Radiographic elements with selected contrast relationships

Claim 2

A radiographic element comprised of a transparent film support, first and second silver halide emulsion layer units coated on opposite sides of the film support, and means for reducing to less than 10 percent crossover of electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths longer than 300 nm capable of forming a latent image in the silver halide emulsion layer units, said crossover reducing means being decolorized in less than 90 seconds during processing of said emulsion layer units, characterized in that the first silver halide emulsion layer unit exhibits an average contrast of less than 2.0, based on density measurements at 0.25 and 2.0 above minimum density and the second silver halide emulsion layer unit exhibits an average contrast of at least 2.5, based on density measurements at 0.25 and 2.0 above minimum density, the contrast of the first silver halide emulsion layer unit being determined with the first silver halide emulsion unit replacing the second silver halide emulsion unit to provide an arrangement with the first silver halide emulsion unit present on both sides of the tranparent support and the contrast of the second silver halide emulsion layer unit being determined with the second silver halide emulsion unit replacing the first silver halide emulsion unit to provide an arrangement with the second silver halide emulsion layer unit present on both sides of the tranparent support.

Claim 3

A radiographic element according to claim 1 further characterized in that the first silver halide emulsion layer unit exhibits an average contrast that differs by 0.5 to 3.5 from that of the second silver halide emulsion layer unit.

Claim 4

A radiographic element according to claim 2 further characterized in that the first silver halide emulsion layer unit exhibits an average contrast that differs by 1.0 to 2.5 from that of the second silver halide emulsion layer unit.

Claim 5

A radiographic element according to any one of claims 1 to 3 inclusive further characterized in that said crossover reducing means decreases crossover to less than 5 percent.

Claim 6

A radiographic element according to claim 4 further characterized in that said crossover reducing means decreases crossover to less than 3 percent.

Claim 7

A radiographic element according to any one of claims 1 to 5 inclusive further characterized in that the first silver halide emulsion layer unit exhibits a speed that is at least equal to that of the second silver halide emulsion layer unit.

Claim 8

A radiographic element according to claim 6 further charcterized in that the first silver halide emulsion layer unit exhibits a faster speed than that of the second silver halide emulsion layer unit.

Claim 9

A radiographic element according to any one of claims 1 to 7 inclusive further characterized in that the crossover reducing means is comprised of a hydrophilic colloid layer interposed between at least one of said silver halide emulsion layer units and said support containing a dye capable of absorbing electromagnetic radiation to which said silver halide emulsion layer unit on the opposite side of the support is responsive.

Claim 10

A radiographic element according to claim 8 further characterized in that the dye in said interposed layer is, prior to processing, in the form of particles and is capable of being decolorized during processing.

Claim 11

A radiographic element according to any one of claims 1 to 9 inclusive further characterized in said silver halide emulsion layer units are comprised of emulsions in which tabular silver halide grains having a thickness of less than 0.3 u.m exhibit an average aspect ratio of greater than 5:1 and account for greater than 50 percent of the total grain protected area.

Claim 12

A radiographic element according to claim 10 further characterized in that said silver halide emulsion layer units are spectrally sensitized.

Claim 13

A radiographic element according to claim 11 further characterized in said silver halide emulsion layer units are comprised of emulsions in which tabular silver halide grains having a thickness of less than 0.2 u.m exhibit an average aspect ratio of greater than 8:1 and account for greater than 70 percent of the total grain projected area.

Claim 14

A radiographic element according to any one of claims 9 to 12 inclusive further characterized in that said emulsion layer units and crossover reducing means are each comprised of processing solution permeable hardenable hydrophilic colloid layers, said crossover reducing means includes a hydrophilic colloid layer interposed between one of said emulsion layer units and said support containing a particulate dye capable of absorbing radiation to which said emulsion layer unit coated on the opposite side of the support is resonsive and at least 10 mg/dm 2 of said hardenable hydrophilic colloid, said emulsion layer units contain a combined silver coating coverage sufficient to produce a maximum density on processing the range of from 3 to 4, a total of from 35 to 65 mg/dm 2 of processing solution permeable hardenable hydrophilic colloid is coated on each of said opposed major surfaces of said support, and said processing solution permeable hydrophilic colloid layers are forehardened in an amount sufficient to reduce swelling of said layers to less than 300 percent, percent swelling being determined by (a) incubating said radiographic element at 38 °C for 3 days at 50 percent relative humidity, (b) measuring layer thickness, (c) immersing said radiographic element in distilled water at 21 ° C for 3 minutes, and (d) determining the percent change in layer thickness as compared to the layer thickness measured in step (b), whereby said radiographic element exhibits high covering power, reduced crossover without emulsion desensitization, reduced wet pressure sensitivity, and can be developed, fixed, washed, and emerge dry to the touch in a 90 second process cycle consisting of development 24 seconds at 35°C, fixing 20 seconds at 35 C, washing 10 seconds at 35 ° C, and drying 20 seconds at 65°C, where the remaining time is transport between processing steps, the development step employs the following developer: and the fixing step employs the following fixing composition: