Bleachable polymeric filter dyes

Abstract: Rapidly processible and irreversibly bleachable polymeric filter dyes for photographic elements are provided wherein a benzoxazole styryl chromophore is covalently bonded to a copolymer, particularly a copolymer of methyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, and sulfoethylmethacrylate, as well as filter layers and photosensitive elements containing them.

Description: This invention relates to bleachable polymeric filter dyes for photographic elements and photographic elements containing bleachable filter dyes covalently bonded to a polymer. Photographic light-sensitive materials often have colored emulsion layers and other hydrophilic colloidal layers colored in order to absorb light within specific wavelengths. When necessary to control the spectroscopic composition of light falling on a light-sensitive layer, a colored filter layer further removed from the base than the emulsion layer is usually employed. In films containing multiple emulsion layers, a filter layer is sometimes positioned between the emulsion layers. Colored filter layers usually incorporate water-soluble dyes to provide the necessary color. Such dyes must have the right spectral absorption for the intended purpose and be photochemically inert; that is, they must have no chemically adverse effect on the performance of the photographic quality of the film such as reduction of sensitivity, degradation of latent image, fogging, and the like. In this context, the dye used should not exert a spectral sensitizing effect on an emulsion which should not be spectrally sensitized. Nor should they lower the degree of spectral sensitization of an emulsion which has been spectrally sensitized or broaden, narrow, or shift wavelength or create a new maximum wavelength for spectral sensitization. Dyes used in a filter layer should discolor or be eluted into the treating solution or wash water during development in order not to leave detrimental color on the light-sensitive material being treated. While a number of methods are available for selectively coloring a colloidal filter layer, often a hydrophilic polymer having an electric charge opposite that of the dye ions is added to the hydrophilic colloidal layer as a mordant which interacts with the dye molecules to contain the dye locally in a specific colloidal layer. When mordanting with a polymer is used, the contact of the dye containing layer with the other colloidal layers in a wet condition often results in diffusion of the dye from the former into the latter layer. This diffusion depends on the chemical structure of the mordant used and the structure of the dye involved. When a high molecular weight mordant is used, color is likely to remain on the light-sensitive material after photographic treatment, particularly when shortened processing times are used. Presumably, this is caused by retention of dye or a product of reversible discoloration in the layer containing the mordant. The mordant can recombine with the dye even in a developing solution, depending on the structure of the mordant and nature of the dye employed. Various dyes have been proposed as offering possible solutions to such problems. U.S. Patents 3,672,898; 4,345,017; 4,059,448; and 4,268,622 describe indolenes, butadienes, styryls, pyrazolones, cyanines, and the like as possible candidates. Japanese Kokai Patent Nos. 50-28827, 58- 21247, and 58-4142 describe dispersions of dyes in alkali soluble resins. Such dyes nevertheless tend to spectrally sensitize a photographic emulsion which has not been spectrally sensitized and alter the degree of spectral sensitization of an emulsion which has been spectrally sensitized. Great Britain Patent 545,529 describes azo dyes having a resinous nature and 506,385 describes oxonol dyes irreversibly decolored in developers containing sulfite which do not adversely influence the photographic properties of photographic emulsions. However, such dyes cannot be mordanted adequately and diffuse from the basic polymer containing layer to other layers. Further, strong mordanting to control dye mobility leads to inhibition of sulfite bleaching. GB Patent No 546,631 discloses a photographic material containing an antihalation or color filter dye layer, wherein the dye later comprises a resinous dyestuff of the