EP1306720B1 - Matériau d' enregistrement d' image développable par la chaleur - Google Patents

Matériau d' enregistrement d' image développable par la chaleur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1306720B1
EP1306720B1 EP02023788A EP02023788A EP1306720B1 EP 1306720 B1 EP1306720 B1 EP 1306720B1 EP 02023788 A EP02023788 A EP 02023788A EP 02023788 A EP02023788 A EP 02023788A EP 1306720 B1 EP1306720 B1 EP 1306720B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
silver
dispersion
group
solution
photosensitive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP02023788A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1306720A3 (fr
EP1306720A2 (fr
Inventor
Itsuo Fujiwara
Seiichi Yamamoto
Takayoshi Oyamada
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Fujifilm Corp
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Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd
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Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2001329077A external-priority patent/JP2003131336A/ja
Priority claimed from JP2001370499A external-priority patent/JP2003172997A/ja
Priority claimed from JP2002031097A external-priority patent/JP4079650B2/ja
Application filed by Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd filed Critical Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd
Publication of EP1306720A2 publication Critical patent/EP1306720A2/fr
Publication of EP1306720A3 publication Critical patent/EP1306720A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1306720B1 publication Critical patent/EP1306720B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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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
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/494—Silver salt compositions other than silver halide emulsions; Photothermographic systems ; Thermographic systems using noble metal compounds
    • G03C1/498—Photothermographic systems, e.g. dry silver
    • G03C1/49809—Organic silver compounds
    • 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
    • G03C1/494—Silver salt compositions other than silver halide emulsions; Photothermographic systems ; Thermographic systems using noble metal compounds
    • G03C1/498—Photothermographic systems, e.g. dry silver
    • G03C1/49836—Additives
    • G03C1/49845—Active additives, e.g. toners, stabilisers, sensitisers
    • 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
    • G03C1/494—Silver salt compositions other than silver halide emulsions; Photothermographic systems ; Thermographic systems using noble metal compounds
    • G03C1/498—Photothermographic systems, e.g. dry silver
    • G03C1/49827—Reducing agents
    • 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
    • G03C1/015—Apparatus or processes for the preparation of emulsions
    • G03C2001/0157—Ultrafiltration
    • 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
    • G03C2200/40—Mercapto compound
    • 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
    • G03C2200/43—Process

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a heat developable photosensitive image recording material (simply referred to as a heat developable photosensitive material hereinafter).
  • the heat developable photosensitive material comprises a photosensitive layer in which a catalytic activity amount of photocatalyst (for example, silver halide), a reducing agent, a silver salt capable of being reduced(for example, an organic silver salt) and if necessary, a chromatone controlling agent that controls tone of silver, are dispersed in a binder matrix.
  • a catalytic activity amount of photocatalyst for example, silver halide
  • a reducing agent for example, a reducing agent
  • a silver salt capable of being reduced for example, an organic silver salt
  • the heat developable photosensitive material is heated at a high temperature (for example, 80°C) after image exposure, and a black silver image is formed by an oxidation-reduction reaction between the silver salt capable of being reduced (functions as an oxidizing agent) and a reducing agent.
  • the oxidation-reduction reaction is accelerated by a catalytic action of latent images of silver halide generated by exposure. Consequently, the black silver image is formed in the exposed area.
  • photosensitive silver halide As a characteristic of photosensitive silver halide, is featured in that, it is necessary to increase the number of the silver halide particles in order to increase the maximum density although silver halide serves as a initiation point in the heat development process. Accordingly, although it is necessary to reduce the size of the silver halide particle and increase the number of particles while compensating its sensitivity by applying chemical sensitization, it was a problem that preservative property of row photosensitive materials are deteriorated and sensitivity decreases during preservation.
  • the organic silver salt Since organic silver halides or the like in the heat developable photosensitive material using the organic silver salt are not fixed, the organic silver salt has a potential to develop silver images even after forming the silver image by light/heat. Such excess images do not naturally appear under a usual condition of use. However, when the preservation conditions are very severe for the heat developable photosensitive material, for example when processed films are placed in a vehicle for transportation or the like in summer, troubles such as color changes throughout the film or transfer of characters printed on a bag as a container of the film onto the film may occur.
  • the method for producing the heat image forming system taking advantage of the organic silver salt include a method for applying a solution containing the organic silver salt, and a method for applying an application fluid containing an the organic silver salt and an aqueous dispersion of polymer fine particles as a main binder followed by drying.
  • the production facilities become simple in the latter method since no step of solvent recovery or the like is required, and therefore the method is advantageous for mass-production.
  • the commercially available heat developable photosensitive materials involve the problem in the image preserving property that causes fogging by light and heat after development. Accordingly, the photosensitive materials are required be improved since they should be carefully handled not to be exposed to light and heat for a long period of time.
  • EP-A1 096 310 discloses a photothermographic material comprising on one side of a support a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive silver salt of an organic acid, a reducing agent for silver ions and a binder, which is characterized by containing one or more phenol compounds as the reducing agent and one or more compounds satisfying certain requirements.
  • EP-A 0 962 812 discloses aqueous dispersions of fatty acid silver salt particles which are formed by simultaneously adding to a reaction vessel a silver ion containing aqueous solution or a silver ion containing water organic solvent mixed solution and an aqueous solution of an alkaline metal salt of a fatty acid.
  • EP-A1 220 026 discloses a heat developable image recording material comprising a support, a photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent for a silver ion, a binder and a non-photosensitive organic silver salt grain wherein the non-photosensitive organic silver salt grain is specified in detail.
  • an object of the present invention for solving the foregoing problems is to.provide a heat developable image recording material having a high sensitivity and maximum density while being excellent in preservative property of raw materials.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a heat developable photosensitive material having a low minimum density (D min ) and being excellent in preservative property of images.
  • a further different object of the invention is to provide a heat developable photosensitive material that has small increment of fogging by light and heat after development, and does not require careful handling against light and heat, or that is excellent in the image preservation property.
  • a heat developable image recording material according to a first aspect of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter.
  • the heat developable image recording material of the invention comprises at least one of photosensitive silver halide, a reducing agent for silver ions, a binder and non-photosensitive organic silver salt particles on one side of the surface of a substrate.
  • the content of silver behenate in the non-photosensitive organic silver salt particles is 90 mol% to 100 mol%, and the at least one kind of mercapto compounds is contained in a surface of the substrate at the same side as a layer having the photosensitive silver halide.
  • non-photosensitive organic silver salt and non-photosensitive organic silver salt particles to be used in the invention will be described hereinafter.
  • non-photosensitive organic silver salt (may be simply referred to as "organic silver salt” hereinafter) used in the invention is relatively stable to light, silver images are formed by heating at 80°C or more in the presence of an exposed photo-catalyst (a latent image of photosensitive silver halide or the like) and a reducing agent.
  • the organic silver salt may be arbitrary organic substance containing a source capable of reducing silver ions.
  • the particularly preferable organic silver salts in the invention are silver salts of long chain aliphatic carboxylic acids (with a carbon number of 10 to 30, preferably 15 to 28) .
  • the preferable organic silver salts include silver behenate, silver arachidate, silver stearate and a mixture thereof.
  • the content of silver behenate is 90 mol% or more, preferably 94 mol% or more and particularly 96 mol% or more for obtaining a silver salt of an organic acid excellent in preservative property of raw materials.
  • the content of silver stearate is preferably 1 mol% or less because this content permits a silver salt with an excellent preservative property to be obtained.
  • the content is preferably 0.5 mol% or less , and particularly with substantially no content of the silver salt.
  • the content of silver arachidate is preferably 6 mol% , and more preferably 3 mol% or less in order to obtain a silver salt of an organic acid having an excellent preservative property.
  • the shape of the organic silver salt to be used in the invention preferably has an aspect ratio of 1 to 9 in order to prevent the particles from being broken to consequently attain a good preservative property of images.
  • Lepidoblastic organic silver salts and the aspect ratio thereof are defined as follows in the invention.
  • the organic silver salt is observed under an electron microscope, and the shape of the organic silver salt particle is approximated by a rectangular parallelepiped.
  • the edges of the rectangular parallelepiped are defined as "a”, "b” and “c” ("b” and “c” may be the same length) in the order of smallness of the length.
  • the values of "x” and “y” are determined with respect to about 200 particles, and mean values (x mean and y mean ) of "x" and "y” are calculated.
  • the lepidoblastic particle is defined to satisfy the relation of 30 ⁇ x mean ⁇ 1.5.
  • x mean satisfies the relation of 30 ⁇ x mean ⁇ 1.5, and more preferably satisfies the relation of 20 ⁇ x mean ⁇ 2.0.
  • Needle like particles are defined, on the other hand, satisfy the relation of 1 ⁇ x mean ⁇ 1.5.
  • the mean value of y (y mean ) is defined to be an aspect ratio.
  • the organic silver salt particle of the invention has an aspect ratio of 1 to 9, preferably 1 to 6, and more preferably 1 to 3.
  • the value "a” is considered to be the thickness of a plate-like particle with a major plane with the edge length of "b" and "c".
  • the mean value of "a” is preferably 0.01 ⁇ m to 0.23 ⁇ m, and more preferably 0.1 ⁇ m to 0.20 ⁇ m.
  • the ratio of (equivalent-circle diameter of particle)/"a" is defined as the aspect ratio of the lepidoblastic particle.
  • the aspect ratio of the lepidoblastic particle of the invention is 1.1 to 30. Adjusting the aspect ratio in the range above permits the particles to be hardly aggregated in the photosensitive material to make the image preservative property excellent.
  • the aspect ratio is preferably in the range of 1.1 to 15.
  • the equivalent-circle diameter of the lepidoblastic particle is 0. 05 ⁇ m to 1 ⁇ m, and thereby making the particles to be hardly coagulated in the photosensitive material with a good preservative property of images.
  • the sample is directly photographed under an electron microscope, and the diameter is determined after developing the negative film.
  • the particle size distribution of the organic silver salt is preferably monodisperse.
  • the monodisperse of the particle size is determined by determining the standard deviation of the volume weighted average diameter of the organic silver salt particles.
  • the percentage (variation coefficient) obtained by dividing the diameter by the volume weighted average diameter is preferably 100% or less , more preferably 80% or less , and still more preferably 50% or less.
  • the particle size is determined from an auto-correlation function of time-dependent fluctuation of the scattered light from the particles.
  • the organic silver salt particles of the invention at a low temperature of 60°C or less for providing particles with a low minimum density (D min ). While the temperature of chemicals added such as an aqueous solution of an organic acid alkali metal salt may be higher than 60°C, the temperature of the reaction bath in which the reaction solution is immersed is preferably 60°C or less, more preferably 50°C or less, and particularly 40°C or less.
  • the organic silver salt particles are prepared by allowing a solution containing silver ions such as silver nitrate to react with a solution or suspension of the organic acid alkali metal salt, 50% or more of the total amount of silver is preferably added simultaneously with addition the solution or suspension of organic acid alkali metal salt .
  • the addition method comprises adding on the liquid surface of the reaction bath, adding into the solution, or adding into sealed mixing means, the method for adding into the sealed mixing means (for example, a sealed mixing vessel) is particularly preferable.
  • Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing non-photosensitive organic silver salt to be used in the invention.
  • reference numerals 11 and 12 denote vessels for storing a silver ion containing solution (for example, an aqueous silver nitrate solution) and an organic acid alkali metal salt solution, respectively, by controlling at a predetermined temperature.
  • Reference numerals 13 and 14 denote flow meters for measuring the flow rates when these solutions are added into a sealed mixing device 18 filled with a liquid through pumps 15 and 16, respectively.
  • a pump 17 for recycling a dispersion of the prepared organic silver salt into the mixing device 18 is also provided as a third element.
  • the solution after completing the reaction in the mixing device 18 is promptly cooled by being introduced into a heat exchanger 19, and is sent to a tank 20.
  • the pH value of the silver ion containing solution (for example, an aqueous silver nitrate solution) to be used in the invention is preferably 1 to 6, and more preferably 1.5 to 4.
  • An acid and an alkali may be further added for controlling the pH value.
  • the kinds of the acid or alkali are not particularly restricted.
  • the organic silver salt of the invention may be ripened by increasing the reaction temperate after completing addition of the silver ion containing solution (for example, aqueous silver nitrate solution) and/or organic acid alkali metal salt solution.
  • the ripening temperature in the invention can be considered to be different from the reaction temperature as hitherto described. Silver nitrate and organic acid alkali metal salt solution or suspension should be never added during ripening.
  • the ripening temperature is preferably by 1°C to 20°C, and more preferably by 1°C to 10°C, higher than the reaction temperature.
  • the ripening time is preferably determined by trial-and-error.
  • the solution of the organic acid alkali metal salt may be discretely added in 2 to 6 steps for preparing the organic silver salts of the invention.
  • the particles may discretely added for endowing the particles with various functions such as improving photographic performance and modifying surface hydrophilicity.
  • the number of discrete addition of the particles is preferably 2 to 4. Since the organic acid salts may be solidified unless the temperature is high, a plurality of addition lines for division should be provided, or the circulation method should be devised for discrete addition.
  • 0.5 mol% to 30 mol %, and more preferably 3 mol% to 20 mol% , of the total moles of the organic acid alkali metal salt solution is independently added after completing the addition of the silver ion containing solution for preparing the organic silver salt of the invention.
  • This amount of addition is preferably applied as one time of addition of the discrete addition.
  • the solution may be added in the sealed mixing device or in the reaction vessel, it is preferable to add in the reaction vessel. Adding as described above enables surface hydrophilicity to be increased, thereby improving film forming ability of the photosensitive material and decreasing the incidence of peeling of the film.
  • the silver ion concentration of the silver ion containing solution (for example, aqueous silver nitrate solution) to be used in the invention in mole is preferably 0.03 mole/L to 6.5 mole/L, and more preferably 0.1 mole/L to 5 mole/L.
  • organic acid particles in the invention it is preferable, in order to form the organic acid particles in the invention, that a sufficient amount of an organic solvent for forming a substantially clear solution, not as strands or micelles of the organic acid alkali metal salt, is contained in at least one of the silver ion containing solution, organic acid alkali metal salt solution or dispersion, or a solution previously prepared as a reaction medium. While the organic solvent may be used alone, it may be a mixed solution with water.
  • the organic solvent is not particularly restricted so long as it is soluble in water while having the properties as described above, solvents than hinder photographic performance are not preferable.
  • the solvent is preferably alcohols and acetone that can be mixed with water, and tertiary alcohols with a carbon number of 4 to 6 are more preferable.
  • the alkali metals for the organic acid alkali metal salts to be use in the invention include Na and K.
  • the organic acid alkali metal salt can be prepared by adding NaOH or KOH in an organic acid. It is preferable to allow unreacted organic acid to remain by adding an amount of alkali not more than the molar equivalence of the organic acid. The amount of the remaining organic acid relative to the amount of the total organic acid is 3 mol% to 50 mol%, and preferably 3 mol% to 30 mol%.
  • the residual organic acid may be prepared by neutralizing an excess amount of alkali by adding an acid such as nitric acid or sulfuric acid, after adding an alkali in an amount not smaller than the desired quantity.
  • compounds represented by the general formula (1) in JP-A No. 62-65035 N-heterocyclic compounds containing hydrophilic groups as described in JP-A No. 62-150240, inorganic peroxides as described in JP-A No. 50-101019, sulfur compounds as described in JP-A 51-78319, and disulfide compounds and hydrogen peroxide as described in JP-A No. 57-643 may be added in the silver ion containing solution and organic acid alkali metal salt solution to be used in the invention, or in the sealed mixing means in which both solutions are added.
  • the organic acid alkali metal salt solution to be used in the invention preferably contains 3% by volume to 70% by volume , and more preferably 5% by volume to 50% by volume , of an organic solvent relative to the volume of water. Since the optimum solvent volume changes depending on the reaction temperature, an optimum amount should be determined by trial-and error.
  • the concentration of the organic acid alkali metal salt to be used in the invention is 5% by mass to 50% by mass , preferably 7% by mass to 45% by mass , and more preferably 10% by mass to 40% by mass in mass ratio.
  • the temperature of the aqueous tertiary alcohol solution of the organic acid alkali metal salt added in the sealed mixing means or reaction vessel is preferably 50°C to 90°C , more preferably 60°C to 85°C , and most preferably 65°C to 85°C , in order to maintain a temperature required for preventing the organic acid alkali metal salt from crystallizing or solidifying.
  • the reaction temperature is preferably maintained at a constant temperature selected from the temperatures in the range as described above.
  • the rate of precipitation of the organic acid alkali metal salt from an aqueous tertiary alcohol solution by quenching a high temperature solution in the sealed mixing means, and the rate for forming the organic silver salt by a reaction with the silver ion containing solution are preferably controlled to enable preferable crystal habit, crystal size and crystal size distribution of the organic silver salt to be obtained.
  • the performance as the heat developable material, particularly as the heat development photosensitive material may be also improved by controlling these rates as described above.
  • the solvent may be previously filled in the reaction vessel. While water is preferably used as the solvent to be filled in advance, a mixed solvent of water and tertiary alcohol may be also preferably used.
  • a dispersion assistant soluble in an aqueous medium may be added to the aqueous tertiary alcohol solution of the organic acid alkali metal salt, silver ion containing solution or reaction solution.
  • Any dispersion assistants are available so long as they are able to disperse the organic silver salt formed, and examples of them are selected in accordance with the dispersion assistant of the organic silver salt to be described hereinafter.
  • a desalting and dehydration process is preferably applied for preparing the non-photosensitive organic silver salt particles.
  • the methods are not particularly restricted, and any conventional methods known in the art may be used.
  • the methods available include filtration methods known in the art such as centrifugal filtration, suction filtration, ultrafiltration and washing with water after forming flocks by coagulation. Removal of supernatant after centrifugal separation and sedimentation is one of the methods preferably used.
  • dehydration by ultrafiltration is preferable in the invention.
  • One time of desalting and dehydration may be applied, or plural times of desalting and dehydration may be repeated.
  • Water may be continuously added and removed, or discretely added and removed.
  • the particles are desalted and dehydrated until the conductivity of dehydrated water decreases to preferably about 300 ⁇ S/cm or less, more preferably about 100 ⁇ S/cm or less, and most preferably about 60 ⁇ S/cm or less. While the lower limit of conductivity is not particularly prescribed, it is usually about 5 ⁇ S/cm.
  • the ultrafiltration method used for example, for desalting/concentration of a silver halide emulsion may be used in the invention.
  • Research Disclosure No. 10, p. 208 (1972), No. 13, p. 122 (1975) and No. 16, p. 351 (1977) may be cited.
