JPH09325499A - Sensitive material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To expand heat development temperature latitude of a sensitive material. SOLUTION: This sensitive material is constituted in such a manner that a hardening layer 2 containing polymerized compound or cross linking polymer, a sensitive layer 3 containing silver halide, a picture image formation promotion layer 4 containing base or base precursor and hydrophilic polymer, and an overcoat layer 5 containing hydrophilic polymer are provided sequentially on a support body 1 and contains reducing agent further. In this case, polyvinyl alcohol having saponification degree of less than 90% or hydrophilic polymer other than polyvinyl alcohol is used as hydrophilic polymer contained in the picture image formation promotion layer 4, and polyvinyl alcohol having saponification degree of 90% or more is used as hydrophilic polymer contained in the overcoat layer 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a photosensitive material in which a curable layer, a photosensitive layer, an image formation promoting layer and an overcoat layer are sequentially provided on a support.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A method of forming a polymer image by imagewise exposing a light-sensitive material containing a silver halide, a reducing agent and a polymerizable compound to develop the silver halide and thereby polymerizing the polymerizable compound in an image form. However, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 3-12307 and 3-12308 (US Pat. No. 46296)
76 and European Patent No. 0174634). In this method, the polymerization is initiated by an oxidant radical of a reducing agent that has reduced silver halide (which may be a radical generated by decomposition of an oxidant of the reducing agent; hereinafter, simply referred to as an oxidant radical). . A base or a base precursor is generally added to this photosensitive material as a development accelerator.

Further, a light-sensitive material suitable for producing a printing plate using this image forming method is disclosed in JP-A-64-17047 (US Pat. No. 4,985,339 and European Patent Publication No. 0298522A), JP-A No. 5-2496
67 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,443 and European Patent Publication No. 0426192A) and JP-A-4
No. 191856 (US Pat. No. 5,290,659). Further, an image forming method suitable for producing a color proof is described in JP-A-4-338955. Crosslinkable polymers may be used in addition to or in place of the polymerizable compounds in the production of printing plates or color proofs. In addition, the photosensitive material used for such image formation is often provided with a photosensitive layer containing a silver halide and a curable layer containing a polymerizable compound separately.
Further, the photosensitive material may be provided with an image formation promoting layer containing a base or a base precursor.

The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-191856 (US Pat. No. 5,290,659) describes various layer constitutions of a photosensitive material having three or more functional layers on a support with reference to the drawings. . For example, the second
In FIG. C, an undercoat layer, a polymerized layer (curable layer), a first intermediate layer, a photosensitive layer (photosensitive layer), a second intermediate layer, on a support,
A light-sensitive material in which an image formation promoting layer and an overcoat layer are sequentially provided is disclosed. As described in the publication, the image formation promoting layer and the overcoat layer are generally hydrophilic layers containing a hydrophilic polymer. As the hydrophilic polymer used in the image formation promoting layer and the overcoat layer, polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of preferably 70% or more, more preferably 85% or more, still more preferably 95% or more is used.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
When a light-sensitive material described in JP-A-191856 (US Pat. No. 5,290,659) in which an image formation accelerating layer and an overcoat layer were separated was studied, the effect of separating these layers was not recognized. .
That is, even if the image formation promoting layer and the overcoat layer were separated, the manufacturing process of the photosensitive material was increased by one and there was no particular effect on the image formed (see Comparative Example 2 of the present specification). .

On the other hand, the photosensitive material has a problem that the heat development temperature for obtaining a good image is limited to a very narrow temperature range (the temperature latitude of the heat development is narrow). That is, if the heating temperature is low, the thermal development is not sufficiently performed and the development becomes insufficient. On the contrary, if the heating temperature is high, the fogging development proceeds to the non-image area. The temperature range of heat development that can be actually used is very narrow, and is limited to a range of only a few degrees Celsius (2 to 3 degrees Celsius). Therefore, a heating device capable of extremely precise temperature control is required. However, although such a control device is possible in the experimental stage, it is difficult or very expensive to implement in the practical stage. The expansion of the temperature latitude of heat development is an important issue to be solved in order to put the photosensitive material into practical use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light-sensitive material having a wide temperature latitude of heat development and capable of carrying out heat development stably and with good reproducibility over a wide temperature range.

[0008]

The above objects have been achieved by the following light-sensitive materials (1) to (4). (1) A curable layer containing a polymerizable compound or a crosslinkable polymer, a photosensitive layer containing silver halide, an image formation promoting layer containing a base or a base precursor and a hydrophilic polymer, and a hydrophilic polymer on a support. In the light-sensitive material, further comprising an overcoat layer containing a reducing agent, wherein the hydrophilic polymer contained in the image formation promoting layer is polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of less than 90%, or other than polyvinyl alcohol. A photosensitive material, which is a hydrophilic polymer and wherein the hydrophilic polymer contained in the overcoat layer is polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 90% or more.

(2) The photosensitive material according to (1), wherein the polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 90% or more contained in the overcoat layer has an acid residue or a salt of an acid residue. (3) The light-sensitive material according to (1), wherein the image formation promoting layer contains a base or a base precursor in an amount of 0.1 to 0.5 g / m ² . (4) The photosensitive material according to (1), wherein the overcoat layer has a layer thickness of 1 to 10 μm. In addition, as defined in the above (2), "polyvinyl alcohol" in the present specification includes modified polyvinyl alcohol such as acid modification.

[0010]

According to the study of the present inventors, the image formation promoting layer and the overcoat layer are separated, and
When the hydrophilic polymer uses polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of less than 90% or a hydrophilic polymer other than polyvinyl alcohol as a binder, and polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 90% or more is used as a binder in the overcoat layer, It has been found that the latitude of the heat development temperature of the light-sensitive material is improved. As previously mentioned,
Simply separating the image formation accelerating layer and the overcoat layer does not produce any effect, but when the optimum binders for each layer are used separately, the function of each layer is improved and good results are obtained. It was Specifically, polyvinyl alcohol having a high degree of saponification and having an oxygen blocking effect is most suitable for the overcoat layer. Since oxygen has a polymerization inhibitory action, if oxygen in the air penetrates the curable layer,
The strength of the cured part is insufficient.

