Abstract: Positive-working imageable elements comprise a radiation absorbing compound and inner and outer layers on a substrate having a hydrophilic surface. The inner layer comprises a polymeric material that is removable using an alkaline developer and comprises a backbone and attached groups represented by the following Structure Q: wherein L1, L2, and L3 independently represent linking groups, T1, T2, and T3 independently represent terminal groups, and a, b, and c are independently 0 or 1. The imageable elements have improved resistance to development and printing chemicals and solvents.

Abstract: Both single-layer and multilayer imageable elements have a substrate and at least one imageable layer. The elements can be used to prepare either negative- or positive-working imaged elements, for example as lithographic printing plates. The imageable elements also include a radiation absorbing compound and a solvent-resistant polymer comprising pendant phosphoric acid groups, pendant adamantyl groups, or both. When this polymer comprises pendant adamantyl groups, they are connected to the polymer backbone through a urea or urethane group. The imageable elements have improved chemical resistance and thermal bakeability from the presence of the unique solvent-resistant polymer.

Abstract: Both single-layer and multilayer imageable elements have a substrate and at least one imageable layer. The elements can be used to prepare either negative- or positive-working imaged elements, for example as lithographic printing plates. The imageable elements also include a radiation absorbing compound and a solvent-resistant polymer comprising pendant phosphoric acid groups, pendant adamantyl groups, or both. When this polymer comprises pendant adamantyl groups, they are connected to the polymer backbone through a urea or urethane group. The imageable elements have improved chemical resistance and thermal bakeability from the presence of the unique solvent-resistant polymer.

Abstract: A method of preparing negative-working, single-layer imageable elements improves their storage stability in a humid environment. The method includes enclosing the coated imageable elements in a water-impermeable sheet material that substantially inhibits the transfer of moisture to and from the imageable element. Such imageable elements include a radiation-sensitive composition that includes a radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition to provide radicals upon exposure to imaging radiation, a radiation absorbing compound, and a polymeric binder having poly(alkylene glycol) side chains.

Abstract: A negative-working radiation-sensitive composition includes a polymeric binder comprising a polymer backbone and having attached thereto a carbazole derivative represented by the following Structure (I): wherein Y is a direct bond or a linking group, and R1 to R8 are independently hydrogen, or an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, halo, cyano, alkoxy, acyl, acyloxy, or carboxylate groups, or any adjacent R1 through R8 groups can together form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic group or a fused aromatic ring. The composition can be sensitive to radiation having a maximum wavelength of from about 150 to about 1500 nm, and can be used to prepare negative-working imageable elements that be imaged and developed as lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to negative-working imageable elements that can be used for the manufacture of printing plates. These imageable elements can be developed on on-press by the action of a lithographic printing ink used in combination with either water or a fountain solution. The imageable elements comprise an imageable layer that is not removable in water or fountain solution alone. The imageable layer includes a free radically polymerizable compound, a free radical initiator composition, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, and a polymeric binder comprising poly(alkylene oxide) pendant groups, and preferably additionally pendant cyano groups.

Abstract: A convenient and economical method for preparing infrared absorbing cyanine dyes useful in lithographic printing plate precursors is disclosed. The reaction is generally carried out by condensation of a heterocyclic base containing an activated methylene group and an unsaturated bisaldehyde or its equivalent in a solvent or solvent mixture at about 20–150° C. All the reactions necessary for production of the infrared absorbing cyanine dye may be carried out in one reaction vessel without isolating any intermediate products.

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: Infrared absorbing compounds are disclosed. The compounds are co-polymers that comprise covalently attached ammonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, and/or iodonium cations, and infrared absorbing cyanine anions that have two to four sulfonate groups and/or sulfate groups, and/or infrared absorbing oxonol anions. The infrared absorbing compounds can be used in aqueous developable lithographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: A method for forming images useful as lithographic printing plate precursors is disclosed. An imageable element in which the imageable layer comprises an acid generator, a crosslinking agent, and a binder is imaged with ultraviolet radiation and developed with a solvent based developer. The acid generator is an iodonium, sulfonium, or diazonium salt in which the anion is an organic sulfate or thiosulfate anion. The binder comprises a copolymer that contains a reactive pendent group capable of undergoing acid crosslinking, in which the reactive pendent group is hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, sulfonamide, alkoxymethyl, or a mixture thereof. The method is especially suited for use with direct digital ultraviolet imaging devices. The resulting image is useful as a lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: Co-polymers that contain siloxane groups, imageable elements that comprise the co-polymers, and methods for forming images by imaging and developing the imageable elements are disclosed. The imageable elements are useful as lithographic printing plate precursors that can be developed with water or with fountain solution.

Abstract: Thermally imageable elements comprising a masking layer and a substrate are disclosed. The masking layer contains a sulfobetaine and/or a carboxybetaine containing co-polymer or a mixture of a sulfobetaine and/or a carboxybetaine containing co-polymers and absorbs both infrared and ultraviolet radiation. When the masking layer is on the substrate, the imageable element may be imaged and developed to form a photomask. When the imageable element additionally comprises a photosensitive layer, the masking layer may be imaged and developed to form an integral photomask. The imageable elements that comprise a photosensitive layer are useful as flexographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: Multilayer, thermally imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The imageable elements comprise a substrate, an underlayer over the substrate, an underlayer over the substrate, and a top layer over the underlayer. The top layer contains a co-polymer that alkylene glycol side chains, polyalkylene glycol side chains, side chains that have silyl groups substituted with three alkoxy and/or phenoxy groups, and/or side chains that have alkyl ammonium side chains. The imageable elements have excellent resistance to press room chemicals.

Abstract: Multilayer, thermally imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The imageable elements comprise a substrate, an underlayer over the substrate, an underlayer over the substrate, and a top layer over the underlayer. The top layer contains a co-polymer that alkylene glycol side chains, polyalkylene glycol side chains, side chains that have silyl groups substituted with three alkoxy and/or phenoxy groups, and/or side chains that have alkyl ammonium side chains. The imageable elements have excellent resistance to press room chemicals.

Abstract: Thermally imageable elements comprising a masking layer and a substrate are disclosed. The masking layer contains a sulfobetaine and/or a carboxybetaine containing co-polymer or a mixture of a sulfobetaine and/or a carboxybetaine containing co-polymers and absorbs both infrared and ultraviolet radiation. When the masking layer is on the substrate, the imageable element may be imaged and developed to form a photomask. When the imageable element additionally comprises a photosensitive layer, the masking layer may be imaged and developed to form an integral photomask. The imageable elements that comprise a photosensitive layer are useful as flexographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: Imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The element comprises an imageable layer over a support. The imageable layer contains a photothermal conversion material and a polymeric binder that comprises a polymer backbone with sulfobetaine- and/or carboxybetaine-containing side chains. The imageable elements do not require processing in a developer. They can be thermally imaged and immediately treated with fountain solution and ink without a development step.

Abstract: Imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. The element comprises an imageable layer over a support. The imageable layer contains a photothermal conversion material and a polymeric binder that comprises a polymer backbone with sulfobetaine- and/or carboxybetaine-containing side chains. The imageable elements do not require processing in a developer. They can be thermally imaged and immediately treated with fountain solution and ink without a development step.

Abstract: Co-polymers that contain siloxane groups, imageable elements that comprise the co-polymers, and methods for forming images by imaging and developing the imageable elements are disclosed. The imageable elements are useful as lithographic printing plate precursors that can be developed with water or with fountain solution.

Abstract: Infrared absorbing compounds are disclosed. The compounds are co-polymers that comprise covalently attached ammonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, and/or iodonium cations, and infrared absorbing cyanine anions that have two to four sulfonate groups and/or sulfate groups, and/or infrared absorbing oxonol anions. The infrared absorbing compounds can be used in aqueous developable lithographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: Provided are improved coatings, polymeric dispersions, and polymeric composites, which include crosslinked polymeric nanoparticles (hereafter “PNPs”). Also provided are methods for forming improved coatings, polymeric dispersions, and polymeric composites, which include PNPs. The PNPs have polymerized units of at least one multi-ethylenically-unsaturated monomer have a mean diameter of from 1 to 50 nanometers. PNPs having polymerized units of at least one multi-ethylenically-unsaturated monomer and at least one surface-active monomer are also provided.