Thermally processable imaging element and process

Claim 2

A photothermographic or thermographic imaging element comprising a support bearing at least one photothermographic or thermographic layer comprising a photothermographic or thermographic imaging composition and 2.5 to 20% by weight of the layer of at least one hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane.

Claim 3

A photothermographic or thermographic element as in claim 1 wherein the hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane is hydrolyzed Si(OR 1 ) 4 or hydrolyzed R 2 --Si(OR 3 ) 3 wherein R 1 and R 3 are individually unsubstituted or substituted alkyl containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and R 2 is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl or phenyl.

Claim 4

A photothermographic or thermographic element as in claim 1 wherein the imaging layer comprises hydrolyzed Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 , Si(OCH 3 ) 4 , C 6 H 5 Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 3 , C 6 H 5 Si(OCH 3 ) 3 , NH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 3 , NH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 Si(OCH 3 ) 3 , ##STR6## or CH 3 (CH 2 ) 17 Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 3 .

Claim 5

A photothermographic or thermographic element as in claim 1 comprising a hydrophilic overcoat layer on the imaging layer.

Claim 6

A photothermographic or thermographic element as in claim 1 comprising a hydrophilic overcoat layer comprising 50 to 90% by weight poly(silicic acid) and comprising in the overcaot layer, a water soluble hydroxyl containing polymer or monomer that is compatible with poly(silicic acid).

Claim 7

A photothermographic or thermographic element as in claim 1 comprising an overcoat layer comprising 50 to 90% by weight poly(silicic acid) represented by the formula: ##STR7## wherein x is n integer within the range of at least 3 to about 600 and wherein the overcoat comprises 1 to 50% by weight poly(vinyl alcohol).

Claim 8

A photothermographic or thermographic element as in claim 1 wherein the imaging layer comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) binder.

Claim 9

A photothermographic or thermographic element as in claim 1 wherein the imaging composition comprises an image-forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent, with (ii) a reducing agent for the organic silver salt oxidizing agent.

Claim 10

A photothermographic element comprising a support bearing in reactive association, in a hydrophobic binder, an imaging layer comprising: (a) photographic silver halide, (b) an image forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent, with (ii) a reducing agent for the organic silver salt oxidizing agent, (c) a toning agent, and (d) 2.5 to 20% by weight of the imaging layer of at least one hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane, and a hydrophilic overcoat layer.

Claim 11

A photothermographic element comprising a support bearing in reactive association, in a hydrophobic binder, an imaging layer comprising: (a) photographic silver halide, (b) an image forming combination comprising (i) an organic silver salt oxidizing agent, with (ii) a reducing agent for the organic silver salt oxidizing agent, (c) a toning agent, and (d) 2.5 to 20% by weight of the imaging layer of at least one hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane, and a hydrophilic overcoat layer.

Claim 12

A photothermographic element as in claim 9 wherein the hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane is hydrolyzed Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 .

Claim 13

A photothermographic element as in claim 9 comprising a support bearing in reactive association, in a poly(vinyl butyral) binder, an imaging layer comprising: (a) photographic silver halide, (b) an image forming combination comprising (i) silver behenate, with (ii) a phenolic reducing agent for the silver behenate, (c) a succinimide toning agent, (d) an image stabilizer, (e) 2.5 to 20% by weight of hydrolyzed Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 , and an overcoat layer comprising 50 to 90% by weight poly(silicic acid) represented by the formula: ##STR8## wherein x is an integer within the range of at least 3 to about 600 and wherein the overcoat also comprises 1 to 50% poly(vinyl alcohol).

Claim 14

A thermographic element comprising a support bearing a thermographic hydrophobic imaging layer and a hydrophilic overcoat layer wherein the imaging layer comprises a thermographic imaging composition and 2.5 to 20% by weight of said imaging layer of at least one hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane.

Claim 15

A thermographic element comprising a support bearing a thermographic hydrophobic imaging layer and a hydrophilic overcoat layer wherein the imaging layer comprises a thermographic imaging composition and 2.5 to 20% by weight of said imaging layer of at least one hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane.

Claim 16

A thermographic element as in claim 12 wherein the hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane is hydrolyzed Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 .

Claim 17

A method of forming an image in an exposed photothermographic element as defined in claim 1 said method comprising heating the element to a temperature within the range of 90° C. to 150° C. until the image is formed.

Claim 18

A method of forming an image as in claim 14 comprising heating the element to a temperature within the range of 100° C. to 130° C. for 0.5 to 60 seconds until the image is formed.

Claim 19

A method of forming an image in an exposed photothermographic element as defined in claim 11 comprising heating the element to a temperature within the range of 100° C. to 130° C. for 0.5 to 60 seconds until the image is formed.

Claim 20

In a method of preparing a photothermographic or thermographic imaging element comprising a support bearing at least one photothermographic or thermographic imaging layer comprising a photothermographic or thermographic imaging composition and 2.5 to 20% by weight of at least one hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane, comprising the steps of preparing a photothermographic or thermographic composition and coating the resulting composition on a support, the steps comprising (A) mixing 5 to 25% by weight of the photothermographic or thermographic composition of a polyalkoxysilane into the photothermographic or thermographic composition; and (B) hydrolyzing the polyalkoxysilane in the photothermographic or thermographic composition during or after coating the photothermographic or thermographic composition on the support.

Claim 21

In a method of preparing a photothermographic or thermographic imaging element comprising a support bearing at least one photothermographic or thermographic imaging layer comprising a photothermographic or thermographic imaging composition and 2.5 to 20% by weight of at least one hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilane, comprising the steps of preparing a photothermographic or thermographic composition and coating the resulting composition on a support, the steps comprising (A) mixing 5 to 25% by weight of the photothermographic or thermographic composition of a polyalkoxysilane into the photothermographic or thermographic composition; and (B) hydrolyzing the polyalkoxysilane in the photothermographic or thermographic composition during or after coating the photothermographic or thermographic composition on the support.

Claim 22

A method as in claim 17 wherein a hydrophilic overcoat composition is coated on the photothermographic or thermographic imaging layer.

Claim 23

A method as in claim 17 wherein the polyalkoxysilane is Si(OC 2 H 5 ) 4 .