Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate is disclosed which comprises the steps of: (1) providing a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor comprising on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a heat-sensitive coating, (2) image-wise exposing said precursor with IR-radiation or heat, and (3) developing said image-wise exposed precursor with an alkaline developing solution, characterised in that a sludge inhibiting agent is present in said precursor or in said developing solution or in said precursor and said developing solution, and wherein said sludge inhibiting agent is a triazaindolisine compound. According to the above method, the formation of sludge is inhibited or reduced.

Abstract: A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a negative-working radiation-sensitive imageable layer and an outermost layer comprising a vinyl alcohol copolymer comprising at least one unit of each of the (a), (b), and (c) recurring units, in any order, defined in the disclosure. The (c) recurring units are present in the vinyl alcohol copolymer in an amount of at least 0.5 mol %, based on the total recurring units. These precursors can be used to prepare lithographic printing plates either on-press or off-press after imaging using near-UV, visible, or infrared radiation.

Abstract: A presensitized plate having a long press life and excellent resistance to scum and corrosive micro-stains and capable of on-press development is provided. The presensitized plate includes a photosensitive layer containing (A) a sensitizing dye, (B) a polymerization initiator, (C) a polymerizable compound, and (D) a binder polymer; and a protective layer which are formed on a support in this order. The support is prepared from an aluminum alloy plate containing intermetallic compound particles with a circle equivalent diameter of 0.2 ?m or more at a surface density of 35,000 pcs/mm2 or more and aluminum carbide particles with a maximum length of 1 ?m or more in an amount of up to 30,000 pcs/g.

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: A positive-working, ablation-imagable lithographic printing plate precursor can be imaged and used for lithographic printing without wet processing. This precursor has a sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid anodized aluminum-containing substrate, a crosslinked hydrophilic inner layer comprising a crosslinked polymer derived by using a crosslinking agent that comprises at least two aldehyde groups, and an acidic compound. Over the crosslinked hydrophilic inner layer is an oleophilic outer layer comprising an infrared radiation absorber and an oleophilic polymer. The precursor also has a copolymer comprising randomly recurring units derived from each of a (meth)acrylamide and vinyl phosphonic acid. This copolymer is present either within the crosslinked hydrophilic inner layer, as part of a different copolymer layer between the crosslinked hydrophilic inner layer and the substrate, or in both places.

Abstract: A lithographic processing solution has a pH of less than 12 and comprises at least 0.001 and up to and including 1 weight % of a water-soluble or water-dispersible, non-IR-sensitive compound that has a heterocyclic moiety with a quaternary nitrogen in the 1-position of the heterocyclic ring, and has one or more electron donating substituents attached to the heterocyclic ring, at least one of which electron donating substituents is attached in the 2-position. This processing solution can be used to develop both single-layer and multi-layer positive-working lithographic printing plate precursors that have been imaged using infrared radiation.

Abstract: To provide a developer for processing of a lithographic printing plate precursor, containing a non-reducing sugar having bonded therein two or more monosaccharides and having a pH of 6 to 14 and thereby provide a developer having a pH stable to aging and an excellent film-forming property, a method for manufacturing a lithographic printing plate, where a lithographic printing plate excellent in developability and dispersibility of development scum and kept from staining of the non-image area can be manufactured even by simple processing of one solution and one step requiring no water washing step, a developer used therefor, and a printing method of performing printing by using the manufacturing method of a lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor in a positive-type with an infrared-sensitivity, having a support and an image recording layer provided on the support, the support having a hydrophilic surface, the recording layer having a particular resin, an amphoteric surfactant and/or an anionic surfactant, and an infrared absorbing agent, wherein the particular resin being at least one of resins selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a poly(vinyl acetal) resin, and maleimide resin A.

Abstract: A method of making a lithographic printing plate including the steps of a) image-wise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a light or heat sensitive coating on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and b) processing the precursor consecutively with a first solution and a second solution thereby removing the coating from the support in the non-printing areas. The first and second solutions are provided by a cascade system such that the second solution overflows into the first solution and the first solution overflows into a container to be further treated as waste, and the second solution is regenerated by adding a replenishing solution or a mixture of replenishing solutions at a rate of at least 5 ml/m2 of treated precursor and at most 30 ml/m2 of treated precursor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic printing plate precursor which exhibits satisfactory ink cleanup and restart toning characteristics during printing.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a lithographic printing plate precursor which exhibits satisfactory developability using a developing solution having the pH of 12 or lower and has long print run length and satisfactory scratch resistance, and also exhibits improved ink receptivity.

