Abstract: The present invention provides an IR-sensitive composition, which includes: a polymeric binder; and a free radical polymerizable system consisting of: at least one component selected from unsaturated free radical polymerizable monomers, oligomers which are free radical polymerizable and polymers containing C═C bonds in the backbone and/or in the side chain groups; and an initiator system, which includes: (a) at least one compound capable of absorbing IR radiation; (b) at least one compound capable of producing radicals; and (c) at least one carboxylic co-initiator, provided that the total acid number of the polymeric binder is 70 mg KOH/g or less. The present invention further provides a printing plate precursor, a process for preparing the printing plate and a method of producing an image.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided high performance, photoimageable resin compositions for flexographic printing, having excellent physical properties, e.g., resilience, hardness, toughness, and the like, as well as increased rates of cure upon exposure to radiation. In a further aspect of the invention, there are provided printing plates prepared employing invention compositions, wherein said printing plates are characterized as having excellent exposure sensitivity, the capability of rapidly curing upon exposure, excellent retention of fine details, and excellent colorloss performance. Moreover, printing plates prepared employing invention compositions have good flexibility, excellent washout properties, and retain such properties over extended periods of storage. In another aspect of the invention, there are provided methods for the preparation of formulations comprising said compositions and methods for use thereof.

Abstract: This invention discloses compositions that can be polymerized/crosslinked imagewise upon exposure to ionization radiation such as x-ray, electron beam, ion beam, and gamma-ray. This invention also discloses methods of use for these compositions for microfabrication of ceramics, for stereolithography, and for x-ray, e-beam, and ion-beam lithography which can be used for photoresists.

Abstract: A dry film photoresist having a glass transition temperature (Tg) above room temperature. The dry film photoresist is tack free. An artwork may be placed directly on the photoresist without concern that the artwork may stick to the dry film photoresist or become contaminated with photoresist. The dry film photoresist may be laminated on a support sheet and wound into a roll without concern that the photoresist will stick to the backside of the support sheet. The dry film photoresist also has reduced cold flow problems.

Abstract: A polymer based on the reaction of an excess of diisocyanate with saturated polyolefine diols to form an oligomer and further reaction of the oligomer with hydroxyacrylates or hydroxymethacrylates is discussed. The polymer is then blended with ethylenically unsaturated monomers and a photoinitiator to produce a photosensitive composition which is useful in fabricating printing plates.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition comprising (A) a binder polymer having carboxyl groups, (B) a photopolymerizable compound having at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group in the molecule, and (C) a photoinitiator can provide a film excellent in mechanical strength, chemical resistance, flexibility, and suitable for producing a photosensitive element.

Abstract: A photosensitive composition comprising (i) a sensitizing dye represented by the following formula (I), (II) or (III) defined in the specification, (ii) a titanocene compound and (iii) a compound of undergoing a reaction with at least one of a radical and an acid to change at least one of its physical and chemical properties and maintaining the changed physical or chemical property, and a lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer comprising the photosensitive composition.

Abstract: This invention relates to &agr;-ammonium ketones, iminium ketones or amidinium ketones in the form of their tetraaryl- or triarylalkylborate salts which can be photochemically converted into amines, imines or amidines as well as to a process for their preparation. This invention also relates to base-polymerisable or crosslinkable compositions comprising these &agr;-ammonium ketones, iminium ketones or amidinium ketones in the form of their tetra- or triarylalkylborate salts, to a process for carrying out photochemically induced, base-catalysed reactions as well as to their use as photoinitiators for base-catalysed reactions.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises: a support; and an image-forming layer including a fluoroaliphatic group-containing copolymer, wherein the fluoroaliphatic group-containing copolymer contains a repeating unit corresponding to monomer (i) below and a repeating unit corresponding to monomer (ii) below:

Abstract: A photosensitive composition comprising (a) an ethylenically unsaturated double bond-containing compound, (b) a sensitizing dye and (c) a photopolymerization initiator, wherein the sensitizing dye is a phthalocyanine compound showing the maximum absorption within a range of from 750 to 1,200 nm.