  • differential pressure and flow rate as crucial operation conditions may be selected with reference to characteristic curves described in "Handbook for Using Membrane", p. 275, by Haruhiko Ohya, Saiwai Publishers Co. (1978)
  • an optimum condition should be found for suppressing coagulation of the particles and fogging for treating the desired organic silver salt dispersion.
  • the solvent may be continuously or discretely added in the method for supplementing the solvent lost by membrane permeation, a constant volume method in which the desalting time is relatively short is preferable.
  • a pH control agent or the like may be added in pure water or directly in the organic silver salt dispersion in order to maintain a desired pH value.
  • ultrafiltration films such as planer films to be assembled as a module
  • cylindrical films and hollow fiber type films are commercially available from Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd., Toray Industries, Inc. and Nitto Denko Co.
  • the spiral type and hollow fiber type membranes are preferable considering the total membrane area and cleaning performance.
  • the fractionated molecular weight as an index of the threshold if each component that is permeable through the membrane is preferable one fifth of the molecular weight of the polymer dispersing agent used.
  • the dispersion means may be any methods such as a high pressure homogenizer or micro-fluidizer to be described hereinafter.
  • the temperature of the liquid is preferably maintained low until the desalting process advances immediately after formation of the particles, because nuclei of silver tend to be formed by a shear medium and pressure medium caused by the liquid sending operation and by passing through the ultrafiltration membrane when the organic solvent used for dissolving the organic acid alkali metal salt is permeated into the organic silver salt particles. Consequently, the dispersion of the organic silver salt particles is subjected to the ultrafiltration operation while maintaining the temperature at 1 to 30 °C, and preferably at 5 to 25°C, in the invention.
  • thermosensitive material in particular, heat developable photosensitive material in good state to form the desalted and dehydrated organic silver salt as fine dispersion by adding a dispersing agent.
  • any methods known in the art may be employed as a method for manufacturing and dispersing the organic silver salt to be used in the invention. These methods are referenced, for example, in JP-A Nos. 8-234358 and JP-A 10-62899, EP Nos. 0803763A1 and 0962812A1, JP-A Nos. 11-349591, 2000-7683, 2000-72711, 2000-53682, 2000-75437, 2000-86669, 2000-143578, 2000-178278 and 2000-256254, JP-A Nos.
  • Methods for mechanically dispersing the organic silver salt into fine particles include using known miniaturization means (for example, a high speed mixer, homogenizer, high speed impact mill, Bambury mixer, homomixer, kneader, ball mill, vibration ball mill, planetary ball mill, atomizer, sand mill, beads mill, colloid mill, jet mill, roller mill, tron mill and high speed stone mill) in the presence of a dispersing assistance, thereby capable of dispersing mechanically.
  • miniaturization means for example, a high speed mixer, homogenizer, high speed impact mill, Bambury mixer, homomixer, kneader, ball mill, vibration ball mill, planetary ball mill, atomizer, sand mill, beads mill, colloid mill, jet mill, roller mill, tron mill and high speed stone mill
  • an even and large force is preferably applied within a range not to damage the organic silver salt particles as image forming media with no increase of the temperature.
  • the solvent is preferably water, or may contain an organic solvent in a proportion of 20% by mass or less.
  • the dispersing solution is substantially free from the photosensitive silver salt during dispersion.
  • the amount of the photosensitive silver salt in the dispersion solution to be dispersed is 0.1 mol% or less relative to one mole of the organic silver salt in the solution in the invention, and the photosensitive silver salt is preferably not added.
  • the high-pressure homogenizer it is generally considered that uniform and efficient dispersion is possible by (a) a shear force generated by allowing dispersing substances to pass through narrow spaces (with an width of about 75 to 350 ⁇ m) at a high speed under a high pressure, and (b) liquid-liquid collision in a narrow space under a high pressure, or an increased cavitation force generated by pressure drop after collision to an wall without changing the impact force generated by the collision. While a Golin homogenizer had been used for this type dispersion apparatus before, the solution is converted into a high speed flow in a narrow gap on the cylinder face, and the solution vigorously collide with the surrounding wall to emulsify and disperse by means of the impact force.
  • Examples of the liquid-liquid collision apparatus as described above include a Y-shape chamber in the micro-fluidizer, and a spherical chamber taking advantage of a spherical check valve as described in JP-A No. 8-103642.
  • Examples of a liquid-wall collision apparatus include a Z-type chamber of the micro-fluidizer or the like.
  • the pressure used is usually in the range of 100 to 600 kg/cm 2 , and the flow rate is in the range of several meters to 30 m/sec.
  • the high speed portion of the liquid is serrated in order to increase the number of collision.
  • Such apparatus include Golin homogenizer, micro-fluidizer made by Micro-Fluidex International Co., micro-fluidizer made by Mizuho Industires Co., and nanomizer made by Tokushu Kiko Co. Such apparatus is also described in JP-A Nos. 8-238848 and 8-103642, and USP No. 4,533,254.
  • the organic silver salt can be dispersed into a desired particle size by adjusting the differential pressure by pressure drop and the number of treatment.
  • the flow rate is 200 to 600 m/sec, and the differential pressure during the pressure drop is in the range of 900 to 3000 kg/cm 2 (9 to 30 MPs), and more preferably, the flow rate is 300 to 600 m/sec, and the differential pressure during the pressure is in the range of 1500 to 3000 kg/cm 2 (15 to 30 MPa) from the view point of photographic performance and particle size.
  • the number of dispersion treatment may be selected, if necessary. While the selected number of dispersion is usually 1 to 10 times, 1 to 3 times is selected from the view point of productivity.
  • the system is preferably provided with a cooling device in the process before converting into a high pressure - high speed flow, or in the process after the pressure drop.
  • the dispersion pressure is preferably maintained in the range of 5 to 90°C, more preferably in the range of 5 to 80°C, and particularly in the range of 5 to 65°C, by the cooling step. It is particularly effective to provide the cooling device when the liquid is dispersed under a high pressure in the range of 1500 to 3000 kg/cm 2 (15 to 30 MPa).
  • the cooling device available for proper selection include those using a dual or triple pipe static mixer, a multi-pipe heat-exchanger and a coiled heat-exchanger in accordance with the required heat exchange amount.
  • the diameter, thickness and material of the pipe may be properly selected considering the pressure used in order to improve the efficiency of heat exchange.
  • the coolant used for the cooling device is well water at 20°C, cooled water at 5 to 10°C after cooling with a refrigerator, and a coolant such as ethyleneglycol/water at -30°C may be used.
  • Dispersing agents preferably used for forming solid micro-particles of the organic silver halide include synthetic anionic polymers such as polyacrylic acid, copolymer of acrylic acid, copolymer of maleic acid, copolymer of maleic acid monoester and copolymer of acryloyl methylpropane sulfonic acid; semi-synthetic anionic polymers such as carboxymethyl starch and carboxymethyl cellulose; anionic polymers such as alginic acid and pectic acid; anionic surfactants described in JP-A No. 52-92716 and WO No.
  • synthetic anionic polymers such as polyacrylic acid, copolymer of acrylic acid, copolymer of maleic acid, copolymer of maleic acid monoester and copolymer of acryloyl methylpropane sulfonic acid
  • semi-synthetic anionic polymers such as carboxymethyl starch and carboxymethyl cellulose
  • anionic polymers such as alginic acid and pe
  • Solvents preferably used as dispersing agents include polyvinyl butyral, butylethyl cellulose, methacrylate polymer, maleic anhydride ester copolymer, polystyrene and butadiene-styrene copolymer.
  • the dispersion agent is usually fed into a dispersing device as a slurry by mixing with a powder of the organic silver salt or a wet cake of the organic silver salt before dispersion
  • the powder or cake of the organic silver salt may be prepared by treating the dispersing agent previously mixed with the organic silver salt with heat or solvent.
  • the pH value may be controlled with an appropriate pH control agent before or during dispersion.
  • the organic silver salt my be roughly dispersed in a solvent by controlling the pH value without using a mechanical dispersion method, and the particles are further miniaturized by changing the pH value in the presence of a dispersion assistant.
  • a fatty acid solution may be used for roughly dispersing the particles.
  • the dispersing solvent is substantially free from the photosensitive silver salt.
  • the amount of the photosensitive silver salt to be dispersed in an aqueous dispersion solution is 0.1 mol% or less relative to one mole of the organic silver salt in the solution, and the photosensitive silver salt is not purposely added.
  • the photosensitive material can be produced by mixing an aqueous dispersion of the organic silver salt and an aqueous dispersion of the photosensitive silver salt in the invention. While the mixing ratio between the organic silver salt and photosensitive silver salt may be selected depending on the object, the proportion of the photosensitive silver salt to the organic silver salt is preferably in the range of 1 to 30 mol%, more preferably in the range of 3 to 20 mol%, and particularly in the range of 5 to 15 mol%. It is preferably used for controlling photographic characteristics to mix 2 kinds or more of the aqueous dispersions of the organic silver salt with 2 kinds or more of the aqueous dispersions of the photosensitive silver salt.
  • the organic silver salt While a desirable amount of the organic silver salt may be used in the invention, it is preferably 0.1 to 5 g/cm 2 , and more preferably 1 to 3 g/cm 2 , as converted in the quantity of silver.
  • the heat developable image recording material of the invention contains at least one kind of mercapto compound on the same side face of the substrate as the layer having photosensitive silver halide.
  • the mercapto compound is represented by the following general formula (1).
  • R represents an ureide group. This group may be further substituted.
  • R is a ureide group, and the total carbon number of R is preferably 0 to 20.
  • the compound represented by the general formula (1) of the invention may be used by dissolving into water or appropriate solvents such as alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol and fluorinated alcohols), ketones (acetone and methylethyl ketone), dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide and methyl cellosolve.
  • appropriate solvents such as alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol and fluorinated alcohols), ketones (acetone and methylethyl ketone), dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide and methyl cellosolve.
  • An emulsified dispersion may be mechanically formed by an emulsifying dispersion method well known in the art after dissolving in an oil such as dibutyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, glyceryl triacetate or diethyl phthalate, or an auxiliary solvent such as ethyl acetate or cyclohexanone.
  • an oil such as dibutyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, glyceryl triacetate or diethyl phthalate, or an auxiliary solvent such as ethyl acetate or cyclohexanone.
  • the powder of the compound may be used by dispersing in water by a solid dispersion method known in the art using a ball mill or colloid mill, or by ultrasonic dispersion.
  • the mercapto compound of the invention may be added in a layer having the photosensitive silver halide (or silver halide emulsion layer) or any other layer on the same side of the substrate as the silver halide emulsion layer of, it is preferable to add in the silver halide emulsion layer or in the layer adjoining thereto.
  • the amount of addition of the mercapto compound of the invention is 5 ⁇ 10 -4 to 1 ⁇ 10 -1 mole relative to one mole of silver halide.
  • the ratio of the mercapto compound of the invention to the non-photosensitive organic silver salt particle is preferably 1 : 10000 to 1:30,and more preferably 1:2000 to 1:100 in mass ratio.
  • the heat developable image recording material of the invention contains a reducing agent for the silver ion (referred to as a reducing agent hereinafter.
  • a reducing agent for the silver ion
  • any substances preferably organic substances which are able to reduce the silver ion into metallic silver may be used.
  • These reducing agents are described in the paragraph Nos. 0043 to 0045 in JP-A No. 11-65021 and p7/line 34 to p18/line 12 in EP No. 0803764A1.
  • Reducing agents of hindered phenols or bisphenols are preferable as the reducing agent, and the compounds represented by the general formula (2) are more preferable.
  • R 11 and R 11' independently represent an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 20;
  • R 12 and R 12' independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent capable of substituting to a benzene ring;
  • L represents a -S- group or -CHR 13 - group;
  • R 13 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 20;
  • X and X' independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent capable of substituting to a benzene ring.
  • R 11 and R 11' independently represent a substituted or non-substituted alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 20.
  • the alkyl group is not particularly restricted, and it is preferably an aryl group, a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, an acylamino group, a sulfonamide group, a sulfonyl group, a phosphoryl group, an acyl group, a carbamoyl group, an ester group and a halogen atom.
  • R 11 and R 11' are preferably secondary or tertiary alkyl groups with a carbon number of 3 to 15, and examples of them include an isopropyl group, an isobutyl group, a t-butyl group, a t-amyl group, a t-octyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a cyclopentyl group, a 1-methylcyclohexyl group and a 1-methylcyclopropyl group.
  • R 11 and R 11' are tertiary alkyl groups with a carbon number of 4 to 12, t-butyl group, t-amyl group and 1-methylcyclohexyl group are more preferable, and t-butyl group is most preferable.
  • R 12 and R 12' each independently are hydrogen atoms or substituents capable of substituting to a benzene ring.
  • R 12 and R 12' are preferably alkyl groups with a carbon number of 1 to 20, and examples of them include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, an isopropyl group, a t-butyl group, a t-amyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a 1-methylcyclohexyl group, a benzyl group, a methoxymethyl group and a methoxyethyl group.
  • Methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group and t-butyl group are more preferable.
  • X and X' each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a group capable of substituting to the benzene ring.
  • the preferable group capable of substituting to the benzene ring include an alkyl group, an aryl group, a halogen atom, an alkoxy group and an acylamino group.
  • X and X' are preferably hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms and alkyl groups, and more preferably hydrogen atoms.
  • L represents a -S- group or -CHR 13 - group, and preferably -CHCHR 13 - group.
  • R 13 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 20 which may be substituted or non-substituted.
  • Examples of the non-substituted alkyl group represented by R 13 are a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a heptyl group, an undecyl group, an isopropyl group, a 1-ethylpentyl group and a 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl group.
  • the substituent of the alkyl group is the same as the substituent of R 11 , and include a halogen atom, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an aryloxy group, an arylthio group, an acylamino group, a sulfonamide group, a sulfonyl group, a phosphoryl group, an oxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group and a sulfamoyl group.
  • R 13 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 15, and preferable examples of the alkyl group include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group and a 2, 4, 4-trimethylpentyl group.
  • the hydrogen atom, methyl group and propyl group are particularly preferable as R 13 .
  • R 12 and R 12' are preferably an alkyl group with a carbon number of 2 to 5 when R 13 is a hydrogen atom with the ethyl group and propyl group being more preferable, and the ethyl group being most preferable.
  • R 12 and R 12' are preferably methyl groups when R 13 is a primary or secondary alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 8.
  • Examples of the primary or secondary alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 to 8 represented by R 13 preferably include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group and an isopropyl group, and the methyl group, ethyl group and propyl group are more preferable.
  • R 13 is preferably a secondary alkyl group when all the R 11 , R 11' , R 12 and R 12' are methyl groups.
  • the isopropyl group, isobutyl group and 1-ethylpentyl group are preferable, and the isopropyl group is more preferable as the secondary alkyl group represented by R 13 .
  • the amount of addition of the reducing agent in the invention is preferably 0.01 to 5.0 g/m 2 , and more preferably 0.1 to 3 g/m 2 ; or preferably 5 to 50 mol%, and more preferably 10 to 40 mol%, relative to one mole of silver in the surface having the image forming layer.
  • the reducing agent may be incorporated into the application fluid, or into the heat developable image forming material, in any form such as in solution, in emulsified dispersion and solid micro-dispersion.
  • the emulsification and dispersion method known in the art include dissolving using an oil such as dibutyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, glycerol triacetate or diethyl phthalate, or an auxiliary solvent such as ethyl acetate or cyclohexanone, followed by mechanically emulsified dispersion.
  • an oil such as dibutyl phthalate, tricresyl phosphate, glycerol triacetate or diethyl phthalate, or an auxiliary solvent such as ethyl acetate or cyclohexanone
  • the method for dispersing solid fine particles includes the steps of dispersing the powder of the reducing agent in an appropriate solvent such as water using a ball mill, colloid mill, vibration ball mill, sand mill, jet mill or roller mill, or by ultrasonic wave for preparing a solid dispersion.
  • a protective colloid for example, polyvinyl alcohol
  • a surfactant for example, an anionic surfactant such as triisopropyl naphthalene sulfonic acid [a mixture of compounds having different substitution sites for three isopropyl groups]
  • An antiseptic for example, sodium benzoisothiazolinone
  • Phenol derivatives represented by the formula (A) described in JP-A-2000 267222 may be preferably used as the development accelerator in the heat developable image recording material of the invention.
  • the reducing agent of the invention has aromatic hydroxyl (-OH) groups
  • the reducing agent is bisphenols
  • a non-reducing agent having a group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the group as described above is preferably used.
  • the group that forms a hydrogen bond with a hydroxyl group or an amino group include a phosphoryl group, a sulfoxide group, a sulfonyl group, a carbonyl group, an amide group, an ester group, an urethane group, an ureide group, a tertiary amino group and a nitrogen containing aromatic group.
  • the particularly preferable hydrogen bond forming compound in the invention is represented by the following general formula (3):
  • R 21 , R 22 and R 23 each independently represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an amino group or a heterocyclic group. These groups may be non-substituted or substituted.
  • Examples of the substituent when each of R 21 , R 22 and R 23 has a substituent include a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an amino group, an acyl group, an acylamino group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, a sulfonamide group, an acyloxy group, an oxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a sulfonyl group and a phosphoryl group.
  • Preferable substituents are alkyl groups or aryl groups, and example of them include a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, a t-butyl group, a t-octyl group, a phenyl group, a 4-alkoxyphenyl group and a 4-acyloxyphenyl group.
  • Examples of the alkyl group represented by R 21 , R 22 and R 23 include a methyl group, an ethyl group, a butyl group, an octyl group, a dodecyl group, an isopropyl group, a t-butyl group, a t-amyl group, a t-octyl group, a cyclohexyl group, a 1-methylcyclohexyl group, a benzyl group, a phenethyl group and a 2-phenoxypropyl group.
  • Examples of the aryl group represented by R 21 , R 22 and R 23 include a phenyl group, a cresyl group, a xylyl group, a naphthyl group, a 4-t-butylphenyl group, a 4-t-octylphenyl group, a 4-anisidyl group and a 3,5-dichlorophenyl group.
  • Examples of the alkoxy group represented by R 21 , R 22 and R 23 include a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a butoxy group, an octyloxy group, a 2-ethylhexyloxy group, a 3,5,5-trimethylhexyloxy group, a dodecyloxy group, a cyclohexyloxy group, a 4-methylcyclohexyloxy group and a benzyloxy group.
  • Examples of the aryloxy group represented by R 21 , R 22 and R 23 include a phenoxy group, a cresyloxy group, an isopropylphenoxy group, a 4-t-butylphenoxy group, a naphthoxy group and a biphenyloxy group.
  • Examples of the amino group represented by R 21 , R 22 and R 23 include a dimethylamino group, a diethylamino group, a dibutylamino group, a dioctylamino group, a N-methyl-N-hexylamino group, a dicyclohexylamino group, a diphenylamino group and a N-methyl-N-phenylamino group.
