Alum Hardener formulas for use BEFORE developing on soft emulsions?

chakra · Oct 20, 2011

Hi,
Are there any film hardener formulas based on non volatile not very toxic reagents (alums, aluminium chloride etc) that can be used BEFORE the developing step to harden films with softer emulsions (Efke etc).

The film developing cookbook gives a glutaraldehyde formula but I would like to avoid aldehydes in a home darkroom if possible.

I would like to put the hardening step at the very beginning, if possible, but I can't find any potassium or chrome alum based formulas for the purpose.

Thanks,
Santanu

Ian Grant · Oct 20, 2011

You could convert your developewr to a tropical developer by adding Sodium Sulphate, alternately use a hardening stop bath which is Chrome alum solution.

I use EFKE films with no hardener and no issues, using a Pyro heveloper helps as it tans and hardens the film during development. Before EFKE imroved their emulsion hardening I used to add a few drops of Formaldehyde to the developer to aid hardening & reduce swelling (that was back in the 1970's).

Ian

Rick A · Oct 20, 2011

My choice as well, Pyrocat-HD tans the emulsion and makes it even more resistant to damage than it already is.

Роберт · Oct 20, 2011

With a reel development even Efke films are not a real problem. Formalin 37% works OK in an Alkaline environment. So adding a very small volume to the developer works very well. Often Rodinal is used for Efke films and this contains Sodium Hydroxide in a high level.

Greetz,

Роберт

Vaughn · Oct 20, 2011

I believe the alum hardeners are fairly slow acting, thus may not be what you are looking for.

Ian Grant · Oct 20, 2011

Vaughn said:
I believe the alum hardeners are fairly slow acting, thus may not be what you are looking for.

They also need acidic conditions to work and that's not a great idea before a developer.

Ian

chakra · Oct 20, 2011

@Ian - Thanks for the detailed response describing your experience with the film. Did you see any evidence of fog with the formaldehyde you added. I may give this a shot with glutaraldehyde. The cookbook mentions that you can add glutaraldehyde to the developer itself but I was worried it might fog the film.

@ Rick and Ian - Yeah ... I've been wondering about Pyro developers for this purpose but I've never used them. I like rodinal with Efke films a lot ... but I should try pyro without stressing about toxicity.

@Vaughn - How many minutes do you think alum hardeners would need if used as a presoak? I don't know the chemistry but since most fixers are done in less than 10 minutes I imagine a 10 minute presoak would give decent hardening. What I am worried about is the prehardener interfering with the developer.

Thanks for your responses.

chakra · Oct 20, 2011

I was worried about the acidic conditions. What if I give a good rinse in water? But the presoak times would be getting up there.

Vaughn · Oct 20, 2011

For Alums, I believe it would be in hours, not minutes, thus not practical for film as a pre-hardener. My experience with potassium alum has been with hardening the gelatin of carbon prints.

Роберт · Oct 20, 2011

For making a 0,1% Formaline solution you need 2,7ml 37% Formaldehyde in 1 ltr. water/developer. So for a 500ml roll film tank add 1,35ml.

Роберт

chakra · Oct 21, 2011

Vaughn said:
For Alums, I believe it would be in hours, not minutes, thus not practical for film as a pre-hardener. My experience with potassium alum has been with hardening the gelatin of carbon prints.

Why do the alums work post development then in only a few minutes? Or do they not work very efficiently?

holmburgers · Oct 21, 2011

For what it's worth, in developing holography plates for Lippmann pictures, it's recommended to use a 10% chrome alum bath for 10 minutes before development.

SO, with that in mind, I don't see why this wouldn't work ok for you.

Rick A · Oct 21, 2011

chakra said:
@ Rick and Ian - Yeah ... I've been wondering about Pyro developers for this purpose but I've never used them. I like rodinal with Efke films a lot ... but I should try pyro without stressing about toxicity.

Thanks for your responses.

The only thing I do different from other developers is wear a nitrile glove on my hand that I agitate the tank with as it leaks slightly. I buy liquid Pyrocat-HD from Formulary so no problems with dust. I don't believe there is any difference between glycol and water mix except longevity, if you use enough that isn't a problem.

Vaughn · Oct 21, 2011

chakra said:
Why do the alums work post development then in only a few minutes? Or do they not work very efficiently?

That's not my understanding, which is chemically weak, I must admit. My Alum'ed and washed carbon prints are still very soft until dry. One only soaks them in Alum for a several minutes, but they don't fully harden until dry.

I have only used Efke films in 11x14 -- no special problems with scratches.

Ian Grant · Oct 21, 2011

chakra said:
Why do the alums work post development then in only a few minutes? Or do they not work very efficiently?

Told you that at the start they are in acid fixer solutions.

Ian

Alum Hardener formulas for use BEFORE developing on soft emulsions?

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