Abstract: Biodegradable graft copolymers derived from a carbohydrate and at least one ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative having superabsorbent properties are disclosed in addition to the substantially adiabatic polymerization process by which the graft copolymers are made. The methods disclosed can be carried out in a variety of currently available continuous commercial reactors. Polymerizations carried out with starch have surprisingly produced substantially quantitative yields of graft copolymer free of residual monomer produced as a moist copolymer. Product work-up typically involves an optional neutralization and drying.

Abstract: Biodegradable graft copolymers derived from a carbohydrate and at least one ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivative having superabsorbent properties are disclosed in addition to the substantially adiabatic polymerization process by which the graft copolymers are made. The methods disclosed can be carried out in a variety of currently available continuous commercial reactors. Polymerizations carried out with starch have surprisingly produced substantially quantitative yields of graft copolymer free of residual monomer produced as a moist copolymer. Product work-up typically involves an optional neutralization and drying.

Abstract: A photosensitive composition, a photosensitive element employing said composition, and an improved photoimaging method that utilizes the disclosed composition. The improved method concerns a photosensitive element, formed from a photosensitive composition having a substrate layered with silver halide particles in operative association with a polymeric coupler, latently imaged, developed to render the imaged area insoluble, and washed to remove the undeveloped portion of the layer, wherein the improvement comprises addition of selected dispersed pigments to the polymeric coupler so that the optical density of the final image is neutral black.

Abstract: A method for producing a photopolymer image comprising (a) exposing, imagewise, a photosensitive element to actinic radiation, said element comprising a substrate coated with a photosensitive layer containing dispersed silver halide particles in operative association with a continuous film-forming phase of polymeric coupler, said coupler having (i) a number average molecular weight of about 2,000 to 100,000, (ii) a content of about 10 to 100 milliequivalents per 100 g of polymeric coupler of acidic methylene coupler groups and about 15 to 175 milliequivalents per 100 g of polymeric coupler of at least one of carboxylic, sulfonic and phosphonic acid groups, and (iii) the ability to couple with a monofunctional developing agent thus becoming water-insoluble; (b) developing (insolubilizing) the latent image; and (c) removing the undeveloped, soluble portion of the photosensitive element by washing with aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable element, preferably a lithographic plate, is provided. This element comprises a substrate bearing a photopolymerizable layer having a weight of about 1 to about 90 mg/dm.sup.2, said layer comprising:(1) at least one ethylenically unsaturated diester polyhydroxy polyether of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is H or CH.sub.3 ; R.sup.4 is H or an alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms; n is 1-15; p is 0 or 1; and, when p is 1, R.sup.5 is H or CH.sub.3, and R.sup.6 is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ;(2) an organic, radiation-sensitive, free-radical generating system comprising 2,4,5-triarylimidazolyl dimer and p-aminophenyl ketone; and(3) a macromolecular, organic, polymeric binder.A polymeric image is formed by imagewise exposing the layer to actinic radiation and then developing the resulting image such as by removing unexposed portions of the layer with a solvent.

Abstract: Photopolymerizable compositions containing(1) a polymer having a plurality of salt-forming groups,(2) an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one complementary salt-forming group,(3) an ethylenically unsaturated diester polyhydroxy polyether of the formula ##STR1## where R is H or CH.sub.3 ; R.sup.1 is H or an alkyl group of 1-4 carbon atoms; n is 1-15; p is 0 or 1; and when p is 1, R.sup.2 is H or CH.sub.3, and R.sup.3 is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ; and(4) a radiation-sensitive, free-radical generating systemprovide photopolymerizable elements which have outstanding photospeeds and are relatively insensitive to oxygen.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable element, preferably a lithographic plate, is provided. This element comprises a substrate bearing a photopolymerizable layer having a weight of about 1 to about 90 mg/dm.sup.2, said layer comprising:(1) at least one ethylenically unsaturated diester polyhydroxy polyether of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is H or CH.sub.3 ; R.sup.4 is H or an alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms; n is 1-15; p is 0 or 1; and, when p is 1, R.sup.5 is H or CH.sub.3, and R.sup.6 is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ;(2) an organic, radiation-sensitive, free-radical generating system comprising 2,4,5-triarylimidazolyl dimer and p-aminophenyl ketone; and(3) a macromolecular, organic, polymeric binder.A polymeric image is formed by imagewise exposing the layer to actinic radiation and then developing the resulting image such as by removing unexposed portions of the layer with a solvent.

Abstract: Photopolymerizable compositions containing(1) a polymer having a plurality of salt-forming groups,(2) an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one complementary salt-forming group,(3) an ethylenically unsaturated diester polyhydroxy polyether of the formula ##STR1## where R is H or CH.sub.3 ; R.sup.1 is H or an alkyl group of 1-4 carbon atoms; n is 1-15; p is 0 or 1; and when p is 1, R.sup.2 is H or CH.sub.3, and R.sup.3 is H, CH.sub.3 or C.sub.2 H.sub.5 ; and(4) a radiation-sensitive, free-radical generating systemprovide photopolymerizable elements which have outstanding photospeeds and are relatively insensitive to oxygen.

Abstract: Photosensitive polyaldehydes are provided which have the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a photosensitive end group selected from ##STR2## R.sup.1 is H or n-alkyl of 1-5 carbon atoms, preferably H, R.sup.2 is (a) n-alkanoyl of 1-4 carbon atoms or (b) n-alkanoyl of 1-4 carbon atoms or ##STR3## when R.sup.1 is H, and N IS A POSITIVE INTEGER OF ABOUT 10-4000.The polyaldehydes are prepared by the anionic polymerization of the appropriate aldehyde with an initiating amount of an alkali metal or tetraalkylammonium alkoxide of RO in the above formula.The polyaldehydes are useful in articles and methods of relief imaging and in lithographic plates.