Abstract: A thermally imageable element, useful as a lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed. The element comprises a hydrophilic substrate; an underlayer comprising a first polymeric material; and an ink-receptive top layer comprising a second polymeric material and a solubility-suppressing component. The solubility-suppressing component may be a separate dissolution inhibitor compound and/or the second polymeric material may also function as a solubility-suppressing component. On thermal exposure the exposed regions of the top layer becomes more readily soluble in an aqueous developer, allowing the developer to remove the top layer and reveal the surface of the hydrophilic substrate. The lithographic printing plate thus formed has excellent properties, including the absence of sludging of the developer.

Abstract: The invention provides a photopolymer package for use in making a hand stamp plate, the package consisting of a sachet containing a photocurable liquid polymer, the walls of the sachet being formed of material capable of being released from the cured photopolymer. Methods for the formation of the package and the hand stamp plate are also provided. The invention eliminates the requirement for the use of a backing layer in the package and thereby offers significant advantages over the prior art in terms of cost and efficiency.

Abstract: A photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive resin layer formed on an aluminum substrate subjected to electrolytic surface roughening in nitric acid or in an electrolyte composed mainly of nitric acid and further to anodic oxidation treatment, wherein the photosensitive resin layer is made of a photopolymerizable composition comprising (A) an addition-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond-containing monomer, (B) a photopolymerization initiator, and (C) a polymer binder, wherein the addition-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond-containing monomer (A) contains a phosphate compound having at least one (meth)acryloyl group.

Abstract: A negative planographic printing plate precursor for heat-mode exposure systems, which has, on a support, a photosensitive layer containing: (A) a light-to-heat conversion agent; (B) a polymerizable unsaturated group-having compound; and (C) an onium salt having a counter anion with a valency of at least 2. The precursor is capable of being exposed with an IR laser for image formation thereon. The onium salt may be, for example, a diazonium salt, iodonium salt or sulfonium salt. The counter anion has at least two anionic sites which may be the same or different, and the anionic structure is preferably divalent to hexavalent.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition (C) containing a photosensitive resin (B) which is a reaction product produced by modifying an epoxy acrylate (a) with a cyanate ester compound (b) to obtain a modification product (A) and reacting the modification product (A) with a polybasic acid anhydride (c), and a compound (d) of the formula, 1

Abstract: A heat mode type negative image recording material is provided which comprises (A) a polymer compound that is insoluble in water but is soluble in an alkali aqueous solution and has at least one of groups represented by general formulae (1) to (3) on a side chain; (B) a photothermal conversion agent; and (C) an onium salt compound forming radicals by heat mode exposure with light that is capable of being absorbed by said photothermal conversion agent (B), said heat mode type negative image recording material being capable of recording an image by heat mode exposure. The general formulae are defined in the specification.

Abstract: The present invention relates to IR-sensitive compositions containing an initator system comprising:

Abstract: The photosensitive composition of the present invention comprises a photocurable component containing a urethane (meth)acrylate compound (A) having a carboxyl group; a thermosetting resin (C); a photopolymerization initiator (D); and a thermopolymerization catalyst (E); and the above-mentioned photocurable component further contains at least one of (B) a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group, excluding the component (A), and an epoxy (meth)acrylate compound (F) having a carboxyl group. Therefore, the photosensitive composition is suitable for use as an insulating protective coating film for printed circuit boards. Since the cured film made of the photosensitive composition of the present invention is particularly superior in pliability, curling does not occur even when used for a thin circuit board. Therefore, the cured film is best suited for use in an FPC board.

Abstract: The use of certain mercapto compounds as shelf life improvers for infrared-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursors is disclosed. The compounds are five-membered heteroaromatic rings containing a nitrogen atom and at least one other heteroatom, which can be oxygen, sulfur, or another nitrogen atom, such that two ring heteroatoms are bonded to a ring carbon bearing a thiol group.

