US3453113A - Silver halide polyvinyl alcohol emulsions containing hardening agent - Google Patents

Silver halide polyvinyl alcohol emulsions containing hardening agent Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3453113A
US3453113A US504139A US3453113DA US3453113A US 3453113 A US3453113 A US 3453113A US 504139 A US504139 A US 504139A US 3453113D A US3453113D A US 3453113DA US 3453113 A US3453113 A US 3453113A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
polyvinyl alcohol
silver halide
percent
photographic
emulsion
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
Application number
US504139A
Inventor
Ronald F Ofstead
Ramsis Gobran
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
3M Co
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co filed Critical Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3453113A publication Critical patent/US3453113A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G03PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03CPHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/005Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein
    • G03C1/06Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein with non-macromolecular additives
    • G03C1/30Hardeners
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C09DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • C09DCOATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
    • C09D129/00Coating compositions based on homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by an alcohol, ether, aldehydo, ketonic, acetal, or ketal radical; Coating compositions based on hydrolysed polymers of esters of unsaturated alcohols with saturated carboxylic acids; Coating compositions based on derivatives of such polymers
    • C09D129/02Homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated alcohols
    • C09D129/04Polyvinyl alcohol; Partially hydrolysed homopolymers or copolymers of esters of unsaturated alcohols with saturated carboxylic acids
    • GPHYSICS
    • G03PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03CPHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/005Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein
    • G03C1/04Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein with macromolecular additives; with layer-forming substances

Definitions

  • This invention relates to photographic emulsions and more particularly to emulsions in which synthetic binders containing polyvinyl alcohol are employed, and to hardeners for use therein.
  • Emulsions containing polyvinyl alcohol require the addition of hardening agents so that after coating of the emulsion upon the support or substrate, the photosensitive material can be exposed and then further processed by the usual procedures using aqueous photographic processing solutions. While a number of such materials have been available heretofore, they have certain disadvantages, such as hardening the emulsion system too rapidly, thus interfering with coating techniques; insufficient permeability of the resulting emulsion layer after coating and drying, so that developing solutions could not penetrate, and the like. Another disadvantage of some of these hardeners is their failure to harden the emulsion coating sufficiently to provide satisfactory mechanical stability during processing.
  • Aqueous emulsions thus prepared have a long pre-coating shelf life without irreversibly gelling or hardening, and they can be stored at ordinary temperatures fora long time before coating on a support. During coating, tackiness of the emulsion coatings is eliminated without appreciably increasing the viscosity of the photographic emulsion.
  • the emulsion After coating, the emulsion is sufiiciently hard to make it abrasion-resistant, while at the same time, the dry coating is permeable to aqueous solutions to such a degree that complete development, fixing and washing can occur. Additionally it is unexpectedly found that the photographic coating is further hardened during development when basic (alkaline) developer solutions are used.
  • Polyvinyl alcohol is prepared by the hydrolysis (alcoholysis) of polyvinyl acetate. This process is ordinarily not carried to completion and it is to be understood that the polyvinyl alcohol polymers used herein can contain a proportion of unhydrolyzed acetate groups.
  • the orthophosphoric acid is added to the photographic emulsion system containing polyvinyl alcohol during mixing of the emulsion and preferably prior to the addition of the soluble silver salt.
  • an aqueous mixture containing polyvinyl alcohol in amount sufiicient to provide the desired binder properties for the ultimate photographic emulsion is acidified to a pH of the order of about 3.
  • Dilute phosphoric acid is then added slowly and with stirring to provide a homogeneous mixture.
  • a soluble silver salt e.g., silver nitrate
  • Silver halide is formed in the usual manner.
  • the emulsion may then if desired be kept at an elevated temperature for Ostwald ripening, following which it is coated, as on paper or a synthetic resin film substrate, or glass, in the usual way.
  • the amount of polyvinyl alcohol employed in any particular emulsion system may vary, depending upon whether or not it is the only gelling agent employed in the particular emulsion system used. Commonly, 5 to 10 parts of polyvinyl alcohol of medium molecular weight as used for gelling fluids per 100 parts of water are used when this is the only synthetic hydrophilic peptizing colloid employed. About 1 to 20 percent of orthophosphoric acid, based upon the weight of polyvinyl alcohol employed, is used as a hardener. Conveniently, the phosphoric acid is added as an aqueous solution of the commonly available percent orthophosphoric acid. For photographic purposes, reagent grade material is used to avoid undesirable impurities.
  • solutions of polyvinyl alcohol can be used for sizing paper, coatings on paper and cloth, cement or glue, etc. These can be prepared in concentrations of upwards of about 1 percent by weight; and orthophosphoric acid when added in amounts of about 1 to 20 percent based on the dry weight of the polyvinyl alcohol strengthens and hardens the coatings made therewith. Accordingly, the invention comprehends within its scope aqueous solutions of upwards of one percent by weight of polyvinyl alcohol, containing from 1 to 20 percent by weight of orthophosphoric acid, based on the dry weight of the polyvinyl alcohol.
  • the molecular weight of the polyvinyl alcohol affects its water-solubility, as is known; lower molecular weight polymer may be soluble to as much as 20 to 30 percent by weight or more, while high molecular weight material is less soluble.
  • the choice of molecular weight and concentration will depend on the end-use and one skilled in the art will have no difficulty in selecting the appropriate materials and amounts.
  • EXAMPLE 2 A polyvinyl alcohol solution (104 parts of 9.6 percent aqueous solution) is acidified by the addition of 10 parts of 48 percent aqueous hydrobromic acid. To this is added 4 parts of 21 percent aqueous phosphoric acid, with good stirring. Thereafter all operations are conducted in the dark. A solution of 10 parts of 5.9 N silver nitrate in water is added with good stirring over a period of about 10 seconds, and the mixture is then further stirred well for several minutes. To this is added 4 parts of surfactant (as used in Example 1) and the mixture is stirred for an additional 3 minute period.
  • Coatings of the resulting photographic emulsion are made upon baryta paper in the usual way.
  • the coated paper is air dried and stored in light-proof containers.
  • a dispersion of silver halide and binder adapted for use to prepare a photographic emulsion comprising an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol containing a silver halide dispersed therein, together with from 1 to 20 percent of orthophosphoric acid, 'based on the dry weight of the said polyvinyl alcohol, dissolved therein, as a hardening agent for the said polyvinyl alcohol.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Macromolecular Compounds (AREA)