indophenol or indoaniline type. The resins are said to dissolve when the film is exposed to alkaline developer solution. The need for nonwandering filter dyes, particularly for blue and green X-ray film, is critical to reduce crossover exposure and reduce sensitizing dye stain, particularly in green X-ray film. In photosensitive film, nonwandering filter dyes prevent blue light punch through onto green sensitive emulsions and, particularly in microfilm, are needed to eliminate hypo retention and filter dye stain which results from the use of mordants currently employed. Irreversibly bleachable polymeric filter dyes are provided which are immobile and therefore can be permanently incorporated into coating compositions. The nonwandering polymeric dyes of the invention are coatable on any suitable substrate with gelatin in a filter layer which decolorizes or bleaches very quickly and irreversibly in a high pH sulfite solution. The nonwandering filter dye polymers of the invention can be used in any composition processed using sulfite bleach. They improve viewbox quality and reduce sensitizing dye stain when excess sensitizing dye is used to absorb unwanted green light. The polymeric dyes of the invention are stable before processing and removed quickly when very rapid processing is required, such as, for example, when processing X-ray film. The bleachable polymeric filter dyes of the invention are polymers containing a covalently bonded benzoxazole-styryl dye chromophore in the polymer structure. In the context of the invention, only benzoxazole-styryl dyes bleach irreversibly and fast, in thirty seconds or less, under sulfite developing conditions. The polymeric filter dye of the invention is free of phenolic groups. The invention provides an irreversibly bleachable polymeric filter dye for photographic elements characterised in that the dye comprises (i) a polymer formed by polymerizing methyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylate; and (ii) a benzoxazole styryl chromophore covalently bonded to said polymer, with the proviso that the polymer is free of phenolic groups. The polymer can contain any desired amount of the dye chromophore or monomer, preferably ranging from 2 to 5 mol percent. Higher dye loading may inhibit polymerization; lower dye loading may not provide optimum results for the intended use. Preferred dye polymers of the invention are polymers of methyl acrylate (C)/methacrylic acid (E)/2-sulfoethyl methacrylate (sodium salt) (D)/ 5-acrylamido-N-ethyl-2-(4- dimethylaminophenyl ethylidenyl) benzoxazolium p-toluene sulfonate (A), particularly at mol ratio ranges of from 75 to 92 (C), 20 to 3 (E), 3 to 10 (D), and 2 to 5 (A). Most preferred are CEDA polymers having mol ratios of 85 - 90 (A), 5 - 10 (D), 3 - 5 (E), and 2 (A). The benzoxazole styryl dyes of the invention can be incorporated into any suitable polymer without regard to the viscosity or molecular weight of the polymer. Polymers and copolymers of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylate, and methacrylate polymers and copolymers are preferred. It is preferred that the polymeric dye of the invention contains an effective amount of a suitable charged monomer to provide good coatability with gelatin. Preferably, amounts ranging from 3 to 10 mol percent of the dye polymer of any suitable charged monomer such as a sulfoalkyl methacrylate or acrylamido alkyl sulfonic acid having one to twelve carbon atoms in a normal, iso, cyclo, or combination thereof configurations are preferred. For example, the alkyl group can be a methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, pentyl, cyclohexyl, methyl cyclohexyl, diethylcyclohexyl, decyl, nonyl, dicyclohexyl, dodecyl and combinations thereof. The use of the above monomers, which are preferably incorporated in the form of their sodium salt, also helps provide complete bleaching for water soluble polymeric dyes. Particularly preferred are 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate and 2- acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid or a mixture thereof. To insure complete bleaching when very hydrophobic or water insoluble polymeric dyes are used, from 5 to 25 mol percent of the polymer is preferably a sulfite solution soluble acidic monomer. Any suitable sulfite solution soluble acidic monomer or