A light-sensitive silver halide photographic material for X-ray exposure

Abstract: Light sensitive silver halide photographic material for X-ray exposure produces developed images of improved distinguishability when Db (the density of a non-exposed portion of an image through blue light) is not more than 0.09, and Dr (the density through red light) minus Db is from 0.02 to 0.10. Advantageously at least 50% by weight of the silver halide grains are flat plate-shaped grains having an aspect ratio of not more than 4.

Description: Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material suitable for use in x-ray exposure, which has improved distinguishability upon diagnostic observation of a developed image formed therefrom and imposes less strain on an observer of the image such as a medical doctor. Background of the Invention Heretofore, photographic materials used for direct x-ray exposure have usually been designed and manufactured by coating on a transparent support at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and incorporating a bluish dye either in the support or in a hydrophilic colloidal layer provided thereon, to make the image-clearer for the purposes of diagnostic observation. In other words, most photographic materials for radiographic use incorporate a dye so that the developed silver image, which originally has a yellowish color, is seen as bluish black in color when it is placed on a display board. Some photographic film, using a non-colored or clear base, support has a disadvantage that the developed silver image, which bears reddish or yellowish color, tends to give the observer a feelings of physical and mental fatigue. Thus since prior state of the art has given priority to apparent beauty rather than diagnostic distinguishability of the image. This has been done by setting the density to blue light (Db) at a high level, which tends to degradation of the distinguishability of the image, particularly in the low density region thereof. This has, to a no small extent, hindered medical diagnosis of the image. Thus a technique which enables a diagnostic observer to easily give his diagnosis from an image having improved distinguishability throughout the whole density range of the image, without degrading quality of the image as a picture per se, has been a long-felt demand in the art. FR-A-1 567 508 describes hydrophobic polyester compositions. which may be in the form of a film. which have been integrally colored by the inclusion of dye of the N.N'-diaryldiaminoanthraquinone class in which the aryl moieties are substituted by at least three alkyl radicals. The films may be used as supports for light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers such as those used for radiography. US-A-4 425 426 describes double coated radiographic elements in which crossover is reduced by the use of spectrally sensitised thin tabular silver halide grain of intermediate aspect ratio for one of the coatings. Objects of the Invention. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material in which the developed silver image has a bluish black image appearance having improved diagnostic distinguishability even in the low density portion of the image and causes the observer of the image less fatigue when observing the image. The second object of the invention is to provide a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material which has improved sharpness. distinguishability and observability of the image detail. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material for x-ray exposure comprising; a transparent support. at least one silver halide emulsion layer provided on said support. and incorporated into said support or into a layer provided thereon at least one dye characterized in that after processing in the manner defined below. the transmission density of the unexposed material measured using blue light (Db) is not more than 0.09. and in that the difference between said transmission density measured using red light (Dr) and that using blue light lies in the range 0.02 to 0.10; said processing comprising the steps of development for 25.5 seconds at 35° C in a solution having the composition per liter of water: potassium sulfite 60.0 g hydroquinone 25.0 g 1-phenyl-3 pyrazolidone 1.5 g boric acid 10.0 g potassium hydroxide 23.0 g triethylene glycol 17.5 g 5-methyl benztriazole 0.04 g 5-nitro benzimidazole 0.11 g 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole 0.015 g glutaric acid bicarbonate 8.0 g glacial acetic acid 16.0 g potassium bromide 4.0 g; fixing for 15.9 seconds at 34° C; rinsing for 12.4 seconds at 33° C and drying for 25.2 seconds at 45°. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention the silver halide emulsion layer contains flat plate-shaped grains of which the average aspect ratio is not less than 4 and the weight percent proportion of said flat shaped grains against the total number of silver halide grains in said silver halide emulsion layer is not less than 50 per cent. In this connection, the above-mentioned processing step corresponds to the processing temperatures and the periods of development, fixing, rinsing and drying steps, respectively, when a photographic material of the present invention is processed by the use of a Konica X-ray Automatic Processor Type SRX-501 (Manufactured by Konica Corporation). In the present invention, the blue-light density (Db) is defined as the density of the photographic film in a non-exposed portion, (fog density), when measured by Konica Pocket Densitometer Type PDA-65 (manufactured by Konica Corporation) through a blue filter attached to thereto. Similarly, the red-light density (Dr) is defined as the density measured in the same manner as in the blue-light density except that a red filter, instead of the blue filter, is attached to the above-mentioned densitometer. The light-sensitive silver halide photographic material of the present invention has, in its non-exposed portion and in terms of chromaticity coordinates, X and Y values of X=0.300 to 0.320 and Y=0.310 to 0.336, respectively. X and Y values of the photographic material may be obtained, for example, by using a spectro photometer such as Hitachi spectro photometer Type U-3210 (manufactured by Hitachi Manufacturing Company Ltd.). Thus, by designing a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material so that Db and Dr in the non-exposed portion thereof fall in the range defined in the present invention, distinguishability is improved in the image portion. In this connection, X and Y values of the conventional photographic materials currently available in the market have X<0.295 and Y<0.305, respectively, in the case of those using a blue base support, and X>0.325 and Y>0.340, respectively, in the case a clear transparent base is used. In the present invention, in order for a photographic material to have a color, as defined herein-above, either a support or any one or more layers which constitute the photographic material may be dyed; or both support and the layer may be dyed. For dyeing the photographic material in the invention, any suitable dye or dyes may be used. The dyes which may suitably used in the present invention are described below: The dyes which can suitably be used in the present invention are hydrophobic ones. For example, any one or more dyes may optionally be selected; [EXEMPLIFIED COMPOUND] For example, any one or more dyes may optionally be selected from, for example, anthraquinone-type dyes, azo-type dyes, azomethine dyes, indoaniline-type dyes, oxonol-type dyes, triphenylmethane-type dyes, carboxy amine dyes or styryl dyes. EXAMPLES of dyes which can preferably be used in the present invention are given below. However, of course, the scope of the present invention is not limited by these examples. These exemplified compounds may be either manufactured in the manner disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Pre-examined Publication Nos.(Tokkai) Sho 61-48854(1986); Sho 61-7838(1986); Sho 60-243654(1985); Sho 60-32851(1985); Sho 57-26849(1982); "Senryou Kagaku (Dye Chemistry)" written by Yutaka Hosoda; or "COLOR INDEX" published by The Society of Dyers and Colorists,American Association of Chemist and Colorists, or obtained from the manufacturers listed therein. These exemplified compounds are dyes having their absorption maxima within the range from 570 to 700 micrometers. In order to incorporate the dye into a photographic silver halide emulsion, any conventionally known method may be applied: For example, the dye may be incorporated into the photographic emulsion in a similar manner as incorporation of a dye-forming coupler into a photographic emulsion; i.e., after dissolving the dye in a substantially hydrophobic high boiling point organic solvent, together with, if necessary, a low boiling point organic solvent, mixing the solution in an aqueous gelatin solution containing a surface active agent and then subjecting thus prepared solution to emulsion dispersion by the use of a dispersion device such as a colloid mill, a homogenizer or an ultrasonic dispersion device and then incorporating thus prepared emulsion into a light-sensitive silver halide photographic layer. As examples for high boiling point organic solvent, carbonic acid esters, phosphoric acid esters,carbonic amides, ethers and substituted hydrocarbons may be mentioned. More specifically, for example, a di-n-butyl phthalate, a di-iso-octylphthalate, a di-methoxyethylphthalate, a di-n-butyl adipic acid ester, a di-n-butyl azelate, a di-iso-octyl azelate, a tri-n-butyl citrate, a butyl laurate, di-n-sebacate, a tricresyl phosphate, a tri-n-butyl phosphate, a tri-iso-octyl phosphate, a N,N'-diethylcaprylic acid amide, a N,N'-di-methyl palmitic acid amide, a n-butyl-pentadecylphenyl ether, an ethyl-2,4-tert-butylphenyl, an succinate, a maleate, a paraffin chloride may be mentioned. These high boiling point organic solvent may be used either singly or in combination of two or more. As for low boiling point organic solvent, for example, an ethyl acetate, a butyl acetate, a cyclohexane, a propylene carbonate, a methanol, a sec- butyl