On the other hand, in polyvinyl alcohol having a high degree of saponification, the substance hardly diffuses. Therefore, when polyvinyl alcohol having a high degree of saponification is used in the image formation promoting layer, the diffusion of the base (or the base generated from the base precursor) into the photosensitive layer is delayed. Therefore, in the past, a relatively large amount of base or base precursor was used to compensate for the diffusion delay. However, if a large amount of base or base precursor is used, fog is likely to occur in the non-image area.
In the present invention, a low-saponification degree polyvinyl alcohol or a hydrophilic polymer other than polyvinyl alcohol is used as a binder for the image formation promoting layer, whereby the base diffuses rapidly into the photosensitive layer. Therefore, in the present invention, a clear image can be formed even if a relatively small amount (0.5 g / m ² or less) of a base or a base precursor is used.
It should be noted that there is substantially no polymer having a stronger oxygen blocking action (and a substance diffusion inhibiting action) than polyvinyl alcohol having a high saponification degree. Therefore, if it is a hydrophilic polymer other than polyvinyl alcohol having a high degree of saponification,
It can be used as a binder of the image formation promoting layer of the present invention without particular limitation.

As a result of the above improvements, in the light-sensitive material of the present invention, the heating temperature range where a clear image can be obtained is expanded.
That is, even at a relatively low heat development temperature, the base rapidly diffuses into the photosensitive layer and the polymerization inhibition effect of oxygen is prevented, so that an image forming reaction (developing silver halide and a polymerizable compound or a crosslinking compound) is performed. (Curing of the organic polymer) sufficiently progresses. Further, even at a relatively high heat development temperature, it is not necessary to use a large amount of a base or a base precursor, so that the occurrence of non-image fog is prevented.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[Polyvinyl alcohol having a high degree of saponification] Polyvinyl alcohol used as a binder for the overcoat layer is
It has a saponification degree of 90% or more. The saponification degree is preferably 92% or more, more preferably 94% or more, and most preferably 96% or more. The polyvinyl alcohol having a high degree of saponification preferably has an acid residue or a salt of an acid residue in the molecule. The acid residue means an anionic group capable of releasing a proton.
Examples of the acid constituting the acid residue include carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid and phosphoric acid. The acid residue is
It may form a salt with a cation. As the cation, a metal ion is preferable, and an alkali metal ion such as sodium ion is particularly preferable. The modified polyvinyl alcohol is more stable as a molecular structure when the acid residue is in a salt state than in a free state. In the step of producing polyvinyl alcohol, the acid residue or the salt of the acid residue as described above can be introduced into the molecule of polyvinyl alcohol. That is, this polyvinyl alcohol is a modified polyvinyl alcohol (modified Poval).
Is a kind of The modified poval is described in "Poval (revised edition)" (Kobunshi Kogyokai), pages 280-285.

Conventional polyvinyl alcohol is generally produced by saponifying polyvinyl acetate. The acid residue can be introduced by two methods: (1) copolymerization modification in the production of polyvinyl acetate and (2) post-modification after the production of ordinary polyvinyl alcohol. In the copolymerization modification of (1), vinyl acetate is copolymerized with an organic acid having an ethylenically unsaturated group (or a derivative thereof). Examples of the ethylenically unsaturated organic acid may include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and styrene sulfonic acid. The organic acid derivative means any state of salt, ester, amide or acid anhydride. For example, ethylenically unsaturated organic acid amides such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, and N, N-dimethylacrylamide can also be used. Polyvinyl alcohol having an acid residue is produced by saponifying a copolymer of vinyl acetate and an ethylenically unsaturated organic acid in the same manner as ordinary polyvinyl alcohol. When the organic acid is in the state of ester, amide or acid anhydride, hydrolysis occurs in this saponification treatment, and an acid residue is produced from the bond of ester, amide or acid anhydride.

In the post-modification of (2), a difunctional or higher functional acid (dibasic acid, tribasic acid, tetrabasic acid) is reacted with the hydroxyl group of polyvinyl alcohol. As a result, one of the plurality of functional groups of the acid is ester-bonded with the hydroxyl group, and the remaining acid functional group is in a free state. As the acid, a bifunctional or higher functional carboxylic acid (dicarboxylic acid, tricarboxylic acid, tetracarboxylic acid) is preferable. A difunctional or higher functional carboxylic acid can be used in the anhydrous state. For example, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, trimellitic anhydride, succinic anhydride, adipic anhydride and itaconic anhydride can be used. The acid-modified polyvinyl alcohol is effective in the present invention regardless of the method (1) or (2). However, the post-modification of (2) is easier to manufacture or obtain a commercial product. The modified polyvinyl alcohol preferably has a molecular weight of 3000 to 500,000.
A unit of vinyl acetate may remain in the modified polyvinyl alcohol. That is, the degree of saponification is 100%
Does not have to be. Further, it is difficult to produce polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 100%. However, as described above, the saponification degree is 90% or more, preferably 92% or more, more preferably 94% or more, and most preferably 96% or more. As described above, the acid-modified polyvinyl alcohol is generally (A)
It is a copolymer composed of three types of units, a vinyl acetate unit, a (B) vinyl alcohol unit, and a (C) acid residue unit. The arrangement of each unit in the copolymer may be a graft, but is preferably random. A preferable example of each unit is represented by the following formula.

[0016]

Embedded image

The above formula (A) means a vinyl acetate unit. l is 10% or less, preferably 8% or less, more preferably 6% or less, and most preferably 4% or less of the sum (polymerization degree) of l + m + n1 (or n2). The vinyl acetate unit (A) does not have to be present (l is 0). Formula (B) means a unit of vinyl alcohol. Formula (C1) is a unit of an acid residue introduced by the copolymerization modification of the above (1). In formula (C1),
R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a carboxylic acid group or a salt thereof. R'is a hydrogen atom or a carboxylic acid group or a salt thereof. The alkyl group is preferably a lower alkyl group having 6 or less carbon atoms, and particularly preferably methyl. Link ¹ is a q + 1 valent linking group. The linking group is preferably a hydrocarbon residue. p is 0 or 1. p = 0, that is, the linking group may not be present. q is a natural number and is generally 1 or 2. Acid
¹ is an acid residue (eg, carboxylic acid group, sulfonic acid group, phosphoric acid group). M ¹ is a cation. The cation is preferably a proton or an alkali metal ion. n1 is the sum (polymerization degree) of l + m + n1,
It is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10%, and 0.5
It is more preferable that the range is from 8% to 8%. Specific examples of the modified polyvinyl alcohol produced by the copolymerization modification of (1) will be given below with reference to the above formulas (A), (B) and (C1).

[0018]

[Table 1]

The formula (C2) is a unit of acid residue introduced by the post-modification of (2). In Formula (C2), Link ² is a s + 1-valent linking group. The linking group is preferably a hydrocarbon residue. r is 0 or 1. r = 0, that is, no linking group is required. s is a natural number, generally 1 or 2. Acid ² is an acid residue (eg, carboxylic acid group, sulfonic acid group, phosphoric acid group). M ² is a cation. The cation is preferably a proton or an alkali metal ion. n2
Is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10% with respect to the sum (polymerization degree) of l + m + n2, and is 0.5 to 8%.
It is more preferable that the range is Specific examples of the modified polyvinyl alcohol produced by the post-modification of (2) will be given below with reference to the above formulas (A), (B) and (C2).

