FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a solution for sludge formation and "pi-line" artefact,
while processing silver halide photographic materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] From an ecological point of view, there is a continuous pressure on waste reduction
in photographic processing.
[0003] Combined with customer demands for a more convenient processing, this results in
ever decreasing replenishing rates for both developer and fixer. Sludge formation
is one of the major problems when attempting to further reduce the replenishing rates
and to avoid waste. Otherwise for industrial radiography wherein in a normal processing
cycle in an automatic processing machine use is made of film transport over racks,
wherein each of said racks is provided with a lot of rollers immersed in the different
processing baths, pollution by e.g. dust being carried into the processor by the film
to be processed and generation of very small metallic silver particles in the developer,
due to the development process, together with the evitable manipulations like arrest
in development, start of the circulation of processing and regeneration liquids make
the generated solid particles become deposited onto the rollers of the racks. So when
a film is introduced into the processor as a first film of a whole series of films,
its first contact with the first stained roller releases the deposit from the said
roller or disturbs the deposited layer and as a consequence thereof, after one rotation
of the said roller the unevenly distributed dirt or stain comes into contact again
with the transported film surface so that it may be deposited onto said surface. The
artefact described hereinbefore, recurrently repeated, not only at the first roller,
but also at the further rollers that are mounted onto the racks is called "pi-line"
as it is recurrently depicted at a distance corresponding with the circumference of
the rollers.
[0004] A lot of compounds suitable for use as sludge preventing additives are known for
developer compositions as has extensively been illustrated in the patent literature,
e.g. in GB-A 2 029 037, US-A's 3,628,955; 4, 169, 733; 4,310,622; 4,371,610; 4,391,900;
4,546,070; 5,240,823; 5,356,761; 5,385,811; 5,518,868 ; 5,641,620; 5,707,793 and 5,840,472
as well as in EP-A's 0 136 582, 0 223 883, 0 785 467, 0 789 272, 0 851 282, 1 061
413 and 1 061 414. None of the proposed solutions can however be considered as an
ultimate solution in order to avoid sludge formation in all applied conditions and
even US-A 5,518,868 although moreover offering a solution for the "pi-line" artefact
from the side of the silver halide photographic material as well as from the side
of processing solutions leaves still room for further improvements.
[0005] Same can be concluded from GB-A 1,225,406 wherein sulphonated tannin polymers act
as generally known dispersing agents, suggesting to have a stabilising effect on colloidal
silver present in the developer while processing, not acting therein as a silver complexing
compound due to the absence of a silver adsorbing group in their polymeric structure.
[0006] Hence, there remains a continuous need for additives for processing solutions, thereby
preventing formation of sludge and "pi-line". Almost all of the additives known from
the patent literature have a low molecular weight as a common property. A lot of these
compounds are the result of a combination of a strong silver ion complexing group
as e.g. a heteroaromatic thiol and a solubilizing group such as a sulphonate or carboxylate.
These compounds are known to prevent, or at least inhibit, the reduction of silver
ions in solution, to prevent the deposition of silver nanoclusters in the developer
and to inactivate the catalytic activity of those potentially formed silver nanoclusters
for further reduction of dissolved silver ions.
[0007] Disadvantageous however is their ability to dissolve quite a lot of silver ions from
the emulsion during processing, which results in a significant increase in silver
ion concentration in the developer. However above a critical concentration of silver
ions in the developer those compounds, known from the state-of-the-art as "sludge
preventing additives", loose their activity. In order to solve this well-known problem,
components known as "dissolution regulators (inhibitors)" have been added to the developer
as has clearly been illustrated in JP-A's 59-079244, 59-079250, 59-079251, 60-080839,
04-277739 and 04-333046, in EP-A 0 272 217 and in US-A's 5,300,410; 5,364,746; 5,457,011;
5,821,040; 6,238,853 and 6,238,854. Typical examples of those dissolution inhibitors
are the small heterocyclic thiols without solubilizing groups. They are very effective
in preventing or inhibiting dissolution of silver ions in a developer, but they are
negativating the desired sensitometry as their influence on speed and developability
of the processed silver halide materials is questionable. As depending on the conditions
of the developer during processing both speed and developability of the developed
materials is decreased to an unexpectable and almost inadmissible extent, it is extremely
difficult to balance the ratio of both the sludge preventing compound and the dissolution
inhibitor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] As becomes clear from the problems posed hereinbefore, it remains a stringent object
to provide chemical compounds as additives avoiding formation of sludge and "pi-line"
in developer compositions to a better extent than known until now.