alcohol, a tetrahydrofurane, a di-methyl formamide, benzene, a chloroform, acetone, a methylethyl ketone, a diethylsulfoxide, a methylcelsolve may be used singly or in combination of two or more kinds. Further, for the surface active agent any one or more anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants or nonionic surfactants may optionally be used. For example, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, a sulfosuccinate, a saponin may be mentioned. As for a binding agent, a gelatin may usually be used such as an alkalitreated gelatin, an acid-treated gelatin or a modified gelatin such as those disclosed in Japanese Examined-Patent Publications (Tokko) Nos. Sho 38-4854(1963), Sho 40-12237(1965), U.S. Patent No. 2,525,753 either singly or in combination of two or more kinds. Further, whenever necessary or adequate, other natural or artificially synthesized binders, such as a polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl pyrrolidone, may optionally be used. It may also be possible that those dyes, which may be used in the present invention, are emulsion-dispersed in the state of a solution in a low boiling point organic solvent and added to a photographic emulsion layer. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned emulsion-dispersion process, the dye may be used either singly or, if necessary, together with other photographically useful additives such as an oxidation inhibitor, anti-staining agent or a fluorescent whitening agent. In the present invention, by the use of the above-mentioned dyes with or without other optional compounds, if necessary, a photographic material having desired Db and Dr can be obtained. For example, in a case where a non-colored polyethylene terephthalate support of 175 micrometer thickness is used, more than 10 mg per square meter of above-mentioned dye may necessarily be used in order to satisfy the predetermined condition of the present invention. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention a suitable amount of the dye to be used lies within a range of from 10 to 250 mg per a unit square meter of the photographic material. When the amount added is less than 10 mg, coloring effects may not be obtained. When, on the other hand, an excess amount not less than 250 mg is used, color density becomes too high, which results in decrease in distinguishability of the image. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the photographic material may be dyed by incorporating one or more dyes mentioned herein-above into one or more layers which are provided on the support and constitute photographic layers. For example, a silver halide emulsion layer, a protective layer, an undercoat layer or a subbing layer, an anti-halation layer or a backing layer may be mentioned as a layer constituting the photographic material of the invention. In the case where a support is colored, an optionally selected dye or dyes may be incorporated by dissolution into a coating liquid which is to form the support so that said support gives a predetermined density. When, on the other hand, the layer constituting the photographic material is colored, such a dye or dyes may be added to a coating solution are used in the form of a solution containing the dye dissolved by an organic solvent or, alternatively, in the form of powder by crushing a solid dye by the use of, for example, a mill such as a ball mill to fine powder with an approximate diameter of from 0.01 to 1.0 microns. According to one of the most preferable embodiments of the present invention, at least one anthraquinone-type dye selected from Exemplified Dyes from A-1 to A-11 can be used when the support is colored. In the case where a photographic constituting layer is dyed, those Exemplified Dyes mentioned above and Exemplified Dyes C-1 to C-4 may preferably be used. As a material suitably used for the transparent support in the present invention, a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate, a cellulose acetate, a cellulose nitrate and a polyvinyl acetal may suitably be used. In photographic materials for practical use, there is usually provided a subbing treatment between the support and the photographic constituting layer. As a material used for the subbing treatment, a copolymer of a vinyl chloride or a vinylidene chloride, a copolymer of an esters of vinyl alcohols, copolymers containing an unsaturated carboxylic acid, copolymers of dienes such as a butadiene, copolymers of an acetal, copolymers containing an unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride such as maleic acid anhydride can be mentioned particularly, vinylalcohol esters such as vinyl acetate or copolymers of vinyl alcohol with a styrene or their open ring products by water, alkali, alcohols or amines; cellulose derivatives such as nitrocellulose and diacetyl cellulose; compounds containing an epoxy group; gelatin or its derivatives and copolymers of polyorefin may be mentioned. The silver halide emulsion which is suitably used in the photographic material of the present invention contains