Description

United States Patent US. Cl. 96--111 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE orthophosphoric acid, when added to a photographic emulsion comprising an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol with silver halide dispersed therein, produces optimum hardening.
This invention relates to photographic emulsions and more particularly to emulsions in which synthetic binders containing polyvinyl alcohol are employed, and to hardeners for use therein.
Much research work has been carried out heretofore in a search for synthetic materials which would be free from the disadvantages of gelatin for use in photographic applications. A number of materials have been developed which have the thermally reversible gelling properties of gelatin dispersions, and which can be used as binders for photographic emulsions. Among these is polyvinyl alcohol, which can be used as such, or with other water dispersible materials as a photographic emulsion gelling agent and binder.
Emulsions containing polyvinyl alcohol require the addition of hardening agents so that after coating of the emulsion upon the support or substrate, the photosensitive material can be exposed and then further processed by the usual procedures using aqueous photographic processing solutions. While a number of such materials have been available heretofore, they have certain disadvantages, such as hardening the emulsion system too rapidly, thus interfering with coating techniques; insufficient permeability of the resulting emulsion layer after coating and drying, so that developing solutions could not penetrate, and the like. Another disadvantage of some of these hardeners is their failure to harden the emulsion coating sufficiently to provide satisfactory mechanical stability during processing.
It is an object of this invention to provide novel photographic emulsions which contain polyvinyl alcohol as a gelling agent and binder therefor, and a new hardening agent and photographic materials using such emulsions.
In accordance with the above and other objects of the invention, it has been found that by the use of orthophosphoric acid as a hardening agent for photographic emulsion systems containing polyvinyl alcohol, very useful photographic materials can be prepared. Aqueous emulsions thus prepared have a long pre-coating shelf life without irreversibly gelling or hardening, and they can be stored at ordinary temperatures fora long time before coating on a support. During coating, tackiness of the emulsion coatings is eliminated without appreciably increasing the viscosity of the photographic emulsion. After coating, the emulsion is sufiiciently hard to make it abrasion-resistant, while at the same time, the dry coating is permeable to aqueous solutions to such a degree that complete development, fixing and washing can occur. Additionally it is unexpectedly found that the photographic coating is further hardened during development when basic (alkaline) developer solutions are used.
3,453,113 Patented July 1, 1969 ICC Polyvinyl alcohol is prepared by the hydrolysis (alcoholysis) of polyvinyl acetate. This process is ordinarily not carried to completion and it is to be understood that the polyvinyl alcohol polymers used herein can contain a proportion of unhydrolyzed acetate groups.
Broadly speaking, the orthophosphoric acid is added to the photographic emulsion system containing polyvinyl alcohol during mixing of the emulsion and preferably prior to the addition of the soluble silver salt. Thus for example an aqueous mixture containing polyvinyl alcohol in amount sufiicient to provide the desired binder properties for the ultimate photographic emulsion is acidified to a pH of the order of about 3. Dilute phosphoric acid is then added slowly and with stirring to provide a homogeneous mixture. In the dark, a soluble silver salt, e.g., silver nitrate, is added in desired amount with stirring. Silver halide is formed in the usual manner. The emulsion may then if desired be kept at an elevated temperature for Ostwald ripening, following which it is coated, as on paper or a synthetic resin film substrate, or glass, in the usual way.
The amount of polyvinyl alcohol employed in any particular emulsion system may vary, depending upon whether or not it is the only gelling agent employed in the particular emulsion system used. Commonly, 5 to 10 parts of polyvinyl alcohol of medium molecular weight as used for gelling fluids per 100 parts of water are used when this is the only synthetic hydrophilic peptizing colloid employed. About 1 to 20 percent of orthophosphoric acid, based upon the weight of polyvinyl alcohol employed, is used as a hardener. Conveniently, the phosphoric acid is added as an aqueous solution of the commonly available percent orthophosphoric acid. For photographic purposes, reagent grade material is used to avoid undesirable impurities.