  • R 21 , R 22 and R 23 An alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group and an aryloxy group are preferable as R 21 , R 22 and R 23 . It is preferable in terms of the effect of the invention that at least one of R 21 , R 22 and R 23 is an alkyl group or an aryl group, and it is more preferable that at least two of them are alkyl or aryl groups. Preferably, groups represented by R 21 , R 22 and R 23 are the same groups for purchasing the reagents with cheap price..
  • the compound represented by the general formula (3) to be used in the invention may be used in the photosensitive material by adding in an application fluid in any form such as in solution, in emulsified dispersion and solid micro-dispersion as in the case of the reducing agent.
  • the compounds form hydrogen bonding complexes with compounds having phenolic hydroxyl groups or amino groups, and the complex may be isolated in a crystalline state depending on the combination between the reducing agents and the compounds represented by the general formula (3).
  • the reducing agent and the compound represented by the general formula (3) are mixed as powders, and the complex is formed when they are dispersed with a sand grinder mill using an appropriate dispersing agent.
  • the compound represented by the general formula (3) is preferably used in a range of 1 to 200 mol%, more preferably in the range of 10 to 150 mol%, and still more preferably in the range of 30 to 100 mol%, relative to the reducing agent.
  • the halogen composition of the photosensitive silver halide to be used in the invention is not particularly restricted, and silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, silver bromide, silver iodobromide and silver iodochlorobromide may be used. Silver bromide and silver iodobromide are preferable among them. Distribution of the halogen composition in the particles may be uniform, may be discretely changed, or may be continuously changed. Silver halide particles having a core-shell structure may be preferably used. Preferably used core-shell structures include double to five-fold structures, more preferably double to four-fold structures. Preferably, a technology can be applied in which silver bromide or silver iodide is localized on the surface of the silver chloride, silver bromide or silver chlorobromide particles.
  • the method available for forming the photosensitive silver halide is well known in the art including those described in Research Disclosure No. 17029, June 1978 and USP No. 3, 700, 458. Specifically, the method includes, for example, adding a silver donor and halogen donor in gelatin or other polymer solutions to prepare the photosensitive silver halide, followed by mixing with the organic silver salt.
  • the method described in the paragraph No. 0217 to 0224 in JP-A No. 11-119374, and the methods described in JP-A-11 352627 and JP-A-2000 347335 are also preferable.
  • a smaller diameter of the particle size of the photosensitive silver halide particle is preferable in order to suppress turbidity after forming images, and it is actually 0.20 ⁇ m or less , more preferably 0.01 ⁇ m to 0. 15 ⁇ m or less , and still more preferably 0.02 ⁇ m to 0.12 ⁇ m.
  • the particle size as used herein refers to as the diameter when the particle is converted into a circular image having the same area as the projected area of the silver halide particles (the projected area of the major plane in case of a tabular particle).
  • the shape of the silver halide particles include cubic, octahedral, tabular, spherical, rod-like and potato-like shapes, the cubic particles are particularly preferable in the invention. Particles having round corners may be also preferably used.
  • the face index (Miller index) of the outer surface of the photosensitive silver halide particles is not particularly restricted, it is preferable that the proportion of the ⁇ 100 ⁇ face having a high spectral sensitization efficiency when a spectral sensitization dye is adsorbed is high. The proportion is preferably 50% or more, more preferably 65% or more, and still more preferably 80% or more.
  • the proportion of the face having the Miller index of ⁇ 100 ⁇ face can be determined by the method by T. Tani, J. Imaging Sci., 29, 165, 1985 taking advantage of adsorption dependency of the ⁇ 111 ⁇ face and ⁇ 100 ⁇ face in adsorption of a sensitizing dye.
  • the silver halide particles having adsorbed hexacyano metal complex on the outermost surface is preferable in the invention.
  • the hexacyano metal complex available includes [Fe(CN) 6 ] 4- , [Fe(CN) 6 ] 3- , [Ru(CN) 6 ] 4- , [Fe(CN) 6 ] 4- , [Os(CN) 6 ] 4- , [Co(CN) 6 ] 3- , [Rh(CN) 6 ] 3- , [Ir(CN) 6 ] 3- , [Cr(CN) 6 ] 3- and [Re(CN) 6 ] 3- .
  • Hexacyano Fe complex is preferable in the invention.
  • alkali metal ions such as sodium ion, potassium ion, rubidium ion, cesium ion and lithium ion, ammonium ion, alkylammonium ion (for example, tetramethylammonium ion, thetraethylammonium ion, tetrapropylammonium ion and terta(n-butyl) ammonium ion) are preferably used since they are suitable for precipitation operation of the silver halide emulsion.
  • the hexacyano metal complex may be added by mixing with a mixed solvent of water and an appropriate organic solvent being able to be mixed with water (for example, alcohols, ethers, glycols, ketones, esters and amides) or gelatin in addition to mixing with water.
  • a mixed solvent of water for example, alcohols, ethers, glycols, ketones, esters and amides
  • gelatin in addition to mixing with water.
  • the amount of addition of the hexacyano metal complex is preferably 1 ⁇ 10 -5 mole to 1 ⁇ 10 -2 mole, and more preferably 1 ⁇ 10 -4 mole to 1 ⁇ 10 -3 mole, per one mole of silver.
  • the hexacyano metal complex is directly added after completing addition of an aqueous solution of silver nitrate to be used for forming the particles, before completing an addition step for a chemical sensitization step such as chalcogen sensitization including sulfur sensitization, selenium sensitization or tellurium sensitization, or precious metal sensitization such as gold sensitization, in a washing step with water, in a dispersion step, or before the chemical sensitization step. It is preferable to add the hexacyano metal complex as early as possible after forming the particles, and more preferably before the addition step, in order to inhibit the silver halide particles from growing.
  • a chemical sensitization step such as chalcogen sensitization including sulfur sensitization, selenium sensitization or tellurium sensitization, or precious metal sensitization such as gold sensitization
  • Addition of the hexacyano metal complex may be initiated after adding 96% by mass, preferably 98% by mass, and still more preferably 99% by mass, of total silver nitrate added for forming the particles.
  • the hexacyano metal complex may be adsorbed on the outermost surface of the silver halide particles by adding the complex after adding the aqueous silver nitrate solution immediately before forming the particles, and almost all the complexes form a sparsely soluble salt with the silver ion of the surface of the particle. Since the silver salt of hexacyano iron (II) is more hardly soluble than AgI, it can prevent re-dissolution of fine particles, thereby enabling fine particles of silver halide having a small particle size.
  • the photosensitive silver halide particle of the invention may contain metals or metal complexes in the group 8 to 10 in the periodic table (representing group 1 to group 18).
  • Preferable metals or the central metals of the complex belonging to the groups 8 to 10 in the periodic table are rhodium, ruthenium and iridium. These meta complexes may be used alone, or at least two kinds of the complexes of the same metal or different metals may be used together.
  • the content is preferably in the range of 1 ⁇ 10 -9 to 1 ⁇ 10 -3 relative to one mole of silver.
  • Metal atoms to be incorporated into the silver halide particles to be used in the invention for example, [Fe(CN) 6 ] 4- ), and desalting method and chemical sensitization method for the silver halide emulsion are described in the paragraph Nos. 0046 to 0050 in JP-A No. 11-84574, paragraph Nos. 0025 to 0031 in JP-A No. 11-65021, and paragraph Nos. 0242 to 0250 in JP-A No. 11-119374.
  • gelatin may be contained in the silver halide emulsion to be used in the invention.
  • Low molecular weight gelatin with a molecular weight of 500 to 60,000 is preferably used in order to maintain good dispersion in the application fluid containing the organic silver salt of the photosensitive silver halide emulsion. While the low molecular weight gelatin may be used in the step of forming the particles or in the dispersion step after desalting treatment, it is preferable to use in the dispersion step after the desalting step.
  • the sensitizing dye of the invention is able to spectrally sensitize the silver halide particles at a desired wavelength region by adsorbing on the silver halide particles, and the sensitizing dye fitted to spectral characteristics of the exposure light source may be advantageously selected.
  • the sensitizing dye and the method for adding thereof includes the compounds described in the paragraph Nos. 0103 to 0109 in JP-A No. 11-65021, the compounds represented by the general formula (II) in JP-A No. 10-186572, the dye represented by the general formula (I) in JP-A No. 11-119374, the dyes described in the paragraph No. 0106 in USP No. 5,510,236 and in the example 5 in USP No.
  • the timing for adding the sensitizing dye in the silver halide emulsion is preferably after the desalting step and before the application step, and more preferably after the desalting step and before the chemical ripening step.
  • the amount of addition of the sensitizing dye in the invention may be controlled in a desired quantity considering sensitivity and fogging performance, it is preferably 10 -6 to 1 mole, and more preferably 10 -4 to 10 -1 mole per one mole of silver halide in the photosensitive layer.
  • a supersensitizer may be used in the invention for improving the spectral sensitization efficiency.
  • the supersensitizer to be used in the invention includes the compounds described in EP No. 587,338, USP Nos. 3,877,943 and 4,873,184, JP-A Nos. 5-341432, 11-109547 and 10-111543.
  • the photosensitive silver halide particles in the invention are preferable subjected to chemical sensitization such as sulfur sensitization, selenium sensitization and tellurium sensitization.
  • chemical sensitization such as sulfur sensitization, selenium sensitization and tellurium sensitization.
  • the compounds known in the art for example the compounds described in JP-A No. 7-128768 and the like may be used for the sulfur, selenium and tellurium sensitization methods.
  • the tellurium sensitization method is preferable in the invention, and the compounds described in the paragraph No. 0030 in JP-A No. 11-65021 and the compounds represented by the general formulae (II), (II) and (IV) in JP-A No. 5-313284 are more preferable.
  • Chemical sensitization may be applied at any time of after forming the particles and before application, and it may be preferably before spectral sensitization, (2) at the same time of spectral sensitization, (3) after spectral sensitization, (4) immediately before application, or the like.
  • the amount of use of the sulfur, selenium and tellurium sensitizers is changed depending on the silver halide particles used and chemical ripening conditions, it is 10 -8 to 10 -2 mole, and preferably about 10 -7 to 10 -3 mole per one mole of silver halide. While the conditions for chemical sensitization is not particularly restricted in the invention, the pH value is in the range of 6 to 11, pAg is in the range of 6 to 11, and the temperature is in the range of 40 to 90°C.
  • Thiosulfonic acid compounds may be added in the silver halide emulsion to be used in the invention according to the method disclosed in EP No. 293,917.
  • One kind of the photosensitive silver halide emulsion may be used in the invention, or at least two kinds of the photosensitive silver halide (for example, those having different average particle sizes, having different halogen compositions, having different crystal habits, or being different in the chemical sensitization conditions) may be used together. Gradation may be controlled by using a plurality of the photosensitive silver halides having different sensitivities with each other.
  • the arts related thereto are disclosed in JP-A Nos. 57-119341, 53-106125, 47-3929, 48-55730, 46-5187, 50-73627 and 57-150841.
  • a sensitivity difference of 0.2 log E or more is preferable among respective emulsions.
  • the amount of addition of the photosensitive silver halide is preferably 0.03 to 0. 6 g/m 2 , more preferably 0.07 to 0.4 g/m 2 , and most preferably 0.10 to 0.3 g/m 2 as indicated by the amount of application per 1 m 2 of the heat developable image recording material; or preferably 0.01 to 0.5 mole, and more preferably 0.02 mole to 0.3 mole per one mole of the organic silver salt. Particularly preferable amount is 0.03 mole to 0.2 mole.
  • the method and condition for mixing the independently prepared photosensitive silver halide and organic silver salt comprise mixing the independently prepared photosensitive silver halide and organic silver salt using a high speed stirrer, ball mill, sand mill, colloid mill, vibration ball mill or homogenizer; or preparing the organic silver salt by mixing the already prepared photosensitive silver halide at any timing during preparation of the organic silver salt.
  • the method is not particularly restricted so long as the effect of the invention is sufficiently manifested. It is a preferable method for the photographic characteristics to mix at least two kinds of the aqueous organic silver salt dispersions and at least two kinds of the aqueous photosensitive silver salt dispersions.
  • the mixing method and mixing condition are not particularly restricted so long as the effect of the invention is sufficiently manifested.
  • the mixing method comprise mixing in a tank in which the mean resident time calculated from the addition speed and flow rate to a coater is adjusted to be a desired time interval; and using a static mixer as described in chapter 8 of "Liquid Mixing Technology" by N. Harnby, M. F. Edwards and A. W. Nienow, translated by Koji Takahashi, Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun, 1989.
  • any polymers may be used for the binder for the layer containing the organic silver salt (or the image forming layer) in the invention.
  • Prefarable binders are transparent or semi-transparent and generally col, and examples of them include natural resins, polymers and copolymers; synthetic resins, polymers and copolymers; and other film forming medium such as gelatins, rubbers, polyvinyl alcohols, hydroxyethyl celluloses, cellulose acetates, cellulose acetate butylates, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, caseins, starches, polyacrylic acids, polymethyl methacrylic acids, polyvinyl chlorides, polymethacrylic acids, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, polyvinyl acetals (for example, polyvinyl formals and polyvinyl butyrals), polyesters,
  • the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the binder in the layer containing the organic silver salt is preferably 10°C to 80°C (referred to as a high Tg binder hereinafter), more preferably 15°C to 70°C, and still more preferably 20°C to 65°C in the invention.
  • Tg i is the glass transition temperature (in absolute temperature) of a homopolymer of i-th monomer.
  • ⁇ means a sum from 1 to n.
  • the value described in "Polymer handbook (third Edition)"., by E. H. Immergut, Wiley Interscience, 1989 was used for the glass transition temperature (Tg i ) of a homopolymer of each monomer.
  • the polymers as the binder may be used alone, or as a combination of at least two of them, if necessary.
  • a combination of a polymer with a glass transition temperature of 20°C or more and a polymer with a glass transition temperature of less than 20°C may be used together. It is preferable that the weighted average Tg falls within the range as described above when 2 or more of the polymers having different Tg' s are blended for use.
  • the layer containing the organic silver salt is formed by applying an application fluid containing 30% by mass or more of water in a solvent and drying.
  • the performance of the binder in the layer containing the organic silver salt is improved when it is soluble or capable of being dispersed in a water based solvent (an aqueous solvent), particularly when it comprises a latex of a polymer with an equilibrium content of water at 25°C and 60% RH of 2% by mass.
  • the binder prepared so as to have an ionic conductance of 2.5 mS/cm is most preferable, and such binder may be prepared by purification using a functional separation membrane after synthesis of the polymer.
  • the water based solvent in which the polymer is soluble or capable of dispersion means water or a solvent in which 70% by mass or less of an organic solvent capable of mixing with water is added in water.
  • organic solvent capable of mixing with water include alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol and propyl alcohol, cellosolves such as methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve and butyl cellosolve, ethyl acetate and dimethyl formamide.
  • water based solvent refers to as a system in which the polymer is not dissolved in terms of thermodynamics, and is contained as a so-called dispersion state.
  • Polymer Technology Vol. 14, Polymer Material Test Method (ed. by Polymer Association, published by Chijin Shokan Co.) may be referenced with respect to the definition of water content and the method for measuring the water content.
  • the equilibrium content of water of the binder polymer at 25°C and 60% RH is 2% by mass or less, more preferably 0.01% by mass to 1.5% by mass, and still more preferably 0.02% by mass to 1% by mass.
  • Particularly preferable polymer is able to be dispersed in a water based solvent in the invention. While either a dispersion such as a latex in which fine particles of a hydrophilic polymer insoluble in water are dispersed, or a dispersion in which a latex or polymer is dispersed in a molecular level or by forming a micelle may be used, a dispersion containing dispersed latex particles is more preferable.
  • the average particle diameter of the dispersed particles is in the range of 1 to 50,000 nm, preferably in the range of 5 to 1000 nm, more preferably in the range of 10 to 500 nm, and still more preferably in the range of 50 to 200 nm.
  • the particle size distribution of the dispersed particles is not particularly restricted, and the particle size may be widely distributed or may be monodisperse. It is a preferable method of use for controlling the properties of the application fluid to use a mixture of 2 kind or more of particles having monodisperse particle size distribution.
  • the polymer that is able to be dispersed in the water based solvent in the invention include hydrophobic polymers such as acrylic polymer, polyesters, rubbers (for example, SBR resins), polyurethanes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinylidene chlorides and polyolefins.
  • hydrophobic polymers such as acrylic polymer, polyesters, rubbers (for example, SBR resins), polyurethanes, polyvinyl chlorides, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinylidene chlorides and polyolefins.
  • These polymers may be a linear polymer, branched polymer or cross-linked polymer, or a so-called homopolymer in which a single monomer is polymerized, or a copolymer in which at least 2 kinds of monomers are polymerized.
  • the copolymer may be a random copolymer or a block copolymer.
  • the number average molecular weight of the polymer is 5,000 to 1,000,000, and preferably 10,000 to 200,000.
  • the mechanical strength of the emulsion layer becomes insufficient when the molecular weight is too small, while film forming ability becomes poor when the molecular weight is too large.
  • a cross-linked polymer latex is particularly preferable for use.
  • Examples of the preferable polymer latex are described below.
  • the following examples are represented by the monomer as a starting material, the numerals in the parenthesis denotes % by mass, and the molecular weight is described in terms of a number average molecular weight. Since the concept of the molecular weight cannot be applied when functional monomers used form a cross-linked structure, they are described as "cross-linking" and description of the molecular weight is omitted.
  • Tg means a glass transition temperature.
  • MMA methyl methacrylate
  • EA ethyl acrylate
  • MAA methacrylic acid
  • 2EHA 2-ethylhexyl acrylate
  • St styrene
  • Bu butadiene
  • AA acrylic acid
  • DVB divinylbenzene
  • VC vinyl chloride
  • AN acrylonitrile
  • VDC vinylidene chloride
  • Et ethylene
  • IA itaconic acid.
  • the polymer latex described above is commercially available including the following polymers.
  • acrylic polymers include Cebian A-4635, 4718 and 4601 (Daicell Chemical Industries Ltd.) and Nipol Lx811, 814, 821, 820 and 857 (Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.);
  • polyesters include FINETEX ES650, 611, 675 and 850 (Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Incorporated) and WD-size and WMS (Eastman Chemical Company);
  • examples of polyurethanes include HYDRAN AP10, 20, 30 and 40 (Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Incorporated);
  • examples of rubbers include LACSTAR 7310K, 3307B, 4700H and 7132C (Dainippon Ink and Chemicals Incorporated), Nipol Lx416, 410, 438C and 2570 (Nippon Zeon Co., Ltd.);
  • examples of polyvinyl chlorides include G351 and G576 (Nippon Zeon
  • These polymer latex may be used alone, or as a blend of at least 2 of them, if necessary.
  • the latex of the styrene-butadiene copolymer is preferable as the polymer latex to be used in the invention.
  • the weight ratio of the styrene monomer unit to the butadiene monomer unit in the styrene-butadiene copolymer is preferably 40:60 to 95:5.
  • the proportion of the styrene monomer unit and butadiene monomer unit in the copolymer is preferably 60 to 99% by mass.
  • the polymer latex contains acrylic acid or methacrylic acid in a proportion of preferably 1 to 6% by mass, and more preferably 2 to 5% by mass, relative to the sum of styrene and butadiene in the invention.
  • the polymer latex of the invention preferably contains acrylic acid.
  • the latex of the styrene-butadiene copolymer preferably used in the invention includes P-3 to P-8 and P-15 as described above, and commercially available LACSTAR-3307B, 7132C and Nipol Lx416.
  • Hydrophilic polymers such as gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose may be added, if necessary, to the layer containing the organic silver salt of the photosensitive material of the invention.
  • the amount of addition of these hydrophobic polymers is preferably 30% by mass or less, and more preferably 20% by mass or less, of the total binder in the layer containing the organic silver salt.
  • the layer containing the organic silver salt (the image forming layer) of the invention is preferably formed using the polymer latex.
  • the amount of the binder in the layer containing the organic silver salt is preferably in the range of 1/10 to 10/1, more preferably 1/3 to 5/1, and still more preferably 1/1 to 3/1, in the weight ratio of total binder/organic silver salt.
  • the layer containing the organic silver salt is also a photosensitive layer (emulsion layer) containing the photosensitive silver halide as a photosensitive silver salt.
  • the weight ratio of the total binder/silver halide in such case is in the range of preferably 400/1 to 5/1, and more preferably 200/1 to 10/1.
  • the total amount of the binder in the image forming layer of the invention is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 30 g/m 2 , more preferably in the range of 1 to 15 g/m 2 , and still more preferably 2 to 10 g/m 2 .
  • a cross-linking agent for cross-linking, and a surfactant for improving application property may be added in the image forming layer of the invention.
  • the solvent (the solvent and dispersing medium are represented as "solvent” herein for simplicity of the description) for the application fluid of the layer containing the organic silver salt in the photosensitive material of the invention preferably contains 30% by mass or more of water.
  • Any organic solvents that can be mixed with water such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, dimethylformamide and ethyl acetate may be used as the component other than water.
  • the water content of the solvent in the application fluid is preferably 50% by mass to more preferably 70% by mass or more.
  • the fog preventive agent, stabilizer and stabilizer precursor that can be used in the invention include compounds described in the paragraph No. 0070 in JP-A No. 10-62899, line 57/p20 to line 7/p21 in EP No. 0803764Al, JP-A Nos. 9-281637 and 9-329864.
  • the fog preventive agents preferably used in the invention are organic halogen compounds, and examples of them are those described in the paragraph Nos. 0111 to 0112 in JP-A No. 11-65021.
  • Organic halogen compounds represented by the formula (P) in JP-A-2000 284399, organic polyhalogen compounds represented by the general formula (II) in JP-A No. 10-339934, and organic polyhalogen compounds described in JP-A-2001 33911 are particularly preferable.
  • the preferable organic polyhalogen compounds in the invention will be described in detail hereinafter.
  • Q represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group
  • Y represents a divalent connection group
  • n represents an integer of 0 or 1
  • Z 1 and Z 2 represent halogen atoms
  • X represents a hydrogen atom or an electron attracting group.
  • Q is preferably an aryl group or a heterocyclic group in the general formula (4).
  • Q is a heterocyclic group in the general formula (4), it is a heterocyclic group containing one or two nitrogen atoms, and preferably a 2-pyridyl or 2-quinolyl group.
  • Q When Q represents an aryl group in the general formula (4), Q preferably represents a phenyl group substituted with electron attracting groups with a positive Hamett's substituent constant ⁇ p.
  • the Hamett's substituent constant may be referenced in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1973, Vol. 16, No. 11, pp. 1207-1216.
  • Examples of these electron attracting groups include a halogen atom (fluorine atom ( ⁇ p: 0.06), a chlorine atom ( ⁇ p: 0.13), a bromine atom ( ⁇ p: 0.23), an iodine atom ( ⁇ p: 0.18)), a trihalomethyl group (trobromomethyl ( ⁇ p: 0.29), trichloromethyl ( ⁇ p: 0.33), trifluoromethyl ( ⁇ p: 0.54)), a cyano group ( ⁇ p: 0.66), a nitro group ( ⁇ p: 0.78), an aliphatic, aryl or heterocyclic sulfonyl group (for example, methanesulfonyl group ( ⁇ p: 0.72)), an aliphatic, aryl or heterocyclic acyl group (for example, acetyl group ( ⁇ p: 0.50), a benzoyl group ( ⁇ p: 0.43)), an alkynyl group (for example, C ⁇ CH ( ⁇ p:
  • the ⁇ p value is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 2.0, and more preferably in the range of 0.4 to 1.0.
  • Preferable groups as the electron attracting group include the carbamoyl group, alkoxycarbamoyl group, alkylsulfonyl group and alkylphosphoryl group, and the carbamoyl group is most preferable among them.
  • X is preferably an electron attracting group, and more preferably a halogen atom, an aliphatic sulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group, a heterocyclic sulfonyl group, an aliphatic acyl group, an arylacyl group, a heterocyclic acyl group, an aliphatic oxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, a heterocyclic oxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group and a sulfamoyl group, and still more preferably a halogen atom.
  • the chlorine atom, bromine atom and iodine atom are preferable, the chlorine atom and bromine atom are more preferable, and the bromine atom is particularly preferable among the halogen atoms.
  • n represents 0 or 1, and preferably 1.
  • the compound represented by the general formula (4) in the invention is preferably used in the range of 1 x 10 -4 to 1 mole, more preferably in the range of 1 x 10 -3 to 0.8 mole, and still more preferably in the range of 5 ⁇ 10 -3 to 0.5 mole, per one mole of the photosensitive organic silver salt in the image forming layer.
  • Particularly preferable range is 1 ⁇ 10 -2 to 0.2 mole.
  • fog preventive compounds examples include mercury (II) salts described in the paragraph No. 0113 and benzoic acid salts described in the paragraph No. 0114 in JP-A No. 11-65021, salicylic acid derivative in JP-A No. 2000-206642, formalin scavenger compounds represented by the formula (S) in JP-A No. 2000-221634, triazine compounds according to claim 9 in JP-A No. 11-352624, and the compound represented by the general formula (III) and 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,1,3a,7-tetrazaindene in JP-A No. 6-11791.
  • the heat developable image recording material of the invention may contain azolium salts for preventing fogging.
  • azolium salts include the compounds represented by the general formula (XI) in JP-A No. 59-193447, the compounds described in JP-B No. 55-12581, and the compounds represented by the general formula (II) in JP-A No. 60-153039.
  • the azolium salt may be added in any portions in the photosensitive material, the layer to be added is preferably the layer on the face having the photosensitive layer, and more preferably in the layer containing the organic silver salt.
  • the azolium salts may be added at any timing for preparing the application fluid.
  • the azolium salts may be also added at any timing from the time for preparing the organic silver alt to the time for preparing the application fluid, and the preferable timing is from after preparing the organic silver salt and to immediately before application.
  • the azolium salt may be added by any methods including a powder, solution and dispersion of fine particles.
  • the azolium salt may be added as a mixed solution with other additives such as a sensitizing dye, reducing agent and color control agent. While the azolium salt may be added in any amount, it is preferably 1 ⁇ 10 -6 mole to 2 mole, and more preferably 1 ⁇ 10 -3 mole to 0.5 mole.
  • Mercapto compounds, disulfide compounds and thione compounds may be incorporated in the present invention in order to suppress or promote development to control development, in order to improve spectral sensitization effect, and in order to improve preservative property before and after development.
  • These compounds include those described in the paragraph Nos. 0067 to 0069 in JP-A No. 10-62899, compounds represented by the general formula (I) in JP-A No. 10-186572, and examples of the compounds are described in the paragraph Nos. 0033 to 0052 of the same publication, in lines 36 to 56 in page 20 in EP No. 0803764A1, and in JP-A-2001 100358.
  • Heterocyclic aromatic compounds substituted with mercapto group are preferable among them.
  • the color control agent is preferably added in the heat developable image recording material.
  • the color control agents are described in the paragraph Nos. 0054 to 0055 in JP-A No. 10-62899, lines 23 to 48 in page 21 in EP No. 0803764A1, JP-A No. 2000-356317 and Japanese Patent Application JP-A No. 2000-187298.
  • phthalazinones phthalazinone, phthalazinone derivatives or metal salts; for example, 4-(1-naphthyl)phthalazinone, 6-chlorophthalazinone, 5,7-dimethoxyphthalazinone and 2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione); combinations of phthalazinones and phthalic acids (for example, phthalic acid, 4-methylphthalic acid, 4-nitrophthalic acid, diammonium phthalate, sodium pahtalate, potassium phthalate and terrachlorophthalic anhydride); phthalazines (phthalazine, phthalazine derivatives or metal salts; for example, 4-(1-naphthyl) phthalazine, 6-isopropylphthalazine, 6-t-butylphthalazine, 6-chlorophthalazine, 5,7-dimethoxyphthalazine and 2,3-dihydrophthalazine); combinations of phthalazinone
  • Plasticizers and lubricants available for the photosensitive layer in the invention are described in the paragraph No. 0117 in JP-A 11-65021, ultra-hardening agent for ultra-hard image formation and the methods and amount of addition are described in the paragraph No. 0118 in JP-A 11-65021, in the paragraph Nos. 0136 to 0193 in JP-A No. 11-223898, compounds represented by the formulae (H), (1) to (3), (A) and (B) in Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A-2000 284399, compounds represented by the general formulae (III) to (V) in Japanese Patent Application JP-A-2000 347345 (for example, exemplified compounds 21 to 24), and the ultra-hardening accelerators are described in the paragraph No. 0102 in JP-A No. 11-65021 and paragraph Nos. 0194 to 0195 in JP-A No. 11-223898.
  • Formic acid or formic acid salts to be used as a strong fogging substance may be contained in a proportion of 5 milli-mole , and preferably 1 milli-mole , per one mole of silver in the layer at the side comprising the image forming layer containing the photosensitive silver halide.
  • An acid formed by hydrating phosphorous pentoxide or salts thereof are preferably used together when the super-hardening agent is used in the heat developable image recording material of the invention.
  • the acids formed by hydrating phosphorous pentoxide or salts thereof include metaphosphoric acid (or salts), pyrrophosphoric acid (or salts), orthophosphoric acid (or salts), triphosphoric acid (or salts), tetraphosphoric acid (or salts) and hexametaphosphoric acid (or salts).
  • Preferably used acids or salts thereof formed by hydrating phosphorous pentoxide are orthophosphoric acid (or salts) and hexametaphosphoric acid (oe salts).
  • the salts include sodium orthophosphate, sodium dihydrogen orthophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate and ammonium hexametaphosphate.
  • the amount of use (amount of application per 1 m 2 of the photosensitive material) of the acids formed by hydrating phosphorous pentoxide or salts thereof may be arbitrarily determined depending on performance such as sensitivity and fogging, the preferable amount is 0.1 to 500 mg/m 2 , and more preferably 0.5 to 100 mg/m 2 .
  • a surface protective layer may be provided in the heat developable image recording material for the purpose of protecting the image-forming layer from being contaminated.
  • the surface protective layer may comprise a single layer or plural layers.
  • the surface protective layer is described in the paragraph Nos. 0119 to 0120 in JP-A No. 11-65021 and Japanese Patent Application JP-A No. 2000-171936.
  • polyvinyl alcohol is also preferable used alone or used together.
  • Gelatin available includes inert gelatin (for example, Nitta gelatin 750) and phthalated gelatin (for example, Nitta gelatin 801).
  • PVA include those described in the paragraph Nos. 0009 to 0020 in JP-A No. 2000-171936, and preferable examples include perfectly saponified PVA-105, partially saponified PVA-205 and PVA-335, and modified polyvinyl alcohol MP-203 (trade names of Kuraray Co., Ltd.).
  • the amount of application (per 1 m 2 of the substrate) of polyvinyl alcohol on the protective layer (per one layer) is preferably 0.3 to 4.0 g/m 2 , and more preferably 0.3 to 2.0 g/m 2 .
  • the polymer latex is preferably used for the surface protective layer and back layer, when the heat developable image recording material of the invention is used for printing that requires little dimensional change.
  • Such polymer latex is described in "Synthetic Resin Emulsion” ed. by Taira Okuda and Hiroshi Inagaki, Polymer Publishing Association, 1978; "Application of Synthetic Latex”, ed. by Takaaki Sugimura, Yasuo Kataoka, Sohichi Suzuki and Keiji Kasahara, Polymer Publishing Association, 1993; and “Chemistry of Synthetic Latex", by Shoichi Muroi, Polymer Publishing Association, 1970.
  • latex examples include latex of methyl methacrylate (33.5% by mass)/ethyl acrylate (50% by mass)/methacrylic acid (16.5% by mass) copolymer, latex of methyl methacrylate (47.5% by mass) /butadiene (47.
  • the combination of latex described in JP-A-2000 267226, the technology described in the paragraph Nos. 0021 to 0025 in JP Appl. No. 11-143058 (publication No. claiming priority thereof is JP-A-2000 267226), the technology described in the paragraph Nos. 0027 to 0028 in JP-A-2000 267226, and the technology described in the paragraph Nos. 0023 to 0041 in JP-A-2000 19678 may be used for the binder for the surface protective layer.
  • the proportion of the polymer latex in the surface protective layer is preferably 10% by mass to 90% by mass, and particularly 20% by mass to 80% by mass of the total binder.
  • the amount of application (per 1 m 2 of the substrate) of the total binder (including the water soluble polymer and latex polymer) in the surface protective layer (per one layer) is preferably 0.3 to 5.0 g/m 2 , and more preferably 0.3 to 2.0 g/m 2 .
  • the temperature for preparing the application fluid of the image forming layer in the invention is preferably 30°C to 65°C, more preferably 35°C to 60°C, and still preferably 35°C to 55°C. It is preferable that the temperature of the application fluid for the image forming layer is maintained at 30°C to 65°C immediately after adding the polymer latex.
  • the image-forming layer of the invention comprises at least one layer on the substrate.
  • the layer comprises the organic silver salt, photosensitive silver halide, reducing agent and binder with desired color control agent, application assistant and other auxiliary agents, if necessary, when the layer is a mono-layer.
  • a first image forming layer (usually the layer adjacent to the substrate) contains the organic silver salt and photosensitive silver halide, and some other components should be contained in a second image forming layer or in both layers.
  • the multi-color photosensitive heat developable photographic material is composed of a combination of the two layers for respective colors, or all the components may be included in a single layer as described in USP No. 4, 708, 928.
  • the emulsion layers are maintained by being distinguished with each other by using functional or non-functional barrier layers between respective layers, as described in USP No. 4,460,681.
  • Various dyes and pigments may be used in the photosensitive layer of the invention for improving color tone, for preventing interference patterns from generating during laser exposure, and for protecting from irradiation.
  • These pigments and dyes are described in detail in WO 98/36322, and JP-A Nos. 10-268465 and 11-338098.
  • An anti-halation layer may be provided at the side remote from a light source in the heat developable image recording material of the invention.
  • the heat developable photosensitive material comprises a non-photosensitive layer in addition to the photosensitive layer.
  • the non-photosensitive layers can be classified, in terms of their arrangement, as (1) a protective layer provided on the photosensitive layer (at the remote side from the substrate), (2) an intermediate layer provided between a plurality of photosensitive layers or between the photosensitive layer and the protective layer, (3) an undercoat layer provided between the photosensitive layer and the substrate, and (4) a back layer provided at the opposed side to the photosensitive layer.
  • a filter layer is provided in the photosensitive material as the layer (1) or (2).
  • An anti-halation layer is provided in the photosensitive material as the layer (3) or (4).
  • the anti-halation layer is described in the paragraph Nos. 0123 to 0124 in JP-A No. 11-65021, JP-A Nos. 11-223898, 9-230531, 10-36695, 10-104779, 11-231457, 11-352625 and 11-352626.
  • the anti-halation layer contains an anti-halation dye that absorbs a light at an exposure wavelength.
  • An infrared light absorbing dye may be used when the exposure wavelength is in the infrared region, and the dye preferably has no absorption in the visible region.
  • the amount of addition of the quenching dye is determined depending of its use.
  • the dye is usually added in an amount so that the optical density (absorbance) exceeds 0.1 as measured at a desired wavelength.
  • the optical density is preferably 0.2 to 2.
  • the amount of use of the dye for obtaining such optical density is usually about 0.001 to 1 g/m 2 .
  • the optical density after the heat development can be decreased to 0.1 by quenching the dye as described above.
  • Two or more of the quenching dyes may be used together in the heat-quenching type recording material and heat developable photosensitive material.
  • two or more of the base precursors may be used together.
  • a substance that decreases the melting point by 3°C or more by mixing with the base precursor as described in JP-A No. 11-352626 (for example, diphenyl sulfone and 4-chlorophenyl(phenyl)sulfone) or 2-naphthyl benzoate for color-quenching using the dye and base precursor.
  • a coloring agent having an absorption maximum at 300 to 450 nm may be added in the invention for improving silver color tone and time dependent changes of the image.
  • Such coloring agents are described in JP-A Nos. 62-210458, 63-104046, 63-103235, 63-208846, 63-306436, 63-314535 and 01-61745, and Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A-2001 100363.
  • the coloring agent is usually added in a range of 0.1 mg/m 2 to 1 g/ m 2 , and is preferably added in the back layer provided at the opposit side to the photosensitive layer.
  • the heat developable image recording material of the invention is a so-called one face photosensitive layer comprising the photosensitive layer containing at least one layer of the silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the substrate, and the back layer on the other side thereof.
  • the matting agent is described in the paragraph Nos. 0126 to 0127 in JP-A No. 11-65021.
  • the matting agent is applied in a proportion of 1 to 400 mg/m 2 , and more preferably 5 to 300 mg/m 2 , as indicated by the amount of application per 1 m 2 of the photosensitive material.
  • the shape of the matting agent may be definite or not definite, it is preferably dentine, and a spherical shape is preferably used.
  • the average particle size is preferably 0.5 to 10 ⁇ m, more preferably 1.0 to 8.0 ⁇ m, and still more preferably 2.0 to 6.0 ⁇ m.
