Abstract: An aluminium alloy for producing semi-finished products or components for motor vehicles is provided, wherein the alloying components of the aluminium alloy have the following contents in percent by weight: Fe?0.80%, Si?0.50%, 0.90%?Mn?1.50%, Mg?0.25%, Cu?0.125%, Cr?0.05%, Ti?0.05%, V?0.05%, Zr?0.05%, the remainder being aluminium, unavoidable impurity elements, individually <0.05%, in total <0.15%, and the combined content of Mg and Cu satisfies the following relation in percent by weight: 0.15%?Mg+Cu?0.25%, wherein the Mg content of the aluminium alloy is greater than the Cu content of the aluminium alloy. A method for producing an aluminium alloy strip from such an aluminium alloy and an aluminium alloy strip produced by this method are also provided, as well as uses thereof.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy foil for an electrode current collectors has a high post-drying strength after application of an active material while keeping a high electrical conductivity. The aluminum alloy foil includes 0.1 to 1.0 mass % of Fe, 0.01 to 0.5% of Si, and 0.01 to 0.2 mass % of Cu, and the rest includes Al and unavoidable impurities. The aluminum alloy foil after final cold rolling has a tensile strength of 220 MPa or higher, a 0.2% yield strength of 180 MPa or higher, and an electrical conductivity of 58% IACS or higher. The aluminum alloy foil has a tensile strength of 190 MPa or higher and a 0.2% yield strength of 160 MPa or higher after the aluminum alloy foil is heat treated at any of 120° C. for 24 hours, 140° C. for 3 hours, and 160° C. for 15 minutes.

Abstract: A method of making a relief image printing element from a photosensitive printing blank is described. The photosensitive printing blank comprises a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer and the laser ablatable mask layer is selectively laser ablated to create an in situ mask and uncover portions of the at least one photocurable layer. The method includes a) pushing the photosensitive printing blank through a nip formed by a textured roller and a backing roller, wherein the textured roller contacts the in situ mask and the uncovered portions of the at least one photocurable layer; and b) exposing the at least one photocurable layer to at least one source of actinic radiation through the in situ mask to selectively cross link and cure the portions of the at least one photocurable layer not covered by the in situ mask. A defined topographical pattern is transferred from the textured surface of the roller to the at least one photocurable layer.

Abstract: A process for treating the surface of a metal substrate comprising a constituent metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, Pb, Sn, Ni, Zn, in some cases Fe, and alloys of these metals. An anodic potential is applied to the metal surface in an electrolytic circuit comprising the metal surface, a cathode, and an electrolytic solution that is in contact with the metal surface and in electrically conductive communication with the cathode. The electrolytic solution may contain an electrolyte comprising anions of phosphate, phosphonate, phosphite, phosphinate, nitrate, borate, silicate, molybdate, tungstate, carboxylate, oxalate and combinations thereof. The anion may comprise a polymer having a pendent moiety selected from the group consisting of phosphate, phosphonate, phosphite, phosphinate, sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate support includes an aluminum plate and an anodized film formed at a surface of the aluminum plate and having micropores which extend in a depth direction of the anodized aluminum film from a surface of the anodized film opposite from the aluminum plate. Each of the micropores includes a large-diameter portion and a dendritic small-diameter portion. The lithographic printing plate support has excellent scratch resistance and is capable of obtaining a presensitized plate which exhibits excellent on-press developability and enables a lithographic printing plate formed therefrom to have a long press life and excellent deinking ability after suspended printing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic printing plate support, comprising an aluminum plate and an anodized film of aluminum formed on the aluminum plate and having micropores extending in the anodized film from a surface of the anodized film opposite from the aluminum plate in a depth direction, wherein each of the micropores has a large-diameter portion having a specific shape and a small-diameter portion having a specific shape and communicating with a bottom of the large-diameter portion; at least a part of an inside of the small-diameter portion is sealed with protrusions made of boehmite; and a ratio of an average height of protrusions made of boehmite inside the large-diameter portion to an average diameter of the large-diameter portion at the surface of the anodized film is up to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A printing plate comprises a substantially planar substrate, a porous non-anodic ungrained coating, having a thickness within the range of about 0.1 to about 30 microns and comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and admixtures thereof, and an image recording layer, provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of oxide(s) only, it comprises at least one oxide of copper, magnesium, cadmium, aluminum, zirconium, hafnium, thorium, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum and (or) cobalt, and further provided that where the porous coating consists essentially of alumina only, it comprises specified pores. The invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a nanometric porous surface layer comprising at least one of metals, metal oxides and mixtures thereof, which comprises pores in the surface layer having a width in a range 0-100 nm, and wherein a major number of pores in this range have a width in a band of about 1 to about 30 nm.

