Electric current conductive composition, image recording element containing the same and process for recording images using the same

Claim 2

A process for producing an image by passing an electric current through an image recording element comprising (A) a layer of an electric current conductive composition consisting essentially of (a) at least one member selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole, nitrobenzotriazole, an alkylbenzotriazole in which the alkyl moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, a halobenzotriazole and an amidobenzotriazole in which the amido moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, (b) a substantially electrically insulating binder, (c) a reducible metal compound and (d) reducing agent for said reducible metal compound and (B) an electrically conductive layer, said process comprising: (I) producing an image-wise distribution of an electric current in said layer of said electric current conductive composition (A), and (II) heating at least said layer of said electric current conductive composition (A) to produce a visible image at the areas where said electric current passed through said layer of said electric current conductive composition (A), wherein said component (a) is present in an amount effective to render said layer containing said substantially electrically insulating binder electric current conductive by reducing the specific resistance of said binder.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1, wherein (a) is benzotriazole.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1, wherein said image recording element additionally includes (C), a support and said electrically conductive layer (A) is present on said support (C).

Claim 5

The process of claim 1, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is gelatin, a gelatin derivative, a polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl acrylate), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethyl cellulose, polystyrene, a butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, a chlorinated rubber, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-maleic acid copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, chlorinated polyethylene or chlorinated polypropylene.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is polyvinyl butyral.

Claim 7

The process of claim 1, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is gelatin.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1, wherein said reducible metal compound (c) is a silver salt of an organic compound.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1, wherein said reducible metal compound (c) is a silver salt of a benzotriazole.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1, wherein the transmission optical density to visible light of said layer of said electric current conductive composition (A) is not greater than about 0.5.

Claim 11

An image recording element comprising (i) a first electrically conductive layer, (ii) a layer of an electric current conductive composition consisting essentially of benzotriazole, nitrobenzotriazole, an alkylbenzotriazole in which the alkyl moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, a halobenzotriazole and an amidobenzotriazole in which the amido moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, (b) a substantially electrically insulating binder, (c) a reducible metal compound and (d) a reducing agent for said reducible metal compound, (iii) a photoconductive material layer and (iv) a second electrically conductive layer, in this order, with at least one of said electrically conductive layers ((i) and/or (iv)) being transparent to actinic irradiation, wherein said component (a) is present in an amount efffective to render said layer containing said substantially electrically insulating binder electric current conductive by reducing the specific resistance of said binder, whereby a latent image can be formed in said layer of electric current conductive composition upon production of an image-wise distribution of an electric current therein.

Claim 12

An image recording element comprising (i) a first electrically conductive layer, (ii) a layer of an electric current conductive composition consisting essentially of benzotriazole, nitrobenzotriazole, an alkylbenzotriazole in which the alkyl moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, a halobenzotriazole and an amidobenzotriazole in which the amido moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, (b) a substantially electrically insulating binder, (c) a reducible metal compound and (d) a reducing agent for said reducible metal compound, (iii) a photoconductive material layer and (iv) a second electrically conductive layer, in this order, with at least one of said electrically conductive layers ((i) and/or (iv)) being transparent to actinic irradiation, wherein said component (a) is present in an amount efffective to render said layer containing said substantially electrically insulating binder electric current conductive by reducing the specific resistance of said binder, whereby a latent image can be formed in said layer of electric current conductive composition upon production of an image-wise distribution of an electric current therein.

Claim 13

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein (a) is benzotriazole.

Claim 14

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein said image recording element additionally includes (v) a support and said first electrically conductive layer (i) is present on said support (v).

Claim 15

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein said second electrically conductive layer (iv) is transparent to actinic radiation.

Claim 16

The image recording element of claim 12, wherein said support (v) is transparent to actinic radiation.

Claim 17

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is gelatin, a gelatin derivative, a polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl acrylate), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethyl cellulose, polystyrene, a butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, a chlorinated rubber, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-maleic acid copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, chlorinated polyethylene or chlorinated polypropylene.

Claim 18

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is polyvinyl butyral.

Claim 19

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is gelatin.

Claim 20

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein said reducible metal compound (c) is a silver salt of an organic compound.

Claim 21

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein said reducible metal compound (c) is a silver salt of a benzotriazole.

Claim 22

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is gelatin, a gelatin derivative, a polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl acrylate), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethyl cellulose, polystyrene, a butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, a chlorinated rubber, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-maleic acid copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, chlorinated polyethylene or chlorinated polypropylene.