[0020]

[Table 2]

A commercially available product may be used as the acid-modified polyvinyl alcohol having a high degree of saponification. Examples of commercially available products include
Kuraray Poval KM-118, KL-118, KL-3
18, KL-506, KM-618 (Kuraray Co., Ltd.)
Manufactured by Japan Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.). You may use together two or more types of highly saponified polyvinyl alcohol. The amount of polyvinyl alcohol with a high degree of saponification is
The coating amount in the overcoat layer is 0.05 to 20 g /
The range is preferably m ² and is 0.1 to 10 g /
More preferably, it is in the range of m ² .

[Low Saponification Degree Polyvinyl Alcohol and Other Hydrophilic Polymers] As the binder for the image formation promoting layer, polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of less than 90% or a hydrophilic polymer other than polyvinyl alcohol is used. When polyvinyl alcohol is used, the saponification degree is preferably 50% or more and less than 88%, and 6
More preferably 0% or more and less than 86%, 70
% And less than 84% is most preferable. Copolymer modified polyvinyl alcohol can also be used. The copolymerization modification is
By saponifying the copolymer of vinyl acetate and other monomers,
This is a method of synthesizing modified polyvinyl alcohol. Examples of copolymerizable monomers include ethylene, higher vinyl carboxylates, higher alkyl vinyl ethers, methyl methacrylate and acrylamide.
Also, post-modified polyvinyl alcohol can be used.
The post-modification is a method in which a compound having reactivity with a hydroxyl group of polyvinyl alcohol is used and then modified by a polymer reaction after the synthesis of polyvinyl alcohol. Specifically, the hydroxyl group of polyvinyl alcohol is modified by etherification, esterification or acetalization.
Furthermore, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol can also be used. As the crosslinking agent, an aldehyde, a methylol compound, an epoxy compound, a diisocyanate, a divinyl compound, a dicarboxylic acid or an inorganic crosslinking agent (eg boric acid, titanium, copper) can be used.

A hydrophilic polymer (other than polyvinyl alcohol) is a polymer compound having a hydrophilic group or a hydrophilic bond in its molecular structure. Examples of the hydrophilic group include carboxyl, alcoholic hydroxyl group, phenolic hydroxyl group, sulfo, sulfonamide group, sulfonimide and amide. Examples of the hydrophilic bond include a urethane bond, an ether bond, and an amide bond. It is preferable to use a water-soluble polymer or a water-swellable polymer as the hydrophilic polymer.
A water-swellable polymer has an affinity for water,
It does not completely dissolve in water due to the crosslinked structure of the polymer. As the water-soluble or water-swellable polymer, natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic polymer compounds can be used. Regarding the hydrophilic polymer, JP-A-5-2496
No. 67 publication. The hydrophilic polymer used in the image formation promoting layer preferably has a molecular weight of 3,000 to 500,000. The amount of the hydrophilic polymer used in the image formation promoting layer is preferably 0.05 to 20 g / m ² .
It is more preferably 0.1 to 10 g / m ² .

The layer structure of the photosensitive material, the components of each layer and the image forming method using the photosensitive material will be described below. [Layer Structure of Photosensitive Material] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing the layer structure of the photosensitive material of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive material of the present invention comprises a support (1), a curable layer (2), a photosensitive layer (3), an image formation promoting layer (4) and an overcoat layer (5) on a support (1). Are provided in sequence. Curable layer (2)
Includes a polymerizable compound or a crosslinkable polymer. The photosensitive layer (3) contains silver halide. The imaging promotion layer (4) comprises a base or base precursor and the low saponification degree polyvinyl alcohol or other hydrophilic polymer described above. The overcoat layer contains the polyvinyl alcohol having a high saponification degree. Although the reducing agent can be added to any layer, it is preferably added to the curable layer or the photosensitive layer, and more preferably added to the photosensitive layer. Further, the photosensitive material may be provided with another functional layer, an undercoat layer or an intermediate layer. Other functional layers include
An adhesive layer and a release layer are included.

[Curable Layer] The curable layer contains a polymerizable compound or a crosslinkable polymer. The curable layer is cured by polymerizing or crosslinking a polymerizable compound. The thickness of the curable layer is
The thickness is preferably 0.1 to 20 μm, more preferably 0.3 to 7 μm.

[Photosensitive Layer] The photosensitive layer contains silver halide and generates radicals by imagewise exposure and thermal development. The generated radicals diffuse and enter the curable layer to cure the curable layer. The thickness of the photosensitive layer is 0.1 to 2
The thickness is preferably 0 μm, more preferably 0.5 to 10 μm.

[Image formation promoting layer] The image forming promoting layer contains a base or a base precursor and has a function of promoting an image forming reaction. A component other than a base or a base precursor that promotes image formation (eg, a reducing agent, a thermal development accelerator) may be added to the image formation promoting layer. In the present invention, the thickness of the image formation promoting layer is preferably 0.3 to 5 μm, and more preferably 0.5 to 2 μm.

[Overcoat Layer] The overcoat layer has a function of protecting the light-sensitive material and preventing the ingress of oxygen in the air to enhance the curing degree of the curable layer. The overcoat layer may further contain a matting agent.
The matting agent reduces the tackiness of the surface of the photosensitive material and prevents adhesion when the photosensitive materials are stacked. In the present invention, the thickness of the overcoat layer is preferably 1 to 10 μm, more preferably 2 to 5 μm. If the thickness of the overcoat layer is reduced (10 μm or less),
It is possible to prevent the generation of bubbles due to the gas generated in the image forming reaction (for example, carbon dioxide generated by the decomposition reaction of the base precursor). The light-sensitive material of the present invention is
Between the image formation promoting layer and the overcoat layer

[Adhesive Layer] When an image is formed using toner, an adhesive layer can be provided on the photosensitive material. The adhesive layer is made of an adhesive polymer to which toner can be attached. As the polymer, natural or synthetic rubber is preferable. Examples of synthetic rubbers include isobutylene rubber, nitrile rubber, butyl rubber, chlorinated rubber, polyvinyl isobutyl ether, silicone elastomer, neoprene and copolymer rubber (eg, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isobutylene copolymer). When the synthetic rubber is a copolymer, the copolymerization method may be random, block or graft copolymerization. The thickness of the adhesive layer is preferably 0.01 to 10 μm, more preferably 0.05 to 5 μm.