flat plate-shaped silver halide particles of which average particle diameter/thickness ratio (hereinafter referred to as "aspect ratio"), which is herein referred to as "average aspect ratio", is not less than 4, and more preferably, between 4.0 and 20. According to the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the average thickness is not less than 0.3microns, preferably, between 0.3 and 0.5 microns and most preferably, the thickness is 0.3 microns. In the present invention, "diameter" of the silver halide particle is defined as a diameter of a circle having an equivalent projection area of a silver halide particle when it is measured by an electron microscopic picture image of the particle. Also, in the present invention the thickness of the silver halide particle is defined as the minimum distance between any two parallel surfaces contained in the flat plate-shaped silver halide particle. The thickness of this flat plate-shaped silver halide particle is obtained from an electron microscopic sectional picture image of the silver halide particles contained in the silver halide emulsion layer, which is prepared by coating and drying silver halide emulsion provided on the support. In order to obtain the "average aspect ratio" of the silver halide particles, diameters and thickness of at least 100 particles should preferably be measured. In the present invention, proportion of the flat plate-shaped silver halide particles against the total number of silver halide particles contained in silver halide emulsion layer, is preferably not less than 50% by weight, more preferably not less than 60%, and most preferably, not less than 70% by weight. The silver halide emulsion containing the flat plate-shaped silver halide particles, which can advantageously be used in the present invention is preferably, of a mono-dispersion type. Preferably, a silver halide emulsion in which not less than 50% by weight of the total silver halide particles have their particle sizes falling within plus minus 20% around the average particle size thereof may be used. The silver halide emulsion containing the flat plate-shaped silver halide particles advantageously used in the present invention, may optionally be selected from silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide, silver chlorobromide, silver iodo bromide, silver chloro-iodo bromide. In view of its high sensitivity, a silver iodobromide containing from 0.1 to 4.0 mol % and, more preferably, from 0.5 to 3.0 mol% of silver iodide is particularly advantageous. As for silver halide composition within a flat plate-shaped silver halide particle, it may be any form in which either the whole particle is composed of a uniform and single silver halide composition, or a particle in which, for example, a silver iodide is contained within the silver bromide particle. According to one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, the silver halide emulsion contains silver iodobromide particles in which silver iodide forms a high proportion of the center of the particles. For manufacturing the silver halide emulsion containing the flat plate-shaped silver halide particles, used advantageously in the present invention, the disclosures, for example, in Japanese Patent Pre-examination Publication (Tokkai) Nos. Sho 58-113927(1983), Sho 58-113928(1983), Sho 58-113934(1983), Sho 62-1855(1987); European Patents Nos. 219,849, 219,6850 may be referred to as giving useful information. As for the manner for manufacturing a silver halide emulsion containing mono-dispersion flat plat-shaped particles, for example, Japanese Patent Pre-examination Publication (Tokkai) Sho 61-6643(1986), etc. may be referred. A silver iodobromide emulsion containing flat plate-shaped particles having high aspect ratio may be manufactured, for example, in the following manner: Into an aqueous gelatin solution of which pBr is maintained at not greater than 2.0, either a silver nitrate solution or a mixture of silver nitrate solution and a halide solution are added simultaneously, to produce seeds crystals, and thereafter these seed crystals are grown up by means of a double-jet mixing process. Particle size of the flat plate-shaped silver halide particles may be adjusted by controlling speed of addition of either silver solution or halide solution. Also, the average silveriodide content in the flat plate shaped silver halide emulsion may be adjusted by changing halide composition in the halide solution, or changing iodide/bromide ratio in the halide solution. Further, depending upon necessity a silver halide solvent such as ammonia, a thioether, a thiourea, etc. may be used during manufacture of the silver halide emulsion. After completing addition of the silver solution and the halide solution to form a silver halide emulsion which contains flat plate-shaped silver halide particles, washing or rinsing process may be employed for the purpose of removing unnecessary water soluble halides from the emulsion. As a washing step the as a noodle-rinsing process or the sedimental flocculation separation