Abstract: The present invention relates to a loaded particle comprising at least one fluorescent dye, and in particular, a fluorescent dye with a large Stokes shift. The invention further relates to a method for producing an loaded latex particle, loaded with a fluorescent dye having a large stokes shift. In addition, the present invention relates to latex particles loaded with fluorescent dyes that are organic solvent soluble and insoluble in water. In a preferred embodiment, when the dyes are loaded into the water soluble latex particle, an increase is observed in quantum yield of fluorescence as compared to the quantum yield of the dye in aqueous solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loaded particle comprising at least one fluorescent dye, and in particular, a fluorescent dye with a large Stokes shift. The invention further relates to a method for producing an loaded latex particle, loaded with a fluorescent dye having a large stokes shift. In addition, the present invention relates to latex particles loaded with fluorescent dyes that are organic solvent soluble and insoluble in water. In a preferred embodiment, when the dyes are loaded into the water soluble latex particle, an increase is observed in quantum yield of fluorescence as compared to the quantum yield of the dye in aqueous solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loaded latex particle comprising a latex material made from a mixture represented by formula (X)m-(Y)n-(Z)o-(W)p, wherein Y is at least one monomer with at least two ethylenically unsaturated chemical functionalities; Z is at least one polyethylene glycol macromonomer with an average molecular weight of between 300 and 10,000; W is an ethylenic monomer different from X, Y, or Z; and X is at least one water insoluble, alkoxethyl containing monomer; and m, n, o, and p are the respective weight percentages of each monomer. The particle may be loaded with a fluorescent dye.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a water dispersible polymer particle stabilized by a hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide dispersant. The present invention also discloses a heterogeneous method for forming polymer particles comprising providing a water immiscible organic phase comprising at least one monomer dispersed in a continuous water phase and a hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide, and polymerizing said organic phase to yield polymer particles stabilized with hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide. Also disclosed in the present invention is a heterogeneous method for forming polymer particles comprising providing a water immiscible organic dispersed in a continuous water phase, polymerizing said organic phase, and adding bydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide to yield polymer particles stabilized with hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inkjet recording element that comprises, on a support, a porous hydrophilic image-receiving layer made by a subtractive method involving removal of water-insoluble polymeric latex from a coated non-porous layer to form the porous layer.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an inkjet recording element comprising a support having thereon at least two ink receiving layers capable of accepting an inkjet image, at least one of said layers comprising porous polyester particles. The present invention also includes a method of forming an inkjet print comprising providing an inkjet recording element comprising at least two ink receiving layers capable of accepting an inkjet image, at least one of said layers comprising porous polyester particles and printing on said inkjet recording element utilizing an inkjet printer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imageable member having an imageable layer including a heat-sensitive ionomer characterized by a net positive or negative charge, and a photothermal conversion material. The photothermal conversion material includes carbonaceous particles having thereon both an organic moiety including an ionic substituent having like charge as the ionomer, and a group represented by the formula —X-[NIon]p-Rterminal; wherein X represents an aromatic group or an alkyl group, NIon represents a non-ionic, non-ionizable group, Rterminal represents hydrogen, an aromatic group, an alkoxy group, or an alkyl group, and p is an integer from 1 to about 500. The heat-sensitive ionomer and modified carbonaceous particles can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents without agglomeration.

Abstract: Photothermographic materials contain one or more blocked aliphatic thiol compounds in an amount of at least 1 mg/m2 as stabilizers. These compounds have a calculated octanol-water partition coefficient (c log P value) of 2.0 or greater, and an N value equal to or greater than 6.5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer particles comprising a polymer bead stabilized by vinylsulfonyl-functionalized polymers grafted to the surface of the bead, as well as a particle composition comprising monodisperse polymer beads stabilized by vinylsulfonyl-functionalized polymers, wherein the vinylsulfonyl-functionalized polymers are grafted to the surfaces of the beads. The invention also includes a method of preparing monodisperse polymer particles comprising preparing a homogeneous solution of an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomer, an initiator, and a polymeric stabilizer, wherein the polymeric stabilizer consists of repetitive units, wherein the repetitive units comprise latent vinylsulfonyl moiety, polymerizing the homogeneous solution, and converting the latent vinylsulfonyl moiety to vinylsulfonyl moieties.

Abstract: Thermally developable imaging materials have an outermost protective layer that is composed of one or more hydrophilic film-forming components. The predominant film-forming component is a negatively-charged latex polymer that has negatively-charged ionic groups other than carboxy groups. The latex polymer is present as latex particles that have been prepared in the presence of a nonionic stabilizer in an amount of at least 0.5% (by weight) that has an HLB value of 7 to 20. The nonionic stabilizer becomes associated with the latex polymer particles. Both thermographic and photothermographic materials can be prepared with such protective layers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer microsphere comprising at least one polymer and at least one bound latent colorant, wherein the microsphere is stabilized by at least one stabilizing polymer. The invention also includes a method of preparing polymer microspheres comprising combining latent colorant, ethylenically unsaturated monomer, stabilizing polymer, and an initiator in solvent and initiating polymerization to form a polymeric microsphere stabilized by a stabilizing polymer bound to the surface of the polymeric microsphere.

Abstract: The present invention comprises wrinkled polymer particle comprising a polyester-containing particle having a surface covered with at least one wrinkle comprising folds, ridges, crevices and channels. The present invention further comprises a method of forming wrinkled polyester-containing particles comprising preparing a mixture of an organic phase and an aqueous phase, said mixture comprising an unsaturated precursor polyester, a water immiscible organic solvent, at least one organic-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and initiator, subjecting said mixture to high energy emulsification, initiating crosslinking of said polyester after emulsification, and removing said water immiscible organic solvent to recover wrinkled polyester-containing particles.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an ink printing method including the steps of: a) providing an ink printer that is responsive to digital data signals; b) loading said printer with an image-recording element including a support having thereon at least one image-receiving layer comprising polymeric particles in a polymeric binder, wherein said polymeric particle is stabilized by a hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide dispersant; c) loading said printer with an ink composition; and d) printing on said image-recording element using said ink composition in response to said digital data signals.

Abstract: Thermally developable imaging materials have an outermost protective layer that is composed of one or more hydrophilic film-forming components. The predominant film-forming component is a positively-charged latex polymer that has cationic groups. The charged latex polymer is present as latex particles that have prepared in the presence of a non-ionic or cationic stabilizer in an amount of at least 0.5% (by weight) that has an HLB value of 7 to 20. The nonionic or cationic stabilizer becomes associated with the latex polymer particles. Both thermographic and photothermographic materials can be prepared with such protective layers.

Abstract: Thermally developable imaging materials have an outermost protective layer that is composed of one or more hydrophilic film-forming components. Between the outermost protective layer and the underlying thermally developable imaging layers is an interlayer containing a film-forming ionic latex polymer other than a carboxy-containing latex polymer. This ionic polymer can be negatively-charged or positively-charged. The ionic latex polymer is present as latex particles that have been prepared in the presence of a stabilizer in an amount of at least 0.5% (by weight) that has an HLB value of 7 to 20. The stabilizer becomes associated with the latex polymer particles. Both thermographic and photothermographic materials can be prepared with such protective layers.

Abstract: Combustible core-shell particles have a nitro-resin core that is covered by an addition polymer shell in a weight ratio of from 20:1 to 0.2:1 (core:shell). The shell polymer is derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers that are represented by the following Structure I: CH2?C(R)-X??(I) wherein R is hydrogen or methyl, and X is any monovalent moiety except a phenyl group. These combustible core-shell particles are particularly useful in thermal imaging materials such as “direct-write” printing plate precursors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer microsphere comprising at least one polymer and at least one bound latent colorant, wherein the microsphere is stabilized by at least one stabilizing polymer. The invention also includes a method of preparing polymer microspheres comprising combining latent colorant, ethylenically unsaturated monomer, stabilizing polymer, and an initiator in solvent and initiating polymerization to form a polymeric microsphere stabilized by a stabilizing polymer bound to the surface of the polymeric microsphere.

Abstract: A water dispersible polymer particle stabilized by a hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide dispersant or a heterogeneous method for forming polymer particles comprising providing a water immiscible organic phase comprising at least one monomer dispersed in a continuous water phase and a hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide, and polymerizing the organic phase to yield polymer particles stabilized with hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide. Also, a heterogeneous method for forming polymer particles comprising providing a water immiscible organic dispersed in a continuous water phase, polymerizing the organic phase, and adding hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide to yield polymer particles stabilized with hydrophobically capped oligomeric acrylamide.

Abstract: Various imaging members including lithographic imaging members can be prepared by applying to a support, an aqueous formulation comprising one or more imaging components to form an imaging layer. Over the imaging layer is directly applied a non-aqueous inverse emulsion comprising highly hydrophilic, water-swellable microgel particles dispersed in a water-immiscible organic solvent to form a protective layer. This protective layer provides physical durability but it is still readily removed during or after imaging with water or fountain solutions.

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.