Abstract: The present invention provides a negative-type photosensitive resin composition capable of obtaining a cured film suppressing generation of development residues caused by a pigment and having high sensitivity and excellent heat resistance and light blocking capability. A negative-type photosensitive resin composition contains an alkali-soluble resin (A), a radical-polymerizable compound (B), a photopolymerization initiator (C1), and a pigment (D1).

Abstract: A photosensitive resin structure for a printing plate, containing: a support (A); a photosensitive resin composition layer (B) comprising a thermoplastic elastomer (B-1) comprising a monovinyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene, an ethylenically unsaturated compound (B-2), and a photopolymerization initiator (B-3); and a non-infrared ray-shielding layer (C) ablatable with an infrared ray, wherein the non-infrared ray-shielding layer (C) comprises a polymer (C-2) having a carboxylate group and an ester bond group in a molecule thereof and an infrared ray absorber (C-3), and a proportion of an ester bond group such that carbon bonded to the ester bond group and carbon bonded to the carboxylate group are adjacent to each other in all the ester bond groups contained in the polymer (C-2) is 15% or more.

Abstract: A handheld computing device comprises a display comprising an array of pixels illuminated by a plurality of visible light sources, and a plurality of infra-red light sources interleaved between the visible light sources, the IR light sources being actuable to emit diffuse IR light with a first intensity. A camera has an image sensor comprising an array of pixels responsive to infra-red light and a lens assembly with an optical axis extending from the image sensor through the surface of the display. A dedicated illumination source is located outside the display and is actuable to emit infra-red light with a second greater intensity. A processor is configured to switch between an iris region processing mode in which a subject is illuminated at least by the dedicated light source and a face region processing mode in which a subject is illuminated by the plurality of IR light sources.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an aqueous composition comprising a quaternary amine compound neutralized with a polycarboxylic acid. The aqueous composition is particularly useful for inerting clay in cement compositions as well as compatibilzing pigments in pigment dispersions.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a structure includes preparing a dry film supported on one surface of a support; bonding the dry film to a substrate so that the dry film and the substrate are in contact with each other; performing first exposure of the dry film bonded to the substrate via the support; removing the support after the first exposure; performing second exposure of the dry film after the support is removed via a photomask; and developing the dry film after the first exposure and the second exposure.

Abstract: A method for solid free form fabrication includes providing a dispensing head, printing one or more support material layer(s) with the dispensing head and forming vacancies within the one or more support material layer(s), and filling the vacancies within the one or more support material layer(s) with a modeling material. The method also includes straightening the modeling material with a leveler to form a three-dimensional shaped object and removing at least a portion of the one or more support material layer(s) from the three-dimensional shaped object.

Abstract: A method for treating a dielectric film on a substrate and, in particular, a method for integrating a low-k dielectric film with subsequently formed metal interconnects is described. The method includes preparing a dielectric film on a substrate, wherein the dielectric film is a low-k dielectric film having a dielectric constant less than or equal to a value of about 4. Thereafter, the method further includes performing a preliminary curing process on the dielectric film, forming a pattern in the dielectric film using a lithographic process and an etching process, removing undesired residues from the substrate, and performing a final curing process on the dielectric film, wherein the final curing process includes irradiating the substrate with ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Abstract: A method of fusing two images includes adjusting contrast of (a) a visual image and (b) a thermal image. Also included is modifying the adjusted contrast of the thermal image to form output brightness levels, by using a transformation curve, and then displaying both (a) the brightness levels of the thermal image and (b) the adjusted contrast of the visual image. Modifying the adjusted contrast of the thermal image includes using a V-curve as the transformation curve, in which the V-curve includes similar maximum output brightness levels at the coldest and hottest relative temperatures, respectively. The V-curve also includes a minimum output brightness level at a midpoint between the coldest and hottest relative temperatures. Furthermore, the method assigns different hues to the intensity values of the thermal image, ranging from coldest to hottest relative temperatures.

Abstract: Methods, algorithms, processes, circuits, and/or structures for laser patterning suitable for customized RFID designs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of laser patterning of an identification device can include the steps of: (i) depositing a patternable resist formulation on a substrate having configurable elements and/or materials thereon; (ii) irradiating the resist formulation with a laser tool sufficiently to change the solubility characteristics of the resist in a developer; and (iii) developing exposed areas of the resist using the developer. Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously provide a relatively low cost and high throughput approach for customized RFID devices.

