FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention concerns binders for use in the thermosensitive elements of
substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Thermography is an image-forming process including a heating step and hence includes
photothermography in which the image-forming process includes image-wise exposure
and direct thermal processes in which the image-forming process includes an image-wise
heating step. In direct thermal printing a visible image pattern is produced by image-wise
heating of a recording material.
[0003] EP-A 0 752 616 discloses a thermographic material comprising at least one element
and wherein said element(s) contain(s) therein a substantially light-insensitive organic
heavy metal salt and an organic reductor therefor, the said material being capable
of thermally producing an image from said organic heavy metal salt and reductor, wherein
said material contains a 1,3-benzoxazine-2,4-dione toning agent having general formula
(I):
wherein R
1 represents hydrogen, -CH
2OH, -(C=O)-R, -CONHR, or M; R
2, R
3, R
4 and R
5each independently represents hydrogen, -O-(C=O)-OR or -NH-(C=O)-OR and at least one
of which is not hydrogen if R
1 is also hydrogen; R represents an alkyl or aryl group either of which may be substituted;
and M represents a monovalent heavy metal ion. EP-A 0 752 616 further discloses that
the film-forming binder of the recording layer containing the substantially light-insensitive
organic heavy metal salt may be all kinds of natural, modified natural or synthetic
resins or mixtures of such resins, wherein the organic heavy metal salt can be dispersed
homogeneously: e.g. cellulose derivatives such as ethylcellulose, cellulose esters,
e.g. cellulose nitrate, carboxymethylcellulose, starch ethers, galactomannan, polymers
derived from α,α-ethylenically unsaturated compounds such as polyvinyl chloride, after-chlorinated
polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, copolymers
of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate and partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl
acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetals that are made from polyvinyl alcohol
as starting material in which only a part of the repeating vinyl alcohol units may
have reacted with an aldehyde, preferably polyvinyl butyral, copolymers of acrylonitrile
and acrylamide, polyacrylic acid esters, polymethacrylic acid esters, polystyrene
and polyethylene or mixtures thereof. EP-A 0 752 616 also alludes to binders suitable
for use in the non-organic silver salt containing donor layers used in reductor transfer
printing which include: cellulose derivatives, such as ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose,
cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate formate, cellulose acetate hydrogen phthalate,
cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose
acetate pentanoate, cellulose acetate benzoate, cellulose triacetate; vinyl-type resins
and derivatives, such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl butyral, copolyvinyl butyral-vinyl
acetal-vinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetoacetal, polyacrylamide;
polymers and copolymers derivated from acrylates and acrylate derivatives, such as
polymethyl methacrylate and styrene-acrylate copolymers; polyester resins; polycarbonates;
copoly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile); polysulfones; polyphenylene oxide; organosilicones,
such as polysiloxanes; epoxy resins and natural resins, such as gum arabic. Preferably,
the binder for the donor layer of the present invention comprises poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile)
or a mixture of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) and a toluenesulphonamide condensation
product.
[0004] EP-A 0 809 144 discloses a substantially non-photosensitive recording material comprising
a thermosensitive element comprising a substantially light-insensitive organic silver
salt, an organic reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship therewith
and a binder, on a support, characterized in that said thermosensitive element further
comprises in reactive association with said substantially light-insensitive organic
silver salt and said organic reducing agent a substituted or unsubstituted 1,2,4-triazole
compound with at least one of the nitrogen atoms having a hydrogen atom and none of
the carbon atoms being part of a thione-group, said compound not being annulated with
an aromatic ring system. EP-A 0 809 144 further discloses that suitable binders for
the thermosensitive element may be all kinds of natural, modified natural or synthetic
resins or mixtures of such resins, wherein the organic heavy metal salt can be dispersed
homogeneously: e.g. cellulose derivatives such as ethylcellulose, cellulose esters,
e.g. cellulose nitrate, carboxymethylcellulose, starch ethers, galactomannan, polymers
derived from α,β-ethylenically unsaturated compounds such as polyvinyl chloride, after-chlorinated
polyvinyl chloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, copolymers
of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, polyvinyl acetate and partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl
acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetals that are made from polyvinyl alcohol
as starting material in which only a part of the repeating vinyl alcohol units may
have reacted with an aldehyde, preferably polyvinyl butyral, copolymers of acrylonitrile
and acrylamide, polyacrylic acid esters, polymethacrylic acid esters, polystyrene
and polyethylene or mixtures thereof.
[0005] JP 2001-13618A discloses a heat developing sensitive material containing organic
silver, a photosensitive silver halide, a developer, and a binder resin at least on
a base material, said binder resin containing a polyvinyl aceto acetal resin in 70%
by weight or more among [ all ] the binder resin, said polyvinyl aceto acetal resin
being characterized by the degree of acetalization of more than 50mol%. Furthermore,
JP 2001-13618A discloses the following resins: polyvinyl aceto acetals from Sekisui
Chemical types KS-10, KS-1 and KS-5Z; an aceto acetal/hydroxyl-group/acetyl group
= 88.3mol/10.2mol/1.5mol resin; an aceto acetal/butyral/hydroxyl-group/acetyl group
= 68.5mol/22.8mol/8.3mol/0.4mol resin; a polyvinyl alcohol acetalized by acetaldehyde
and butyraldehyde from DENKI KAGAKU KOGYO K.K. type DENKA butyral # 3000K; and Butvar
B-79 from SOLUTIA; and that the polyvinyl aceto acetal resin can also be used for
an under-coating layer or a back-coat layer.
[0006] EP-A 1 241 520 discloses a silver salt photothermographic dry imaging material comprising
a support having thereon a photosensitive layer comprising silver aliphatic carboxylate
grains and photosensitive silver halide grains, a reducing agent for silver ions,
a binder and a cross-linking agent, wherein the photothermographic material has a
silver coverage of 1.0 to 1.7 g/m
2; the photosensitive silver halide grains have a mean grain size of 0.03 to 0.05 µm
and a degree of grain size dispersity of not more than 30%; after the dry imaging
material has been subjected to photothermographic processing at a temperature of 100
to 200°C for 5 to 50 seconds, the photosensitive layer exhibits a thermal transition
temperature of 46 to 200°C. In the silver salt photothermographic dry imaging material
of the invention, as binder incorporated in the photosensitive layer, which includes
such as silver aliphatic carboxylates, photosensitive silver halide grains and reducing
agent on a support, can be employed high polymers well known in the art. The high
polymers have a Tg of 70 to 105°C. The examples include: compounds comprised of polymers
or copolymers containing ethylenically unsaturated monomers as constitutive units
such as vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, maleic acid, acrylic acid, acrylate
ester, vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, methacrylic acid, methacrylate ester, styrene,
butadiene, ethylene, vinyl butyral, vinyl aceto-acetal and vinyl ether; polyurethane
resins and various kinds of rubber resin. Constitutions of high polymers according
to the invention of EP-A 1 241 520 are given in Table 1 and include the following
polymers with butyral and aceto-acetal groups:
Table 1:
Polymer name |
Aceto-acetal [mol%] |
Butyral [mol%] |
acetal [mol%] |
acetyl [mol%] |
hydroxyl group [mol%] |
Tg value [°C] |
P-1 |
6 |
4 |
73.7 |
1.7 |
24.6 |
85 |
P-2 |
3 |
7 |
75.0 |
1.6 |
23.4 |
75 |
P-5 |
7 |
3 |
71.1 |
1.6 |
27.3 |
88 |
P-8 |
3 |
7 |
74.4 |
0.6 |
24.0 |
75 |
P-9 |
3 |
7 |
75.4 |
1.6 |
24.0 |
74 |
[0007] The use of Polymers P-2 and P-5 in the photosensitive layer of the silver salt photothermographic
dry imaging material is exemplified.