[Peeling Layer] When an image is formed by transfer, a peeling layer can be provided on the photosensitive material. The peeling layer is easy to peel from the support and is non-tacky at room temperature, but exhibits tackiness or fusion property when heated. The release layer is
It includes an organic polymer (eg, polyvinyl acetal resin, amide resin) as a matrix. The flow softening point of the polymer used as the matrix is preferably equal to or higher than the heating temperature required for the reduction reaction of the reducing agent. The release layer preferably further contains 1% by weight or more of a fluorine-containing compound. As the fluorine-containing compound, a fluorine-containing surfactant can be preferably used. The thickness of the release layer is preferably 1.0 μm or more, and 1.4 μm
More preferably, it is the above.

[Intermediate Layer] An intermediate layer can be provided between the layers. The intermediate layer can also function as an antihalation layer or a barrier layer. The barrier layer has a function of preventing components from moving between layers and diffusing or mixing during storage of the light-sensitive material. The material of the intermediate layer is determined according to the application. You may use the hydrophilic polymer used for a photosensitive layer and an overcoat layer. The thickness of the intermediate layer is preferably 10 μm or less.

[Support] As the material of the support, paper, synthetic paper, synthetic resin (eg, polyethylene, polypropylene,
Polystyrene laminated paper, plastic film (eg polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyimide, nylon, cellulose triacetate), metal plate (eg aluminum, aluminum alloy,
Zinc, iron, copper), paper or plastic film in which these metals are laminated or vapor-deposited can be used. When the light-sensitive material is used for producing a lithographic printing plate, preferable support materials are aluminum plate, polyethylene terephthalate film, polycarbonate film, paper and synthetic paper. A composite sheet in which an aluminum sheet is laminated on a polyethylene terephthalate film is also preferable.

The case where an aluminum plate is used as the support will be described below. The aluminum support is subjected to surface treatment such as surface roughening treatment (graining treatment) or surface hydrophilization treatment, if necessary. The surface roughening treatment is performed by an electrochemical graining method (for example, a method in which a current is applied to an aluminum plate in a hydrochloric acid or nitric acid electrolytic solution to grain the grain) and / or a mechanical graining method. (For example, a wire brush grain method of scratching an aluminum surface with a metal wire, a ball grain method of sanding the aluminum surface with a polishing ball and an abrasive, and a brush grain method of sanding the surface with a nylon brush and an abrasive. Law).

Next, the grained aluminum plate is chemically etched with an acid or an alkali. An industrially advantageous method is etching using an alkali. Examples of alkaline agents include sodium carbonate, sodium aluminate, sodium metasilicate, sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide. The concentration of the alkaline solution is preferably in the range of 1 to 50% by weight. The temperature of alkali treatment is preferably in the range of 20 to 100 ° C. Furthermore, it is preferable to adjust the treatment conditions so that the amount of aluminum dissolved is 5 to 20 g / m ² . Usually, after alkaline etching, the aluminum plate is washed with acid to remove stains (smuts) left on the surface.
Preferred acids are nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, chromic acid, hydrofluoric acid and borofluoric acid. The smut removal treatment after the electrochemical graining treatment can be carried out by a known method such as a method of contacting with sulfuric acid having a concentration of 15 to 65% by weight at 50 to 90 ° C.

The aluminum plate subjected to the surface roughening treatment as described above can be subjected to an anodic oxidation treatment or a chemical conversion treatment, if necessary. The anodizing treatment can be performed by a known method. Specifically, in an acid solution,
A direct current or an alternating current is applied to the aluminum plate to form an anodized film on the aluminum surface. Examples of acids include sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, chromic acid, oxalic acid, sulfamic acid and benzene sulfonic acid. Anodizing conditions vary depending on the electrolyte solution used. Generally, the concentration of the electrolytic solution is 1 to 80% by weight, the temperature of the electrolytic solution is 5 to 70 ° C., and the current density is 0.5.
It is preferable that the range is from 60 to 60 amps / dm ² , the voltage is from 1 to 100 v, and the electrolysis time is from 10 to 100 seconds. Particularly preferred anodizing methods are a method of anodizing in sulfuric acid at a high current density and a method of anodizing phosphoric acid as an electrolytic bath. After the anodizing treatment, the aluminum plate may be subjected to an alkali metal silicate treatment (for example, a treatment of immersing the aluminum plate in an aqueous sodium silicate solution). An undercoat layer may be provided on the surface of the support in order to improve the adhesion between the aluminum support and the curable layer and the printing characteristics.

[Undercoat layer] As a component constituting the undercoat layer, a polymer (eg, casein, polyvinyl alcohol, ethyl cellulose, phenol resin, styrene-maleic anhydride resin, polyacrylic acid); amine (eg, monoethanolamine, Diethanolamine, triethanolamine, tripropanolamine) and their hydrochlorides; monoaminomonocarboxylic acids (eg oxalates,
Phosphate, aminoacetic acid, alanine); Oxyamino acid (eg, serine, threonine, dihydroxyethylglycine); Sulfur-containing amino acid (eg, cysteine, cystine); Monoaminodicarboxylic acid (eg, aspartic acid, glutamic acid); Diaminomono Carboxylic acid (eg, lysine); Amino acid having aromatic nucleus (eg, p-hydroxyphenylglycine, phenylalanine, anthranil); Aliphatic aminosulfonic acid (eg, sulfamic acid, cyclohexylsulfamic acid); and (poly) aminopolyacetic acid (Eg,
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, iminodiacetic acid, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, hydroxyethylethylenediamineacetic acid, ethylenediaminediacetic acid, cycloethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, glycol etherdiaminetetraacetic acid). It is also possible to use a compound in which some or all of the acid groups of the above compounds are salts (eg, sodium salt, potassium salt, ammonium salt). The above components may be used in combination of two or more.

[Silver Halide] As the silver halide,
Grains of silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide, or silver chlorobromide, silver chloroiodide, silver iodobromide, and silver chloroiodobromide can be used. The shape of the silver halide grains is preferably cubic or tetradecahedral, but not limited to those having a regular crystal form, those having an irregular crystal form, or a composite form thereof. Anomalous crystal forms include potato, spherical, plate and plate crystal forms. In tabular grains, the grain size is generally 5 times or more the grain thickness. There is no particular limitation on the grain size of silver halide. Fine particles of 0.01 μm or less can also be used. On the other hand, large particles of about 10 μm can also be used. Regarding the grain size distribution, monodisperse grains are preferable to polydisperse emulsions. For monodisperse emulsions, see US Pat.
628, 3655394 and British Patent 1413.
No. 748 is described in each specification. The crystal structure of the silver halide grains may be uniform or may have different halogen compositions inside and outside. It may have a layered structure. Further, silver halides having different compositions may be joined by epitaxial joining. Further, it may be bonded to a compound other than silver halide. Examples of compounds other than silver halide include silver rhodanide and lead oxide.

