Abstract: Disclosed is a ketal having the formula: wherein R? and R? independently are an alkyl group having from 8 to about 20 carbon atoms; m and n independently are an integer of from 1 to about 200; and r and s independently are an integer of from 1 to 3; and the method for preparing the ketal by transketalization using 1,1-dimethoxycyclohexane or 1,1-diethoxycyclohexane with an (alkoxyphenoxy)ethanol type of surfactant. The ketal is at least partially soluble in water.

Abstract: An infrared sensitive, positive-working, image forming composition and element are disclosed. The image forming composition comprises a 1,1-di[(alkylphenoxy)ethoxy]cyclohexane, an infrared absorbing dye having a maximum absorption peak in the range of from about 700 nm to about 1100 nm, and a novolac polymer. The composition is applied and dried on a planar, hydrophilic substrate to form an image forming element, in particular, a planographic printing plate. Upon imagewise exposure to a near-infrared radiation source, the infrared dye absorbs light in the exposed areas and converts it to heat, which causes a disruption in the matrix of the image forming composition. Upon development with an aqueous alkaline developer, the exposed areas are removed while the nonexposed areas remain, thus forming a positive image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ketal having the formula: wherein R? and R? independently are an alkyl group having from 8 to about 20 carbon atoms; m and n independently are an integer of from 1 to about 200; and r and s independently are an integer of from 1 to 3; and the method for preparing the ketal by transketalization using 1,1-dimethoxycyclohexane or 1,1-diethoxycyclohexane with an (alkoxyphenoxy)ethanol type of surfactant. The ketal is at least partially soluble in water.

Abstract: An infrared sensitive, positive-working, image forming composition and element are disclosed. The image forming composition comprises a 1,1-di[(alkylphenoxy)ethoxy]cyclohexane, an infrared absorbing dye having a maximum absorption peak in the range of from about 700 nm to about 1100 nm, and a novolac polymer. The composition is applied and dried on a planar, hydrophilic substrate to form an image forming element, in particular, a planographic printing plate. Upon imagewise exposure to a near-infrared radiation source, the infrared dye absorbs light in the exposed areas and converts it to heat, which causes a disruption in the matrix of the image forming composition. Upon development with an aqueous alkaline developer, the exposed areas are removed while the nonexposed areas remain, thus forming a positive image.

Abstract: The invention relates to photopolymerizable compositions containing an oxonol dye, which compositions cure by exposure to ultraviolet and/or visible radiation and whose visible color is substantially reduced during exposure. More particularly, the invention pertains to photopolymerizable compositions comprising a pyridin-2,6-dione oxonol dye in an admixture of a polymerizable component and a photopolymerization initiator. Such compositions find use as adhesives, coatings, and the like. The disappearance of the visible color of the oxonol dye acts as an indicator of full cure of a photopolymerizable composition.

Abstract: The invention provides fluorescing compositions which cure by exposure to ultraviolet radiation and contain a europium compound which fluoresces at visible wavelengths. More particularly, the invention pertains to liquid, radiation-curable compositions comprising a substantially homogeneous fluid comprising, a fluorescing europium compound in an admixture of a polymerizable component and a polymerization initiator. Such find use as adhesives, coatings, and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a light guide exposure device comprising light emitting diodes arranged in a single array defining an array width and a flexible light guide having a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end defining a proximal end diameter. The array is positioned in substantial alignment with the light guide proximal end to direct substantially all of the light from the array to the proximal end. There is no optical element between the light emitting diodes and the proximal end which optical element would decrease the intensity of light directed from the light emitting diodes to the proximal end. The array width is substantially equal to the proximal end diameter.

Abstract: The invention provides a light exposure apparatus containing a light exposure control device for curing light sensitive adhesives. The light exposure apparatus includes a) a light source; b) a light transmitter for transmitting light from the light source; and c) a light intensity controlling component between the light source and the light transmitter. The light intensity controlling component includes a light regulator having a planar face between the light source and the light transmitter. The light regulator has opaque members having a continuously tapered width, on the face of the light regulator. Each planar member is spaced from adjacent planar members by a light transparent segment having a tapered width, on the face of the light regulator. The light regulator is mounted such that a portion of the opaque members and portion of the substantially light transparent segments are adjustably positioned between the light source and the light transmitter.

Abstract: The invention provides a light guide exposure device comprising light emitting diodes arranged in a single array defining an array width and a flexible light guide having a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end defining a proximal end diameter. The array is positioned in substantial alignment with the light guide proximal end to direct substantially all of the light from the array to the proximal end. There is no optical element between the light emitting diodes and the proximal end which optical element would decrease the intensity of light directed from the light emitting diodes to the proximal end. The array width is substantially equal to the proximal end diameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to photopolymerizable compositions containing an oxonol dye, which compositions cure by exposure to ultraviolet and/or visible radiation and whose visible color is substantially reduced during exposure. More particularly, the invention pertains to photopolymerizable compositions comprising a pyridin-2,6-dione oxonol dye in an admixture of a polymerizable component and a photopolymerization initiator. Such compositions find use as adhesives, coatings, and the like. The disappearance of the visible color of the oxonol dye acts as an indicator of full cure of a photopolymerizable composition.