[0008] EP-A 1 270 608, which corresponds to WO 01/053357A1 and JP 2002-201215, discloses
a polyvinyl acetal resin for heat-developable photosensitive materials which is a
polyvinyl acetal resin synthesized by the acetalization reaction between a polyvinyl
alcohol and an aldehyde and which comprises having a degree of polymerization of 200
to 3,000, a residual acetyl group content of 0 to 25 mole percent and a residual hydroxyl
content of 17 to 35 mole percent, as calculated while regarding one acetal group as
two acetalized hydroxyl groups, a water content of not more than 2.5% by weight and
a residual aldehyde content of not more than 10 ppm and is free of any antioxidant,
preferably having a glass transition temperature of 55 to 110°C. Resins containing
vinyl alcohol, vinyl acetal and vinyl butyral monomer units are disclosed in Examples
4, 5, 6 and 8 with glass transition temperatures of 80, 70, 76, 103 and 93°C respectively
of EP-A 1 270 608 and had the compositions given in Table 2:
Table 2:
Example No. |
vinyl acetal {mol%/wt%] |
vinyl butyral [mol%/wt%] |
vinyl alcohol [mol%/wt%] |
vinyl acetate [mol%/wt%] |
4 |
38/42.6 |
31/43.3 |
29.5/12.8 |
1.5/1.3 |
5 |
35/37.8 |
33/44.4 |
21/8.8 |
11/9.0 |
6 |
35/39.8 |
32/45.3 |
32/14.0 |
1/0.9 |
7 |
73/86.2 |
1/1.5 |
25/11.4 |
1/0.9 |
8 |
63/77.0 |
1/1.5 |
22/10.4 |
12/11.1 |
Comparative Example No. |
|
|
|
|
6 |
31/37.2 |
29.5/44.1 |
38/17.6 |
1.0/1.1 |
[0009] EP-A 1 278 101 discloses a photothermographic imaging material comprising a support
having thereon a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive silver halide, a
light-insensitive organic silver salt, a binder, and a reducing agent for silver ions,
wherein the reducing agent is represented by the following Formula (S):
wherein Z is a group of atoms necessary to form a non aromatic ring of 3 to 10 members;
Rx is a hydrogen or an alkyl group; each Ro' and Ro" is independently a hydrogen,
an alkyl group, or a heterocyclic group; Qo is a substituent; and each n and m is
independently an integer of 0 to 2; and plural Qo's may be the same or different.
EP-A 1 278 101 further discloses the following polymers preferably employed in the
invention:
Table 3:
Polymer name |
Aceto-acetal [mol%] |
Butyral [mol%] |
acetal [mol%] |
acetyl [mol%] |
hydroxyl group [mol%] |
Tg value [°C] |
P-1 |
6 |
4 |
73.7 |
1.7 |
24.6 |
85 |
P-2 |
3 |
7 |
75.0 |
1.6 |
23.4 |
75 |
P-4 |
7 |
3 |
71.1 |
1.6 |
27.3 |
88 |
P-7 |
3 |
7 |
74.4 |
1.6 |
24.0 |
75 |
P-8 |
3 |
7 |
75.4 |
1.6 |
23.0 |
74 |
[0010] EP-A 1 143 292 discloses a photothermographic material comprising a support having
on one side of the support at least an image forming layer containing organic silver
salt grains, light sensitive silver halide grains and a reducing agent and a surface
protective layer, wherein the element composition on the surface of the image forming
layer exhibits a ratio of the number of carbon elements to the number of oxygen elements
of not more than 9, and wherein the element composition is obtained by X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy. Exemplary examples of binders disclosed for use in the image forming
layer include polyvinyl acetals (e.g. polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl butyral). Of these
binders vinyl acetals such as polyvinyl butyral and polyvinyl acetal, and cellulose
esters such as cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate-butyrate are preferred, which
may be used alone or in combination. Further, mixed acetals obtained from two aldehydes,
such as polyvinyl acetobutyral are also preferred according to EP-A 1 143 292. However,
such mixed acetals are not exemplified therein.
[0011] EP-A 1 136 877 discloses a photothermographic material comprising on a support light
sensitive silver halide grains, an organic silver salt, a reducing agent and a binder,
wherein the photothermographic material comprises a silane compound represented by
formula (1) or (2) :
formula (1) (R
1O)
m-Si-[(L
1)
xR
2]
n
wherein R
1, R
2, R
3, R
4, R
5, R
6, R
7 and R
8 represent each an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group
or a heterocyclic group; L
1, L
2, L
3 and L
4 represent each a bivalent linkage group; m and n are each an integer of t to 3, provided
that m+n is 4; p1 and p2 are each an integer of 1 to 3 and q1 and q2 are each 0, 1
or 2, provided that p1+q1 and p2+q2 are each 3; r1 and t are each 0 or an integer
of 1 to 1000; and x is 0 or 1. Binders usable on the organic solvent-based coating
include cellulose derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol derivatives, acrylate polymer derivatives,
polyimide derivatives, polyamide derivatives, phenol resin derivatives, urethane resin
derivatives and polyester derivatives. Of these, polyvinyl alcohol derivatives and
vinyl acetate derivatives are preferred, particularly with vinyl acetal monomer units.
[0012] JP 2002-293825, which corresponds to WO 02/059167, discloses a polyvinyl acetal characterized
by containing one or more functional groups in one molecule e.g. a carboxyl group,
a silyl moiety, a halogen moiety, an amino group, a sulfhydryl group, a sulfonyl group,
a thionyl group, an epoxy group, an oxazoline moiety, a maleimide moiety, a hydroxyl
group etc. An ionic group such as an acidic group (e.g. a carboxyl group or a sulfonic
group) or a basic group (e.g. containing a nitrogen atom) are preferred.
[0013] US 2002/0119406 discloses a photothermographic material comprising on a support a
light-sensitive layer comprising an organic silver salt, light-sensitive silver halide
grains, a reducing agent and a binder, wherein the photothermographic material exhibits
not more than 30% of a rate of variation in fog density defined below: Rate of variation
in fog density =[(D
Fog2-D
Fog1)/D
Fog1] x 100(%) wherein D
Fog1 is a minimum density of the photothermographic material that has been subjected to
development at a temperature of not less than 100°C and D
Fog2 is a minimum density of the photothermographic material that has been subjected to
the development and then further subjected to exposure to light at an illumination
intensity of 300 lux and a temperature of 45°C for 24 hrs. The binder preferably has
a glass transition point of 70 to 105°C and is preferably a polyvinyl acetal substantially
having an acetoacetal structure or is a polymer compound represented by formula (V).
Exemplary polymer compounds represented by formula (V) are disclosed with the composition
given in Table 4 below:
Table 4:
Polymer |
Tg [°C] |
vinyl acetal {mol%/wt%] |
vinyl butyral [mol%/wt%] |
vinyl alcohol [mol%/wt%] |
vinyl acetate [mol%/wt%] |
P-1 |
83 |
51.59/57.4 |
22.11/30.6 |
24.6/10.6 |
1.7/1.4 |
P-2 |
75 |
22.5/22.9 |
52.5/66.7 |
23.4/9.2 |
1.6/1.2 |
P-4 |
88 |
49.77/56.5 |
21.33/30.2 |
27.3/12.0 |
1.6/1.3 |
P-5 |
99 |
64.62/76.0 |
7.18/10.5 |
26.7/12.1 |
1.5/1.4 |
P-6 |
90 |
57.12/66.0 |
14.28/20.6 |
27.0/12.0 |
1.6/1.4 |
P-7 |
76 |
21.12/22.3 |
49.28/65.0 |
28.0/11.4 |
1.6/1.3 |
P-8 |
74 |
23.22/23.2 |
54.18/67.5 |
21.0/8.1 |
1.6/1.2 |
[0014] Pioloform™ BL16, a copolymer consisting of 42% by weight of vinyl acetal, 40% by
weight of vinyl butyral, 16% by weight of vinyl alcohol and 2% by weight of vinyl
acetate having a Tg of 84°C, produced by Wacker Chemie, is used as the sole binder
in the thermosensitive element of a substantially light-insensitive thermographic
material produced by AGFA-GEVAERT N.V. and marketed by AGFA-GEVAERT N,V. as AGFA FREEWAY™
film and by AUTOLOGIC as Autotype Aspect™ HR. The weight ratio of substantially light-insensitive
organic silver salt to Pioloform™ BL16 in this thermosensitive element is approximately
1.0.
