Visible light sensitive, thermally developable imaging systems

Claim 2

An imageable layer comprising a binder, at least one leuco dye selected from an acylated azine, phenoxazine, or phenothiazine leuco dye, nitrate ion, a photoinitiator comprising organic compounds with photolyzable halogen atoms, and a visible light sensitizing dye for said photoinitiator.

Claim 3

The imageable layer of claim 1 wherein said leuco dye is represented by the formula ##STR6## wherein X is selected from O, S, and --N--R 11 R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from H and alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 3 , R 4 , R 6 and R 7 are independently selected from H and alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 5 is selected from alkyl groups of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, and aryl groups of up to 16 carbon atoms, R 8 is selected from ##STR7## H, and alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected and defined as above, and R 9 and R 10 are independently selected from H, alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R 11 is selected from alkyl groups of 1 to 4 carbon atoms and aryl groups of up to 16 carbon atoms.

Claim 4

The imageable layer of claim 2 which, as parts by weight of said layer, comprises at least 0.5% leuco dye, at least 0.5% photoinitiator, at least 0.05% sensitizer dye, and at least 0.10 moles nitrate ion per mole of leuco dye.

Claim 5

The imageable layer of claim 3 wherein said photoinitiator is an organic compound with photolyzable halogen atoms and has at least one carbon-to-halogen bond with a dissociation energy of between 40 and 70 kilo-calories per mole.

Claim 6

The imageable layer of claim 4 wherein said photoinitiator is non-gaseous at room temperature and has a polarographic half-wave reduction potential greater than -0.9 V and said leuco dye is represented by the formula ##STR8## wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from H and alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 5 is selected from (a) alkyl groups of 1 to 16 carbon atoms, and (b) aryl groups of up to 16 carbon atoms which may be substituted with up to two groups selected from the class consisting of alkyl groups of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, halogen, CN, and NO 2 , and X is S, O, or --N--R 11 .

Claim 7

The imageable layer of claim 1 wherein said nitrate ion is present in the form of a metal salt of nitrate.

Claim 8

The imageable layer of claim 1 wherein said nitrate ion is in the layer as a hydrated metal nitrate salt, said leuco dye is present as at least 2% by weight of said layer, said photoinitiator is present as from 2 to 8% by weight of said layer, said binder comprises at least 80% by weight of said layer, and said layer also contains an organic acid.

Claim 9

The imageable layer of claim 5 wherein R 1 is the same as R 2 and is selected from the group consisting of methyl and ethyl.

Claim 10

A process for forming an image comprising exposing the layer of claim 1 to visible light and heating the exposed layer to generate a visible image.

Claim 11

The imageable layer of claim 2 wherein said nitrate ion is present in the form of a metal salt of nitrate.

Claim 12

The imageable layer of claim 3 wherein said nitrate ion is present in the form of a metal salt of nitrate.

Claim 13

The imageable layer of claim 4 wherein said nitrate ion is present in the form of a metal salt of nitrate.

Claim 14

The imageable layer of claim 5 wherein said nitrate ion is present in the form of a metal salt of nitrate.

Claim 15

The imageable layer of claim 2 wherein said nitrate ion is in the layer as a hydrated metal nitrate salt, said leuco dye is present as at least 2% by weight of said layer, said photoinitiator is present as from 2 to 8% by weight of said layer, said binder comprises at least 80% by weight of said layer, and said layer also contains an organic acid.

Claim 16

The imageable layer of claim 3 wherein said nitrate ion is in the layer as a hydrated metal nitrate salt, said leuco dye is present as at least 2% by weight of said layer, said photoinitiator is present as from 2 to 8% by weight of said layer, said binder comprises at least 80% by weight of said layer, and said layer also contains an organic acid.

Claim 17

The imageable layer of claim 5 wherein said nitrate ion is in the layer as a hydrated metal nitrate salt, said leuco dye is present as at least 2% by weight of said layer, said photoinitiator is present as from 2 to 8% by weight of said layer, said binder comprises at least 80% by weight of said layer, and said layer also contains an organic acid.

Claim 18

A process for forming an image comprising exposing the layer of claim 2 to visible light and heating the exposed layer to generate a visible image.

Claim 19

A process for forming an image comprising exposing the layer of claim 3 to visible light and heating the exposed layer to generate a visible image.

Claim 20

A process for forming an image comprising exposing the layer of claim 4 to visible light and heating the exposed layer to generate a visible image.

Claim 21

A process for forming an image comprising exposing the layer of claim 5 to visible light and heating the exposed layer to generate a visible image.