Abstract: There is provided a photosensitive resin composition comprising: a copolymer resin; a bifunctional or higher polyfunctional photopolymerizable acrylate monomer; an epoxy resin; and an initiator, the copolymer resin comprising 5 to 55% by mole of constituent units represented by formula (1) and 5 to 95% by mole of constituent units represented by formula (2), the constituent units represented by formula (1) having been partially reacted, through carboxyl groups thereof, with a (meth)acryloylalkyl isocyanate compound, the constituent units represented by formula (2) having been partially reacted, through hydroxyl groups thereof, with a (meth)acryloylalkyl isocyanate compound, the copolymer resin containing 5 to 95% by mole of (meth)acryloyl groups and having an acid value of 5 to 400 mg KOH/g and a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 1,000,000 as determined using polystyrene as a standard: 1

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided an imaging element for lithographic offset printing. The imaging element comprises hydrophobic polymer particles in an aqueous medium, a substance for converting light into heat and an organic base. The imaging element may be used for printing long run lengths on lower quality paper and in the presence of set-off powder. The imaging element may be imaged and developed on-press and may be sprayed onto a hydrophilic surface to create a printing surface that may be processed wholly on-press. The hydrophilic surface may be a printing plate substrate or the printing cylinder of a printing press or a seamless sleeve around the printing cylinder of a printing press. This cylinder may be conventional or seamless.

Abstract: Disclosed are a photopolymerizable composition and a recording material containing the composition. The composition comprises a polymerizable compound having an ethylenic unsaturated bond, a compound of the following general formula (1), and a radical generator that interacts with the compound of formula (1) to generate a radical. In formula (1), each of R1, R2 and R4 is an aliphatic or aromatic group; R3 is a group shown below; R5 is a hydrogen atom, or an aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic group; Each of L1 to L4 is a substituted or unsubstituted methine group; Each of Z1 to Z3 is an atomic group which forms a 5-membered nitrogen-containing hetero ring; and X− is a group which forms an anion.

Abstract: A negative image-recording material for heat-mode exposure, which is able to form images by heat-mode exposure, comprises (A) a polyurethane resin having at least one or more side-chain branches of the following general formulae (1) to (3) which polyurethane resin is soluble in an alkaline aqueous solution, (B) a photo-thermal converting agent, and (C) a compound capable of generating a radical through heat-mode exposure to light of a wavelength which can be absorbed by the photo-thermal converting agent. In formulae (1) to (3), R1 to R11 each independently represents a monovalent organic group; X and Y each independently represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or —N(R12)—; Z represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —N(R13)—, or an optionally-substituted phenylene group; R12 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group; and R13 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided high performance, photoimageable resin compositions for flexographic printing, having excellent physical properties, e.g., resilience, hardness, toughness, and the like, as well as increased rates of cure upon exposure to radiation. In a further aspect of the invention, there are provided printing plates prepared employing invention compositions, wherein said printing plates are characterized as having excellent exposure sensitivity, the capability of rapidly curing upon exposure, excellent retention of fine details, and excellent colorloss performance. Moreover, printing plates prepared employing invention compositions have good flexibility, excellent washout properties, and retain such properties over extended periods of storage. In another aspect of the invention, there are provided methods for the preparation of formulations comprising said compositions and methods for use thereof.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed, comprising an aluminum support having thereon a photopolymerizable photosensitive layer which contains (1) an alkali-soluble urethane binder having at least one ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group on the side chain thereof, (2) an addition polymerizable compound having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, and (3) a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition that is cured with visible light or an infrared laser and is used as a recording layer in a negative planographic printing plate precursor. The photopolymerizable composition is cured by exposure and includes (A) a polymerizable compound that is solid at 25° C. and has at least one radical-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated double bond in a molecule, (B) a radical polymerization initiator, (C) a binder polymer and, as required, (D) a compound generating heat by infrared exposure.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided an imaging element for lithographic offset printing. The imaging element comprises hydrophobic polymer particles in an aqueous medium, a substance for converting light into heat, and an organic base. The imaging element may be used for printing long run lengths on lower quality paper and in the presence of set-off powder. The imaging element may be imaged and developed on-press and may be sprayed onto a hydrophilic surface to create a printing surface that may be processed wholly on-press. The hydrophilic surface may be a printing plate substrate or the printing cylinder of a printing press or a seamless sleeve around the printing cylinder of a printing press. This cylinder may be conventional or seamless.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition that is highly sensitive not only to ultraviolet light, but also light in the range from visible light to infrared light, and a recording material containing the photopolymerizable composition, which is excellent in sensitivity and decolorization property in the background part, and which is capable of forming sharp images with high contrast. The photopolymerizable composition contains a polymerizable compound having an ethylenic unsaturated bond and a radical generator capable of forming a radical by the action of the compound and the radical generator upon each other.