Abstract: Provided is a lithographic printing plate support that has excellent scratch resistance and is capable of obtaining a presensitized plate which exhibits excellent on-press developability and enables a lithographic printing plate formed therefrom to have a long press life and excellent deinking ability after suspended printing. The lithographic printing plate support includes an aluminum plate, and an aluminum anodized film formed thereon and having micropores which extend in a depth direction of the anodized film from a surface of the anodized film opposite from the aluminum plate. Each micropore has a large-diameter portion which extends to a depth of 5 to 60 nm (depth A) from the anodized film surface, and a small-diameter portion which communicates with the bottom of the large-diameter portion, further extends to a depth of 900 to 2,000 nm from the communication position and has a predetermined average diameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminium alloy strip for the production of printing plate carriers comprising water-based coatings, wherein the aluminium alloy strip has a thickness of at most 0.5 mm. The object is to propose an aluminium alloy strip for the production of printing plate carriers comprising at least one water-based coating so that punctiform coating faults are prevented. The object is achieved for an aluminium alloy strip in that the aluminium alloy strip, in a longitudinal polished section prepared using water as a lubricant, has etch figures with a cubic etching, of which the longitudinal extent is at most 15 mm.

Abstract: Provided is a lithographic printing plate support that has excellent scratch resistance and is capable of obtaining a presensitized plate which exhibits excellent on-press developability and enables a lithographic printing plate formed therefrom to have a long press life and excellent deinking ability after suspended printing. The lithographic printing plate support includes an aluminum plate, and an aluminum anodized film formed thereon and having micropores which extend in a depth direction of the anodized film from a surface of the anodized film opposite from the aluminum plate. Each micropore has a large-diameter portion which extends to a depth of 5 to 60 nm (depth A) from the anodized film surface, and a small-diameter portion which communicates with the bottom of the large-diameter portion, further extends to a depth of 900 to 2,000 nm from the communication position and has a predetermined average diameter.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy plate for a lithographic printing plate capable of obtaining a lithographic printing plate having an excellent resistance to spotting, a method of manufacturing such aluminum alloy plate, a lithographic printing plate support obtained by using such aluminum alloy plate, and a presensitized plate and in particular an on-machine developable presensitized plate are provided. The aluminum alloy plate contains 0.08 to 0.45 wt % of iron and 0.05 to 0.20 wt % of silicon, with the balance being inadvertent impurities and aluminum, and the content of aluminum-iron intermetallic compounds is not more than 0.05 wt %.

Abstract: A method for gumming a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing a lithographic printing plate including a lithographic image consisting of printing areas and non-printing areas, and b) jetting a gum solution with an inkjet printer to produce a hydrophilic protective layer on the non-printing areas. An inkjet printer includes a gum solution for producing a hydrophilic protective layer on the non-printing areas and a fluid for the formation of the printing areas of a lithographic image on a lithographic printing plate precursor.

Abstract: A plate handling system provides for movement from storage of a variety of image-ready printing plates, organized in plate stacks with interleaf protective slipsheets. Each stack contains plates of a particular size, corresponding to the capabilities of an associated imaging system. Each plate stack is supported by a pallet, which facilitates easy loading and unloading into the plate handling system. A plate picker aligns with the desired plate and transports the appropriately sized plate to an imaging system. The corresponding slipsheet is transported to a storage area where it is stored with a flat orientation.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy plate for a lithographic printing plate capable of obtaining a lithographic printing plate having an excellent resistance to spotting, a method of manufacturing such aluminum alloy plate, a lithographic printing plate support obtained by using such aluminum alloy plate, and a presensitized plate and in particular an on-machine developable presensitized plate are provided. The aluminum alloy plate contains 0.08 to 0.45 wt % of iron and to 0.20 wt % of silicon, with the balance being inadvertent impurities and aluminum, and the content of aluminum-iron intermetallic compounds is not more than 0.05 wt %.

Abstract: A roll for metal rolling has a roughened surface formed by an electrolytic treatment in an electrolytic solution while using the roll as an anode. When the roll is used to emboss an aluminum plate, it is possible to obtain an aluminum plate with an uneven structure having regulated positions of levels of peaks and a larger number of the peaks. A presensitized plate formed by use of the aluminum plate as a support has excellent printing performances particularly in the number of printed sheets and sensitivity.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an image-forming layer containing a polymerization initiator and a polymerizable compound, and a hydrophilic support, wherein the lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a compound containing at least one functional group having an interaction with a surface of the hydrophilic support.

Abstract: A presensitized plate having: on an aluminum support, a thermosensitive layer containing a photothermal conversion agent which absorbs infrared rays and generates heat and a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, of which solubility to an alkali aqueous solution increases by heating, wherein the aluminum support has a grained structure with large undulation and a grained structure with small undulation on a surface thereof. This presensitized plate is excellent in damage resistance and sensitivity, and after the plate is processed into a lithographic plate, it is also excellent in scum resistance and press life.

Abstract: A method for the production of a support for a lithographic printing plate precursor that comprises providing on a grained aluminum support having an anodic oxide film formed thereon a layer of inorganic compound particles having a major axis larger than a pore diameter of the anodic oxide film and treating the layer of inorganic compound particles with a treating solution capable of dissolving the inorganic compound particles, thereby fusing together the inorganic compound particles to form a layer of the inorganic compound.

Abstract: A thermal negative type presensitized plate provided with an image recording layer hardened by infrared rays on an aluminum support, wherein the aluminum support has on the surface thereof, a grain shape with a structure in which a grained structure with medium undulation with a specified aperture diameter and a grained structure with small undulation with a specified aperture diameter are superimposed. For the presensitized plate, contact characteristics between the image recording layer and the support and scum resistance on a non-image area are kept compatible with each other at a high level, a thermal diffusion depression effect by which an energy generated by exposure can be efficiently used to form an image is excellent, and sensitivity is high.

Abstract: A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises a grained and anodized aluminum support having a hydrophilic surface and a heat-sensitive coating provided on the hydrophilic surface, the coating comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles which are capable of forming a hydrophobic phase in the coating by heat-induced coalescence of the polymer particles. The support is characterized by a surface roughness, expressed as arithmetical mean center-line roughness Ra, which is less than 0.45 ?m. The smooth surface enables to prepare a lithographic printing plate from the mentioned precursor, which is characterized by a high run length during printing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a planographic printing plate precursor comprising a substrate comprising a hydrophilic surface having disposed thereon a heat-sensitive layer containing a thermoplastic particulate polymer having functional groups capable of interacting with the hydrophilic surface. Preferably, hydrophilic graft polymer chains are present on the hydrophilic surface of the substrate. The present invention further relates to a planographic printing plate precursor comprising a substrate comprising a hydrophilic surface having disposed thereon a heat-sensitive layer comprising microcapsules comprising a compound having functional groups capable of interacting with the hydrophilic surface. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of printing with the planographic printing plate precursors.

Abstract: A copper clad metal printing plate can be coated with an azide-containing photoresist comprising a polyformal resin together with a modified polyformal resin that has up to 100% of its hydroxyl groups converted to carboxyl groups, an organo azide and a photosensitive dye that absorbs light at the frequency of a patterning laser and converts it to heat energy. This de-crosslinks the resin that has been exposed to the laser light. Preferably the photoresist is flood exposed with ultraviolet light prior to laser exposure. The photoresist becomes soluble in the laser-exposed areas, exposing the underlying copper after development. The printing plates are completed by etching away the copper in the exposed areas, removing the remaining photoresist, thereby providing a patterned copper layer on the printing plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing plate material comprising a substrate and a component layer provided thereon, the substrate having a center line average surface roughness Ra of from 0.2 to 1.0 ?m, and an oil-retention volume A2 of from 1 to 10, wherein the center line average surface roughness Ra is obtained from three dimension surface roughness measurement according to JIS-B-0601, and wherein an image is capable of being recorded on the component layer by imagewise exposure of infrared laser.

Abstract: Disclosed is a support for a lithographic printing plate obtained by subjecting an aluminum plate to a graining treatment and an anodizing treatment, the support comprising at least any one of Mn in a range from 0.1 to 1.5 wt % and Mg in a range from 0.1 to 1.5 wt %; Fe of 0 to 1 wt %; Si of 0 to 0.5 wt %; Cu of 0 to 0.2 wt %; at least one kind of element out of the elements listed in items (a) to (d) below in a range of content affixed thereto, (a) 1 to 100 ppm each of one or more kinds of elements selected from a group consisting of Li, Be, Sc, Mo, Ag, Ge, Ce, Nd, Dy and Au, (b) 0.