mixture thereof can be used, preferably acrylic and/or methacrylic acid. The chromophore-containing polymers of the invention can be incorporated in any suitable amount that will provide layer coverage of from 5 to 861 mg dye polymer/m 2 , preferably from 86.1 to 484 mg/m 2 . The dye polymers of the invention can be incorporated in any suitable manner into a hydrophilic colloidal layer of a light-sensitive material. A solution of the dyes of the invention can be added to an aqueous solution of hydrophilic colloids and the resulting mixed solution can be coated in known manner on a film base or any other layer forming the light-sensitive material. The hydrophilic layer can contain any other suitable material for improving the properties of the light-sensitive material such as a hardening agent, a coating assistant, a pasticizer, a slip agent, a matting agent, an emulsion polymerized latex, an antistatic agent, an ultraviolet absorber, an oxidation inhibitor or a surfactant. Some such suitable hardeners are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patents 1,870,354; 3,380,829; 3,047,394; 3,091,537; 3,325,287; 2,080,019; 2,726,162; 3,725,925; 3,255,000; 3,321,313 and 3,057,723. Some suitable surface active agents which can be used as coating aids or for antistatic purposes, improvement of sliding properties are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patents 3,294,540; 2,240,472; 2,831,766; 2,739,891; 2,359,980; 2,409,930; 2,447,750; 3,726,683; 2,823,123; and 3,415,649. Photographic emulsions used to prepare the photosensitive materials of the invention can be spectrally sensitized with any suitable dyes including methine dyes. Other suitable sensitizing dyes are disclosed, for example, in U.S. patents 2,231,658; 2,493,748; 2,503,776; 2,519,001; 2,912,329; 3,656,959; 3,694,217; 3,837,862; 3,814,609; 3,769,301; and 3,703,377, including combinations, particularly for supersensitization. The emulsion can also contain a dye having no spectral sensitizing action itself, or a material which does not absorb visible rays but which is capable of supersensitization. Any suitable lubricating agents can be used in the hydrophilic colloidal layer containing the dyes of the invention including higher alcohol esters of higher fatty acids, casein, higher fatty acid calcium salts, silicone compounds or liquid paraffin, as described in U.S. Patents 2,588,756; 3,121,060; 3,295,979; 3,042,522 and 3,489,567. Any suitable plasticizer can be used such as glycerin, diols and trihydric aliphatic alcohols particularly as described in U.S. Patents 2,960,404 and 3,520,694. Matting agents and antifoggants known in the art can be used including those disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,322,037; 3,079,257; 3,022,169; 2,336,327; 2,360,290; 2,403,721; 2,728,659; 2,732,300; 2,735,765; 2,418,613; 2,675,314; 2,710,801; 2,816,028; 3,457,079; and 2,384,658. Any ultraviolet light-absorbing agents such as the compounds of the benzophenone series, the benzotriazole series or the thiazolidine series can be used. Any brightening agents can be used including agents of the stilbene series, the triazine series, the oxazole series or the coumarin series. Any suitable hydrophilic colloid can be used to prepare photosensitive materials in accordance with the invention. Examples include gelatin (lime processed or acid processed), gelatin derivatives produced by reacting gelatin with with other high polymers, albumin and casein, cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose, sugar derivatives such as agar, sodium alginate and starch derivatives, polymeric materials such as polvinyl alcohol- hemiacetal, poly-N-vinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide and polyvinylimidazole. Other suitable gelatin derivatives are disclosed in U.S. Patents 2,614,928; 2,763,639; 3,118,766; 3,132,945; 3,186,846; 3,312,553; 4,268,622; 4,059,448; 2,763,625; 2,831,767; 2,956,884; 3,879,205. Silver halide photographic emulsions can be prepared using conventional techniques depending on the desired end-use of the photosensitive element. Silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, silver bromide, silver bromoiodide and silver clororbromoidoide can be used as the silver halide. Any known protective colloid can be used individually or in combination with the gelatin or