[0009] The above-mentioned advantageous effects have been realised by providing an aqueous
silver halide photographic processing solution having the specific features set out
in claim 1.
[0010] Specific features for preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in the
dependent claims, while further advantages and embodiments of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It has now unexpectedly been found that selected polymeric compounds are very effective
in preventing sludge, without negatively influencing (increasing) the dissolution
rate of the silver halide and/or (decreasing) developability or speed of photographic
materials, when making use therefrom in their processing cycle.
[0012] The selected polymeric compounds preventing sludge formation, particularly suitable
for use in processing solutions according to the present invention therefore comprise
an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a silver ion complexing moiety and an
ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a solubilising group, wherein the group complexing
silver ions and the solubilising group are comprised in different monomer units. According
to the present invention the processing solution comprises as an additive a polymeric
compound having a thiol or a salt thereof as a group complexing silver ions, a group
capable of generating a thiol by hydrolysis or a disulfide. By providing such polymeric
compounds having a specific silver affinity reduction of silver ions becomes suppressed
or inhibited, and, if colloidal silver would be generated, to stabilise the said silver
in dispersed form, further thereby passivating the silver nuclei in order to avoid
growth thereof and deposit of mud.
[0013] According to the present invention, the solubilising group is selected from the group
consisting of a carboxylic acid or salt thereof, a sulfonic acid or salt thereof,
a phosphonic acid or salt thereof, a phosphate and a sulfate. Moreover it has been
shown that non-ionic groups like in (meth)acrylamides and hydrofunctional polymers
are very useful additives.
[0014] Polymeric compounds suitable for use as "anti-sludging" additives in the processing
solution according to the present invention can be prepared according to any known
polymerisation technique, such as radical polymerisation of ethylenically unsatured
monomers, polycondensates for the preparations of e.g. polyesters, polyurethanes and
polycarbonates and polymers obtained by anionic or cationic ring opening polymerisations.
[0015] Also modifications (polymer analogue reactions) have been shown to offer interesting
perspectives in order to reach the objects of the present invention: so e.g. polyvinyl
alcohol, polyasparic acid, and polyacrylic acid (without however being limited thereto)
can be functionalised with Ag-complexing groups.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment the polymeric compound comprises at least one ethylenically
unsaturated monomer according to formula I.

wherein:
R1 is selected from the group consisting a hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted
alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted
heteroaryl group
L is a divalent linking group
A is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a metallic or organic counterion
or a group capable of generating a thiol upon hydrolysis.
[0017] In a most preferred embodiment the ethylenically unsaturated monomer according to
the formula I is selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides,
methacrylamides, vinylethers and styrenes.
[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, the polymeric compound comprises at least one
ethylenically unsaturated monomer according to formula II :

wherein :
R2 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted
saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a
substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group, a carboxylic acid or salt thereof,
a carboxamide, an ester of a carboxylic acid, a ketone or an aldehyde;
L represents a divalent linking group
R3 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted
saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a
substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group, CO-R5;
R4 is selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted saturated
or unsaturated alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted
or unsubstituted heteroaryl group, OR6, SR7, NR8R9
R5 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted
saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a
substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group, OR6, SR7, NR8R9
R6 and R7 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a substituted or unsubstituted
saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a
substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group
R8 and R9 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen, a substituted
or unsubstituted saturated or unsaturated alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted
aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group; and wherein further
R8 and R9 may be combined to form a ring and
R3 and R4 may be combined to form a ring.
[0021] The monomers according to the general formulae I and II are preferably copolymerised
with a monomer comprising at least one solubilising group, wherein said solubilising
group is more preferably selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid or
salt thereof, a sulfonic acid or salt thereof, a phosphonic acid or salt thereof,
a phosphate or a sulfate in order to provide a polymeric compound suitable for use
as an additive in the processing solution according to the present invention.