  • the variation coefficient of the size distribution is preferably 50% or less , more preferably 40% or less , and still more preferably 30% or less.
  • the variation coefficient is defined as [(standard deviation of particle size) / (average particle size)] ⁇ 100. It is also preferable to use at least two kinds of the matting agents having small variation coefficients and the average particle size ratio of larger than 3.
  • the Beck smoothness is preferably 30 seconds to 2000 seconds, and more preferably 40 seconds to 1500 seconds.
  • the beck smoothness may be readily determined by Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) P8119 "Smoothness test Method of Paper and Paperboard" and TAPPI Standard T479.
  • the degree of matting of the back layer in the invention has Beck smoothness of preferably 10 seconds to 1200 seconds, more preferably 20 seconds to 800 seconds, and still more preferably 40 seconds to 500 seconds.
  • the matting agent is preferably contained in the outermost layer or the layer than functions as the outermost layer of the photosensitive layer, or in the layer close to the outer surface, and is preferably contained in the layer that functions as a so-called protective layer.
  • the pH of the layer surface before heat development is preferably 7.0 or less , and more preferably 6. 6 or less , in the heat developable image recording material of the invention. While its lower limit is not particularly restricted, it may be about 3. The most preferable pH range is 4 to 6.2. It is preferable to use an organic acid such as a phthalic acid derivative or a non-volatile acid such as sulfuric acid for reducing the pH of the layer surface in adjusting the pH of the layer surface. Ammonia is also preferable for lowering the pH of the layer surface, since it is readily evaporated and is able to remove in the application process or before heat development.
  • Non-volatile bases such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide may be preferably used together with ammonia.
  • the method for measuring the pH of the layer surface is described in the paragraph No. 0123 in Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A-2000 284399.
  • a layer-hardening agent may be sued in the photosensitive layer, protective layer and back layer in the invention.
  • Examples of the layer-hardening agent are described in p77 of "The Theory of the Photographic Process" by T. H. James, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., published in 1977. These compounds include chromium alum, 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine sodium salt, N,N-ethylene bis(vinylsulfone acetamide) and N-N-propylene bis(vinylsulfone acetamide), as well as multivalent metal ions described in p78 in the document above and the like, polyisocyanates describe din USP No. 4,281,060, JP-A No. 6-208193 and the like, epoxy compounds described in USP No. 4,791,042 and the like, and vinylsulfone compounds described in JP-A No. 62-89048 and the like.
  • the layer hardening agent is added as a solution, an the timing of addition of the solution in the protective layer application fluid is from 180 minutes before application to immediately before application, preferably 60 minutes before to 10 seconds before.
  • the mixing method and mixing condition are not particularly restricted so long as the effect of the present invention is well manifested.
  • the mixing method include a method for mixing in a tank by adjusting the mean resident time calculated from the feed flow rate and feed volume to be within a desired period, and a method for using a static mixer as described in "Fluid Mixing Technology" by N. Harnby, M. F. Edwards and A. W. Nienow, translated by Koji Takahashi, Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun Co., 1989.
  • the surfactant applicable in the invention is described in the paragraph No. 0132 in JP-A No. 11-65021; solvents are described in the paragraph No. 0133 in the same publication, the substrate is described in the paragraph No. 0134 in the same publication, the electrification preventive layer or conductive layer is described in the paragraph No. 0135 in the same publication, the method for obtaining color images is described in the paragraph No. 0136 in the same publication, and the lubricating agent is described in the paragraph Nos. 0061 to 0064 in JP-A 11-84573 and paragraph Nos. 0049 to 0062 in Japanese Patent Application JP-A-2001 83679.
  • Polyester heat-treated in a temperature range of 130 to 185°C, and particularly polyethylene terephthalate is preferably used for relaxing inner distortion remaining in the film during biaxial drawing and for eliminating heat contraction generated during heat development.
  • the transparent substrate may be colored with a blue dye (for example, the dye-1 described in Example in JP-A No. 8-240877) or may be colorless in the case of the heat developable photosensitive material for medical use. It is preferable to apply undercoat technologies using water soluble polyester JP-A No. 11-84574 and styrene-butadiene copolymer described in JP-A No. 10-186565, respectively, and polyvinylidene chloride copolymers described in JP-A 2000-39684 and paragraph Nos.
  • JP-A-2001 83679 Technologies described in JP-A Nos. 56-143430, 56-143431 and 58-62646, 56-120519, paragraph Nos. 0040 to 0051 in JP-A No. 11-84573, USP No. 5,575,957, and paragraph Nos. 0078 to 0084 in JP-A No. 11-223898 may be also applied for the electrification preventive layer or undercoat layer.
  • the heat developable image recording material of the invention is preferably a mono-sheet type layer (a type capable of forming images on the heat developable photosensitive material without using any other layers such as an image receiving material).
  • An anti-oxidation agent, a stabilizer, a plasticizer, a UV absorbing agent or a coating assistant may be further added in the heat developable image recording material.
  • These additives may be added in either the photosensitive layer or non-photosensitive layer.
  • WO 98/36322, EP No. 803764A1, and JP-A Nos. 10-186567 and 10-18568 may be referenced with respect to these additives.
  • the heat developable image recording material of the invention may be applied by any methods. Examples of them include various coating operations such as extrusion coating, slide coating, curtain coating, dip coating, knife coating, flow coating and extrusion coating using a hopper as described in USP No. 2,681,294. Extrusion coating or slide coating as described in pp. 399-536 in "Liquid Film Coating" by Stephen F. Kistler Petert and M. Schweizer, Chapman & Hall Co., 1997 is preferably used, and slide coating is more preferably used. The configuration of the slide coater used for slide coating is shown in Fig. 11b-1. Two or more layers may be simultaneously coated, if necessary, by the methods described in pp. 399-536 in the document above, and described in USP No. 2, 761, 791 and U.K. Patent No. 837,095.
  • the application fluid containing the organic silver salt in the invention is preferably a so-called thixotropic fluid. This technology may be referenced in JP-A No. 11-52509.
  • the application fluid containing the organic silver salt of the invention has a viscosity of preferably 400 mPa ⁇ s to 100, 000 mPa ⁇ s , and more preferably 500 mPa ⁇ s to 20,000 mPa ⁇ s at a shear velocity of 0.1 S -1 .
  • the viscosity is preferably 1 mPa ⁇ s to 200 mPa ⁇ s, and more preferably 5 mPa ⁇ s to 80 mPa ⁇ s at a shear velocity of 1000 S -1 .
  • the technologies available in the heat developable image recording material of the invention include those described in EP Nos. 803764A1 and 883022A1, WO 98/36322, JP-ANos. 56-62648, 58-62644, 9-43766, 9-281637, 9-297367, 9-304869, 9-311405, 90329865, 10-10669, 10-62899, 10-69023, 10-186568, 10-90823, 10-171063, 10-186565, 10-186567, 10-186569 to 10-186572, 10-197974, 10-197982, 10-197983, 10-197985 to 10-197987, 10-207001, 10-207004, 10-221807, 10-282601, 10-288823, 10-288824, 10-307365, 10-312038, 10-339934, 11-7100, 11- 15105, 11-24200, 11-24201, 11-30832, 11-84574, 11-65021, 11-109547, 11-125880, 11-129629, 11-1335
  • the photosensitive material of the invention is preferably packaged in a packaging material having a low oxygenpermeabilityand/ormoisturepermeability, in order to suppress variation of photographic performance during preservation of row materials, or in order to improve curling and crimp habits.
  • the oxygen permeability is preferably 50 ml/atm ⁇ m2 ⁇ day or less, more preferably 10 ml/atm ⁇ m 2 ⁇ day or less ,and still more preferably 1.0 ml/atm ⁇ m 2 ⁇ day or less.
  • the moisture permeability is preferably 10 g/atm ⁇ m 2 ⁇ day or less, more preferably 5 g/atm ⁇ m 2 ⁇ day or less,and still more preferably 1 g/atm ⁇ m 2 ⁇ day or less.
  • packaging materials having a low oxygen permeability and/or moisture permeability are described in JP-A Nos. 8-254793 and 2000-206653.
  • the heat developable image recording material of the invention may be developed by any methods, it is usually developed by increasing the temperature of the heat developable image recording material after image-wise exposure.
  • the development temperature is preferably 80 to 250°C, and more preferably 100 to 140°C.
  • the development time is preferably 1 to 60 seconds, more preferably 3 to 30 seconds, still more preferably 5 to 25 seconds, and particularly 7 to 15 seconds.
  • the plate heater is preferable.
  • the method described in JP-A No. 11-133572 is preferable as the heat development method using the plate heater, which is a heat development apparatus for obtaining a visible image by allowing the heat developable photosensitive material forming a latent image to contact heating means in the heat development unit.
  • the heating means comprises the plate heater, a plurality of pressing rollers are aligned along one surface of the plate heater in opposed relation with each other, and the heat developable photosensitive material is made to pass through the space between the pressing roller and the plate heater for heat development.
  • the plate heater is divided into 2 to 6 stages, and those at the tip has a temperature by about 1 to 10°C lower than other stages.
  • a laser light is preferable as an exposure light source.
  • the preferable lasers available in the invention include gas lasers (Ar + , He-Ne), YAG laser, dye laser and semiconductor laser.
  • the semiconductor laser and a second harmonic wave generator may be also used.
  • the gas laser or semiconductor laser emitting a red to infrared light is preferable.
  • An example of the medical laser imager comprising the exposure unit and heat development unit is Fuji Medical Dry laser Imager FM-DP L.
  • FM-DP L is described in Fuji Medical Review No. 8, pp. 39-55, and the technology can be naturally applied to the laser imager of the heat developable image recording material of the invention.
  • a net work system suitable for the DICOM standard is applicable to the heat developable image recording material for use in the laser imager in the "AD network" proposed by Fuji Medical System Co.
  • the heat developable image recording material of the invention is used as a heat developable photosensitive material for medical diagnosis.
  • Fluorine based surfactants are preferably used in the invention.
  • Examples of the fluorine based surfactant is described in JP-A Nos. 10-197985, 2000-19680 and 2000-214554.
  • the fluorine polymer based surfactants described in JP-A No. 9-281636 are also preferably used.
  • Use of the fluorine based surfactant described in Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A-2002 82411 is particularly preferable.
  • PET with a specific viscosity IV of 0. 66 (as measured in a mixed solvent of phenol and tetrachlotoethane in a ratio of 6:4 4 (mass ratio) at 25°C) was obtained by a conventional method using terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol.
  • the polymer was formed into a pellet, dried at 130°C for 4 hours, and was extruded from a T type die after melting at 300°C followed by quenching, thereby obtaining a non-drawn film with a thickness of 175 ⁇ m after heat curing.
  • the film was drawn 3.3 times using three rolls with different circumference speeds with each other in the longitudinal direction, and subsequently drawn 4.5 times in the transverse direction using a tenterhook.
  • the temperatures for both draw treatments were 110°C and 130°C, respectively.
  • null processing was applied at both ends, and the film was wound under a load of 4 kg/cm 2 (4 ⁇ 10 4 Pa) to obtain a roll with a thickness of 175 ⁇ m.
  • Both surfaces of the substrate was processed at 20 m/minute using a corona processor (made by Piller Co., solid state 6 KVA model). It was confirmed that the substrate was treated at 0.375 kV ⁇ A ⁇ minute/m 2 from the applied electric current and voltage.
  • the treatment frequency was 9.6 kHz, and the gap clearance between the electrode and the dielectric roll was 1.6 mm.
  • the overcoat application fluid of the recipe (i) above was coated on one face (photosensitive layer face) with a wire bar with a wet coating amount of 6.6 ml/m 2 followed by drying at 180°C for 5 minutes. Then, the overcoat application fluid of the recipe (ii) was coated on the back face of the substrate with the wire bar with an wet coating amount of 5.7 ml/m 2 followed by drying at 180°C for 5 minutes.
  • the overcoat application fluid of the recipe (iii) was coated on the back face of the substrate with the wire bar with an wet coating amount of 7.7 ml/m 2 followed by drying at 180°C for 6 minutes, thereby preparing an undercoat substrate.
  • a solution (c) prepared by diluting 51.86 g of silver nitrate to 317.5 ml by adding water, and a solution (d) prepared by diluting 44.2 g of potassium bromide and 2.2 g of potassium iodide to 400 ml by adding distilled water were added within 20 minutes.
  • the flow rate of the solution (c) was kept constant, while the solution (d) was added by a controlled double jet method so as to maintain pAg at 8.1.
  • Potassium hexachloroiridate (III) was added 10 minutes after starting of addition of the solutions (c) and (d) so that the proportion of the iridium becomes 1 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver.
  • An aqueous solution of potassium hexacyano iron (II) was also added 5 seconds after completing the addition of the solution (c) so that the proportion of iridium becomes 3 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver.
  • the pH of the solution was adjusted to 3.8 using 0.5 mole/L sulfuric acid, followed by precipitation, desalting and washing with water by stopping stirring.
  • the solution was adjusted to pH 5.9 with 1 mole/L sodium hydroxide solution, and a dispersion of silver halide with pAg of 8.0 was prepared.
  • Chemical sensitization was performed as follows. The silver halide dispersion was maintained at 38°C with stirring, and 5 ml methanol solution of 0.34% by mass of 1,2-benzointhiazoline-3-one was added. After 40 minutes, a methanol solution containing the spectral sensitizing dye (a) and spectral sensitizing dye (b) in 1:1 molar ratio was added with a combined proportion of the spectral sensitizing dyes (a) and (b) of 1.2 ⁇ 10 -3 mole per one mole of silver, and the temperature of the solution was increased to 47°C after 1 minute.
  • a methanol solution of 5-methyl-2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MMBI) and a methanol solution of 1-phenyl-2-heptyl-5-merapto-1,3,4-triazole (PHMT) were added in the proportions of 4.8 ⁇ 10 -3 mole and 5.4 ⁇ 10 -3 mole, respectively, per one mole of silver, thereby preparing the silver halide emulsion A.
  • the particles in the silver halide particles prepared were silver bromide particles with an average equivalent-circle diameter of 0.042 ⁇ m with a variation coefficient of 20% uniformly containing 3.5 mole of iodine.
  • the particle size or the like was determined as a mean value of the diameters of 1000 particles using an electron microscope.
  • the proportion of the ⁇ 100 ⁇ face of this particle was determined to be 80% using a Kubelka-Munk method.
  • the silver halide emulsion B was prepared by the same method used in preparation of the silver halide emulsion A, except that the liquid temperature for forming the particles was changed from 30°C to 49°C, the volume of the solution (b) was changed by diluting 15.9 g of potassium bromide to 97.4 ml by diluting with distilled water, the volume of the solution (d) was changed by diluting 45.8 g of potassium bromide to 400 ml by diluting with distilled water, the time for adding the solution (c) was changed to 30 minutes, and potassium hexacyano iron (II) was not added.
  • Precipitation, desalting, washing with water and dispersion were also carried out as in the preparation of the silver halide (1).
  • Chemical sensitization was performed as follows. The amount of addition of a methanol solution, containing the spectral sensitizing dye (a) and spectral sensitizing dye (b) in 1:1 molar ratio, was changed to 7.5 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver as a sum of the spectral sensitizing dyes (a) and (b) . The amount of addition of the tellurium sensitizer B was changed to 4.3 ⁇ 10 -5 mole per one mole of silver.
  • the amount of addition of 5-methyl-2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MMBI) as a methanol solution was changed to 1.8 ⁇ 10 -3 mole per one mole of silver, and the amount of addition of 1-phenyl-2-heptyl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-triazole (PHMT) was changed to 3.3 ⁇ 10 -3 mole per one mole of silver.
  • Spectral sensitization and chemical sensitization conditions as well as addition of 5-methl-2-mercaptobenzimidazole and 1-phenyl-2-heptyl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-triazole were carried out as in preparing the silver halide emulsion A, thereby obtaining the silver halide emulsion B.
  • the particles of the silver halide emulsion (2) were cubic particles of pure silver halide with an average equivalent-circle diameter of 0.08 ⁇ m and variation coefficient of the equivalent-circle diameter of 15%.
  • the silver halide emulsion C was obtained by the same method as preparing the silver halide particle A, except that 1.4 ⁇ 10 3 mole of a sum of the spectral sensitizing dyes (a) and (b) was added per one mole of silver for chemical sensitization, and an aqueous solution of a mercapto compound (exemplified compound 1-17) as a compound represented by the general formula (1) was prepared as shown below and added in a proportion of 1.3 ⁇ 10 -2 mole per one mole of silver, in place of adding 5-methyl-2-meraptobenzimidazole and 1-phenyl-2-heptyl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-triazole.
  • the particles of the silver halide emulsion C had an average equivalent-circle diameter of 0.042 ⁇ m and the variation coefficient of the equivalent-circle of 20%.
  • the silver halide particles were silver iodide particles with uniformly distributed iodine proportion of 3.5 mol%.
  • the silver halide emulsion D was obtained by the same method as preparing the silver halide emulsion B, except that the aqueous solution of the mercapto compound (1-17) prepared as described above was added in a proportion of 4.7 ⁇ 10 -2 mole per one mole of silver in place of adding 5-methyl-2-mercaptobenzimidazole and 1-phenyl-2-heptyl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-triazole.
  • the reaction temperature in the reaction vessel was adjusted as described in Table 1, and the external temperature was controlled so as to maintain the constant temperature of the reaction solution.
  • the piping system for adding the organic acid sodium salt was kept at a constant temperature by circulating warmed water at the outer space of the double wall pipe, so that the liquid temperature of the outlet at the tip of the nozzle is controlled at 75°C.
  • the temperature in the piping system of the aqueous silver nitrate solution was maintained by circulating cooled water in the outer space of the double wall pipe.
  • the position of addition of the organic acid sodium salt and the position of addition of the aqueous silver nitrate were disposed in symmetrical relation with each other relative to the center of the stirrer axis, and the positions were adjusted so as not to touch the reaction solution.
  • Table 1 unit mol% Dispersion of organic acid silver salt Silver stearate Silver arachidate Silver behenate Silver lignocerate A 5.0 6.0 87.0 2.0 B 1.5 8.5 87.0 3.0 C 1.0 6.0 91.0 2.0 D 1.5 7.0 91.0 1.5 E 1.0 3.0 94.0 2.0 F 0.5 2.0 95.0 2.5 G 0 0.7 96.5 1.8 Reaction temperature in reaction vessel: 30°C
  • the solution was left at that temperature with stirring for 20 minutes.
  • the temperature was increased to 35°C in 30 minutes, followed by ripening for 210 minutes.
  • the solid fraction was filtered off by centrifugal filtration immediately after ripening, and was washed with water until the conductivity of water after filtration of the solid fraction decreases to 30 ⁇ S/cm.
