Abstract: The present invention provides a processless printing plate precursor including a thermally sensitive layer applied onto a substrate. The thermally sensitive layer includes polycyanoacrylate particles having a major dimension between about 50 and about 500 nm, and a mean major dimension of no greater than about 350 nm. The printing plate precursor may be exposed to radiation and may then be developed “on press” with a suitable fountain solution.

Abstract: A method for the production of flexographic printing forms by means of laser engraving, wherein at least one elastomer relief layer is applied to a dimensionally-stable carrier. The relief layer comprises at least one elastomer binding agent and at least one absorber for laser radiation; the relief layer is entirely cross-linked by means of electron radiation at a minimum overall dose of 40 kGy; a printed relief is engraved into the cross-linked relief layer by means of a laser. The invention also relates to flexographic printing forms which can be obtained according to said method.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of making an electronic part in which a nanopaste composed of inorganic nanoparticles and a carrier is applied onto a surface of a substrate. The composition is then processed to form an electrically conductive pattern area that adheres to the surface of the substrate. Optionally, the conductivity of the pattern area may be improved by heating.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lithographic printing plate is disclosed, and said method comprises the steps of imagewise light-exposing to infrared radiation, a presensitized plate for use in making a lithographic printing plate, said presensitized plate having an image-forming layer which comprises an IR-absorbing agent, and developing the light-exposed plate with an alkaline liquid developer comprising a polyhydric alcohol-type alkylene oxide adduct.

Abstract: A heat mode type negative image recording material is provided which comprises (A) a polymer compound that is insoluble in water but is soluble in an alkali aqueous solution and has at least one of groups represented by general formulae (1) to (3) on a side chain; (B) a photothermal conversion agent; and (C) an onium salt compound forming radicals by heat mode exposure with light that is capable of being absorbed by said photothermal conversion agent (B), said heat mode type negative image recording material being capable of recording an image by heat mode exposure. The general formulae are defined in the specification.

Abstract: Laser-imageable flexographic printing plates and a method of making same are disclosed. A thin polymeric film doped with a UV absorber is laminated to a photopolymer layer. The film is ablated from the photopolymer using a laser operating at a selected wavelength to create an in situ negative. The resulting negative can be subjected to typical UV flood exposure and development.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing laser-engravable flexographic printing elements on flexible metallic supports comprising a cross-linked elastomeric layer and an absorber for laser radiation. The invention also relates to a method for producing flexographic printing plates by means of laser engraving using flexographic printing elements of the aforementioned type, and to flexographic printing plates produced using such a method.

Abstract: The positive planographic printing plate precursor of the present invention is a precursor comprising (I) a positive recording layer including a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble polymer compound and a light to heat converting agent, on a support having a hydrophilic surface in which a hydrophilic graft polymer chain is present. The precursor may further comprise (II) a lower layer including a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble polymer compound between the recording layer and the support.

Abstract: Infrared absorbing compounds that absorb at 800 nm±50 nm and at 1050 nm±50 nm, the two different regions of the infrared spectrum typically used for imaging, are disclosed. Thermally imageable elements that comprise these infrared absorbing compounds can be imaged with radiation in either of these two regions of the infrared spectrum. The elements are especially useful as lithographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: A positive working printing form precursor comprises a thermally imagable composition which includes a hydroxyl group-containing polymer, for example a novolak resin. The composition has a weight of less than 1.1 gm?2. It has been found that using a low weight of the composition on the precursor improves the properties of the precursor, in particular by rendering the sensitivity of the precursor to imaging radiation less variable over time.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed, which comprises an image-forming layer which contains a hydrophilic resin, an acid precursor and at least one component selected from fine particles containing a compound having a vinyloxy group and microcapsules containing a compound having a vinyloxy group, on a hydrophilic support, which can be development processed on a printing machine.

Abstract: Infrared absorbing compounds in which the anion is selected from the group consisting of 5-isatinsulfonate, 10-camphorsulfonate, and 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzenedisulfonate are disclosed. Negative-working imageable elements containing these compounds have improved dot stability.