[0022] Typical monomers having a solubilising group are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid,
styrene-4-sulfonic acid, 4-carboxymethyl-styrene, itaconic acid maleic acid, fumaric
acid, 2-acrylamino-2-methylpropane-sulfonic acid, without however being limited thereto.
[0024] According to the present invention the molar ratio of the ethylenically unsaturated
monomer comprising a moiety having silver ion complexing ability to the ethylenically
unsaturated monomer comprising a solubilising group is preferably between 1 to 100
and 100 to 1, more preferably between 1 to 100 and 1 to 1.
[0025] The polymeric compound preventing sludge formation may further comprise other monomers
besides the ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising a silver ion complexing moiety
and the ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising a solubilising group.
[0026] It is not very significant to discuss the ranges of the preferred molecular weight
wherein the sludge preventing polymeric compound is situated: the range between relatively
low molecular weights of about 1,000 and high molecular weights of about 500,000 should
be considered, but methods for determining those molecular weights are prone to discussion
as most of them are relative methods, offering no unambiguous standard. Moreover interactions
of the polymeric chain with the experimental environment further lays burden thereupon
and may lead to false interpretations of "molecular weights".
[0027] In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention the processing solution
is a photographic developing solution.
[0028] It is further not excluded to make use of the polymeric compound as a coating agent
in the protective antistress layers of silver halide materials to be processed. As
silver halide photographic materials especially envisaged within the context of non-destructive
testing applications reference is made to the materials having been coated with cubic
silver halide grains as described in EP-A's 0 538 947, 0 622 668, 0 620 483, 0 620
484, 0 621 506, 0 698 817, 0 754 971 and 0 754 972 and with tabular silver halide
grains as disclosed in EP-A's 0 678 772, 0 890 875, 1 195 642 and 1 197 797. The halide
composition of the cubic or tabular silver halide grains coated in the radiation sensitive
emulsion layers is not restricted to grains rich in silver bromide, like the silver
bromoiodide grains normally used, but is also related with grains rich in silver chloride.
Examples
[0029] While the present invention will hereinafter be described in connection with preferred
embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention
to those embodiments.
[0030] The synthesis of some monomers, the structure of which has been given hereinbefore
has been described hereinafter.
The synthesis of monomer I.1 :
[0031]

[0032] 152.5 g (2.01 mole) of thioureum were suspended in 750 ml ethanol en heated to reflux.
305 g (2 moles) of vinylbenzylchloride (mixture of 3- and 4-isomers) were added dropwise
while gently refluxing.
[0033] The mixture was refluxed for an additional 2 hours. After cooling down to room temperature,
the reaction mixture was concentrated to 500 ml and 500 ml of ethylacetate was further
added.
[0034] Monomer I.1 precipitated from the medium as a white crystalline solid. The compound
was isolated by filtration, was washed twice with 500 ml ethylacetate/ethanol 3/1
and dried. 170 grams of monomer I.1 were isolated.
The synthesis of monomer I.15, II.1 and II.2 :
Preparation of intermediate I:
[0035]

[0036] 200 g of polyoxymethylene (6.7 moles) were suspended in 670 ml water. 25 ml of a
1N H
3PO
4 solution were added. The mixture was heated to 90°C for 2 hours. After cooling down
to room temperature, 75 g of 1,4-diaza-bicyclo[2-2-2]octane ("DABCO" in an amount
of 0.67 mole) and 670 g (6.7 moles) of ethylacrylate in 670 ml of tetrahydrofuran
were added and the reaction was allowed to continue at room temperature for 4 days.
The residual polyoxymethylene was removed by filtration. The residual ethylacrylate
and the formed hydroxymethyl ethylacrylate were separated from the mixture. The mixture
was extracted twice with one liter of tert. butyl- methyl ether. The organic fractions
were pooled and dried over MgSO
4. 200 mg of 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-4-methylphenol were added in order to avoid polymerisation
and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. Intermediate I was finally purified
by destillation under reduced pressure(0.5 mm Hg). The fraction between 41°C and 70°C
was isolated. Finally, 161 g of intermediate I were isolated.
