Simultaneous Coatings of Polymeric Lubricant Layer and Transparent Magnetic Recording Layer for Photographic Element

This application relates to commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 08/858,679, Express Mail No. EM059243909US filed simultaneously herewith and hereby incorporated by reference for all that it discloses. This application relates to commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 08/858,682, Express Mail No. EM059243926US filed simultaneously herewith and hereby incorporated by reference for all that it discloses.

The present invention relates to photographic elements having transparent magnetic recording layers. More particularly, the present invention provides a method of simultaneously coating a transparent magnetic layer and a polymeric lubricant layer on a photographic element and the resultant product.

Backing layers that can be used to magnetically record, and subsequently, to retrieve, information require excellent lubrication at their surface. Contact between the magnetic head and the outermost surface of the backing layers of the film is necessary, however, this imposes a great amount of stress to the backing layers and may result in rupture of the layer, and in loss of signal. Good lubrication allows for multiple transports of the film through various magnetic head-containing equipment. The lubricant must also remain effective after the film has been ran through photographic processing solutions.

In general, the transparent magnetic layer and the lubricating layer are applied in separate coating steps. This reduces the manufacturing efficiency of the product by requiring several coating stations. Alternately, the lubricious material could be added directly to the transparent magnetic layer. However, this typically weakens the layer and may result in premature rupture of the layer and loss of signal or recorded information. Furthermore, when the lubricant is added directly into the magnetic layer and coated and dried, the lubricant will be distributed throughout the magnetic layer and may not reside primarily at the surface where it is required for optimal performance.

Many long chain fatty acids, esters, and silicones are known to have good lubricating properties. Many of these, however, when coated simultaneously with the magnetic layer, as described in this invention, diffuse into the magnetic layer before the coating is dry. Thus, the amount of lubricant remaining at the surface is inadequate for proper lubrication. Since the diffusion rate is inversely proportional to the size of the dissolved lubricant, and therefore, inversely proportional to the molecular weight of said lubricant, high molecular weight, or polymeric species, are preferred for this invention. These will remain near the surface during the coating process and provide adequate lubrication in the dried layer.

Photographic elements containing transparent magnetic oxide coatings on the side opposite the photographic emulsions have been well-documented. The need for lubricating layers on said magnetic oxide coatings have also been well-described. A variety of types of lubricants have been disclosed including fatty acids, fatty acid esters, silicones, waxes, etc. Typically these layers have been applied by first coating a solution of the magnetic oxide layer onto a support using a bead coating technique. The coating is then dried and a lubricant layer is then coated over the magnetic layer using a similar technique. Alternatively, the lubricant can be added to the magnetic oxide coating solution such that both the magnetics and lubricant are coated simultaneously. This is advantageous because less coating stations are required, likely reducing waste and simplifying a production scheme. Unfortunately, in order for the lubricant to be effective it must primarily reside at the uppermost surface of the dry coating. When the lubricant is added to the magnetic oxide solution, it is difficult for the lube to get to the surface. As the solution dries rapidly, the polymeric binder for the magnetic oxide will vitrify or solidify, which retards the mobility of the lubricant. Additionally, the lubricant may also go to the support/magnetics interface instead of the desired magnetics/air interface. The result is an improperly lubricated surface, or a coating with a high coefficient of friction.

Another drawback of adding the lubricant directly to the magnetics layer is that phase separation can occur resulting in a translucent or opaque film. The lubricant can destabilize the magnetics dispersion, resulting in flocculation of the particles. Also, the lubricant may not be compatible with the magnetics binder, which can lead to gross phase separation and loss of optical transparency. It is desired to have the lubricant phase separate and migrate to the air interface. Obviously a very selective phase separation is desired. Alternately, the lubricant may not be soluble, or dispersible in the same solvents as are needed for the components of the transparent magnetic layer.

One way to overcome these limitations is to simultaneously coat the magnetic layer and the lubricant layer. Unfortunately, use of low molecular weight lubricants diffuse into the magnetic layer resulting in coatings with poor lubrication.

Multilayer coatings of transparent magnetic layers, including simultaneously coating multiple magnetic oxide containing layers, and simultaneously coating antistat and magnetic oxide containing layers are described in EP 0537778A1 and EP 0565870A1. There is no prior art on simultaneously coating a lubricant layer and the magnetic oxide containing layer.