Abstract: Negative thermosensitive lithographic printing plates developable with a non-alkaline aqueous developer and method of developing such plates. The plate comprises on a substrate a thermosensitive layer comprising an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, a free radical initiator, and an infrared absorbing dye. The plate can be imagewise exposed with an infrared laser to cause hardening in the exposed areas and then developed with a non-alkaline aqueous developer to remove the non-exposed areas. The non-alkaline aqueous developer can be water or an aqueous solution comprising at least 60% of water and having a pH of 2.0 to 10.0.

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: The present invention relates to a polymerizable coating composition suitable for the manufacture of printing plates 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, which comprises subjecting a photosensitive layer of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer comprising a photopolymerizable composition formed on a support surface to scanning exposure with a laser light having a wavelength in a range of from 650 to 1,300 nm, developing an image, and then further subjecting the photosensitive lithographic printing plate having the developed image to whole image exposure with a light exposure energy of from 1 to 70 times larger than the light exposure energy at the time of the laser light scanning exposure.

Abstract: Negative working thermally imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors and methods for their use are disclosed. The elements have a substrate, a layer of imageable composition over the substrate, and, optionally, an overcoat layer over the layer of imageable composition. The imageable composition has an allyl-functional polymeric binder. Optimum resolution and on-press performance can be attained without a post-exposure bake. The elements do not require a post-exposure bake and can be used in on-press development applications.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic material which is in the form of a roll film packaged in a cartridge, and which exhibits superior print stability and is capable of providing prints with superior image quality when printed onto printing paper is disclosed, comprising on a support a red-sensitive layer, a green-sensitive layer and a blue-sensitive layer, wherein the quality value (QC) satisfies the following requirement QC?15.982×S?0.378 (100?S?1600) where S is the nominal speed of the photographic speed.

Abstract: A positive working lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a lower layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, and an upper heat-sensitive layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin and an infrared absorbing dye and increasing the solubility in an alkaline aqueous solution by heating, provided in this order on a hydrophilic support, and (a) the upper heat-sensitive layer containing at least two kinds of surface active agents, or (b) the lower layer and upper heat-sensitive layer each containing a surface active agent different from each other.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed, comprising a metal support having formed thereon an anodic oxide film, and an image-forming layer containing a light-to-heat converting agent, or a light-sensitive layer capable of image-forming with infrared laser exposure provided in this order from the support.

Abstract: The use of certain mercapto compounds as shelf life improvers for infrared-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursors is disclosed. The compounds are five-membered heteroaromatic rings containing a nitrogen atom and at least one other heteroatom, which can be oxygen, sulfur, or another nitrogen atom, such that two ring heteroatoms are bonded to a ring carbon bearing a thiol group.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive composition can be used to make a heat-sensitive imaging material. The composition includes a water-soluble or water-dispersible binder and dispersed therein, a photothermal conversion material, and hybrid particles of a combustible nitro-resin and an addition polymer derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers. The hybrid particles preferably have a core-shell structure with the combustible nitro-resin comprising the core and the addition polymer providing the shell. These imaging materials are particularly useful as “direct-write” thermally imageable elements useful to provide lithographic printing plates without ablation or the need for alkaline development.

Abstract: The present invention relates to IR-sensitive compositions containing an initator system comprising: (a) at least one compound capable of absorbing IR radiation selected from triarylamine dyes, thiazolium dyes, indolium dyes, oxazolium dyes, cyanine dyes, polyaniline dyes, polypyrrole dyes, polythiophene dyes and phthalocyanine pigments (b) at least one compound capable of producing radicals selected from polyhaloalkyl-substituted compounds (c) at least one polycarboxylic acid represented by the following formula I wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of O, S and NR7, each of R4, R5 and R6 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, aryl which is optionally substituted, —COOH and NR8CH2COOH, R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, —CH2CH2OH, and C1-C5 alkyl substituted with -COOH, R8 is selected from the group consisting of —CH2COOH, —CH2OH and —(CH2)2N(CH2COOH)2 and r is 0, 1, 2 or 3 with the proviso that at least one of R4, R5, R

Abstract: A photosensitive printing element comprising a support; and a photopolymerizable layer comprising a photopolymerizable composition comprising at least one elastomeric binder, at least one monomer, an initiator having sensitivity to actinic radiation, and at least one photobleachable compound having sensitivity to actinic radiation; is described. Preferred photobleachable compounds are unsubstituted or substituted naphthylvinyl pyridines; unsubstituted or substituted styrylquinolines; diphenyl maleic anhydride; isomers of any of the foregoing; derivatives of any of the foregoing; and any combination of the foregoing. Such photosensitive printing elements are used to prepare flexographic printing plates and are useful in enhancing resolution and differentiating image areas from non-image areas in images produced therefrom by reducing the deleterious effect of scattered light.

