Abstract: The present invention provides a photosensitive composition including an infrared absorbing agent, a sulfonium salt polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound having a urethane skeleton and a binder polymer, as well as a planographic printing plate precursor containing the photosensitive composition in a photosensitive layer on a substrate.

Abstract: A lithographic process comprises the steps of imagewise heating a presensitized lithographic printing plate and removing an unheated area of an image-forming layer to form a lithographic printing plate. The presensitized lithographic printing plate comprises a hydrophilic support and the image-forming layer. The image-forming layer contains a compound or a polymer having o-quinodimethane structures or precursor structures thereof. The lithographic printing plate is prepared by a reaction of the o-quinodimethane structures.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of scanning silver-halide-containing color photographic and photothermographic film. In particular, the present invention comprises record shifting by means by employing at least one infrared dye in a color unit of the film, thereby forming at least one image record in the infrared. This expedient leads to the formation of high quality images, especially when scanning photothermographic elements in which the silver halide, metallic silver, and/or any organic silver salts have not been removed.

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 method for making a relief printing plate from an imageable lithographic printing plate precursor. The relief printing plate has ink-receptive cured areas, and ink-repellent non-image areas. The method comprises the steps of: a) imaging the lithographic printing plate precursor to produce ink-receptive image areas and ink-repellent non-image areas; b) applying a curable composition to form a coating on ink-receptive image areas; and c) curing the coating to produce ink-receptive cured areas. The method of another embodiment further comprises the steps of: d) applying a curable composition to form a coating on ink-receptive cured areas; e) curing the coating on the cured areas; and f) repeating steps d) and e) to attain a desired relief depth for the ink-receptive cured areas. In the practice of an embodiment of the invention, a modified rotary printing press may be employed to make a relief printing plate from a lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: The invention provides a lithographic printing for precursor having an imagable coating on an aluminum support, wherein the imagable coating comprises a polymeric substance comprising colorant groups, and wherein the aluminum support on which the coating is provided is anodized but not subsequently modified by means of a post-anodic treatment compound, and the coating does not comprise a colorant dye. The polymeric substance may also comprise pendent infra-red or developer dissolution inhibiting groups, and these groups may also be the colorant groups themselves.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor capable of forming an image upon irradiation with an infrared laser comprising a support, a first layer containing as the main component an alkali-soluble resin and a second layer containing as the main component an alkali-soluble resin that is different from the alkali-soluble resin contained as the main component in the first layer in this order, and at least one of the first layer and the second layer contains a mixture comprising at least two kinds of infrared absorbing agents.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aqueous dispersions of silver (carboxylate-azine toner) particles wherein the azine content of the particles is from about 0.01 to 10% by weight relative to silver carboxylate. The carboxylates are typically silver salts of long chain fatty acids and the azine toners are the compounds that function as development accelerators and toning agents such as phthalazine. These silver (carboxylate-azine) particles can be used to formulate imaging forming compositions that are useful in aqueous thermographic or photothermographic imaging elements.

Abstract: Disclosed are a printing plate material comprising a substrate and provided thereon, a component layer comprising a hydrophilic layer and an image formation layer, the hydrophilic layer being provided closer to the substrate than the image formation layer, wherein the hydrophilic layer contains an electron providing dye precursor, the image formation layer contains an organic electron accepting developing agent, and the component layer contains a light heat conversion material.

Abstract: Aqueous-based thermally developable emulsions and photothermographic imaging materials include photosensitive silver halide core-shell grains that comprise at least 20 mol % iodide based on total silver, an amount of iodide in the core of the grains that can be up to the iodide saturation limit in silver iodobromide, and an amount of iodide in the shell of the grains that is at least 2 mol % less than the amount of iodide present in the core, and further provided that the total amount of silver in the shell is from about 10 to about 80 mol % of total silver in the grains. These materials provide desired Dmax and reduced image “print out”.

Abstract: A negative image-recording material which can be imagewise-exposed by IR radiation from IR lasers and enables direct image formation from digital data of a computer or the like. The material, when used in a lithographic printing plate, ensures good hardenability in an image area, exhibits good printing durability, even if not heated for image-formation, and ensures a large number of good prints from the printing plate. The material includes (A) an IR absorber having an oxidation potential of at most 0.35 V (vs. SCE), (B) a thermal radical generator and (C) a radical-polymerizing compound. The material is imagewise-exposed to IR radiation for image formation. Preferably, the IR absorber (A) has, in a chromophoric group, an electron-donating substituent having a Hammett's &sgr;para value of at most −0.10, and the thermal radical generator (B) is an onium salt.