process may be applied. As preferable examples for removing the water soluble halides, for example, a method using an aromatic hydrocarbon-type aldehyde resin as disclosed in Japanese Patent Post-examination Publication (Tokko) Sho 35-16086(1960) and a method using a high molecular weight flocculants,particularly those compounds Exemplified Compound G3 and G4 as disclosed in Japanese Patent Pre-examination Publication (Tokkai) Sho 63-158644(1988) may be mentioned as being advantageous desalting methods. The silver halide photographic emulsion used in the present invention may be subjected to a conventionally known physical and chemical ripening processes, in which various other photographically useful additives or ingredients may optionally be used. As typical photographic additives, for example, those disclosed in The Research Disclosure Nos. 17643 (published in December 1978) and 18716 (Published in November 1979) may be mentioned. The typical photographic additives and the places in which they appear in these references are classified and listed below: Class of Additives Place Appearing in the Research Disclosure No. 17643 No. 18716 Page Class Page Column Chemical Sensitizer 23 III 648 upper-right Sensitizing Dyes 23 III 648 right - 649 left Development Accelerator 29 VI 648 upper-right Anti-foggant 24 VI 649 down-right Stabilizer 24 VI 649 Anti-contaminant 25 VII 649 right - 650 left Image Stabilizer 25 VII UV Absorber 25 - 26 VIII 649 right - 650 left Filtering Dye 25 - 26 VIII 649 right - 650 left Whitening Agent 24 V Hardening Agent 26 X 651 left Coating Aid 26 - 27 XI 650 right Surfactant 26 - 27 XI 650 right Plasticizer 26 - 27 XII 650 right Lubricant 27 XII 650 right Anti-static Agent 27 XII 650 right Matting Agent 28 XIV 650 right Binder 26 IX 651 left As a support suitably applicable to the photographic material of the invention, for example, those disclosed in the above-mentioned RD-17643, on page 28 and in the right column on page29, in the left column on page 647 of RD-18716 may be mentioned. The surface of these plastic supports may usually be provided with, for the purpose of enhancing adhesive power, a subbing layer, or they may be subjected to, for example, x-ray irradiation or corona discharge. Then the silver halide emulsion may be provided on either side or both sides of the support. The present invention is applicable to various types of light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials, however, the present invention is most advantageously applicable to a highly photo-sensitive, black-and-white type photographic material. In the case when the present invention is adapted to photographic materials used for medical radiographic use, it is usually desirable for the photographic material of the invention to be exposed to penetrating electromagnetic radiation, such as x-rays, by the use of a pair of so-called sensitizing screens which comprise as their main component a fluorescent material which emits near ultraviolet or visible rays,in contact with both surfaces of the photographic material. Examples The present invention is here-in-below further explained with reference to examples.However, these examples do by no means limit the scope of the present invention. Example 1 (1) Preparation of Mono-dispersion Silver Halide Emulsion: iodobromide particles containing therein 2.0 mol% of silver iodide and having an average particle diameter of 0.2 micrometers contained in a silver iodobromide emulsion as seed nuclei, were grown up, under conditions of pH at 9.8 and pAG AT 7.7, to monodisperse silver iodo bromide particles containing therein 30 mo% of silver iodide. Then, three kinds of monodisperse silver iodobromide emulsions containing average silver iodide content of 2.2 mol% and average particle diameters of 0.375 micrometers (herein-after referred to as "EM I-1"), 0.64 microns (herein-after referred to as " EMI-2") and 1.210 microns (herein-after referred to as "EM I-3"), respectively, were prepared by adding equivalent molar amount of silver nitrate solution and a potassium bromide solution under conditions of pH at 8.2 and pAg at 7.8. These three kinds of monodisperse emulsions were then, subjected to desaltationdeescalation process according to a conventional manner, i.e., while the temperature of the respective emulsions were held at 40°C, a formalin condensation product of a sodium naphthalene sulphonate and magnesium sulfate were added, to cause coagulation. The variances of thus obtained emulsions expressed in terms of S/ r .wherein S stands for standard deviation and r stands for average particle size, were respectively less than o.16. This means that these exemplified emulsions show excellent mono dispersibility. (2) Preparation of Flat Plate-shaped Particles: while agitating a 5.5liters of 1.5% gelatin solution under conditions of temperature at 80°C and pH at 5.7, 2.1 equivalent mols of pottasium bromide solution and 2.0 equivalent mol of silver nitrate solution were added.by means of a conventional double-jet method for a period of 2 minutes. During the addition of the