Differences between substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials
and photothermographic recording materials
[0015] The technology of substantially light-insensitive thermographic materials in which
image formation is based on the reduction of organic silver salts is significantly
different from that of photothermographic recording materials, despite the fact that
in both cases the image results from the reduction of organic silver salts. However,
this a superficial similarity masking the fact that the realization of the species
which catalyze this reduction is completely different, being image-wise exposure of
photosensitive silver halide-containing photo-addressable thermally developable elements
in the case of photothermographic recording materials and image-wise heating of thermosensitive
elements which do not contain photosensitive silver halide in the case of thermographic
recording materials. This difference in technology is further underlined by the nature
of the ingredients used in the two types of materials, the most significant difference
being the absence of photosensitive silver halide and spectral sensitizing agents
in substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials, but also reflected
in the different reducing agents used, stronger reducing agents being used in substantially
light-insensitive thermographic recording materials, the different stabilizers, the
different toning agents etc. Furthermore, the thermal development processes themselves
are significantly different in that the whole material is heated at temperatures of
less than 150°C for periods of seconds (e.g. 10s) in the case of photothermographic
recording materials, whereas in the case of substantially light-insensitive thermographic
recording materials the materials are image-wise heated at much higher temperatures
for periods of ms (e.g. 3.5-20 ms). Realization of a neutral image tone is a major
problem in the case of substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials
due to the very short heating times, whereas it is much less of a problem in photothermographic
recording materials due to the much longer heating times.
Problem to be solved
[0016] It has been found that, in order to achieve a neutral image tone in substantially
light-insensitive monosheet thermographic recording materials, reducing agents and
toning agents are required which diffuse to the surface of the material despite the
presence of an outermost protective layer both during storage before printing and
after printing and results, in extreme cases, in the user visually observing deposits
of reducing agents, toning agents and reaction products of the imaging-forming process
on the surface of the materials. Substantially light-insensitive monosheet thermographic
recording materials are therefore required which exhibit an acceptably neutral image
tone, but do not exhibit the formation of such deposits of reducing agents, toning
agents and reaction products of the imaging-forming process.
ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0017] It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to provide a substantially light-insensitive
monosheet thermographic recording material, which does not exhibit the formation of
surface deposits comprising, for example, reducing agent, toning agent and reaction
products of the image-forming process.
[0018] It is therefore a further aspect of the present invention to provide a substantially
light-insensitive monosheet thermographic recording material, which does not exhibit
the formation of surface deposits and also exhibits an acceptably neutral image tone
as characterized by CIELAB a* and b* values determined determined by spectrophotometric
measurements according to ASTM Norm E179-90 in a R(45/0) geometry with evaluation
according to ASTM Norm E308-90.
[0019] Further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description
hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] It has been surprisingly found that the use of a polymer consisting of vinyl aceto-acetal
monomer units and optionally monomer units selected from the group consisting of vinyl
alcohol and vinyl acetate monomer units in the thermosensitive element of substantially
light-insensitive monosheet thermographic recording materials strongly reduces the
diffusion of ingredients present therein and reaction products thereof to the surface
of the thermosensitive element and therefrom to the surface of the thermographic recording
material, should the outermost surface of the thermosensitive element not be the outermost
layer of the thermographic recording material itself. Furthermore, it has been surprisingly
found that the image tone, as characterized by CIELAB a* and b* values determined
by spectrophotometric measurements according to ASTM Norm E179-90 in a R(45/0) geometry
with evaluation according to ASTM Norm E308-90, is rendered more neutral the presence
of a polymer consisting of vinyl butyral monomer units and optionally vinyl alcohol
and/or vinyl acetate monomer units.
[0021] Aspects of the present invention are realized with a substantially light-insensitive
monosheet thermographic recording material comprising a support and on one side of
the support a thermosensitive element, the thermosensitive element comprising at least
one substantially light-insensitive silver salt of a carboxylic acid, at least one
reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship therewith and at least one
binder, the at least one binder comprising at least one first polymer consisting of
vinyl aceto-acetal monomer units and optionally monomer units selected from the group
consisting of vinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate and itaconic acid monomer units, characterized
in that the weight ratio of the at least one binder to the light-insensitive silver
salt(s) of a carboxylic acid in the thermosensitive element is greater than 1.6; and
the at least one binder optionally contains less than 40% by weight of a second polymer
consisting of vinyl butyral monomer units and optionally vinyl alcohol and/or vinyl
acetate monomer units.
[0022] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the detailed description
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Definitions
[0023] The term alkyl means all variants possible for each number of carbon atoms in the
alkyl group i.e. for three carbon atoms: n-propyl and isopropyl; for four carbon atoms:
n-butyl, isobutyl and tertiary-butyl; for five carbon atoms: n-pentyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl,
2,2-dimethylpropyl and 2-methyl-butyl etc.
[0024] The term poly(vinyl acetals), as used in disclosing the present invention, refers
to the condensation product of poly(vinyl alcohol) with one or more aldehydes.
[0025] Vinyl acetal, as used in disclosing the present invention, is the condensation product
of vinyl alcohol and an aldehyde. To distinguish the condensation product of vinyl
alcohol and an aldehyde from that of vinyl alcohol and unsubstituted aldehyde (ethanal),
the latter condensation products have been referred to as vinyl aceto-acetal in disclosing
the present invention.
[0026] Vinyl butyral, as used in disclosing the present invention, is the condensation product
of vinyl alcohol and butyraldehyde (butanal), which is not further substituted.
[0027] The L*, a* and b* CIELAB-values are defined in ASTM Norm E179-90 in a R(45/0) geometry
with evaluation according to ASTM Norm E308-90.
[0028] Substantially light-insensitive means not intentionally light sensitive.
[0029] The term "high contrast agent", which are sometimes identified as "co-developers"
or "auxiliary developers", have as their main function an increase in the contrast
of the material by reducing most or all of the reducible silver ions in the substantially
light-insensitive silver salt of a carboxylic acid in the radiation-exposed areas
e.g. acrylonitrile co-developers, hydrazide co-developers and isoxazole co-developers
as disclosed in US 6,352,819 herein incorporated by reference.
Thermographic recording material
[0030] According to a first embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the thermographic recording material is a black and white
thermographic recording material.
[0031] According to a second embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the thermosensitive element is exclusive of a high contrast
agent.
[0032] According to a third embodiment of the substantially light-insensitive thermographic
recording material, according to the present invention, the thermographic recording
material is exclusive of a silane compound represented by formula (1) or (2):
formula (1) (R
1O)
m-Si-[(L
1)
xR
2]
n
wherein R
1, R
2, R
3, R
4, R
5, R
6, R
7 and R
8 represent each an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group
or a heterocyclic group; L
1, L
2, L
3 and L
4 represent each a bivalent linkage group; m and n are each an integer of t to 3, provided
that m+n is 4; p1 and p2 are each an integer of 1 to 3 and q1 and q2 are each 0, 1
or 2, provided that p1+q1 and p2+q2 are each 3; r1 and t are each 0 or an integer
of 1 to 1000; and x is 0 or 1.