Abstract: Infrared absorbing compounds in which both the anion and the cation absorb infrared radiation, imageable elements that contain these compounds, and methods for forming images using the imageable elements are disclosed.

Abstract: Imageable elements that contain silicate-coated polymer particles in the imageable layer, stacks of these elements, and methods for forming images using these elements are disclosed. The elements do not stick to each other when stacked without interleaving paper, and only one imageable element is lifted at a time when the imageable elements are handled by automatic processing equipment. Blanket piling is not observed when silicate-coated particles are present in the imageable layer.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate precursor of the present invention includes a hydrophilic support, and a lower layer and an image recording layer disposed on the hydrophilic support in this order. The lower layer includes a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, and wherein the image recording layer includes a novolak type phenolic resin containing phenol as a structural unit thereof and a light-to-heat conversion agent, and exhibits increased solubility in an alkaline aqueous solution when exposed to an infrared laser.

Abstract: A photothermographic material that comprises a support having thereon one or more thermally-developable imaging layers comprising a binder and in reactive association, a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions, and a reducing composition for the non-photosensitive source reducible silver ions. The thermally-developable layers further comprises one or more radiation absorbing compounds that provide a total absorbance of greater than 0.6 and up to and including 3 in the thermally-developable imaging layer(s). These photothermographic materials are independently coated and dried while the material is conveyed at a rate of at least 5 meters per minute.

Abstract: This invention relates to a silver halide photographic display element comprising a support, a front side which has at least one silver halide emulsion layer, and a back side, said front and back sides being on opposite sides of the support; wherein said photographic element further comprises printed on the back side a printing ink composition comprising coalesced hydrophobic polymer particles having associated therewith a squarine infrared absorbing dye represented by formula I: wherein: R and R′ independently represents an aromatic or a heteroaromatic group such that the resulting dye has an absorption max greater than 800 nm; X represents an oxygen or nitrogen atom, or a group containing an oxygen or a nitrogen atom as a heteroatom, wherein the group must be attached through the heteroatom; W is a monovalent counter anion to balance the charge on the dye and m is 0 or 1.

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: An image forming material is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon an image forming layer containing a light-insensitive organic silver salt and a reducing agent and a protective layer in that order, wherein the image forming layer or the protective layer contains a binder having a structure unit represented by the following formula in which Z is a divalent linkage group, R1 is a hydroxyl group, an alkyl group containing a hydroxyl group or an aryl group containing a hydroxyl group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resin composition that includes (A) a polymer compound that has, on a side chain of a main chain polymer, through a linkage group containing a hydrogen-bonding group and a ring structure, a terminal ethylenic unsaturated bond, and is soluble or swelling in water or an alkali aqueous solution, and (B) a compound that generates radicals when exposed to light or heat. The invention further provides a thermo/photosensitive composition that includes (A′) a polymer compound that has a non-acidic hydrogen-bonding group on a side chain and is soluble or swelling in water or an alkali aqueous solution, and (B′) a compound that generates radicals when exposed to light or heat.

Abstract: Laser-imageable flexographic printing plates and a method of making same are disclosed. A thin polymeric film doped with a UV absorber is laminated to a photopolymer layer. The film is ablated from the photopolymer using a laser operating at a selected wavelength to create an in situ negative. The resulting negative can be subjected to typical UV flood exposure and development.

Abstract: A printing plate for computer-to plate lithography having a laser-ablatable member supported by a substrate. At least one portion of the laser-ablatable member is formed form an acrylic polymer containing laser-sensitive particles. The laser-sensitive particles absorb imaging radiation and cause the portion of the laser-ablatable member containing the laser sensitive particles and any overlying layers to be ablated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate having thereon a patterned small molecule organic semiconductor layer. The present invention also provides a method and a system for the production of the substrate having thereon a patterned small molecule organic semiconductor layer. The substrate with the patterned small molecule organic semiconductor layer is prepared by exposing a region of a substrate having thereon a film of a precursor of a small organic molecule to energy from an energy source to convert the film of a precursor of a small organic molecule to a patterned small molecule organic semiconductor layer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a silver halide photographic display element comprising a support, a front side which has at least one silver halide emulsion layer, and a back side, said front and back sides being on opposite sides of the support; wherein said photographic element further comprises printed on the back side a printing ink composition comprising coalesced hydrophobic polymer particles having associated therewith a squarine infrared absorbing dye represented by formula I: 1