solutions pBr of the mixture solution was maintained at 0.8, which means the consumption by 0.53% of the total silver nitrate used. Then after addition of the pottasium bromide solution was stopped the silver nitrate solution was added for a period of 4.6 minutes. This means that 8.6% of the total silver nitrate was consumed. Then, the potassium bromide solution and the silver nitrate solution were simultaneously added for a period of 13 minutes, while pBr of the solution was maintained at 1.2 and the quantity of the addition was accelerated so that the flow rate of the addition was 2.5 times greater at the time of completion of addition than that at the commencement of the same, when 43.6% of the total silver nitrate was consumed. After stopping adding the potassium bromide solution, the silver nitrate solution was added again for a period of one minute, when 4.7% of the total silver nitrate used was consumed. Then, 2.0 mol potassium bromide solution containing 0.55 mols of potassium iodide was added together with the silver nitrate solution for a period of 13.3 minutes,where quantity of addition was accelerated so that the flow rate of the addition becomes 1.5 times greater at the time of completion of addition than that at the time of commencement thereof, when 35.5% of the total silver nitrate was consumed. Then 1.5 g per 1 mol of silver of sodium thiocyanate was added to thus prepared emulsion and maintained for 25 minutes. Then 0.60 mols of iodide solution and the silver nitrate solution were added at the same flow rate by means of a conventional double-jet method for an approximate period of 5 minutes, until the time when pBr Br of the emulsion became 3.0, when about 6.6% of the total silver nitrate used was consumed. The total amount of the silver nitrate consumed was approximately 11 mols. Thus a silver halide emulsion, herein-after referred to as "EM-II", containing therein flat plate-shaped silver halide particles having an average particle diameter of 1.62 microns and the aspect ratio of about 16 was prepared. The silver halide particles of the prepared emulsion comprised flat plate-shaped particles at the proportion of not less than 80% in terms of projected area proportion against the total projection area thereof. Preparation of Sample Photographic Material, Process and Evaluation Into each of the thus prepared emulsions "EMI-1" through "EMI-3" and "EM-II", purified water was added to make the volume of the emulsion to be 500 ml per 1 mol of silver. Then after adjusting the temperature of each emulsion at 55°C, Optical Sensitizing Dyes A and B were added to the respective emulsions so that the amount of Addition of the Dye A against Dye B becomes 200:1. The total amount of the optical sensitizing dyes added to the respective sample emulsions in terms of mg per 1 mol of silver were as follows: Emulsion Amount of Dyes Added (mg/mol Ag) EM I-1 820 EM I-2 600 EM I-3 360 EM I-4 500 EM II 600 Ten minutes after the addition of the optical sensitizing dyes, the following amounts of ammonium salt thiocyanate was added to the respective emulsions: Emulsion Amount of Addition of Ammonium Salt of Thiocyanate(mols/mol Ag) EM I-1 4 x 10 -3 EM I-2 2 x 10 -3 EM I-3 3 x 10 -3 EM II 3 x 10 -3 Then after adding adequate amounts of acidic auric chloride and sodium thiosulphate to the respective emulsions, emulsions were subjected to chemical ripening under conditions of pH at 6.15 and silver potential (EAg) at 50 mv. 15 minutes before the completion of the chemical ripening, i.e., 70 minutes after the commencement of the chemical ripening, 200 mg of potassium iodide per 1 mol of silver was added to the respective emulsions. Further, 5 minutes after the addition of these additives, 10% (wt/vol) of acetic acid was added to the respective emulsions in order to lower the pH of the emulsions at 5.6. After maintaining the pH value of the respective emulsions at this point for 5 minutes, 0.5% (wt/vol) of potassium hydride was added to the respective emulsions, restoring the pH value of the emulsions at 6.15. Thereafter, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,3,3a,7-7-tetraza indene was added to the emulsions, to complete the chemical ripening. After mixing these emulsions as shown Table A, the after-mentioned emulsion additives were added to the respective emulsions, to prepare silver halide emulsions for coating. For reference, sodium carbonate and potassium bromide solution were used for the purpose of adjusting pH and the silver potential of the emulsions for coating to be 6.51 and 68 mv (at 35°C),respectively. Sample No. Mixing Ratio of Emulsion EM I-1 EM I-2 EM I-3 EM II 1 through 6 30 40 30 - 7 through 11 18 through 22 and 28 through 30 24 56 20 - 12 through 17 and 23 through 27 - - 21 79 Using the thus prepared coating solutions, samples were prepared in the following manner: i.,e., both sides of a support were coated simultaneously at the coating speed at 80 meters per a minute by the use of two slide hopper-type coating machines so that the coated amount with respect to gelatin of both a high-sensitive