The silver halide grains may contain salts of other elements. Examples of other elements are copper, thallium, lead, bismuth, cadmium, zinc, chalcogens (eg sulfur, selenium, tellurium), gold and VI.
Group II noble metals (eg, rhodium, iridium, iron, platinum, palladium) can be mentioned. Salts of these elements
The silver halide can be added during or after grain formation to be contained in the grains. The specific method is
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1195432, 1951933, 2
No. 448060, No. 2628167, No. 295097
No. 2, 3488709, 3737313, 3
Nos. 772031 and 4269927, and Research Disclosure (RD), Vol. 134,
No. 13452 (June 1975). Iridium ions can be introduced into silver halide grains by adding an aqueous solution of an iridium compound to the emulsion during preparation of the silver halide emulsion. Examples of water-soluble iridium compounds include hexachloroiridium (III) acid salts and hexachloroiridium (IV) acid salts. Similarly, rhodium ions may be introduced into the silver halide grains by adding an aqueous solution of a rhodium compound to the emulsion. Examples of water-soluble rhodium compounds include rhodium ammonium chloride, rhodium trichloride and rhodium chloride.

The iridium compound or rhodium compound may be used by dissolving it in an aqueous solution of a halide for forming silver halide grains. Further, the aqueous solution of the iridium compound or the rhodium compound may be added before the particles are formed or may be added while the particles are formed. Further, it may be added between the grain formation and the chemical sensitization treatment. It is particularly preferred to add it while the particles are being formed. Iridium ion or rhodium ion is preferably used in an amount of 10 ^{−8 to} 10 ⁻³ mol, and more preferably 10 ^{−7 to} 10 ⁻⁵ mol, per mol of silver halide. When the rhodium compound and the iridium compound are used in combination, the use of the former is preferably at a stage before the use of the latter. Two or more kinds of silver halide grains having different halogen compositions, crystal habits and grain sizes may be used in combination. It is preferable to use silver halide as an emulsion. The silver halide emulsion is described in Research Disclosure (RD) No. 17643
(December, 1978), pp. 22-23, "I. Emulsion preparation and types", and No. 2, p.
18716 (November 1979), p. 648.

The silver halide emulsion is usually subjected to chemical sensitization after physical ripening, but chemical sensitization may not be performed.
It is preferred to use silver halide grains having a relatively low fog value. Additives used in such processes are described in Research Disclosure, No. 17643 and N
o. 18716. No. for chemical sensitizers. 17643 (page 23) and No. 18716
(P. 648, right column). Also,
Other known additives are also described in the above two Research Disclosures. For example, regarding the sensitivity enhancer, No. No. 18716 (page 648, right column), No. 1 for the antifoggant and the stabilizer. 17643
(Pages 24 to 25) and No. 18716 (from page 649, right column).

The silver halide emulsion is usually used after spectral sensitization. As the sensitizing dye used in the light-sensitive material, a silver halide sensitizing dye known in photographic technology or the like can be used. Examples of sensitizing dyes include cyanine dyes, merocyanine dyes, complex merocyanine dyes, holopolar cyanine dyes, hemicyanine dyes, styryl dyes, and hemioxonol dyes. Along with the sensitizing dye, a dye having no spectral sensitizing effect or a compound that does not substantially absorb visible light and exhibits supersensitization (supersensitizer) may be added to the emulsion. Good.

[Organic metal salt] In the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive material,
An organic metal salt can be added together with the silver halide. It is particularly preferable to use an organic silver salt as such an organic metal salt. Organic compounds used to form the organic silver salt include triazoles, tetrazoles, imidazoles, indazoles, thiazoles,
Examples thereof include thiadiazoles, azaindenes, and aliphatic, aromatic, or heterocyclic compounds having a mercapto group as a substituent. Further, a silver salt of carboxylic acid or silver acetylene can be used as the organic silver salt. Two or more organic silver salts may be used in combination. The organic silver salt is used in an amount of 10 ^{−5 to} 10 mol, and preferably 10 ⁻⁵ mol, per mol of silver halide.
^{-4 to} 1 mol are used. Also, instead of organic silver salts,
The organic compound constituting the compound may be added to the photosensitive layer and partially reacted with silver halide in the photosensitive layer to be converted to an organic silver salt.

[Reducing Agent] The reducing agent has a function of reducing silver halide or a function of accelerating (or suppressing) the polymerization of the polymerizable compound. There are various kinds of substances as the reducing agent having the above function. The reducing agent includes hydroquinones, catechols, p-aminophenols,
p-phenylenediamines, 3-pyrazolidones, 3-
Aminopyrazoles, 4-amino-5-pyrazolones,
5-aminouracils, 4,5-dihydroxy-6-aminopyrimidines, reductones, aminoreductones, o- or p-sulfonamidophenols, o-
Or p-sulfonamidonaphthols, 2,4-disulfonamidophenols, 2,4-disulfonamidonaphthols, o- or p-acylaminophenols, 2-sulfonamidoindanones, 4-sulfonamido-5 -Pyrazolones, 3-sulfonamidoindoles, sulfonamidopyrazolobenzimidazoles,
Included are sulfonamide pyrazolotriazoles, α-sulfonamido ketones and hydrazines.

The above reducing agents are disclosed in JP-A-61-18364.
No. 0, No. 61-188535, No. 61-228441
No. 62-70836, No. 62-86354, No. 62-86355, No. 62-206540, No. 62
-264404, 62-10937, 63-
254442, JP-A-1-267536 and 2-1
41756, 2-141775, 2-2072
No. 54, No. 2-262662 and No. 2-269352 (including those described as developing agents or hydrazine derivatives). For the reducing agent, see “The Theory of the Photographic Pro” by T. James.
cess "4th edition, pp. 291-334 (1977), Research Disclosure, Vol. 170, No. 1702
No. 9, pp. 9-15 (June 1978), and ibid.
Vol.176, No.17643, pp.22-31, (197
(December 2008). Also, JP-A-62-210
As in the light-sensitive material described in Japanese Patent No. 446, a reducing agent precursor that releases the reducing agent under heating conditions, contact with a base, or the like may be used instead of the reducing agent.