gelatin derivative in the preparation of the photosensitive emulsion. Known processes can be used to prepare the silver halide emulsion which can be coated by any suitable method on any suitable substrate in the preparation of the photographic elements of the invention. Coating methods include dip coating, curtain coating, roller coating and extrusion coating as disclosed, for example in U.S. Patents 2,681,294; 4,059,448; 2,761,791; 2,941,898. Two or more layers can be coated at the same time, if desired. Any suitable substrate can be used in the preparation of the photographic elements of the invention, including transparent and opaque supports. Some suitable supports include various kinds of qlasses such as soda glass, potash glass, borosilicate glass and quartz glass; synthetic high molecular weight film materials such as polyalkyl acrylates or methacrylates, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamides such as nylon, films of semi-synthetic high molecular weight materials such as cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate; paper, baryta coated paper, paper coated with alpha olefin polymers, synthetic paper e.g. of polystyrene, ceramics and metals. The polymeric filter dyes of the invention are particularly useful in radiographic or X-ray elements which require very fast processing times as described, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,900,652. Although the dye-polymers of the invention function extremely well, even when fastest processing conditions are employed, it is to be understood that they also provide the advantages described herein when slower processes or processing conditions are employed. In a preferred embodiment, an X-ray film is developed, fixed, and washed in a 90 second 35 C process cycle which allows only 30 seconds for each step. A preferred development step employs a developer/replenisher containing 700 ml water, 15.8 ml strontium chloride hexahydrate, 8.8 mg lithium carbonate, 12.5 mg Lignosite 458 (TM) [Georgia Pacific]), 0.06 g of 5-methylbenzotri- azole, 8.85 g of sodium metabisulfite, 42.75 g of potassium hydroxide as a 45% solution, 0.56 g of boric anhydride 250 µm (60 mesh) (boron oxide), 4.74 g of anhydrous sodium carbonate, 3.75 g of anhydrous sodium bicarbonate, 10 g of diethylene glycol, 133.5 g of potassium sulfite (45% solution), 5.33 g of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid pentasodium salt (40% solution), 22 g of hydroquinone, 12.5 g of glacial acetic acid, 1.35 g of 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinone, 127 mg of 5- nitroindazole, 8.85 g of glutaraldehyde (50% solution), 3.45 g of sodium bromide, and sufficient water to make 1 liter at a pH at 27°C of 10 +/- 0.1. The developer contains the sulfite which renders the dye colorless and hydroxide and water at pH 10 to render the dye irreversibly bleached. A preferred fixing step employs 600 ml water, 20.7 g of glacial acetic acid, 4 g of sodium hydroxide (50% solution), 8.8 mg of anhydrous lithium carbonate, 15.8 mg of strontium chloride (hexahydrate), 238.8 g of ammonium thiosulfate (56.5% ammonium thiosulfate, 4% ammonium sulfite), 0.8 g of potassium iodide, 35.5 g of anhydrous sodium thiosulfate, 4.9 g of sodium metabisulfite, 3.23 g of sodium gluconate, 23.15 g of aluminum sulfate (25% solution), and sufficient water to make 1 liter at a pH at 27°C of 4.1 +/- 0.1. The fixer solution contains the thiosulfate which dissolves and removes the undeveloped silver salts. Filter layers of the invention are easily decolored during processing with no color remaining on the light sensitive material after it has been processed. The photographic treating solution is not contaminated by the dyes of the invention. Likewise, the dyes of the invention are not detrimental to the photographic properties of an emulsion layer located advantageously adjacent to a filter layer containing a dye or dyes of the invention. The sensitivity or gradation of the photographic emulsion layer is not reduced or weakened in any way other than for the filter effect of the filter layer. No fogging occurs. This is true with respect to the photographic properties of the light-sensitive material both in the sensitive wavelength region specific to silver halide and a color sensitized region. No such detrimental effect appears in the