JP 05158188-A teaches the use of silicone polymers (e.g. polydimethylsiloxane, copolymers of polydimethyl siloxane with polyethylene oxide), and silicone polymers with long linear aliphatic hydrocarbon side chains as a slip layer for the transparent magnetic layer. This is added as a separate overlayer over the magnetic layer, or added directly to the magnetic layer solution. U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,589 has an exhaustive lists of typical slip agents, including fatty acid modified silicones. Methods of introducing the slip were to dissolve it in the layer, or to add it by spray coating, dip coating, bar coating, or spin coating.

Stearyl oxazoline prepared by a ring opening polymerization of an oxazoline monomer has been reported in the literature by Litt, Polymer Letters, 5, 871-879 (1967) and Beck et al, Angew, Makromol. Chem., 223, 217-233 (1994). U.S. Pat. No. 3,920,567 describes antiwear additives for lubricating oils based on the reaction product of an oxazoline with a phosphate compound. DE 4041305 describes a long side chain polyoxazoline lubricant useful as a mold release agent. In addition, GB 1170373 describes long chain oxazolines as lubricants.

In this invention is described a means of co-coating the magnetics and lubricant layers but without the problems described above. In this case the well-known simultaneous coating technique, slide coating, is used.

The present invention is a method of producing an imaging support which includes providing a support, simultaneously coating on a side of the support; a transparent magnetic recording layer including magnetic particles, a polymeric binder and an organic solvent, and a lubricating overcoat layer farthest from the support, the lubricating overcoat layer including a lubricant selected form the general formulas I, II or III:

wherein general formula I comprises: ##STR4## wherein X is selected from the group consisting of esters, amides, ethers, or methylene, a is from 10 to 500, and b is from 4 to 3000, and the general formula I has a molecular weight at least 800;

wherein general formula II comprises: ##STR5## wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of, --C-- and --N--, Z is selected from the group consisting of esters, amides, and a carbon-carbon bond, R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, and hydrogen or may be absent if Y equals nitrogen, c is from 1 to 2, d is from 4 to 3000, e is from 10 to 30, and the general formula II has a molecular weight of from 800 to 500,000, preferably from 3000 to 100,000;

wherein general formula III comprises: ##STR6## wherein R' is selected from the group consisting of methyl, phenyl, substituted aliphatic groups, unsubstituted aliphatic groups, substituted aromatic groups, and unsubstituted aromatic groups; wherein f is from 4 to 3000, and g is from 10 to 30, and the general formula III has a molecular weight of from about 800 to 500,000 and preferably are between 3000 and 100,000, and an organic solvent. The present invention also includes a photographic element produced by the method.

The lubricants used in this invention are polymers containing long methylene (CH.sub.2) sequences which impart some crystallinity. The structure can be either linear or branched, and may contain the long methylene sequences as side chains. In the case of linear lubes, the structure consists of long methylene sequences of general formula I ##STR7## which are linked by coupling groups X. The X can be any of a broad variety such as esters, amides, ethers, etc. or may be absent in which case the lube main chain is all methylene groups, and the general formula I has a molecular weight at least 800. In the case of lubes containing methylene sequences in the side chains, the structure is of the general formula II: ##STR8## The repeat unit of the polymer main chain can contain one or more (c) methylenes and can be all carbon in the case where Y is --C-- or can contain heteroatoms such as when Y is --N--. In either case, the side chain connects to the main chain through this junction. The long methylene sequence of the side chain can be connected to this junction via any convenient functional group "Z" which may be an ester, amide, or simply a carbon-carbon bond. The R can be a methyl or simply a hydrogen, or, when Y is a heteroatom, R may be absent c is from 1 to 2, d is from 4 to 3000, e is from 10 to 30, and the general formula II has a molecular weight of from 800 to 500,000, preferably from 3000 to 100,000. Yet another example of a side chain lube is shown in general formula III; ##STR9## The R' is selected from the group consisting of methyl, phenyl, substituted aliphatic groups, unsubstituted aliphatic groups, substituted aromatic groups, and unsubstituted aromatic groups; wherein f is from 4 to 3000, and g is from 10 to 30, and the general formula III has a molecular weight of from about 800 to 500,000 and preferably are between 3000 and 100,000.

