Abstract: A method of producing a printing plate comprises: (a) providing a printing plate precursor comprising a topmost etchable first layer and a second layer located below the first layer, wherein the first and second layers have different affinities for at least one printing liquid; (b) imagewise providing atomized fluid particles in an interaction zone located above the surface of the first layer; and (c) imagewise directing laser energy into the interaction zone, wherein the laser energy has a wavelength which is substantially absorbed by the atomized fluid particles in the interaction zone, and the absorption of the laser energy causes the atomized fluid particles to imagewise impart kinetic energy to and etch the first layer. Lithographic and flexographic printing plates may be prepared according to this method, including waterless plates, negative-and positive-working plates, and processless plates.

Abstract: A process for making thermally imageable negative working compositions comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A negative-working image forming process which comprises the steps of:

Abstract: The present invention includes an imageable element, comprising a substrate and a thermally imageable composition which includes a graft copolymer having hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments. Upon imagewise exposure to thermal energy, the graft copolymer produces exposed regions that are less soluble in a developer than the unexposed regions. Also included is a method of producing an imaged element which includes a graft copolymer according to the present invention.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate substrate is conditioned for imaging in a printer engine by an edge protector adhered along at least one edge of the plate substrate, the edge protector being of a flexible material, being coextensive with the edge, having face portions adhered to portions of the opposite faces adjacent the edge, and having an edge portion overlying the edge.

Abstract: A printing member, especially a planographic printing member, comprising a first layer which includes a fibrous material, especially a cellulosic fibrous material or a ceramic fibrous material, and a binder, for example a resin or the like, is described. An image defining means is provided over the first layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a selectively relief-treated image member that comprises: (a) providing a precursor of the image member, the precursor comprising a surface having an image-forming layer comprising a photosensitive resist composition comprising: (i) a polymerizable material, and (ii) a binder; (b) delivering radiation image-wise to the precursor; (c) developing the precursor in a developer in order to selectively remove the image-forming layer in regions to which said radiation was not delivered image-wise in step (b); and (d) contacting the image-wise exposed precursor with a relief-treatment material, in order to selectively relief-treat regions of the surface of the precursor in which the image-forming layer was removed on development in step (c).

Abstract: A method for developing exposed lithographic printing plate precursors using a developer and replenisher is disclosed. The replenisher contains a higher concentration of a coating attack-suppressing agent than the developer, so that the aggressiveness of the developer remains substantially constant during the developer loading cycle.

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: A precursor which may be imaged by heat is made up of a substrate, for example a copper board, and a composite layer structure composed of two layers. Preferably, the first layer is composed of an aqueous developable polymer mixture containing a photothermal conversion material which is contiguous to the substrate. The second layer of the composite is composed of one or more non-aqueous soluble polymers which are soluble or dispersible in a solvent which does not dissolve the first layer. The precursor is exposed with an infrared laser or a thermal print head, and upon aqueous development, the exposed regions are removed, revealing regions of the substrate surface able to be etched or otherwise treated. The second layer may also contain a photothermal conversion material. Alternatively, the composite layer may be free of photothermal conversion material when thermal imaging is carried out using a thermal print head. The precursor may be used, for example, as a mask precursor or electronic part precursor.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a precursor for preparing a resist pattern by heat mode imaging, the precursor comprising a heat sensitive composition, the solubility of which in an aqueous alkaline developer is arranged to increase in heated areas, and a means for increasing the resistance of non-heated areas of the heat sensitive composition to dissolution in an aqueous alkaline developer (the “developer resistance means”), wherein said developer resistance means comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of: (A) compounds which include a poly(alkylene oxide) unit; (B) siloxanes; and (C) esters, ethers and amides of polyhydric alcohols, wherein said heat-sensitive composition comprises an aqueous alkaline developer soluble polymeric substance (i.e. the “active polymer”) and a compound which reduces the aqueous alkaline developer solubility of the polymeric substance (i.e.