light-sensitive material even after the passage of time after manufacture. The chromophore-containing polymeric dyes of the invention are fixed in the filter layer and do not diffuse into any other layer. Accordingly, a photographic light-sensitive material having superior spectral and other photographic properties is obtained in which the sensitivity or gradation of the photographic emulsion layer does not undergo any unexpected reduction that would otherwise he caused by undesirable spectral effects which occur when dye diffuses from the filter layer. The dyes of the invention are also capable of functioning in an anti-halation layer in black-and-white and color photographic light-sensitive materials, including those having multiple layers. Any processes and processing conditions known for developing photographic light-sensitive materials can be used to process the photographic elements of the invention including any of those disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,059,448. The invention is further illustrated but is not intended to be limited by the following examples in which all parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated. EXAMPLE 1 A dye of the invention is prepared by dissolving 369 parts of 2-amino-4-nitrophenol in 600 ml of warm pyridine in a 2 liter three-necked flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer, a Dean & Stark adapter or glass trap to collect distilled off solvent, and a condenser. 600 parts of triethyl orthoacetate are added to the flask while refluxing using an oil bath maintained at 120-140 °C. The ethanol formed is distilled off followed by the pyridine until 500 ml of total solvent are removed. The reaction mixture is stirred overnight at room temperature after which 1500 ml of ethanol are added to precipitate the product. Filtering provided 5-nitro-2-methylbenzoxazole (1) as a tannish-brown solid which is washed with ethanol, ethyl acetate, and then ligroin, and dried under vacuum. 339 parts of (1) are hydrogenated in ethanol using Pt/C at high pressure at room temperature. The ethanol is removed using a rotary evaporator and 5-amino-2- methylbenzoxazole (2), obtained as a reddish brown solid, is dried under vacuum. 150 parts of (2) are dissolved in 1200 ml of warm tetrahydrofuran in a 3 liter three-necked flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer and dropping funnel. 113 parts of triethylamine are added to the flask and then cooled to 0°C using an ice bath. 100 parts of acryloyl chloride are combined with 300 ml of tetrahydrofuran in a dropping funnel and added dropwise to the flask while stirring under dry nitrogen. The mixture in the flask is allowed to return to room temperature while being stirred overnight and then filtered. The filter is stirred in 1 liter of warm tetrahydrofuran for thirty minutes and filtered again. Both filtrates are combined and 10 ml of nitrobenzene are added to inhibit polymerization. Solvent is removed using a rotary evaporator and ethyl ether is added to solidify the product. The dark brown solid obtained after filtering is washed with methylene chloride, then ethyl ether to provide 5-acrylamido-2-methyl benzoxazole (3) as a tan solid after drying under vacuum. 100 parts of (3) are combined with 109 parts of ethyl p-toluene sulfonate, 100 ml dimethylacetamide, and 5 ml p-nitrophenol (to inhibit polymerization) in a 500 ml three-necked flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer and condenser. The reaction mixture is heated at 120 °C for 5 hours while stirring under argon, then stirred at room temperature for 15 hours, monitored using thin layer chromatography (TLC). After the reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, it is poured into 1500 ml of dry ethyl ether, decanted and stirred in fresh ethyl ether. The ethyl ether procedure is repeated until the oil product changes to a tacky solid which is then allowed to stand in ethyl ether overnight. The solid is filtered off and washed several times with butyronitrile to remove all starting material. The solid is washed further with ethyl ether and dried to yield 3 ethyl- 5-acrylamido-2-methylbenzoxazolium p-toluene sulfonate (4) as a mustard-yellow solid. 