Abstract: The present invention relates to a light-sensitive composition containing: (i) at least one diazonium polycondensation product or at least one system that can be radically polymerized and consists of photoinitiators and unsaturated compounds which can be radically polymerized or at least one hybrid system consisting of a diazonium polycondensation product and a system that can be radically polymerized and consists of photo initiators and unsaturated compounds which can be radically polymerized, (ii) at least one binding agent and optionally one or more exposure indicators, one or more dyes for increasing the image contrast and one or more acids for stabilizing the light-sensitive composition which is characterized in that the binding agent essentially consists of units (A, B, C, D), whereby A corresponds to formula (I), B corresponds to formula (II), C corresponds to formula (III) and D corresponds to formula (IV). The invention also relates to the use thereof for coating printing plates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermally imageable composition, which includes an acid curable composition, an acid generator, a strong acid and optionally an infrared absorber. The present invention further provides an imageable element, which includes a substrate and a thermally imageable composition according to the present invention coated on a surface of the substrate. Also provided are methods of producing an imaged element according to the present invention.

Abstract: A method for forming images useful as lithographic printing plate precursors is disclosed. An imageable element in which the imageable layer comprises an acid generator, a crosslinking agent, and a binder is imaged with ultraviolet radiation and developed with a solvent based developer. The acid generator is an iodonium, sulfonium, or diazonium salt in which the anion is an organic sulfate or thiosulfate anion. The binder comprises a copolymer that contains a reactive pendent group capable of undergoing acid crosslinking, in which the reactive pendent group is hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, sulfonamide, alkoxymethyl, or a mixture thereof. The method is especially suited for use with direct digital ultraviolet imaging devices. The resulting image is useful as a lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: An acid generating agent useful for imaging photosensitive elements selected from compounds of formulae (I), (II) and (III). wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted and substituted hydrocarbon or aryl group; wherein X is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur and selenium; wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium and tellurium; wherein Ar1 is selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted and substituted aryl group; wherein R2, R3 and R4 are individually selected from the group consisting of an unsubstituted and substituted hydrocarbon or aryl group or any two of them are bonded together to form a ring structure; and wherein R5 and R6 are individually selected from the group of an unsubstituted and substituted hydrocarbon or aryl group, or are bonded to each other to form a ring structure.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive recording material including a substrate and a heat-sensitive recording layer containing a diazonium salt and a coupler, the heat-sensitive recording layer being disposed on or over the substrate, wherein the diazonium salt is a compound represented by the following general formula (1): 1

Abstract: A photosensitive lithographic printing plate comprising: a support; and a photosensitive layer, wherein the photosensitive layer comprises: a polyurethane resin binder comprising an aliphatic cyclic structure which has a carboxyl group as a substituent directly or indirectly attached to the structure; or a polyvinyl alcohol resin binder modified with an acetal skeleton comprising an aliphatic cyclic structure.

Abstract: A method and system for processing patterning compositions such as those applied to printing plates are disclosed. An Infrared (IR) oven, instead of a conventional convection oven, is used for preheating image-wise exposed patterning composition before the exposed image is developed. In one embodiment of the invention, a substrate is coated with a layer of a patterning composition. The layer is then image-wise exposed. The coated substrate is then passed under one or more IR emitter tubes to preheat the image-wise exposed patterning composition, which is subsequently developed. The use of an IR oven offers the advantages of more precise and rapid temperature control, smaller system footprint, lower energy consumption and higher throughput as compared to the conventional methods and systems.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate precursor includes a support having disposed thereon a recording layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, a development inhibitor and an infrared absorber and exhibiting enhanced solubility in an aqueous alkali solution through light exposure. The recording layer may have either a mono-layer construction or a multi-layer construction containing a lower layer and an upper layer. In the case of the multi-layer construction, a layer containing the water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin is used as the lower layer, and a layer containing the water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin and the development inhibitor and exhibiting enhanced solubility in an aqueous alkali solution through light exposure is used as the upper layer, and at least one of the lower layer and the upper layer contains the infrared absorber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microcapsule produced by using at least an isocyanate compound, a heat-sensitive recording material including the microcapsules and a multicolor heat-sensitive recording material including the microcapsules, wherein the isocyanate compound is a reaction product of an isocyanate compound with a polyether derivative.