In non-photographic applications, solutions of polyvinyl alcohol can be used for sizing paper, coatings on paper and cloth, cement or glue, etc. These can be prepared in concentrations of upwards of about 1 percent by weight; and orthophosphoric acid when added in amounts of about 1 to 20 percent based on the dry weight of the polyvinyl alcohol strengthens and hardens the coatings made therewith. Accordingly, the invention comprehends within its scope aqueous solutions of upwards of one percent by weight of polyvinyl alcohol, containing from 1 to 20 percent by weight of orthophosphoric acid, based on the dry weight of the polyvinyl alcohol.
The molecular weight of the polyvinyl alcohol affects its water-solubility, as is known; lower molecular weight polymer may be soluble to as much as 20 to 30 percent by weight or more, while high molecular weight material is less soluble. The choice of molecular weight and concentration will depend on the end-use and one skilled in the art will have no difficulty in selecting the appropriate materials and amounts.
The invention will now be illustrated by the following examples, in which all parts are by weight unless otherwise specified.
EXAMPLE 1 A well stirred mixture of polyethylenimine, 5 parts (50 percent aqueous solution, molecular weight=30 40,000) and polyvinyl alcohol, 62.5 parts (8 percent aqueous solution, available under the trade name Elvanol 72-51) is acidified to pH 3 by the addition of hydrobromic acid. To the well stirred mixture is added slowly 2 parts of dilute phosphoric acid (made by adding 0.5 part of 85 percent orthophosphoric acid to 1.5 parts of water), with thorough mixing to insure homogeneity. The mixture is then placed in the dark, and a solution of 5 parts of silver nitrate in 5 parts of water is added with thorough mixing over a period of about seconds. The mixture is further stirred for about 3 minutes. To this is added 1 part of surfactant solution (12 percent aqueous solution of Poly- Tergent J-300, a nonionic, water soluble polyether) and the mixture is stirred for an additional minute. The resulting emulsion is knife coated upon paper base, in the dark, and upon plastic film support, the coatings are air dried and stored in a dark place. All of the steps in the preparation of the emulsion are performed at or near room temperature.
When exposed to light through a negative in the usual way, and developed with the ordinary paper developing solutions, excellent prints with good contrast are obtained, the surface of the paper being semi-glossy and resistant to abrasion even during processing in the aqueous solutions.
EXAMPLE 2 A polyvinyl alcohol solution (104 parts of 9.6 percent aqueous solution) is acidified by the addition of 10 parts of 48 percent aqueous hydrobromic acid. To this is added 4 parts of 21 percent aqueous phosphoric acid, with good stirring. Thereafter all operations are conducted in the dark. A solution of 10 parts of 5.9 N silver nitrate in water is added with good stirring over a period of about 10 seconds, and the mixture is then further stirred well for several minutes. To this is added 4 parts of surfactant (as used in Example 1) and the mixture is stirred for an additional 3 minute period.
Coatings of the resulting photographic emulsion are made upon baryta paper in the usual way. The coated paper is air dried and stored in light-proof containers.
On exposure to light, using the paper as a printing medi-,
um under a photographic negative, followed by standard development with metol-hydroquinone developer and fixing, using sodium thiosulfate fixing solutions, excellent prints are obtained. These show good mechanical resistance to abrasion, together with excellent permeability for the aqueous developing and fixing solutions.
EXAMPLE 3 To 100 parts of a 10 percent aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol prepared from high molecular weight polyvinyl acetate by hydrolysis, the degree of hydrolysis being about percent, are added, with stirring, 3 parts of 50 percent aqueous orthophosphoric acid (d=l.335, prepared by diluting percent orthophosphoric acid as commercially available). The solution, after mixing, can be stored for days without gelling or hardening, at room temperature. When coated upon paper, the coating is stronger and tougher than a similar coating prepared with the same polyvinyl alcohol solution which does not contain orthophosphoric acid.
What is claimed is:
1. A dispersion of silver halide and binder adapted for use to prepare a photographic emulsion, comprising an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol containing a silver halide dispersed therein, together with from 1 to 20 percent of orthophosphoric acid, 'based on the dry weight of the said polyvinyl alcohol, dissolved therein, as a hardening agent for the said polyvinyl alcohol.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,376,371 9/1943 Lowe et al 96-114 3,113,026 12/1963 Sprung 96-107 J. TRAVIS BROWN, Primary Examiner.
J. R. HIGHTOWER, Assistant Examiner.
US. Cl. X.R. 96114
US504139A 1965-10-23 1965-10-23 Silver halide polyvinyl alcohol emulsions containing hardening agent Expired - Lifetime US3453113A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US50413965A 1965-10-23 1965-10-23
US6457670A 1970-08-17 1970-08-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3453113A true US3453113A (en) 1969-07-01