Abstract: A printing plate precursor for laser engraving, including a relief forming layer including a cured resin material formed by thermally crosslinking a resin composition including at least (A) non-porous inorganic particles, (B) a binder polymer having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 20° C. or higher, and (C) a crosslinking agent.

Abstract: A member for masking films including a base film transparent to ultraviolet rays, an ultraviolet-shielding resin layer capable of being removed by irradiation with a laser light beam and having an average thickness of 0.1 to 30 ?m, and a protective layer having a thickness of 0.05 to 1.5 ?m and comprising, as a resin component, a polyester-base resin having a glass-transition temperature of not less than 40° C. laminated to a surface of the outermost layer of the ultraviolet-shielding resin layer, wherein the ultraviolet-shielding resin layer is a multilayer structure composed of two or more layers including a resin layer (A) having a high carbon black content and a resin layer (B) having a low carbon black content, the layer (A) and the layer (B) being located on the base-film side and on the printing-plate side of the ultraviolet-shielding resin layer, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for making a relief image. A film that includes a carrier sheet and an imageable material is used to form a mask image that is opaque to a curing radiation. In one embodiment, the mask image is formed on the carrier sheet while in another embodiment, the mask image is formed on a receptor sheet. The mask image is then transferred to a photosensitive material, such as a flexographic printing plate precursor. The resulting assembly is exposed to the curing radiation resulting in exposed and unexposed areas of the photosensitive material. The carrier sheet or the receptor sheet may be removed from the mask image either before or after exposure to the curing radiation. Finally, the photosensitive material and mask image assembly is developed with a suitable developer to form a relief image.

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 of the image-recording layer with at least one of printing ink and dampening water on a printing machine after exposure and contains an infrared absorbing dye, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound and a binder polymer having an alkylene oxide group; and a protective layer containing a hydrophilic polymer which contains at least a repeating unit represented by the formula (1) as defined herein, a repeating unit represented by the formula (2) as defined herein, and a repeating unit represented by the formula (4) as defined herein, and in which a content of the repeating unit represented by the formula (4) is from 0.3 to 5.0% by mole based on total repeating units of the hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed that can be developed on the press without going through a development processing step, and a method of lithographic printing is also disclosed that uses this negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor. Also disclosed are a negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor that can be developed by a water-soluble resin-containing aqueous solution and a method of lithographic printing that uses this negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor. A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor is provided that exhibits an excellent fine line reproducibility in nonimage areas even when printing is performed using ultraviolet-curing ink (UV ink). Also provided is a negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor that exhibits an excellent combination of fine line reproducibility and printing durability and that resists the production of scum during on-press development.

Abstract: A resist film processing unit is disclosed that can improve an etching resistance of a resist film formed on a substrate. The resist film processing unit includes a light source to irradiate an ultraviolet light on a resist film patterned by a development process, a heating part configured to heat the resist film irradiated with the ultraviolet light by the light source, and a solvent processing unit configured to expose the resist film to a solvent gas including a solvent that contains a benzene ring, during or after heating of the resist film by the heating part.

Abstract: A near-infrared absorbing dye has an anion of formula (1) wherein A1 is H or CF3, R0 is OH or —OC(?O)—R?, and R? is a monovalent hydrocarbon group. The dye has excellent solvent solubility as well as good optical properties and heat resistance, offering the advantages of easy coating and effective working during film formation. The dye free of heavy metal in its structure is advantageously used in the process of fabricating semiconductor devices.

Abstract: The invention provides a near-infrared absorbing material, including: at least one of at least one singlet oxygen scavengers, at least one radical scavenger, and at least one antioxidant; and at least one near-infrared absorbing compound obtained by oxidation of a compound represented by the following Formula (II). In the formula, R211, R212, R221, R222, R231, R232, R241 and R242 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or aromatic group; R203, R213, R223, R233 and R243 independently represent a substituent; and n203, n213, n223, n233 and n243 independently represent an integer of 0 to 4.