Among these reducing agents, those having a basicity to form a salt with an acid can also be used in the form of a salt with a suitable acid. These reducing agents may be used alone, or as described in the above publications, two or more reducing agents may be used in combination. When two or more reducing agents are used in combination, the reducing agents interact firstly by promoting the reduction of silver halide (and / or organic silver salt) by so-called super-additivity. Causing polymerization of a polymerizable compound through an oxidation-reduction reaction with another reducing agent in which an oxidized form of a first reducing agent formed by reduction of silver halide (and / or an organic silver salt) coexists. (Or to inhibit polymerization). However,
In actual use, since the above-mentioned reactions can occur simultaneously, it is difficult to specify which action it is. The reducing agent is preferably used in the range of 0.1 to 10 mol, more preferably 0.25 to 2.5 mol, per 1 mol of silver halide. By adjusting the type and amount of the reducing agent, it is possible to selectively polymerize the polymerizable compound in any portion of the silver halide latent image formed portion and the latent image not formed portion. .. The reducing agent develops the silver halide and oxidizes itself to an oxidized form. When the oxidized form of this reducing agent is decomposed in the layer to generate radicals,
Polymerization occurs in the portion where the silver halide latent image is formed. Examples of such reducing agents include hydrazines. On the other hand, when the oxidant does not generate (or hardly generates) a radical and the reducing agent itself or the oxidant has a polymerization suppressing function, the polymerization initiator (radical generating agent) is included together with the reducing agent to form a halogen. The part where the latent image of silver halide is not formed (when the oxidized product has a stronger polymerization suppressing function than the reducing agent) or the portion where the latent image is formed (the reducing agent has a more polymerization suppressing function than the oxidized product) If strong) polymerization occurs. Examples of the reducing agent having the above functions include 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidones and hydroquinones. In this case, it is necessary to add a thermal polymerization initiator or a photopolymerization initiator as described below to the photosensitive material.

[Polymerization Initiator] The thermal polymerization initiator is a compound capable of decomposing upon heating to generate free radicals which can be added to the polymerizable compound or the crosslinkable polymer. The thermal polymerization initiator is described in “Addition Polymerization / Ring-Opening Polymerization” (edited by the Society of Polymer Science, Editing Committee for Polymer Experiments) (1983,
Kyoritsu Shuppan), pages 6-18 and JP-A-61-2344.
No. 9 describes this. Examples of the thermal polymerization initiator include azo compounds (eg, azobis (isobutyronitrile), 1,
1'-azobis (1-cyclohexanecarbonitrile)
And peroxides. Photopolymerization initiators are compounds that can generate free radicals that can be added to a polymerizable compound or a crosslinkable polymer upon exposure. Regarding the photopolymerization initiator, Oster et al. “Chem
ical Review, Vol. 68 (1968), 125-15
Page 1, Kosar, "Light-Sensitive System" (John Wil
ey & Sons, 1965), pp. 158-193, JP-A-6
These are described in JP-A-1-75342 and JP-A-2-207254. Examples of the photopolymerization initiator include a carbonyl compound, a halogen-containing compound, a redox couple of a photoreducing dye and a reducing agent, an organic sulfur compound, a peroxide, an optical semiconductor, and a metal compound.
The polymerization initiator is preferably used in the range of 0.001 to 0.5 g, and more preferably 0.01 to 0.2 g, per 1 g of the polymerizable compound.

[Polymerizable Compound] As the polymerizable compound,
A compound capable of undergoing addition polymerization by a free radical, particularly a compound (monomer or oligomer) having an ethylenically unsaturated group is used. The polymerizable compound is described in JP-A-5-249667. Examples of the compound having an ethylenically unsaturated group include acrylic acid and salts thereof, acrylic esters, acrylamides, methacrylic acid and salts thereof, methacrylic esters, methacrylamides, maleic anhydride, maleic esters , Itaconic esters, styrenes, vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, N-vinyl heterocycles, allyl ethers, allyl esters and derivatives thereof. Acrylic esters or methacrylic esters are preferred. Specific examples of the acrylates include pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate,
Mention may be made of dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, polyester acrylates and polyurethane acrylates. The polymerizable compound is contained in the curable layer in an amount of preferably 3 to 90% by weight, more preferably 15 to 60% by weight, based on the total amount of the layer. Two or more polymerizable compounds may be used in combination.

[Polymer contained in curable layer] It is preferable to add a polymer as a binder to the curable layer. The polymer may or may not have crosslinkability. As the crosslinkable polymer, a polymer having an ethylenically unsaturated group in the main chain or side chain of the molecule is preferably used. The crosslinkable polymer may be a copolymer. Examples of polymers having an ethylenically unsaturated group in the main chain of the molecule include poly-1,4-butadiene, poly-1,4-isoprene, natural and synthetic rubbers. Examples of polymers having an ethylenically unsaturated group in the side chain of the molecule include poly-1,2-butadiene and poly-1,2-isoprene.

Further, a polymer of an ester or amide of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, to which a specific residue (R group of --COOR or --CONHR) is bonded, can be used as the crosslinkable polymer. Examples of the specific residue (R group) include-(CH ₂ ) _n -CR ² = CR ³ R
⁴ ,-(CH ₂ O) _n -CH ₂ CR ² = CR ³ R ⁴ ,-(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) _n -CH ₂ CR ² = CR ³
R ⁴ ,-(CH ₂ ) _n -NH-CO-O-CH ₂ CR ² = CR ³ R ⁴ ,-(CH ₂ ) _n -O-CO-CR ²
= CR ³ R ⁴ and-(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) ₂ -X (R ^{1 to} R ⁴ are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, or aryl. Is an oxy group, R ² and R ³ or R ⁴ may combine with each other to form a ring, n is an integer of 1 to 10, and X is a dicyclopentadienyl residue). Can be mentioned. Specific examples of the ester residue, -CH ₂ CH = CH ₂ (JP 64-17
047 JP allyl (meth) corresponding to the polymer of the _{acrylate), - CH 2 CH 2 O} -CH 2 CH = CH 2, -CH 2 C (CH 3) = CH 2,
-CH ₂ CH = CH-C ₆ H ₅ , -CH ₂ CH ₂ OCOCH = CH-C ₆ H ₅ , -CH ₂ CH ₂ -NHCO
O-CH ₂ CH = CH ₂ and -CH ₂ CH ₂ OX (X is a dicyclopentadienyl residue) are included. Specific examples of amide residues include -C
H ₂ CH = CH ₂ , -CH ₂ CH ₂ -1-Y (Y is a cyclohexene residue) and -CH ₂ CH ₂ -OCO-CH = CH ₂ are included.

