Superadditivity of Reducing A gents in a Heat-Developable Current-recording Material Consisted of Benzotriazole and Silver Benzotriazole

Abstract

The superadditivities of reducing agents in the organic solid electrolyte layer have been studied. Tha layer coated onto the electrically conductive film is consisted of poly(vinylbutyral) containing a mixture of benzotriazole (BZT) and silver benzotriazole (BZT-Ag), and reducing agents. On applying a bias, the current flow across the layer forms small Ag nuclei which catalyze the reduction of BZT-Ag by heat development. It is found that t h e reducing agents combined (1) 4-butoxycatechol with P-ethoxyphenol (molar ratio=1: 2) and (2) 4-(methylamino)phenol with hydroquinone (molar ratio=1: 1) exhibit the maximu m superadditivity in the heat development process. The phenomena are elucidated (1) by the regeneration of 4-butoxycatechol and the oxidation of P-ethoxyphenol, and (2) by the regeneration of aminophenol, respectively.