THE INFLUENCE OF THE PHOTOSENSITIVE SILVER-HALIDE SILVER CARBOXYLATE PREPARATION CONDITIONS ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF THERMALLY DEVELOPED SILVERPARTICLES

An electron microscope study of the morphology of the silver particles forming in the image area from the photothermographic process shows t hat the shape and size of the silver crystals change depending on the method of preparation of the silver halide/silver fatty acid complex s ystem. In the case of the in situ process, silver halide obtained by t reating silver stearate with solutions of brominating agents (LiBr, Zn Br2, or HgBr2) during the photothermographic process yields silver fil aments. In the case where the silver halide is preformed and then adde d during the preparation of the silver carboxylate, dendritic silver p articles result during the photothermographic process.