In all of the above cases, the overall molecular weight of the lubricant must be large enough to reduce the molecules mobility during the coating and drying of the layer such that it can remain at or near the surface of the final film. Low molecular weight waxes are highly mobile and tend to diffuse throughout the layer during the coating step. Consequently, monomeric waxes such as methyl stearate are ineffective. Effective molecular weights range from about 800 to 500,000 and preferably are between 3000 and 100,000.

The length of the methylene sequence in the side chain must be long enough to crystallize so that the lubricant can achieve wax like lubricating properties. A preferred range of e or g is from 10 to 30, a most preferred range is from 15 to 25. The lubricant is semi-crystalline and will typically exhibit a melting point which is above 30.degree. C.

In addition to the repeat sequence defined above, it is understood that comonomers may also be included in the chain and that these may have side chains of a wide variety of lengths or contain functional groups such as mercapto and amines. The side chains are not limited to methylene sequences and may also include varying degrees of unsaturation.

Although the lubricant may consist primarily of chains of a single length and chemical structure, it is recognized that minor components of slightly varying chain length or chemical structure may be included. In addition, mixtures of the lubricants of this invention may be used. For purposes of this invention, the lubricant layer may be continuous or semi-continuous.

Preferred compositions described in this report are polyvinyl stearate, polyvinyl behenate, stearyl oxazoline, and commercially available silicone waxes from Genesee Polymers Corporation, such as EXP-58. The structures and functional groups are: ##STR10## When y=16, this is polyvinyl stearate; when y=20, this is polyvinyl behenate, and ##STR11## When y=16, this is polystearyl oxazoline.

The base support for the present invention can be cellulose derivatives such as a cellulose ester, cellulose triacetate, cellulose diacetate, cellulose acetate propionate, polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate, poly-1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and copolymers thereof, polyimides, polyamides, polycarbonates, polystyrene, polyolefins, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfones, polyarylates, polyether imides and blends of these. The support typically employs an undercoat or a subbing layer well known in the art that comprises, for example, for a polyester support a vinylidene chloride/methyl acrylate/itaconic acid terpolymer or a vinylidene chloride/acrylonitrile/acrylic acid terpolymer.

The photographic elements according to this invention can contain one or more conducting layers such as antistatic layers and/or antihalation layers such as described in Research Disclosure, Vol. 176, December 1978, Item 17643 to prevent undesirable static discharges during manufacture, exposure and processing of the photographic element. Antistatic layers conventionally used for color films have been found to be satisfactory herewith. Any of the antistatic agents set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,768 which is incorporated herein by reference may be employed. Preferred antistatic agents include metal oxides, for example tin oxide, antimony doped tin oxide and vanadium pentoxide. These anitstatic agents are preferably dispered in a film forming binder.

The magnetic particles in the transparent magnetic layer can be ferromagnetic iron oxides, such as .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4 with Co, Zn or other metals in solid solution or surface treated or ferromagnetic chromium dioxides, such as CrOz with metallic elements, for example Li, Na, Sn, Pb, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn, or halogen atoms in solid solution. Ferromagnetic pigments with an oxide coating on their surface to improve their chemical stability or dispersability, as is commonly used in conventional magnetic recording, may also be used. In addition, magnetic oxides with a thicker layer of lower refractive index oxide or other material having a lower optical scattering cross-section as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,217,804 and 5,252,444 can be used. These are present in the transparent magnetic layer in the amount from about 1 to 10 weight percent based on the weight if the binder. The magnetic particles have a surface area greater than 30 m.sup.2 /gm and a coverage of from about 1.times.10.sup.-11 mg/.mu.m.sup.3 to 1.times.10.sup.-1 mg/.mu.m.sup.3. A dispersing agent, or wetting agent can be present to facilitate the dispersion of the magnetic particles. This helps to minimize the agglomeration of the magnetic particles. Useful dispersing agents include fatty acid amines and commercially available wetting agents such as Witco Emcol CC59 which is a quaternary amine available from Witco Chemical Corp. Rhodafac PE 510, Rhodafac RE 610, Rhodafac RE960, and Rhodafac LO529, which are phosphoric acid esters available from Rhone-Poulenc.

