Diazonium imaging system

An article comprising a light sensitive, positive-acting, heat developable, dry layer on a substrate, the dry ingredients of said layer consisting essentially of at least 25% by weight of a polymeric binder, at least 0.3% by weight of a leuco dye capable of being oxidized upon only heating to a colored form, a sufficient amount of a photosensitive diazonium salt to oxidize said leuco dye to a colored form in non-light struck portions of said layer, and less than 0.1 mole nitrate ion per 1.0 mole leuco dye, said leuco dye in said layer being present in a concentration sufficient to provide an increase in optical density upon development of at least 0.2.

An article comprising a light sensitive, positive-acting, heat developable, dry layer on a substrate, the dry ingredients of said layer consisting of at least 25% by weight of a polymeric binder, at least 0.3% by weight of a leuco dye capable of being oxidized upon only heating to a colored form, a sufficient amount of a photo-sensitive diazonium salt to oxidize said leuco dye to a colored form in non-light struck portions of said layer, and less than 0.1 mole nitrate ion per 1.0 mole leuco dye, said leuco dye in said layer being present in a concentration sufficient to provide an increase in optical density upon development of at least 0.2.

An article comprising a light sensitive, positive-acting, heat developable, dry layer on a substrate, the dry ingredients of said layer consisting of at least 25% by weight of a polymeric binder, at least 0.3% by weight of a leuco dye capable of being oxidized upon only heating to a colored form, a sufficient amount of a photosensitive diazonium salt to oxidize said leuco dye to a colored form in non-light struck portions of said layer, a chemically effective amount of at least one additive selected from antioxidants, complexors, plasticizers, polyketones, stabilizers, surfactants, antistatic agents, coating aids, inhibitors, lubricants, flexibilizers, and fillers, and less than 0.1 mole nitrate ion per 1.0 mole leuco dye, said leuco dye in said layer being present in a concentration sufficient to provide an increase in optical density upon development of at least 0.2.

A process for imaging an article comprising a light sensitive, positive-acting, heat developable, dry layer on a substrate, the dry ingredients of said layer comprising at least 25% by weight of a polymeric binder, at least 0.3% by weight of a leuco dye capable of being oxidized to a colored form upon only heating, a sufficient amount of a photosensitive diazonium salt to oxidize said leuco dye to a colored form in non-light struck portions of said layer, and less than 0.1 mole nitrate ion per 1.0 mole leuco dye, said leuco dye in said layer being present in a concentration sufficient to provide an increase in optical density upon development of at least 0.2, said process comprising the steps:

• a. exposing said article to an image-wise distribution of radiation to destroy said diazonium salt in light-struck areas, and
• b. heating said article to enable said diazonium salt to oxidize said leuco dye to a colored form in non light-struck areas to produce said positive image.