Abstract: A negative image-recording material which can be imagewise exposed to IR radiation from IR lasers and ensures direct image formation from digital data of a computer or the like. The material, when used in a lithographic printing plate, ensures good hardenability in an image area and exhibits good printing durability, even if not heated for image formation, and ensures a large number of good prints from the printing plate. The recording material contains (A) an IR absorber, (B) a radical generator having an onium salt structure, (C) a radical-polymerizing compound, and (D) a reducing additive, and this is imagewise exposed to IR radiation for image formation. Preferably, the reducing additive (D) is highly reactive with radicals and a reaction product with a radical has high reductivity. Preferred examples of the reducing additive are ether-type hydrogen donors, alcohol-type hydrogen donors, vinyl ethers and phosphine-type compounds.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive recording material including a substrate having disposed thereon a heat-sensitive recording layer containing a diazo compound and a coupler compound capable of reacting with the diazo compound to develop color,

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support having a hydrophilic surface having provided thereon an image-forming layer containing a hydrophobic high molecular compound having at least either a functional group represented by formula (1) or a functional group represented by formula (2): 1

Abstract: Vesicular images are formed by thermal imaging of imageable layers containing thermally imageable vesicular imaging compositions. The vesicular images can be used as masks for imaging printing plate precursors. In one aspect, a printing plate precursor made up of a flexible substrate; a photosensitive layer that contains a negative working photosensitive composition; an optional barrier layer; and the imageable layer is thermally imaged to produce an integral mask. Blanket exposure through the mask with ultraviolet and/or visible radiation followed by development produces a printing plate. The method is especially suited for the production of flexographic printing plates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material comprising a substrate having disposed thereon at least a heat-sensitive recording layer comprising: microcapsules; diazonium salt compounds contained within the microcapules and represented by the following general formula (I); and a coupler which undergoes coupling-reaction with the diazonium salt compounds to cause color development, wherein three or more of the diazonium salt compounds represented by the general formula (I) are contained in the same microcapsule: (wherein R1, R2 and R3 each independently represents an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group; and X− represents a counter anion).

Abstract: A recording material includes a support having disposed thereon a recording layer including at least: a diazo compound having no diazonio group; a coupler compound that colors by reacting with the diazo compound; and a polymerizable compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording material onto which images can be recorded with an infrared ray, the material comprising an infrared absorbent (A), a radical-generating agent (B) and a radically polymerizable compound (C), wherein the infrared absorbent is a cyanine dye in which at least one substituent on a nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring at each end forms a cyclic ring which includes a methine chain.

Abstract: A diazonium salt represented by the following general formula (1) and a thermal recording material using the diazonium salt: 1

Abstract: The invention relates to a recording material having a substrate and a negative-working, radiation-sensitive layer which contains a diazonium salt, at least one film-forming, polymeric binder and organic colored pigments, on the surface of which an organic polymeric dispersant has been adsorbed and which are additionally dispersed in an organic polymeric binder which does not permanently combine with the pigments chemically or physically. The dispersant generally has groups, in particular primary, secondary or tertiary amino groups or derivatives thereof, which act as anchor groups on the colored pigment particles. The pigments themselves are preferably phthalocyanine pigments. As a result of the predispersing, aggregation of the pigment particles is effectively prevented so that uniform coloration of the radiation-sensitive layer is achieved. During development of the imagewise exposed recording materials, the colored pigment particles form virtually no insoluble precipitates.

Abstract: Photosensitive compositions comprising a phenol resin having a urea bond in the main chain, planographic printing plate precursors containing the photosensitive compositions, and methods for preparing planographic printing plates using the planographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. Planographic printing plates that exhibit good durability, good exposure visual image property, and good solvent resistance; particularly superior resistance to washing oil used in UV ink printing; and superior baking property are produced.

Abstract: An acid generating agent useful for imaging photosensitive elements selected from compounds of formulae (I), (II) and (III).

