Abstract: An infrared radiation-sensitive positive-working imageable element has a substrate and single imageable layer that includes a first polymeric binder having urethane or urea moieties in its backbone. The first polymeric binder is also insoluble in water and soluble in a weakly alkaline solution. This imageable element can be imaged and processed using weakly alkaline processing solutions that are free of silicates and metasilicates, which processing solutions may also be used to “gum” the imaged and developed printing surface.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors have been designed so that they can be stored, shipped, and used in stacks without interleaf paper between individual precursors. This is achieved by incorporating polymeric particles having an average diameter of from about 3 to about 20 ?m into the outermost precursor layer such as an imagable layer or topcoat. The polymeric particles comprise a core of a crosslinked polymer and have grafted hydrophilic polymeric surface groups that are grafted onto the particle surfaces by polymerizing hydrophilic monomers in the presence of the crosslinked polymeric particles. The lithographic printing plates can be either negative- or positive-working elements.

Abstract: A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor can be imaged with infrared radiation and processed in a single step using a single processing solution having a pH of from about 3 to 11. The precursor has a primary polymeric binder that comprises recurring units derived from one or more N-alkoxymethyl(meth)acrylamides, provided that such recurring units are present in the primary polymeric binder in an amount of at least 10% based on the total dry primary polymeric binder weight. In addition, the primary polymeric binder is present in an amount of from about 12 to about 70% based on total imageable layer dry weight. The imaged precursor can be processed off-press or on-press.

Abstract: A substrate useful for forming lithographic printing plate precursors includes a metal or polymer support and an interlayer comprising a trialkoxysilyl polyethylene glycol acrylate having the following Structure (I): wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkenyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy, C1 to C6 acyl, C1 to C6 acyloxy, phenyl, halo, or cyano groups, or R1 and R2 together can form a cyclic group, R3 is hydrogen, or a C1 to C6 alkyl, phenyl, halo, or cyano group, R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen or methyl groups, R6 is hydrogen or a C1 to C12 alkyl group, X1 is —O— or —NR— wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl group, X2 is —NR?— wherein R? is hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl group, m is an integer of from 15 to 200, and n is an integer of from 1 to 12. The lithographic printing plates can be negative-working and particularly useful for on-press development and have a sulfuric acid-anodized aluminum support.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursors have been designed so that they can be stored, shipped, and used in stacks without interleaf paper between individual precursors. This is achieved by incorporating polymeric particles having an average diameter of from about 3 to about 20 ?m into the outermost precursor layer such as an imageable layer or topcoat. The polymeric particles comprise a core of a crosslinked polymer and have grafted hydrophilic polymeric surface groups that are grafted onto the particle surfaces by polymerizing hydrophilic monomers in the presence of the crosslinked polymeric particles. The lithographic printing plates can be either negative- or positive-working elements.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition includes a radically polymerizable component, initiator composition, a radiation absorbing compound, and a polymeric binder having recurring units that are derived from various ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers provided that at least 40 mol % of the recurring units have a tertiary carbon atom in the backbone and the rest of the recurring units have a secondary or quaternary carbon atom in the backbone. This composition can be used to provide negative-working imageable elements that can be imaged and developed to provide lithographic printing plates that have desired imaging speed and excellent run length without the need for a post-exposure backing step.

Abstract: An infrared radiation-sensitive positive-working imageable element has a substrate and single imageable layer that includes a first polymeric binder having urethane or urea moieties in its backbone. The first polymeric binder is also insoluble in water and soluble in a weakly alkaline solution. This imageable element can be imaged and processed using weakly alkaline processing solutions that are free of silicates and metasilicates, which processing solutions may also be used to “gum” the imaged and developed printing surface.

Abstract: A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor can be imaged with infrared radiation and processed in a single step using a single processing solution having a pH of from about 3 to 11. The precursor has a primary polymeric binder that comprises recurring units derived from one or more N-alkoxymethyl(meth)acrylamides, provided that such recurring units are present in the primary polymeric binder in an amount of at least 10% based on the total dry primary polymeric binder weight. In addition, the primary polymeric binder is present in an amount of from about 12 to about 70% based on total imageable layer dry weight. The imaged precursor can be processed off-press or on-press.