Thermosensitive element
[0033] The term thermosensitive element as used herein is that element which contains all
the ingredients, which contribute to image formation. According to the substantially
light-insensitive monosheet thermographic recording material, according to the present
invention, the thermosensitive element contains at least a substantially light-insensitive
silver salt of a carboxylic acid, a reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship
therewith, and at least one binder. The thermosensitive element may comprise a layer
system in which the above-mentioned ingredients may be dispersed in different layers,
with the proviso that the substantially light-insensitive silver salt of a carboxylic
acid is in reactive association with the reducing agent i.e. during the thermal development
process the reducing agent must be present in such a way that it is able to diffuse
to the particles of the substantially light-insensitive silver salt of a carboxylic
acid, so that reduction to silver can occur. Such materials include the possibility
of the substantially light-insensitive silver salt of a carboxylic acid and/or the
reducing agent therefor being encapsulated in heat-responsive microcapsules, such
as disclosed in EP-A 0 736 799 herein incorporated by reference.
First and second polymers
[0034] The term first polymer consisting of vinyl aceto-acetal and optionally monomer units
selected from the group consisting of vinyl butyral, vinyl alcohol and vinyl acetate
monomer units should not be taken as implying that the copolymer has to be produced
by copolymerizing vinyl aceto-acetal, vinyl butyral, vinyl alcohol and optionally
vinyl acetate, merely that the copolymer consists of such monomer units. Likewise
the term second polymer consisting of vinyl butyral monomer units, vinyl alcohol monomer
units and optionally vinyl acetate monomer units should not be taken as implying that
the copolymer has to be produced by copolymerizing vinyl butyral, vinyl alcohol and
optionally vinyl acetate, merely that the copolymer consists of such monomer units.
It is well known to one skilled in the art that a main source of polyvinyl alcohol
is the hydrolysis of polyvinyl acetate and that this hydrolysis is usually not carried
out to completion resulting in vinyl acetate monomer units still being present in
the polyvinyl alcohol chains. Furthermore, it is also well known to one skilled in
the art that poly(vinyl acetals) are usually produced in a condensation reaction upon
treating poly(vinyl alcohol) with one or more aldehydes or directly from poly(vinyl
acetate). Since the reaction between the aldehyde(s) and the hydroxyl groups of the
poly(vinyl alcohol) occurs at random, some hydroxyl groups become isolated and are
incapable of reaction. The product will thus contain: vinyl acetal units, residual
vinyl alcohol units and residual vinyl acetate units.
[0035] According to a fourth embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the thermosensitive element contains at least one further
first polymer.
[0036] According to a fifth embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the weight ratio of the at least one binder to the light-insensitive
silver salt(s) of a carboxylic acid in the thermosensitive element is greater than
1.75, with a ratio greater than 2.0 being particularly preferred and a ratio greater
than 2.5 being especially preferred.
[0037] According to a sixth embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the weight ratio of the at least one binder to the light-insensitive
silver salt(s) of a carboxylic acid in the thermosensitive element is less than 6.0,
with less than 5.2 being preferred and less than 4.5 being particularly preferred.
[0038] According to a seventh embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the first polymer contains ≤ 17% by weight of vinyl alcohol
monomer units, with ≤ 15% by weight of vinyl alcohol monomer units being preferred
and ≤ 13% by weight being particularly preferred. The concentration of vinyl alcohol
units can be determined by
13C NMR, or by titration. The vinyl aceto-acetal monomer units render the image tone
red, but this can be compensated by reducing the vinyl alcohol concentration, which
renders the image tone blue.
[0039] Suitable first polymers for use in substantially light-insensitive thermographic
recording materials, according to the present invention, in which AB represents polymers
containing both vinyl aceto-acetal and vinyl butyral monomer units and A represents
polymers containing vinyl aceto-acetal monomer units but no vinyl butyral monomer
units are given in table 5 below:
Table 5:
Polymer No. |
Tg [°C] |
vinyl aceto-acetal {mol%/wt%] |
vinyl alcohol [mol%/wt%] |
vinyl acetate [mol%/wt%] |
itaconic acid [mol%/wt%] |
A01# |
109.7 |
70/84* |
27/13* |
1/1* |
2/2 |
A02 |
110.5 |
73.0/87.0 |
25.7/11.8 |
1.3/1.2 |
- |
A03 |
111.7 |
71.6/86.3 |
27.3/12.7 |
1.1/1.0 |
- |
A04 |
78.9 |
61/79* |
37/19* |
2/2* |
- |
A05 |
85.2 |
69/85* |
30/14* |
1/1* |
- |
A06 |
84.6 |
69/85* |
30/14 |
1/1* |
- |
A07 |
86.8 |
69/85* |
29/14 |
2/2* |
- |
# S-LEC® KS-1 from Sekisui which contains 2.0 wt% itaconic acid |
* from 13 C NMR measurements |
[0040] Suitable second polymers for use in substantially light-insensitive thermographic
recording materials, according to the present invention, in which B represents polymers
containing vinyl butyral monomer units but no vinyl aceto-acetal monomer units are
given in the Table 6 below:
Table 6:
Polymer No. |
Tg [°C] |
vinyl aceto-acetal {mol%/wt%] |
vinyl butyral [mol%/wt%] |
vinyl alcohol [mol%/wt%] |
vinyl acetate [mol%/wt%] |
B01 |
66.8 |
0/0 |
63.3/84.0 |
34.5/14.2 |
2.2/1.8 |
B02 |
- |
0/0 |
62.9/83.8 |
34.9/14.4 |
2.2/1.8 |
B03 |
63.4 |
0/0 |
63.8/84.0 |
33.1/13.5 |
3.1/2.5 |
B04 |
62-72 |
0/0 |
70.3/88.0 |
28.4/11.0 |
1.3/1.0 |
B05 |
65 |
0/0 |
63.7/84.4 |
34.4/14.1 |
1.9/1.5 |
B06 |
67 |
0/0 |
56.6/80.0 |
41.1/18.0 |
2.3/2.0 |
B07 |
66 |
0/0 |
56.6/80.0 |
41.1/18.0 |
2.3/2.0 |
[0041] Polymers are preferred which do not contain additives, such as certain antioxidants
(e.g. 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol), or impurities, which adversely affect the
thermographic properties of the thermographic recording materials in which they are
used.
Substantially light-insensitive silver salt of a carboxylic acid
[0042] According to an eighth embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the substantially light-insensitive silver salt of a carboxylic
acid is not a double organic salt containing a silver cation associated with a second
cation e.g. magnesium or iron ions.
[0043] According to a ninth embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the substantially light-insensitive silver salt of an carboxylic
acid is a substantially light-insensitive silver salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acids
known as a fatty acid, wherein the aliphatic carbon chain has preferably at least
12 C-atoms, e.g. silver laurate, silver palmitate, silver stearate, silver hydroxystearate,
silver oleate and silver behenate, which silver salts are also called "silver soaps".
Other silver salts of an organic carboxylic acid as described in GB-P 1,439,478, e.g.
silver benzoate, may likewise be used to produce a thermally developable silver image.
Combinations of different silver salts of an organic carboxylic acids may also be
used in the present invention, as disclosed in EP-A 964 300 herein incorporated by
reference.
Reducing agent
[0044] According to a tenth embodiment of thermographic recording material, according to
the present invention, the reducing agent is an ortho-dihydroxy-benzene derivative.
[0045] According to an eleventh embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the ortho-dihydroxy-benzene derivative is selected from
the group consisting of catechol, 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic
acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid esters, gallic acid, gallic acid esters, e.g. methyl
gallate, ethyl gallate and propyl gallate, 3,4-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde, 3,4-dihydroxy-acetophenone,
3,4-butyrophenone, 3,4-dihydroxy-benzophenone, 3,4-dihydroxybenzophenone derivatives,
3,4-dihydroxy-benzonitrile, and tannic acid, as disclosed in EP-A 0 692 733, EP-A
0 903 625, EP-A 1 245 403 and EP-A 1 245 404 herein incorporated by reference.