In the crosslinkable polymer as described above, free radicals (polymerization initiation radicals or growing radicals during the polymerization process of the polymerizable compound) are added to its unsaturated bond group to directly polymerize or polymerize the polymerizable compound. Addition polymerization is carried out through chains, and crosslinks are formed between polymer molecules to cure. Alternatively, atoms in the polymer (eg, hydrogen atoms on the carbon atom adjacent to the unsaturated bond group) are abstracted by free radicals to form polymer radicals, which bond to each other to form crosslinks between polymer molecules. Is cured.

Examples of non-crosslinkable polymers (polymers which are not crosslinkable or weakly crosslinkable) are polyacrylic acid ester, polymethacrylic acid ester, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylonitrile, Polymethacrylonitrile, polyethylene,
Polyvinyl pyridine, polyvinyl imidazole, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, chlorinated polyethylene, chlorine polypropylene,
Polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, polycarbonate, ethyl cellulose, triacetyl cellulose,
Mention may be made of diacetyl cellulose and cellulose acetate butyrate. Of these repeating units of the polymer, those which can be copolymerized can be arbitrarily combined and used as a copolymer. Examples of specific binders include addition polymerization type synthetic homopolymers and copolymers (eg, homopolymers and copolymers of various vinyl monomers), polycondensation type synthetic homopolymers and copolymers (eg, polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, Polyester-polyamide).

When the uncured curable layer is eluted and removed with an alkaline aqueous solution after curing, the (crosslinkable or non-crosslinkable) polymer used for the curable layer may have an acidic functional group in its molecule. preferable. Examples of the acidic functional group include a carboxyl group, an acid anhydride group, a phenolic hydroxyl group, a sulfonic acid group, a sulfonamide group and a sulfonimide group. Specifically, monomers of (meth) acrylic acid, styrene sulfonic acid or maleic anhydride can be copolymerized at the time of synthesizing the above-mentioned polymer to incorporate these acidic groups into the polymer of the curable layer. The molar content of the monomer having an acidic group in the copolymer is preferably 1 to 60%, more preferably 5 to 40%. The polymer of the curable layer is most preferably a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing the above-mentioned monomer having a crosslinkable group and a monomer having an acidic functional group. The molecular weight of the polymer of the curable layer is preferably in the range of 1,000 to 500,000.
You may use together 2 or more types of polymers. The content of the polymer in the curable layer is 10 to 90% by weight based on the whole curable layer.
Is preferable, and more preferably 30 to 80% by weight.

[Hydrophilic Polymer] The hydrophilic layer such as the photosensitive layer, the image formation promoting layer and the overcoat layer contains a hydrophilic polymer as a binder. Regarding the hydrophilic polymer used for the image formation promoting layer and the overcoat layer,
As described above. The hydrophilic polymer used in the photosensitive layer is a polymer compound having a hydrophilic group or a hydrophilic bond in the molecular structure. Examples of the hydrophilic group include carboxyl, alcoholic hydroxyl group, phenolic hydroxyl group, sulfo, sulfonamide group, sulfonimide and amide. Examples of the hydrophilic bond include a urethane bond, an ether bond, and an amide bond. It is preferable to use a water-soluble polymer or a water-swellable polymer as the hydrophilic polymer. What is a water-swellable polymer?
It has an affinity for water, but does not completely dissolve in water due to the crosslinked structure of the polymer. As the water-soluble or water-swellable polymer, natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic polymer compounds can be used. The hydrophilic polymer is described in JP-A-5-249667. Polyvinyl alcohol is a particularly preferred hydrophilic polymer. Polyvinyl alcohol having various degrees of saponification can be used. However, in order to reduce the oxygen transmittance, it is preferable that the saponification degree is 50% or more,
It is more preferable to set it to 80% or more.

Copolymer modified polyvinyl alcohol can also be used. Copolymerization modification is a method of synthesizing modified polyvinyl alcohol by saponifying a copolymer of vinyl acetate and another monomer. Examples of copolymerizable monomers include ethylene, higher vinyl carboxylates, higher alkyl vinyl ethers, methyl methacrylate and acrylamide. Also, post-modified polyvinyl alcohol can be used. The post-modification is a method in which a compound having reactivity with a hydroxyl group of polyvinyl alcohol is used and then modified by a polymer reaction after the synthesis of polyvinyl alcohol. Specifically, the hydroxyl group of polyvinyl alcohol is modified by etherification, esterification or acetalization. Furthermore, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol can also be used. As the crosslinking agent, an aldehyde, a methylol compound, an epoxy compound, a diisocyanate, a divinyl compound, a dicarboxylic acid or an inorganic crosslinking agent (eg boric acid, titanium, copper) can be used. The molecular weight of the hydrophilic polymer is 3000-5
The range of 0,000 is preferable. The amount of the hydrophilic polymer used is
It is preferably 0.05 to 20 g / m ² ,
More preferably, it is 1 to 10 g / m ² . When gelatin is used in combination with another hydrophilic polymer in the photosensitive layer, the pH of the layer containing silver halide is adjusted to 1.2 or lower or 1.2 or higher than the isoelectric point of gelatin. It is preferable.

[Base or Base Precursor] The image formation promoting layer contains a base or a base precursor. As the base and the base precursor, inorganic bases and organic bases, or those base precursors (decarboxylation type,
Pyrolysis type, reaction type and complex salt forming type) can be used. Examples of inorganic bases are described in JP-A-62-209448. Examples of organic bases include tertiary amine compounds (described in JP-A-62-170954), bis or tris or tetraamidine compounds (JP-A-63).
No. 316760) and bis or tris or tetraguanidine compounds (JP-A-64-687).
No. 46 publication). In the present invention, a base having a pKa of 7 or more is preferable. In the present invention, a base precursor is preferable to a base from the viewpoint of storage stability of the light-sensitive material. Examples of preferable base precursors include salts of organic acids and bases that are decarboxylated by heating (JP-A-63-316760, 64-68746, 59).
-180537 and 61-313431) and urea compounds (described in JP-A-63-96159) that release a base upon heating. Further, as a method of releasing a base by utilizing a reaction, a reaction with a transition metal acetylide or a salt containing an anion having an affinity higher than that of the acetylide anion for the transition metal ion (described in JP-A-63-25208) Or a basic metal compound which is poorly soluble in water and a compound capable of undergoing a complex formation reaction with a metal ion constituting the basic metal compound in water as a medium, and between these two compounds in the presence of water. Of releasing a base by the reaction of
-3282 gazette). The base precursor is preferably one that releases a base at 50 ° C. to 200 ° C., and more preferably one that releases a base at 80 ° C. to 160 ° C. The base and the base precursor can be used in combination. In the present invention, the effect can be obtained even with a small amount of base or base precursor by separating the image formation promoting layer and the overcoat layer. The amount of the base or base precursor used is 0.1 to 0.5 g / m.
It is preferably ² and more preferably 0.2 to 0.3 g / m ² .