Claim 23

An image recording element comprising (A) a layer of an electric current conductive composition consisting essentially of (a) at least one member selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole, nitrobenzotriazole, an alkylbenzotriazole in which the alkyl moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, a halobenzotriazole and an amidobenzotriazole in which the amido moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, (b) a substantially electrically insulating binder, (c) a reducible metal compound and (d) a reducing agent for said reducible metal compound, and (B) an electrically conductive layer if use for obtaining an image having a size of 5×5 cm 2 , having a maximum resistance of about 10 5 Ω/cm 2 or less, wherein said component (a) is present in an amount of 0.01 to 30 parts by weight per part by weight of said compound (b) effective to render said layer containing said substantially electrically insulating binder electric current conductive by reducing the specific resistance of said binder, whereby a latent image can be formed in said layer of electric current conductive composition upon production of an image-wise distribution of an electric current therein.

Claim 24

An image recording element comprising (A) a layer of an electric current conductive composition consisting essentially of (a) at least one member selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole, nitrobenzotriazole, an alkylbenzotriazole in which the alkyl moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, a halobenzotriazole and an amidobenzotriazole in which the amido moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, (b) a substantially electrically insulating binder, (c) a reducible metal compound and (d) a reducing agent for said reducible metal compound, and (B) an electrically conductive layer if use for obtaining an image having a size of 5×5 cm 2 , having a maximum resistance of about 10 5 Ω/cm 2 or less, wherein said component (a) is present in an amount of 0.01 to 30 parts by weight per part by weight of said compound (b) effective to render said layer containing said substantially electrically insulating binder electric current conductive by reducing the specific resistance of said binder, whereby a latent image can be formed in said layer of electric current conductive composition upon production of an image-wise distribution of an electric current therein.

Claim 25

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein (a) is benzotriazole.

Claim 26

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein said image recording element additionally includes (C) a support and said electrically conductive layer (B) is present on said support (C).

Claim 27

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is gelatin, a gelatin derivative, a polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl acrylate), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethyl cellulose, polystyrene, a butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, a chlorinated rubber, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-maleic acid copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, chlorinated polyethylene or chlorinated polypropylene.

Claim 28

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is polyvinyl butyral.

Claim 29

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is gelatin.

Claim 30

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein said reducible metal compound (c) is a silver salt of an organic compound.

Claim 31

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein said reducible metal compound (c) is a silver salt of a benzotriazole.

Claim 32

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein the transmission optical density to visible light of said layer of said electric current conductive composition (A) is not greater than about 0.5.

Claim 33

A process for recording an image by passing an electric current through an image recording element comprising (i) a first electrically conductive composition consisting essentially of (a) at least one member selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole, nitrobenzotriazole, an alkylnenzotriazole in which the alkyl moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, (b) a substantially electrically insulating binder, (c) a reducible metal compound and (d) a reducing agent for said reducible metal compound, (iii) a photoconductive material layer and (iv) a second electrically conductive layer, in this order, with at least one of said electrically conductive layers (i) and/or (iv) being transparent to actinic radiation, said process comprising: (I) image-wise irradiating said photoconductive material layer (iii) using actinic radiation through said electrically conductive layer (i) and/or (iv) transparent to actinic irradiation while simultaneously applying a voltage to said first electrically conductive layer (i) and said second electrically conductive layer (iv) to pass an electric current through said layer of said electric current conductive composition (ii), and (II) heating at least said layer of said electric current conductive composition (ii) to produce a visible image at areas where said electric current passed through said layer of said electric current conductive composition (ii), wherein said component (a) is present in an amount effective to render said layer containing said substantially electrically insulating binder electric current conductive by reducing the specific resistance of said binder.

Claim 34

A process for recording an image by passing an electric current through an image recording element comprising (i) a first electrically conductive composition consisting essentially of (a) at least one member selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole, nitrobenzotriazole, an alkylnenzotriazole in which the alkyl moiety thereof has up to about 20 carbon atoms, (b) a substantially electrically insulating binder, (c) a reducible metal compound and (d) a reducing agent for said reducible metal compound, (iii) a photoconductive material layer and (iv) a second electrically conductive layer, in this order, with at least one of said electrically conductive layers (i) and/or (iv) being transparent to actinic radiation, said process comprising: (I) image-wise irradiating said photoconductive material layer (iii) using actinic radiation through said electrically conductive layer (i) and/or (iv) transparent to actinic irradiation while simultaneously applying a voltage to said first electrically conductive layer (i) and said second electrically conductive layer (iv) to pass an electric current through said layer of said electric current conductive composition (ii), and (II) heating at least said layer of said electric current conductive composition (ii) to produce a visible image at areas where said electric current passed through said layer of said electric current conductive composition (ii), wherein said component (a) is present in an amount effective to render said layer containing said substantially electrically insulating binder electric current conductive by reducing the specific resistance of said binder.