[0046] Combinations of reducing agents may also be used that on heating become reactive
partners in the reduction of the one or more substantially light-insensitive organic
silver salt. For example, combinations of sterically hindered phenols with sulfonyl
hydrazide reducing agents such as disclosed in US 5,464,738; trityl hydrazides and
formyl-phenyl-hydrazides such as disclosed in US 5,496,695; trityl hydrazides and
formyl-phenyl-hydrazides with diverse auxiliary reducing agents as disclosed in US
5,545,505, US 5,545,507 and US 5,558,983; acrylonitrile compounds as disclosed in
US 5,545,515 and US 5,635,339; and 2-substituted malonodialdehyde compounds as disclosed
in US 5,654,130.
Toning agent
[0047] According to a twelfth embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the thermosensitive element further contains at least one
toning agent.
[0048] According to a thirteenth embodiment of the thermographic recording material, according
to the present invention, the at least one toning agent is selected from the group
consisting of phthalazinone, phthalazinone derivatives, benzoxazine dione, benzoxazine
dione derivatives, naphthoxazine dione and naphthoxazine derivatives, pyridazone,
pyridazone derivatives, compounds represented by formula (I):
wherein R
1 is an alkyl group optionally substituted with a hydroxy, carboxy, carboxy ester,
acyl or carbonato group; X is S, O or N-R
6; R
6 is an optionally substituted alkyl group; R
2, R
3, R
4 and R
5 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl, an alkoxy, a
thio-alkoxy, a nitro, a cyano, a carboxy, a carboxy ester, an acyl, an aldehyde, an
acylamido, a sulphonamido, an acylamino, a carbonato, a hydroxy or an aryl group or
at least one of R
2 and R
3, R
3 and R
4 and R
4 and R
5 independently represent the atoms necessary to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic
group or at least one of R
1 and R
5 and R
2 and R
6 independently represent the atoms necessary to form a heterocyclic ring; compounds
represented by formula (II) :
wherein R
7 is an optionally substituted alkyl group; Y is S, O or N-R
10 ; R
10 is an optionally substituted alkyl group; R
8 and R
9 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or an alkyl, an alkoxy, a
thio-alkoxy, a nitro, a cyano, a carboxy, a carboxy ester, an acyl, an aldehyde, an
acylamido, a sulphonamido, an acylamino, a carbonate, a hydroxy or an aryl group or
R
8 and R
9 represent the atoms necessary to form a heterocyclic or a nonaromatic carbocyclic
ring or at least one of R
8 and R
10 and R
9 and R
7 independently represent the atoms necessary to form a heterocyclic ring; and both
R
8 and R
9 cannot both be an alkyl group; and 2-hydroxy-pyrimidine and 2-hydroxy-pyrimidine
derivatives.
[0049] Suitable optional substituents for the alkyl groups of R
1, R
6, R
7 and R
10 are independently include carboxy and carboxy ester groups. Suitable substituted
alkyl groups include: -CH
2COOH, -C
2H
4COOH and -C
2H
4COOC
2H
5.
[0050] Suitable benzoxazine dione toning agents for use in the thermographic recording material,
according to the present invention, are disclosed in GB 1,439,478, US 3,951,660 and
US 5,599,647, herein incorporated by reference, and include:
[0051] Suitable toning agents represented by formula (I) for use in the thermographic recording
material, according to the present invention, include:
[0052] Suitable toning agents represented by formula (II) according to the present invention
include:
Suitable 2-hydroxy-pyrimidine derivatives, according to the present invention, include:
Protective layer
[0053] In general the outermost protective layer protects the thermosensitive element from
atmospheric humidity and from surface damage by scratching etc. and prevents direct
contact of printheads or heat sources with the recording layers. Protective layers
for thermosensitive elements which come into contact with and have to be transported
past a heat source under pressure, have to exhibit resistance to local deformation
and good slipping characteristics during transport past the heat source during heating.
A slipping layer, being the outermost layer, may comprise a dissolved lubricating
material and/or particulate material, e.g. talc particles, optionally protruding from
the outermost layer. Examples of suitable lubricating materials are a surface-active
agent, a liquid lubricant, a solid lubricant or mixtures thereof, with or without
a polymeric binder.
[0054] According to a fourteenth embodiment of the substantially light-insensitive monosheet
thermographic recording material, according to the present invention, the outermost
protective layer comprises the reaction product of at least one hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane
and a hydroxy-group containing polymer.
[0055] According to a fifteenth embodiment of the substantially light-insensitive monosheet
thermographic recording material, according to the present invention, the outermost
protective layer comprises the reaction product of hydrolyzed tetramethoxysilane or
tetraethoxysilane and a hydroxy-group containing polymer.
[0056] According to a fifteenth embodiment of the substantially light-insensitive monosheet
thermographic recording material, according to the present invention, the outermost
protective layer comprises the reaction product of at least one hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane
and poly(vinyl alcohol).
Stabilizers
[0057] According to a sixteenth embodiment of the substantially light-insensitive monosheet
thermographic recording material, according to the present invention, the thermosensitive
element further contains a stabilizer.
[0058] According to a seventeenth embodiment of the substantially light-insensitive monosheet
thermographic recording material, according to the present invention, the thermosensitive
element further contains a stabilizer selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole;
substituted benzotriazoles; aromatic polycarboxylic acid, such as ortho-phthalic acid,
3-nitro-phthalic acid, tetrachlorophthalic acid, mellitic acid, pyromellitic acid
and trimellitic acid and anhydrides thereof; 1-phenyl-5-mercapto-tetrazole compounds
in which the phenyl group is substituted with a substituent containing an optionally
substituted aryl group, 1-(5-mercapto-1-tetrazolyl)-acetyl compounds represented by
formula (III):
wherein R
3 is -NR
4R
5 , -OR
6 or an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group; R
4 is hydrogen or an optionally substituted alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl group; R
5 is an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group; and R
6 is an optionally substituted aryl group; and compounds with two or more groups represented
by formula (IV):
where Q comprises the necessary atoms to form a 5- or 6-membered unsaturated heterocyclic
ring, A is hydrogen, a counterion to compensate the negative charge of the thiolate
group or two or more A groups provide a linking group between the two or more groups
represented by formula (IV).
[0059] According to an eighteenth embodiment of the substantially light-insensitive monosheet
thermographic recording material, according to the present invention, the thermosensitive
element further contains at least one optionally substituted aliphatic or carbocyclic
polycarboxylic acid and/or anhydride thereof in a molar percentage of at least 15
with respect to all the organic silver salt(s) present and in thermal working relationship
therewith. The polycarboxylic acid may be used in anhydride form or partially esterified
on the condition that at least two free carboxylic acids remain or are available during
the heat recording step.
Surfactants and dispersants
[0060] Surfactants and dispersants aid the dispersion of ingredients, which are insoluble
in the particular dispersion medium. The substantially light-insensitive thermographic
recording material used in the present invention may contain one or more surfactants,
which may be anionic, non-ionic or cationic surfactants and/or one or more dispersants.
Preferred anionic surfactants are surfactants represented by formula (3):
or alkali salts thereof, where a is an integer between 1 and 15; and b is an integer
between 1 and 5; and surfactants represented by formula (4):
wherein M is hydrogen, an alkali atom or an ammonium group; R
1 is an alkyl, alkenyl-, alkynyl-, thioalkyl-, thioalkenyl- or thioalkynyl-group in
which the alkyl-, alkenyl- or alkynyl- group has 6 to 25 carbon atoms; X is -O-, -S-
or -N (R
2) -; and R
2 is hydrogen, a -(CH
2)
mSO
3M group or a
group; and m is an integer between 1 and 5.
[0061] Suitable surfactants include:
[0062] Suitable dispersants are natural polymeric substances, synthetic polymeric substances
and finely divided powders, e.g. finely divided non-metallic inorganic powders such
as silica.
Support
[0063] According to a nineteenth embodiment of the substantially light-insensitive monosheet
thermographic recording material, according to the present invention, the support
is transparent or translucent. It is preferably a thin flexible carrier made of transparent
resin film, e.g. made of a cellulose ester, e.g. cellulose triacetate, polypropylene,
polycarbonate or polyester, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate. The support may be in
sheet, ribbon or web form and subbed if need be to improve the adherence to the thereon
coated thermosensitive element. The support may be dyed or pigmented to provide a
transparent coloured background for the image.