Abstract: A negative working photosensitive lithographic printing plate is disclosed, which comprises a support having thereon at least one photosensitive layer containing a polymeric binder having repeating units represented by formula (I): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 represents a hydrocarbon group which has an alicyclic structure and has 3 to 30 carbon atoms and a valence of n+1; A represents an oxygen atom or —NR3—, wherein R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and n is an integer of 1 to 5. The negative working photosensitive lithographic printing plate can attain both high productivity and high printing durability. It is especially suitable for drawing with laser light.

Abstract: A photosensitive composition comprising a resin containing a repeating unit corresponding to a monomer having a structure represented by formula (I) defined in the specification, and a negative working lithographic printing plate having a negative working photosensitive layer comprising the above-described photosensitive composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to IR-sensitive compositions suitable for the manufacture of printing plates developable on-press. The IR-sensitive compositions comprise a first polymeric binder which does not comprise acidic groups having a pKa value?8; a second polymeric binder comprising polyether groups; an initiator system; and a free radical polymerizable system comprising at least one member selected from unsaturated free radical polymerizable monomers, free radical polymerizable oligomers and polymers containing C?C bonds in the back bone and/or in the side chain groups. The initiator system includes (i) at least one compound capable of absorbing IR radiation; (ii) at least one compound capable of producing radicals selected from polyhaloalkyl-substituted compounds; and (iii) at least one polycarboxylic acid of formula R4—(CR5R6)r—Y—CH2COOH, wherein oxi<redii+1.6 eV, where oxi=oxidation potential of component (i) in eV, and redii=reduction potential of component (ii) in eV.

Abstract: A positive-working printing plate precursor for wet lithographic printing is disclosed which comprises a support having a hydrophilic surface and a coating comprising a first layer closest to the support, said first layer containing an oleophilic phenolic resin soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer, and a second layer containing an amphyphilic polymer, wherein (a) the second layer is capable of preventing the aqueous alkaline developer from penetrating into the first layer to an extent that substantially no dissolution of unexposed coating occurs upon immersion in the aqueous alkaline developer during a time period t2; (b) and wherein said capability of the second layer of preventing the aqueous alkaline developer from penetrating into the first layer is reduced upon exposure to heat or light to an extent that substantially complete dissolution of exposed coating occurs upon immersion in the aqueous alkaline developer during a time period t1; wherein t2>t1 and t2?t1 is at least 10 seconds; and wherein t

Abstract: A heat mode corresponding negative-type image recording material by which ablation in laser scanning when recording is suppressed, the intensity of the formed image portion can be high and a planographic plate excellent in plate life can be formed is provided. It is characterized in that it contains (A) polyurethane resin insoluble in water and soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution or a polymeric compound which has on the side chain thereof a group represented by the general formula (39) or the general formula (40) as a polymeric compound insoluble in water and soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, (B) a radical-polymerizable compound, (C) a light-to-heat converting agent and (D) a compound generating a radical by heat mode exposure of a light of wavelength which can be absorbed by (C) a light-to-heat converting agent and image recording can be carried out by the heat mode exposure.

Abstract: Flexographic printing plates are produced by thermal development by a process in which an imagewise exposed flexographic printing element is developed by heating and removing the softened, unpolymerized parts of the relief-forming layer, the flexographic printing element used comprising an olefin/(meth)acrylate copolymer having an olefin content of from 50 to 94 mol %. The photopolymerizable flexographic printing element comprises an olefin/(meth)acrylate copolymer having a content of from 50 to 94 mol % of olefin monomers, from 6 to 50 mol % of (meth)acrylate monomers and from 0 to 5 mol % of further comonomers. This flexographic printing element is used for the production of flexographic printing plates both by thermal development and by development by means of washout compositions.

