Method for processing roomlight handleable radiographic films using two-stage development

Abstract: Black-and-white elements, such as radiographic films, can be processed in roomlight because they include certain light absorbing dyes and desensitizers. Processing is carried out by processing the exposed element using a processing kit and a two-stage process in the same light- and fluid-tight processing container. In the first stage, development is initiated with a developing composition having a pH of from 10 to 12.5, and comprising an appropriate black-and-white developing agent in a concentration of from 0.1 to 0.5 mol/l, and a sulfite at from 0.25 to 0.7 mol/l. After an appropriate time, a fixing agent (other than a sulfite) is introduced into the processing container to provide a combined developing/fixing compositions, and development and fixing are carried out simultaneously. The processing method is carried out quickly, usually within 90 seconds, including a washing step at the end. The presence of sulfite and high pH in both stages decolorize or deactivate the particulate dyes. A processing kit includes a photographic element, and two or more of a developing composition, a fixing composition, and a suitable light- and fluid-tight processing container.

Description: This invention relates in general to photography and in particular to an improved method for processing roomlight handleable, black-and-white photographic elements. More particularly, it relates to a method of processing roomlight handleable black-and-white radiographic films using a two-stage development and development/fixing sequence of steps. Roentgen discovered X-radiation by the inadvertent exposure of a silver halide photographic element. In 1913, Eastman Kodak Company introduced its first product specifically intended to be exposed by X-radiation (X-rays). Silver halide radiographic films account for the overwhelming majority of medical diagnostic images. It was recognized almost immediately that the high energy ionizing X-rays are potentially harmful, and ways were sought to avoid high levels of patient exposure. Radiographic films provide viewable silver images upon imagewise exposure followed by rapid access processing. One approach, still in wide-spread use is to coat the silver halide emulsions useful in radiographic films on both sides of the film support. Thus, the number of X-rays that can be absorbed and used for imaging are doubled, providing higher sensitivity. Dual-coated radiographic films are sold by Eastman Kodak Company as DUPLITIZED films. Films that rely entirely upon X-radiation absorption for image capture are referred to in the art as "direct" radiographic films while those that rely on intensifying screen light emission are referred to as "indirect" radiographic films. Because the silver halide emulsions are used to capture the X-rays directly, the coating coverages of such emulsions are generally higher than in other radiographic elements. In addition to the two broad categories noted above, there is a third category of radiographic films, most commonly used for dental intra-oral diagnostic imaging and hereafter referred to as dental films. Intra-oral dental imaging presents obvious barriers to the use of intensifying screens. Thus, dental films utilize the coated silver halide to absorb X-rays, and are therefore a form of "direct" radiographic films. There are other applications for direct radiographic films, such as in various industrial applications where X-rays are captured in imaging, but intensifying screens cannot be used for some reason. US-A-5,370,977 describes dental films having improved characteristics and containing certain tabular grain silver halide emulsions. No spectral sensitization is used in such dental films, but in order to avoid fogging the films with inadvertent light exposure, the emulsions contain what is identified as a "desensitizer" that reduces emulsion sensitivity to light. Conventional processing solutions and conditions are described for these dental films. Other desensitizing compounds for radiographic films are described in US-A-3,630,744 for reducing film sensitivity to roomlight and UV radiation. Conventional processing of these films is also described. In the section on monobaths of the book "Developing" by C.I. Jacobson and R.E. Jacobson published in January 1980 by Focal Press in London, GB it is stated that a quickly acting developer is necessary, so that the development is finished before fixation starts. It is the prevailing practice to process direct radiographic films for more than 3 minutes because of higher silver coverage. Such processes typically include black-and-white development, fixing, washing and drying. Films processed in this manner are then ready for viewing. Photographic developing solutions containing a silver halide developing agent are well known in the photographic art for reducing silver halide grains containing a latent image to yield a developed photographic image. Many useful developing agents are known in the art, with hydroquinone and similar dihydroxybenzene compounds and ascorbic acid (and derivatives) being some of the most common. Such solutions generally contain other components such as sulfites as antioxidants, buffers, antifoggants, halides and hardeners. A workable pH for such solutions is usually in the range of from 10 to 11, depending upon the developing agent and other solution components. Fixing solutions for radiographic films are also well known and include one or more fixing agents, of which thiosulfates are most common. Such solutions also generally include sulfites as antioxidants, and hardeners (such as aluminum salts), and a buffer (such as acetate), and have a functional pH range of from 4 to 5.5. "Monobath" solutions are also known in the art of photographic chemical