Abstract: The present invention includes an imageable element, which can be: (a) an imageable element comprising an imaging layer which comprises: an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent and an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound free of an alkoxy substituent; a polyvinyl acetal binder; and a sheet substrate; or (b) an imageable element comprising an imaging layer which comprises: an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent and an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound free of an alkoxy substituent; and a sheet substrate. The imaging layer includes a total aromatic diazonium salt containing compound content of at least 10 weight percent. The molar ratio of the aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent to the aromatic diazonium salt containing compound that is free of an alkoxy substituent is from about 1.0:1 to 70:1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light-sensitive composition containing: (i) at least one diazonium polycondensation product or at least one system that can be radically polymerized and consists of photoinitiators and unsaturated compounds which can be radically polymerized or at least one hybrid system consisting of a diazonium polycondensation product and a system that can be radically polymerized and consists of photo initiators and unsaturated compounds which can be radically polymerized, (ii) at least one binding agent and optionally one or more exposure indicators, one or more dyes for increasing the image contrast and one or more acids for stabilizing the light-sensitive composition which is characterized in that the binding agent essentially consists of units (A, B, C, D), whereby A corresponds to formula (I), B corresponds to formula (II), C corresponds to formula (III) and D corresponds to formula (IV). The invention also relates to the use thereof for coating printing plates.

Abstract: A multicolor heat-sensitive recording material includes a support having disposed thereon at least a heat-sensitive recording layer that develops yellow, a heat-sensitive recording layer that develops cyan, and a heat-sensitive recording layer that develops magenta, wherein water content of the multicolor heat-sensitive recording material is 5.5% or less.

Abstract: Copolymers containing the units A, B, C, D and optionally E are used to prepare radiation sensitive compositions and lithographic printing plates. The copolymer contains about 25 to 55 mol % of unit A which has the formula The copolymer contains about 0.5 to 25 mol % of unit B which has the formula wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl and aralkyl. The copolymer contains about 0.5 to 40 mol % of unit C which has the formula wherein X is an aliphatic or aromatic spacer group, and Ac is an acidic group selected from the group consisting of —COOH, —SO3H, —SO2NR9R10 with R9 and R10 independently being selected from hydrogen and alkyl; and when X is phenylene, Ac can also be OH.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition which comprises (A) a polymerizable compound having at least one radical-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated double bond per molecule and a cohesive energy density of not smaller than 500 J/cm3, (B) a radical polymerization initiator and (C) a binder polymer and cures when exposed to light.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording material onto which images can be recorded with an infrared ray, the material comprising an infrared absorbent (A), a radical-generating agent (B) and a radically polymerizable compound (C), wherein the infrared absorbent is a cyanine dye in which at least one substituent on a nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring at each end forms a cyclic ring which includes a methine chain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a negative-working photosensitive composition which can widen the preheat latitude upon exposure without increasing ablation, and a negative-working photosensitive lithographic printing plate. The negative-working photosensitive composition comprises (a) an alkali-soluble resin, (b) a compound capable of being crosslinked by an acid, (c) a compound capable of generating an acid by heat, (d) a photothermal converting agent, and (e) a sulfone compound represented by the following general formula (I).

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises: a support; and an image-forming layer including a fluoroaliphatic group-containing copolymer, wherein the fluoroaliphatic group-containing copolymer contains a repeating unit corresponding to monomer (i) below and a repeating unit corresponding to monomer (ii) below:

Abstract: A recording material includes a support having disposed thereon a recording layer including at least: a diazo compound having no diazonio group; a coupler compound that colors by reacting with the diazo compound; and a polymerizable compound.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed, comprising a support having provided thereon a photosensitive layer containing at least (A) an infrared ray absorbing agent, (B) an onium salt, (C) a radically polymerizable compound, (D) a binder polymer and (E) an organic dye or the precursor thereof capable of undergoing change in color tone upon exposure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photosensitive lithographic printing plate with a long press life, high sensitivity, and excellent storage stability, and a photosensitive composition for a lithographic printing plate for producing such a photosensitive lithographic printing plate. The photosensitive composition for the lithographic printing plate includes (A) a binder resin, (B) a diazo resin, (C) a monomer or oligomer, a molecule of which has at least two polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated double bonds, (D) a photopolymerization initiator, (E) an o-tert-butylphenol derivative, and (F) a 2-mercaptoimidazole derivative such as 2-mercaptobenzimidazole.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a positive type image forming material comprising A: an alkali-aqueous-solution-soluble polymer compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group, B: a light and heat decomposing compound which suppresses alkali-aqueous-solution-solubility of said alkali-aqueous-solution-soluble polymer compound (A) having a phenolic hydroxyl group and is decomposed by light or heat to lose its alkali-aqueous-solution-solubility-suppressing effect on said compound (A), and C: a cross-linkable compound which increases said solubility-suppressing effect of said compound (B) when used together with said component (B) in a composition containing the alkali-aqueous-solution-soluble polymer compound (A) having a phenolic hydroxyl group, and which has in its molecule two or more cross-linkable groups which are cross-linked with the alkali-aqueous-solution-soluble polymer compound (A) with heating.

Abstract: The invention provides a negative image-recording material for heat-mode exposure systems, which comprises (A) an IR absorbent including cyanine dye having a substituent that contains an atom having an atomic weight of at least 28 such as halogen atom, or a substituent that contains a non-covalent electron pair such as carbonyl group, (B) a radical generator and (C) a radically-polymerable compound, and which is imagewise exposed to IR rays for image formation thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat-sensitive recording material comprising a substrate having disposed thereon at least a heat-sensitive recording layer comprising: microcapsules; diazonium salt compounds contained within the microcapules and represented by the following general formula (I); and a coupler which undergoes coupling-reaction with the diazonium salt compounds to cause color development, wherein three or more of the diazonium salt compounds represented by the general formula (I) are contained in the same microcapsule: 1

Abstract: The present invention includes an imageable element, which can be: (a) an imageable element comprising an imaging layer which comprises: an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent and an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound free of an alkoxy substituent; a polyvinyl acetal binder; and a sheet substrate; or (b) an imageable element comprising an imaging layer which comprises: an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent and an aromatic diazonium salt containing compound free of an alkoxy substituent; and a sheet substrate. The imaging layer includes a total aromatic diazonium salt containing compound content of at least 10 weight percent. The molar ratio of the aromatic diazonium salt containing compound having an alkoxy substituent to the aromatic diazonium salt containing compound that is free of an alkoxy substituent is from about 1.0:1 to 70:1.

Abstract: A negative-type image recording material comprising a support having a rear surface and an image recording layer disposed on the support, the image recording layer having a front surface and including (A) a radical-generating agent and (B) a radically polymerizable compound, wherein a static friction coefficient between the front surface and the rear surface is less than 0.50.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-sensitive recording material containing an ultraviolet light absorber precursor which forms an ultraviolet light absorber by being irradiated with light, and a hydrogen donor.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon an image-receiving layer, the image-receiving layer containing: at least one metal oxide hydrate having an average particle size of from 0.01 to 5 pm and comprising a metal atom selected from Mg, Al, Zn, Ge, Ti, Co, Zr, Sn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Pd, Cd, Mo, Cr, Ga, Mn, V, Ce and La; and a binder resin containing a complex comprising: a resin containing a siloxane bond in which a silicon atom is connected with an oxygen atom; and an organic polymer containing a group capable of forming a hydrogen bond with the resin containing a siloxane bond.

Abstract: A novel fluorinated aromatic acetal polymer comprises at least one unit of A and at least one unit of B or C, or at least one unit of each of A, B and C and optionally further comprises at least one unit of either D or E or at least one unit of each of D and E, wherein the units A and B and/or C, and optionally D and/or E are linked together by single covalent C-C bonds and have the formulae: 1

Abstract: A novel fluorinated aromatic acetal polymer comprises at least one unit of A and at least one unit of B or C, or at least one unit of each of A, B and C and optionally further comprises at least one unit of either D or E or at least one unit of each of D and E, wherein the units A and B and/or C, and optionally D and/or E are linked together by single covalent C—C bonds and have the formulae: wherein RA is H or C1-C11 alky, or an aryl group that does not contain fluorine, and RB and RC are an aryl groups that contain fluorine. The polymer is prepared by reacting a hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetate polymer or copolymer with at least one non-fluorinated aldehyde component, and at least one fluorinated aromatic component. The polymer is useful is preparing a photosensitive composition which comprises at least one diazo resin and at least one such fluorinated aromatic acetal polymer.