Abstract: A negative photosensitive lithographic printing plate comprises: a support; and a photosensitive layer containing: i) a modified poly(vinyl alcohol) resin binder having a radical-polymerizable group and an acid group; and ii) at least one of a photo-polymerization initiator and a heat-polymerization initiator.

Abstract: A photosensitive lithographic printing plate comprising: a support; and a photosensitive layer, wherein the photosensitive layer comprises: a polyurethane resin binder comprising an aliphatic cyclic structure which has a carboxyl group as a substituent directly or indirectly attached to the structure; or a polyvinyl alcohol resin binder modified with an acetal skeleton comprising an aliphatic cyclic structure.

Abstract: Dry film resists of the invention in general comprise a photoactive component, a highly viscous or solid (at room temperature, ca. 25° C.) crosslinker component, and preferably a flexibilizing agent. Preferred dry film constructions of the invention do not require the use of a protective cover sheet due to the composition's very dry nature.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a hydrophilic support and an image-forming layer containing a heat radical-generating agent, a polymethine dye, and at least one component selected from fine particles containing a compound having a radical polymerizable group and microcapsules encapsulating a compound having a radical polymerizable group.

Abstract: Butadiene-polyether prepolymers which can be used in photopolymer resins are prepared by reacting butadiene homopolymer with a stoichiometric excess of isocyanate and then reacting the product with polyether diol. Thereafter the composition is reacted with hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylate and alkyldialkanolamine. Flexographic printing plates may be prepared using photopolymer resin comprising butadiene-polyether prepolymers.

Abstract: A liquid photocurable composition containing a photopolymerizable polyurethane compound having a repeating unit represented by the following formula: B—[X]n[Y]m—B, where X is represented by the formula: and Y is represented by the formula: —OOCHN—A—NHCOO(R2)—, A is a structural unit derived from a polyisocyanate compound, B is same or different and a structural unit derived from a hydroxy compound having at least one photopolymerizable unsaturated group at molecular terminals respectively and optionally containing an ether linkage, R1 is a structural unit derived from a carboxyl group-containing polyol compound, R2 is a structural unit derived from a polyol compound, n is an integer of 1 to 10, m is an integer of 1 to 10, provided that one X and one Y are bonded to each other, or three or more of X and/or Y are bonded to each other, and optionally containing a photopolymerizable compound other than the photopolymerizable polyurethane co

Abstract: The present invention related to an azomethine dye precursor represented by the following general formula (1) and the image-forming material and image-forming method using the azomethine dye precursor: wherein Ar represents an aryl group or a heterocyclic group which may each have a substituent; X represents a bivalent group linking a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom; and Cp represent a coupler residue which may or may not form a ring.