emulsion layer and a low-sensitive emulsion layer became 2.0 mg/m, and that the coated amount of silver halide particles in terms of the amount of silver to be those shown in Table-1. Further, a coating solution for a protective layer was prepared by the use of hereinafter mentioned additives and coated in the same manner as in the case of the silver halide emulsion layer, on the silver halide emulsion layer at an amount, with respect to gelatin, of 1.15 g/m. As the material for the support, a transparent polyethylene terephthalate film of 175 microns thick, which is subbed with a 10 wt% aqueous dispersion-containing copolymer solution,of which copolymer consists of 50 wt% of glycidyl methacrylate, 10 wt% of methyl methacrylate and 40 wt% of butylmethacrylate, was used. For the purpose of coloring, a dye-dispersion solution prepared by a method, which is herein-after explained, was added to the silver halide emulsion layer as shown in Table-1. The optical sensitizing dyes used for preparing the samples are as follows: Optical Sensitizing Dye A Optical Sensitizing Dye B Other additives used for the preparation of a coating solution of the light-sensitive silver halide emulsion and the amount used in terms of weight per 1 mol of silver halide are as follows: Further additives used for a coating solution for the protective layer are as follows, in which the amount of addition of the additive is expressed in terms of weight per 1 liter of the coating solution. Dye dispersed emulsion was prepared in the following manner: Among the Exemplified dyes, 10 kg of those dyes shown in Table 1 were taken for weighing. Then respective dyes were dissolved by a mixed solvent consisting of 12 liters of tricresyl phosphate and 12liters of ethyl acetate at the temperature of 55°C. This solution is hereinafter referred to as "a solvent solution". On the other hand 270 ml of 9.3% aqueous gelatin solution, in which 1.35 kg of an anionic surface active agent (herein referred to as "AS", having a chemical structure is shown below, was dissolved at 45°C. This solution is hereinafter referred to as "an aqueous solution". Dispersion of the above-mentioned solvent solution and the aqueous solution was carried out for a continuous period of 20 minutes, first by putting these solutions into a dispersion pot and, then, by gradually decreasing the atomospheric pressure in the pot, while maintaining the temperature of the solutions at 40°C and adjusting rotational frequency of a high speed rotary propeller installed in the dispersion pot. Into the dispersion product additives, of which chemical structures are given below, and water were added to make the total volume of the dispersion product be 240ml, which was thereafter cooled down and solidified. The area average paticle size of the solid ingredients of the obtained dispersion product fell within a range between 0.08 and 0.10 microns. The thus obtained Sample photographic materials were subjected sensitometry by being exposed to x-rays for a period of 0.05 seconds by using a x-ray tube under conditions of tube electric potential of 90 kV and tube electric current of 20 mA; processed by the use of Konica Automatic Processor Type SRX-501 (wherein as a developer solution, the above-mentioned Developer Solution and as a fixing solution XF-SR, (manufactured by Konica Corporation) are used, to obtain sensitometric characteristic curve and image sharpness of the respective samples. In order to obtain the sharpness of the image of the sample, a Hunk Test Chart SMS 5853 (produced by Konica Medical Co., Ltd.) was used and the sample was processed in the same manner as in the sensitmetric measurement thereof. Further, the amount of exposure given to the respective samples was determined so that the average density of the developed silver image formed by the use of the Hunk Test Chart mat became 0.20±0.02. Evaluation of Sharpness Sharpness was evaluated and classified by observing the degree of distinguishability of the image formed on the respective samples using a magnifying glass as shown below: thus, A represents that the sharpness is most excellent and E, the poorest. A: Distinguishable up to 10 LP/mm. B: Distinguishable up to 8LP/mm. C: Distinguishable up to 6LP/mm. D: Distinguishable up to 5LP/mm. E: Distinguishable up to 4LP/mm Evaluation of Fatigue Feeling Effect on the Observer After ten x-ray images of a breast phantom were obtained under the same exposure and processing conditions as those of the sharpness evaluation, the formed images were continuously observed for 15seconds per a single picture, to evaluate fatigue feeling given to the obsever. Based on the judging standard given below, ten pictures of randomly extracted sample images were observed by five observers. The fatigue feeling effect on the obsever was evaluated by obtaining the average remarks by five observers, by rounding off to one decimmal place. The following is the classified fatigue effects evaluated by fatigue feelings of the observer: 1: Feel almost no fatigue. 2: Feel a little fatigue 3: Feel a fatigue 4: Feel a considerable fatigue. 