Abstract: This invention relates to an imageable element that can be imaged and developed to produce a printing plate. The imageable element comprises a substrate and a radiation-sensitive imageable composition applied to the substrate. The imageable composition comprises (a) a first layer having (i) a photosensitive composition which undergoes a decrease in solubility in developer upon absorption of actinic radiation and (ii) an inhibitor, and (b) a second layer comprising an ink-repellent polymeric material. In one embodiment, the inhibitor is activated by heat or radiation of longer wavelength than actinic radiation. Upon activation, the inhibitor retards the solubility decrease of the photosensitive composition upon absorption of actinic radiation. In another embodiment, the inhibitor initially retards the solubility decrease of the photosensitive composition upon absorption of actinic radiation.

Abstract: A printing plate is prepared by the process comprising: (a) providing a substrate; and (b) applying by ink jetting to the substrate a fluid composition comprising a cationic polymer and an anionic polymer, in non-aqueous solvent. The ionic polymers interact and adhere to the substrate, so that after drying a durable printing plate is formed, without chemical development. The printing plate of this invention is capable of extended press run length and advantageously avoids the need of chemical development.

Abstract: Thermally imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plates, and methods for forming an image using the thermally imageable elements are disclosed. The element contains a support with a hydrophilic surface, an underlayer over the hydrophilic surface, and a top layer over the underlayer. The top layer contains a polymeric material, such as a novolac resin, a resol resin, or a mixture thereof, but does not require a compound that functions as a solubility-suppressing component for the polymeric material. Consequently, the top layer is free of materials that function as solubility-suppressing components for the polymeric material. In one embodiment, the element, preferably the underlayer, absorbs infrared radiation. Following thermal exposure, the element is developed with an aqueous alkaline developer having a pH of at least 7 to about 11, typically about 10.

Abstract: A composition used as a resist in the manufacture of electronic parts, for example printed circuits, and which is rendered soluble in a developer by pattemwise delivery of heat, comprises a polymer and optionally an infrared absorbing compound. However in contrast to conventional compositions no compound is present which alters the solubility of the polymer in an aqueous developer.

Abstract: An integrated apparatus for processing a resist pattern imaged on a substrate, notably a thermal lithographic printing plate, comprises a chemical development section, and a preheat oven upstream of the chemical development section. The preheat oven is controllable to provide for substantially uniform heating of the imaged lithographic plate (or other imaged resist pattern on the substrate) as the plate progresses through the apparatus. If desired a plate baking oven may be provided downstream of the chemical development section.

Abstract: A method for producing printing plate precursors by dual-feed technology is described. The obtained printing plate precursors contain polymer particles in the photosensitive layer and show high print run stability.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate substrate is conditioned for imaging in a printer engine by attaching a leader to the leading edge. The leader is sufficiently flexible to be drawn into the printer engine and is adapted to pull the plate substrate through the printer engine.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline developing system for alkaline-developable lithographic printing plates and a method for its use are disclosed. The developing system comprises one or more water-soluble suppressors of the following structure: R1 (CHOH)nR2 in which: n is 4 to 7; and either (i) R1 is hydrogen, aryl, or CH2OH; and R2 is alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, CH2OR3 in which R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, CH2N(R4R5) in which R4 and R5 are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or CO2H; or (ii) R1 and R2 together form a carbon-carbon single bond. The developing system is especially suited for developing imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plates. The developing system is especially suited for use with elements in which (1) the imageable layer comprises at least one phenolic resin or at least one polymeric compound having pendent sulfonamide groups, and (2) the substrate is aluminum or and an aluminum alloy.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing a predetermined resist pattern on a substrate. The method includes the patternwise application of infrared radiation to a precursor which contains the substrate, having a coating thereon, wherein the coating contains a positive working composition; and the development of the pattern using a developer. The composition contains a polymeric substance having functional groups Q thereon, such that the functionalized polymeric substance has the property that it is developer insoluble prior to delivery of infrared radiation and developer soluble thereafter.