50 parts of (4) are combined with 37 parts of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, about 3 ml p-nitrophenol, and 500 ml of acetic anhydride in a 1 liter three-necked flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer and a reflux adapter. The mixture is stirred for 20 minutes under argon while being heated in an oil bath starting at 120 °C decreasing to 100 °C. The reaction mixture becomes very thick and is cooled for 20 minutes at room temperature before being filtered. The filtered product is washed with acetic anhydride and ethyl ether, then allowed to stand in ethyl ether overnight. After filtering and washing with ethyl ether, the burnt-orange colored solid product is slurried in acetone, filtered, washed with acetone, slurried in ethyl ether, filtered, and dried under vacuum. The dye product is 5-acrylamido-N-ethyl-2-(4-dimethylaminophenylethylidenyl) benzoxazolium p-toluene sulfonate (A). The procedure described in the preceding paragraph is repeated using 9 parts of (4), 9 parts of 9-formyl julolidine, half a ml of p-nitrophenol and 90 ml of acetic anhydride in a 250 ml flask. The resulting magenta dye solid is 5-acrylamido-N-ethyl-2-(9-julolidinylethylidenyl)benzoxazolium p-toluene sulfonate (B) . A 90/5/3/2 mol percent polymer of methyl acrylate (C)/ methacrylic acid (E)/2-sulfoethyl methacrylate(sodium salt) (D)/5-acrylamido-N-ethyl-2-(4-dimethylaminophenylethylidenyl) benzoxazolium p-toluene sulfonate (A) is prepared by combining about 52 ml of C, 3 ml of E, 4 parts of D, 7 parts of A and 210 ml of dimethylsulfoxide in a 500 ml three-necked flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer and a condenser. An oil bath is used to heat the reaction mixture to 90 °C to dissolve the monomers, after which the temperature of the reaction mixture is maintained at 65 °C. After sparging the reaction mixture with argon for 20 minutes, 0.32 part of azobisisobutyronitrile (free radical polymerization initiator) is added. The reaction mixture is stirred at 65 °C overnight under argon with a slow continuous flow of argon through the solution. The resulting viscous polymer solution is allowed to stirring. While still stirring vigorously, a solution of 15 ml of surfactant I (C 9 H 19 -C 6 H 5 -O[CH 2 CH 2 ] n OH, Olin 10G) (TM) in 600 ml water is added to the polymer which is then dialyzed versus water for 4 hours. After the dialysis bags are changed, the polymer is dialyzed for 2 days versus water. 52 grams of the CEDA (90/5/3/2 mol percent) polymer (poly[methyl acrylate-co-methacrylic acid-co-2-sulfoethyl methacrylate, sodium salt-co-5-acrylamido-N-ethyl-2-(4-dimethylaminophenylethylidenyl)-benzoxazolium p-toluene sulfonate]) (2.9% solids red-orange opaque dispersion) are obtained. Additional polymeric dyes identified in Table 1 were prepared as described above. The polymeric dyes were then formulated into coating compositions for testing. For % stain and % wandering tests, 0.3 g of dye-polymers 1-3 were respectively dissolved in 43 ml of water and 0.09 g of surfactant I (0.9 ml of 10 surfactant I in water) was added. 1 g of gelatin was then added and dissolved at a temperature of 50 °C. 0.01 g of bis (vinylsulfonylmethyl)ether (BVSME) (0.5 ml of 2% BVSME in water) was added and the resulting solution was immediately extrusion coated onto a subbed polyethylene terephthalate film base 177,8 µm (0.007 in) thick to provide 1.08 g/m 2 gelatin, 0.323 g/m 2 dye-polymer, 0.097 g/m 2 surfactant, and 0.0108 g/m 2 BVSME. For % stain and % wandering tests, 0.2 g of dye-polymers 4-11 were respectively dissolved in 18 ml of water and warmed to 50 °C. 1g of gelatin was dissolved in about 10 ml water at a temperature of 50 °C and then combined with the dye polymer solution. 0.05 g of surfactant I (0.5 ml of 10% surfactant I in water) and 0.01 g of bis(vinylsulfonylmethyl)ether (BVSME) (0.5 ml of 2% BVSME in water) were added to the dye-polymer solution. The resulting solution was hand coated onto a subbed polyethylene terephthalate film base 177.8 µm (0.007 in) thick using a 152.4 µm (6 mil) knife at 38 °C (the coating block was kept at 38 °C while coating), then chill set and air dried for at least three days to provide 4842 mg/m 2 gelatin, 484 mg/m 2 dye-polymer, 247 mg/m 2 surfactant, and 48.4 mg/m 2 BVSME. For the speed loss test, polymers 1, 2, 4, 5, and 9 of Table 1 were machine coated on a polyethylene terephthalate support (0.007 in thick) in a separate filter layer. A silver halide