Abstract: To provide a lithographic printing plate precursor which is excellent in the gum development property, running processing property and scratch resistance and a lithographic printing plate precursor which is good in all performances of the on-press development property, ink receptivity, sensitivity and printing durability, and a method of producing thereof. A lithographic printing plate precursor has a support, an image-recording layer containing a radical polymerization initiator and a radical polymerizable compound, and an overcoat layer containing a polymer resin which has a cloud point in an aqueous solution and includes a monomer unit containing at least any of an amino group and an amido bond, in this order.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a planographic printing plate, including: subjecting a planographic printing plate precursor, to image-wise exposure; and developing it using an alkaline aqueous solution which contains a specific compound and has a pH of from 8.5 to 10.8, in this order. The recording layer has: a lower layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin and an infrared ray absorbing agent; and an upper layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble polyurethane resin and a polyorganosiloxane. The specific compound is a nonionic or anionic surfactant, or at least one compound represented by Formula (1) or (2), wherein R11, R12, and R13 each represent an alkyl group; R14 represents an alkylene group; and R15 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group containing a hetero atom; and R21, R22, and R23 each represent an alkyl group.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for preparing a composite printing form from a single precursor that is capable of forming a relief and a carrier. The single precursor can be a single photosensitive element or a single laser-engravable print element having a reinforced elastomeric layer. The single precursor has a size that is at least 70% of a size of the carrier. The single precursor is located on the carrier by approximately positioning the precursor on the carrier that has no registration markings. Precise registration of the single precursor is achieved by using digital information generated from a computer to create the registered image on the composite form. The method is particularly suited for preparing composite printing forms for relief printing, and in particular for preparing composite printing forms for flexographic printing of corrugated substrates.

Abstract: Negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor a negative-working imageable layer and an outermost water-soluble overcoat layer that is disposed directly on the negative-working imageable layer. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer comprises: (1) one or more film-forming water-soluble polymeric binders, (2) organic wax particles, and (3) non-wax matte particles. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer has a dry thickness (t) that is defined by the following equation (I): t=w/r wherein w is the dry coverage of the outermost water-soluble overcoat layer in g/m2, and r is 1 g/cm3. The organic wax particles have an average largest dimension D(wax) that is less than 0.9 of t (in ?m), and the non-wax matte particles have an average largest dimension D(matte) that defined by the following equation (II): 1.5 times t?D(matte)?40 times t (in ?m).

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support, and an image-recording layer, the image-recording layer contains a urethane resin having a polyalkylene oxide chain represented by the formula (1) as defined herein in a side chain, an infrared absorbing agent, a radical polymerizable compound and a radical polymerization initiator, and an unexposed area of the image-recording layer is capable of being removed with at least one of dampening water and ink.

Abstract: The invention provides a photosensitive element and a method for preparing a printing form from the element. The photosensitive element includes a layer of a photosensitive composition containing a binder, a monomer, and a Norrish type II photoinitiator, wherein the photosensitive layer has a transmittance to actinic radiation of less than 20% and contains reinforcing particles of graphene and/or carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is provided that exhibits less blooming without using a specific polymerization initiator, infrared radiation absorbing agent and the like. The lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a substrate having thereon an image forming layer comprising a radiation-sensitive composition which comprises a radical polymerizable component, an infrared radiation absorbing agent and a radical polymerization initiator, wherein the radiation-sensitive composition comprises a fluorinated copolymer substantially having no hydrophilic moiety.

Abstract: A method for producing a printable lithographic plate from a negative working, radiation imageable plate having an oleophilic resin coating that reacts to radiation by cross linking and is non-ionically adhered to a hydrophilic substrate. Steps include imagewise radiation exposing the coating to produce an imaged plate having partially reacted image areas including unreacted coating material, and completely unreacted nonimage areas; developing the plate by removing only the unreacted, nonimage areas from the substrate while retaining unreacted material in the image areas; and blanket exposing the developed plate with a source of energy which further reacts the retained unreacted material in the image areas. A plate with a coating containing resin particles can be imaged to produce initial cross-linking, then mechanically developed. Hardening of the imaged areas is completed with a relatively intense post-heating at 160 deg. C., which further cross links the monomer and fuses the resin particles.

