Abstract: A flexography substrate for making I-plates with liquid photopolymers has, in addition to the tie-coat applied to one side to hold the photopolymers in place on the substrate, an adhesive layer applied to the other side. A clear release liner is applied to the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer adhering less firmly to the release liner than to the substrate. An inkjet-receptive coating is applied to the clear release liner. The masking image for the I-plate is applied to the clear release liner using an inkjet printer. After the substrate has been used to make a flexographic plate, the release liner is peeled off of the adhesive layer. The flexographic plate can then be applied to a print roll without the step of manually applying adhesive to it.

Abstract: The objective is to provide a direct drawing-type waterless lithographic printing original plate which is highly sensitive and is not susceptible to formation of blisters, namely a direct drawing-type waterless lithographic printing original plate which has a wide latitude. Provided is a direct drawing-type waterless lithographic printing original plate which has at least a heat-sensitive layer and a silicone rubber layer on a substrate in this order. The direct drawing-type waterless lithographic printing original plate is characterized in that the heat-sensitive layer contains non-photosensitive particles and the average particle diameter of the non-photosensitive particles is not less than ½ of the average film thickness of a portion of the heat-sensitive layer where the non-photosensitive particles are not present.

Abstract: Following imagewise exposure of a sandwiched photopolymer layer, the outer layers between which the photopolymer is interposed are separated in a manner that leaves some photopolymer on each of the separated layers. The photopolymer remaining on one layer contains the raised pattern that will carry ink, and may be subjected to further exposure to actinic radiation in order to complete the curing process without the need for washing; the photopolymer remaining on the other layer can be removed and reused. As a result, waste is minimized or eliminated.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate including the steps of a) image-wise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a light or heat sensitive coating on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and b) processing the precursor consecutively with a first solution and a second solution thereby removing the coating from the support in the non-printing areas. The first and second solutions are provided by a cascade system such that the second solution overflows into the first solution and the first solution overflows into a container to be further treated as waste, and the second solution is regenerated by adding a replenishing solution or a mixture of replenishing solutions at a rate of at least 5 ml/m2 of treated precursor and at most 30 ml/m2 of treated precursor.

Abstract: A process for making a lithographic printing plate enables a one-bath processable lithographic printing plate having excellent printing durability, ink laydown and resistance to staining during printing. The process includes a step of producing a negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor having, above a support, a photopolymerizable photosensitive layer containing a vinylcarbazole compound-derived monomer unit-containing acrylic polymer and/or a urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer, a step of image-wise exposing the negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor, and a step of developing the exposed negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor by means of a developer having a pH of 4 to 10, comprising (Component A) a compound represented by Formula (I) and/or Formula (II) below and (Component B) water, and having an organic solvent content of less than 5 mass %. The process does not comprise a washing step or a gumming step before or after the development step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition of liquid crystal medium. The composition of liquid crystal medium includes a negative type liquid crystal material, a stabilizer, one or more than one type of polymerizable monomers capable of forming a polymerization under ultraviolent irradiation and a polymerizable photo-initiator; wherein a structural formula of the polymerizable monomers comprises at least one aromatic ring and at least a polymerizable group connected to the aromatic ring. In the composition of liquid crystal medium according to the present invention, a structural formula of the polymerizable monomers includes at least one aromatic ring and at least a polymerizable group connected to the aromatic ring, and a structural formula of the polymerizable photo-initiator includes a benzene ring or cyclohexane so as to provide a broader conjugate system than conventional photo-initiators.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an imageable layer comprising a free radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating free radicals upon exposure to imaging infrared radiation, an infrared radiation absorbing dye that is defined by Structure (I) shown in the disclosure, which dyes comprise one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable groups in an organic group that is attached to the methine chain. These infrared radiation absorbing dyes exhibit a reduced tendency to crystallize in the imageable layers in the presence of tetraaryl borate counter anions and therefore provide improved shelf life.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a printing form precursor, a method of preparing a printing form from the precursor, and a process of preparing the precursor. The printing form precursor includes a photopolymerizable layer, an elastomeric layer having at least an elastomeric binder and particulate, and an actinic radiation opaque material on, adjacent, or disposed above the elastomeric layer opposite the photopolymerizable layer. The particulate is selected from specific material particles having an average diameter from 1 to 10 micron and a refractive index that is within 0.04 units of an index of refraction of the composition forming the elastomeric layer.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal compound having a large positive value of dielectric anisotropy and a small viscosity. The compound is represented by formula (1): wherein, in formula (1), R1 is alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons or the like; ring A1 is 1,4-cyclohexylene or the like; ring A2 is 1,4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene or the like; ring A3 is 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,6-difluoro-1,4-phenylene or the like; and X1 is halogen, alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons or the like, and in the alkyl, at least one of hydrogen may be replaced by halogen.

Abstract: Electrochemically grained and anodized aluminum supports are treated with a post-treatment coating solution containing a polymer derived at least in part from vinyl phosphonic acid and phosphoric acid. This post-treated support is useful as substrates in the preparation of lithographic printing plate precursors. The post-treatment substrate treatment enables wide latitude in manufacturing and compatibility with silicate-free developers to achieve negligible background staining and oxide attack.

Abstract: A process for making a lithographic printing plate is provided that includes a step of producing a negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising, above a support, a photopolymerizable photosensitive layer comprising a vinylcarbazole compound-derived monomer unit-containing acrylic polymer and/or a urethane-acrylic hybrid polymer, a step of imagewise exposing the negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor, and a step of developing the exposed negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor using a developer comprising (Component A) an organic solvent having a solubility in water at 20° C. of 1.5 to 7.0 g/100 mL, (Component B) an amphoteric surfactant represented by Formula (I) below and/or Formula (II) below, and (Component C) water.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition and an AM liquid crystal display device are described. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having a small viscosity as a first component, may further contain a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a second component and a specific compound having a small viscosity as a third component, and has a negative dielectric anisotropy and a ratio of rotational viscosity to an elastic constant in the range of 4.2 GPa·s/N or lower. The liquid crystal display device includes the composition.

Abstract: A relief printing form is prepared from a photosensitive element. An in-situ mask is formed and disposed above a photopolymerizable layer of the photosensitive element, the element is exposed to actinic radiation through the in-situ mask in an environment having an inert gas and a concentration of oxygen between about 30,000 ppm and about 7500 ppm to form at least a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion of the layer, and the exposed element is processed by treating with at least one washout solution selected from solvent solution, aqueous solution, semi-aqueous solution, or water.

Abstract: A method of making a planographic printing plate includes exposing, to infrared light, a planographic printing plate precursor including a recording layer provided on a substrate, and developing the precursor using an aqueous alkaline solution. The recording layer comprises a copolymer containing a structural unit derived from (meth)acrylonitrile and at structural unit derived from styrene, a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, and an infrared absorbing agent, the solubility of the recording layer in the aqueous alkaline solution being increased by the exposure. The aqueous alkaline solution has a pH of 8.5 to 10.8 and contains a betaine-based amphoteric surfactant and an ammonium salt represented by Formula (I): R1, R2, R3, and R4 each independently represent an alkyl or aryl group; the total number of carbon atoms in R1, R2, R3, and R4 is not more than 20; and X? represents a counter anion.

Abstract: A method of thermally developing a photocurable printing blank to produce a relief image comprising a plurality of relief dots is provided. The photocurable printing blank comprises a backing layer having at least one photocurable layer disposed thereon. The method includes the steps of (1) laminating an oxygen barrier membrane to a top of the photocurable layer; (2) placing a negative of the desired relief image on top of the oxygen barrier membrane; (3) exposing the printing blank to actinic radiation through the oxygen barrier and negative to crosslink and cure portions of the at least one photocurable layer, creating the relief pattern; (4) removing the oxygen barrier membrane and negative from the top of the at least one photocurable layer; and (5) developing the printing blank to reveal the relief image. The presence of the oxygen barrier membrane produces dots having desired characteristics. The negative itself can be used as the oxygen barrier layer.

Abstract: A method for forming an image on a flexographic plate includes exposing a back of the flexographic plate to form a floor; providing a screened image; locating isolated dots on the screened image; exposing a front of the flexographic plate to form the image, isolated dots and scaffold dots adjacent to the isolated dots; wherein the scaffold dots do not extend to the floor; and applying a solvent to wash away the unexposed material and the scaffold dots from the flexographic plate.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support and one or more layers, one of the one or more layers is a photosensitive layer containing an initiator compound, a polymerizable compound and a binder polymer, and a layer being in contact with the support of the one or more layers contains a copolymer containing a repeating unit having a zwitterionic structure and a repeating unit having a structure capable of interacting with a surface of the support.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a relief printing form from a photosensitive element. The method includes forming an in-situ mask disposed above a photopolymerizable layer of the photosensitive element, exposing the element to actinic radiation through the in-situ mask in an environment having an inert gas and a concentration of oxygen between about 50,000 ppm and about 2000 ppm to form at least a polymerized portion and an unpolymerized portion of the layer, and treating by heating the exposed element to a temperature sufficient to cause the unpolymerized portion to melt, soften, or flow.

Abstract: A process for making a lithographic printing plate that includes in sequence an exposure step of imagewise exposing by means of an infrared laser a lithographic printing plate precursor that has provided above a support a positive-working recording layer including (Component A) a (meth)acrylonitrile-derived monomer unit- and styrene-derived monomer unit-containing copolymer, (Component B) a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, and (Component C) an infrared absorbing agent and a development step of developing, using an aqueous alkali solution including a betaine-based surfactant or a nonionic surfactant, the aqueous alkali solution having a pH of 8.5 to 10.8, by removing an exposed area of the positive-working recording layer whose solubility in aqueous alkali solution has been increased by the exposure. There is also provided a lithographic printing plate made by the process for making a lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: Negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor a negative-working imageable layer and an outermost water-soluble overcoat layer that is disposed directly on the negative-working imageable layer. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer comprises: (1) one or more film-forming water-soluble polymeric binders, (2) organic wax particles, and (3) non-wax matte particles. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer has a dry thickness (t) that is defined by the following equation (I): t=w/r wherein w is the dry coverage of the outermost water-soluble overcoat layer in g/m2, and r is 1 g/cm3. The organic wax particles have an average largest dimension D(wax) that is less than 0.9 of t (in ?m), and the non-wax matte particles have an average largest dimension D(matte) that defined by the following equation (II): 1.5 times t?D(matte)?40 times t(in ?m).