Abstract: A heat mode corresponding negative-type image recording material by which ablation in laser scanning when recording is suppressed, the intensity of the formed image portion can be high and a planographic plate excellent in plate life can be formed is provided. It is characterized in that it contains (A) polyurethane resin insoluble in water and soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution or a polymeric compound which has on the side chain thereof a group represented by the general formula (39) or the general formula (40) as a polymeric compound insoluble in water and soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution, (B) a radical-polymerizable compound, (C) a light-to-heat converting agent and (D) a compound generating a radical by heat mode exposure of a light of wavelength which can be absorbed by (C) a light-to-heat converting agent and image recording can be carried out by the heat mode exposure.

Abstract: A photohardenable resin composition comprising (A) a urethanated acrylic compound represented by formula (I): (A)a—C—(R)4−a wherein R is H or alkyl; a is 3 or 4; and A represents a group of formula (II): wherein D represents —CH2CH2O—, —CH2CH(CH3)O—, —CH2CH2COO— or —(CH2)6COO—; E represents —CH2CH2O—, —CH2CH(CH3)O—, —COCH2CH2O— or —CO(CH2)6O—; G represents a diol or triol residual group; J represents a divalent or trivalent and substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group; L represents —(CH2CH2O)h— (h: integer of 1 to 4), —(CH2CH(CH3)O)j— (j: integer of 1 to 4), or —(CH2CH2O)k—(CH2CH(CH3)O)m— (k, m: integer of 1 to 3 (k+m=2, 3 or 4); b, c, and d are each 0 or 1 (b+c+d=1, 2 or 3); e is 0, 1 or 2; f is 0 or 1 (e+f=1 or 2); and g is 1 or 2, and (B) a radical polymerizable compound at a (A) : (B) r

Abstract: A plate-making method of a lithographic printing plate comprising exposing imagewise a photosensitive lithographic printing plate comprising an aluminum support and a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive composition of photopolymerization type, which contains a compound having a nitrogen atom and an ethylenically unsaturated double bond, a photopolymerization initiator and a polymer binder, and developing the exposed printing plate with a developing solution containing (1) an inorganic alkali agent and (2) a nonionic surface active agent having a polyoxyalkylene ether group.

Abstract: An epoxy-containing copolymer resin having 0 to 55% by mole of formula (1), 5 to 95% by mole of formula (2), and 5 to 95% by mole of formula (3), the formula (1) units having been partially reacted, through carboxyl groups, with a (meth)acryloylalkyl isocyanate compound, the formula (2) units having been partially reacted, through hydroxyl groups, with a (meth)acryloylalkyl isocyanate compound, the copolymer resin containing 5 to 95% by mole of (meth)acryloyl groups, an acid value of 0 to 400 mg KOH/g, and a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 to 1,000,000: wherein R is hydrogen or a C1 to C5 alkyl group; R1 represents a C2 to C4 alkylene group; R2 represents a C1 to C4 alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; Z is 1,2-epoxy,1,3-epoxy, or 1,4-epoxy; and a, b, and c are integers respectively corresponding to the molar percentages.

Abstract: A photosensitive composition for sandblasting comprising the components of: (A) a photopolymerizable urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer comprising (meth)acryloyl group; (B) an acrylic copolymer; and (C) a photopolymerization initiator, wherein the component (B) comprises, as a monomer unit, one of copolymerizable monomers comprising one of a benzene ring and a cyclohexyl group.