Abstract: A structure for pattern formation adapted for optically forming a pattern, characterized by comprising: a photocatalyst-containing layer provided on a substrate, the photocatalyst-containing layer containing a material of which the wettability is variable through photocatalytic action upon pattern-wise exposure.

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: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a coating provided on a support having a hydrophilic surface, the coating containing thermoplastic polymer particles and an IR-dye characterized in that the IR-dye contains a structural element according to Formula I wherein A represents hydrogen, halogen or a monovalent organic group; Y and Y? independently represent —CH— or —N—; R1 and R2 independently represent hydrogen, an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl group or represent the necessary atoms to form a ring; * represents the linking positions to the rest of the molecule.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor in a positive-type with an infrared-sensitivity, having a support and an image recording layer provided on the support, the support having a hydrophilic surface, the recording layer having a particular resin, an amphoteric surfactant and/or an anionic surfactant, and an infrared absorbing agent, wherein the particular resin being at least one of resins selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a poly (vinyl acetal) resin, and maleimide resin A.

Abstract: A positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises on a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer a heat and/or light-sensitive coating including an infrared absorbing agent and a compound including a benzoxazine group.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition contains a binder polymer containing a functional group having a dipole moment of 3.8 debye or more and being represented by the formula (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) as defined herein, a radical polymerizable compound and a radical polymerization initiator.

Abstract: A method for producing a planographic printing plate, including the steps of: image-wise exposing a positive type planographic printing plate precursor including an intermediate layer and a positive type image-forming layer successively on a support, the intermediate layer having a coating amount after drying of from 2 mg/m2 to 200 mg/m2 and including a polymer including a repeating unit represented by the following formula (I-1) and a repeating unit represented by the following formula (I-2); and developing the exposed positive type planographic printing plate precursor using a treatment liquid having a pH of from 7 to 12:

Abstract: Positive-working lithographic printing plate precursors have an inner layer that includes a polymeric binder having an acid number of at least 30 mg KOH/g of polymer to and including 150 mg KOH/g of polymer, at least 3 weight % of recurring units derived from one or more N-alkoxymethyl(alkyl)acrylamides or alkoxymethyl(alkyl)acrylates, at least 2 weight % of recurring units having pendant 1H-tetrazole groups, and at least 10 weight % of recurring units having pendant cyano groups. The use of such polymeric binders in the inner layer provides good bakeability and chemical solvent resistance. Such positive-working lithographic printing plate precursors also include an outer layer disposed over the inner layer, which outer layer comprises an infrared radiation absorbing compound.

Abstract: A radiation sensitive composition which is primarily sensitive in the near UV and visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum is composed of a polymeric binder, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, a radiation absorbing compound, a photoaccelerator, an onium compound, and an adhesion promoter, which are overcoated with an oxygen barrier layer. When applied to the proper support and processed, the composition is useful as an offset lithographic printing plate, color proofing film or image resist.

Abstract: Provide is a lithographic printing plate precursors having excellent printing durability, staining resistance and developability as well as processes for preparing lithographic printing plates therefrom. A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a primer layer and an image-recording layer in this order in a substrate, wherein the primer layer comprises a polymer containing a repeat unit having a carbon-carbon backbone, a —C(?O)— group directly attached thereto, a —C(?O)—NR0— group, a carboxyl group or a salt thereof, and an ethylenically unsaturated bond.

Abstract: A mold for nanoimprint lithography assisted by a determined wavelength is disclosed. According to some aspects, a layer made from a first material including, on a first face, a layer made from a second rigid material in which n structured zones with micrometric or nanometric patterns (n?1) are made, and, on the face opposite said first face, a layer made from a third rigid material in which n recesses are formed, opposite the n structured zones. The n recesses are filled with a fourth material to form n portions. The transmittance at the determined wavelength of the layer of third material is lower than the transmittance of any one of the n portions; and the transmittance of the layers of first, second, and third materials at the determined wavelength ?det is such that the transmission of a light with determined wavelength ?det through said layers is lower than the transmission of the light through any one of the n portions and the layers of first and second materials.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support and an image-recording layer containing a star polymer, a radical polymerizable compound and a radical polymerization initiator, the star polymer is a star polymer in which a polymer chain is branched from a central skeleton via a sulfide bond and the polymer chain contains an acid group and a crosslinkable group in a side chain of the polymer chain.