  • the wet cake was made to be a slurry by adding pure water followed by filtration, and this procedure was repeated 3 times in order to facilitate conductivity to decrease.
  • the wet cake of organic silver was centrifuged under a centrifugal force G of 700 for 1 hour.
  • G is represented by 1.119 ⁇ 10 -5 ⁇ radius of vessel (cm) ⁇ rotational speed (rpm) 2 .
  • the solid fraction of the wet cake of the organic acid silver salt (as measured by drying 1 g of the wet cake at 110°C for 2 hours) thus obtained was 44%.
  • the starting liquid after pre-dispersion was processed three times by adjusting the pressure of the dispersing device (trade name: Microfluidizer M-610 using a Z-type interaction chamber made by Micro-Fluidex International Corporation) at 1260 kg/cm 2 (12.6 MPa) to obtain a dispersion of the organic acid silver salt (dispersion of silver behenate).
  • the characteristic values of the shape of the dispersion was the same as those after washing with water.
  • the dispersion was cooled by providing coil-type heat exchangers at the front and rear sides of the interaction chamber, and the dispersion temperature was adjusted to 18°C by controlling the temperature of the coolant.
  • the volume weighted average diameter (the equivalent-circle diameter) was 0.48 ⁇ m, the variation coefficient of the volume weighted average diameter was 23%, the ratio of the major axis "c" to the minor axis "b” of particle (the longitudinal to transverse ratio) was 1.4, and the aspect ratio was 2.4 with respect to the organic silver salt particles contained in the organic silver salt dispersion F.
  • the particle size was measured with Master Sizer X made by Malvern Instruments Ltd.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump, and after dispersing for 3 hours and 30 minutes using a horizontal type sand mill filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0. 5 mm, the concentration of the reducing agent was adjusted to 25% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water to obtain the reducing agent-1 dispersion.
  • the reducing agent particles contained in the reducing agent-1 dispersion had a median diameter of 0.42 ⁇ m and a maximum particle diameter of 2.0 ⁇ m.
  • the educing agent-1 dispersion obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 10.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • a slurry was prepared by mixing 10 kg of the reducing agent-2 (2,2'-isobutylifdene-bis-(4,6-dimethyloenol)) and modified polyvinyl alcohol (Poval MP203 made by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) with 16 kg of water with thorough stirring.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump, and after dispersing for 3 hours and 30 minutes with a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm, the concentration of the reducing agent was adjusted at 25% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water to obtain the reducing agent-2.
  • UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.
  • the reducing agent particles contained in the reducing agent-2 dispersion thus obtained had a median diameter of 0. 38 ⁇ m and a maximum particle diameter of 2.0 ⁇ m.
  • the reducing agent dispersion obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 10.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing with a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm for 4 hours and 30 minutes, the concentration of the reducing agent was adjusted to 25% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water to obtain the dispersion of the reducing agent-3.
  • the reducing agent particles contained in the dispersion of the reducing agent-3 complex had a median diameter of 0.46 ⁇ m, and a maximum particle diameter of 1.6 ⁇ m.
  • the dispersion of the reducing aget-3 obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing with a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm for 3 hours and 30 minutes, the concentration of the reducing agent was adjusted to 25% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water to obtain the dispersion of the reducing agent-4.
  • UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.
  • the particles of the reducing agent contained in the dispersion of the reducing agent-4 complex had a median diameter of 0.40 ⁇ m, and a maximum particle diameter of 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • the dispersion of the reducing agent-4 obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing with a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm for 3 hours and 30 minutes, the concentration of the reducing agent was adjusted to 25% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water to obtain the dispersion of the reducing agent-5.
  • UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.
  • the reducing agent particles contained in the dispersion of the reducing agent-5 had a median diameter of 0.38 ⁇ m, and a maximum particle diameter of 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • the dispersion of the reducing agent-5 obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing with a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by Imex Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm for 3 hours and 30 minutes, the concentration of the reducing agent was adjusted to 22% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone to obtain the dispersion of the hydrogen bonding compound-1.
  • UVM-2 made by Imex Co.
  • the particles of the hydrogen bonding compound contained in the dispersion of the hydrogen bonding compound-1 had a median diameter of 0.35 ⁇ m, and a maximum particle diameter of 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • the dispersion of the hydrogen bonding compound-1 obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing with a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by Imex Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm for 5 hours, the concentration of the organic polyhalogen compound was adjusted to 23.5% by mass by adding 0,2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water to obtain the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-1.
  • the particles of the organic polyhalogen compound contained in the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-1 had a median diameter of 0.36 ⁇ m, and a maximum particle diameter of 2,0 ⁇ m.
  • the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-1 obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 10.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing with a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by Imex Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm for 5 hours, the concentration of the organic polyhalogen compound was adjusted to 26% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water to obtain the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-2.
  • UVM-2 horizontal sand mill
  • the particles of the organic polyhalogen compound contained in the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-2 had a median diameter of 0.41 ⁇ m, and a maximum particle diameter of 2.0 ⁇ m.
  • the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-2 obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 10.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing with a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by Imex Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm for 5 hours, the concentration of the organic polyhalogen compound was adjusted to 25% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water. The dispersion was heated at 40°C for 5 hours to obtain the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-3.
  • UVM-2 horizontal sand mill
  • the particles of the organic polyhalogen compound contained in the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-3 had a median diameter of 0.36 ⁇ m, and a maximum particle diameter of 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-3 obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • a slurry was prepared by adding C. I. Pigment Blue 60 and Demol N made by Kao Corporation in water with through mixing. Prepared and placed in a vessel together with slurry were 800 g of zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm, and the mixture was dispersed in a dispersing apparatus (1/4G sand grinder mill made by Imex Co.) for 25 hours to obtain the pigment-1 dispersion.
  • the pigment particles contained in the pigment-1 dispersion thus obtained had an average particle diameter of 0.21 ⁇ m.
  • An SBR latex with Tg of 23°C was prepared as follows.
  • the ratio of Na + ion to NH 4+ ion used herein was 1:2.3.
  • the SBR latex solution was prepared by adding 0.15 ml of 7% aqueous solution of sodium benzoisothiazolinone into 1 kg of this solution.
  • the latex had an average particle diameter of 0.1 ⁇ m, a concentration of 43% by mass, an equilibrium moisture content at 25°C and 60% RH of 0.6% by mass, an ionic conductivity of 4.2 S/cm (the ionic conductivity was measured using a conductivity meter CM-30 made by DKK-TOA Corporation at 25°C using a neat latex solution (43% by mass)), and pH of 8.4.
  • the latex having different Tg was also prepared by the same method above by appropriately changing the proportion of styrene and butadiene.
  • Sequentially added were 1000 g of the dispersion A of the organic acid silver salt, 125 ml of water, 91 g of the reducing agent-2 dispersion, 27 g of the pigment-1 dispersion, 82 g of the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-1, 40 g of the dispersion of the organic polyhalogen compound-2, 173 g of the dispersion of the phthalazine compound-1, 1082 g of the SBR latex (Tg 20.5°C) solution and 9 g of the mercapto compound-T.
  • the viscosity of the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-1 was 85 mPa ⁇ s at 40°C as measured with a B-type viscometer (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm) made by Tokyo Instrument Co.
  • the viscosity of the application fluid measured at 25°C using RFS Fluid Spectrometer made by Rheometrix Far-East Co. was 1500, 220, 70, 40 and 20 (mPa ⁇ s) at shear speed of 0.1, 1, 10. 100 and 1000 (1/sec), respectively.
  • the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-2 was prepared with thorough mixing by the same method as preparing the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-1, and was directly sent to a coating die for application, except that a mixture of 111 g of the silver halide emulsion C and 47 g of the silver halide emulsion D was added immediately before application in place of adding a mixture of 111 g of the silver halide emulsion A and 47 g of the silver halide emulsion B in the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-1.
  • the emulsion layer application fluids 3 and 5 to 10 were prepared by the same method as preparing the emulsion layer application fluid-2, and the emulsion layer application fluid-4 was prepared by the same method as preparing the emulsion layer application fluid-1, and each emulsion layer application fluid was directly sent to a coating die for application, except that the organic acid silver salt dispersions described in the samples 3 to 10 in Table 2 was used for the organic acid silver salt dispersion A, and the mercapto compounds (MMBI and PHMT) and mercapto compound (1 - 17) added in preparing the silver halide emulsion were changed to those in the samples 3 to 10 in Table 2 with the timing of addition in the table.
  • the organic acid silver salt dispersions described in the samples 3 to 10 in Table 2 was used for the organic acid silver salt dispersion A
  • the mercapto compounds (MMBI and PHMT) and mercapto compound (1 - 17) added in preparing the silver halide emulsion were changed to those in the
  • Sequentially added were 1000 g of the organic acid silver salt dispersion F obtained above, 104 ml of water, 30 g of the pigment-1 dispersion, 21 g of the organic polyhalogen compound-2 dispersion, 69 g of the organic polyhalogen compound-3 dispersion, 173 g of the phthalazine compound-1 dispersion, 1082 g of the SBR latex (Tg 23°C), 258 g of the reducing agent complex-3 dispersion and 9 g of the aqueous mercapto compound (1-17) solution.
  • the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-19 was prepared by adding 108 g of the silver halide emulsion C and 50 g of the silver halide emulsion D with thorough stirring.
  • Sequentially added were 1000 g of the organic acid silver salt dispersion F obtained above, 95 ml of water, 73 g of the reducing agent-4 dispersion, 68 g of the reducing agent-5 dispersion, 30 g of the pigment-1 dispersion, 21 g of the organic polyhalogen compound-2 dispersion, 69 g of the organic polyhalogen compound-3 dispersion, 173 g of the phthalazine compound-1 solution, 1082 g of the SBR core/shell type latex (core Tg 20°C/shell Tg 30°C; weight ratio 70/30) solution, 124 g of the hydrogen bonding compound-1 dispersion, and 9 g of the mercapto compound (1-17) solution.
  • the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-29 was prepared by adding 90 g of the silver halide mixed emulsion C and 68 g of the silver halide mixed emulsion D with thorough stirring.
  • the viscosity of the application fluid was 21 mPa ⁇ s at 40°C as measured with a B-type viscometer (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm).
  • Inert gelatin 64 g was dissolved in water, and 80 g of a 27.5% by mass solution of methyl methacrylate/styrene/butyl acrylate/hydroxyethyl methacrylate/ acrylic acid copolymer latex (copolymerization ratio 64/9/20/5/2 in weight ratio), 23 ml of 10% by mass methanol solution of phthalic acid, 23 ml of 10% by mass aqueous solution of 4-methyl phthalic acid, 28 ml of 0.5 mole/l sulfuric acid, 5 ml of 5% by mass aqueous solution of aerosol OT (made by American Cyanamid Co.), 0.5 g of phenoxyethanol, and 0.1 g of benzoisothiazolinone were added to the aqueous solution.
  • the application fluid was prepared by adding water to a total weight of 750 g, and 26 ml of 4% by mass solution of chromium alum was added and mixed with a static mixer immediately before application. The mixture was sent to a coating die with an area density of 18.6 ml/m 2 .
  • the viscosity of the application fluid was 17 mPa ⁇ s at 40°C as measured with a B-type viscometer (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm).
  • the application fluid was prepared by adding water to a total weight of 650 g, and 445 ml of an aqueous solution comprising 4% by mass of chromium alum and 67% by mass of phthalic acid was added and mixed with a static mixer immediately before application as an application fluid of the surface protective layer. The mixture was sent to a coating die with an area density of 8.3 ml/m 2 .
  • the viscosity of the application fluid was 9 mPa ⁇ s at 40°C as measured with a B-type viscometer (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm).
  • An application fluid of the halation preventive layer and an application fluid of the back face protective layer were simultaneously applied on the back face side of the undercoat substrate so that the amount of application of the solid fraction of the fine solid dye particles is 0.04 g/m 2 in the halation preventive layer, and the amount of application of gelatin is 1.7 g/m 2 in the back face protective layer.
  • the back layer was formed after drying.
  • a sample of the heat developable image recording material was prepared by simultaneously applying the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer), intermediate layer, protective first layer and protective second layer on the undercoat layer of the opposed face to the back face in this order by a slide beads application method.
  • the emulsion layer and intermediate layer were applied by adjusting the temperature at 31°C
  • the protective first layer was applied by adjusting the temperature at 36°C
  • the protective second layer was applied by adjusting the temperature at 37°C.
  • the heat developable image recording materials prepared using the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluids 1 to 10 were used as the heat developable image recording materials 1 to 10 (samples 1 to 10).
  • the amount of application (g/m 2 ) of each compound in each emulsion layer was as follows:
  • the drying condition was as follows.
  • the coating speed was 160 m/min.
  • the space between the tip of the coating die and the substrate was 0.10 to 0.30 mm
  • the pressure of he vacuum chamber was adjusted to be 196 to 882 Pa lower than the atmospheric pressure.
  • Electrification was quenched by ion flow before application
  • the application fluid After cooling the application fluid in a chilling zone by blowing dry air of 10 to 20°C as measured with a dry-bulb thermometer, the application fluid was transported by non-contact transportation, and was dried with dry air flow in a coiled type non-contact drying chamber at a dry-bulb temperature of 23 to 45°C and wet-bulb temperature of 15 to 21°C.
  • the temperature and relative humidity were adjusted to 25°C and 40 to 60%, respectively, and the film surface was heated at 70 to 90°C, followed by cooling to 25°C.
  • the degree of matting of the heat developable image recording material prepared was 550 second and 130 second for the photosensitive layer side and back face side, respectively, as Beck smoothness.
  • the pH value of the film surface at the photosensitive layer side was 6.0.
  • the heat developable image recording material was preserved in an atmosphere of 60°C and 40% RH, and was exposed and developed (using four panel heaters with a hating program of 112°C, 119°C, 121°C, and 121°C for 24 seconds in total) using Fuji Medical Dry Laser Imager FM-DP L (equipped with a semiconductor laser with a maximum output energy 60 mW (IIIB)). Variations of sensitivity (fog +logarithm of inversion of the exposed luminous energy at an image density of 1.0) and D min ( ⁇ D min ) were determined. The results are shown in Table 2.
  • the heat developable image recording material-19 was prepared by the same method as in the heat developable image recording material-9, except that the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-9 was changed to the emulsion layer application fluid-19, and the yellow pigment compound 15 was eliminated from the halation preventive layer.
  • the amount of application (g/m 2 ) of each compound in the emulsion layer was as follows.
  • the heat developable image recording materials-11 to 18 and 20 were prepared by the same method as in the heat developable image recording material-19, except that the organic acid silver salt dispersion F of the heat developable image recording material-19 was changed to the organic acid silver salt dispersions A to G shown in the samples 11 to 18 and 20 in Table 2, and the timing for adding the mercapto compound was changed as shown in Table 2.
  • the preservative property of the inert material was evaluated as in Example 1.
  • Example 3 As shown in Table 3, good results as in Example 1 were obtained with respect to decrease of sensitivity and increase of fogging.
  • Table 3 Sample No. Organic acid silver salt dispersion Mercapto compound Timing of addition Sensitivity change (after preservation) (60°C 40% 2d) ⁇ D min (after preservation) (60°C 40% 2d) 11 Comparative example A MMBI+PHMT During chemical sensitization 70 ⁇ 0.05 12 Comparative example A (1-17) During chemical sensitization 64 ⁇ 0.02 13 Comparative example B (1-17) During chemical sensitization 68 ⁇ 0.02 14 Comparative Example C MMBI+PHMT During chemical sensitization 94 ⁇ 0.04 15 Example C (1-17) During chemical sensitization 95 ⁇ 0.02 16 Example C (1-17) At completion of chemical sensitization 92 ⁇ 0.02 17 Example D (1-17) During chemical sensitization 95 ⁇ 0.01 18 Example E (1-17) During chemical sensitization 96 ⁇ 0.02 19 Example F (1-17) During chemical sensitization 98 ⁇ 0.0
  • the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-9 in the heat developable image recording material-9 was changed to the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-29, and the yellow pigment compound 15 was eliminated from the halation preventive layer.
  • the fluorine based surfactants F-1, F-2, F-3 and F-4 in the protective second layer and back face protective layer were changed to F-5, F-6, F-7 and F-8, respectively, with the same weight.
  • the heat developable image recording material-29 was prepared by the same method as in the heat developable image recording material-9 except the conditions above.
  • the heat developable image recording material-21 to 28 and 30 were prepared by the same method as in the heat developable image recording material-29, except that the organic acid silver salt dispersions A to G shown in the samples 21 to 28 in Table 3 were use in place of the organic acid silver salt dispersion F in the heat developable image recording material-29, and the timing for adding the mercapto compound was also changed as shown in Table 2.
  • Example 4 As shown in Table 4, good results as in Example 1 were obtained with respect to sensitivity decrease and fog increase during preservation of the neat material.
  • Table 4 Sample No. Organic acid silver salt dispersion Mercapto compound Timing of addition Sensitivity change (after preservation) (60°C 40% 2d) ⁇ D min (after preservation) (60°C 40% 2d) 21 Comparative example A MMBI+PHMT During chemical sensitization 82 ⁇ 0.04 22 Comparative example A (1-17) During chemical sensitization 76 ⁇ 0.02 23 Comparative example B (1-17) During chemical sensitization 79 ⁇ 0.02 24 Comparative Example C MMBI+PHMT During chemical sensitization 95 ⁇ 0.04 25 Example C (1-17) During chemical sensitization 96 ⁇ 0.01 26 Example C (1-17) At completion of chemical sensitization 94 ⁇ 0.01 27 Example D (1-17) During chemical sensitization 96 ⁇ 0.00 28 Example E (1-17) During chemical sensitization 97 ⁇ 0.01 29 Example F (1-17) During chemical sensit
  • the invention provides a heat developable image recording material having sufficiently high sensitivity and maximum image density with excellent preservative property of the inert material.
  • the PET substrate was manufactured by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the undercoat substrate was manufactured by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the back face application fluid was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the application fluid of the back face protective layer was manufactured by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the silver halide emulsion 1 of the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the silver halide emulsion 2 was prepared by the same method as in the silver halide emulsion 1, except that the temperature of 30°C of the liquid for forming the particles was changed to 47°C, the solution B was prepared by diluting 15.9 g of potassium bromide to a volume of 97.4 ml with distilled water, the solution D was prepared by diluting 45.8 g of potassium bromide to a volume of 400 ml with distilled water, the solution C was added in 30 minutes, and potassium hexacyano iron (III) was eliminated. The particles were precipitated, desalted, washed with water and dispersed by the same method as in the silver halide emulsion 1.