Abstract: A substrate useful for forming lithographic printing plate precursors includes a metal or polymer support and an interlayer comprising a trialkoxysilyl polyethylene glycol acrylate having the following Structure (I): wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C6 alkenyl, C1 to C6 alkoxy, C1 to C6 acyl, C1 to C6 acyloxy, phenyl, halo, or cyano groups, or R1 and R2 together can form a cyclic group, R3 is hydrogen, or a C1 to C6 alkyl, phenyl, halo, or cyano group, R4 and R5 are independently hydrogen or methyl groups, R6 is hydrogen or a C1 to C12 alkyl group, X1 is —O— or —NR— wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl group, X2 is —NR?— wherein R? is hydrogen or an alkyl or aryl group, m is an integer of from 15 to 200, and n is an integer of from 1 to 12. The lithographic printing plates can be negative-working and particularly useful for on-press development and have a sulfuric acid-anodized aluminum support.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition includes a radically polymerizable component and an initiator composition capable of generating radicals sufficient to initiate polymerization of the radically polymerizable component upon exposure to imaging radiation. This composition also includes a radiation absorbing compound, a polymeric binder having poly(alkylene glycol) side chains, and a nonionic phosphate acrylate that has a molecular weight of at least 250. This composition can be used to prepare a negative-working imageable element that is sensitive to suitable imaging radiation and can be imaged at relatively low energy, developed either on-press or off-press, and then used for printing without a post-exposure baking step.

Abstract: A positive-working imageable element comprises inner and outer layers and a radiation absorbing compound such as an IR absorbing dye. The inner layer includes a first polymeric material. The ink receptive outer layer includes a second polymeric binder comprising a polymer backbone and an —X—C(=T)-NR—S(?O)2— moiety that is attached to the polymer backbone, wherein —X— is an oxy or —NR?— group, T is O or S, R and R? are independently hydrogen, halo, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. After thermal imaging, the element can be developed using an alkaline developer. Use of the particular second polymeric binder reduces sludging in the developer. Its dissolution rate in the developer is slow enough to resist developer attack in the non-imaged areas of the outer layer but rapid enough for the second polymeric binder to be quickly loosened from imaged areas and kept suspended or dissolved for a considerable time.

Abstract: Both single-layer and multilayer imageable elements have a substrate and at least one imageable layer. The elements can be used to prepare either negative- or positive-working imaged elements, for example as lithographic printing plates. The imageable elements also include a radiation absorbing compound and a solvent-resistant polymer comprising pendant phosphoric acid groups, pendant adamantyl groups, or both. When this polymer comprises pendant adamantyl groups, they are connected to the polymer backbone through a urea or urethane group. The imageable elements have improved chemical resistance and thermal bakeability from the presence of the unique solvent-resistant polymer.

Abstract: A positive-working imageable element comprises inner and outer layers and a radiation absorbing compound such as an IR absorbing dye. The inner layer includes a first polymeric material. The ink receptive outer layer includes a second polymeric binder comprising a polymer backbone and an —X—C(?T)—NR—S(?O)2— moiety that is attached to the polymer backbone, wherein —X— is an oxy or —NR?— group, T is O or S, R and R? are independently hydrogen, halo, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. After thermal imaging, the element can be developed using an alkaline developer. Use of the particular second polymeric binder reduces sludging in the developer. Its dissolution rate in the developer is slow enough to resist developer attack in the non-imaged areas of the outer layer but rapid enough for the second polymeric binder to be quickly loosened from imaged areas and kept suspended or dissolved for a considerable time.

Abstract: Single-layer and multilayer imageable elements have a substrate and at least one imageable layer and can be used to prepare positive-working lithographic printing plates. The imageable elements also include a radiation absorbing compound and a solvent-resistant polymer binder comprising an —N(R)—C(?X)—N(R?)—S(?O)2— moiety that is attached to the polymer backbone, wherein X is O or S, R and R? are independently hydrogen, halo, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. This solvent-resistant polymer binder is located in the imageable layer closest to the substrate and provides improved chemical resistance.

Abstract: A positive-working imageable element comprises inner and outer layers and a radiation absorbing compound such as an IR absorbing dye. The inner layer includes a first polymeric material. The ink receptive outer layer includes a second polymeric binder comprising a polymer backbone and an —X—C(?T)—NR—S(?O)2— moiety that is attached to the polymer backbone, wherein —X— is an oxy or —NR?— group, T is O or S, R and R? are independently hydrogen, halo, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. After thermal imaging, the element can be developed using an alkaline developer. Use of the particular second polymeric binder reduces sludging in the developer. Its dissolution rate in the developer is slow enough to resist developer attack in the non-imaged areas of the outer layer but rapid enough for the second polymeric binder to be quickly loosened from imaged areas and kept suspended or dissolved for a considerable time.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition includes a radically polymerizable component that comprises carboxy groups, an initiator composition to generate radicals, and a polymeric binder comprising poly(alkylene oxide) segments and optionally pendant cyano groups. This composition can be used to prepare imageable elements such as negative-working, on-press developable printing plate precursors.

Abstract: Radiation-sensitive compositions, printing plates containing such compositions, imageable by infrared and ultraviolet/visible radiation and imaging method using same. The compositions comprise a thermal-activated acid generator; a crosslinking resin; a binder resin comprising a polymer containing reactive pendant groups selected from hydroxy, carboxylic acid, sulfonamide, and alkoxymethylamides; an infrared absorber; and optionally a UV/visible radiation-activated acid generator for UV/visible sensitization.