The polymer binder of the transparent magnetic layer may be any polymer having good abrasion resistance. For example, cellulose esters such as cellulose diacetates and triacetates, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose nitrate, polyacrylates such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyphenylmethacrylate and copolymers with acrylic or methacrylic acid, or sulfonates, polyesters, polyurethanes, urea resins, melamine resins, urea-formaldehyde resins, polyacetals, polybutyrals, polyvinyl alcohol, epoxies and epoxy acrylates, phenoxy resins, polycarbonates, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-vinyl-alcohol copolymers, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-maleic acid polymers, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymers, vinyl chloride-acrylonitrile copolymers, acrylic ester-acrylonitrile copolymers, acrylic ester-vinylidene chloride copolymers, methacrylic ester-styrene copolymers, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-acrylic or methacrylic acid copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers can be used as binders in the transparent magnetic layer. Cellulose ester derivatives, such as cellulose diacetates and triacetates, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose nitrate, and polyacrylates such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyphenylmethacrylate and copolymers with acrylic or methacrylic acid are preferred.

Abrasive particles useful in the transparent magnetic layer or lubricant layer include nonmagnetic inorganic powders with a Mohs scale hardness of not less than 6. These include, for example, metal oxides such as alpha-alumina, chromium oxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3), alpha-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, silicon dioxide, alumino-silicate and titanium dioxide. Carbides such as silicone carbide and titanium carbide, nitrides such as silicon nitride, titanium nitride and diamond in fine powder may also be used. Alpha alumina and silicon dioxide are preferred. These are included to improve the head cleaning properties and improve durability of the coating. A dispersing agent, or wetting agent can be present to facilitate the dispersion of the abrasive particles. This helps to minimize the agglomeration of the particles. Useful dispersing agents include, but are not limited to, fatty acid amines and commercially available wetting agents such as Solsperse 24000 sold by Zeneca, Inc. (ICI). The abrasive particles have a median diameter of about 0.2 to 0.4 .mu.m. The abrasive particles are present in the lubricious overcoat layer, in the transparent magnetic layer or both. They are present in the magnetic layer in the amount of at least 2 weight percent based on the weight of the binder so that durability of the coating is achieved and clogging of the magnetic heads is prevented. The upper limit of the amount of abrasive particles is determined by the loss of transparency of the layer, adversely affecting the photographic element, and by their abrasive effects on the magnetic heads and the tools and photographic apparatus that the film comes in contact with, leading to premature wear of these tools and apparatus. Typically, the abrasive particles are present in the transparent magnetic layer in the amount of 2 wt % to about 20 wt % relative to the weight of the binder, and are present in the lubricating overcoat from about 0 wt % to about 100 wt %, preferably in the amount from about 6 to 16 relative to the weight of the lubricant in the overcoat.

Filler particles useful in the transparent magnetic layer have a median diameter less than 0.15 .mu.m, preferably less than 0.1 .mu.m. The filler particles have a Mohs hardness greater than 6 and are present in the amount from about 0 to 300 percent, most preferably in the amount from about 0 to 85 percent based on the weight of the binder. Examples of filler particles include nonmagnetic inorganic powders such as .gamma.-aluminum oxide, chromium oxide, iron oxide, tin oxide, doped tin oxide, silicon dioxide, alumino-silicate, titanium dioxide, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, and diamond in fine powder, as described in U.S. Pat No. 5,432,050. A dispersing agent, or wetting agent can be present to facilitate the dispersion of the filler particles. This helps to minimize the agglomeration of the particles. Useful dispersing agents include, but are not limited to, fatty acid amines and commercially available wetting agents such as Solsperse 24000 sold by Zeneca, Inc. (ICI). Preferred filler particles are gamma-aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide.