Abstract: A reversible multicolor recording medium includes a supporting substrate and a recording layer including reversible thermal coloring compositions having different colors on the supporting substrate. The reversible thermal coloring compositions are included within a separated and independent minute gap structure, and respectively have light-to-heat transforming materials which respectively absorb infrared rays having different wavelength ranges to generate heat.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate precursor includes a support having disposed thereon a recording layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, a development inhibitor and an infrared absorber and exhibiting enhanced solubility in an aqueous alkali solution through light exposure. The recording layer may have either a mono-layer construction or a multi-layer construction containing a lower layer and an upper layer. In the case of the multi-layer construction, a layer containing the water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin is used as the lower layer, and a layer containing the water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin and the development inhibitor and exhibiting enhanced solubility in an aqueous alkali solution through light exposure is used as the upper layer, and at least one of the lower layer and the upper layer contains the infrared absorber.

Abstract: A method of printing an image with a printing plate prepared from a printing plate precursor, which comprises a support having thereon an image forming layer A containing a water-soluble material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) imagewise exposing the layer A of the printing plate precursor so as to form an unexposed portion and an exposed portion; (b) supplying an emulsion ink containing an oil-based ink and water onto the layer A so that the unexposed portion is removed from the layer A so as to form a non image portion and the exposed portion remains in the layer A so as to form an image portion to give the printing plate, wherein the image portion is lyophilic and the non image portion is hydrophilic; and (c) printing the image on the printing plate to an image receiving material while further supplying the emulsion ink.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal developing photographic element comprising a radiant energy absorbing material incorporated into said photothermal film.

Abstract: Flexographic printing plate is made from a laser engravable flexographic printing element which includes on a support at least one laser engravable reinforced elastomeric layer of an elastomeric composition comprising an elastomeric binder, at least one monomer, a photoinitiator system that decreases in ultraviolet absorbance as polymerization proceeds and at least one additive which absorbs infrared radiation at 9 to 12 micrometers.

Abstract: An IR-sensitive composition comprising, in addition to a polymeric binder, a free radical polymerizable system consisting of at least one member selected from unsaturated free radical polymerizable monomers, oligomers which are free radical polymerizable, and polymers containing C═C bonds in the back bone and/or in the side chain groups and an initiator system, wherein the initiator system comprises the following components: (a) at least one material capable of absorbing IR radiation, (b) at least one compound capable of producing radicals and (c) at least one hereto-substituted arylacetic acid co-initiator compound indicated by the following general structures: 1

Abstract: Photothermographic materials prepared using aqueous formulations include silver halides that are chemically sensitized using certain tellurium-containing compounds. Such tellurium-containing chemical sensitizing compounds are generally provided in aqueous solution or in an aqueous solid particulate dispersion and can be represented by the following Structure I, II, or III: Te(L)m(X1)n  (II) Pd(X2)2[Te(R′)2]2  (III) wherein X represents the same or different COR, CSR, CNRRa, CR, PRRa, or P(OR)2 groups, R and Ra are independently alkyl, alkenyl, or aryl groups, L is a ligand derived from a neutral Lewis base, X1 and X2 independently represent a halo, OCN, SCN, S2CNRRa, S2COR, S2CSR S2P(OR)2, S2PRRa, SeCN, TeCN, CN, SR, OR, alkyl, aryl, N3, or O2CR group, R′ is an alkyl or aryl group, p is 2 or 4, m is 0, 1, 2, or 4, and n is 2 or 4 provided that when m is 0 or 2, n is 2 or 4, and when m is 1 or 4, n is 2.

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: Polymer materials are described that undergo a two-level three-dimensional crosslinking process. During this process, hydrophilic polymers are crosslinked at two levels, the first results in a low level of crosslinking which leads to a toughening of the layer preventing dissolution by the fountain solution but with the layer remaining hydrophilic. The second level of crosslinking is higher and is the result of exposure to a laser diode thermal imaging device. The crosslinking at this second level results in a loss of hydrophilicity and provides instead an oleophilic image capable of accepting and transferring oil-based ink. The polymer materials are particularly useful in lithographic printing systems where they may used in articles such as a printing plate comprising a substrate having coated thereon a layer that becomes less hydrophilic upon exposure to thermal energy (e.g.