processing. Such solutions generally require long processing times and contain chemical components common to black-and-white developing and fixing solutions. They also typically have an alkaline pH and contain a sulfite. Double-coated indirect radiographic elements described in US-A-4,803,150 contain certain microcrystalline particulate dyes that reduce "crossover". These elements are designed for use with intensifying screens. Crossover occurs when some light emitted by the screen passes through the film support and exposes silver halide grains on the opposite side, resulting in reduced image sharpness. The noted particulate dyes absorb unwanted actinic radiation, but are decolorized during conventional processing. Thus, a pH 10 developing solution is described for its conventional use as well as to decolorize the dyes within 90 seconds. Conventional fixing and washing follow. Using conventional processing technology, such particulate dyes that allow roomlight handling would be rendered ineffective, since the development step is carried out at high pH in the presence of a sulfite. Thus, in a conventional multi-step process, the processed films cannot be handled in roomlight between the developing and fixing steps. Conventional "monobath" solutions do not allow for sufficient development since both exposed and unexposed silver halide is indiscriminately removed by the fixing agents, especially at the long processing times employed with these solutions. Direct radiographic films, including dental films, thus have some sensitivity to roomlight and UV as well as X-rays, and therefore care must be taken to avoid inadvertent room-light exposure before and during processing. There has been a desire for radiographic films that are less sensitive to roomlight, and that can be handled and processed without the need for a darkroom or other special conditions. Such films would have a number of useful applications, such as dental and industrial imaging. However, conventional processing solutions and methods cannot be used to provide suitable radiographic images in such films. US-A-5,866,309 (Fitterman et al.), describes the use of separate developing and fixing compositions for processing roomlight handleable films, including radiographic dental films in sequential processing steps. While those compositions represent an advance in the art, they must be separately balanced in pH in relation to each other so that the light protecting dyes and desensitizers are not deactivated prematurely. Using current processing technology, the dyes that allow roomlight handling would be rendered ineffective, since the development step is carried out at a high pH in the presence of sulfite ions. Thus, in a conventional multi-step process, the films could be handled in roomlight between the development and fixing steps. Conventional monobath processing solutions do not allow for sufficient development, since exposed and unexposed silver halide is indiscriminately removed by fixing agents, especially at the long processing times employed using those solutions. Therefore, to employ the noted particulate dyes in a roomlight process, a technology is needed that could control diffusion and deactivation of the dyes, but not interfere substantially with film processing. The present invention provides an advance in the art over known processing methods with a method for providing a black-and-white image comprising: A) processing an imagewise exposed black-and-white photographic silver halide element for 5 to 20 seconds with a black-and-white developing composition in a processing container, the black-and-white developing composition having a pH of from 10 to 12.5, and comprising: from 0.1 to 0.5 mol/l of a black-and-white developing agent, and from 0.25 to 0.7 mol/l of a sulfite, and B) within 10 to 20 seconds after the beginning of step A, introducing into the processing container, from 0.2 to 4 mol/1 of a fixing agent other than a sulfite, and continuing processing for up to 40 additional seconds, so that the total time for the method is less than 90 seconds, the element comprising a support having thereon one or more layers, at least one of the layers being a silver halide emulsion layer, the element further comprising: in one of the layers, a microcrystalline particulate dye that absorbs electromagnetic radiation in the visible and UV portions of the spectrum and is decolorized during step B, and in each silver halide emulsion layer, a desensitizer that reduces sensitivity of the silver halide emulsion layer to electromagnetic radiation in the visible portion of the spectrum by trapping electrons generated by exposure to that electromagnetic radiation. In preferred embodiments of the method, the developing composition has a pH of from 11 to 12, and comprises: from 0.25 to 0.4 mol/1 of the black-and-white developing agent, from 2 to 10 mmol/1 of a co-developing agent, and from 0.4 to 0.6 mol/1 of the sulfite, within 10 to 20 seconds of the beginning of step A, introducing into the processing container, from 1.5 to 3 mol/1 of a fixing agent that is a thiosulfate, thiocyanate or mixture thereof, and continuing processing for an additional time of from 20 to 40 seconds, and washing the element with a wash solution having a pH of less than 7, the method requiring a total of less than 75 seconds, the element comprising at least one silver halide emulsion layer comprising tabular grains comprising at least 85 mol % silver bromide, and an overcoat layer over each emulsion layer, and the element further comprising on each side of the support from 0.7 to 1.5 g/m 2 of a particulate nonionic polymethine dye, and from 1.7 to 3 mg/m 2 of an azomethine desensitizer. The present invention provides a means for quickly processing radiographic elements in roomlight in a single light-tight and fluid-tight processing