9-14 Process ECP-2E Specifications
Chemical Supplies and Substitutions
Ferric nitrate is supplied in crystalline form as nonahydrate
or dissolved in water as a 35 or 45% solution. Various
bromides, carbonates, and hydroxides may be used
interchangeably provided attention is given to effluent
requirements and various molecular weights and activities
are compensated. The following multipliers may be used to
calculate between formulations:
• One gram of ferric nitrate nonahydrate = 1.31 mL of 35%
= 0.93 mL of 45% solution
• One gram of ammonium bromide = 1.21 grams KBr =
1.05 grams NaBr
• One mL of 50% NaOH = 1.64 mL 45% KOH
If the odor or handling of acetic acid is a problem or
undesirable, solid chemicals may be substituted. They are
added as follows:
One mL of glacial acetic acid is equivalent to 1.05 grams
of glacial acetic acid. One milliliter of glacial acetic acid can
then be replaced by 1.35 grams of ammonium acetate. In
potassium formulations, one mL of glacial acetic acid can be
replaced with 1.71 grams of potassium acetate. The
ammonium formulation is compensated by removing 2.2 mL
of 28% ammonium hydroxide per mL of acetic acid from the
formulation. The potassium formulation gets compensated
by 1.49 mL of 45% potassium hydroxide for each mL of
glacial acetic acid removed. This calculation is illustrated in
the following example:
Formula calls for 10 mL of glacial acetic acid and
30 m L of 28% ammonium hydroxide. Substituting for
10 mL of acetic: 10 mL x 1.35 grams ammonium
acetate per gram acetic = 13.5 grams ammonium
acetate. The amount of ammonium hydroxide to
subtract is: 2.2 mL ammon ium hydroxide per mL of
acetic or 2.2 x 10 = 22mL. The formula becomes zero
acetic acid, 13.5 grams of ammonium acetate and 8 mL
of ammonium hydroxide
Drying Specifications
Drying photographic film depends on time in the dryer, the
geometry of the dryer, the pattern of air flow and/or
impingement on the film, the volume of air flow, the
humidity and temperature of the air in the drying cabinet, and
the efficiency of the final squeegee before the dryer. The
optimum conditions for drying film must be determined for
each processor, making allowance for film moisture content
and static buildup.
Adequate drying of color print film can be achieved in 3
to 5 minutes using an impingement dryer with the following
specifications:
Specifications for the dryer input air are in Tables 9-3, 9-4,
and 9-5. A nonimpingement dryer can be used if the drying
time is increased to 5 to 7 minutes and the air going into the
dryer is maintained at the specifications in Tables 9-3, 9-4,
or 9-5.
Upon cooling to room temperature after leaving the dryer,
the film should have a moisture content at equilibrium with
air at 50 percent relative humidity.
Turbulation Specifications
Turbulators are essential in the recirculation system for
Process ECP-2E developer to provide uniform film
processing. The turbulators are submerged in the solution
and are located in such a way that the recirculated solution
impinges uniformly over the full width of the film strand.
The requirements for solution turbulation are dependent
on film transport speed. Machines with lower speeds will
require more turbulation than faster machines. Good process
uniformity can be achieved at a film speed of 165 ft/min
(50 m/min) using the design guidelines in Module 2,
Equipment and Procedures, Table 2-2, Developer
Turbulation Design Guidelines, Process ECN-2, ECP-2E,
D-96 and D-97. Precise turbulation design must be
determined specifically for a particular processing machine
to provide for good uniformity of development. The
guidelines in Module 2 give helpful starting points for such
designs. Backup rollers opposite the turbulators may be
necessary depending on strand tension, strand length, film
format, and nozzle pressure.
Hole diameter 6.4 mm (0.25 in)
Spacing between holes 57 mm (2.25 in.)
Film-to-plenum distance 21 mm (0.81 in.)