Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerizable coating composition suitable for the manufacture of printing plates, which may be developable on-press. The coating composition comprises (i) a polymerizable compound and (ii) a polymeric binder comprising polyethylene oxide segments, wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of at least one graft copolymer comprising a main chain polymer and polyethylene oxide side chains, a block copolymer having at least one polyethylene oxide block and at least one non-polyethylene oxide block, and a combination thereof. The invention is also directed to an imageable element comprising a substrate and the polymerizable coating composition.

Abstract: A method for forming an image useful as a lithographic printing plate is disclosed. The imageable precursor comprises a water solubilized phenolic resin made up of an insoluble phenolic resin and a surfactant. The precursor can be imaged with an imaging solution, either off press or on press, using ink jet imaging techniques. The resulting imaged precursor can be developed using an aqueous liquid, such as water or a fountain solution, either off press or on press.

Abstract: Multilayer, positive working, thermally imageable, bakeable imageable elements are disclosed. The elements have a substrate, an underlayer, and a top layer. The underlayer comprises a resin or resins having activated methylol and/or activated alkylated methylol groups, such as a resole resin, and a polymeric material that comprises, in polymerized form about 5 mol % to about 30 mol % of methacrylic acid; about 20 mol % to about 75 mol % of N-phenylmaleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide, N-benzylmaleimide, or a mixture thereof; optionally, about 5 mol % to about 50 mol % of methacrylamide; and about 3 mol % to about 50 mol % of a compound represented by the formula: CH2C(R2)C(O)NHCH2OR1, in which R1 is C1 to C12 alkyl, phenyl, C1 to C12 substituted phenyl, C1 to C12 aralkyl, or Si(CH3)3; and R2 is H or methyl. The elements produce bakeable lithographic printing plates that are resistant to press chemistries.

Abstract: Thermally imageable elements useful as on-press developable lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The elements comprise a substrate and a layer of an imageable composition over the substrate. The imageable composition comprises a photothermal conversion material, particles of a polyurethane polymer, and, optionally, a water soluble polymer. The polyurethane polymer comprises urethane linkages in the main chain, but does not comprise side chain urethane groups.

Abstract: Thermally imageable, positive working, multilayer imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The elements comprise a substrate; an underlayer over the substrate; a top layer over the underlayer, and a photothermal conversion material. The top layer comprises a binder and an ionic liquid. A preferred binder is poly(methyl methacrylate).

Abstract: The present invention includes a two-layer imageable element, including: a substrate, a top layer including a first thermally imageable composition including (a) a first thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer or (b) a thermally imageable composition free of the first thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer; and disposed between the substrate and the top layer, a bottom layer including a second thermally imageable composition, which includes a second thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer. The present invention also includes a method of producing the imaged element.

Abstract: Multilayer, positive working, thermally imageable elements are disclosed. The elements produce bakeable lithographic printing plates that are resistant to press chemistries. The elements have a substrate, an underlayer, and a top layer. The underlayer comprises a resin or resins having activated methylol and/or activated alkylated methylol groups, such as a resole resin, and a polymeric material that comprises, in polymerized form, (a) methacrylic acid; (b) N-phenylmaleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide, N-benzylmaleimide, or a mixture thereof; and (c) one or more monomers of the structure: in which: R1 is H or methyl; X is —(CH2)n—, where n is an integer from 2 to 12; —(CH2—CH2—O)p—CH2—CH2—, where p is an integer from 1 to 3; or —Si(R?)(R?)— where R? and R? are each independently methyl or ethyl; and m is 1, 2, or 3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation-curable composition which includes a cyanoacrylate component or a cyanoacrylate-containing formulation, a metallocene component, a hydrogen abstraction photoinitiator, and hydrogen donor component to enhance the activity of the hydrogen abstraction photoinitiator.

Abstract: Thermally imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The elements comprise a top layer over a support. The top layer comprises a phenolic resin and an ionic liquid.

Abstract: Thermally imageable elements and methods for their preparation and use are disclosed. The elements contain, in order, a substrate; an underlayer; and an ink-repellent layer. The underlayer contains a crosslinked allyl functional polyurethane. A photothermal conversion material is present in either in the underlayer or in an absorber layer between the underlayer and the ink-repellent layer. Thermal imaging and development removes the ink-repellent layer and reveals the underlayer in the exposed regions to form an imaged element useful as a waterless lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative-working radiation imageable lithographic printing plate precursor, preferably having only two polymeric layers on a support. The first (bottom) layer is composed of oleophilic polymers and a photothermal converter which converts radiation to heat. The second polymeric layer (top) is composed of crosslinked hydrophilic polymers which absorb aqueous fountain solution and repel ink. The oleophilic polymers in the first layer contain functional groups are interlayer chemically bonded to the hydrophilic polymer in the second layer to provide interlayer adhesive bonding between the two layers. The plate is imagewise exposed to radiation, such as with an IR laser, resulting in non-ablative adhesion-weakening between the two layers so that the plate can be developed by fountain solution and/or ink on press whereby the top layer in the exposed area is removed on the press to reveal the ink-receptive image area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative-working radiation imageable lithographic printing plate precursor, preferably having only two polymeric layers on a support. The first (bottom) layer is composed of oleophilic polymers and a photothermal converter which converts radiation to heat. The second polymeric layer (top) is composed of crosslinked hydrophilic polymers which absorb aqueous fountain solution and repel ink. The oleophilic polymers in the first layer contain functional groups are interlayer chemically bonded to the hydrophilic polymer in the second layer to provide interlayer adhesive bonding between the two layers.

