much higher concentrations than required to perform the peptizing function alone.
  • the gelatino-vehicle extends also to materials that are not themselves useful as peptizers.
  • the preferred gelatino-vehicles include alkali-treated gelatin, acid-treated gelatin or gelatin derivatives (such as acetylated gelatin and phthalated gelatin).
  • the binder-containing layers can be hardened or unhardened.
  • Some photographic materials can include a surface overcoat on each side of the support that are typically provided for physical protection of the emulsion layers.
  • the overcoats can contain various addenda to modify the physical properties of the overcoats.
  • Such addenda are illustrated by Research Disclosure, Item 36544, Section IX. Coating physical property modifying addenda, A. Coating aids, B. Plasticizers and lubricants, C. Antistats, and D. Matting agents.
  • Interlayers that are typically thin hydrophilic colloid layers can be used to provide a separation between the emulsion layers and the surface overcoats. It is quite common to locate some emulsion compatible types of surface overcoat addenda, such as anti-matte particles, in the interlayers.
  • black-and-white papers and films that can be processed using the present invention include, but are not limited to, KODAK TRI-X-PAN Black and White Film, KODAK PLUS X-PAN Black and White Film, KODAK TMAX 100 and 400 speed Black and White Films, KODAK POLYMAX II RC Black and White Papers, KODAK KODABROME II RC F Black and White Paper, KODAK PMAX Art RC V Black and White Paper, KODAK POLYCONTRAST III RC Black and White Paper, KODAK PANALURE Select RC Black and White Paper, KODAK POLYMAX FINE ART Black and White Papers, KODAK AZO Black and White Papers, ILFORD MULTIGRADE IV RC and FB Black and White Papers, ILFORD ILFOBROME GALARIE Black and White Papers, AGFA MULTICONTRAST CLASSIC, PREMIUM Black and White Papers, various KODAK T-MAT Radiographic Films, various KODAK INS
  • the black-and-white developing composition can also be used in the first development step to provide color positive images using color reversal photographic silver halide materials.
  • Such materials are usually processed using the following sequence of processing steps: first (or black-and-white) development, washing, reversal reexposure, color development, bleaching, fixing, washing and/or stabilizing.
  • first (or black-and-white) development washing, reversal reexposure, color development, bleaching, fixing, washing and/or stabilizing.
  • Another useful process has the same steps, but stabilizing is carried out between color development and bleaching.
  • Color reversal films used in the practice of this invention are comprised of a support having thereon a plurality of photosensitive silver halide emulsion layers that can contain any conventional silver halide (or mixture thereof). Such films generally have silver halide emulsions having at least 1 mol % iodide based on total silver.
  • Useful supports are well known and include polyester films, polycarbonate films and cellulose acetate films.
  • the silver halide layers include conventional binder materials, and other conventional addenda.
  • Some specific commercially available color reversal photographic films that can be processed using this invention include EKTACHROME and KODACHROME Color Reversal Films (Eastman Kodak Company), FUJICHROME Color Reversal Films (Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.), AGFACHROME Color Reversal Films (AGFA), KONICACHROME Color Reversal Films (Konica) and SCOTCHCHROME Color Reversal Films (Imation).
  • Photographic reversal compositions are also known in the art, including for example US-A-3,617,282 (Bard et al) and US-A-5,736,302 (Buongiorne et al).
  • the color development is generally accomplished with a color developing composition containing the chemical components conventionally used for that purpose, including color developing agents, buffering agents, metal ion sequestering agents, optical brighteners, halides, antioxidants, sulfites and other compounds readily apparent to one skilled in the art.
  • color developing agents including color developing agents, buffering agents, metal ion sequestering agents, optical brighteners, halides, antioxidants, sulfites and other compounds readily apparent to one skilled in the art. Examples and amounts of such components are well known in the art, including for example US-A-5,037,725 (Cullinan et al) and US-A-5,552,264 (Cullinan et al).
  • compositions that provide dye image stabilization. If in liquid form, this composition generally includes a dye stabilization compound (such as an alkali metal formaldehyde bisulfite, hexamethylenetetramine and various formaldehyde releasing compounds), buffering agents, bleach-accelerating compounds, secondary amines, preservatives, and metal sequestering agents.
  • a dye stabilization compound such as an alkali metal formaldehyde bisulfite, hexamethylenetetramine and various formaldehyde releasing compounds
  • a final rinse composition generally has a pH of from 5 to 9 (in liquid form), and can include one or more surfactants (anionic, nonionic or both), biocides and buffering agents as is well known in the art. See for example, US-A-3,545,970 (Giorgianni et al), US-A-5,534,396 (McGuckin et al), US-A-5,645,980 (McGuckin et al), US-A-5,667,948 (McGuckin et al) and US-A-5,716,765 (McGuckin et al).
  • surfactants anionic, nonionic or both
  • biocides buffering agents as is well known in the art. See for example, US-A-3,545,970 (Giorgianni et al), US-A-5,534,396 (McGuckin et al), US-A-5,645,980 (McGuckin et al), US-
  • the black-and-white developing composition of this invention can be included as part of a processing kit that includes one or more additional photographic processing compositions needed for providing the desired images.
  • additional photoprocessing compositions include photographic fixing compositions for processing black-and-white photographic materials, or photographic color developing, bleaching, fixing and reversal compositions for processing color reversal photographic materials.
  • the kit may also include washing solutions, instructions, fluid or composition metering devices, or any other conventional components of a photographic processing kit. All of the components can be suitably packaged in dry or liquid form in glass or plastic bottles, fluid-impermeable packets or vials.
  • Example 3 Example 4
  • Example 5 Example 6 0 100 100 100 100 100 100 48 80.2 80.5 97.2 87.6 94.1 120 87.1 96.6 97 100 100 168 69.5 72 76.1 73 83
  • Example 7 COMPONENT Control C
  • Example 8 DTPA, 40% 0.0034 0.0034 0.0034 Potassium sulfite, 45% 0.32 0.32 0.32 Potassium carbonate, 47% 0.72 0.72 0.72 Ascorbic acid 0.2 0.2 0.2 HMMP 0.012 0.012 0.012 L-Cysteine 0 0 0.2 2-Mercaptopropionic acid 0 0 0.2 Benzotriazole 0.0017 0.0017 0.0017 Potassium bromide 0.034 0.034 0.034 pH 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3
  • Example 6 The developing composition of Example 6 above was used to process imagewise exposed samples of commercially available KODAK POLYMAX II and Ilford MULTIGRADE IV Black and White Papers in the following manner.
  • the paper samples were developed using 300 ml of the Example 6 developing composition for 1 minute at 21°C, fixed using 400 ml of commercially available KODAK RAPID Fixer (1:3), diluted 1:1, for 2 minutes at ambient temperature, washed with tap water for 5 minutes and dried in the air at room temperature. The desired black-and-white images were obtained in all of the samples.