Abstract: A curable liquid formulation containing at least (i) one or more near-infrared absorbing triphenylamine-based dyes, and (ii) one or more casting solvents. The invention is also directed to solid near-infrared absorbing films composed of crosslinked forms of the curable liquid formulation. The invention is also directed to a microelectronic substrate containing a coating of the solid near-infrared absorbing film as well as a method for patterning a photoresist layer coated on a microelectronic substrate in the case where the near-infrared absorbing film is between the microelectronic substrate and a photoresist film.

Abstract: A negative-working imageable element has an imageable layer and a topcoat layer that contains a composition that will change color upon exposure to imaging infrared radiation. The imageable element can be imaged and developed on-press to provide images with improved contrast for print-out.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to novel phthalocyanines and their use as IR-absorbers, in particular in transparent thermoplastic or crosslinkable polymers. A further aspect of the invention is a composition of these phthalocyanines and thermoplastic or crosslinkable polymers and an architectural or automotive glazing containing these phthatolcyanines.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a binder, and an infrared absorbing dye; wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle diameter, measured by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, of more than 10 nm and less than 40 nm; the amount of the IR-dye, without taking into account an optional counter ion, is more than 0.80 mg per m2 of the total surface of the thermoplastic polymer particles, measured by Hydrodynamic Fractionation; and the amount of hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles relative to the total weight of the ingredients of the imaging layer is at least 60%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to thermoplastic material comprising polymer and at least one polychromic substance, wherein the polychromic substance is a functionalised diacetylene having the formula which has the general structure: X—C?C—C?C—Y—(CO)n-QZ wherein X is H or alkyl, Y is a divalent alkylene group, Q is O, S or NR, R is H or alkyl, and Z is alkyl, and n is 0 or 1. The present invention further relates to a method of processing thermoplastic material to form a plastic article, wherein the method comprises the step of processing the thermoplastic material at a temperature greater than the melt temperature of the thermoplastic, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises polymer and at least one polychromic substance as defined above; and further comprising the step of irradiating the plastic article to color at least a region of the plastic article.

Abstract: A LTHC layer for use in radiation induced thermal transfer includes a modified pigment.

Abstract: A mask-forming film has a transparent layer between the imageable layer and the carrier sheet, which transparent layer has a refractive index that is lower (by at least 0.04) than that of the carrier sheet or any immediately adjacent layer between it and the carrier sheet. This lower refractive index layer modifies the path of incident radiation during mask image transfer so as to provide steeper shoulder angles in the relief image solid areas. This mask film is used to form a relief image such as in a flexographic printing plate.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor includes: a support; and an image-recording layer containing (A) an infrared absorbing agent, (B) a radical polymerization initiator, (C) a polymerizable compound and (D) an epoxy compound having a molecular weight of 1,000 or less.

Abstract: Flexographic printing plates and other relief images can be formed from a laser-ablatable element having a laser-ablatable layer that is at least 20 ?m in thickness. The laser-ablatable layer includes a film-forming material that is a laser-laser-ablatable material or the film-forming material has dispersed therein a laser-ablatable material. The laser-ablatable material is a polymeric material that when heated to 300° C. at a rate of 10° C./minute, loses at least 60% of its mass to form at least one predominant low molecular weight product. The element can be imaged by ablation at an energy of at least 1 J/cm2 to provide a relief image.

Abstract: Flexographic printing plates and other relief images can be formed from a laser-ablatable element having a laser-ablatable layer that is at least 20 ?m in thickness. The laser-ablatable layer includes a film-forming material that is a laser-laser-ablatable material or the film-forming material has dispersed therein a laser-ablatable material. The laser-ablatable material is a polymeric material that when heated to 300° C. at a rate of 10° C./minute, loses at least 60% of its mass to form at least one predominant low molecular weight product. The element can be imaged by ablation at an energy of at least 1 J/cm2 to provide a relief image.

Abstract: The present invention provides coating compositions comprising (i) a) a compound containing a free carbonyl group and b) a nucleophile or (ii) a compound containing a free carbonyl group, which compound is substituted with one or more nucleophilic groups. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions, and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.