The transparent magnetic layer may include coating aids and surfactants such as nonionic fluorinated alkyl esters such as FC-430, FC-431, FC-10, FC171 sold by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., Zonyl fluorochemicals such as Zonyl-FSN, Zonyl-FTS, Zonyl-TBS, Zonyl-BA sold by DuPont; fluorinated surfactants sold by Elf Atochem under the tradename of FORAFAC, polysiloxanes such as Dow Corning DC 1248, DC200, DC510, DC 190 and BYK 320, BYK 322, sold by BYK Chemie and SF 1079, SF1023, SF 1054, and SF 1080 sold by General Electric; polyoxyethylene-lauryl ether surfactants sold by Kodak; sorbitan laurate, palmitate and stearates such as Span surfactants sold by Aldrich.

The polymeric lube-containing solution may also contain surfactants, dispersants, or coating aids including, but not limited to, nonionic fluorinated alkyl esters such as FC-430, FC-431, FC-10, FC-171, FC-99, FC-143, FC-170C sold by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., Zonyl fluorochemicals such as Zonyl-FSN, Zonyl-FTS, Zonyl-TBS, Zonyl-BA sold by DuPont; fluorinated surfactants sold by Elf Atochem under the tradename of FORAFAC polysiloxanes such as Dow Corning DC 1248, DC200, DC510, DC 190 and BYK 320, BYK 322, sold by BYK Chemie and SF 1079, SF1023, SF 1054, and SF 1080 sold by General Electric; Silwet surfactants sold by Union Carbide, polyoxyehylene-lauryl ether surfactants sold by Kodak; sorbitan laurate, palmitate and stearates such as Span surfactants sold by Aldrich, Triton X surfactants sold by Union Carbide, amine-containing surfactants, solsperse from ICI, and the like. However, these are not necessary for the invention.

Viscosity modifiers can be present in the lubricant layer or the transparent magnetic layer. Such viscosity modifiers include high molecular weight cellulose esters, celluosics, acrylics, urethanes, and polyethylene oxides.

Solvents useful for coating the lubricant layer or the transparent magnetic layer of the present invention include alcohols, ketones, chlorinated sovents, esters, water, hydrocarbons, ethers, or mixtures thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the imaging elements of this invention are photographic elements, such as photographic films, photographic papers or photographic glass plates, in which the image-forming layer is a radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer. Such emulsion layers typically comprise a film-forming hydrophilic colloid. The most commonly used of these is gelatin and gelatin is a particularly preferred material for use in this invention. Useful gelatins include alkali-treated gelatin (cattle bone or hide gelatin), acid-treated gelatin (pigskin gelatin) and gelatin derivatives such as acetylated gelatin, phthalated gelatin and the like. Other hydrophilic colloids that can be utilized alone or in combination with gelatin include dextran, gum arabic, zein, casein, pectin, collagen derivatives, collodion, agar-agar, arrowroot, albumin, and the like. Still other useful hydrophilic colloids are water-soluble polyvinyl compounds such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, poly(vinylpyrrolidone), and the like.

The photographic elements of the present invention can be simple black-and-white or monochrome elements comprising a support bearing a layer of light-sensitive silver halide emulsion or they can be multilayer and/or multicolor elements.

Color photographic elements of this invention typically contain dye image-forming units sensitive to each of the three primary regions of the spectrum. Each unit can be comprised of a single silver halide emulsion layer or of multiple emulsion layers sensitive to a given region of the spectrum. The layers of the element, including the layers of the image-forming units, can be arranged in various orders as is well known in the art.

A preferred photographic element according to this invention comprises a support bearing at least one blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a yellow image dye-providing material, at least one green-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a magenta image dye-providing material and at least one red-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a cyan image dye-providing material.

In addition to emulsion layers, the photographic elements of the present invention can contain one or more auxiliary layers conventional in photographic elements, such as overcoat layers, spacer layers, filter layers, interlayers, antihalation layers, pH lowering layers (sometimes referred to as acid layers and neutralizing layers), timing layers, opaque reflecting layers, opaque light-absorbing layers and the like. The support can be any suitable support used with photographic elements. Typical supports include polymeric films, paper (including polymer-coated paper), glass and the like. Details regarding supports and other layers of the photographic elements of this invention are contained in Research Disclosure, Item 36544, September, 1994.