Coating techniques
[0064] The coating of any layer of the substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording
material used in the present invention may proceed by any coating technique e.g. such
as described in Modern Coating and Drying Technology, edited by Edward D. Cohen and
Edgar B. Gutoff, (1992) VCH Publishers Inc., 220 East 23rd Street, Suite 909 New York,
NY 10010, USA. Coating may proceed from aqueous or solvent media with overcoating
of dried, partially dried or undried layers.
Thermographic processing
[0065] Thermographic imaging is carried out by the image-wise application of heat either
in analogue fashion by direct exposure through an image or by reflection from an image,
or in digital fashion pixel by pixel either by using an infra-red heat source, for
example with a Nd-YAG laser or other infra-red laser, with a substantially light-insensitive
thermographic recording material preferably containing an infra-red absorbing compound,
or by direct thermal imaging with a thermal head.
[0066] In thermal printing image signals are converted into electric pulses and then through
a driver circuit selectively transferred to a thermal printhead. The thermal printhead
consists of microscopic heat resistor elements, which convert the electrical energy
into heat via Joule effect. The operating temperature of common thermal printheads
is in the range of 300 to 400°C and the heating time per picture element (pixel) may
be less than 1.0ms, the pressure contact of the thermal printhead with the recording
material being e.g. 200-1000g/linear cm, i.e. with a contact zone (nip) of 200 to
300 µm a pressure of 5000 to 50,000 g/cm
2, to ensure a good transfer of heat.
[0067] In order to avoid direct contact of the thermal printing heads with the outermost
layer on the same side of the support as the thermosensitive element when this outermost
layer is not a protective layer, the image-wise heating of the recording material
with the thermal printing heads may proceed through a contacting but removable resin
sheet or web wherefrom during the heating no transfer of recording material can take
place.
[0068] Activation of the heating elements can be power-modulated or pulse-length modulated
at constant power. EP-A 654 355 discloses a method for making an image by image-wise
heating by means of a thermal head having energizable heating elements, wherein the
activation of the heating elements is executed duty cycled pulsewise. EP-A 622 217
discloses a method for making an image using a direct thermal imaging element producing
improvements in continuous tone reproduction.
[0069] Image-wise heating of the recording material can also be carried out using an electrically
resistive ribbon incorporated into the material. Image- or pattern-wise heating of
the recording material may also proceed by means of pixel-wise modulated ultrasound.
Industrial application
[0070] Thermographic imaging can be used for the production of reflection type prints and
transparencies, in particular for use in the medical diagnostic field in which black-imaged
transparencies are widely used in inspection techniques operating with a light box.
[0071] The invention is illustrated hereinafter by way of comparative examples and invention
examples. The percentages and ratios given in these examples are by weight unless
otherwise indicated.
Ingredients in the thermosensitive element in addition to the above-mentioned ingredients:
[0072]
- Oil =
- BAYSILON, a silicone oil from BAYER;
- VL =
- DESMODUR VL, a 4,4'-diisocyanatodiphenylmethane from BAYER
Reducina agents:
[0073]
- R01 =
- 3,4-dihydroxybenzonitrile;
- R02 =
- 3,4-dihydroxybenzophenone;
Stabilizers:
[0074]
- S01 =
- glutaric acid
- S02 =
- tetrachlorophthalic acid anhydride
- S03 =
- benzotriazole
- S04 =
-
Compositions of thermosensitive elements used:
[0075]
|
Thermosensitive element types |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
Binder/AgBeh by weight |
4 |
4 |
4 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
4 |
R01 [mol% vs AgBeh] |
50 |
35 |
35 |
25 |
35 |
35 |
R02 [mol% vs AgBeh] |
30 |
45 |
45 |
40 |
40 |
45 |
BOD02 [mol% vs AgBeh] |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
BOD03 [mol% vs AgBeh] |
10 |
15 |
15 |
- |
- |
15 |
BOD04 [mol% vs AgBeh] |
- |
- |
- |
15 |
15 |
- |
S01 [mol% vs AgBeh] |
22 |
24 |
27 |
28 |
30 |
26 |
S02 [mol% vs AgBeh] |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
S03 [mol% vs AgBeh] |
10 |
10 |
3 |
- |
2.5 |
5 |
S04 [mol% vs AgBeh] |
- |
- |
3 |
5 |
2.5 |
- |
VL [g/m2] |
0.175 |
0.175 |
0.175 |
0.175 |
0.175 |
0.175 |
Oil [g/m2] |
0.033 |
0.033 |
0.033 |
0.033 |
0.033 |
0.033 |
Ingredients in the protective layer:
[0076]
- ERKOL™ 48 20 =
- a polyvinylalcohol from ACETEX EUROPE;
- LEVASIL™ VP AC 4055 =
- a 15% aqueous dispersion of colloidal silica with acid groups predominantly neutralized
with sodium ions and a specific surface area of 500 m2/g, from BAYER AG was converted into the ammonium salt;
- ULTRAVON™ W =
- 75-85% concentrate of a sodium arylsulfonate from Ciba Geigy converted into acid form
by passing through an ion exchange column;
- SYLOID™ 72 =
- a silica from Grace;
- SERVOXYL™ VPDZ 3/100 =
- a mono[isotridecyl polyglycolether (3 EO)] phosphate, from SERVO DELDEN B.V.;
- SERVOXYL™ VPAZ 100 =
- a mixture of monolauryl and dilauryl phosphate, from SERVO DELDEN B.V.;
- MICROACE TALC P3 =
- an Indian talc from NIPPON TALC;
- RILANIT™ GMS =
- a glycerine monotallow acid ester, from HENKEL AG
- TMOS =
- tetramethylorthosilicate hydrolyzed in the presence of methanesulfonic acid.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 4
[0077] The substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials of COMPARATIVE
EXAMPLES 1 to 4 were prepared by coating a dispersion prepared as follows: a first
solution containing 25.42 g methylethylketone, 12.375 g of binder and 33 mg Oil (Baysilon)
was prepared. To this solution 36.8 g of a AgBehenate-dispersion, containing per 100g
dispersion 10.7 g of AgBehenate and 9.35 g of binder, was added. Then 0.257 g of S01,
0.116 g of BOD2 and 0.164 g of BOD3 was added. This was followed by the addition of
9.4 g of a solution containing 0.567 g R02, 0.596 g R01, 0.126 g S02 and 0.100 g S03
in methylethylketone. Finally 2.2 g of a 8 wt% Desmodur VL solution in methylethylketon
was added. The resulting dispersion was doctor blade-coated onto a subbed 175µm thick
blue-pigmented polyethylene terephthalate support with CIELAB a*- and b*-values of
- 9.5 and -17.9 respectively subbed on the emulsion-coated side with subbing layer
01 giving type 1 thermosensitive elements with the composition given above, after
drying at 50°C for 1h in a drying cupboard.
[0078] The coverage of silver behenate and the quantities and types of polymers used in
the thermosensitive elements are given in Table 7 below.