apparatus. Such films and processing would find considerable advantage for dental applications as well as some industrial uses. In preferred embodiments, the elements are direct radiographic films having a silver halide emulsion layer on both sides of the film support. The films are processed using a unique two-stage development process in the darkened or light-tight processing container so that solely development is carried out in the first stage for up to 20 seconds, but upon addition of a suitable fixing agent (other than a sulfite) to the developing composition, development is continued simultaneously with fixing in a second stage for up to 40 seconds. Sulfite present in both stages at high pH also decolorizes the particulate dyes in the processed films. Decolorization is completed in the second stage. Thus, both stages are carried out in the same light-tight processing container, providing a simplified process, and avoiding the need for separate development, fixing, dye-bleaching and dye removal steps in separate containers or baths. The films can still be processed in normal roomlight in the light-tight container since they would not be exposed to light until after the protective dyes are decolorized. By allowing development to be initiated in the first stage prior to fixing, better sensitometric results can be obtained compared to the use of conventional monobath solutions. Moreover, separate fixing agents are not needed to decolorize the particulate dyes. These advantages are achieved by a unique combination of processed element composition and two-stage processing compositions, including a unique development/fixing "monobath" composition used in the second stage. First of all, the processed element contains a particulate dye that is sensitive to visible and UV radiation, but not to X-rays. These dyes enable roomlight handleability, but they are then decolorized during processing in the first and second stages because of the presence of the fixing agent. In addition, further light protection is provided in the element by the presence of a silver halide desensitizer to trap electrons released by photo-exposure, but which dyes obviously are not affected by X-rays. The second stage combined developing/fixing composition is designed with pH and sulfite levels to complete deactivation or decolorization of the particulate dye while both development and silver removal occur. Thus, the solutions used in the two stages must have pH within a specific range, and comprise specific levels of black-and-white developing agent, fixing agent and sulfite antioxidant to achieve all of the desired results. In preferred embodiments, an acidic final washing solution is used after the combined development and fixing step to stop further development and to remove fixing agent. The light- and fluid-tight processing apparatus can be of any suitable size or design that can accommodate the element to be processed and the appropriate volumes of both processing composition(s). It must have a light-tight inlet through which the fixing composition can be introduced during the second stage of the processing method without exposing the processing solution element and solution therein to light. FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic illustration of a light- and fluid-tight processing apparatus useful in the present invention. The present invention is useful for providing a black-and-white image in a photographic silver halide element, and preferably a radiographic film (such as a dental film). Other elements that can be processed or included in the processing kit include, but are not limited to, aerial films, black-and-white motion picture films, duplicating and copy films, and amateur and professional continuous tone black-and-white films. The composition of such materials are well known in the art but the specific features that make them roomlight handleable are described below in more detail. The aqueous black-and-white developing composition useful in the practice of this invention contains one or more black-and-white developing agents, including dihydroxybenzene and derivatives thereof, and ascorbic acid and derivatives thereof. Dihydroxybenzene and similar developing agents include hydroquinone and other derivatives readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Hydroquinone is preferred. Ascorbic acid developing agents are described in a considerable number of publications in photographic processes, including US-A-5,236,816 and references cited therein. Useful ascorbic acid developing agents include ascorbic acid and the analogues, isomers and derivatives thereof. Such compounds include, but are not limited to, D- or L-ascorbic acid, sugar-type derivatives thereof (such as sorboascorbic acid, γ-lactoascorbic acid, 6-desoxy-L-ascorbic acid, L-rhamnoascorbic acid, imino-6-desoxy-L-ascorbic acid, glucoascorbic acid, fucoascorbic acid, glucoheptoascorbic acid, maltoascorbic acid, L-arabosascorbic acid), sodium ascorbate, potassium ascorbate, isoascorbic acid (or L-erythroascorbic acid), and salts thereof (such as alkali metal, ammonium or others known in the art), endiol type ascorbic acid, an enaminol type ascorbic acid, a thioenol type ascorbic acid, and an enamin-thiol type ascorbic acid, as described for example in US-A-5,498,511, EP-A-0 585,792, EP-A-0 573 700, EP-A-0 588 408, WO 95/00881, US-A-5,089,819 and US-A-5,278,035, US-A-5,384,232, US-A-5,376,510, Japanese Kokai 7-56286, US-A-2,688,549, US-A-5,236,816 and Research Disclosure, publication 37152, March 1995. D-, L-, or D,L-ascorbic acid (and alkali metal salts thereof) or isoascorbic acid (or alkali metal salts thereof) are preferred. Sodium ascorbate and sodium isoascorbate are most preferred. Mixtures of these developing agents can be used if desired. The developing composition can also preferably