Abstract: The invention provides fluorescing compositions which cure by exposure to ultraviolet radiation and contain a europium compound which fluoresces at visible wavelengths. More particularly, the invention pertains to liquid, radiation-curable compositions comprising a substantially homogeneous fluid comprising, a fluorescing europium compound in an admixture of a polymerizable component and a polymerization initiator. Such find use as adhesives, coatings, and the like.

Abstract: The invention provides a light exposure apparatus containing a light exposure control device for curing light sensitive adhesives. The light exposure apparatus includes a) a light source; b) a light transmitter for transmitting light from the light source; and c) a light intensity controlling component between the light source and the light transmitter. The light intensity controlling component includes a light regulator having a planar face between the light source and the light transmitter. The light regulator has opaque members having a continuously tapered width, on the face of the light regulator. Each planar member is spaced from adjacent planar members by a light transparent segment having a tapered width, on the face of the light regulator. The light regulator is mounted such that a portion of the opaque members and portion of the substantially light transparent segments are adjustably positioned between the light source and the light transmitter.

Abstract: This invention relates to positive working, peel apart, photopolymerizable sheet constructions which, upon exposure to an actinic radiation source through a screened image, can accurately reproduce said image. The construction is useful as a color proofing film which can be employed to accurately predict the image quality from a lithographic printing process. The method applies an adhesive to a temporary support and then laminates it to a receiver with removal of the temporary support. A photosensitive layer on a support is laminated to the adhesive, exposed, and peeled apart to form a positive image. Additional adhesive layers and photosensitive layers are similarly processed to provide a full color reproduction.

Abstract: Improved aluminum substrates suitable for use in the production of lithographic printing plates. A surfactant surface treatment for such aluminum substrates improves the quality of radiation sensitive coatings subsequently applied to the substrate. The surfactant may be in a layer comprising a mixture of a hydrophilizing composition and a surfactant on the aluminum alloy surface; or a hydrophilizing layer comprising a hydrophilizing composition may be on the aluminum alloy surface and a surfactant layer comprising a surfactant on the hydrophilizing layer.

Abstract: The mechanical roughening of the surface of a printing plate substrate comprising aluminum or an aluminum alloy is carried out by wet brushing with the use of a cylinder brush 1 in which brush rows 2, 3 having bundles of organic fibers 22 and metal wires 33 are arranged side by side on the surface 7. The suspension used for the wet brushing contains from 5 to 80% by weight of abrasive particles in water.

Abstract: This invention relates to negative working color proofing sheet constructions which, upon exposure to an actinic radiation source through a screened image, can accurately reproduce said image. The construction is useful as a color proofing film which can be employed to accurately predict the image quality from a lithographic printing process. The image is produced by forming a composite of a receiver sheet, an adhesive layer, a color layer and cover sheet. Upon imagewise exposure, a negative image appears on the receiver base after dry peel apart development.

Abstract: The mechanical roughening of the surface of a printing plate substrate comprising aluminum or an aluminum alloy is carried out by wet brushing with the use of a cylinder brush 1 in which brush rows 2, 3 having bundles of organic fibers 22 and metal wires 33 are arranged side by side on the surface 7. The suspension used for the wet brushing contains from 5 to 80% by weight of abrasive particles in water.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved negative-working or positive-working, single sheet color proofing method which can accurately reproduce images by using colored, photosensitive layers on substrates which are then overcoated with partially developable adhesive layers. The final construction is useful in predicting the image quality from a lithographic printing process. The partial removal of the adhesive layers cleans out any background stain which may remain from the incomplete removal of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A photosensitive material for the production of color proofing films for multicolor printing, having(A) a transparent, flexible film support,(B) a photopolymerizable layer which contains(B1) a polymeric binder,(B2) a free-radical-polymerizable compound,(B3) a substituted bistrihalomethyl-s-triazine having an absorption maximum in the range from 300 to 380 nm and an absorbance of greater than 11,000 at the absorption maximum, and an absorbance of less than 1400 at 400 nm and above, as photoinitiator, and(B4) a dye or a colored pigment in a primary color of multicolor printing, and(C) a thermoplastic adhesive layer on the photo-sensitive layer.The material is processed by lamination onto an image-receiving material, exposure of the material and peeling apart of film support and image-receiving material, leaving the unexposed layer areas on the image-receiving material together with the adhesive layer. To produce a multicolored image, these steps are repeated with at least one further single-color sheet.

Abstract: A process for the production of a lithographic printing plate is described, in which a photosensitive material comprising a substrate suitable for lithographic printing, a hydrophilic intermediate layer, a photopolymerizable layer which changes its adhesion to the hydrophilic layer and/or to the cover sheet on exposure to light and a transparent cover sheet provided with an exposure mask which is non-transparent to actinic light is exposed to actinic light through the exposure mask, and the photopolymerizable layer is developed to give the image by peeling off the cover sheet from the substrate.The process is carried out in all stages without the use of chemicals and gives printing plates having good oleophilic properties and a long press life.