Abstract: Lithographic printing form precursors comprising positive working polymeric coatings on substrates may during storage or transportation undergo undesirable changes in their imaging properties. It has been found that acceptable properties can be restored by carrying out a heat treatment which involves a relatively short heating stage followed by accelerated cooling.

Abstract: Positive-working thermally imageable elements, useful as printing plate precursors and having reduced ablation when thermally imaged, and methods for their preparation are disclosed. In one aspect, the elements contain a hydrophilic substrate, an underlayer, a barrier layer, and a top layer. The underlayer comprises a photothermal conversion material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording material onto which images can be recorded with an infrared ray, the material comprising an infrared absorbent (A), a radical-generating agent (B) and a radically polymerizable compound (C), wherein the infrared absorbent is a cyanine dye in which at least one substituent on a nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring at each end forms a cyclic ring which includes a methine chain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative-working radiation imageable lithographic printing plate precursor, preferably having only two polymeric layers on a support. The first (bottom) layer is composed of oleophilic polymers and a photothermal converter which converts radiation to heat. The second polymeric layer (top) is composed of crosslinked hydrophilic polymers which absorb aqueous fountain solution and repel ink. The oleophilic polymers in the first layer contain functional groups are interlayer chemically bonded to the hydrophilic polymer in the second layer to provide interlayer adhesive bonding between the two layers.

Abstract: A method of graft polymerization which includes a step of forming a polymerization initiating layer in which a polymer having, on a side chain thereof, a crosslinking group and a functional group having polymerization initiating capability is immobilized on a support by a crosslinking reaction, and a step of conatacting a compound having a polymerizable functional group with the polymerization initiating layer, and then bonding the compound to the polymerization initiating layer supplying energy thereto, as well as a hydrophilic member, a printing plate precursor, a pattern forming material, a pattern forming method, a method of producing a particle-adsorbed material, and a method of producing a metal particle-dispersed thin layer film, to which the above-mentioned method of graft polymerization can be applied.

Abstract: There is provided a negative planographic printing plate which can be directly recorded based on digital data from computers and the like, excellent in storage stability, shows no reduction in sensitivity with the lapse of time, and has excellent face flatness. It comprises a substrate having disposed thereon a photosensitive layer which is obtained by applying a photosensitive layer application solution containing an infrared absorber, a compound which generates a radical or acid due to heat, a polymerizable compound or a crosslinking compound, and a silicon-based surfactant such as a siloxane/oxyethylene copolymer and the like, onto the substrate and drying the solution, and which is hardened by exposure to an infrared laser ray.

Abstract: The invention provides novel compounds which show high sensitivity to near-infrared rays in the region of 750-950 nm and, when processed to give films and so forth, undergo only slight discoloration and retain high transparency, hence can be used as near-infrared absorbing materials, together with an intermediate thereof. Thus provided are polymethine compounds of the general formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, R3 represents an alkyl group, which may optionally be substituted, L represents an alkylene group necessary for the formation of a cyclic structure, X represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a substituted amino group, and Z represents an acidic residue, as well as near-infrared absorbing materials comprising the same.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive composition which forms an image without the removal of material, which does not require any developing treatment after the stage of exposure to heat and comprises: (a) a switchable polymer, (b) an IR absorber, (c) a triazine compound, and (d) a novolak resin.

Abstract: A negative-working CTP plate which is superior in resolution and printing resistance of the image area of a press plate is provided, which is obtained by forming a latent image on a heat-sensitive layer in a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate comprising a substrate having a hydrophilic surface and a heat-sensitive layer made of an alkali-soluble polymer formed on the surface of the substrate, using heat generated upon irradiation with laser light, and developing the heat-sensitive layer using an alkaline developing solution. In the heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate comprising a substrate having a hydrophilic surface, and a heat-sensitive layer made of an alkali-soluble polymer formed on the surface of the substrate, an advancing contact angle (&thgr;f1) of the surface of the heat-sensitive layer with water at 25° C. is within a range from 70° to 110°, a receding contact angle (&thgr;b2) of the surface of the heat-sensitive layer with water at 25° C.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate comprises the steps of imagewise exposing, to a laser beam, a PS plate comprising a substrate, a heat-sensitive layer containing at least one light-heat conversion agent and a binder polymer formed on the substrate and a hydrophilic or lipophobic layer applied onto the heat-sensitive layer; and then removing the hydrophilic or lipophobic layer on the laser-exposed area by developing the imagewise exposed printing plate within 120 seconds from the completion of the laser-exposure to thus give a lithographic printing plate, wherein the developing treatment comprises the step of rubbing the exposed printing plate surface with an abrasion means in the absence of any liquid. This method permits the production of a lithographic printing plate without causing any deterioration of the developing properties of the PS plate even when the imagewise exposed PS plate is developed within a short period of time after the completion of the laser-exposure.

