Photographic element for color diffusion transfer process having a novel neutralizing system

Claim 1

In a photographic element for the color diffusion transfer process including a neutralizing system for reducing the pH of an aqueous alkaline developing solution which comprises a support having coated thereon a neutralizing layer and a timing layer, wherein the timing layer is positioned on or under the neutralizing layer in direct or indirect contact therewith such that the aqueous alkaline developing solution reaches the neutralizing layer through the timing layer, the improvement which comprises the timing layer comprising a polymer latex which is produced by emulsion polymerization of each of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting monomers of Group (A), at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of monomers of Group (B) and at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of monomers of Group (C) wherein: Group (A) monomers are represented by the following formula (I): ##STR20## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; T represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic group; Q represents a --CH 2 OCOR 0 group, a --CH 2 NR 1a R 1b group, a --CH 2 OR 2 group, ##STR21## R 0 represent an aliphatic group or an aryl group; R 1a and R 1b , which may be the same or different, each represents an aliphatic group or R 1a and R 1b combine to form a ring; R 2 represents a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic group; R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 an R 7 , which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom or a --CH 2 OR 2 group provided that all of the R 3 to R 7 do not represent hydrogen atoms at the same time; and W represents an atomic group necessary to form a ring together with the --N--CO-- linkage; Group (B) monomers are polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomers having at least one free carboxylic acid group or a free phosphoric acid group or a salt thereof; and Group (C) monomers are monomers other than those monomers described in Group (A) and Group (B) above which are copolymerizable with the monomers described in Group (A) and Group (B) above wherein the monomer of Group (C) is a monomer represented by the formula (III): ##STR22## wherein X represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or a --COOR 9 group; Y represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group or a --(CH 2 ) n --COOR 10 group; Z represents an aryl group, a --COOR 11 group, a cyano group, a halogen atom or a --O--CO--R 11 group and R 9 , R 10 and R 11 , may be the same or different and represent an aliphatic group or an aryl group; and n represents an integer of 0 to 3.