(Sanitized) DRY SILVER EVALUATION MEMORANDUM OF 9 MAY 1969

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05171A000800070060-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2003
• Sequence Number: 60
• Publication Date: June 3, 1969
• Content Type: MFR

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I /TssG/DEx642_69
June 1969
OR THRXORD
Dry Silver Evaluation Memorandum of 9 May 1969
The following memorandum is in response to the dry-silver
t' evaluation" written by one of our student co-op
employees. produced a very excellent report which is quite
detailed an ncusive and indicates that he spent a considerable amount
of time on the report.. However, some of the basic data and conclusions
oust It is felt by the undersigned that these should be
~ted in order to produce a more accurate understanding of the dry-
erials and equipment situation.
'Basically and first of all, it should be pointed out that
dry-silver materials development is in two stages at the same time:
C is supporting basic research on dry-silver materials in
order o advance the sta 6F-7re..ar of this new process to achieve
the goals established by HPIC personnel, (2) the s in the
process of building, checking-out, modifying, and improving a special
coater aping solvents and plastics instead of water based emulsions.
This effort is aimed at scaling-up production from formulations proven
in the research laboratory. This dual approach was taken in order to
shorten the time between the final achieving of goals in the laboratory
and the production of the material in a limited quantity and quality.
This situation could account for some of the confusion. Extensive
onetric testing is a waste of time until scale-up and production
problems are solved;
3, Specific discrepancies and areas of confusion are answered as
(a) The situation of thigh gamma" vs "low gamma" is not one
,opment to completion", even though there is obviously more
and more development at high gammas the same as for
silver processes, In wet processing, solution concentration,
enishment, agitation, temperature, time, etc. are highly
controlled,, critical factors. Dry heat processing is also more
Criticaal and difficult for low gamma conditions. As a matter
of fact, special films are used for extremely low gamma pro-
=peci.ai problems of mottle, control, etc. (b) Spectrial sen-
eitivity curves are already available for most dry-silver
formulations,
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Dry Silver Evaluation Memorandum of 9 May 1969
esolution in excess of 1800 I /mm have been measured at the
_
testing facilities. F
_j has been using a camera 25X1
years of this testing. At the present time, work is about
completed on a laser-interferometer method of resolution test-
ing this high resolution material.
patterned after the U.S. Bureau of Standards for the last three
3; +t5 - see paragraph 2 above.
Both heat and light effect the stability of dry-silver image.
is available as to what degree of each separately, or in
combination, effects image stability. These changes are minimal
under standard controlled conditions as found at NPIC.
7. The only known techniques for applying interference coatings
is by highly controlled vapor deposit, a technique out of the
question for knife or transfer coating. It should be noted that
a spray solution for completely stabilizing dry-silver prints is
available. However, it is a goal to have all of the required
chemistry within the original material, wii only heat required
for both processing and fixing.
8. Basic resolution, M F, and granularity information is avail-
able at the present time, As the various goals are achieved,
additional tests are performed.
1. since dry=..silver processing is a heating process, and since
photographic grade polyestar is formed under tension', any heating
after forvation will cause relaxation, Investigation is now under-
y to "pre-shrink" or "relax" this material prior to coating in
order to keep the dimensional stability within bounds.
Since 2aa photographic bases experience a dimensional change
during high speed machine processing (not tray processing), the
question is - what is an acceptable limit to dimensional change.
Efforts are underway by the undersigned to obtain information on
what sort of changes occur, under standard high speed, bath, spray,
and viscose processing conditions, using both normal and high
tezrature developers. Of course the effect of the drying is also
included.
2. All forms of heat processing', including micro-wave radiation
have been investigated and/or tried as a possible method of pro-
eeesi dry-silver materials. M ero-wave radiation is much too
gross and difficult to control to be used for this process. As a
matter of fact# it was found to be too gross for even drying con-
ventional wet processed material;
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Dry Silver Evaluation Memorandum of 9 May 1969
3, The problem of contamination by paper production by-products
was a temporary problem with Diazo paper materials not dry-
silver.
This problem has ben satisfactorily solved by coating the
back of the paper with atransparent plastic.
25X1 ' XII. A. I observations in this area are quite correct.
As soon as a sheet processor is developed this use will be
exploited.
B. Again, there is agreement with observations. 25X1
It is felt that either a "chinese copy of the U.S. Navy's
Reader/Printer or a modification of this item would be of great
use to AIS as well as IM. It is also expected that heat pro..
cessed Diazo will replace the ammonia chip processors.
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TSSG DED R DB- II
Distribution
Ori . Rt & File
72 . DED Chronos
NPIC/TSSG/DED/R&DB-II
(3 Jun 69)
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