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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic polymer having ionic moieties and an infrared radiation sensitive dye having multiple sulfo groups. The heat-sensitive polymer and IR dye can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents to provide highly thermal sensitive imaging compositions. In the imaging member, the polymer reacts to provide increased hydrophobicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides a lithographic image without wet processing.

Abstract: A method of controlling the resolution of an image formed on a substrate comprises: (a) providing a substrate; (b) applying an image to the substrate by ink jetting onto the substrate a fluid composition comprising at least one surfactant, wherein the spreading of the fluid composition on the substrate in the presence of the surfactant is less than the spreading of the fluid composition on the substrate in the absence of the surfactant. The invention reduces the dot spreading which otherwise occurs when a substrate is imaged via ink jetting to prepare a printing plate.

Abstract: A thermally imageable element, useful as a lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed. The element comprises a hydrophilic substrate; an underlayer comprising a first polymeric material; and an ink-receptive top layer comprising a second polymeric material and a solubility-suppressing component. The solubility-suppressing component may be a separate dissolution inhibitor compound and/or the second polymeric material may also function as a solubility-suppressing component. On thermal exposure the exposed regions of the top layer becomes more readily soluble in an aqueous developer, allowing the developer to remove the top layer and reveal the surface of the hydrophilic substrate. The lithographic printing plate thus formed has excellent properties, including the absence of sludging of the developer.

Abstract: Multilayer photoimageable elements, useful for forming lithographic printing members, are disclosed. The elements comprise a support, a top layer, and a chemical resistant underlayer. The underlayer is resistant to aggressive washes, such as a UV wash. In one embodiment, the underlayer comprises a copolymer of N-substituted maleimide, methacrylamide, and methacrylic acid. A process for preparing a lithographic printing member is also disclosed.

Abstract: An imagable article comprises a thermally imagable coating on a substrate, the coating comprising a radiation absorbing compound and a metal compound which is thermally decomposable, to form a metal. The imagable article is imagewise exposed to electromagnetic radiation, which is converted to heat by the radiation absorbing compound. The imaged article is then subjected to a developer, and in regions that have been exposed the thermally decomposable metal compound is decomposed to elemental metal, and regions that have not been exposed dissolve in the developer leaving behind the regions of elemental metal.

Abstract: Copolymers useful in radiation-sensitive layers of printing plates have the units A, B and C wherein unit A is present in an amount of 5 to a maximum of 50 mol % and R1 and R4 are selected such that the homopolymer of A is alkali-soluble, B is present in an amount of 20-70 mol % and R2, R6 and R7 are selected such that the homopolymer of B has a high glass transition temperature, and C is present in an amount of 10-50 mol % and R3 and R5 are selected such that the homopolymer of C is water-soluble and that unit A is different from unit C.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive composition, positive-working coating compositions useful for the preparation of lithographic printing plates and lithographic printing plate precursors comprising the composition are disclosed. The composition comprises at least one quinonediazide compound and at least one carboxylic copolymer. The compositions produce lithographic printing plates that show high print run stability.

Abstract: A composition for positive correction of lithographic printing plates, applicable by pen or by brush, is disclosed. The correction fluid contains a film forming phosphate ester and a solvent that does not dissolve image areas of the printing plate. A correction kit containing the composition and methods for correcting printing plates by additive correction are also disclosed.

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 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: Infra-red absorbing polymers useful in imageable products and the lithographic printing field comprise infra-red absorbing groups carried as pendent groups on a polymer backbone. Certain infra-red absorbing groups may also act to insolublize the polymer in a developer, until it is imagewise exposed to infra-red radiation. The resulting heat renders the polymer soluble in the developer. Imagable products employing the infra-red absorbing polymers may include positive working lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: The present invention also includes an imageable element, comprising a substrate and a thermally imageable composition comprising a thermally sensitive polymer which exhibits an increased solubility in an aqueous developer solution upon heating. The thermally sensitive polymer includes at least one covalently bonded unit and at least one thermally reversible non-covalently bonded unit, which includes a two or more centered H-bond within each of the non-covalently bonded unit. The present invention also includes a method of producing the imaged element. The present invention still further includes a thermally imageable composition comprising comprising a thermally sensitive polymer according to the present invention and a process for preparing the thermally sensitive polymer, which is a supramolecular polymer.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of preparing an inkjet ink imaged lithographic printing plate, comprising the steps of: imagewise applying onto a substrate coated with an inkjet ink reactive coating composition comprising a diazonium material, an inkjet ink to produce an imaged coated substrate wherein the inkjet ink imaged regions are oleophilic and more developer-insoluble than non-imaged regions; and contacting said imaged and non-imaged regions of said an imaged coated substrate and an aqueous developer to selectively remove said coating from said developer soluble non-imaged regions. The present invention also includes a lithographic printing plate, such as an inkjet ink imaged lithographic printing plate, which is prepared by the method of the present invention.