include one or more auxiliary co-developing agents, which are also well known (for example, Mason, Photographic Processing Chemistry, Focal Press, London, 1975). Any auxiliary developing agent can be used, but the 3-pyrazolidone developing agents are preferred (also known as "phenidone" type developing agents). Such compounds are described, for example, in US-A-5,236,816. The most commonly used compounds of this class are 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 4-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, 5-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1- p -aminophenyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1- p -tolyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-pyrazolidone, 1- p -tolyl-4-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-3-pyrazolidone, and 1-phenyl-4,4-dihydroxymethyl-3-pyrazolidone. Other useful co-developing agents comprise one or more solubilizing groups, such as sulfo, carboxy or hydroxy groups attached to aliphatic chains or aromatic rings, and preferably attached to the hydroxymethyl function of a pyrazolidone. A most preferred co-developing agent is 4-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone. Less preferred auxiliary co-developing agents include aminophenols such as p -aminophenol, o -aminophenol, N-methylaminophenol, 2,4-diaminophenol hydrochloride, N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)glycine, p -benzylaminophenol hydrochloride, 2,4-diamino-6-methylphenol, 2,4-diaminoresorcinol and N-(β-hydroxyethyl)- p -aminophenol. A mixture of different types of auxiliary developing agents can also be used if desired. An organic antifoggant is also preferably in the developing composition, either singly or in admixture. Such compounds control the gross fog appearance in the processed elements. Suitable antifoggants include, but are not limited to, benzimidazoles, benzotriazoles, mercaptotetrazoles, indazoles and mercaptothiadiazoles. Representative antifoggants include 5-nitroindazole, 5- p -nitrobenzoylaminoimidazole, 1-methyl-5-nitroindazole, 6-nitroindazole, 3-methyl-5-nitroindazole, 5-nitrobenzimidazole, 2-isopropyl-5-nitrobenzimidazole, 5-nitrobenzotriazole, sodium 4-(2-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl-thio)butanesulfonate, 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-thiol, 5-methylbenzotriazole, benzotriazole and 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole. Benzotriazole is most preferred. The developing composition also includes one or more sulfite preservatives or antioxidants. A "sulfite" preservative is used herein to mean any sulfur compound that is capable of forming or providing sulfite ions in aqueous alkaline solution. Examples include, but are not limited to, alkali metal sulfites, alkali metal bisulfites, alkali metal metabisulfites, amine sulfur dioxide complexes, sulfurous acid and carbonyl-bisulfite adducts. Mixtures of these materials can also be used. Examples of preferred sulfites include sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, lithium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, potassium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite, potassium metabisulfite and lithium metabisulfite. Useful carbonyl-bisulfite adducts include alkali metal or amine bisulfite adducts of aldehydes and bisulfite adducts of ketones, such as sodium formaldehyde bisulfite, sodium acetaldehyde bisulfite, succinaldehyde bis-sodium bisulfite, sodium acetone bisulfite, β-methyl glutaraldehyde bis-sodium bisulfite, sodium butanone bisulfite, and 2,4-pentandione bis-sodium bisulfite. Various known buffers, such as carbonates and phosphates, can be included in the developing composition to maintain the desired pH to from 10 to 12.5, if desired. The pH of the developing composition is preferably from 10.5 to 12, and more preferably from 11 to 12. When the fixing agent is added (see below), the pH may drop slightly. In the second stage of the process, a fixing agent is added to the developing composition to form the combined developing/fixing composition. While sulfite ion sometimes acts as a fixing agent, the fixing agents used in the second stage are different from sulfites. Useful fixing agents include thiosulfates (including sodium thiosulfate, ammonium thiosulfate, potassium thiosulfate and others readily known in the art), mercapto-substituted compounds (such as those described by Haist, Modern Photographic Processing, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y., 1979), thiocyanates (such as sodium thiocyanate, potassium thiocyanate, ammonium thiocyanate and other readily known in the art), and amines. Mixtures of one or more of these classes of fixing agents can be used if desired. Thiosulfates and thiocyanates are preferred. In a more preferred embodiment, a mixture of a thiocyanate (such as sodium thiocyanate) and a thiosulfate (such as sodium thiosulfate) is used. In such mixtures, the molar ratio of a thiosulfate to a thiocyanate is from 1:1 to 1:10, and preferably from 1:1 to 1:2. The sodium salt fixing agents are preferred for environmental advantages. This combined composition then also contains one or more black-and-white developing agents and sulfites, and preferably in addition, one or more co-developing agents, and one or more antifoggants, as described above. It is optional for the developing and combined developing/fixing compositions to contain one or more sequestering agents that typically function to form stable complexes with free metal ions (such as silver ions) in solution. Many useful sequestering agents are known in the art, but particularly useful classes of compounds include, but are not limited to, multimeric carboxylic acids as described in US-A-5,389,502, aminopolycarboxylic acids, polyphosphate ligands, ketocarboxylic acids, and alkanolamines. Representative sequestering agents include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, 1,3-propylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 1,3-diamino-2-propanoltetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminodisuccinic acid and ethylenediaminomonosuccinic acid. The compositions can also contain other additives including various development restrainers, development accelerators, fixing accelerators, swelling control agents and stabilizing agents, each in conventional amounts. Examples of such optional components are described in US-A-5,236,816, US-A-5,474,879, Japanese Kokai 7-56286 and EP-A-0 585 792. The essential and some optional components described above are present in the aqueous developing composition in the general and preferred amounts listed in Table I, all amounts being approximate. The amounts of each component in the combined developing/fixing composition are shown in the Table I in parentheses (). If formulated in dry form, the developing composition would have the essential components in amounts readily apparent to one skilled in the art suitable to provide the desired aqueous concentrations. Component General Amount Preferred Amount Developing agent 0.1 to 0.5 mol/l (0.09 to 0.3 mol/l) 0.25 to 0.4 mol/l (0.12 to 0.25 mol/l) Co-developing agent 2 to 40 mmol/l (2 to 24 mmol/l) 2 to 10 mmol/l (2 to 8 mmol/l) Antifoggant 0 to 2 mmol/l (0 to 0.5 mmol/l) 0.1 to 1 mmol/l (0.1 to 0.5 mmol/l) Sulfite antioxidant 0.25 to 0.7 mol/l (0.1 to 0.4 mol/l) 0.4 to 0.6 mol/l (0.2 to 0.4 mol/l) Fixing agent(s) other than sulfite 0 (0.2 to 4 mol/l) 0 (1.5 to 3 mol/l) The developing composition useful in this invention is prepared by dissolving the components in water and adjusting the pH to the desired value using acids or buffers. The composition can also be provided in concentrated form, and diluted to working strength just before use, or during use. The components of the composition can also be provided in a kit of two or more parts to be combined and diluted with water to the desired strength and placed in the processing equipment. The composition can be used as its own replenisher, or another similar composition can be used as the replenisher. After the first stage of development, the fixing agent(s) and any other components are dissolved in or added to the aqueous developing composition already in the processing container, in either aqueous or dry form. Processing can be carried out in any suitable processor for a given type of photographic element. For example, for radiographic films, the method can be carried out using the processor described in US-A-3,545,971. Dental films can be processed in the conventional equipment used for that purpose. The processor has a container or vessel for carrying out both stages of development and development/fixing. Preferably, the processing apparatus can be a container having a single processing chamber for holding the element(s) and processing compositions for a suitable processing time. One such example would be a light- and fluid-tight cup or beaker. The processing apparatus must be completely light-tight so processing in both stages can occur in the dark, and it must fluid-tight so that if agitation is applied (either internally or externally), no fluid will leak out. Yet, the apparatus must be designed so that the processing fluids and/or elements can be readily removed when processing is completed (for example by draining or pouring out the fluid). The elements can be introduced into the processing apparatus in any suitable manner. To introduce the fixing composition during the second stage of processing, however, requires that the processing apparatus have a suitable light-tight inlet through which such introduction can be made, such as by pouring, injection, pumping, pipetting, and any other means readily apparent to one skilled in the art. This inlet allows fluid to be introduced, but would also prevent leaks from occurring if the processing composition(s) are agitated. One embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 wherein apparatus 10 having inside processing chamber 20 , flap 22 that opens and closes, allowing access to processing chamber 20 (for example to insert a photographic element and to introduce the developing composition), and inlet 24 for introducing a fluid into the apparatus. In one embodiment, when flap 22 is closed, inlet 24 can comprise a light- and fluid-tight rubber gasket through which a syringe needle can be inserted for introducing processing composition into processing chamber 20 . In another embodiment, an apparatus can be used in combination with a tube for delivering solutions, the tube having 2 right angles inside the apparatus. Thus, the processing apparatus can be a simple hand-held processing container or cup, or a more complicated processing machine or article that includes a processing chamber, fluid delivery systems, pumps, instrumentation and other conventional features. The various components of the processing kit, that is, the photographic element(s), developing and fixing compositions, processing apparatus, and wash solution, can be packaged in any suitable manner, along with instructions, fluid metering devices or any other optional components that may be desirable. The fluid or solid compositions can be packaged in glass or plastic bottles, impermeable packets or vials. The photographic elements are typically packaged as ready-to-use film samples, such as dental packets or "chips". Generally, the processed element is bathed in the processing compositions in the processing apparatus for a suitable period of time during each stage. In most instances, the processed element is a film sheet, but it can also be a continuous element. Each element is bathed in the processing compositions for a suitable period of time during each stage. Development/fixing is preferably, but not essentially, followed by a suitable acidic washing step to stop development, to remove silver salts dissolved by fixing and excess fixing agents, and to reduce swelling in the element. The wash solution can be water, but preferably it is acidic, that is the pH is from 4.5 to 7, as provided by a suitable chemical acid or buffer. After washing, the processed elements may be dried for suitable times and temperatures, but in some instances the black-and-white image may be viewed in a wet condition. Processing times and conditions for the invention are listed in the following Table II. The total time for the entire processing method can be as low as 35 seconds, and preferably as low as 50 seconds, and as high as 90 seconds, and preferably, as high as 75 seconds. PROCESSING STEP TEMPERATURE (° C) TIME (sec) Development (first stage) 15-30 5-20 Development/fixing (second stage) 15-30 10-40 Washing 15-30 5-30 The elements processed using the present invention are composed of a conventional flexible, transparent film support (polyester, cellulose acetate or polycarbonate) that has applied to each side one or more photographic silver halide emulsion layers. For radiographic films, it is conventional to use blue-tinted support materials to contribute to the blue-black image tone sought in fully processed films. Polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate are preferred film supports. In general, such elements, emulsions, and layer compositions are described in many publications, including Research Disclosure, publication 36544, September 1994. Research Disclosure is a publication of Kenneth Mason Publications, Ltd., Dudley House, 12 North Street, Emsworth, Hampshire PO10 7DQ England. Preferred silver halide emulsions include silver bromide and silver bromoiodide (having up to 15 mol % silver iodide). Preferred silver halide emulsions include forehardened tabular grain emulsions as described, for example, in US-A-4,414,304. These emulsions typically have thin tabular grains of predominantly silver bromide and up to 15 mol % silver iodide, an average thickness of less than 0.3 µm, and preferably, up to 3 mol % silver iodide and less than 0.2 µm. The grains are usually dispersed in forehardened colloids, such as forehardened gelatin (using a conventional hardener). The emulsions also contain conventional addenda for providing desired coating and sensitometric properties, including but not limited to, sensitizing dyes, infrared opacifying dyes, stabilizers, antifoggants, antikinking agents, surfactants, latent-image stabilizers and other materials known in the art. In some embodiments, the radiographic films processed according to this invention can also include a thiaalkylene bis(quaternary ammonium) salt in at least one layer, to increase imaging speed by acting as development accelerators. Such elements are described in more detail in US-A-5,652,086. The silver halide emulsion and other layers in the elements contain conventional hydrophilic colloid vehicles (with or without peptizers or other binders), typically gelatin or gelatin derivatives. Various synthetic polymer peptizers or binders can also be used alone or in combination with gelatin or gelatin derivatives. Each element has one or more silver halide emulsion layers on each side of the support, and the layers on each side have the same silver halide compositions. Thus, the silver halides in the layers can be the same or different. In one embodiment, the radiographic films have two silver halide emulsion layers on both sides of the support, with the layers closest the support containing solely silver bromide grains. The silver coverage on each or both sides of the support can be the same or different. Generally, the total silver coverage on each side is at least 5 g Ag/m 2 , and preferably at least 15 g Ag/m 2 . Each side of the element can also include a protective overcoat, or only one side can have an overcoat layer, such a layer containing a hydrophilic colloid material and optionally any other addenda commonly (such as matting agents) used to modify the surface characteristics. The coating coverage of such layers is generally at 0.6 g/m 2 of protective colloid, such as a gelatin. Conventional subbing layers can also be included to adhere the silver halide emulsion layers to the support. Other layers, such as interlayers, may be present in the element for conventional purposes, such as providing adhesion. Preferred elements contain an overcoat layer on at least one side of the support. The total thickness of the coated layers on either or both sides of the elements can be at least 3 µm, and preferably at least 4 µm. The thickness is generally less than 7 µm, and preferably less than 6 µm. As noted above, the elements processed using this invention contain one or more particulate dyes and one or more desensitizers to provide roomlight handleability. Such materials are thus useful if they absorb all incident electromagnetic radiation at from 350 to 700 nm. Advantageously, the elements contain one or more particulate dyes described above that absorb electromagnetic radiation in the visible and UV regions of the spectrum. These dyes are usually placed in the overcoat layer(s), but they can be in more than one location as long as they are readily decomposed during fixing. Such particulate dyes generally have a size to facilitate coating and rapid decolorization during processing. In general, the smaller particles are best for these purposes, that is those having a mean diameter of less than 10 µm, and preferably less than 1 µm. The particulate dyes are most conveniently formed by crystallization from solution in sizes ranging down to 0.01 µm or less. Conventional techniques can be used to prepare dyes of the desired size, including ball milling, roller milling and sand milling. An important criterion is that such dyes remain in particulate form in hydrophilic colloid layers of photographic elements. Various hydrophilic colloids can be used, as would be appreciated by a skilled worker in the art, including those mentioned herein for various layers. Where the particulate dyes are placed in overcoat layers, the particulate dyes are generally the only component besides the binder material. Classes of useful particulate dyes include, but are not limited to, nonionic classes of compounds such as nonionic polymethine dyes, which include the merocyanine, oxonol, hemioxonol, styryl and arylidene dyes. Anionic dyes of the cyanine class may also be useful as long as they have the desired coatability properties (soluble at pH 5 to 6 and 40 °C) and remain in particulate form after coating. Some useful particulate dyes are described, for example, in US-A-4,803,150. The useful amount of particulate dye in the elements is at least 0.5 g/m 2 on each side of the support, and preferably at least 0.7 g/m 2 . Generally, the upper limit of such materials is 2 g/m 2 , and preferably, less than 1.5 g/m 2 is used. Mixtures of particulate dyes can be used in one or more layers of the element. The elements processed according to this invention also include one or more "desensitizers" in a silver halide emulsion layer(s) in order to provide additional visible and UV light protection. Conventional desensitizers can be used, as are known in photography and radiography. Various desensitizers are described, for example, in Research Disclosure, Vol. 308, December 1989, publication 308119, Section III. Classes of such compounds include azomethine dyes (such as those described in US-A-3,630,744. Generally, the amount of desensitizer relative to the amount of silver halide in the element is adapted according to the particular silver halide emulsion used in the element, the particular desensitizer used, the ratio of gelatin or other colloid binder to silver halide, other components of the emulsions, and the procedure for preparing the emulsions. All of these factors would be well known to one skilled as a maker of silver halide emulsions. Thus, the amount should be effective to provide for a reduction in visible and UV light sensitivity, but no reduction in sensitivity to X-radiation. More particularly, the useful amount of desensitizer in the elements is at least 1.5 mg/m 2 on each side of the support, and preferably at least 1.7 mg/m 2 . Generally, the upper limit of such materials is 4 mg/m 2 , and preferably, less than 3 mg/m 2 is used. Mixtures of desensitizers can be used in one or more layers of the element. The following example is provided for illustrative purposes, and not to be limiting in any manner. Materials and Methods for Examples: Radiographic Film A was prepared having the following layer arrangement and composition: Overcoat Layer Gelatin 1.35 g/m 2 Dye I 0.48 g/m 2 Dye II 0.16 g/m 2 Emulsion Layer AgBr Emulsion (tabular grains 1.3 µm by 0.13 µm) 7.56 g Ag/m 2 Gelatin 4.92 g/m 2 Dye I 0.16 g/m 2 Dye II 0.11 g/m 2 6-chloro-4-nitrobenzotriazole 2.1 mg/m 2 Support Polyethylene terephthalate Emulsion Layer AgBr Emulsion (tabular grains 1.3 µm by 0.13 µm, average) 7.56 g Ag/m 2 Gelatin 4.92 g/m 2 Dye I 0.16 g/m 2 Dye II 0.11 g/m 2 6-chloro-4-nitrobenzotriazole 2.1 mg/m 2 Overcoat Layer Gelatin 1.35 g/m 2 Dye I 0.48 g/m 2 Dye II 0.16 g/m 2 Radiographic Film B was like Radiographic Film A except that the silver halide tabular grains were 2.0 µm by 0.13 µm (average) in size. Example: The following black-and-white processing compositions I-V in Table III were prepared and used in the methods described below. Compositions I and IV were solely developing compositions, Composition II was solely a fixing composition, and Compositions III and V were combined developing/fixing compositions. COMPONENT I(mmol/l) II (mmol/l) III (mmol/l) IV (mmol/l) V (mmol/l) Sodium sulfite 510 150 400 530 270 Benzotriazole 0 0 1.6 0 0 4-Hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone 0.48 0 1.2 0.48 0.24 Hydroquinone 360 0 230 360 180 5-Methylbenzotriazole 450 0 0 450 220 Sodium thiocyanate 0 4070 920 0 2000 Sodium thiosulfate 0 720 470 0 380 pH 12.3 5.2 11.0 12.3 11.8 Radiographic films A-C described above exposed to roomlight (500 Lux fluorescent lighting) for 60 seconds, and hand processed using the various processing compositions noted above at room temperature and in roomlight using the following processing protocol. The washing solution was an aqueous solution buffered to a pH of 4.5. Processing was carried out in a fluid- and light-tight beaker completely shielded from light with black tape. A black hose was inserted into the beaker in a manner so as to prevent exposure of the film and solution to light. This hose was used to introduce the fixing composition at the appropriate time. The films were then evaluated for various sensitometric properties using conventional sensitometry. The processing protocol and results are shown in the following Table IV. FILM COMPOSITIONS DEVELOPMENT TIME (1st Stage, seconds) FIXING TIME (seconds) 2nd STAGE (seconds) SPEED DYNAMIC RANGE A I and II 20 40 0 227 2.46 A III 0 0 60 200 1.32 A IV and V 20 0 40 243 3.24 B I and II 20 40 0 249 3.21 B III 0 0 60 159 0.55 B IV and V 20 0 40 241 3.30 "Speed" and "Dynamic Range" have conventional meanings. The results in Table IV indicate that it is possible to rapidly process radiographic films under roomlight conditions in a simple two-stage process (using Compositions IV and V). The sensitometric results are comparable to the conventional methods using separate two steps of development and fixing (using Compositions I and II). Moreover the invention provided an improvement in speed and dynamic range over the use of a conventional "monobath" solution (Composition III).

Claims: A method for providing a black-and-white image comprising: A) processing an imagewise exposed black-and-white photographic silver halide element for 5 to 20 seconds with an aqueous black-and-white developing composition in a processing container, the developing composition having a pH of from 10 to 12.5, and comprising from 0.1 to 0.5 mol/l of a black-and-white developing agent and from 0.25 to 0.7 of a sulfite, B) within 10 to 20 seconds of the beginning of step A, introducing into the processing container, from 0.2 to 4 mol/l of a fixing agent other than a sulfite, and continuing processing for up to 40 seconds, so that the total time for the method is less than 90 seconds, the element comprising a support having thereon one or more layers, at least one of the layers being a silver halide emulsion layer, the element further comprising: in one of the layers, a microcrystalline particulate dye that absorbs electromagnetic radiation in the visible and UV portions of the spectrum and is decolorized during step B, and in each silver halide emulsion layer, a desensitizer that reduces sensitivity of the silver halide emulsion layer to electromagnetic radiation in the visible portion of the spectrum by trapping electrons generated by exposure to that electromagnetic radiation. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing container is a light-tight and fluid-tight processing apparatus. The method as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 wherein the photographic element is a radiographic element having a film support and a silver halide emulsion layer on both sides of the support. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the particulate dye is a nonionic polymethine dye, that is present in the element in an amount of from 0.5 to 2 g/m 2 . The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the desensitizer is an azomethine dye, that is present in the element in an amount of from 1.5 to 4 mg/m 2 . The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the element comprises on each side of the support, a silver halide emulsion layer comprising forehardened silver halide tabular grains comprising at least 85 mol % silver bromide. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 that is carried out within 75 seconds. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the element further comprises an overcoat layer on both sides of the support, and the particulate dye is located in at least one of the overcoat layers. The method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the developing composition has a pH of from 11 to 12, and comprises: from 0.25 to 0.4 mol/l of the black-and-white developing agent, from 2 to 10 mmol/l of a co-developing agent, and from 0.4 to 0.6 mol/l of the sulfite, within 10 to 20 seconds of the beginning of step A, introducing into the processing container, from 1.5 to 3 mol/l of a fixing agent that is a thiosulfate, thiocyanate or mixture thereof, and continuing processing for an additional time of from 20 to 40 seconds, and washing the element with a wash solution having a pH of less than 7, the method requiring a total of less than 75 seconds, the element comprising at least one silver halide emulsion layer comprising tabular grains comprising at least 85 mol % silver bromide, and an overcoat layer over each emulsion layer, and the element further comprising on each side of the support from 0.7 to 1.5 g/m 2 of a particulate nonionic polymethine dye, and from 1.7 to 3 mg/m 2 of an azomethine desensitizer. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the particulate dye is located in both of the overcoat layers, and the desensitizer is located in each of the silver halide emulsion layers. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 wherein the black-and-white developing agent is hydroquinone or ascorbic acid, the sulfite is potassium or sodium sulfite, and the developing composition further comprises 4-hydroxymethyl-4-methyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone as a co-developing agent, and benzotriazole as an antifoggant, and a mixture of sodium thiocyanate and sodium thiosulfate are introduced to the processing container as fixing agents in step B.

Inventors: BAUGHER JEFFREY SCOTT, DICKERSON ROBERT EDWARD, FITTERMAN ALAN SCHAEL, KELCH PETER J, PERRY RONALD J, BAUGHER, JEFFREY SCOTT, DICKERSON, ROBERT EDWARD, FITTERMAN, ALAN SCHAEL, KELCH, PETER J., PERRY, RONALD J., Baugher, Jeffrey Scott, Eastman Kodak Company, Dickerson, Robert Edward, Eastman Kodak Company, Fitterman, Alan Schael, Eastman Kodak Company, Kelch, Peter J., Eastman Kodak Company, Perry, Ronald J., Eastman Kodak Company
Applicants: EASTMAN KODAK CO, EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G03C5
IPC codes: G03D13, G03C1, G03C5, G03D3