Family

ID=26744657

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US504139A Expired - Lifetime US3453113A (en) 1965-10-23 1965-10-23 Silver halide polyvinyl alcohol emulsions containing hardening agent

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3453113A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4038082A (en) * 1973-08-30 1977-07-26 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image-receiving material for color diffusion transfer comprising pva and polymethylol compounds

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2376371A (en) * 1943-09-11 1945-05-22 Eastman Kodak Co Polyvinyl alcohol emulsion coating
US3113026A (en) * 1959-01-19 1963-12-03 Gen Aniline & Film Corp Polyvinyl alcohol photographic silver halide emulsions

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2376371A (en) * 1943-09-11 1945-05-22 Eastman Kodak Co Polyvinyl alcohol emulsion coating
US3113026A (en) * 1959-01-19 1963-12-03 Gen Aniline & Film Corp Polyvinyl alcohol photographic silver halide emulsions

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4038082A (en) * 1973-08-30 1977-07-26 Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. Image-receiving material for color diffusion transfer comprising pva and polymethylol compounds

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2652345A (en) Method of setting protein containing coatings with ammonium
US3702844A (en) Polyvinyl alcohol-phosphoric acid films
JPS5950695B2 (en) Manufacturing process of aqueous polymer latex composition
US2059817A (en) Hardening photographic gelatin emulsions and solutions
US2522771A (en) Photographic silver halide emulsions
US2603564A (en) Light sensitive diazotype layer containing a white opacifying pigment
US3453113A (en) Silver halide polyvinyl alcohol emulsions containing hardening agent
US3723127A (en) Multilayered color photographic material
US2613149A (en) Diazotype photoprinting material
US2127621A (en) Photographic emulsions
US3832181A (en) Photosensitive silver halide material containing a hydrophilic colloid hardened with a combination of formaldehyde and bis(vinylsulfonyl-methyl)ether
US2816027A (en) Photographic element having a polystyrene support
GB2026184A (en) Process for sensitizing photographic silver halide emulsions
US3362827A (en) Polymeric hardeners for gelatin compositions
US3584391A (en) Drying ei ement,chemical composition and process
US3840370A (en) Controlling after-hardening in hardenable hydrophilic colloids
US2281703A (en) Photographic silver halide emulsions
US3619236A (en) Method for coating layers of gelatin and a carboxyl-containing polymer on a support
US4076538A (en) Process for crosslinking hydrophilic colloids with triazine compounds
US2240470A (en) Photographic gelatin layer containing a monoester of sorbitol
US2710815A (en) Method of quick setting liquid protein containing coatings
US2725294A (en) Hardening of gelatin with polyanhydrides
US2384072A (en) Photographic emulsion layers
US3123492A (en) Maffet
US3542549A (en) 2,4,6-trichloropyrimidine hardening agents for gelatin