Photothermographic materials processable at lower temperatures and recording processes therefor

A photothermographic recording process comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing a photothermographic recording material, comprising a support and a photo-addressable thermally developable element, said photo-addressable thermally developable element containing a mixture of a silver salt of a monocarboxylic acid and a compound exclusive of silver succinate represented by formula (I):
• AgOOC—R1—COOAg
• wherein R1 is a straight chain saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group with two or three carbon atoms, optionally substituted with one or more of ═O, ═S, ═CR2R3, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an amino group, a substituted amino group, a cycloalkyl group, a hydroxy group, a thiol group, an alkyl or aryl sulphone group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, a thioalkyl group, a thioaryl, a carbamic ester group, a halogen atom or a —(C═O)R4 group;
• wherein if R1 is substituted with two substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, thioalkyl, substituted amino and alkoxy groups said two substituents may jointly comprise the atoms necessary to complete a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring;
• R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or an alkyl, substituted alkyl, hydroxy or thiol;
• R4 is a hydroxy, —OAg, alkoxy, alkyl or —NHR6 group;
• R6 is hydrogen or an alkyl group;
• an organic reducing agent for said mixture of substantially light-insensitive organic silver salts in thermal working relationship therewith, a photosensitive silver halide in catalytic association with said mixture of organic silver salts and a binder;
• (ii) image-wise exposing said photo-addressable thermally developable element is with actinic radiation;
• (iii) bringing said image-wise exposed photothermographic recording material into proximity with a heat source;
• (iv) uniformly heating said image-wise exposed photothermographic recording material under substantially water-free conditions;
• and (v) removing said photothermographic recording material from said heat source.

A photothermographic recording material comprising a support and a photo-addressable thermally developable element, said photo-addressable thermally developable element containing a mixture of substantially light-insensitive silver salts of organic carboxylic acids with one or more carboxylic acid groups, an organic reducing agent for said mixture of substantially light-insensitive organic silver salts in thermal working relationship therewith, a photosensitive silver halide in catalytic association with said mixture of substantially light-insensitive silver salts of organic carboxylic acids with one or more carboxylic acid groups and a binder, wherein said mixture of substantially light-insensitive organic silver salts is coprecipitated or a physical mixture and contains a silver salt of a monocarboxylic acid and a compound exclusive of silver succinate represented by formula (I):

• AgOOC—R1—COOAg
• wherein R1 is a straight chain saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group with two or three carbon atoms, optionally substituted with one or more of ═O, ═S, ═CR2R3, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an amino group, a substituted amino group, a cycloalkyl group, a hydroxy group, a thiol group, an alkyl sulphone group, an aryl sulphone group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, a thioalkyl group, a thioaryl, a carbamic ester group, a halogen atom or a —(C═O)R4 group;
• wherein if R1 is substituted with two substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, thioalkyl, substituted amino and alkoxy groups said two substituents may jointly comprise the atoms necessary to complete a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring;
• R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or an alkyl, substituted alkyl, hydroxy or thiol;
• R4 is a hydroxy, —OAg, alkoxy, alkyl or —NHR6 group;
• R6 is hydrogen or an alkyl group.