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EP01203043A 2000-08-21 2001-08-09 Compositions de développement photographique à l'acide ascorbique et leurs procédés d'utilisation Withdrawn EP1191395A1 (fr)

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3615511A (en) * 1968-05-22 1971-10-26 Eastman Kodak Co Surface developer with heterocyclic mercaptan for use on internal image emulsion
US3938997A (en) * 1975-03-28 1976-02-17 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Rapid access, air stable, regenerable iron chelate developer solutions
US5607811A (en) * 1994-12-28 1997-03-04 Agfa-Gevaert, N.V. Method for making a lithographic printing plate using ascorbic acid developer
EP0959385A1 (fr) * 1998-05-18 1999-11-24 Eastman Kodak Company Monobain de développement et de fixage contenant un colorant jaune et méthode de traitement d'éléments photographiques en noir et blanc pouvant être manipulé à la lumière ambiante
US6033835A (en) * 1999-05-18 2000-03-07 Eastman Kodak Company Developing/fixing monobath and its use for processing low silver black-and-white photographic elements

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3615511A (en) * 1968-05-22 1971-10-26 Eastman Kodak Co Surface developer with heterocyclic mercaptan for use on internal image emulsion
US3938997A (en) * 1975-03-28 1976-02-17 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Rapid access, air stable, regenerable iron chelate developer solutions
US5607811A (en) * 1994-12-28 1997-03-04 Agfa-Gevaert, N.V. Method for making a lithographic printing plate using ascorbic acid developer
EP0959385A1 (fr) * 1998-05-18 1999-11-24 Eastman Kodak Company Monobain de développement et de fixage contenant un colorant jaune et méthode de traitement d'éléments photographiques en noir et blanc pouvant être manipulé à la lumière ambiante
US6033835A (en) * 1999-05-18 2000-03-07 Eastman Kodak Company Developing/fixing monobath and its use for processing low silver black-and-white photographic elements

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