Preparation of intermediate II :
[0037]

[0038] The intermediate ethyl-bromomethacrylate was prepared by dissolving 130 g (1 mole)
of ethyl-hydroxymethacrylate in 1100 ml of diethyl ether. 133 g (0.49 mole) PBr
3 were added dropwise, while the reaction mixture was kept below 0°C. The reaction
was allowed to continue for 4 hours at 0°C. After 4 hours, 1100 ml of water were added
slowly, while keeping the temperature below 10°C. The organic layer was isolated and
the aqueous phase was extracted three times with 250 ml hexane. The pooled organic
fractions were dried over Na
2SO
4. 200 mg 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-4-methylphenol were added in order to avoid spontaneous
polymerisation and the solvents were removed under reduced pressure. The crude product
was used without further purification.

Monomer 1.15 :
[0039] 8.8 g (50 mmole) of thioureum were suspended in 100 ml of CH
3CN and 4.1 g of NaHCO
3 (50 mmole) were added. 10.7 g (55 mmoles) of intermediate II were added dropwise
and the reaction was allowed to continue over night.
[0040] Monomer I.15 precipitated from the medium as a white crystalline compound. Monomer
I.15 was redissolved in 200 ml of ethanol and NaHCO
3 was removed by filtration.
[0041] The ethanol was evaporated under reduced pressure to 35 ml and 75 ml of ethyl acetate
were added. The precipitated monomer was isolated by filtration, washed with ethyl
acetate and dried.
[0042] 7.1 grams of monomer I.15 were isolated.
Monomer II.1 :
[0043]

[0044] 13.2 g (80 mmoles) of S-methyl mercapto-thiadiazole were dissolved in 50 ml of dimethylacetamide.
12.5 ml (80 mmoles) of triethylamine were added. A solution of 16.4 g (80 mmoles)
of intermediate II in 25 ml dimethylacetamide was added dropwise over 15 minutes.
The reaction was allowed to continue for 1 hour at 70°C. After cooling down to room
temperature, the reaction mixture was poured out into 300 ml of water and 3 ml of
acetic acid. The mixture was extracted with 300 ml of methylene chloride. The methylene
chloride was washed twice with 100 ml water and dried over MgSO
4. The methylene chloride was evaporated under reduced pressure and monomer II.1 was
isolated by preparative column chromatography on silica (hexane/methyl tert. butylether
: 70/30).
[0045] Finally 17.1 grams of monomer II.1 were isolated.
Monomer II.2 :
[0046]

[0047] 16.7 g (100 mmoles) of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole were suspended in 100 ml of ethanol.
This starting product was deprotonated by the addition of 18.5 ml of a 29% sodium
methanolate solution in methanol (w/v%). 23.2 g of intermediate II (120 mmoles) in
100 ml of ethanol were added dropwise. The temperature rose to 42°C upon addition.
The reaction was allowed to continue for 1 hour at 55°C. The precipitated salts were
removed by filtration and the residual solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure.
The residual oil was purified by preparative column chromatography on silica (eluent:
hexane/ethyl-acetate : 85/15). Finally 13.1 grams of monomer II.2 were isolated.
Preparation of Copolymer-III.1 of acrylic acid and monomer-I.1
[0048] In a 500 ml 3-neck polymerisation vessel equipped with a stirrer, a nitrogen inlet
and a thermometer, 18 g of acrylic acid and 2 g of monomer-I.1 were dissolved in 176
g of deionised water. After purging for 15 minutes with nitrogen the mixture was heated
to 70°C. At 70°C 0.02 g of Na
2S
2O
8 were added. After 7 hours the polymerisation vessel was cooled to room temperature.
This was resulting in a viscous solution having a solid content of 7.11 wt%.
