The thermal positive then (and still is to some extent) had a weak surface susceptible to scratch. The analog positive plate for example could be processed number of times in a processor without showing any sign of scratch while positive thermal plate could be easily scratched even after the second pass through the processor. JB Huang then made a significant observation saying if the analog positive coating is so resistant why not use it as the top coating and that was exactly the way the final Taj Mahal formulation was approached. Commercialization had to wait long after the Kodak Polychrome joint venture was formed as the 2nd coating capability came in slowly. Opposition and road blocks offered by Kodak technical/commercial people to the project did not help speed up the project either. But the merit of Taj Mahal was gradually appreciated, gained momentum, manufacturing capability added and further research made especially in Gunma. The Taj Mahal is now trade named Sword and is one of the major product line within Kodak worldwide.
Polychrome Corporation, a brainchild of Mr. Halpern, is now a major part of Kodak Co. and continues to live on. But the small company spirit died on Jan 1. 1998 when the company became a part of DIC-Kodak joint venture. This blog is dedicated to the memory of those who proudly call themselves "Polychromer". ..... Ken Shimazu shimazukenichi@gmail.com
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Taj Mahal, Jay, Nick and JB
In one of the weekly "donuts" technology review I lamented the fact that our positive thermal plate was not robust; the coating is attacked by developer and if we make the coating stronger, the development speed goes way down.... and wished we could have a developer resistant layer on top. Obviously a lot of technical people realized this and came up with many solutions including creating barrier with moisture absorption, surfactant in the coating which migrates to the top, etc. Jay Patel's solution was simple, overcoat thermal positive with a developer resistant layer. He and Nick Merchant came back with a two layer structure which could be soaked in the developer, have the developer penetrate the layers and and the coating brushed off in the rinsing section. This was brilliant as it minimized the use of developer to a bare minimum. But the solid particle collection in the water rinse section proved to be a problems. Jay then made a very significant observation that the plate with certain composition could be developed with a negative type developer. The positive thermal plate was just like a typical conventional positive plate requiring highly alkaline positive type developer which must be controlled on daily basis. European and Japanese customers are used to this control but not the North American customers majority of who are accustomed to using negative and more tolerant developers. Thus the Polychrome's first two layer positive thermal plate with negative developer was born. In honor of Jay and Nick who originated this work we started to use the code name Taj Mahal (Tore Harms is credited to picking this rather unusual two word code name.)