The light-sensitive silver halide emulsions employed in the photographic elements of this invention can include coarse, regular or fine grain silver halide crystals or mixtures thereof and can be comprised of such silver halides as silver chloride, silver bromide, silver bromoiodide, silver chlorobromide, silver chloroiodide, silver chorobromoiodide, and mixtures thereof. The emulsions can be, for example, tabular grain light-sensitive silver halide emulsions. The emulsions can be negative-working or direct positive emulsions. They can form latent images predominantly on the surface of the silver halide grains or in the interior of the silver halide grains. They can be chemically and spectrally sensitized in accordance with usual practices. The emulsions typically will be gelatin emulsions although other hydrophilic colloids can be used in accordance with usual practice. Details regarding the silver halide emulsions are contained in Research Disclosure, Item 36544, September, 1994, and the references listed therein.

The photographic silver halide emulsions utilized in this invention can contain other addenda conventional in the photographic art. Useful addenda are described, for example, in Research Disclosure, Item 36544, September, 1994. Useful addenda include spectral sensitizing dyes, desensitizers, antifoggants, masking couplers, DIR couplers, DIR compounds, antistain agents, image dye stabilizers, absorbing materials such as filter dyes and UV absorbers, light-scattering materials, coating aids, plasticizers and lubricants, and the like.

Depending upon the dye-image-providing material employed in the photographic element, it can be incorporated in the silver halide emulsion layer or in a separate layer associated with the emulsion layer. The dye-image-providing material can be any of a number known in the art, such as dye-forming couplers, bleachable dyes, dye developers and redox dye-releasers, and the particular one employed will depend on the nature of the element, and the type of image desired.

Dye-image-providing materials employed with conventional color materials designed for processing with separate solutions are preferably dye-forming couplers; i.e., compounds which couple with oxidized developing agent to form a dye. Preferred couplers which form cyan dye images are phenols and naphthols. Preferred couplers which form magenta dye images are pyrazolones and pyrazolotriazoles. Preferred couplers which form yellow dye images are benzoylacetanilides and pivalylacetanilides.

The present invention is illustrated by the following examples.

The lubricious transparent magnetic layer is prepared by simultaneously coating solutions A and B to a dry thickness of about 1.2 microns onto a support consisting of subbed polyethylene terephthalate containing a vanadium pentoxide layer.

Solution A, which is the closest to the support is generated by dispersing the magnetic particles (CSF-4085V2) and abrasive particles (E-600) in their respective solvents and respective stabilizing agents and adding these with a high shear mixer to a cellulose diacetatelcellulose triacetate solution in methylene chloride/acetone/methyl acetoacetate solvent mixture. A coating aid (optional), either FC-430 or FC-431, (3M Corporation) is added with low shear mixing. The composition of solution A is indicated in Table I below.

Solution B, coated furthest from the support, consists of 0.56 wt % poly(vinyl stearate) ›PVS! (from Scientific Polymer Products) in a 50/50 mixture of methylene chloride and isobutyl alcohol. The PVS is the lube. PVS has a peak melting temperature of 46.degree. C. and a polystyrene equivalent weight average molecular weight of 50,000, and contains some low molecular weight fraction. The solution is coated to give a nominal dry thickness of PVS of 0.024 microns.

The magnetic oxide solution (A) is prepared and metered to the bottom cavity and slot of a slot-die plus slide coating apparatus. The lubricant solution (B) is prepared and metered to the top cavity and slot of the same slot-die plus slide coating apparatus. A coating apparatus of this type for multiple coatings is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,761,417 and 2,761,791 (both 1956) by T. A. Russell et al. Slot heights are sized to achieve the required cavity pressures for widthwise uniformity. The slot-die plus slide is positioned at a spacing of 2-20 mils relative to the moving support, a vacuum is applied to the lower meniscus, and a liquid bead is established between the lips of the slot-die and the support such that a continuous coating is formed with the magnetic layer on the bottom and the wax layer on the top. The coated support is then conveyed through the dryers.

Any multilayer coating apparatus can be used which can simultaneously deposit two or more solution layers onto a moving support. This list includes two layer slot-dies, X-slide, dual X, multilayer slide bead, or multilayer curtain coating machines.