Abstract: An aluminum-containing substrate can be provided for use in lithographic printing plate precursors. Before radiation-sensitive layers are applied, a grained and sulfuric acid anodized aluminum-containing support is treated with an alkaline or acidic pore-widening solution to provide its outer surface with columnar pores. The diameter of the columnar pores at their outermost surface is at least 90% of the average diameter of the columnar pores. Directly on this treated surface, a hydrophilic layer is applied, which hydrophilic layer contains a non-crosslinked hydrophilic polymer having carboxylic acid side chains.

Abstract: An infrared sensitive and chemical treatment free photosensitive composition, includes, based on weight percentage, 30-70% of a water soluble thermally cross-linking resin, 1-20% of a water-soluble photocross-linking polymerized resin, 10-50% of a photopolymerizable oligomer, 1-30% of a multifunctional monomer, 1-20% of a cationic photopolymerization initiator, and 1-20% of an infrared irradiation absorption dye. The photosensitive composition of the present invention is useful for preparation of an infrared sensitive and chemical treatment free lithographic plate. The lithographic plate of the present invention has a high sensitivity and a good mesh point reduction, and after exposure to an infrared light source, can be printed directly after being washed with tapped water or without any washing and processing step, and has a long run length.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes, in the following order: a support; an image-recording layer which is capable of forming an image by removing an unexposed area by an automatic development processor in the presence of a developer having pH of from 2 to 14 after exposure and contains (A) a sensitizing dye, (B) a polymerization initiator, (C) a polymerizable compound and (D) a polymer which is insoluble in water and alkali-soluble; and a protective layer, and the protective layer contains (E) a hydrophilic polymer which has a repeating unit represented by the formula (1) as defined herein and a repeating unit represented by the formula (2) as defined herein and a sum of the repeating unit represented by the formula (1) and the repeating unit represented by the formula (2) is at least 95% by mole based on total repeating units constituting the polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging element and a method of using the imaging element to form a recording element. The imaging element includes a composition sensitive to actinic radiation from a source of radiation having a range of wavelengths and a photoluminescent tag that is responsive to at least one wavelength from the source of radiation. The photoluminescent tag can be used to authenticate the identity of the element, provide information about the element, and/or to establish one or more conditions in a device used to prepare the recording element from the imaging element.

Abstract: The present invention relates a printing element comprising at least one polymer layer which has photoimageable constituents and additions to make the polymer layer either hydrophobic or hydrophilic.

Abstract: On-press developable, negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors have a sulfuric acid anodized aluminum-containing substrate in which the oxide layer pores have been widened using an acidic or alkaline treatment. Over the widened pores, a hydrophilic coating is applied, which coating comprises a non-crosslinked hydrophilic polymer having carboxylic acid side chains. This particular substrate provides improved adhesion and printing durability for on-press development and printing.

Abstract: A process for use in lithography, such as photolithography for patterning a semiconductor wafer, is disclosed. The process includes receiving an incoming semiconductor wafer having various features and layers formed thereon. A unit-induced overlay (uniiOVL) correction is received and a deformation measurement is performed on the incoming semiconductor wafer in an overlay module. A deformation-induced overlay (defiOVL) correction is generated from the deformation measurement results by employing a predetermined algorithm on the deformation measurement results. The defiOVL and uniiOVL corrections are fed-forward to an exposure module and an exposure process is performed on the incoming semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: An apparatus for laminating a film to a substrate and a method of using the same is described. The apparatus comprises a) a heated laminating roller and a second roller, wherein said heated laminating roller and said second roller are opposably mounted and form a nip; b) a drive mechanism for rotating the heated laminating roller and second roller; c) a film supply roller adapted to support a roll of film and supply the film over an outer surface of the heated laminating roller and into the nip, wherein the film is contactable with a top surface of the substrate at a point where the substrate advances through the nip; and d) a splitter bar in contact with the film supplied from the supply roller, wherein the position of the splitter bar controls a wrap angle between the film and the heated laminating roller.

Abstract: An imprint lithography apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an electromagnetic Lorentz actuator arrangement configured to move an imprint template arrangement, the electromagnetic Lorentz actuator arrangement comprising: an array of magnets; and an array of conductors, each conductor configured to carry an electric current, one of the array of magnets or the array of conductors being moveable and connected to the imprint template arrangement, and the other of the array of magnets or the array of conductors extending at least partially around or forming a part of a substrate holder; the array of magnets and the array of conductors together being in a configuration which facilitates moving of the moveable one of the array of magnets or the array of conductors in six degrees of freedom, such that the imprint template arrangement is also movable in six degrees of freedom.

Abstract: a method for preparing a lithographic printing plate that includes imagewise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a coating provided on a support having a hydrophilic surface, the coating containing thermoplastic polymer particles and an infrared radiation absorbing dye characterized in that the coating further comprises a phenolic stabilizer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention involve three-layer printing members having a central layer that is non-conductive yet abalatable at commercially realistic fluence levels. In various embodiments, the central layer is polymeric with a dispersion of nonconductive carbon black particles therein at a loading level sufficient to provide at least partial layer ablatability and water compatibility of the resulting ablation debris.

Abstract: Negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor a negative-working imagable layer and an outermost water-soluble overcoat layer that is disposed directly on the negative-working imagable layer. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer comprises: (1) one or more film-forming water-soluble polymeric binders, and (2) organic wax particles dispersed therein. The organic wax particles have an average largest dimension of at least 0.05 ?m and up to and including 0.7 ?m, as determined from a scanning electron micrographic of the dried outermost water-soluble overcoat layer. Useful organic wax particles include fluorinated or non-fluorinated hydrocarbon wax particles.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor which is excellent in both the on-press development property and the printing durability and which is excellent particularly in the on-press development property after preservation for a long period of time, wherein the lithographic printing plate precursor includes an intermediate layer containing a polymer compound including a repeating unit (a1) having a support-adsorbing group and a repeating unit (a2) having a polyoxyalkylene group having a repeating number of oxyalkylene units from 8 to 120 between a support and a polymerizable image-recording layer, and contains a compound having a molecular weight of 1,500 or less and having an oxyalkylene group in at least any of the intermediate layer and the polymerizable image-recording layer.

Abstract: A thermally-sensitive, positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor can be used to prepare lithographic printing plates using high pH, silicate-free processing solutions. The precursor has a grained an anodized aluminum-containing substrate including a poly(vinyl phosphonic acid) interlayer. A first ink receptive layer, and optionally a second ink receptive layer, is disposed directly on the poly(vinyl phosphonic acid) interlayer. This first ink receptive layer comprises an aromatic acid dye that comprises at least two aromatic groups in an amount of least 0.5 weight %. In addition, the precursor comprises an infrared radiation absorber in one of the layers.

Abstract: A positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor for infrared laser is provided that includes, layered sequentially above a support, a lower layer and an upper layer, the lower layer and/or the upper layer including an infrared absorbing agent, either the lower layer comprising an alkali-soluble group-containing graft copolymer or the upper layer comprising a sulfonamide group-, active imide group-, and/or amide group-containing graft copolymer, and the graft copolymer being a polyurethane resin having as a graft chain an ethylenically unsaturated monomer-derived constitutional unit. There is also provided a process for making a lithographic printing plate, the process including in sequence an exposure step of imagewise exposing by means of an infrared laser the positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor for infrared laser and a development step of developing using an aqueous alkali solution with a pH of 8.5 to 10.8.

Abstract: Using a broadband light source and a photomask, surface energy gradients can be directly transferred into polymer films. The Marangoni effect causes high surface energy regions to rise upon heating the film. This leads to the formation of three-dimensional topography that can be locked in by quenching the polymer by cooling.

Abstract: A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a negative-working radiation-sensitive imageable layer and an outermost layer comprising a vinyl alcohol copolymer comprising at least one unit of each of the (a), (b), and (c) recurring units, in any order, defined in the disclosure. The (c) recurring units are present in the vinyl alcohol copolymer in an amount of at least 0.5 mol %, based on the total recurring units. These precursors can be used to prepare lithographic printing plates either on-press or off-press after imaging using near-UV, visible, or infrared radiation.

Abstract: Electrochemically grained and anodized aluminum supports are treated with a post-treatment coating solution containing a polymer derived at least in part from vinyl phosphonic acid and phosphoric acid. This post-treated support is useful as substrates in the preparation of lithographic printing plate precursors. The post-treatment substrate treatment enables wide latitude in manufacturing and compatibility with silicate-free developers to achieve negligible background staining and oxide attack.

Abstract: A method is described for producing an imaged lithographic printing plate, wherein the developer comprises a hydrophilic polymer which comprises (m1) primary, secondary and/or tertiary amino groups, and (m2) acid groups selected from —COOH, —SO3H, —PO2H and —PO3H2, and (m3) optionally alkylene oxide units —(CHR1—CH2—O)p—, wherein R1 is H or —CH3 and p is an integer from 1 to 50.