Heat- and photo-sensitive imaging element and method for making images therewith

A method for obtaining an image comprising image-wise exposing an imaging element comprising on a support a dye precursor and a color developer which are heat reactable and arranged in the same layer or in separate layers characterized in that a monomer according to one of formulas (I) or (II) and a photoinitiator is present in a layer containing said dye precursor and/or color developer:

• A[--NHCO--X--L.sup.1 (--(L.sup.2).sub.u --OCO--CR.sup.1 .dbd.CH.sub.2).sub.n ].sub.m (I)
• wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 3, m equals an integer of 3 to 6 when n equals 1, and 2 to 6 when n equals 2 or 3, and u equals 0 or 1;
• A represents an organic group of the following nature being 3 to 6 valent when n equals 1 and being 2 to 6 valent when n equals 2 or 3:
• a) a hydrocarbon residue containing 5 to 25 carbon atoms which may be interrupted by one or more ether, ester or amide functions;
• ##STR29## with A.sup.1 representing a linear or branched aliphatic residue that may contain 0 to 3 0-atoms and 2 to 20 C-atoms, an aromatic residue containing 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aromatic aliphatic residue containing 7 to 28 C-atoms or an cycloaliphatic residue containing 6 to 26 C-atoms, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently representing a hydrogen or a methyl group, A.sup.2 representing an aromatic, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon residue containing 5 to 25 carbon atoms, o represents an integer of 0 to 5 and p represents an integer of 2 to 6 when n equals 2 or 3 and represents an integer of 3 to 6 when n equals 1;
• ##STR30## wherein A.sup.1, A.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, o and p have the same meaning as defined above ##STR31## wherein A.sup.1, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, o and p have the same meaning as defined above;
• G represents --O--CO--NH--Y(--COO--).sub.q --;
• wherein Y represents a divalent (cyclo)aliphatic residue containing 2 to 15 C-atoms and that may contain an ester, ether or urethane function, and q represents 0 or 1
• Q represents a linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon residue containing 3 to 15 carbon atoms and which may comprise 1 to 3 oxygen bridges and r equals 0 or 1,
• X represents 0 or NR.sup.2,
• L.sup.1 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon residue that is at least divalent and that may comprise 1 to 3 0-atoms,
• L.sup.2 represents a lower alkylene of 1 to 6 C-a-toms which may be branched or linear,
• R.sup.1 represents hydrogen or a methyl group,
• R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl group of 1 to 6 C-atoms;
• ##STR32## wherein Ur represents a divalent or trivalent condensed urea residue;
• Z represents 0 or NR.sup.10 with R.sup.10 representing alkyl containing 1 to 12 C-atoms;
• R.sup.7 represents a divalent hydrocarbon residue containing 2 to 25 C-atoms;
• R.sup.8 represents a hydrocarbon residue with a valence between 2 and 6, and containing 2 to 18 C-atoms, which can be linear or branched and which can be interrupted by up to 3 0 atoms;
• R.sup.9 represents hydrogen or methyl;
• .alpha. represents an integer from 1 to 5, and
• .beta. equals 2 or 3,
• to actinic readiation and subsequently or simultaneously overall exposing said imaging element to heat.

A method for obtaining an image comprising image-wise exposing an imaging element-comprising on a support a dye precursor and a color developer which are heat reactable and arranged in the same layer or in separate layers characterized in that a monomer according to one of formulas (I) or (II) and a photoinitiator is present in a layer containing said dye precursor and/or color developer:

• A[--NHCO--X--L.sup.1 (--(L.sub.2).sub.u --OCO--CR.sup.1 .dbd.CH.sub.2).sub.n ].sub.m (I)
• wherein n represents an integer from 1 to 3, m equals an integer of 3 to 6 when n equals 1, and 2 to 6 when n equals 2 or 3, and u equals 0 or 1;
• A represents an organic group of the following nature being 3 to 6 valent when n equals 1 and being 2 to 6 valent when n equals 2 or 3:
• a) a hydrocarbon residue containing 5 to 25 carbon atoms which may be interrupted by one or more ether, ester or amide functions;
• ##STR34## with A.sup.1 representing a linear or branched aliphatic residue that may contain 0 to 3 0-atoms and 2 to 20 C-atoms;
• an aromatic residue containing 6 to 24 carbon atoms, an aromatic aliphatic residue containing 7 to 28 C-atoms or an cycloaliphatic residue containing 6 to 26 C-atoms, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 each independently representing a hydrogen or a methyl group, A.sup.2 representing an aromatic, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon residue containing 5 to 25 carbon atoms, o represents an integer of 0 to 5 and p represents an integer of 2 to 6 when n equals 2 or 3 and represents an integer of 3 to 6 when n equals 1;
• ##STR35## wherein A.sup.1, A.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, o and p have the same meaning as defined above ##STR36## wherein A.sup.1, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, o and p have the same meaning as defined above;
• G represents --O--CO--NH--Y(--COO--).sub.q --;
• wherein Y represents a divalent (cyclo)aliphatic residue containing 2 to 15 C-atoms and that may contain an ester, ether or urethane function, and q represents 0 or 1
• Q represents a linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon residue containing 3 to 15 carbon atoms and which may comprise 1 to 3 oxygen bridges and r equals 0 or 1,
• X represents 0 or NR.sup.2,
• L.sup.1 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon residue that is at least divalent and that may comprise 1 to 3 0-atoms,
• L.sup.2 represents a lower alkylene of 1 to 6 C-atoms which may be branched or linear,
• R.sup.1 represents hydrogen or a methyl group,
• R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl group of 1 to 6 C-atoms;
• ##STR37## wherein Ur represents a divalent or trivalent condensed urea residue;
• Z represents 0 or NR.sup.10 with R.sup.10 representing alkyl containing 1 to 12 C-atoms;
• R.sup.7 represents a divalent hydrocarbon residue containing 2 to 25 C-atoms;
• R.sup.8 represents a hydrocarbon residue with a valence between 2 and 6, and containing 2 to 18 C-atoms, which can be linear or branched and which can be interrupted by up to 3 0 atoms;
• R.sup.9 represents hydrogen or methyl;
• .alpha. represents an integer from 1 to 5, and
• .beta. equals 2 or 3, to heat and subsequently or simultaneously overall exposing said imaging element to actinic radiation.