Abstract: This invention relates to iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and polymer binders comprising functional groups capable of undergoing cationic or radical polymerization, their method of preparation and their use in the preparation of coating solutions and coatings. This invention also relates to coatings containing the iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and/or polymer binders and to negative working lithographic printing plates comprising these coatings.

Abstract: A thermal lithographic printing plate overcoat composition comprising (a) a water-soluble polymeric dye having an absorption band between about 300 and about 600 nm; and (b) micro-particles or nano-particles is provided. A negative-working thermal lithographic printing plate comprising (a) a hydrophilic substrate; (b) a near infrared imaging layer disposed on the hydrophilic substrate; and (c) an overcoat layer disposed on the imaging layer, said overcoat layer comprising a water-soluble polymeric dye having an absorption band between about 300 and about 600 nm; and micro-particles or nano-particles is also provided. Finally, a water-soluble polymeric dye having an absorption band between about 300 and about 600 nm is provided.

Abstract: Described herein are novel thermally reactive near-infrared absorbing acetal copolymers that undergo chemical and physical changes upon exposure to near-infrared radiation. Also described are the methods of preparation of the novel acetal copolymers starting either with vinyl-alcohol polymers or with acetal copolymers. Also described are the methods of use of the new near-infrared absorbing acetal copolymers in coatings used in lithographic offset printing plates that can be directly imaged with near-infrared laser imaging devices in computer-to-plate and digital offset printing technologies. The novel acetal copolymers are also useful in photoresist applications, rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards and chemical sensor development.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for analysing and authenticating a luminescent tag are provided wherein a luminescence is triggered in the tag and relative light intensities emitted thereby measured within at least two luminescence bands. The measured intensities are compared with at least one reference tag representative of relative intensities emitted by an authentic tag to determine whether the luminescent tag corresponds with any of the at least one reference tag. If the measured intensities match the representative intensities, the luminescent tag is authenticated. A computer program to be implemented by the apparatus and system is also disclosed. Further, a method and system for verifying the authenticity of one or plural objects are disclosed, wherein each of the objects is to be associated with a respective tag. The respective tags are coded to emit light, when triggered, within at least two luminescence bands at respective predetermined relative light intensities.

Abstract: The invention provides a near infrared absorption polymer comprising at least two different pendent infra-red chromophoric moieties covalently bonded to the backbone of an alkali-soluble resin, at least one of which is an indole cyanine dye and the other of which is a benz[e]-indole cyanine dye. When used in the coating of a heat sensitive positive working lithographic printing plate precursor the stabilization time needed after manufacture is significantly reduced, avoiding further conditioning processes before use. The precursors are preferably imagewise exposed with a near-infrared laser emitting at between 780 nm and 850 nm.

Abstract: Described herein are a method for recording luminescent compositions, comprising a) providing a luminescent composition which comprises at least a first and second luminescent compound, wherein the first luminescent compound is a donor compound having a peak luminescent emission spectrum at a given wavelength, wherein the second luminescent compound is an acceptor compound having a peak absorption spectrum at a longer wavelength than the given wavelength, and wherein the emission spectrum of the donor compound at least partially overlaps the absorption spectrum of the acceptor compound; b) combining the composition with a substrate, so that at least a portion of the composition is available for exposure to a photon source; and c) embedding information at predetermined sites in the combined composition by localized exposure to a photon source, the embedding resulting in an information pattern when exposed to a luminescence deciphering device, and uses of said information pattern.

Abstract: There is provided polymeric particles having a particle size between about 60 nm and about 1000 nm and comprising a polymer, the polymer comprising a hydrophobic backbone, a near infrared absorbing segment having attached thereto a near infrared absorbing chromophore having an absorption peak between about 700 nm and about 1100 nm; and a near infrared transparent segment. Method of manufacture these particles are also provided. A coating composition comprising the above-polymeric particles and a reactive iodonium oligomer is also provided. Finally, a negative-working lithographic offset printing plate comprising a substrate; a hydrophilic under layer; and a laser imageable upper layer, wherein the laser imageable upper layer comprises the above polymeric particle is also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and polymer binders comprising functional groups capable of undergoing cationic or radical polymerization, their method of preparation and their use in the preparation of coating solutions and coatings. This invention also relates to coatings containing the iodonium salts, acetal copolymers and/or polymer binders and to negative working lithographic printing plates comprising these coatings.

Abstract: Provided herein is an inorganic-organic hybrid conjugated polymer having opto-electronic function and a process to make the same. The disclosed polymer contains inorganic or organic bulky groups in the polymer backbone or as pedant groups and has a general formula: wherein: A is a bulk group, comprising at least one silsesquioxane, serving as a positional anchor for the polymer. S serving as a spacer includes alkyl, cycyloalkyl group of from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, or aryl or substituted aryl of from 6 to 50 carbon atoms, or herteroaryl or substituted heteroaryl of from 4 to 50 carbons. CP represents any conjugated polymer segment at least one portion thereof comprising an opto-electronic function, for example, polyacetylenes, polyphenylenes, polyphenylenevinylenes, polythiophenes, polypyrroles, polyanilines, polyfluorences, and any conjugated co-polymer segment. x, y and z are positive integers, where x and z is equal or greater than 1.

Abstract: The invention provides photoluminescent markers consisting essentially of fluorene copolymers, which are colorless or nearly colorless to the naked eye and exhibit strong photoluminescence between about 380-800 nm upon exposure to ultra-violet radiation or laser light. The soluble fluorene copolymers described in this invention having a general formula as shown in Formula 1. where: R1 and R2 are C1-C24 linear or branched alkyl chain, n is the number of repeating unit, M is a co-monomer unit having structures chosen to impart distinct physical or chemical properties to the marker. Also provided in the present invention are methods of use of the markers for tagging solid or liquid products and methods to detect said markers.

Abstract: Described herein is a photocurable resin composition for stereolithography comprising (a) a photocurable component, liquid at room temperature and comprising a photopolymerizable substance selected from monomers, oligomers, dendrimers and polymers and mixtures thereof, (b) at least one photoinitiator compound, and (c) at least one photoactivated color changing compound. The color changing compound can be adapted to go from essentially colorless to a given color, one given color to another or from a given color to colorless. Optionally, the resin composition will also contain component (d), namely at least one reactive silsesquioxanes (POSS).

Abstract: Provided herein is an inorganic-organic hybrid conjugated polymer having opto-electronic function and a process to make the same.

Abstract: The invention provides photoluminescent markers consisting essentially of fluorene copolymers, which are colorless or nearly colorless to the naked eye and exhibit strong photoluminescence between about 380-800 nm upon exposure to ultra-violet radiation or laser light. The soluble fluorene copolymers described in this invention having a general formula as shown in Formula 1.

Abstract: A solubilizing agent and a compound made by reacting selected nucleophiles, including fatty acid reactants and amines with an isocyanate are disclosed. The addition of the isocyanate and the different nucleophiles will create a di-urethane tetra-amide solubilizing agent product. The polyamide-solubilizing agent is useful as an ingredient in a phase change solid imaging material and as carrier compositions used to make phase change ink jet inks.

Abstract: A component to control the viscosity of phase change material formulations is made by reacting selected nucleophiles, including fatty acid/alcohol reactants with an isocyanate, is disclosed. The addition of the isocyanate and the different nucleophiles will create a viscosity modifying component of low viscosity that can be formulated with higher molecular weight polyamide resins to achieve increased toughness in phase change solid imaging materials and carrier compositions used to make phase change ink jet inks.

Abstract: Hydrophilic substrates which are useful in preparing lithographic printing plates, contain a hydrophilic layer adhered to a sheet support. The hydrophilic layer contains as a key component about 30 weight % or more of a clay, and typically contains a crosslinked water-soluble binder; colloidal silica; and amorphous silica to provide a dry coating weight of about 5 g/m2 or more. The hydrophilic layer may be porous and such porous hydrophilic substrates are particularly useful for preparing lithographic printing plates by ink jet printing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel hot melt ink comprising a colorant ink and an ink vehicle wherein the ink vehicle comprises at least one polyhedral silsesquioxane compound present in a proportion of about 0.1 to 30 wt % based on the total weight of the hot melt ink composition.

Abstract: A lithographic printing surface is prepared using a thermal lithographic printing plate which requires no chemical development to remove areas of the imaged plate. The processless thermal lithographic printing plate has a sheet substrate; a hydrophilic layer on the sheet substrate; and a thermally sensitive imaging layer on the hydrophilic layer. The hydrophilic layer contains about 30 weight % of an aluminosilicate or clay, and preferably has an exterior surface which is micro-porous. The imaging layer preferably is micro-porous. The imaging layer is exposed imagewise using infrared laser radiation to produce an imaged layer. The imaged layer is treated with a conditioner liquid to produce a lithographic printing surface.

Abstract: Provided herein are novel polymeric coating materials for direct digital imaging by laser. More specifically the novel coating materials are thermally reactive near infrared absorption polymers designed for use with near infrared laser imaging devices. This invention further extends to the preparation and methods of use of the novel materials. The invention is particularly useful in the preparation of lithographic printing plates for computer-to-plate and digital-offset-press technologies. The invention extends to photoresist applications, to rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards and to chemical sensor development.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plates for wet or waterless offset printing are disclosed which can be imagewise exposed using a digitally controlled IR laser. The invention comprises a laser imagable lithographic printing plate comprising a substrate, a photosensitive coating on the substrate, and a water soluble laser ablatable top coating containing dyes or polymers that absorb infra-red, ultraviolet and visible light. Laminated transparent polymer films and/or peelable polymeric coatings films can be interposed between the coated substrate and a water soluble and/or organic solvent soluble laser ablatable top layer to augment plate production or image inscription on the plate.