Viscous developing liquid for use in a silver salt diffusion transfer process

Claim 2

The developing liquid of claim 1 where the compound has formula (II).

Claim 3

The developing liquid of claim 1 where the compound has formula (III).

Claim 4

The developing liquid of claim 1 where the at least one compound of formulae (I), (II) or (III) is present in an amount greater than 1 mg per 100g of the developing liquid.

Claim 5

The developing liquid of claim 5 where the hydroxylamine type developing agent is selected from the group hydroxylamine, N-methyl hydroxylamine, N,N-dimethyl hydroxylamine, N,N-diethyl hydroxylamine, N-isopropyl hydroxylamine, N-methyl-N-isobutyl hydroxylamine, N,N-di-n-propyl hydroxylamine, N,N-di-(2-methoxyethyl) hydroxylamine, N,N-di-(2-ethoxyethyl) hydroxylamine, N-methyl-N-2-dimethylaminoethyl hydroxylamine, N-methyl-N-(N''-morpholino) methyl hydroxylamine, N-N-di-(2-methoxyethoxyethyl)-hydroxylamine, N-ethyl-N-2-ethoxyethyl hydroxylamine, N-allyl-N-2-ethoxyethylhydroxylamine, 3-(N-methyl)hydroxylaminopropionamide, N-methyl-N-2-(2''-pyridyl)ethylhydroxylamine, N,N-bis-(2-(2''-pyridyl)ethyl) hydroxylamine, N-methyl-N-2-(4''-pyridyl)ethyl hydroxylamine, N,N-bis-(2-(4''-pyridyl)ethyl)hydroxylamine, N-methyl-N-2-ethylsulfonylethyl-hydroxylamine, N,N-bis-(2-ethyl-sulfonyl)hydroxylamine, bis-2-(methylhydroxylamine)-ethylsulfone, N-hydroxythiomorpholine dioxide, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 6

The developing liquid of claim 6 where the sulfur-free nitrogen containing silver halide solvent is a cyclic amide compound or an amine.

Claim 7

The developing liquid of claim 7 where the sulfer-free nitrogen containing silver halide solvent is selected from the group consisting of cyanuric acid, barbituric acid, uracil, 4-methyl uracil, urazol, hydantoin, succinimide, ethyl amine, triethanol amine, monoethanol amine, ethylene diamine, aminoethyl ethanolamine, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 8

The developing liquid of claim 7 where the cellulose derivative thickener is selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carBoxymethyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

The developing liquid of claim 9 where the alkali agent is an alkali metal hydroxide.

Claim 10

The developing liquid of claim 5 wherein the amount is from about 0.01 to about 1g per 100g of the developing liquid.

Claim 11

The developing liquid of claim 6 wherein the at least one hydroxylamine type developing agent is present in an amount of from about 0.5 to about 35 percent by weight of the developing composition.

Claim 12

The developing liquid of claim 7 wherein the amount of the sulfur-free nitrogen containing silver halide solvent present is about 1 to about 40 percent by weight of the developing composition.

Claim 13

The developing liquid of claim 9 wherein the cellulose derivative thickener is present in an amount sufficient to provide a viscosity to the developing liquid of from about 1,000 to about 200,000 centipoise.

Claim 14

The developing liquid of claim 1 where the developing liquid is at a pH of above about 13.5.

Claim 15

The developing liquid of claim 1 where the substituted alkyl group is hydroxyalkyl.

Claim 16

In a process for forming an image comprising the steps of: a. exposing a negative material; b. contacting the negative material with a positive image receiving layer; c. developing an image in the positive receiving material using a viscous developing liquid for a diffusion transfer process; d. stripping the negative from the developed positive; the improvement wherein the viscous silver halide developing liquid comprises at least one hydroxylamine type developing agent, at least one sulfer-free nitrogen-containing silver halide solvent, at least one cellulose derivative thickening agent and at least one alkali agent, which developing liquid contains at least one compound represented by one of the following formulae (I), (II) and (III):

Claim 17

The developing liquid of claim 1 wherein said sulfur-free nitrogen-containing silver halide solvent is a cyclic imide.

Claim 18

The developing liquid of claim 1 consisting essentially of at least one hydroxylamine type developing agent, at least one sulfur-free nitrogen-containing silver halide solvent, at least one cellulose derivative thickening agent, at least one alkali agent and at least one compound represented by one of formula (I), (II) and (III).

Claim 19

The process of claim 17 where the compound has formula (I).

Claim 20

The process of claim 17 where the compound has formula (II).

Claim 21

The process of claim 17 where the compound has formula (III).

Claim 22

The process of claim 17 where the sulfur-free nitrogen-containing silver halide solvent is a cyclic imide.

Claim 23

The process of claim 17 where the sulfur-free nitrogen containing silver halide solvent is selected from the group consisting of cyanuric acid, barbituric acid, uracil, 4-methyl uracil, urazol, hydantoin, succinimide, ethyl amine, triethanol amine, monoethanol amine, ethylene diamine, amino-ethyl ethanolamine, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 24

The process of claim 17 wherein said viscous silver halide developing liquid consists essentially of said at least one hydroxylamine type developing agent, said at least one sulfur-free nitrogen-containing silver halide solvent, said at least one cellulose derivative thickening agent, said at least one alkali agent and said at least one compound represented by one of the formulae (I), (II) and (III).

Claim 25

The developing liquid of claim 1 which further comprises zinc.

Claim 26

The developing liquid of claim 1 which further comprises a zinc compound.

Claim 27

The developing liquid of claim 27 wherein said zinc compound is selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc oxide, zInc hydroxide, zinc sulfate and zinc carbonate.

Claim 28

The developing liquid of claim 28 wherein the zinc compound is present in an amount of from aabout 7 X 10 4 to about 0.3 moles, calculated as metallic zinc, per 100 g of developing solution.

Claim 29

The process of claim 17 where the developing liquid further comprises zinc.

Claim 30

The process of claim 17 where the developing liquid further comprises a zinc compound.

Claim 31

The process of claim 31 where the zinc compound is selected from the group consisting of zinc chloride, zinc oxide, zinc hydroxide, zinc sulfate and zinc carbonate.

Claim 32

The process of claim 32 where the zinc compound is present in an amount of from about 7 X 10 4 to about 0.3 moles, calculated as metallic zinc, per 100 g of developing solution.