emulsion layer for blue X-ray format is coated on the filter layer followed by a hardened gelatin overcoat. The filter layer contained a gelatin coverage of 1076 mg/m 2 and dye-polymer coverage of 323 mg/m 2 . The emulsion was coated at a coverage of 2152 mg/m 2 with 1506 mg/m 2 gelatin. Polymers 6 and 7 were coated as described above using green X-ray format. The coatings were exposed at 70 kVp, 32mAsm at a distance of 1.4 m. Filtration was with 3 Mm Al equivalent (1.25 inherent+1.75al); Halt Value Layer (HLV)-2.6 mm Al. A 26 step Al wedge was used, differing in thickness by 2 mm per step. The coatings were exposed with screens placed in contact with both sides of the film in the film holder during exposure. Blue X-ray coatings were exposed with simulated blue screen exposure. Over 90 of the exposure is produced by the fluorescent light and less than 10 by direct absorption of X-rays by the emulsion. Green X-ray coatings were exposed with simulated green screen exposure using a phosphor screen which emits low intensity green light with emission maximum wavelength at 550 nm. The exposed substrates were then developed, fixed, and washed at 35 °C allowing only 30 seconds for each step. The developer/replenisher contained 700 ml water, 15.8 ml strontium chloride hexahydrate, 8.8 mg lithium carbonate, 12.5 mg Lignosite 458 (TM) [Georgia Pacific]), 0.06 g of 5-methylbenzotri-azole, 8.85 g of sodium metabisulfite, 42.75 g of potassium hydroxide as a 45% solution, 0.56 g of boric anhydride 250 µm (60 mesh) (boron oxide), 4.74 g of anhydrous sodium carbonate, 3.75 g of anhydrous sodium bicarbonate, 10 g of diethylene glycol, 133.5 g of potassium sulfite (45% solution), 5.33 g of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid pentasodium salt (40% solution), 22 g of hydroquinone, 12.5 g of glacial acetic acid, 1.35 g of 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinone, 127 mg of 5-nitroindazole, 8.85 g of glutaraldehyde (50% solution), 3.45 g of sodium bromide, and sufficient water to make 1 liter at a pH at 27°C of 10 +/- 0.1. The fixer contained about 600 ml water, 20.7 g of glacial acetic acid, 4 g of sodium hydroxide (50% solution), 8.8 mg of anhydrous lithium carbonate, 15.8 mg of strontium chloride (hexahydrate), 238.8 g of ammonium thiosulfate (56.5% ammonium thiosulfate, 4% ammonium sulfite), 0.8 g of potassium iodide, 35.5 g of anhydrous sodium thiosulfate, 4.9 g of sodium metabisulfite, 3.23 g of sodium gluconate, 23.15 g of aluminum sulfate (25% solution), and sufficient water to make 1 liter at a pH at 27°C of 4.1 +/- 0.1. The coated substrates were then tested for % stain, which demonstrates bleachability, by measuring the optical density (O.D.) of the dye-polymer coating both before and after sulfite bleaching using a Perkin Elmer 330 spectrophotometer. The stain is calculated using the equation: (O.D. after processing/O.D. before processing) x 100. Polymer 2 provided only 0.06% stain; any value less than 1% is considered negligible. The % wandering data for the polymeric dyes of the invention contained in the coatings described above and given in the following Table demonstrates the immobility of the polymeric dyes of the invention. Initially, the optical density of the coatings was measured using a Perkin-Elmer 330 spectrophotometer. Then a separate gelatin coating was extrusion coated onto a polyethylene terephthalate film base 177.8 µm (0.007 in) thick to provide a coverage of 10.8 g/m 2 of gelatin and 161 mg/m 2 BVSME (hardener). The gelatin coating is then soaked in distilled water at room temperature for 2 minutes to allow the gelatin to swell. The dye-polymer coating and swollen gelatin coating were then laminated together by passing them together through a roller press. After exiting the roller press, the coatings were allow to remain in contact with each other at room temperature for 20 additional minutes. The coatings are then peeled apart and air dried. The optical density of the dye polymer coating is again measured and the % wandering is calculated using the equation: [1-(O.D. after lamination/O.D. before lamination)] x 100. Speed loss was determined for dye-polymers 1, 2, 4-7, and 9 as described for Examples 1-6 of U.S. Patent 4,900,652. Polymers 1, 2, 4, 5, and 9 contain Dye A and were coated in blue X-ray format and exposed with