  • the silver halide emulsion 2 was obtained by spectral sensitization and chemical sensitization by the same method as in the silver halide emulsion 1, and by adding 5-methyl-2-mercaptobenzimidazole and 1-phenyl-2-heptyl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-triazole, except that the amount of addition of the methanol solution of the spectral sensitizing dye A and spectral sensitizing dye B in 1:1 molar ratio was changed to 7.5 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver as a sum of the spectral sensitizing dyes A and B, the amount of addition of the tellurium sensitizer B was changed to 1.1 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver, and the amount of addition of 1-phenyl-2-heptyl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-triazole was changed to 3.3 ⁇ 10 -3 mole per one mole of silver.
  • the emulsion particles of the silver halide emulsion 2 were cubic
  • the silver halide emulsion 3 was prepared by the same method as in the silver halide emulsion 1, except that the temperature of 30°C of the liquid for forming the particles was changed to 27°C. The particles were precipitated, desalted, washed with water and dispersed by the same method as in the silver halide emulsion 1.
  • the silver halide emulsion 3 was obtained by the same method as in the emulsion 1, except that the amount of addition of the spectral sensitizing dyes A and B in a solid dispersion (in an aqueous gelatin solution) containing the spectral sensitizing dyes A and B in 1:1 molar ratio was changed to 6 ⁇ 10 -3 mole per one mole of silver as a sum of the spectral sensitizing dyes A and B, and the amount of addition of the tellurium sensitizer B was changed to 5.2 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per per mole of silver.
  • the emulsion particles in the silver halide emulsion 3 had an average equivalent-circle diameter of 0.034 ⁇ m, and a variation coefficient of the equivalent-circle diameter of 20%, and contained 3.5 mol% of iodine uniformly distributed in the silver bromide particles.
  • Dissolved were 70% by mass of the silver halide emulsion 1, 15% by mass of the silver halide emulsion 2 and 15% by mass of the silver halide emulsion 3, and benzothiazolium iodide was added in a proportion of 7 ⁇ 10 -3 per one mole of silver as 1% by mass aqueous solution. Water was further added so that the content of the silver halide is 38.2 g per 1 kg of the application mixed emulsion as converted into Ag.
  • the reaction temperature within the reaction vessel during the addition was controlled as described in Table 1, and the external temperature was controlled so that the liquid temperature is constant.
  • the piping system for adding the organic acid sodium solution was kept constant by circulating warm water at the external space of the dual wall pipe so that the liquid temperature of the outlet at the tip of the nozzle is kept at 75°C.
  • the piping system for adding the aqueous silver nitrate solution was also kept at a constant temperature by circulating cold water in the external space of the dual wall pipe.
  • the positions for adding the organic acid sodium solution and aqueous silver nitrate solution were disposed to be symmetrical, respectively, relative to the central axis of the stirrer.
  • the elevations of the tip of the nozzles were adjusted so as to avoid contact with the reaction solution.
  • the solution was continues to stir for 20 minutes at the same temperature, followed by increasing the temperature to 35°C in 30 minutes with ripening for 210 minutes thereafter.
  • the solid fraction was filtered off by centrifugal filtration, and the filtrate was washed with water until conductivity of the filtered water reduces to 30 ⁇ S/cm.
  • the wet cake was made to be a slurry by adding pure water followed by filtration, and this procedure was repeated 3 times in order to facilitate conductivity to decrease.
  • the wet cake of the organic silver was centrifuged at a centrifugal force of 700G for 1 hour.
  • G is represented by 1.119 ⁇ 10 -5 ⁇ radius of vessel (cm) ⁇ rotational speed (rpm) 2 .
  • the solid fraction of the wet cake of the organic silver thus obtained was 44% (measured by drying 1 g of the wet cake at 110°C for 2 hours).
  • the solution after the preliminary dispersion was processed 3 times by adjusting the pressure of the dispersion machine (trade name: Micro-fluidizer M-610, made by Micro-Fluidex International Corporation, Z-typ-interaction chamber was used) to 1260 kg/cm 2 to obtain a silver behenate dispersion.
  • the characteristic values of the dispersion were the same as those after washing with water.
  • the dispersion temperature was adjusted at 18°C by attaching interaction chambers at the front and rear faces of a coil type heat exchanger, and by controlling the temperature of coolant.
  • the reducing agent-1 dispersion was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the reducing agent-2 dispersion was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the reducing agent-3 dispersion was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the reducing agent-4 dispersion was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the reducing agent-5 dispersion was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the reducing agent complex-6 dispersion was prepared by the same method as preparing reducing agent complex-3 dispersion, except that the 1:1 complex of 2,2'-methylenebis-(4-ethyl-6-t-butylphenol) and triphenyl phosphine oxide in preparation of the reducing agent complex-3 dispersion was changed to a 1:1 complex of 2,2'-methylenebis-(4-ethyl-6-t-butylphenol) and tri(4-methylphenyl)phosphine oxide.
  • the reducing agent complex-7 dispersion was prepared by the same method as preparing reducing agent complex-3 dispersion, except that the 1:1 complex of 2,2'-methylenebis-(4-ethyl-6-t-butylphenol) and triphenyl phosphine oxide in preparation of the reducing agent complex-3 dispersion was changed to a 1:1 complex of 2,2'-methylenebis-(4-ethyl-6-t-butylphenol) and tri(4-t-butylphenyl)phosphine oxide.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump, and dispersed with a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by Imex Co.) for 3 hours and 30 minutes.
  • the concentration was adjusted thereafter to 22% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoinchiazolinone and water to obtain the hydrogen bonding compound-1 dispersion.
  • the median diameter of the reducing agent particles contained in the reducing agent dispersion thus obtained was 0.40 ⁇ m, and the maximum particle diameter was 1.7 ⁇ m.
  • the hydrogen bonding compound dispersion obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore size of 3.0 ⁇ m, and foreign substances such as dust were removed.
  • the hydrogen bonding compound-2 dispersion was obtained by the same method as preparing the hydrogen bonding compound-1 dispersion, except that the hydrogen bonding compound-1 (triphenyl phosphine oxide) was replaced with the hydrogen bonding compound-2 (tri(4-t-butylphenyl)phosphine oxide).
  • the median diameter of the reducing agent particles contained in the reducing agent dispersion thus obtained was 0.35 ⁇ m, and the maximum particle diameter was 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • the organic polyhalogen compound-1 dispersion was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the organic polyhalogen compound-2 dispersion was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the organic polyhalogen compound-3 dispersion was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the phthalazine compound-1 solution was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the mercapto compound-1 solution was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the pigment-1 dispersion was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the SBR latex solution was prepared by the same method as in Example 1.
  • the viscosity of the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-1 was 85 mPa ⁇ s as measured with a B-type viscometer (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm) made by Tokyo Instrument Co.
  • the viscosity of the application fluid measured at 25°C using RFS Fluid Spectrometer made by Rheometrix Far-East Co. was 1500, 220, 70, 40 and 20 (mPa ⁇ s) at shear speed of 0.1, 1, 10. 100 and 1000 (1/sec), respectively.
  • the application fluids were prepared by the same method as in the emulsion layer (photosensitive layer) application fluid-15, except that the compositions in Tables 6 and 7 were used.
  • the application fluid of the emulsion face intermediate layer was prepared as in Example 1.
  • the application fluid of the emulsion face protective layer was prepared as in Example 1.
  • the heat developable photosensitive material was prepared as in Example 1.
  • the heat developable photosensitive materials - 11 to 19 and 22 to 29 were prepared as in Example 1.
  • the amount of application (g/m 2 ) of each compound in the emulsion layer is as shown in Tables 8 and 9.
  • the degree of matting of the heat developable image recording material prepared was 550 second and 130 second for the photosensitive layer side and back face side, respectively, as Beck smoothness.
  • the pH value of the film surface at the photosensitive layer side was 6.0.
  • the heat developable photosensitive material-2 was prepared by the same method as preparing the heat developable photosensitive material-1, except that the emulsion layer application fluid-1 for the heat developable photosensitive material-1 was changed to the emulsion layer application fluid-2, and the yellow dye compound 15 was eliminated from the halation preventive layer.
  • the amount of application (g/m 2 ) of each compound in the emulsion layer is as shown in Table 8.
  • the heat developable photosensitive material-3 was prepared by the same method as preparing the heat developable photosensitive material-1, except that the emulsion layer application fluid-11 for the heat developable photosensitive material-11 was changed to the emulsion layer application fluid-3, and the yellow dye compound 15 was eliminated from the halation preventive layer.
  • the fluorine based surfactants F-1, F-2, F-3 and F-4 in the protective second layer and back face protective layer were changed to the same weight of F-5, F-6, F - 7 and F-8.
  • the amount of application (g/m 2 ) of each compound in the emulsion layer is as shown in Table 8.
  • the photographic material was exposed and heat-developed (heated with four panels set at 112°C, 119°C, 121°C, and 121°C for 24 seconds) with Fiji Medical Dry laser Imager (equipped with a semiconductor laser at 660 nm with a maximum output of 60 mW (111B)), and the image obtained was evaluated with a densitometer.
  • Fiji Medical Dry laser Imager equipped with a semiconductor laser at 660 nm with a maximum output of 60 mW (111B)
  • the results are shown in Tables 8 and 9.
  • the invention provides a heat developable photosensitive material having low minimum density (D min ) as well as being excellent in image preservative property,
  • the PET substrate was prepared and subjected to corona treatment in the same manner as in Example 1.
  • the undercoat application fluid of the recipe (i) was applied on one face (photosensitive layer face) with an amount of wet coating of 6.6 ml/m 2 (per one face) with a wire bar, followed by drying at 180°C for 5 minutes. Then, the undercoat application fluid of the recipe (ii) was applied on the other face (back face) with an amount of wet coating of 5.7 ml/m 2 with a wire bar followed by drying at 180°C for 5 minutes. Furthermore, the application fluid of the recipe (iii) was applied on the back face with an amount of wet coating of 7.7 ml/m 2 with a wire bar followed by drying at 180°C for 6 minutes.
  • the dispersion was dispersed until the absorbance ratio between the absorbance of the dispersion at 450 nm and absorbance of the dispersion at 650 nm (D450/D650) becomes 2.2 or more.
  • the dispersion obtained was diluted with distilled water so that the concentration of the base precursor becomes 20% by weight, and was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a mean pore size of 3 ⁇ m for removing dusts before practical use.
  • the dispersion was dispersed until the absorbance ratio between the absorbance of the dispersion at 650 nm and absorbance of the dispersion at 750 nm (D650/D750) becomes 5.0 or more.
  • the dispersion obtained was diluted with distilled water so that the concentration of the cyanine dye becomes 6% by mass, and was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a mean pore size of 1 ⁇ m for removing dusts before practical use.
  • the vessel was warmed at 40°C, and 40 g of gelatin, 1.5 g of liquid paraffin in the liquid paraffin emulsion, 35 mg of benzoisothiazolinone, 6.8 g of 1 mole/L sodium hydroxide, 0.5 g of sodium t-octylphenoxyethoxyethane sulfonate, 0.27 g of sodium polystyrene sulfonate, 37 mg of fluorine based surfactant (F-1: potassium N-perluorooctylsulfonyl-N-propylalanine), 150 mg of fluorine based surfactant (F-2: polyethyleneglycol mono (N-perfluorooctylsulfonyl-N-popyl-2-aminoethyl) ether [mean degree of polymerization of ethylene oxide: 15]), 64 mg of fluorine based surfactant (F-3), 32 mg of fluorine based surfactant,
  • solution C prepared by diluting 51.86 g of silver nitrate to 317.5 ml by adding distilled water
  • solution D prepared by diluting 44.2 g of potassium bromide and 2.2 g of potassium iodide to 400 ml by adding distilled water were added in 20 minutes at a constant flow rate, wherein solution D was added by a controlled double jet method while maintaining pAg at 8.1.
  • Hexachloro iridium (III) potassium slat was added after 10 minutes of start of addition of solutions C and D so that the amount of iridium becomes 1 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver.
  • Hexacyano iron (II) potassium was added after 5 seconds of completion of addition of solution C so that the amount of iron becomes 3 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver.
  • pH of the solution was adjusted to 3.8 using 0.5 mol/L sulfuric acid solution and, after stopping to stir, particles were precipitated followed by desalting and washing with water.
  • the pH of the emulsion was adjusted to 5.9 using 1 mol/L sodium hydroxide, obtaining a silver halide dispersion with pAg of 8.0.
  • the temperature of the silver halide dispersion was kept at 38°C, and 5 ml of 0.34% by mass methanol solution of 2-benzoisothiazoline-3-one was added. After 40 minutes, a methanol solution containing spectral sensitizing dyes A and B in 1:1 molar ratio was added so that the combined amount of the sensitizing dyes A and B becomes 1.2 ⁇ 10 -3 per one mole of silver, and the temperature of the solution was raised to 47°C after one minute.
  • a methanol solution of sodium benzene thiosulfonate was added in a proportion of 7.6 ⁇ 10 -5 per one mole of silver and, after 5 minutes, a methanol solution of tellurium sensitizer C was added in a proportion of 2.9 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver, followed by ripening for 91 minutes.
  • the particles in the silver halide emulsion had an average equivalent-circle diameter of 0.042 ⁇ m, and a variation coefficient of the equivalent-circle diameter of 20%, and contained 3.5 mol% of iodine uniformly distributed in the silver bromide particles.
  • the particle size or the like was determined using an electron microscope from the average particle size of 1000 particles.
  • the proportion of the [100] face in the particles was found to be 80% using a Kubelka-Munk method.
  • the silver halide emulsion-2 was prepared by the same method as in the silver halide emulsion-1, except that the temperature of the solution for forming the particles was changed from 30°C to 47°C, dilution of solution B of 15.9 g of potassium bromide was changed to 97.4 ml using distilled water, dilution of solution D of 45.8 g of potassium bromide was changed to 400 ml using distilled water, and the time period for adding solution C was changed to 30 minutes while eliminating potassium hexacyano iron (II). Precipitation, desalting and washing with water were carried out as in the silver halide emulsion-1.
  • Spectral sensitization, chemical sensitization, and addition of 5-methyl-2-mercaptobenzoimidazole and 1-phenyl-2-heptyl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-triazole were preformed as in the emulsion-1, except that addition of the methanol solution of the spectral sensitizing dyes A and B in 1:1 molar ratio was changed to 7.5 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver as a sum of the sensitizing dyes A and B, addition of the tellurium sensitizer C was changed to 1.1 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver, and addition of 1-phenyl-2-heptyl-5-mercapto-1,3,4-triazole was changed to 3.3 ⁇ 10 -3 mole per one mole of silver, thereby obtaining the silver halide emulsion-2.
  • the emulsion particles of the silver halide emulsion-2 were cubic particles of pure silver bromide with an average equivalent-circle diameter of 0.080
  • the silver halide emulsion-3 was prepared by the same method as in preparing the silver halideemulsion-1, except that the temperature of the solution for forming the particles was changed from 30°C to 27°C. Precipitation, desalting and washing with water were performed as in the silver halide emulsion-1.
  • the silver halide emulsion-3 was obtained by the same method as in the emulsion-1, except that addition of the solid dispersion (in aqueous gelatin solution) of the sensitizing dyes A and B in 1:1 molar radio was changed to 6 ⁇ 10 -3 mole per one mole of silver as a sum of the sensitizing dyes A and B, addition of the tellurium sensitizer C was changed to 5.2 ⁇ 10 -4 mole per one mole of silver, and 5 ⁇ 10 -4 mole of bromoauric acid per one mole of silver and 2 ⁇ 10 -3 mole of potassium thiocyanate per one mole of silver were added 3 minutes after addition of the tellurium sensitizer.
  • the particles in the silver halide emulsion had an average equivalent-circle diameter of 0.034 ⁇ m, and a variation coefficient of the equivalent-circle diameter of 20%, and contained 3.5 mol% of iodine uniformly distributed in the silver bromide particles.
  • Dissolved were 70% by mass of silver halide emulsion-1, 15% by mass of silver halide emulsion-2 and 15% by mass of silver halide emulsion-3, and 1% by mass of aqueous benzothiazolium iodide solution was added in a proportion of 7 ⁇ 10 -3 mole per one mole of silver. Water was further added so that the content of the silver halide becomes 38.2 g as converted into silver per 1 kg of the application fluid of the mixed emulsion.
  • a vessel containing 635 L of distilled water and 30 L of t-butyl alcohol was kept at 30°C, and the total amount of the organic acid sodium solution and the total amount of the aqueous silver nitrate solution were added in 93 minutes and 15 seconds and 90 minutes, respectively, at a constant flow rate. Only the aqueous silver nitrate solution was added in 11 minutes after initiation of the aqueous silver nitrate solution, addition of the organic acid sodium solution was initiated thereafter, and only the organic acid sodium solution was added in the last 14 minutes and 15 seconds after completing addition of the aqueous silver nitrate solution. The temperature in the reaction vessel was kept at 30°C, and external temperature was controlled so as to maintain a constant temperature of the reaction solution.
  • the temperature in the piping system for the organic acid sodium solution was kept constant by circulating warm water in the outer space of the double wall pipe, and the liquid temperature of the outlet at the tip of the nozzle was adjusted to 75°C.
  • the temperature of the piping system of the aqueous silver nitrate solution was also kept constant by circulating cooled water in the outer space of the double wall pipe.
  • the possessions for adding the organic acid sodium solution and aqueous silver nitrate solution were disposed to be symmetrical relative to the central axis of the stirrer with their elevations adjusted not to touch the reaction solution.
  • the solution was continued to be stirred for 20 minutes while keeping the temperature, which was raised to 35°C for 30 minutes, and the precipitate was ripened for 210 minutes thereafter.
  • the solid fraction was filtered off by centrifugal filtration, and was washed with water until conductivity of the filtered water decreases to 70 ⁇ S/cm, thereby obtaining the organic acid silver salt.
  • the solid fraction obtained was stored as a wet cake without drying.
  • the shape of the organic acid silver salt particle prepared was as shown in Table 13.
  • Added to the wet cake corresponding to 260 kg of solid fraction was 19.3 kg of polyvinyl alcohol (trade name: PVA-217) and water to a total weight of 1000 kg.
  • the suspended solution was formed into a slurry with a dissolver blade, followed by preliminary dispersion with a pipe line mixer (PM-10 made by Mizuho Industries Co.).
  • the solution after the preliminary dispersion was processed 3 times with a dispersion apparatus (trade name: Micro-Fluidizer M610 made by Micro-Fluidex International Co., equipped with Z-type interaction chamber) by adjusting the pressure at 1150 kg/cm 2 , thereby obtaining the organic acid silver salt dispersion.