Abstract: Described are infrared light sources and methods for generating infrared radiation. The infrared light source includes a source of laser radiation, a target and an enclosure. The target is positioned in a path of an output region of the source of laser radiation. The target includes an absorbing material that absorbs radiation at a wavelength within the lasing spectrum of the source of laser radiation and converts the absorbed radiation into thermal energy. The enclosure defines a cavity that includes the target. The enclosure includes an infrared reflecting film on a side that defines the cavity.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor is provided that, using laser exposure, exhibits an excellent capacity for plate inspection, an excellent on-press development performance or gum development performance, and an excellent scumming behavior, while maintaining a satisfactory printing durability. There is also provided a method of lithographic printing that uses this lithographic printing plate precursor. The lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an image recording layer having (A) a nonionic polymerization initiator that contains at least two cyclic imide structures, and (B) a compound that has at least one addition-polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for making a relief image. A film that includes a carrier sheet and an imageable material is used to form a mask image that is opaque to a curing radiation. In one embodiment, the mask image is formed on the carrier sheet while in another embodiment, the mask image is formed on a receptor sheet. The mask image is then transferred to a photosensitive material, such as a flexographic printing plate precursor. The resulting assembly is exposed to the curing radiation resulting in exposed and unexposed areas of the photosensitive material. The carrier sheet or the receptor sheet may be removed from the mask image either before or after exposure to the curing radiation. Finally, the photosensitive material and mask image assembly is developed with a suitable developer to form a relief image.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of (i) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a coating, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a binder, and an infrared absorbing dye, wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle diameter, measured by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, of more than 10 nm and less than 40 nm, and the amount of the IR-dye, without taking into account an optional counter ion, is more than 0.70 mg per m2 of the total surface of the thermoplastic polymer particles, measured by Hydrodynamic Fractionation, and the amount of hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles relative to the total weight of the ingredients of the imaging layer is at least 60%; (ii) exposing the precursor to infrared light; and (iii) developing the exposed precursor in an alkaline aqueous solution.

Abstract: An imaged and developed element, such as a lithographic printing plate, is provided by infrared radiation imaging of a positive-working imagable element having inner and outer imagable layers. One or both layers contain a polymeric binder having pendant 1H-tetrazole groups. The imaged element is developed with a single processing solution having a pH of from about 5 to about 11 to remove predominantly only the exposed regions and to provide a protective layer over the imaged surface.

Abstract: A laser-ablatable element for direct laser engraving has a laser-ablatable, relief-forming layer that has a relief-image forming surface and a bottom surface. This relief-forming layer includes a laser-ablatable polymeric binder and an infrared radiation absorbing compound that is present at a concentration profile such that its concentration is greater near the bottom surface than the image-forming surface. This arrangement of the infrared radiation absorbing compound provides improved ablation efficiency, particularly when laser exposure is carried out adiabatically.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition containing: (A) a binder polymer; (B) a compound having a polymerizable unsaturated group; and (C) a compound which has a triarylsulfonium salt structure and in which a sum of Hammett's a constants of all substituents bonded to the aryl skeleton is larger than 0.46.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for forming a selective mask on a surface of a layer of AlXGaYIn1-X-YAsZP1-Z or AlXGaYIn1-X-YNZAs1-Z (0?X?1, 0?Y?1, 0?Z?1), which is a method for forming a mask with a minute width suitable for microfabrication in nano-order. (1) An energy beam 4a, 4b is selectively irradiated onto a natural oxide layer 2 formed on the surface of the layer 1 of AlXGaYIn1-X-YAsZP1-Z or AlXGaYIn1-X-YNZAs1-Z. (2) Of the natural oxide layer 2, parts other than parts onto which the energy beam 4a, 4b has been irradiated is removed by heating. (3) The natural oxide layer 2 of the parts onto which the energy beam 4a, 4b has been irradiated is partially removed by heating while alternatively carrying out a rise and fall in heating temperature.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a heat-sensitive coating including an IR absorbing agent, a phenolic resin, and a first polymer, wherein the first polymer is an alkaline soluble polymer including a monomeric unit having a structure according to Formula I or Formula II, wherein at least one of the aromatic groups Ar1 and Ar2 is an optionally substituted heteroaromatic group:

Abstract: A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed that can be developed on the press without going through a development processing step, and a method of lithographic printing is also disclosed that uses this negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor. A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor is provided that exhibits excellent on-press developability, nonimage area fine line reproducibility and printing durability and that resists the production of scum during on-press development.