Abstract: The present invention includes a radiation-imageable element for lithographic printing having a hydrophilic anodized aluminum base with a surface having pores and a image-forming layer having polymer particles coated on the aluminum base. The ratio of the average pore diameter to the average particle diameter is from 0.4:1 to 10:1. The present invention further includes a method of producing the imaged element. The method includes the steps of imagewise exposing the radiation-imageable element to radiation to produce exposed and unexposed regions and contacting the imagewise exposed radiation-imageable element and a developer to remove the exposed or the unexposed regions.

Abstract: Thermally imageable elements and methods for their preparation and use are disclosed. The elements contain, in order, a substrate; an underlayer; and an ink-repellent layer. The underlayer contains a crosslinked allyl functional polyurethane. A photothermal conversion material is present in either in the underlayer or in an absorber layer between the underlayer and the ink-repellent layer. Thermal imaging and development removes the ink-repellent layer and reveals the underlayer in the exposed regions to form an imaged element useful as a waterless lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: The present invention includes an imageable element, which includes a sheet substrate, an imaging layer and a silicone layer, which comprises a crosslinked silicone polymer. The crosslinked silicone polymer is the curing product of a vinyl functional polysiloxane copolymer and a hydrosiloxane compound. The curing is catalyzed by a platinum carbonyl complex. Upon imagewise exposure and development, an imaged element is obtained, which is mounted on a dry printing press containing lithographic ink and used to produce printed stock.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation-curable composition which includes a cyanoacrylate component or a cyanoacrylate-containing formulation, a metallocene component, a hydrogen abstraction photoinitiator, and hydrogen donor component to enhance the activity of the hydrogen abstraction photoinitiator.

Abstract: The present invention includes an imageable element, comprising a substrate and a thermally imageable composition which includes a graft copolymer having hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments. Upon imagewise exposure to thermal energy, the graft copolymer produces exposed regions that are less soluble in a developer than the unexposed regions. Also included is a method of producing an imaged element which includes a graft copolymer according to the present invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to an imageable element that can be imaged and developed to produce a printing plate. The imageable element comprises a substrate and a radiation-sensitive imageable composition applied to the substrate. The imageable composition comprises (a) a first layer having (i) a photosensitive composition which undergoes a decrease in solubility in developer upon absorption of actinic radiation and (ii) an inhibitor, and (b) a second layer comprising an ink-repellent polymeric material. In one embodiment, the inhibitor is activated by heat or radiation of longer wavelength than actinic radiation. Upon activation, the inhibitor retards the solubility decrease of the photosensitive composition upon absorption of actinic radiation. In another embodiment, the inhibitor initially retards the solubility decrease of the photosensitive composition upon absorption of actinic radiation.

Abstract: The present invention also includes an imageable element, comprising a substrate and a thermally imageable composition comprising a thermally sensitive polymer which exhibits an increased solubility in an aqueous developer solution upon heating. The thermally sensitive polymer includes at least one covalently bonded unit and at least one thermally reversible non-covalently bonded unit, which includes a two or more centered H-bond within each of the non-covalently bonded unit. The present invention also includes a method of producing the imaged element. The present invention still further includes a thermally imageable composition comprising comprising a thermally sensitive polymer according to the present invention and a process for preparing the thermally sensitive polymer, which is a supramolecular polymer.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of preparing an inkjet ink imaged lithographic printing plate, comprising the steps of: imagewise applying onto a substrate coated with an inkjet ink reactive coating composition comprising a diazonium material, an inkjet ink to produce an imaged coated substrate wherein the inkjet ink imaged regions are oleophilic and more developer-insoluble than non-imaged regions; and contacting said imaged and non-imaged regions of said an imaged coated substrate and an aqueous developer to selectively remove said coating from said developer soluble non-imaged regions. The present invention also includes a lithographic printing plate, such as an inkjet ink imaged lithographic printing plate, which is prepared by the method of the present invention.