In this configuration, solutions A and B are in wet contact in the area of the coating bead, and are subsequently dried simultaneously. The dried coating will thus consist of a transparent magnetic layer that has a sufficient amount of poly(vinyl stearate) at the surface, which is the outermost surface from the support and the side opposite from the emulsion on a photographic element, to provide adequate lubrication to provide durable performance when the layer is in contact with a magnetic head.

The coefficient of friction (COF) of this dried package was measured using standard known methods, such as those described in ASTM method designation: D 1894-78. For the practical purposes of the described invention either an IMASS Ball Sled friction tester or a paper clip friction tester. In the Ball Sled test, three tungsten balls are mounted in a triangular geometry onto a rigid support. The test sample is placed flat on another rigid support with the lubricious side of the sample facing upwards. The balls are then brought into contact with the test specimen and the sled is mechanically driven and set into horizontal motion, so that the test specimen and the balls are moving relative to each other. The force needed to sustain movement of the two surfaces relative to each other is measured and is related to the coefficient of friction (COF). A friction value less than 0.35, preferably less than 0.26, is desirable. The Paper Clip Friction test utilizes a U-shaped frictional slider cut from a steel paper clip. The rounded part of the slider contacts the sample in this test. A 3/4" by 6" piece of the sample to be evaluated is secured on the inclined plane of the device, the lubricated surface facing upward. The inclined plane is then raised to an arbitrarily chosen angle (.theta.) and the frictional slider is placed on the sample. The paper clip and produces a load of 63.2 cos.theta. grams perpendicular to the sample surface. If the paper clip continuously slides down the coated sample, the angle of the inclined plane is decreased until the paper clip does not slide. The lowest angle in which the paper clip slides continuously down the sample corresponds to a COF which is determined from a calibrated scale on the inclined plane. The smaller the angle needed for the paper clip to continuously slide on the coated sample, the lower the COF.

The durability of the coating was tested with a rotating drum friction tester (RDFT) where a narrow (1/2 in) strip of the sample is placed in contact with a 4" diameter stainless steel drum utilizing a 180.degree. wrap angle. One end of the sample is fixed and a 50 g load is placed on the other end of the sample. The lubricated side of the sample is in contact with the drum. The drum is rotated at 10.5"/sec and the friction between the drum and the sample is measured for a 10 minute time period. Desired results are a very flat and low friction (.mu.f) vs time curve for the duration of the test. The test is repeated on three different portions of the coating. Samples that "pass" will endure the entire test, maintaining a low friction. Samples that "fail" show increasing friction with time during the test. The latter indicates insufficient lubrication of the surface of the coating, or a coating with poor physical properties.

The dried transparent magnetic layer of Example 1 had a measured COF of 0.17 and passed the RDFT test, as indicated in Table II.

Solution A is prepared as in example 1. Solution B consists of a 0.56 wt % poly(stearyl oxazoline) polymer in a 50/50 mixture of methylene chloride and isobutyl alcohol. The poly(stearyl oxazoline) is the lubricating species. The solution is coated to give a nominal dry thickness of poly(stearyl oxazoline) of 0.03 microns.

Poly(stearyl oxazoline) is synthesized as follows. The monomer was prepared in three steps by converting methyl stearate to 2-hydroxyethyl stearamide and then to 2-chloroethyl stearamide followed by ring closure to the oxazoline. Polymerization was carried out in DMAc at 110.degree. C. using 7 mole % ethyl triflate as the initiator. Final weight average molecular weight (weight average molecular weight in polystyrene equivalents) was about 8000, with a narrow molecular weight distribution of 1.23. The poly(stearyl oxazoline) has a peak melting temperature above 70.degree. C. ##STR12## The dried transparent magnetic layer of Example 2 had a measured COF of 0.24 and passed the RDFT test, as indicated in Table II.

Table II lists the results for other examples and comparative examples that were prepared as in Example 1, differing only by the composition of Solution B.

EXP-58 was purchased from Genesee Polymers Corporation, Flint, Mich. It has a peak melting temperature of 43.degree. C. and a polystyrene equivalent weight average molecular weight of 18,000, and contains some low molecular weight fraction.

The examples and comparative examples of Tables II and III illustrate that high molecular weight and crystallinity are required to provide a lubricant with acceptable COF and good durability as shown by RDFT.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.