Claim 35

The process of claim 30, wherein (a) is benzotriazole.

Claim 36

The process of claim 30, wherein said image recording element additionally includes (v) a support and said first electrically conductive layer (i) is present on said support (v).

Claim 37

The process of claim 32, wherein said support (v) is transparent to actinic radiation.

Claim 38

The process of claim 30, wherein said second electrically conductive layer (iv) is transparent to actinic radiation.

Claim 39

The process of claim 30, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is gelatin, a gelatin derivative, a polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyral, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(methyl acrylate), polyvinyl pyrrolidone, ethyl cellulose, polystyrene, a butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, a chlorinated rubber, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, a vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride-maleic acid copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, chlorinated polyethylene or chlorinated polypropylene.

Claim 40

The process of claim 30, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is polyvinyl butyral.

Claim 41

The process of claim 30, wherein said substantially electrically insulating binder (b) is gelatin.

Claim 42

The process of claim 30, wherein said reducible metal compound (c) is a silver salt of an organic compound.

Claim 43

The process of claim 30, wherein said reducible metal compound (c) is a silver salt of a benzotriazole.

Claim 44

The process of claim 30, wherein the transmission optical density to visible light of said layer of said electric current conductive composition (ii) is not greater than about 0.5.

Claim 45

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein the amount of component (a) is from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight per part by weight of the binder.

Claim 46

The image recording element of claim 21, wherein the binder per se has an electrical resistivity of greater than about 10 14 Ω·cm, while the binder plus component (a) has a lowered resistivity of about 10 9 Ω·cm to about 10 13 Ω·cm.

Claim 47

The image recording element of claim 41, wherein the binder per se has an electrical resistivity of greater than about 10 14 Ω·cm, while the binder plus component (a) has a lowered resistivity of about 10 9 Ω·cm to about 10 13 Ω·cm.

Claim 48

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein the amount of component (a) is from about 0.01 to about 30 parts by weight per part by weight of the binder.

Claim 49

The image recording element of claim 10, wherein the amount of component (a) is from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight per part by weight of the binder.

Claim 50

The image recording element of claim 43, wherein the binder per se has an electrical resistivity of greater than about 10 14 Ω·cm, while the binder plus component (a) has a lowered resistivity of about 10 9 Ω·cm to about 10 13 Ω·cm.

Claim 51

The image recording element of claim 44, wherein the binder per se has an electrical resistivity of greater than about 10 14 Ω·cm, while the binder plus component (a) has a lowered resistivity of about 10 9 Ω·cm to about 10 13 Ω·cm.

Claim 52

The process of claim 1, wherein the amount of component (a) is from about 0.01 to about 30 parts by weight per part by weight of the binder.

Claim 53

The process of claim 1, wherein the amount of component (a) is from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight per part by weight of the binder.

Claim 54

The process of claim 1, wherein the binder per se has an electrical resistivity of greater than about 10 14 Ω·cm, while the binder plus component (a) has a lowered resistivity of about 10 9 Ω·cm to about 10 13 Ω·cm.

Claim 55

The process of claim 48, wherein the binder per se has an electrical resistivity of greater than about 10 14 Ω·cm, while the binder plus component (a) has a lowered resistivity of about 10 9 Ω·cm to about 10 13 Ω·cm.

Claim 56

The process of claim 30, wherein the amount of component (a) is from about 0.01 to about 30 parts by weight per part by weight of the binder.

Claim 57

The process of claim 30, wherein the amount of component (a) is from about 0.1 to about 10 parts by weight per part by weight of the binder.

Claim 58

The process of claim 52, wherein the binder per se has an electrical resistivity of greater than about 10 14 Ω·cm, while the binder plus component (a) has a lowered resistivity of about 10 9 Ω·cm to about 10 13 Ω·cm.

Claim 59

The process of claim 53, wherein the binder per se has an electrical resistivity of greater than about 10 14 Ω·cm, while the binder plus component (a) has a lowered resistivity of about 10 9 Ω·cm to about 10 13 Ω·cm.