Abstract: Disclosed are a printing plate material capable of being developed on a printing press and its manufacturing method which comprises the steps of subjecting an aluminum plate to electrolytic surface roughening treatment, subjecting the electrolytic surface roughened aluminum plate to etching treatment in an aqueous alkali solution, subjecting the resulting aluminum plate to anodization treatment, whereby an aluminum support is obtained, and providing on the aluminum support an image formation layer which contains thermoplastic particles and a light-to-heat conversion dye and changes in color due to infrared laser exposure.

Abstract: Provided is a printing plate comprising a substrate and a hydrophilic porous layer formed on a surface of the substrate. Typically, the substrate is made of aluminum plate, and the porous substrate consists of an anodized layer. Owing to the porous nature of the surface of the printing plate, the imaging resin deposited on the surface of the printing plate seeps into the printing plate and is thereby securely anchored to the printing plate so that an adequate bonding force between the imaging resin and printing plate can be ensured. Also, by suitably controlling the amount of the imaging resin that seeps or penetrates into the porous layer, an adequate thickness of the imaging resin on the surface of the printing plate can be ensured, and this also contributes to the wear resistance of the printing plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing plate material comprising a substrate and a component layer provided thereon, the substrate having a center line average surface roughness Ra of from 0.2 to 1.0 &mgr;m, and an oil-retention volume A2 of from 1 to 10, wherein the center line average surface roughness Ra is obtained from three dimension surface roughness measurement according to JIS-B-0601, and wherein an image is capable of being recorded on the component layer by imagewise exposure of infrared laser.

Abstract: Objects of the present invention are to provide a positive working presensitized plate of a thermal type, which has damage resistance, and which is handled easily in conventional operation, high in sensitivity and excellent in press life when used as a lithographic printing plate, and to provide a support for a lithographic printing plate, which is suitably used for the same. The objects have been achieved by a support for a lithographic printing plate obtained by performing graining treatment, alkali etching treatment and anodizing treatment on an aluminum plate, wherein a ratio of a real area of a surface thereof to an apparent area of the surface set larger by 1.3 to 1.8 times, comprising a pit having an average diameter of 0.3 to 1.

Abstract: Disclosed is a planographic printing plate precursor, comprising a hydrophilic support and an image forming layer containing oleophilic heat-fusible particles, wherein the hydrophilic support has voids and the void content is 20 to 40 ml/m2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lithographic printing method of performing lithographic printing by supplying emulsion ink to a lithographic printing plate via a form roller, comprising the steps of: supplying the emulsion ink to the form roller; and disrupting emulsion on the form roller, with a degree of the emulsion's disruption being changed before and after a start of printing. By the lithographic printing method of the present invention, the duration of idling mode can be shortened with the added advantage of reducing the development of waste paper right after the start of printing.

Abstract: A support for a lithographic printing plate with no damage in appearance such as unevenness in the form of streaks and with excellent pit homogeneity. A support for a lithographic printing plate obtained by subjecting a surface of an aluminum alloy plate to a surface treatment including alkali etching and an electrochemical graining treatment, wherein the aluminum alloy plate shows dispersion of 50% or lower for each element, the dispersion being defined by an specific equation with regard to contents of Fe, Si, Mn, Mg and Sn in a surface layer portion thereof which is from the surface to a depth of 1 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a strip of aluminium or an aluminium alloy for electrolytically roughened lithographic printing plates, in which the alloy is continuously cast as a strip and then rolled to final thickness, is such that the cast strip is rolled to final thickness with a thickness reduction of at least 90% without any further heating. The resultant microstructure in the region close to the surface of the strip leads to improved electrolytic etching behaviour.

Abstract: A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises a grained and anodized aluminum support having a hydrophilic surface and a heat-sensitive coating provided on the hydrophilic surface, the coating comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles which are capable of forming a hydrophobic phase in the coating by heat-induced coalescence of the polymer particles. The support is characterized by a surface roughness, expressed as arithmetical mean center-line roughness Ra, which is less than 0.45 &mgr;m. The smooth surface enables to prepare a lithographic printing plate from the mentioned precursor, which is characterized by a high run length during printing.

Abstract: A thermosensitive composition consisting of a mixture of polyacrylic acid, a salt of a long chain fatty acid such as silver behenate, an infra-red absorbent and modifiers such as additional polymers and fillers. Both the water solubility and affinity to water and oil changed when composition is heated.

