How to recreate Ilfo/Cibachrome chemistry?

[adamlugi]

Hi , I worked with Cibachrome yesterday.


I got the paper frozen and it seems to be ok. It is black where it should be, but not as thick as it needs to be. My experience tells me that if it was damaged it would be blue instead of black. I used orinal chemicals for developing. And here I see the problem because after a few samples it stopped working.


Can you give me a hint to build it from scratch with chemistry such as P3. Can the fixer be standard and the developer for example from the E6 process? Well, and the question about bleach?

 

[koraks]

Well, and the question about bleach?

You can look up the safety data sheets of the chemistry and then try to work out how to recreate them. This should get you a decent step into the right direction.
Apparently, the bleach is a mixture of sulfuric acid and 3-Nitrobenzenesulfonic acid sodium salt (cas # 127-68-4). The sulfuric acid should be fairly easy to get in the form of battery acid. The nitrobenzene is probably more challenging to obtain.
I've never looked into the cibachrome chemistry very deeply, but AFAIK it's all quite non-standard and specific to this unique paper/medium.

 

[khh]

You could try contacting Christopher Burkett and see if he's willing to share his knowledge with you. AFAIK he's the only one aside from Ilford who knows the formulas.

 

[Rudeofus]

There is an article about amateur processing of Ilfochrome here, in which the discussion at some point covers potential Ilfochrome formulas. No, Ilfochrome is very different from all the other well known color processes (C-41, E-6, RA-4), and the chemistry is completely different. You will not get anything of value with Ilfochrome paper processed in C-41, E-6, or RA-4 process chemistry. Period.

You will have to establish a source for a very weird chemical ingredient, the "bleach accelerator", and you will have to be willing to experiment.

PS: Ilfochrome paper must be 10 years old now - at least - so be prepared for "interesting" or "artistic" colors.

 

[adamlugi]

Hi, paper is frozen all the time

 

[Rudeofus]

Hi, paper is frozen all the time

This doesn't protect it from e.g. alpha radiation. One can only do so much, and Ilfochrome emulsions were about the most difficult ones to begin with.

 

[mshchem]

Most bestest color material ever. I wouldn't mess with it.