Abstract: A process for producing a lithographic printing plate by on-press developing a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor having on a metallic base in this order (1) an ink-receptive layer, (2) a hydrophilic layer containing colloidal particles of an oxide or hydroxide of at least one element, e.g., silicon or aluminum, and (3) a hydrophilic overcoat layer capable of being removed on a printing machine, which includes: rotating a plate cylinder having attached thereto the heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor which has been exposed; subsequently supplying an ink and a dampening water to the plate surface by simultaneously bringing a dampening roll and an inking roll into contact with the plate surface or by bringing a water-metering roll into contact with an inking roll and then bringing the inking roll, which functions also to dampen, into contact with the plate surface; and thereby removing the overcoat layer and the exposed parts of the hydrophilic layer.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition that is cured with visible light or an infrared laser and is used as a recording layer in a negative planographic printing plate precursor. The photopolymerizable composition is cured by exposure and includes (A) a polymerizable compound that is solid at 25° C. and has at least one radical-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated double bond in a molecule, (B) a radical polymerization initiator, (C) a binder polymer and, as required, (D) a compound generating heat by infrared exposure.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging method comprises: (a) applying an imageable coating to a printing cylinder, wherein the imageable coating comprises a composition such as a thermally switchable polymer which changes affinity for a printing fluid upon exposure to imaging radiation such as infrared radiation delivered imagewise via a laser, and the imageable coating is substantially insoluble in the printing fluid; (b) imagewise exposing the imageable coating to actinic radiation to obtain an imaged coating; (c) printing a plurality of copies of an image from the imaged coating; and (d) reapplying the imageable coating as desired by repeating steps (a) through (c) at least once without substantially removing the prior imaged coating before reapplying the imageable coating.

Abstract: A water-based coating composition is disclosed, comprising a latex comprising a polymer impregnated with an infared absorbing compound and a water-soluble polyester or latex comprising polymer containing an active methylene group. An infrared absorbing film and a photothermographic material by use thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a top coat layer for a printing plate precursor. The top coat layer includes polycyanoacrylate particles, but is substantially free of photothermal conversion material. The topcoat layer may be applied onto a thermally sensitive layer containing polycyanoacrylate particles and a photothermal conversion material. The top coat layer may reduce ablation during radiation exposure without adversely affecting printing plate performance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resin composition that includes (A) a polymer compound that has, on a side chain of a main chain polymer, through a linkage group containing a hydrogen-bonding group and a ring structure, a terminal ethylenic unsaturated bond, and is soluble or swelling in water or an alkali aqueous solution, and (B) a compound that generates radicals when exposed to light or heat. The invention further provides a thermo/photosensitive composition that includes (A′) a polymer compound that has a non-acidic hydrogen-bonding group on a side chain and is soluble or swelling in water or an alkali aqueous solution, and (B′) a compound that generates radicals when exposed to light or heat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a top coat layer for a printing plate precursor. The top coat layer includes polycyanoacrylate particles, but is substantially free of photothermal conversion material. The topcoat layer may be applied onto a thermally sensitive layer containing polycyanoacrylate particles and a photothermal conversion material. The top coat layer may reduce ablation during radiation exposure without adversely affecting printing plate performance.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a hydrophilic support having provided thereon an image-forming layer containing a radical initiator, an infrared absorbing dye, and at least one component selected from fine particles containing a radical polymerizable compound having the specific structure and microcapsules encapsulating a radical polymerizable compound having the specific structure.

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: A positive photosensitive composition showing a difference in solubility in an alkali developer as between an exposed portion and a non-exposed portion, which comprises, as components inducing the difference in solubility, (a) a photo-thermal conversion material, and (b) a high molecular compound, of which the solubility in an alkali developer is changeable mainly by a change other than a chemical change.

Abstract: A laser imageable flexographic printing plate and a method of making the laser imageable flexographic printing plate using a collapsible UV cross-linkable material comprising a UV-curable elastomer, an IR dye, and microspheres is disclosed. The collapsible UV cross-linkable material is mixed together and then extruded to form a printing plate. An IR laser is used to collapse and melt the collapsible UV cross-linkable material to form a relief image on the printing plate. The printing plate is thereafter UV cured by face exposure to crosslink and cure the formed relief image. The invention addresses a market need for eliminating chemical processing of printing plates, thus going from plate to press much more quickly. The printing plate may also contain a thin layer of a high-density non-collapsible UV-curable elastomer between the collapsible layer and the cover sheet of the plate which acts as the print surface in the final plate.