Abstract: A process for making printing plate material suitable for imaging by laser radiation. A metal substrate is electrocoated in a bath containing a polymeric resin and laser-sensitive particles, thereby depositing a laser ablatable layer on a principal surface of the metal substrate. In one embodiment, the laser-ablatable layer is treated with a corona discharge for a time sufficient to render the layer non-ink wettable. In other preferred embodiments, the laser-ablatable layer is overcoated with an overlayer such as a non-ink wettable silicone layer or a water-wettable layer comprising an organophosphorus polymer, preferably a copolymer of acrylic acid and vinylphosphonic acid.

Abstract: A positive image-forming material for use with infrared laser is provided. The material includes a substrate, a layer (A) containing not less than 50% by weight of a copolymer which contains, as a copolymerization component, not less than 10% by mol of at least one of the following monomers (a-1) to (a-3), wherein (a-1) is a monomer having in the molecule a sulfonamide group wherein at least one hydrogen atom is linked to a nitrogen atom, (a-2) is a monomer having in the molecule an active imino group represented by the following general formula (I): and (a-3) is a monomer selected from acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylate, methacrylate and hydroxystyrene, which respectively have a phenolic hydroxyl group; and a layer (B) containing not less than 50% by weight of an aqueous alkali solution-soluble resin having a phenolic hydroxyl group. The layer (A) and the layer (B) contain a compound which generates heat upon absorbing light.

Abstract: A support for lithographic printing plate which is obtained by performing surface roughening treatments including electrolytic graining on an aluminum alloy plate containing Fe, Si, Cu, Ti, Mg and Ni in specified amounts, with the balance being Al and incidental impurities. The Ni content, Cu content and the average surface roughness of the roughened support surface satisfy a specified relationship. A lithographic printing plate prepared from the support have longer press life, higher resistance to staining and better surface quality.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy plate for a planographic printing plate capable of being provided with a satisfactory roughed surface by electrolytic etching. The aluminum alloy plate contains 0.1 to 0.6% of Fe, 0.01 to 0.2% of Si, 5 to 150 ppm of Cu, and balance of Al and unavoidable impurities and has a surface layer portion formed of a metastable phase dispersion layer in which metastable phase AlFe-based intermetallic compound particles are dispersed. The metastable intermetallic compound particles each act as a starting point for pits. The alloy plate is formed with a roughed surface which is reduced in unetching and uniformly formed with pits, by electrolytic etching.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat-sensitive material for making a negative working non-ablative lithographic printing plate including in a heat sensitive layer thermoplastic polymer beads and a compound capable of converting light into heat on a surface of a hydrophilic metal support, the layer being free of binder, and characterized in that the thermoplastic polymer beads have a diameter between 0.2 &mgr;m and 1.4 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A support for a lithographic printing plate obtained by performing surface graining and anodizing of an aluminum alloy plate, wherein the foregoing aluminum alloy plate contains specific contents of Fe, Si, Cu, Ti, Zn and Mg, with the balance being Al and incidental impurities. The presensitized plate obtained from this support for a lithographic printing plate is excellent in press life and in resistance to dot ink stain when processed into a lithographic printing plate. Preferably, the support for a lithographic printing plate, with regard to the surface of the support, has a center line average roughness Ra in the range of 0.2-0.6 &mgr;m, a maximum height Rmax in the range of 3.0-6.0 &mgr;m, a ten-point mean roughness Rz in the range of 2.0-5.5 &mgr;m, a center line peak height Rp in the range of 1.0-3.0 &mgr;m, a center line valley depth Rv in the range of 2.0-3.5 &mgr;m, a mean spacing Sm in the range of 40-70 &mgr;m, an average inclination &Dgr;a in the range of 6.0-12.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed, comprising a metal support having formed thereon an anodic oxide film, and an image-forming layer containing a light-to-heat converting agent, or a light-sensitive layer capable of image-forming with infrared laser exposure provided in this order from the support.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an electrochemically grained aluminium substrate, the grained surface of which is coated with a layer of gel-like amorphous colloidal oxides and hydroxides of aluminium and their hydrates incorporating metallic aluminium and inter-metallic aluminium alloys—generally at a level of below 5%—this layer being produced during the electrochemical graining process. The layer is typically present in an amount of from 0.1-20 g/m2 and at a layer thickness of 0.1-4.0 &mgr;m, the particle sizes in the said layer generally falling in the range of from 10 to 2000 nm. Methods are disclosed for the preparation of said precursors via the electrochemical graining of aluminium substrates. The invention provides lithographic printing plate precursors which may be imagewise exposed by means of a high intensity laser beam to provide printing plates showing high durability on press and giving images which show good resolution and are free from background staining.

Abstract: The present invention provides a planographic printing plate capable of ensuring improvement of productivity and stability of a small dot net portion due to improvement of adhesion. There is provided a planographic printing plate, characterized in that a surface of an aluminum plate being a support element of the planographic printing plate has been subjected to preliminarily polishing mechanically by at least 0.1 &mgr;m; chemical etching treatment by at least 0.1 &mgr;m; electrochemically surface-roughening; and anodic oxidation, and for a surface structure of the aluminum plate: (a) an area (S) for a graphic formed by a reference straight line drawn from a top of a third highest mountain of a two-dimensional roughness curve downwardly by 1 &mgr;m and a roughness curve upper than the reference straight line is 30 &mgr;m2≦S≦150 &mgr;m2; (b) an average roughness Ra of average lines is 0.15 &mgr;m≦S≦Ra≦0.

Abstract: A litho strip for use as an offset printing plate is described which has a composition of 0.05-0.25% Si, 0.30-0.40% Fe, 0.10-0.30% Mg, max. 0.05% Mn, and max. 0.04% Cu. The strip is produced from a continuous cast ingot of the above composition which is hot rolled to a thickness of up to 2-7 mm. The residual resistance ratio of the hot rolled strip is RR=10-20. The cold rolling is carried out with or without intermediate annealing, wherein the degree of rolling reduction after intermediate annealing is >60%. The further processing up to the EC roughening takes place with the microstructure adjusted in the rolling process at <100° C. The litho strip is characterized by a high thermal stability, a good roughening behavior in the EC processes, and a high reverse bending fatigue strength perpendicular to the rolling direction.

Abstract: An improved hydrophilized substrate for planographic printing is disclosed. The substrate contains a support and a hydrophilic layer over the support. The hydrophilic layer contains titanium dioxide (titania) particles. In one embodiment, the hydrophilic layer contains a mixture of coated and uncoated titanium dioxide particles, and, optionally, alumina particles. A method for preparation of the substrate and a printing member comprising the substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of producing a lithographic printing plate which comprises subjecting a printing plate precursor comprising a support having a metallic compound layer which has a photo-catalytic property and a hydrophilic surface and bears light-heat convertible minute particles on the surface thereof to imagewise irradiation of heat mode to convert polarity of the metallic compound layer, thereby forming an imagewise hydrophobic region. The lithographic printing plate can be repeatedly employed.

Abstract: A direct drawing type lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a water-resistant support having provided thereon an image-receiving layer comprising inorganic particles and a binder resin, wherein the inorganic particles comprise at least one kind of particles selected from: (i) metal oxide hydrate particles having an average particle size of from 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m and comprising a metal atom selected from Mg, Al, Zn, Ge, Ti, Co, Zr, Sn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, Pd, Cd, Cr, Ga, Mn, V, Mo, Ce and La, and (ii) metal hydroxide particles having an average particle size of from 0.

Abstract: A support for a printing plate is disclosed, comprising a substrate having thereon at least one component layer contains porous particles. The component layer further contains a flaky inorganic particles or a material having the function of converting light to heat. A printing plate comprising the support is also disclosed, having on the support an image forming layer containing a thermally fusible particles.

Abstract: A support for a lithographic printing plate with no damage in appearance such as unevenness in the form of streaks and with excellent pit homogeneity. A support for a lithographic printing plate obtained by subjecting a surface of an aluminum alloy plate to a surface treatment including alkali etching and an electrochemical graining treatment, wherein the aluminum alloy plate shows dispersion of 50% or lower for each element, the dispersion being defined by an specific equation with regard to contents of Fe, Si, Mn, Mg and Sn in a surface layer portion thereof which is from the surface to a depth of 1 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A litho strip for use as an offset printing plate is described which has a composition of 0.05-0.25% Si, 0.30-0.40% Fe, 0.10-0.30% Mg, max. 0.05% Mn, and max. 0.04% Cu. The strip is produced from a continuous cast ingot of the above composition which is hot rolled to a thickness of up to 2-7 mm. The residual resistance ratio of the hot rolled strip is RR=10-20. The cold rolling is carried out with or without intermediate annealing, wherein the degree of rolling reduction after intermediate annealing is >60%. The further processing up to the EC roughening takes place with the microstructure adjusted in the rolling process at <100° C. The litho strip is characterized by a high thermal stability, a good roughening behavior in the EC processes, and a high reverse bending fatigue strength perpendicular to the rolling direction.