5: Feel a considerable fatigue and,moreover, image was considered to be dirty. The results are given in Table 1. Sample No. Dye Added Transmission Density Sharpness Degree of Fatigue Class Amount D R D B D R - D B 1 None - 0.04 0.05 0.01 B 4 2 A-1 4.0 0.05 0.05 0 B 4 3 A-1 7.5 0.07 0.05 0.02 B 4 4 A-1 15 0.09 0.05 0.04 B 2 5 A-1 30 0.12 0.05 0.07 C 1 6 A-1 45 0.16 0.05 0.11 E 1 7 A-2 4.5 0.05 0.05 0 A 4 8 A-2 9.0 0.07 0.05 0.02 A 2 9 A-2 18 0.10 0.05 0.05 A 2 10 A-2 36 0.15 0.05 0.10 B 1 11 A-2 72 0.25 0.06 0.19 D 1 12 A-1 4.0 0.05 0.05 0 A 5 13 A-1 7.5 0.07 0.05 0.02 A 2 14 A-1 15 0.09 0.05 0.04 A 2 15 A-1 30 0.12 0.05 0.07 B 1 16 A-1 45 0.16 0.05 0.11 D 1 17 C-1 0 0.04 0.05 -0.01 A 5 18 C-4 5.0 0.05 0.05 0.01 A 4 19 C-4 10.0 0.07 0.05 0.02 A 2 20 C-4 20.0 0.09 0.05 0.04 A 1 21 C-4 40.0 0.13 0.06 0.07 B 1 22 C-4 60.0 0.19 0.07 0.12 D 1 23 C-4 5.0 0.06 0.05 0.01 A 4 24 C-4 10.0 0.07 0.05 0.02 A 2 25 C-4 20.0 0.09 0.05 0.04 A 2 26 C-4 40.0 0.14 0.06 0.08 B 1 27 C-4 60.0 0.18 0.07 0.11 D 1 28 A-3 40.0 0.15 0.05 0.10 B 1 29 A-3 80.0 0.26 0.07 0.19 E 2 30 C-1 40.0 0.14 0.07 0.07 B 2 From the table it is apparent that samples according to the present invention, of which Dr minus Db value falls within a range between 0.02 and 0.10, have excellent image distinguishability especially in the low density portion of the image as well as image sharpness, which critically affects the fatigue feeling of the observer. Further, it is also obvious that this effect can considerably be enhanced by the use of a flat plate-shaped silver halide particles-containing silver halide photographic emulsion. EFFECT OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, distinguishability of a developed image is improved even in a low image density portion and, therefore, a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material suitable for medical use which is capable of giving less fatiigue feeling to observers.

Claims: A light-sensitive silver halide photographic material for x-ray exposure comprising; a transparent support. at least one silver halide emulsion layer provided on said support. and incorporated into said support or into a layer provided thereon at least one dye. characterized in that after processing in the manner defined below, the transmission density of the unexposed material measured using blue light (Db) is not more than 0.09. and in that the difference between said transmission density measured using red light (Dr) and that using blue light lies in the range 0.02 to 0.10; said processing comprising the steps of development for 25.5 seconds at 35° C in a solution having the composition per liter of water: potassium sulfite 60.0 g hydroquinone 25.0 g 1-phenyl-3 pyrazolidone 1.5 g boric acid 10.0 g potassium hydroxide 23.0 g triethylene glycol 17.5 g 5-methyl benztriazole 0.04 g 5-nitro benzimidazole 0.11 g 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole 0.015 g glutaric acid bicarbonate 8.0 g glacial acetic acid 16.0 g potassium bromide 4.0 g; fixing for 15.9 seconds at 34° C: rinsing for 12.4 seconds at 33° C and drying for 25.2 seconds at 45°. The light-sensitive silver halide photographic material according to claim 1, characterized in that said silver halide emulsion layer contains flat plate-shaped grains of which the average aspect ratio is not less than 4 and the weight percent proportion of said flat shaped grains against the total number of silver halide grains in said silver halide emulsion layer is not less than 50 per cent. A process for manufacturing a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material according to claims 1 or 2. characterized in that said process comprises the step of incorporating into either said support or at least one layer constituting said photographic material a dye so that after processing in the manner described below. the transmission density of the unexposed material measured using blue light (Db) is not more than 0.09. and in that the difference between said transmission density measured using red light (Dr) and that using blue light lies in the range 0.02 to 0.10; said processing comprising the steps of development for 25.5 seconds at 35° C in a solution having the composition per liter of water: potassium sulfite 60.0 g hydroquinone 25.0 g 1-phenyl-3 pyrazolidone 1.5 g boric acid 10.0 g potassium hydroxide 23.0 g triethylene glycol 17.5 g 5-methyl benztriazole 0.04 g 5-nitro benzimidazole 0.11 g 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole 0.015 g glutaric acid bicarbonate 8.0 g glacial acetic acid 16.0 g potassium bromide 4.0 g; fixing for 15.9 seconds at 34° C; rinsing for 12.4 seconds at 33° C and drying for 25.2 seconds at 45°. The process according to claim 3. characterised in that a dye selected from those having their absorption maxima within the range 570 to 700nm is incorporated into said support.

Inventors: SAKUMA HARUHIKO KONICA CORPORA, SAKUMA, HARUHIKO, KONICA CORPORATION
Applicants: KONISHIROKU PHOTO IND, KONICA CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G03C5
IPC codes: G03C1, G03C5