Abstract: Negative lithographic printing plate having on a substrate a photosensitive layer comprising an alkaline soluble polymeric binder, an alkaline insoluble polymeric binder, a polymerizable monomer, and an initiator is described. The photosensitive layer is imagewise exposed with a radiation to cause hardening in the exposed areas, and then developed to remove the non-hardened areas. The combination of both alkaline soluble polymeric binder and alkaline insoluble polymeric binder in a photosensitive layer can give excellent combined durability, developability, and coatability.

Abstract: A method of making imaged elements such as lithographic printing plates is achieved by imagewise exposing an infrared radiation-sensitive positive-working imageable element to provide exposed and non-exposed regions. The imaged element is developed using a single processing solution having a pH of from about 9 to about 11.5 and containing carbonate ion and at least 1 weight % of one or more anionic surfactants, to remove predominantly only the exposed regions to provide an image and to provide a protective coating on the imaged surface. The imageable element comprises a substrate and a radiation absorbing compound, and has an imageable layer on the substrate that comprises a developability-enhancing compound and a poly(vinyl acetal) in which at least 25 mol % of its recurring units comprise pendant nitro-substituted phenolic groups.

Abstract: A compound having, in its molecule, a polymethine chain structure containing a partial structure represented by the following formula (1-1), and an image forming material containing the same. In the formula (1-1), R1, R2, R3, R4, and X each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a monovalent organic group. The image forming material is useful as the image recording layer of a planographic printing plate precursor.

Abstract: Provided are methods of applying a tissue marking to a tissue and rendering said tissue marking colorless when desired, comprising implanting into the tissue an amount of the tissue marking in sufficient quantity to form a detectable marking, said tissue marking comprising at least one colored compound comprising a thermally activatable fragmentation group and at least one infrared absorbing compound, wherein the at least one colored compound is capable of being rendered colorless by unimolecular fragmentation of the thermally activatable fragmentation group when the tissue marking is non-imagewise exposed by a source of infrared radiation and applying sufficient infrared radiation to a sufficient amount of the tissue marking to render the tissue marking colorless when desired.

Abstract: Negative-working imageable element can be used to prepared lithographic printing plates. These elements include a water-soluble contrast dye having a ?max in the range of from about 450 to about 750 nm and having an absorption that is lower than 10% with respect to the absorption of the radiation absorbing compound in the element at the wavelength used for exposure. The contrast dye is present in sufficient H-aggregation such that less than 40% of the entire absorption spectrum from the contrast dye is contributed by it in non-H-aggregated form.

Abstract: Composition, which comprises a latent activator and a colour former, a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diagnostic contrast agent comprising a water dispersible, near-infrared tricarbocyanine, enamine-functionalized dye having a Stoke shift of greater than 50 and represented by five general formulae. The present invention also relates to a method for making a dye-conjugate utilizing the novel dye and a method of identifying a biological compound using the novel dye conjugate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition, which comprises a latent activator. It also provides a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.

Abstract: A curable composition, including: a polymerizable compound (a) including an ethylenically unsaturated bond; a binder polymer (b); a radical polymerization initiator (c); and an alicyclic compound (d) including a urea bond is provided.

Abstract: An image-forming method includes: exposing a negative type image-forming material including a support and an image-recording layer containing a binder polymer containing at least one group capable of being converted to a sulfonate upon a reaction with an aqueous solution containing at least one of a sulfite and a bisulfite, a sensitizing dye, a polymerization initiator, and a compound having an ethylenically unsubstituted bond; and removing an unexposed area of the image-recording layer with an aqueous solution containing at least one of a sulfite and a bisulfite.

Abstract: The present invention provides a curable composition containing at least one species selected from polymerizable monomers represented by the following formulas (I) to (III) and a polymerization initiator, and a planographic printing plate precursor including the same. The curable composition can be cured with high sensitivity due to laser light exposure or the like, and the inhibition of polymerization due to oxygen is controlled. The composition has excellent solubility in a developer or a solvent.

Abstract: Laser-engraveable flexographic printing plate precursors have a laser-engraveable elastomeric layer that comprises a non-free radical crosslinked polymeric binder, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, and a compound that remains stable in the precursor but upon imaging thermally degrades to produce gaseous products. The thermally degradable compounds can generate or liberate one or more gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide.