Inventors:
Eugene H. Barbee - Rochester NY
Kathleen A. Bonsignore - Rochester NY
Wilbur S. Gaugh - Webster NY
Christopher J. Klasner - Rochester NY
Avonelle L. Leonard - Rochester NY
Daniel G. Ocorr - Rochester NY
Assignee:
Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY
International Classification:
G03C 174
Abstract:
Photographic materials, such as films and papers, include a support and coatings on the support. The coatings often contain hardeners which cause gelation cross links in the binder in the coating. The extent to which the cross-links have formed at the time of processing of the film or paper affects the appearance of the image produced by processing. Conventionally the cross-links have been allowed to form with time in normal atmospheric conditions. According to the invention, the formation of the cross links is accelerated to substantial completion by a process including incubating the material at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the coating and below the melting point of the coating in an atmosphere having a relative humidity which causes a moisture content of the coating of 0. 1 to 0. 25 for a period of time sufficient to substantially complete the hardening, that is, the formation of the cross-links. Such period of time is less than ten minutes and can, with some materials and conditions, be as short as a minute or less.