Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, an infrared light absorbing dye and a dye; wherein said dye has a specified structure and a most bathochromic light absorption peak between 451 nm and 750 nm.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor comprising on a grained and anodized aluminum support a compound which is capable of converting form a hydrophobic state to a hydrophilic state or vice versa upon exposure to heat, and is represented by the following formula: A-(L)n-B wherein L represents a linking group, n represents 0 or 1 and B represents a thermo-labile group; characterized in that the compound further comprises the group A which is a functional group capable of interacting with the surface of a grained and anodized aluminum support and is selected from the list consisting of a halosilanyl group, an alkoxysilanyl group, a phosphonic acid group or a salt thereof, a phosphoric acid group or a salt thereof, a salicylic acid group or a salt thereof, a boronic acid group or an ester or a salt thereof, an optionally substituted di or tri-hydroxyaryl group, an optionally substituted salicaldoxime group, an optionally substituted salicaldimine group, an optionally substituted hydroxyheteroa

Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared light absorbing dye; characterized in that: said image-recording layer further comprises a compound, said compound comprising an aromatic moiety and at least one acidic group or salt thereof and having a most bathochromic light absorption peak at a wavelength between 300 nm and 450 nm.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a binder, and an infrared absorbing dye; wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle diameter, measured by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, of more than 10 nm and less than 40 nm; the amount of the IR-dye, without taking into account an optional counter ion, is more than 0.80 mg per m2 of the total surface of the thermoplastic polymer particles, measured by Hydrodynamic Fractionation; and the amount of hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles relative to the total weight of the ingredients of the imaging layer is at least 60%.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye, and more particularly a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor includes the IR dye. A method for making the lithographic printing plate produces a print-out image of high contrast upon exposure to IR-radiation or heating.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye having a structure according to Formula I, wherein at least one of the Rd groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-donor than the Rd; or wherein at least one of the Ra groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-acceptor than the Ra. The imaging element is able to form a visible print-out image with a high contrast directly after image-wise exposure by IR-radiation or heating.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of (i) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a coating, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a binder, and an infrared absorbing dye, wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle diameter, measured by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, of more than 10 nm and less than 40 nm, and the amount of the IR-dye, without taking into account an optional counter ion, is more than 0.70 mg per m2 of the total surface of the thermoplastic polymer particles, measured by Hydrodynamic Fractionation, and the amount of hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles relative to the total weight of the ingredients of the imaging layer is at least 60%; (ii) exposing the precursor to infrared light; and (iii) developing the exposed precursor in an alkaline aqueous solution.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including an imaging layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the imaging layer and the support, wherein the imaging layer includes a switchable polymer, b) image-wise exposing the coating, whereby the polymer undergoes a chemical reaction induced by the exposing step thereby creating a lithographic image consisting of printing areas and non-printing areas wherein the non-printing areas are removable from the support by a gum solution, and c) developing the precursor by treating the coating of the precursor with the gum solution thereby removing the non-printing areas.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate precursor includes the steps of coating a composition having a pH?5 on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, the composition including hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles stabilized with an anionic dispersant, a hydrophilic binder and colloidal silica, characterized in that the silica carries a negative charge; and drying the coated composition.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising the steps of: (i) providing a grained and anodized aluminum support; (ii) treating the support with an aqueous solution comprising a salt of zirconium; (iii) treating the support with an aqueous solution comprising a compound comprising a phosphonic acid group and/or an ester or a salt thereof; (iv) applying a coating comprising hydrophobic particles and a binder; (v) drying said coating.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye having a structure according to Formula I, wherein at least one of the Rd groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-donor than the Rd; or wherein at least one of the Ra groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-acceptor than the Ra. The imaging element is able to form a visible print-out image with a high contrast directly after image-wise exposure by IR-radiation or heating.

Abstract: According to the present invention a non-ablative, negative-working, heat-sensitive printing plate precursor is disclosed capable of switching from a hydrophilic state into a hydrophobic state upon exposure to heat and/or infrared light. The printing plate precursor is obtainable by the method comprising the step of providing on a support a titanium oxide layer by reactive physical vacuum deposition of titanium, characterised in that said vacuum deposition is carried out under a partial oxygen pressure of 10% or more and less than 25%.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate including the steps of providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a heat sensitive image-recording layer, the image-recording layer including hydrophobic thermoplastic particles; image-wise exposing the precursor to infrared radiation having an energy density of 190 mJ/cm2 or less; mounting the exposed precursor on a printing press; developing the mounted precursor by supplying ink and/or fountain; and baking the plate by keeping the plate at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic particles during a period between 5 seconds and 2 minutes.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye, and more particularly a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor includes the IR dye. A method for making the lithographic printing plate produces a print-out image of high contrast upon exposure to IR-radiation or heating.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer; and an image-recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, an infrared light absorbing dye and a dye; wherein said dye has a specified structure and a most bathochromic light absorption peak between 451 nm and 750 nm.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor include a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a binder, and an infrared absorbing dye; wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle diameter, measured by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, of more than 10 nm and less than 40 nm; the amount of the IR-dye, without taking into account an optional counter ion, is more than 0.80 mg per m2 of the total surface of the thermoplastic polymer particles, measured by Hydrodynamic Fraction; and—the amount of hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles relative to the total weight of the ingredients of the imaging layer is at least 60-%.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of (i) providing a negative-working, heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a binder, and an infrared absorbing dye, wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle diameter, measured by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, of more than 10 nm and less than 40 nm, and the amount of the IR-dye, without taking into account an optional counter ion, is more than 0.

Abstract: A metal chalcogenide composite nano-particle comprising a metal capable of forming p-type semiconducting chalcogenide nano-particles and a metal capable of forming n-type semiconducting chalcogenide nano-particles, wherein at least one of the metal chalcogenides has a band-gap between 1.0 and 2.9 eV and the concentration of the metal capable of forming p-type semiconducting chalcogenide nano-particles is at least 5 atomic percent of the metal and is less than 50 atomic percent of the metal; a dispersion thereof; a layer comprising the nano-particles; and a photovoltaic device comprising the layer.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including an imaging layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the imaging layer and the support, wherein the imaging layer includes a switchable polymer, b) image-wise exposing the coating, whereby the polymer undergoes a chemical reaction induced by the exposing step thereby creating a lithographic image consisting of printing areas and non-printing areas wherein the non-printing areas are removable from the support by a gum solution, and c) developing the precursor by treating the coating of the precursor with the gum solution thereby removing the non-printing areas.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing an aqueous fluid containing at least 2 weight % of a fluorosurfactant based on the total weight of the aqueous fluid wherein the fluorosurfactant has a phosphorous containing group capable of reacting with the surface of a lithographic printing plate precursor; and b) jetting the aqueous fluid on the surface of a lithographic printing plate precursor.