Abstract: Imageable articles comprising positive working polymeric coatings on substrates are given a heat treatment as part of their manufacture, notably at a moderate temperature for an extended period. This heat treatment improves the development characteristics of the coatings in use. It has been found that by carrying out the heat treatment on articles wrapped in a water-impermeable material or in a humidity-enhanced oven, development characteristics may be further improved, especially adjacent to the edges of articles. The imageable articles include precursors for lithographic printing plates and for printed circuits.

Abstract: Flexographic printing plates are produced by thermal development by a process in which an imagewise exposed flexographic printing element is developed by heating and removing the softened, unpolymerized parts of the relief-forming layer, the flexographic printing element used comprising an olefin/(meth)acrylate copolymer having an olefin content of from 50 to 94 mol %. The photopolymerizable flexographic printing element comprises an olefin/(meth)acrylate copolymer having a content of from 50 to 94 mol % of olefin monomers, from 6 to 50 mol % of (meth)acrylate monomers and from 0 to 5 mol % of further comonomers. This flexographic printing element is used for the production of flexographic printing plates both by thermal development and by development by means of washout compositions.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed which comprises a hydrophilic support and a coating provided thereon, wherein the coating comprises an infrared light absorbing cyanine dye, the dye containing a bridged methine chain and from three to five groups which are anionic or which become anionic in an aqueous alkaline solution having a pH of at least 9. Such dyes provide high sensitivity and low dye stain after processing.

Abstract: A direct-to-plate method for obtaining a high quality lithographic printing plate is disclosed. The method comprises the application of a continuous layer of a radiation sensitive solution onto a lithographic substrate by means of an ink-jet printhead. Hereby waste of coating solution and contamination of the environment are avoided.

Abstract: A negative-working heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor, comprising a substrate having a water-receptive surface which has provided thereon sequentially: (1) a thermal cross-linking layer comprising an aqueous alkali-soluble resin having aromatic hydroxyl groups, a cross-linking agent capable of cross-linking the resin by heating in the presence of an acid catalyst and an acid generator; and (2) a water-soluble overcoat layer; wherein at least one layer of the overcoat layer and the thermal cross-linking layer comprise a compound capable of converting light into heat.

Abstract: The invention provides a heat developable photosensitive material including a substrate, and at least one constituent layer which contains a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent for thermal developing and a binder. The material includes at least one reducing agent that does not form a dye at the time of thermal developing and at least one reducing forming a dye at the time of thermal developing, and the dye-forming reducing agent is more active than the reducing agent that does not form a dye at the time of thermal developing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat mode-compatible planographic printing plate comprising a photosensitive layer which is capable of recording with an infrared laser and formed by applying a photosensitive layer coating solution onto a hydrophilic support and then drying the photosensitive layer coating solution, the photosensitive layer coating solution being obtained by dissolving or dispersing I) an IR absorber, II) a polymerization initiator, and III) a compound having a polymerizable unsaturated group in a solvent, wherein the residual solvent in the photosensitive layer is 5% by weight or less relative to the weight of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A laser imageable article includes an imageable layer that comprises the reaction product of a metal precursor and a reactant. The imageable article also includes a first boundary layer on a first side of the imageable layer, the first boundary layer being substantially transparent to laser radiation, and a second boundary layer on a second side of the imageable layer. The imageable layer may be imaged with a laser through the first boundary layer while maintaining the continuity of the first boundary layer. In a preferred embodiment, the imageable layer comprises the reaction product of an ion of one or more metals selected from columns 8, 9, and 10 of the periodic table of elements and a reducing agent selected from hypophosphorus acid and salts thereof, sodium borohydride, and dimethylamine borane. One preferred embodiment of the imageable layer comprises from 1 to 30 mole percent phosphorus and up to 99 mole percent nickel.