Example No. 1
[0049] Besides running in the developer
G135® (trade name product marketed by Agfa-Gevaert), the exposed film material, the composition
of which has been given hereinafter, was run in
- an experimental developer (comparative developer CD) having same composition as G135®, but without presence therein of the normally used
anionic alkylphenoxy polyalkyleneoxy phosphate ester surfactant, further comprising
as chemical agents hydroquinone, phenidone, potassium sulphite, 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole,
5-nitroindazole and glutaric dialdehyde and
- an inventive developer (ID) the composition of which has been given hereinafter.
Inventive Developer (ID)
[0050] To a developer solution CD (comparative developer as described above) 245 g of an
aqueous solution (7.77 wt % concentrated, as determined from the dry residue) of the
polymeric compound the structure of which is illustrated hereinafter were added per
4 liter of developer "ready-for-use": 0.475 g of "active product" (sulphur containing
parts of the polymeric chain), corresponding with the structure of Copolymer-III.1
of acrylic acid with monomer-I.1 as given hereinbefore, were present.

[0051] Following Film Material was run through the processing machine, said material being
composed of following components:
Emulsion preparation and coating
[0052] A gelatino silver iodobromide X-ray emulsion comprising 99 mole % of silver bromide
and 1 mole % of silver iodide was prepared in the following way. An aqueous solution
containing 3 grams of ammonia was added to the reaction vessel containing 1550 ml
of a 3% by weight aqueous solution of gelatin at 45°C. Into said reaction vessel a
solution of 2000 ml of an aqueous 1.5 molar solution of potassium bromide and a solution
of 2000 ml of an aqueous 1.5 molar solution of silver nitrate were introduced at constant
rate of 86 ml/min under vigorously stirring conditions. During precipitation the pAg
value was adjusted to and maintained at a value corresponding to an E.M.F. of +20
mV with reference to a silver/saturated calomel electrode. In this way homogeneous
and regular silver halide grains having a crystal diameter of 0.54 µm were obtained.
At the end of the precipitation step, the emulsion was coagulated by adding polystyrene
sulphonic acid acting as a flocculating agent after adjustment of the pH value of
the emulsion in the reaction vessel to 3.5 with sulphuric acid. After rapid sedimentation
of said silver halide emulsion the supernatant liquid was decanted. To remove the
water-soluble salts from said flocculate, demineralised water of 11°C. was added under
controlled stirring conditions followed by a further sedimentation and decantation.
This washing procedure was repeated until the emulsion was sufficiently desalted.
Thereafter the coagulum was redispersed at 45°C in water after the addition of a sufficient
amount of gelatin to obtain a ratio of gelatin to silver halide expressed as silver
nitrate of 0.4.
[0053] The pH-value was adjusted to 6.5 and pAg to a value of +70 mV with reference to the
silver/saturated calomel electrode.
[0054] Chemical sensitisation of said emulsion was performed by the addition of a sulphur
and gold sensitiser and digestion at 50°C to the point where the highest sensitivity
was reached for a still acceptable fog level.
[0055] This emulsion was coated at both sides of a blue polyethylene terephthalate support
having a thickness of 175 µm, so that per sq. m. an amount of silver halide corresponding
to 14.5 g of silver nitrate and 12.3 g of gelatin were present. Before coating stabilisers
such as 5-methyl-7-hydroxy-5-triazolo-[1,5-a]-pyrimidin and 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazol
were added to the emulsion. From a number of samples of the materials thus formed,
the emulsion layers were covered at both sides with a protective layer of 1.5 grams
of gelatin per square meter, which were hardened with 0.093 g of di-(vinyl-sulphonyl)-methane
(DVS) per square meter.
[0056] The protective layers of material were in addition coated with a polyoxyalkylene
compound in an amount of 0.042 g/m
2 at both sides of the film.
[0057] The coated and dried films were exposed according to ISO 7004 with a 235 kV radiation
source with a copper filter of 8 mm thickness.
[0058] The exposed radiographic films were developed, fixed, rinsed and dried in an NDT
M ECO (trade name product from Agfa-Gevaert, Mortsel, Belgium) automatic machine processing
cycle of 5 minutes. Development was run, at 29°C, in the reference developer G135®,
in the comparative developer (CD) and in the inventive developer (ID).
[0059] Fixing occurred in fixer G335® (trade name) marketed by Agfa-Gevaert, at 29°C, which
comprises aluminum sulphate, sodium sulphite, boric acid and sodium acetate.
[0060] In Table 1 hereinafter the result of visual inspections after having run differing
amounts (in sq.m.) of processed film has been given, the said film having been run
through the processing cycle mentioned above in developers G135®, comparative developer
CD and inventive developer ID respectively.
[0061] In order to simulate severe real circumstances that might initiate pi-line defects
processing of the materials was performed as follows: an amount of film was exposed
to such an extent as to have a moderate density corresponding to the practically obtained
average density for real samples after processing. The said amount of film was run
through the processor to cause a replenishment of the processing solutions so that
the said processing solutions were totally regenerated. In praxis about 10 m
2 per day were run through the said processing solutions and the applied (lower up
to an amount of about 40 %) regeneration was 550 ml/m
2 for the developer and 700 ml/m
2 for the fixer. The said procedure was started up in order to approach real working
conditions wherein pi-line defects could be evaluated.
[0062] Therefore after the said working conditions were attained, unexposed sheets were
run through the processor. The first ten sheets of each material were examined superposed
to make an objective evaluation possible.
[0063] Figures ranging from 0 to 6 were given with the following significance for the appearance
of the "pi-line" defect, in order to make a visually acceptable ranking:
6: inadmissible;
4 or 5: admissible for non-critical users who are not informed about the appearance
of the defect;
2 or 3: acceptable for users who have already been confronted with the failure;
1: acceptable for critical customers;
0: no visibly detectable pi-line defect.
[0064] In Table 1 these figures are corresponding with the comments just given hereinbefore.
Table 1
| Processed amount of sq. m. film |
Remarks |
G135® |
CD |
ID |
| 0 |
|
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
| 10 |
|
2-3 |
2-3 |
1.5-2 |
| 25 |
|
3 |
3-4 |
1.5 |
| 40 |
|
3 |
6 |
1.5 |
| 43 |
After 2 days |
3-4 |
6 |
1.5 |
| 53 |
Over a weekend |
4 |
6 |
1.5-2 |
[0065] As can be concluded from the results given hereinbefore, the inventive developer
having been provided with the "polymeric antisludge" and anti-"pi-line" compound indicated
above provides a figure, after evaluation of "sludging" of the developer in the processing
machine and "pi-line" occurring on the processed film material, that is clearly more
stable and more acceptable than the best known developer G135®, even after quite a
high number of square meters of that film material have been run through that processor
over a time period of several days.
Sensitometric evaluation
[0066] Therefor a commercially available Agfa STRUCTURIX PMC strip was used, known as
Processing
Monitoring
Control for quality control of Structurix film systems in accordance with classification
EN 584.
[0067] Controll was performed for the film material after having been run in G135® and ID
respectively.
[0068] In Table 2 the figures obtained after running differing amounts of sq.m. of film
are following: fog (F); densities at step wedges 4 and 8 (called "D4" and "D8" respectively),
SR (sensitivity index) and CR (contrast index).
Table 2
| Dev./sq.m. |
Fog |
D4 |
D8 |
SR |
CR |
| G135® / 0 |
0.17 |
2.41 |
3.69 |
2.24 |
1.28 |
| ID / 0 |
0.16 |
2.59 |
3.91 |
2.43 |
1.32 |
| G135® /40 |
0.17 |
2.29 |
3.51 |
2.12 |
1.22 |
| ID /40 |
0.16 |
2.43 |
3.71 |
2.27 |
1.28 |
| G135® /53 |
0.17 |
2.32 |
3.57 |
2.15 |
1.25 |
| ID /53 |
0.16 |
2.47 |
3.79 |
2.31 |
1.32 |
[0069] It can be concluded from the result obtained in the Table 2 that the preferred polymeric
compound (Copolymer-III.1 of acrylic acid with monomer-I.1) added to the inventive
developer ID is not negativating the sensitometric results obtained and that the sensitometry
is completely within the tolerances if compared with data obtained after the film
has been run through the G135® developer.
[0070] Having described in detail preferred embodiments of the current invention, it will
now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications can be made
therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appending
claims.
1. Solution de traitement pour matériaux photographiques aux halogénures d'argent comprenant
au moins un composé polymère, caractérisée en ce que ledit composé polymère contient au moins un monomère à insaturation éthylénique renfermant
une fraction transformant l'argent en complexe choisie parmi un thiol ou son sel,
un groupe apte à produire un thiol par hydrolyse ou un disulfure; et au moins un monomère
à insaturation éthylénique renfermant un groupe solubilisant, ladite fraction transformant
les ions argent en complexes et ledit groupe solubilisant étant contenus dans des
motifs monomères différents.
2. Solution de traitement selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que ladite solution de traitement est une solution de développement photographique.
3. Solution de traitement selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que ledit composé polymère comprend au moins un monomère à insaturation éthylénique renfermant
un groupe solubilisant choisi parmi un acide carboxylique ou son sel, un acide sulfonique
ou son sel, un acide phosphonique ou son sel, un phosphate ou un sulfate.
4. Solution de traitement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3,
caractérisée en ce que le composé polymère comprend un monomère à insaturation éthylénique répondant à la
formule générale I

dans laquelle R
1 est choisi parmi un atome d'hydrogène, un groupe alkyle le cas échéant substitué,
un groupe aryle le cas échéant substitué ou un groupe hétéro-aryle le cas échéant
substitué; L représente un groupe de liaison bivalent; A est choisi parmi un atome
d'hydrogène, un ion compensateur métallique ou organique ou un groupe apte à produire
un thiol par hydrolyse.
5. Solution de traitement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3,
caractérisée en ce que le composé polymère comprend au moins un monomère à insaturation éthylénique répondant
à la formule II :

dans laquelle :
R2 est choisi parmi un atome d'hydrogène, un groupe alkyle le cas échéant substitué
et saturé ou non saturé, un groupe aryle le cas échéant substitué, un groupe hétéro-aryle
le cas échéant substitué, un acide carboxylique ou son sel, un amide carboxylique,
un ester d'un acide carboxylique, une cétone ou un aldéhyde; L représente un groupe
de liaison bivalent; R3 est choisi parmi un atome d'hydrogène, un groupe alkyle le cas échéant substitué
et saturé ou non saturé, un groupe aryle le cas échéant substitué, un groupe hétéro-aryle
le cas échéant substitué, CO-R5; R4 est choisi parmi un groupe alkyle le cas échéant substitué et saturé ou non saturé,
un groupe aryle le cas échéant substitué, un groupe hétéro-aryle le cas échéant substitué,
OR6, SR7, NR8R9; R est choisi parmi un atome d'hydrogène, un groupe alkyle le cas échéant substitué
et saturé ou non saturé, un groupe aryle le cas échéant substitué, un groupe hétéro-aryle
le cas échéant substitué, OR6, SR7, NR8R9; R6 et R7 sont choisis chacun indépendamment l'un de l'autre parmi un groupe alkyle le cas
échéant substitué et saturé ou non saturé, un groupe aryle le cas échéant substitué,
un groupe hétéro-aryle le cas échéant substitué; R8 et R9 sont choisis chacun indépendamment l'un de l'autre parmi un atome d'hydrogène, un
groupe alkyle le cas échéant substitué et saturé ou non saturé, un groupe aryle le
cas échéant substitué, un groupe hétéro-aryle le cas échéant substitué; et dans laquelle
en outre aussi bien R8 et R9 que R3 et R4 peuvent être liés les uns aux autres pour former un noyau.
6. Solution de traitement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que le rapport molaire dudit monomère à insaturation éthylénique renfermant une fraction
transformant les ions argent en complexes audit monomère à insaturation éthylénique
renfermant un groupe solubilisant se situe dans la plage de 1 à 100 à 100 à 1.
7. Solution de traitement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que le rapport molaire dudit monomère à insaturation éthylénique renfermant une fraction
transformant les ions argent en complexes audit monomère à insaturation éthylénique
renfermant un groupe solubilisant se situe dans la plage de 1 à 100 à 1 à 1.
