Patent ID: 9405198
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: G03F

Claim Text:
1. A method for providing an electrically-conductive silver image on a transparent substrate in a conductive film element, the method comprising, in order: imagewise exposing a conductive film element precursor comprising a transparent substrate having a first supporting side and an opposing second supporting side, and the conductive film element precursor comprising on the first supporting side, in order, a first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer comprising photosensitive silver halide, and optionally a first hydrophilic overcoat disposed over the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer, to provide an imagewise exposed precursor comprising a first latent silver image in the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer, processing the imagewise exposed precursor in a silver halide developing solution having a pH of at least 8 and up to and including 13, and comprising: (a) a primary developing agent that is a hydroquinone or ascorbic acid or derivative of either, in an amount of at least 0.01 mol/l and up to and including 1 mol/l, and (b) a catalytic developing agent that is a p-aminophenol or a phenidone or derivative of either, in an amount of at least 0.001 mol/l and up to and including 0.1 mol/l, for at least 10 seconds, to provide a first silver image corresponding to the first latent silver image in the first non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer, after only a washing of the imagewise exposed precursor with the first silver image, processing the imagewise exposed precursor in a silver halide solution physical developing solution comprising: (a) a primary developing agent that is a hydroquinone or ascorbic acid or derivative of either, in an amount of at least 0.01 mol/l and up to and including 1 mol/l, and (c) a silver halide dissolution catalyst in an amount of at least 0.001 mol/l and up to and including 0.1 mol/l, and substantially no (b) catalytic developing agent, for at least 30 seconds at a temperature of at least 20° C., to provide a conductivity of the first silver image that is at least 2 times the conductivity of the first silver image provided by processing the first latent silver image with the silver halide developing solution, processing the imagewise exposed precursor in a fixing solution to remove remaining silver ions and to provide a conductive film element containing the first silver image, treating the conductive film element to enhance electrical conductivity of the first silver image, and optionally washing and drying the conductive film element.