Abstract: Imageable printing forms are irradiated by radiant energy corresponding to the image information, the energy being absorbed in the printing form. The energy coupled in this manner is available for patterning the printing form surface. A printing form having a plurality of substantially planar functional zones, which have at least one informational zone that is modifiable in accordance with image information and an absorption zone for absorbing energy from a radiation is distinguished in that a buffer zone is provided which differs at least partially from the absorption zone, receives energy from the absorption zone, and releases energy to the informational zone.

Abstract: Provided is an article that comprises a substrate comprising an acid-etchable layer, a water-soluble polymer matrix, and a photoacid generator. Also provided is a method for patterning that can provide patterned layers that can be used to form electroactive devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is a presensitized plate composed of a support having thereon an image recording layer which includes: an infrared absorber (A) that is a cyanine dye having at least one fused ring composed of a nitrogen-containing heterocycle in combination with an aromatic ring or a second heterocycle, and having on the aromatic ring or second heterocycle an electron-withdrawing group or a heavy atom-containing group, a radical generator (B), and a radical-polymerizable compound (C), and which is removable with printing ink and/or dampening water. The presensitized of the present invention can be imaged with an infrared light-emitting laser to directly record an image from digital data on a computer or the like and is then subjected to on-machine development without carrying out a development step, which is capable of providing a large number of good impressions with a practical amount of energy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic printing plate precursor and a lithographic printing method using the lithographic printing plate precursor, which is capable of an image recording by infrared laser scanning and an on-press development and excellent in fine line reproducibility and press life while maintaining good on-press developing properties, the lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support; and an image recording layer capable of being removed by a printing ink and/or a fountain solution, in which the image recording layer comprises an infrared absorber and a graft polymer having a specific graft chain.

Abstract: An improved digitally imageable relief printing element having an increased direct-cure imaging speed upon exposure to lasers and other digital sources of actinic radiation. The printing elements of the invention comprise a reflective layer beneath a photosensitive resin layer so that instead of being absorbed by the reflective layer, photons of actinic radiation are reflected back up into the photosensitive layer, thereby speeding up the curing rate of the printing element.

Abstract: This present invention discloses a photopolymerisable mixture comprising a polymer binder, a radically photopolymerisable component containing at least one photooxidisable group, a polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate containing 2 or more ethylene glycol units, a photoreducible dye and a metallocene. This mixture can be used for preparing high-speed light-sensitive recording materials showing a particularly high resolution, especially for small negative types.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lithographic method for producing microcomponents with component structures in the submillimeter range. According to the inventive method, a structured adhesive layer is applied to a metal layer and then a photostructured epoxy resin layer is applied to said adhesive layer. Said epoxide resin is structured by means of selective exposition and removing the unexposed zones and filling in the gaps between the resin structures with metal by electroplating. The aim of the invention is to provide an adhesive layer that is suitable for photostructured epoxy resins, especially for SU-8 resist material and that prevents the resist material from being detached. To this end, the adhesive layer consists of polyimide or a polyimide mixture.

Abstract: Multi-layer thermally imageable elements, useful as a lithographic printing plate precursors, are disclosed. The elements contain a top layer, an absorber layer that contains a photothermal conversion material and a hydrophilic substrate. An optional underlayer may also be present between the absorber layer and the hydrophilic substrate. The elements can be thermally imaged and processed with an aqueous alkaline developer.

Abstract: Imagable precursors for masks and for electronic parts comprise a polymeric layer applied to a substrate. The layer comprises at least one polymer having infra-red absorbing groups carried as pendent groups on the polymer backbone. Certain infra-red absorbing groups may also act to insolubilize the polymer in a developer, until it is imagewise exposed to infra-red radiation. Imagewise application of heat, resulting from imagewise exposure of the precursor to infra-red radiation, renders the polymer layer more soluble in the developer than prior to exposure to the infra-red radiation.

Abstract: Lithographic imaging techniques begin with a donor member having substrate substantially transparent to imaging radiation and a transferable material thereover; the substrate and the transferable material differ in affinity for ink and/or a liquid to which ink will not adhere. The donor member is exposed to imaging radiation in an imagewise pattern so as to cause displacement of the transfer material from the donor member in accordance with that pattern. Following the imagewise displacement, the donor member can be used as a lithographic printing member.