Abstract: A photocurable composition useful in preparing water-developable, solid printing plates is prepared by blending a urethane (meth)acrylate prepolymer with a complexing polymer based on poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) composition. The resulting composition is suitably formulated with additional photoactive (meth)acrylate monomers or oligomers and photoinitiator for casting or extrusion on a substrate to form a flexographic printing plate. Following UV exposure of the plate through a negative, unexposed areas can be removed by washing with aqueous media, to give a plate with a desirable relief image. The use of the aqueous washout solution as opposed to organic solvents minimizes pollution problems. The use of the complexing polymer significantly reduces the cold flow of the uncured plate and both increases toughness and reduces tack of the cured plate.

Abstract: A water-based bonding agent material made of an acrylic polymer or copolymer emulsion, metal salt complexed with an amine and surfactant is useful for unitizing packages having synthetic polymer surfaces.

Abstract: Dense sintered parts of ceramic and/or metallic materials are formed using stereo photolithography. An initial flowable mixture of sinterable inorganic particles, photocurable monomer, photoinitiator and dispersant is flowed over a substrate and cured in a selective pattern. Subsequent layers of the mixture are flowed over the substrate and cured to build a three dimensional body. The body is then fired to produce a dense sintered part. Parts having in excess of 95% of theoretical density can be produced.

Abstract: An aqueous developable, photocurable composition and a method of improving solvent resistance and flexibility are disclosed. The composition comprises (a) an acid-containing copolymer having an acid ephr of at least 0.20 and (b) an acid-containing polymer suitable for flexibilizing the composition, which has at least one free ethylenically unsaturated group. It is preferable that either (a) or (b) or both are further reacted with a compound having a free ethylenically unsaturated group and a free acid reactive group, e.g. glycidyl(meth)acrylate. When the composition is formulated with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and photoinitiator, the photocurable composition is especially suitable for use in an aqueous developable, flexible printing plate.

Abstract: A method useful for stereolithography that yields enhanced photospeed, as well as a photocurable polymer composition well adapted for use with same, are disclosed.A preferred combination includes 1,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyl acetophenone, benzophenone, and triphenyl phosphine combined with a polyurethane (meth)acrylate oligomer.

Abstract: An aqueous-developable article is made from a photosensitive prepolymer made by reacting together (a) maleated alkadiene polymer or copolymer, (b) hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate or hydroxy(polycaprolactone)acrylate, (c) polybutadiene diol or polyisoprene diol, and (d) monohydroxy-terminated thermoplastic polymer, such as monohydroxy-terminated polystyrene or monohydroxy-terminated polymethylmethacrylate, followed by hydrolysis and at least partial neutralization by reaction with a base, e.g. NaOH, to form an ionomer. When formulated with photoinitiator and (optional) unsaturated monomers, the ionomer is particularly useful in making photopolymer-based flexographic printing plates.

Abstract: A photocurable composition useful in preparing water-developable, solid printing plates is prepared by blending a urethane (meth)acrylate prepolymer with a complexing polymer based on poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) composition. The resulting composition is suitably formulated with additional photoactive (meth)acrylate monomers or oligomers and photoinitiator for casting or extrusion on a substrate to form a flexographic printing plate. Following UV exposure of the plate through a negative, unexposed areas can be removed by washing with aqueous media, to give a plate with a desirable relief image. The use of the aqueous washout solution as opposed to organic solvents minimizes pollution problems. The use of the complexing polymer significantly reduces the cold flow of the uncured plate and both increases toughness and reduces tack of the cured plate.

Abstract: A photocurable composition P(Y)(Y.sub.1)(Y.sub.2) is prepared by reacting a solid carboxylated copolymer P(Y) having at least one pendent carboxyl group Y, and optionally one or more terminal carboxyl groups Y, with (i) a photosensitive vinyl-containing compound, e.g. glycidyl (meth)acrylate, which produces Y.sub.1 and optionally, with (ii) an anhydride, e.g. maleic anhydride, to produce Y.sub.2. Y.sub.1 has free vinyl groups and Y.sub.2 has free vinyl and acid groups. In addition, P(Y) can be a liquid carboxylated copolymer which is chain extended in order to prepare a solid. Either of the resulting photocurable compositions can be used "as is" or can be formulated with vinyl containing monomers and photoinitiators to prepare solid, flexible photosensitive articles, e.g. flexographic printing plates, which are water dispersible, and yet possess acceptable mechanical properties for flexographic printing.

Abstract: A photocurable composition suitable for flexible photosensitive articles is prepared by reacting an acid-containing copolymer and a nitrogen-containing compound having polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated groups. The resulting composition can be used "as is" or can be formulated with ethylenically unsaturated monomers and photoinitiators to prepare the flexible photosensitive articles, e.g. flexographic printing plates. The plates prepared from the photocurable composition are aqueous developable and sufficiently flexible and soft to be used for printing on flexible packaging surfaces.