Table 7:
Comparative example nr. |
AgBeh [g/m2] |
Binder in AgBeh dispersion |
Added binder |
Assessment of diffusion |
Haze thermosensitive element [%] |
|
|
Polymer type |
quantity [wt ratio vs AgBeh] |
Polymer type |
quantity [wt ratio vs AgBeh] |
|
|
1 |
3.77 |
B01 |
0.87 |
B01 |
3.13 |
5 |
22.1 |
2 |
3.95 |
B01 |
0.87 |
B04 |
3.13 |
5 |
22.8 |
3 |
4.21 |
B01 |
0.87 |
B05 |
3.13 |
5 |
22.7 |
4 |
4.14 |
B01 |
0.87 |
B07 |
3.13 |
5 |
19.6 |
The thermosensitive elements were then optionally coated with an aqueous composition
with the following ingredients, which was adjusted to a pH of 3.8 with 1N nitric acid,
to a wet layer thickness of 85 µm and then dried at 50°C for 15 minutes to produce
a protective layer with the composition:
- ERKOL™ 48 20 =
- 2.1g/m2
- LEVASIL™ VP AC 4055 =
- 1.05g/m2
- ULTRAVON™ W =
- 0.075g/m2
- SYLOID™ 72 =
- 0.09 g/m2
- SERVOXYL™ VPDZ 3/100 =
- 0.075g/m2
- SERVOXYL™ VPAZ 100 =
- 0.075g/m2
- MICROACE TALC P3 =
- 0.045g/m2
- RILANIT™ GMS =
- 0.15g/m2
- TMOS =
- 0.87g/m2 (assuming that the TMOS was completely converted to SiO2)
After coating the protective layer was hardened by heating the substantially light-insensitive
thermographic recording material at 45°C for 7 days at a relative humidity of 70%.
Haze measurements
[0079] The haze of the thermosensitive elements of the thermographic recording materials
of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 4 was determined as a percentage according to ASTM standard
D1003 using a Haze-gard Plus apparatus from BYK GARDNER according to the expression:
where T
d is the diffuse luminous transmittance and T
t is the total luminous transmittance.
Assessment of diffusion of ingredients and reaction products of the imaging forming
process to the surface of thermosensitive element
[0080] The diffusion of ingredients and reaction products of the imaging forming process
to the surface of the thermosensitive element was assessed by:
- first thermographically printing the thermosensitive elements of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES
1 to 4 using a DRYSTAR™ 4500 printer from AGFA-GEVAERT with a resolution of 508 dpi
which has been modified to operate at a printing speed of 14 mm/s and a line-time
of 3.5 ms instead of 7.1 ms and in which the 75 µm long (in the transport direction)
and 50 µm wide thermal head resistors were power-modulated to produce different image
densities during which the print head was separated from the imaging layer by a thin
intermediate material. This intermediate material is a separable 5µm thick polyethylene
terephthalate ribbon coated with the same composition as the above-described protective
later. (This was necessary to protect the thermal head from direct contact with the
outermost surface of the thermosensitive element);
- then removing the thin intermediate material and subjecting the thermosensitive element
to 3 days wrapped in black paper in the dark at a temperature of 57°C and 34% relative
humidity; and
- finally visually assessing the diffusion of the ingredients therein and reaction products
thereof to the surface according to a scale of 0 to 5 with the following criteria:
diffusion assessment of 0: |
no diffusion |
diffusion assessment of 1: |
first indication of diffusion upon examination under an intense lighting after rubbing
with a paper tissue |
diffusion assessment of 2: |
visible in daylight after rubbing with a paper tissue |
diffusion assessment of 3: |
just visible in daylight without rubbing with a paper tissue |
diffusion assessment of 4: |
moderately strong deposition without rubbing with a paper tissue |
diffusion assessment of 5: |
very strong deposition without rubbing with a paper tissue |
The results are summarized in Table 7. In the presence of 21.75% by weight of B01,
B04 and B05 have no effect on the diffusion of ingredients and reaction products thereof,
whereas B02 and B07 have a marginal effect on the diffusion of ingredients and reaction
products thereof.
Thermographic printing
[0081] The substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials of COMPARATIVE
EXAMPLES 1 to 4 were printed using the above-mentioned modified DRYSTAR™ 4500 printer
from AGFA-GEVAERT to produce different image densities. The maximum densities of the
images (D
max) measured through a visible filter with a MACBETH™ TR924 densitometer were all greater
than 2.0. The CIELAB a*- and b*-values for densities of 1.0 and 2.0 were determined
by spectrophotometric measurements according to ASTM Norm E179-90 in a R(45/0) geometry
with evaluation according to ASTM Norm E308-90. The results are summarized in Table
8.
Table 8:
Comparative example nr. |
dispersion polymer/ added polymer |
CIELAB values for fresh film for D=1.0 |
CIELAB values for fresh film for D=2.0 |
|
|
a* |
b* |
a* |
b* |
1 |
B01/B01 |
-3.86 |
-6.15 |
-1.2 |
-5.38 |
2 |
B01/B04 |
-3.74 |
-6.42 |
-0.93 |
-5.69 |
3 |
B01/B05 |
-3.62 |
-5.15 |
-0.1 |
-3.88 |
4 |
B01/B07 |
-3.1 |
-6.32 |
-0.31 |
-5.85 |
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 5 and 6 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 1 to 3
[0082] The substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials of COMPARATIVE
EXAMPLES 5 and 6 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 1 to 3 were prepared by coating a dispersion
prepared as follows: a first solution containing 37.44 g methylethylketone, 12.375
g of binder and 33 mg Oil (Baysilon) was prepared. To this solution 28.35g of a AgBehenate-dispersion,
containing per 100g dispersion 14 g of AgBehenate and 12.1 g of binder, was added.
Then 0.280 g of S01 and 0.246 g of BOD3 was added. This was followed by the addition
of 7.5 g of a solution containing 0.850 g R02, 0.417 g R01, 0.126 g S02 and 0.100
g S03 in methylethylketone. Finally 2.2 g of a 8 wt% Desmodur VL solution in methylethylketon
was added. The resulting dispersion was doctor blade-coated onto a subbed 175µm thick
blue-pigmented polyethylene terephthalate support with CIELAB a*- and b*-values of
-9.5 and -17.9 respectively subbed on the emulsion-coated side with subbing layer
01 giving type 2 thermosensitive elements with the composition given above, after
drying at 50°C for 1h in a drying cupboard.
[0083] The coverage of silver behenate and the quantities and types of polymers used in
the thermosensitive elements are given in Table 9 below.
[0084] The diffusion through the thermosensitive elements was assessed as described for
the thermosensitive elements of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 4 and the results are summarized
in Table 9. In the presence of 21.75% by weight of B01, A03 and A01 have a fair effect
on the diffusion of ingredients and reaction products thereof and A02 has a strong
effect on the diffusion of ingredients and reaction products thereof in the substantially
light-insensitive thermographic recording material of the present invention.
Table 9:
Comparative example nr |
AgBeh [g/m2] |
Binder in AgBeh dispersion |
Added binder |
Assessment of diffusion |
|
|
Polymer type |
quantity [wt ratio vs AgBeh] |
Polymer type |
quantity [wt ratio vs AgBeh] |
|
5 |
4.00 |
B01 |
0.87 |
B01 |
3.13 |
5 |
6 |
4.29 |
B01 |
0.87 |
B03 |
3.13 |
5 |
Invention example nr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
3.98 |
B01 |
0.87 |
A01 |
3.13 |
3 |
2 |
3.77 |
B01 |
0.87 |
A02 |
3.13 |
2 |
3 |
3.64 |
B01 |
0.87 |
A03 |
3.13 |
4 |
[0085] The thermosensitive elements of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 5 and 6 and INVENTION EXAMPLES
1 to 3 were further coated with a protective layer as described for the substantially
light-insensitive thermographic recording materials of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 4
and the image tone of the fresh thermographic recording materials determined as described
for COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 7 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 1 and 2, the results being
summarized in Table 10.
[0086] With thermosensitive element type 2, the most neutral image tone is exhibited by
the thermographic recording material of INVENTION EXAMPLE 3 with second polymer B01
as the dispersion polymer and first polymer A03 as the added polymer.