  • Coil type heat exchangers were attached at the front and rear sides, respectively, for cooling, and the dispersion temperature was adjusted at 18°C by controlling the temperature of the coolant.
  • the organic acid silver salt dispersions A to J were obtained as described above.
  • a slurry was prepared by adding 10 kg of water with thorough stirring into 10 kg of the reducing agent complex-1 (1:1 complex of 6,6'-di-t-butyl-4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-butylidenediphenol and triphenyl phosphine oxide), 0.12 kg of triphenyl phosphine oxide and 16 kg of 10% by mass aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (Poval MP203 made by Kuraray Co. , Ltd.).
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing for 4 hours and 30 minutes using a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm, the concentration of the reducing agent complex was adjusted to 22% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water, thereby obtaining the reducing agent complex-1 dispersion.
  • the reducing agent complex particles contained in the reducing agent complex dispersion had a median diameter of 0.45 ⁇ m and a maximum particle diameter of 1.45 ⁇ m.
  • the educing agent complex dispersion obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • a slurry was prepared by adding 10 kg of water with thorough stirring into 10 kg of the reducing agent-2 (6.6'-di-t-butyl-4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-butylidenediphenol and triphenyl phosphine oxide) and 16 kg of 10% by mass aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (Poval MP203 made by Kuraray Co., Ltd.).
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing for 4 hours and 30 minutes using a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm, the concentration of the reducing agent complex was adjusted to 25% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water.
  • the reducing agent-2 dispersion was obtained by heat-treating the dispersion solution at 60°C for 5 hours.
  • the reducing agent complex particles contained in the reducing agent dispersion had a median diameter of 0.40 ⁇ m and a maximum particle diameter of 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • the reducing agent dispersion obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • a slurry was obtained by adding 10 kg of water with thorough stirring into 10 kg of the hydrogen bonding compound-1 (tri(4-t-butylphenyl)phosphine oxide) and 16 kg of 10% by mass aqueous solution of modified polyvinyl alcohol (Poval MP203 made by Kuraray Co., Ltd.).
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing for 3 hours and 30 minutes using a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by I.mecs Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm, the concentration of the hydrogen bonding compound was adjusted to 25% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water.
  • the hydrogen bonding compound-1 dispersion was obtained by heat-treating the dispersion solution at 80°C for 1 hour.
  • the hydrogen bonding compound particles contained in the hydrogen bonding compound dispersion had a median diameter of 0.3S ⁇ m and a maximum particle diameter of 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • the hydrogen bonding compound dispersion obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • a slurry was obtained by adding 10 kg of water with thorough stirring into 10 kg of development accelerator-1 and 20 kg of 10% by mass aqueous solution of modified polyvinyl alcohol (Poval MP203 made by Kuraray Co. , Ltd.).
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing for 3 hours and 30 minutes using a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by Imex Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0. 5 mm, the concentration of the development accelerator was adjusted to 20% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water, thereby obtaining the development accelerator-1 dispersion.
  • the development accelerator particles contained in the development accelerator dispersion had a median diameter of 0. 48 ⁇ m and a maximum particle diameter of 1.4 ⁇ m.
  • the hydrogen bonding compound dispersion obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • Solid dispersions of the development accelerator-2, development accelerator-3 and color controlling agent-1 were dispersed by the same method as in dispersing the development accelerator-1, obtaining 20% by mass dispersions.
  • a slurry was obtained by adding 14 kg of water with thorough stirring into 10 kg of the organic polyhalogen compound-1 (tribromomethanesulfonyl benzene), 10 kg of 20% by mass aqueous solution of modified polyvinyl alcohol (Poval MP203 made by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) and 0.4 kg of 20% by mass aqueous solution of sodium triisopropyl naphthalene sulfonate.
  • the organic polyhalogen compound-1 tribromomethanesulfonyl benzene
  • modified polyvinyl alcohol Poval MP203 made by Kuraray Co., Ltd.
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing for 5 hours using a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by Imex Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm, the concentration of the organic polyhalogen compound was adjusted to 26% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water, thereby obtaining the organic polyhalogen compound-1 dispersion.
  • the organic polyhalogen compound particles contained in the organic polyhalogen compound dispersion had a median diameter of 0.41 ⁇ m and a maximum particle diameter of 2.0 ⁇ m.
  • the organic polyhalogen compound dispersion obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 10.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • a slurry was obtained by adding with thorough mixing 10 kg of the organic polyhalogen compound-2 (N-butyl-3-tribromomethanesulfonyl benzamide), 20 kg of 10% by mass aqueous solution of modified polyvinyl alcohol (Poval MP203 made by Kuraray Co. , Ltd.) and 0.4 kg of 20% by mass aqueous solution of sodium triisopropyl naphthalene sulfonate.
  • the organic polyhalogen compound-2 N-butyl-3-tribromomethanesulfonyl benzamide
  • the slurry was sent with a diaphragm pump and, after dispersing for 5 hours using a horizontal sand mill (UVM-2 made by Imex Co.) filled with zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm, the concentration of the organic polyhalogen compound was adjusted to 30% by mass by adding 0.2 g of sodium benzoisothiazolinone and water.
  • the dispersion solution was warmed at 40°C for 5 hours, thereby obtaining the organic polyhalogen compound-2 dispersion.
  • the organic polyhalogen compound particles contained in the organic polyhalogen compound dispersion had a median diameter of 0.40 ⁇ m and a maximum particle diameter of 1.3 ⁇ m.
  • the organic polyhalogen compound dispersion obtained was filtered with a polypropylene filter with a pore diameter of 3.0 ⁇ m to remove foreign substances such as dusts.
  • a 0.7% by mass aqueous solution was prepared by dissolving 7 g of the mercapto compopund-1 (sodium 1-(3-sulfophenyl)-5-mercaptotetrazole) in 993 g of water.
  • a 2.0% by mass aqueous solution was prepared by dissolving 20 g of the mercapto compopund-2 (sodium 1-(3-methylureide)-5-mercaptotetrazole) in 980 g of water.
  • a slurry was prepared by adding with thorough mixing 64 g of C. I. Pigment blue 60, 6.4 g of Demol N (made by Kao Corporation) and 250 g of water. The mixture was placed in a vessel together with 800 g of zirconia beads with an average diameter of 0.5 mm, and dispersed for 25 hours in a dispersing apparatus (1/4G sand grinder mill made by Imex Co.) to obtain the pigment-1 dispersion. The pigment particles contained in the pigment-1 dispersion thus obtained had an average particle diameter of 0.21 ⁇ m.
  • SBR latex with Tg of 22°C was prepared as follows.
  • the SBR latex having a different proportion of styrene and butadiene may be prepared by the same method by appropriately changing the proportion.
  • Sequentially added were 1000 g of the fatty acid silver salt dispersion obtained above, 276 ml of water, 33.2 g of the pigment-1 dispersion, 21 g of the organic polyhalogen compound-1 dispersion, 58 g of the organic polyhalogen compound-2 dispersion, 173 g of the phthalazine compound-1 dispersion, 1082 g of the SBR latex (Tg 22°C) solution, 299 g of the reducing agent-1 dispersion, 6 g of the development acceleratore-1 dispersion, 9 ml of the mercapto compound-1 solution and 27 ml of the mercapto compound-2 solution.
  • the emulsion layer application fluid prepared by adding 117 g of the silver halide mixed emulsion A immediately before application with thorough stirring was directly sent to a coating die for application.
  • the viscosity of the emulsion layer application fluid was measured with a B-type viscometer made by Tokyo Instrument Co., obtaining a viscosity of 25 mPa ⁇ s at 40°C (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm).
  • the content of zirconium per 1 g of silver in the application fluid was 0.38 mg.
  • Sequentially added were 1000 g of the fatty acid silver salt dispersion obtained above, 276 ml of water, 32.8 g of the pigment-1 dispersion, 21 g of the organic polyhalogen compound-1 dispersion, 58 g of the organic polyhalogen compound-2 dispersion, 173 g of the phthalazine compound-1 dispersion, 1082 g of the SBR latex (Tg 20°C) solution, 155 g of the reducing agent-2 dispersion, 55 g of the hydrogen bonding compound-1 dispersion, 6 g of the development acceleratore-1 dispersion, 2 g of the development accelerator-2 dispersion, 3 g of the development accelerator-3 dispersion, 2 g of the color control agent-1 dispersion and 6 ml of the aqueous mercapto compound-2 solution.
  • the emulsion layer application fluid prepared by adding 117 g of the silver halide mixed emulsion A immediately before application with thorough stirring was directly sent to a coating die for application.
  • the viscosity of the emulsion layer application fluid was measured with a B-type viscometer made by Tokyo Instrument Co., obtaining a viscosity of 40 mPa' s at 40°C (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm).
  • the content of zirconium per 1 g of silver in the application fluid was 0.25 mg.
  • the viscosity of the application fluid was 58 mPa ⁇ s at 40°C as measured with a B-type viscometer (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm).
  • Dissolved was 64 g of inert gelatin, and 80 g of 27.5% by mass solution of methyl methacrylate/styrene/butyl acrylate/hydroxyethyl methacrylate/acrylic acid copolymer latex (copolymerization ratio 64/9/20/5/2), 23 ml of 10% by mass methanol solution of phthalic acid, 23 ml of 10% by mass aqueous solution of 4-methyl phthalic acid, 28 ml of 0.5 mol/L sulfuric acid, 5 ml of 5% by mass of aqueous solution of aerosol OT (made by American Cyanamid Co.), 0.5 g of phenoxy ethanol and 0.1 g of benzoisothiazolinone were added with addition of water to a total weight of 750g.
  • a solution of 4% by mass of chromium alum (26 ml) was added and mixed with a static mixer immediately before application, and this solution was sent to a coating die in a
  • the viscosity of the application fluid was 20 mPa ⁇ s at 40°C as measured with a B-type viscometer (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm).
  • aqueous solution (455 ml) containing 4% by mass of chromium alum and 0.67% by mass of phthalic acid were added and mixed with a static mixer immediately before application, and this solution was sent to a coating die in a area density of 8.3 ml/m 2 .
  • the viscosity of the application fluid was 19 mPa ⁇ s at 40°C as measured with a B-type viscometer (No. 1 rotor, 60 rpm).
  • the emulsion layer, intermediate layer, protective first layer and protective second layer were simultaneously coated in this order by a slide beads application method to form the samples of the heat developable photosensitive materials.
  • the temperatures were adjusted at 31°C for the emulsion layer and intermediate layer, at 36°C for the protective first layer, and at 37°C for the protective second layer.
  • the amount of application (g/m 2 ) of each compound in the emulsion layer was as follows:
  • the application speed was 160 m/min; the space between the tip of the coating die and the substrate was 0.10 to 0.30 mm; and the pressure of the vacuum chamber was set 196 to 882 Pa lower than the atmospheric pressure. Electrification of the substrate was removed by ion blowing before application.
  • the application fluid on the substrate was cooled with an air flow at a dry bulb temperature of 10 to 20°C in the chilling zone.
  • the substrate was transferred by non-contact convey method, dried in a coil type non-contact drying chamber, and was dried with a dry air flow at a dry bulb temperature of 23 to 45°C and wet bulb temperature of 15 to 21°C.
  • the surface of the substrate was heated at 70 to 90°C, followed by cooling the surface of the substrate at 25°C.
  • the degree of matting of the heat developable image recording material prepared was 550 second and 130 second for the photosensitive layer side and back face side, respectively, as Beck smoothness.
  • the pH value of the film surface at the photosensitive layer side was 6.0.
  • the heat developable photosensitive material-2 was prepared by the same method as preparing the heat developable photosensitive material-1, except that the emulsion layer application fluid-1 was changed to the emulsion layer application fluid-2, the yellow dye compound-1 was eliminated from the halation preventive layer, and the fluorine based surfactants on the back face protective layer and emulsion face protective layer were changed from F-1, F-2, F-3 and F-4 to F-5, F-6, F-7 and F-8.
  • the amount of application (g/m 2 ) of each compound in the emulsion layer was as follows:
  • the samples obtained were cut into a half-size, and packaged in the following package material under an environment of 25°C and 50% RH.
  • the samples were evaluated as follows after preservation at room temperature for two weeks.
  • the heat developable image recording materials were exposed and heat-developed (using four panel heaters with a heating program of 112°C, 119°C, 121°C, and 121°C for 24 seconds in total for the heat developable photosensitive material-1, 14 seconds in total for the heat developable photosensitive material-2) using Fuji Medical Dry laser Imager FM-DP L (equipped with a semiconductor laser with a maximum output energy 60 mW (IIIB)).
  • the images obtained was evaluated with a densitometer.
  • the sensitivity is indicated by relative values by taking the sensitivity of the heat developable photosensitive material 1D as 100.
  • the heat developable dried material after development was hung for 8 hours on a hanger illuminated with a light of a luminance of 1000 Lux in an environment of 25°C and 60% RH.
  • the photographic property was evaluated by changes of D min thereafter measured by a densitometer. No change of the image density was evaluated as 100, and a change of doubled density was evaluated as 200. The results are shown in Table 14.
  • the heat developable dried material after development was hung for 10 minutes on a hanger illuminated with a light of a luminance of 1000 Lux in an environment of 25°C and 60% RH, was sealed in a moisture proof-light shielding bag, and allowed to stand still for 3 days at 60°C.
  • the photographic property was evaluated by changes of D min thereafter measured by a densitometer.
  • the image was evaluated by the rate of change before hanging on the hanger and after standing for three days. No change of the image was evaluated as 100, and a change of doubled density was evaluated as 200. The results are shown in Table 14.
  • the equivalent-circle diameter as well as the size variation coefficient were measured using a diffraction particle size analyzer "SALD-2000J" made by Shimadzu Co.
  • the invention provides a heat developable photosensitive material with small increase of fog by heat and light after development while requiring no cautions against light and heat in handling.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Non-Silver Salt Photosensitive Materials And Non-Silver Salt Photography (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Matériau d'enregistrement d'image, développable à la chaleur pour utilisation médicale, comprenant un halogénure d'argent photosensible, un agent réducteur pour ions argent, un liant et des particules de sel d'argent organique non photosensible sur une face du substrat, où la teneur en béhénate d'argent dans les particules de sel d'argent organique non photosensible est de 90% en moles à 100% en moles, et au moins un type de composé mercapto est présent sur la même face du substrat, comme couche présentant l'halogénure d'argent photosensible, ledit composé mercapto est représenté par la formule générale (1) suivante :
    Figure imgb0122
     où dans la formule générale (1), R représente un groupe uréide, ledit composé mercapto est présent en une quantité totale de 5 x 10-4 à 1 x 10-1 mole par rapport à une mole d'halogénure d'argent photosensible.
  2. Matériau d'enregistrement d'image, développable à la chaleur selon la revendication 1, où le au moins un type de composé mercapto est présent dans la couche contenant l'halogénure d'argent photosensible.
  3. Matériau d'enregistrement d'image, développable à la chaleur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la teneur en béhénate d'argent dans les particules de sel d'argent organique non photosensible est de 94% en moles à 100% en moles.
  4. Matériau d'enregistrement d'image, développable à la chaleur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la teneur en béhénate d'argent dans les particules de sel d'argent organique non photosensible est de 96% en moles à 100% en moles.
  5. Matériau d'enregistrement d'image, développable à la chaleur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la teneur en stéarate d'argent dans les particules de sel d'argent organique non photosensible est de 1% en moles ou moins.
  6. Matériau d'enregistrement d'image, développable à la chaleur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la teneur en arachidonate d'argent dans les particules de sel d'argent organique non photosensible est de 6% en moles ou moins.
  7. Matériau d'enregistrement d'image, développable à la chaleur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'agent réducteur des ions argent est représenté par la formule générale suivante (2) :
    Figure imgb0123
     où dans la formule générale (2), R11 et R11' représentent chacun indépendamment, un groupe alkyle avec un nombre de carbone allant de 1 à 20 ; R12 et R12' représentent chacun indépendamment, un atome d'hydrogène ou un substituant capable de substituer un cycle benzénique ; L représente un radical -S- ou un radical - CHR13- ; R13 représente un atome d'hydrogène ou un radical alkyle avec un nombre de carbone allant de 1 à 20 ; et X et X' représentent chacun indépendamment, un atome d'hydrogène ou un substituant capable de substituer un cycle benzénique.
  8. Matériau d'enregistrement d'image, développable à la chaleur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les particules de sel d'argent organique non photosensible sont préparées par addition d'une solution contenant des ions argent et d'une solution d'un sel de métal alcalin d'un acide organique ou d'une suspension de celui-ci, dans un dispositif de mélange scellé.
  9. Matériau d'enregistrement d'image, développable à la chaleur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les particules de sel d'argent organique non photosensible sont dessalées par un procédé d'ultrafiltration.
EP02023788A 2001-10-26 2002-10-25 Matériau d' enregistrement d' image développable par la chaleur Expired - Lifetime EP1306720B1 (fr)

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JP2001329077 2001-10-26
JP2001329077A JP2003131336A (ja) 2001-10-26 2001-10-26 熱現像画像記録材料
JP2001370499 2001-12-04
JP2001370499A JP2003172997A (ja) 2001-12-04 2001-12-04 熱現像感光材料
JP2002031097 2002-02-07
JP2002031097A JP4079650B2 (ja) 2002-02-07 2002-02-07 熱現像感光材料

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US20040009441A1 (en) * 2002-04-02 2004-01-15 Makoto Ishihara Thermally developable photosensitive material
US20030232288A1 (en) * 2001-11-05 2003-12-18 Yutaka Oka Photothermographic material and method of thermal development of the same
US7157217B2 (en) * 2002-12-17 2007-01-02 Fujifilm Corporation Photothermographic material
JP2004309948A (ja) 2003-04-10 2004-11-04 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd 熱現像感光材料
JP4241217B2 (ja) 2003-06-24 2009-03-18 コニカミノルタエムジー株式会社 感光性分散乳剤、該感光性分散乳剤を含有する熱現像感光材料および該熱現像感光材料を用いる画像形成方法

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JP2000284400A (ja) * 1999-03-29 2000-10-13 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd 熱現像感光材料

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JPS4925498B1 (fr) * 1969-07-07 1974-07-01
EP0962812A1 (fr) * 1998-06-03 1999-12-08 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Dispersion aqueuse de particules de sels argentiques d'acides gras, procédé pour redisperser des particules de sels argentiques d'acides gras, produit photothermographique sensible à la lumière et procédé pour sa fabrication
DE60011207T2 (de) * 1999-10-26 2005-06-23 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Minami-Ashigara Photothermographisches Material
JP2002196446A (ja) * 2000-12-25 2002-07-12 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd 熱現像画像記録材料

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DE60216876T2 (de) 2007-09-06

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