1. Verarbeitungslösung für fotografisches Silberhalogenidmaterial mit wenigstens einer
polymeren Verbindung, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die polymere Verbindung aus wenigstens einem ethylenisch ungesättigten Monomeren
mit einem Silber in einen Komplex überführenden Anteil aus der Reihe Thiol oder dessen
Salz, eine durch Hydrolyse zur Bildung eines Thiols befähigte Gruppe oder Disulfid;
und wenigstens einem ethylenisch ungesättigten Monomeren mit einer löslich machenden
Gruppe besteht, und wobei der Silberionen in einen Komplex überführende Anteil und
die löslich machende Gruppe in unterschiedlichen Monomer-Einheiten enthalten sind.
2. Verarbeitungslösung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich bei der Verarbeitungslösung um eine fotografische Entwicklerlösung handelt.
3. Verarbeitungslösung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die polymere Verbindung aus wenigstens einem ethylenisch ungesättigten Monomeren
mit einer löslich machenden Gruppe aus der Reihe Carbonsäure oder deren Salz, Sulfonsäure
oder deren Salz, Phosphonsäure oder deren Salz, Phosphat oder Sulfat besteht.
4. Verarbeitungslösung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die polymere Verbindung aus einem der allgemeinen Formel I entsprechenden, ethylenisch
ungesättigten Monomeren besteht

in der R
1 aus der Reihe Wasserstoff, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Alkylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls
substituierte Arylgruppe oder eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Heteroarylgruppe gewählt
ist; L eine zweiwertige verbindende Gruppe bedeutet; A aus der Reihe Wasserstoff,
ein metallisches oder organisches Gegenion oder eine durch Hydrolyse zur Bildung eines
Thiols befähigte Gruppe gewählt ist.
5. Verarbeitungslösung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die polymere Verbindung aus wenigstens einem der allgemeinen Formel II entsprechenden,
ethylenisch ungesättigten Monomeren besteht :

in der :
R2 aus der Reihe Wasserstoff, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte gesättigte oder ungesättigte
Alkylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Arylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte
Heteroarylgruppe, Carbonsäure oder deren Salz, Carboxylamid, Carbonsäurenester, ein
Keton oder ein Aldehyd gewählt ist ; L eine zweiwertige verbindende Gruppe bedeutet
; R3 aus der Reihe Wasserstoff, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte, gesättigte oder ungesättigte
Alkylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Arylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte
Heteroarylgruppe, CO-R5 gewählt ist ; R4 aus der Reihe eine gegebenenfalls substituierte, gesättigte oder ungesättigte Alkylgruppe,
eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Arylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Heteroarylgruppe,
OR6, SR7, NR8R9 gewählt ist ; R5 aus der Reihe Wasserstoff, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte, gesättigte oder ungesättigte
Alkylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Arylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte
Heteroarylgruppe, OR6, SR7, NR8R9 gewählt ist ; R6 und R voneinander unabhängig je aus der Reihe eine gegebenenfalls substituierte,
gesättigte oder ungesättigte Alkylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Arylgruppe,
eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Heteroarylgruppe gewählt sind; R8 und R9 voneinander unabhängig je aus der Reihe Wasserstoff, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte,
gesättigte oder ungesättigte Alkylgruppe, eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Arylgruppe,
eine gegebenenfalls substituierte Heteroarylgruppe gewählt sind; und in der weiterhin
sowohl R8 und R9 wie auch R3 und R4 zu einem Ring verknüpft sein können.
6. Verarbeitungslösung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Molverhältnis von dem ethylenisch ungesättigten Monomeren mit einem Silberionen
in einen Komplex überführenden Anteil zu dem ethylenisch ungesättigten Monomeren mit
einer löslich machenden Gruppe im Bereich von 1 zu 100 bis 100 zu 1 liegt.
7. Verarbeitungslösung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Molverhältnis von dem ethylenisch ungesättigten Monomeren mit einem Silberionen
in einen Komplex überführenden Anteil zu dem ethylenisch ungesättigten Monomeren mit
einer löslich machenden Gruppe im Bereich von 1 zu 100 bis 1 zu 1 liegt.