Table 10:
Comparative example nr. |
dispersion polymer/ added polymer |
CIELAB values for fresh film for D=1.0 |
CIELAB values for fresh film for D=2.0 |
|
|
a* |
b* |
a* |
b* |
5 |
B01/B01 |
-2.7 |
-8.4 |
+0.4 |
-5.9 |
6 |
B01/B03 |
-2.7 |
-7.9 |
+0.3 |
-4.4 |
Invention example nr |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
B01/A01 |
+3.6 |
-0.3 |
+4.5 |
-3.7 |
2 |
B01/A02 |
+4.2 |
+0.7 |
+5.0 |
-2.7 |
3 |
B01/A03 |
+3.3 |
-1.7 |
+3.9 |
-4.5 |
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 7 and 8 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 4 and 5
[0087] The substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials of COMPARATIVE
EXAMPLES 7 and 8 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 4 and 5 were prepared by coating a dispersion
prepared as follows: a first solution containing 28.0 g methylethylketone, 13 g of
binder and 33 mg Oil (Baysilon) was prepared. To this solution 36.3 g of a AgBehenate-dispersion,
containing per 100g dispersion 11.4 g of AgBehenate and 9.9 g of binder, was added.
Then 0.246 g BOD3 was added. This was followed by the addition of 7.9 g of a solution
containing 0.894 g R02, 0.438 g R01, 0.130 g S02, 0.033 g S03, 0.082 g S04 and 0.331
g S01 in methylethylketone. Finally 2.2 g of a 8 wt% Desmodur VL solution in methylethylketon
was added. The resulting dispersion was doctor blade-coated onto a subbed 175µm thick
blue-pigmented polyethylene terephthalate support with CIELAB a*- and b*-values of
-9.5 and -17.9 respectively subbed on the emulsion-coated side with subbing layer
01 giving type 3 thermosensitive elements with the composition given above, after
drying at 50°C for 1h in a drying cupboard.
[0088] The coverage of silver behenate and the quantities and types of polymers used in
the thermosensitive elements are given in Table 11 below.
Table 11:
Comparative example nr. |
AgBeh [g/m2] |
first polymer vs AgBeh] |
Added binder |
quantity [wt ratio of first polymer vs AgBeh] |
Assessment of diffusion |
|
|
Polymer type |
quantity [wt ratio vs AgBeh] |
Polymer type |
quantity [wt ratio vs AgBeh] |
|
|
7 |
4.06 |
B01 |
0.87 |
B01 |
3.13 |
- |
5 |
8 |
4.11 |
B01 |
0.87 |
50% A03 50% B01 |
3.13 |
1.565 |
5 |
Invention example nr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
4.16 |
B01 |
0.87 |
A03 |
3.13 |
3.13 |
3 |
5 |
4.14 |
B01 |
0.87 |
A02 |
3.13 |
3.13 |
3 |
The diffusion through the thermosensitive elements was assessed as described for
the thermosensitive elements of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 4 and the results are summarized
in Table 11. The A03 has an effect at a concentration in the at least one binder between
39% by weight and 78% by weight. The A02 has an effect at a concentration in the at
least one binder of << 78% by weight.
[0089] The thermosensitive elements of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 7 and 8 and INVENTION EXAMPLES
4 and 5 were further coated with a protective layer as described for the substantially
light-insensitive thermographic recording materials of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 4
and the image tone of the fresh thermographic recording materials determined as described
for COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 7 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 1 and 2, the results being
summarized in Table 12.
Table 12:
Comparative example nr |
dispersion polymer/ added polymer |
fresh film CIELAB values for D=1.0 |
fresh film CIELAB values for D=2.0 |
|
|
a* |
b* |
a* |
b* |
7 |
B01/B01 |
-2.7 |
-8.3 |
-0.4 |
-5.9 |
8 |
B01/50% B01 + 50% A03 |
-1.6 |
-4.5 |
+1.1 |
-3.6 |
Invention example nr |
|
|
|
|
|
4 |
B01/A03 |
+2.9 |
+0.8 |
+3.5 |
-0.6 |
5 |
B01/A02 |
+1.7 |
0.0 |
+3.9 |
-0.2 |
[0090] The thermographic recording materials of INVENTION EXAMPLES 4 and 5 with thermosensitive
element type 3 with second polymer B01 as the dispersion polymer the image tone neutrality
increased in the order of first polymers as added polymer: A03 < A02.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 9 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 6 to 8
[0091] The substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials of COMPARATIVE
EXAMPLE 9 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 6 to 8 were prepared by coating a dispersion prepared
as follows: a first solution containing 36.6 g methylethylketone, 12.50 g of binder
and 33 mg Oil (Baysilon) was prepared. To this solution 32.8 g of a AgBehenate-dispersion,
containing per 100g dispersion 12.7 g of AgBehenate and 11 g of binder, was added.
Then 0.247 g BOD3 and 0.320 g S01 was added. This was followed by the addition of
7.52 g of a solution containing 0.896 g R02, 0.438 g R01, 0.130 g S02 and 0.055 g
S03 in methylethylketone. Finally 2.2 g of a 8 wt% Desmodur VL solution in methylethylketon
was added. The resulting dispersion was doctor blade-coated onto a subbed 175µm thick
blue-pigmented polyethylene terephthalate support with CIELAB a*- and b*-values of
-9.5 and -17.9 respectively subbed on the emulsion-coated side with subbing layer
01 giving type 6 thermosensitive elements with the composition given above, after
drying at 50°C for 1h in a drying cupboard.
[0092] The coverage of silver behenate and the quantities and types of polymers used in
the thermosensitive elements are given in Table 13 below.
Table 13:
Comparative example nr |
AgBeh [g/m2] |
Binder in AgBeh dispersion |
Added binder |
quantity [wt ratio of first polymer vs AgBeh] |
Assessment of diffusion |
|
|
Polymer type |
quantity [wt ratio vs AgBeh] |
Polymer type |
quantity [wt ratio vs AgBeh] |
|
|
9 |
4.214 |
B01 |
0.87 |
B01 |
3.13 |
- |
5 |
Invention example nr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
3.925 |
A07 |
0.87 |
A07 |
1.53 |
2.4 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
B01 1.60 |
|
|
|
7 |
4.135 |
A07 |
0.87 |
A07 |
2.33 |
3.2 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
B01 |
0.80 |
|
|
8 |
4.188 |
A07 |
0.87 |
A07 |
3.13 |
4.0 |
1 |
[0093] The diffusion through the thermosensitive elements was assessed as described for
the thermosensitive elements of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 4 and the results are summarized
in Table 13. An improvement in diffusion through the thermosensitive elements over
the situation with the at least one binder being 100% B01 was observed upon replacing
60% or more of the B01 with AB02, AB05 or A07.
[0094] The thermosensitive elements of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 9 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 6 to
8 were further coated with a protective layer as described for the substantially light-insensitive
thermographic recording materials of COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES 1 to 4 and the image tone
of the fresh thermographic recording materials determined as described for COMPARATIVE
EXAMPLES 1 to 7 and INVENTION EXAMPLES 1 and 2, the results being summarized in Table
14.
[0095] The image tone becomes more neutral with increasing concentration of B01 for A07.
Thermographic recording materials with thermosensitive elements containing AB05 with
or without B01 give slightly more neutral image tones than thermographic recording
materials with thermosensitive elements containing AB02 with or without B01 or A07
with or without B01 for comparable B01-concentrations.
Table 14:
Comparative example nr |
dispersion polymer/ added polymer |
wt% first polymer |
CIELAB values for fresh film for D=1.0 |
CIELAB values for fresh film for D=2.0 |
|
|
|
a* |
b* |
a* |
b* |
9 |
B01/B01 |
0 |
-1.8 |
-7.7 |
+1.8 |
-5.3 |
Invention example nr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
A07/A07+B01 |
68.7 |
+0.9 |
-7.8 |
+3.3 |
-7.5 |
7 |
A07/A07+B01 |
84.35 |
+2.2 |
-7.5 |
+4.1 |
-8.5 |
8 |
A07/A07 |
100 |
+3.1 |
-5.0 |
+5.5 |
-6.9 |
The present invention may include any feature or combination of features disclosed
herein either implicitly or explicitly or any generalisation thereof irrespective
of whether it relates to the presently claimed invention. In view of the foregoing
description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications
may be made within the scope of the invention.