simulated blue screen exposure as described above. Polymers 6 and 7 contain Dye B, and were coated in green X-ray format and exposed using green X-ray coatings exposure as described in U.S. Patent 4,900,652. After the coatings were exposed, speed was measured for the dye-polymer in gelatin filter layer with an emulsion layer and speed was also measured for a gelatin only filter layer with an emulsion layer as a control. The difference in speed (speed of control minus speed of dye-polymer coating) was recorded as a speed loss in CR units where 1 CR = 0.01 Log E. A loss in speed indicates interlayer dye wandering. Polymer Dye Mol Ratio % Stain % Wandering Speed Loss (CR) 1. CDA 95/3/2 35 1 8(3) 2. CEDA 90/5/3/2 0.6 1 13(6) 3. CEDA 85/10/3/2 0 3 - 4. CEDA 68/25/5/2 - 14 21 5. CEFA* 68/25/5/2 0 5 16 6. CEFB 68/25/5/2 0 9 45 7. CEDB 69/25/5/2 0 8 72 8. GA 98/2 11 0 - 9. GFA 90/8/2 0 17 21 10. GB 98/2 8 3 - F = 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid, sodium salt. The test results for polymer dyes 2 and 3 illustrate rapid irreversible sulfite bleaching since gelatin coatings bleached during sulfite processing in less than 30 seconds as indicated by dye stain results of zero or less than 1. Further, the fact that the filter dye is immobilized in a gelatin coating by covalent attachment to the polymer is demonstrated by the wandering results which show that the dyes do not wander out of the filter layer, particularly for polymer dyes 2 and 3. Finally, the speed loss data confirms minimal wandering of polymer dye 2 from the filter layer, especially when the polymer-containing gelatin coating is hardened before coating another layer such as an emulsion layer. As the polymeric dye polymers of the invention become more hydrophilic and soluble in basic sulfite solution (increasing E and decreasing C), there is an increase in bleachability and an increase in wandering. The same is seen with the polymers containing G where increasing hydrophilicity (addition of F) increases bleachability and increases wandering. The new polymeric dyes of the invention are coatable with gelatin, irreversibly bleachable, and non-wandering, particularly in machine coatings prepared using blue X-ray format although such results are also observed in polymer dye containing coatings without an emulsion layer (not X-ray format). Most preferred are the CEDA polymeric dyes, particularly numbered 2. and 3. in the above Table. Both bleach (0 or less than 1% dye stain) during processing and show minimum wandering.

Claims: An irreversibly bleachable polymeric filter dye for photographic elements characterised in that the dye comprises (i) a polymer formed by polymerizing at least one monomer selected from methyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylate; and (ii) a benzoxazole styryl chromophore covalently bonded to said polymer, with the proviso that the polymer is free of phenolic groups. The polymeric dye of claim 1 wherein the benzoxazole styryl chromophore is covalently bonded to a copolymer of methyl acrylate, methacrylic acid, and sulfoethylmethacrylate. The polymeric dye of claim 1 or 2 containing from 2 to 5 mol percent of a covalently bonded benzoxazole styryl chromophore. The polymeric dye of claim 2 or 3 containing methyl acrylate (C)/methacrylic acid (E)/2-sulfoethyl methacrylate (sodium salt) (D)/ 5-acrylamido-N-ethyl-2-(4-dimethylamino- phenyl ethylidenyl) benzoxazolium p-toluene sulfonate (A) at mol ratios ranging from 75 to 92 (C), from 20 to 3 (E), from 3 to 10 (D), and from 2 to 5 (A). The polymeric dye of claim 4 containing mol ratios ranging from 85 to 90 (C), from 5 to 10 (E), 3 to 5 (D), and 2 (A). The polymeric dye of claim 5 containing (C), (E), (D), and (A) at mol ratios of 90/5/3/2. The polymeric dye of claim 5 containing (C), (E), (D), and (A) at mol ratios of 85/10/3/2. A filter layer for a light sensitive film containing a polymeric filter dye of any of claims 1-7. A photosensitive element containing a filter layer of claim 8. A photosensitive element of claim 9 which is an X-ray or light-sensitive photographic film.

Inventors: LINEHAN SHARON SKILINS, LINEHAN, SHARON SKILINS, Linehan, Sharon Skilins, c/o EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Applicants: EASTMAN KODAK CO, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G03C1
IPC codes: G03C1