Abstract: The printing plate comprises a rolled and embossed aluminium support whose surface has a coarse structure of pits, on which a fine structure of indents produced by electrochemical roughening is superimposed. The indents have a diameter of from 0.1 to 6 &mgr;m, and the average roughness Ra of the surface of the embossed aluminium support is in the range from 0.63 to 0.82 &mgr;m.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a planographic printing plate employed in the field of offset printing, and more particularly, to a preparation method for a printing plate employing a conventional planographic printing original plate with a novel light source. In this method, an image is formed to a planographic printing original plate, in which at least one photosensitive layer sensitive in the region of 300 nm˜450 nm is provided on a substrate, by scan irradiating the plate with high density energy light in the form of the image, and then performing wet development and a post-treatment. This preparation method for the printing plate is characterized in that the output wavelength of the high density energy light is within the range of 300 nm or more, but less than 370 nm, and the high density energy light is high density energy light of the second or third harmonic obtained from a solid-state semiconductor or a solid-state exited by semiconductor.

Abstract: An image forming material having a support having disposed in an order thereon an acid-crosslinkable layer, which contains a compound that generates an acid by light or heat and a compound crosslinkable by the acid generated and whose alkali solubility is lowered by the crosslinking, and a radical-polymerizable layer, which contains a compound that generates a radical by light or heat and a compound capable of undergoing a radical polymerization and whose alkali solubility is lowered by the polymerization.

Abstract: A recording material for producing offset printing plates includes: a support having a hydrophilic surface, and an infrared-imageable layer including a) a component which is capable of absorbing infrared radiation and converting the infrared radiation to heat, b) a compound which is capable of releasing acid under the action of the heat generated by component a), and c) a polymeric binder having at least one group which is cleaved by the acid released from the compound b), and at least one hydrophilic group, and wherein the layer becomes soluble in an aqueous-alkaline developer in areas struck by infrared radiation.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine compound that is useful as a coupler providing excellent hue of a cyan system and sufficient density of formed color. The pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine compound of the present invention for achieving the object is represented by one of following general formulae (1), (2) and (3).

Abstract: A recording material having a recording layer with microcapsules therein on a support, and a recording method. The microcapsules constituting the recording layer each are composed of a core, a heat-responsive resin layer covering the core, and a shell enveloping the heat-responsive resin layer. The shell is made of a material sensitive to and curable with light having a predetermined wavelength, the core contains a developer (or a dye precursor), and the shell contains a dye precursor (or a developer).

Abstract: An infrared-sensitive image forming material with which a plate can be directly formed by an infrared laser. The infrared-sensitive image forming material has a support having disposed thereon a recording layer whose solubility in an aqueous alkaline solution is altered by irradiation with an infrared laser. The recording layer has a binder phase formed of a polymer compound, a dispersion phase that is dispersed in the binder phase, and an infrared absorbent present in either one of the binder phase and the dispersion phase. Within a total incorporated amount of the infrared absorbent in the recording layer, a mass present in the dispersion binder is greater than a mass present in the binder phase. Namely, within the recording layer, the infrared absorbent is localized in the dispersion phase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to particular acetal copolymers and radiation-sensitive compositions comprising said copolymers and, inter alia, are excellently suitable for the production of lithographic printing plates. In particular, the invention relates to acetal copolymers containing furylvinylidene, thienylvinylidene or pyrrolylvinylidene.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive recording material comprising a support and a heat-sensitive recording layer thereon, which contains a diazonium salt compound and a coupling component, is provided. The diazonium salt compound contains a benzenediazonium salt compound represented by formula (1) and the coupling component contains a uracil compound represented by formula (2) or a barbituric acid compound represented by formula (3).

Abstract: Photochemical acid progenitors in combination with dihydroperimidine squarylium dyes have been found to be particularly effective at generating acid upon irradiation with new-infrared radiation. It has been found that dihydroperimidine squarylium dyes that are particularly useful in this invention have an oxidation potential greater than about 0.5 V relative to SCE as measured in dichloromethane.