Abstract: Clean running printing plates for flexographic printing may be prepared by the co-photopolymerization of a mixture comprising a liquid, acrylate or methacrylate-terminated polyurethane oligomer, an ethylenically unsaturated compound, and a photopolymerization initiator. The liquid oligomer is preferably the acrylated or methacrylated reaction product of a diisocyanate, a liquid hydrophobic polyalkylene oxide, and a diol that is at least one of polypropylene oxide and a copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, where reaction with a hydroxy-containing acrylate or methacrylate compound incorporates terminal acrylate or methacrylate groups into the oligomer. The photopolymerizable blend may be used to form printing plates for flexographic printing, where the plates have a reduced tendency to pick up paper fibers, dust and dried ink during the printing process. Methodology for preparing the printing plates, and printing with the printing plates of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: This patent describes an on-press ink and/or fountain solution developable lithographic printing plates having on a substrate a thermosensitive layer capable of hardening upon exposure to an infrared radiation. The plate can be imagewise exposed with an infrared radiation and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution by rotating the plate cylinder and engaging ink and/or fountain solution roller. The developed plate can then directly print images to the receiving sheets. The imagewise exposure can be performed off the press or with the plate being mounted on the plate cylinder of a lithographic press.

Abstract: Clean running printing plates for flexographic printing may be prepared by the co-photopolymerization of a mixture comprising a liquid, acrylate or methacrylate-terminated polyurethane oligomer, an ethylenically unsaturated compound, and a photopolymerization initiator. The liquid oligomer is preferably the acrylated or methacrylated reaction product of a diisocyanate, a liquid hydrophobic polyalkylene oxide, and a diol that is at least one of polypropylene oxide and a copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, where reaction with a hydroxy-containing acrylate or methacrylate compound incorporates terminal acrylate or methacrylate groups into the oligomer. The photopolymerizable blend may be used to form printing plates for flexographic printing, where the plates have a reduced tendency to pick up paper fibers, dust and dried ink during the printing process. Methodology for preparing the printing plates, and printing with the printing plates of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an image forming layer containing at least one polymer compound having a fluoroaliphatic group on the side chain, wherein the fluoroaliphatic group is derived from a fluoroaliphatic compound produced by a telomerization or oligomerization method.

Abstract: A negative working photosensitive lithographic printing plate is disclosed, which comprises a support having thereon at least one photosensitive layer containing a polymeric binder having repeating units represented by formula (I): 1

Abstract: A radiation sensitive composition comprising (A), a mixture of an isoindolinone pigment and a yellow organic pigment, (B) an alkali-soluble resin, (C) a polyfunctional monomer and (D) a photopolymerization initiator. The composition is useful for production of an additive or subtractive color filter which is used in a reflection-type color liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A radiation sensitive composition comprising (A) a colorant containing a quinacridone pigment, a mixture of an isoindolinone pigment and a yellow organic pigment or a mixture of copper phthalocyanine blue and a green pigment, (B) an alkali-soluble resin, (C) a polyfunctional monomer and (D) a photopolymerization initiator. The composition is useful for production of an additive or subtractive color filter which is used in a reflection-type color liquid crystal display device.

Abstract: A photosensitive lithographic printing plate comprises a photosensitive layer and a protective layer formed in this order on a support, wherein the photosensitive layer has a maximum peak of spectral sensitivity within a wavelength range ranging from 390 to 430 nm, the minimum exposure for the photosensitive lithographic printing plate for image formation at a wavelength of 410 nm (S410) is at most 100 &mgr;J/cm2, and the relation between the minimum exposure for image formation at a wavelength of 450 nm (S450) and the minimum exposure for image formation at a wavelength of 410 nm (S410) is 0<S410/S450<0.1.

Abstract: A pattern can be precisely formed by irradiating, with an active energy beam, a positive sensitive resin composition according to this invention comprising a base polymer, an ether-bond-containing olefinic unsaturated compound and an acid-generating agent, where the base polymer is a copolymer comprising the structural units represented by formulas (1) to (3): 1

Abstract: An imide-based photosensitive resin composition comprised of (1) a photosensitive imidosiloxane oligomer comprised of a reaction product of an imidosiloxane oligomer having a functional group reactive with an epoxy group and an epoxy compound having a photosensitive group, (2) an isocyanate having an unsaturated bond, (3) a photopolymerization initiator, and (4) an organic solvent, an insulating film obtained by curing the same, and a process for production of such an insulating film.