Abstract: Infrared absorbing compounds that absorb at 800 nm±50 nm and at 1050 nm±50 nm, the two different regions of the infrared spectrum typically used for imaging, are disclosed. Thermally imageable elements that comprise these infrared absorbing compounds can be imaged with radiation in either of these two regions of the infrared spectrum. The elements are especially useful as lithographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: an aluminum support; an interlayer; and a photosensitive layer in this order, wherein the aluminum support is surface-roughened and has an anodic oxide coating, the interlayer comprises a compound comprising a di- or more valent metal element, and the photosensitive layer comprises an infrared absorbent, a radical generator and a radical polymerizable compound.

Abstract: A process for forming a negative image useful as a printing plate is disclosed. A photosensitive assembly that comprises (a) a hydrophilic support, (b) a first layer that comprises a polymer that is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous alkaline solution, (c) a second layer that comprises at least one o-quinonediazide compound, and (d) an infrared absorbing compound is: (1) flood exposed with ultraviolet radiation; (2) imagewise exposed with infrared laser radiation; and (3) developed to produce the negative image.

Abstract: A copper clad metal printing plate can be coated with an azide-containing photoresist comprising a polyformal resin together with a modified polyformal resin that has up to 100% of its hydroxyl groups converted to carboxyl groups, an organo azide and a photosensitive dye that absorbs light at the frequency of a patterning laser and converts it to heat energy. This de-crosslinks the resin that has been exposed to the laser light. Preferably the photoresist is flood exposed with ultraviolet light prior to laser exposure. The photoresist becomes soluble in the laser-exposed areas, exposing the underlying copper after development. The printing plates are completed by etching away the copper in the exposed areas, removing the remaining photoresist, thereby providing a patterned copper layer on the printing plate.

Abstract: Imageable elements with improved dot stability are disclosed. The imageable elements comprise a layer of an imageable composition over a support. The imageable composition comprises an infrared absorbing compound, an acid generator, an acid activatable crosslinking agent, a polymeric binder, and about 0.01 wt % to 1 wt % of an added onium compound. The elements may be thermally imaged and developed to produce images useful as lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: A negative-working heat-sensitive material for making a lithographic printing plate by direct-to-plate recording is disclosed. The material comprises in the order given a lithographic base having a hydrophilic surface, an oleophilic imaging layer and a cross-linked hydrophilic upper layer which comprises an organic compound derived from sulfonic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or phosphonic acid. Materials according to the invention are characterized by an increased water-acceptance in the non-printing areas, which allows a rapid start-up of the press.

Abstract: Infrared absorbing compounds in which both the anion and the cation absorb infrared radiation, imageable elements that contain these compounds, and methods for forming images using the imageable elements are disclosed. The compounds have the structure: in which Y1 and Y2 are each independently hydrogen, halo, alkyl, diphenylamino, or phenylthio; R1, R2, R3, and R4 are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or SO3−, with the proviso that two of R1, R2, R3, and R4 are SO3−; R5 and R6 are each independently an alkyl group; Z1, Z2, Z4, and Z5 are each independently a benzo group or a naphtho group; Z3 and Z6 are each independently two hydrogen atoms, a cyclohexene residue, or a cyclopentene residue; X1, X2, X3, and X4 are each independently S, O, NH, CH2, or C(CH3)2; and n1 and n2 are each independently 0 to 4.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photosensitive composition including an infrared absorbing agent, a sulfonium salt polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound, a binder polymer and a compound having a weight average molecular weight of 3000 or less and having at least one carboxylic acid group, as well as a planographic printing plate precursor containing the photosensitive composition in a photosensitive layer on a substrate.

Abstract: A directly imageable planographic printing plate that is high in image productivity and easy to check is produced by using a directly imageable planographic printing plate that comprises at least a substrate, a thermo-sensitive layer and a ink-repelling layer in this order, wherein the thermo-sensitive layer in the printing area contains a dye that has an absorption maximum in the range of 400 nm to 700 nm, and the difference between the reflected absorption of the non-printing area and the reflected absorption of the printing area, observed at the absorption maximum wavelength of the dye, is not less than 0.3 and not more than 2.0.