[Heat Development Accelerator] The light-sensitive material used in the present invention may contain a heat development accelerator in any layer in order to accelerate heat development and to carry out heat development processing in a shorter time. .
As the thermal development accelerator, a compound having a plasticizing effect at room temperature or upon heating with respect to a binder used in any layer of the photosensitive material, or a compound having no plasticizing effect but capable of melting in the layer by heating is used. Any of them can be used. As the compound having a plasticizing action at room temperature or under heating with respect to a binder used in any layer of the photosensitive material, all known compounds known as a plasticizer of a high molecular compound can be used. As such a plasticizer, "Plastic compounding agent" Taiseisha, P21-63;
"Plastics Additives Second Edition" (Plastics
Additives, 2nd Edition) Hanser Publishers, Chap.
5 P251-296; "Thermoplastic Additives"
(Thermoplastics Additives) Marcel Dekker Inc. Cha
p.9 P345-379; “Plastics Additives A Industrial Guide” (Plastics Additives A
n Industrial Guide) Noyes Publications, Section-14
P333-485; "The Technology of Solvents.
And Plasticizers "(The Technology of
Solvents and Plasticizers) John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Chap.15 P903-1027); "Industrial Plasticizers, Pergamon"
Press); "Plasticizer Technology No. 1
(Plasticizer Technology Vol.1, Reinhold Publi
shing Corp.); "Plasticization and Plasticizer Process" (Plusticization a
nd Plusticizer Process, American Chemistry).

Preferred heat development accelerators are glycols (eg diethylene glycol, dipolypropylene glycol), polyhydric alcohols (eg glycerin, butanediol, hexanediol), sugars, formate esters, ureas (eg urea). , Diethylurea, ethyleneurea,
Propylene urea), urea resins, phenolic resins, amide compounds (eg, acetamide, propionamide), sulfamides and sulfonamides. Further, two or more of the above thermal development accelerators can be used in combination. Further, it can be added separately in two or more layers. The addition amount of the thermal development accelerator is 0.0
5 to 2 g / m ² , preferably 0.1 to 1 g / m ^2.
g / m ² is more preferable.

[Colorant] A colorant may be added to the light-sensitive material for the purpose of preventing halation and irradiation or coloring the cured image. As the colorant, known pigments and dyes can be used as long as they do not significantly impede the curing reaction of the curable layer or significantly impair the photosensitivity and developability of silver halide. When using a colorant for the purpose of preventing halation or coloring the image,
It is preferably added to the curable layer. Further, when it is used for the purpose of preventing irradiation, it is preferably added to the photosensitive layer. When a coloring agent is added to prevent halation and irradiation, it is preferable that the coloring agent can absorb light in the photosensitive wavelength region of silver halide. As the colorant, the pigments or dyes described in JP-A-5-249667, "Color Index Handbook", and "Dye Handbook" (edited by the Society of Synthetic Organic Chemistry, 1975) can be used. Dyes for preventing irradiation which have little influence on sensitivity are disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 41-20389 and 4
No. 3-3504, No. 43-13168, and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2
-39042 and U.S. Pat. No. 3697037.
No. 3,423,207, British Patent Nos. 1030392 and 1100546. The content of the colorant is preferably 0.01 to 2 g / m ² , more preferably 0.05 to 1 g / m ² .

[Antifoggant, Development Accelerator, Stabilizer] In order to improve photographic characteristics, an additive such as an antifoggant, a silver development accelerator that promotes silver development, and a stabilizer is contained in any layer. You may let me. Examples thereof include azoles and azaindenes (Research Disclosure Magazine N
o. 17643, pages 24-25 (1978)), carboxylic acids and phosphoric acids containing nitrogen (described in JP-A-59-168442), cyclic amides (described in JP-A-61-151841), thioethers (described in JP-A-62-151842), polyethylene glycol derivatives (described in JP-A-62-151844), thiols (described in JP-A-62-151844), acetylene compounds (described in JP-A-62-87957). ) And sulfonamides (JP-A-62-1782)
No. 32 publication). An aromatic ring (carbon ring or heterocycle) mercapto compound is also preferably used as an antifoggant or a development accelerator. Aromatic heterocyclic mercapto compounds, particularly mercaptotriazole derivatives, are preferred. The mercapto compound may be added to the photosensitive material as a mercapto silver compound (silver salt). The amount of these compounds used is in the range of 10 ^-7 mol to 1 mol per mol of silver halide.

[Development Stopping Agent] In the present invention, various development stopping agents can be used for the purpose of always obtaining a constant image with respect to the processing temperature and processing time during heat development. As used herein, the term "development terminator" refers to a compound that neutralizes a base or reacts with a base immediately after appropriate development to reduce the base concentration in the layer and to inhibit development by interacting with a compound or silver and silver salt. Compound. Specific examples thereof include an acid precursor that releases an acid when heated, an electrophilic compound that causes a substitution reaction with a coexisting base when heated, or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound, a mercapto compound and a precursor thereof. Thermal development terminators are disclosed in JP-A-62-2531.
No. 59, JP-A-2-42447 and 2-26
No. 2661, each of which is described.

[Surfactant] In the present invention, a surfactant can be added to any layer. Known surfactants can be used. Examples thereof include nonionic activators, anionic activators, cationic activators, fluorine activators, and surfactants described in JP-A-2-195356. Particularly, sorbitans, polyoxyethylenes, and nitrogen-containing surfactants are preferable.

[Matting Agent] A matting agent may be added to the back layer or the uppermost layer of the light-sensitive material for the purpose of lowering the tackiness of the front surface or the back surface of the light-sensitive material and preventing adhesion when the light-sensitive materials are stacked. it can. As the matting agent, inorganic or organic solid particles that can be dispersed in a hydrophilic polymer are used. Such grains are known in the art of ordinary silver halide photography. Examples of materials for the matting agent include oxides (eg, silicon dioxide), alkaline earth metal salts, natural polymers (eg, starch, cellulose) and synthetic polymers. The particle size of the matting agent is 1 to 50 μm
Is preferred. Matting agent is 0.01 to 1 g / m
² , preferably 0.1 to 0.7 g
/ M ² is more preferably used.

[Polymerization Inhibitor] A polymerization inhibitor may be added to the curable layer in order to prevent the polymerizable compound from polymerizing during storage of the light-sensitive material. Conventionally known polymerization inhibitors can be used. Examples of polymerization inhibitors include nitrosamine compounds, urea compounds, thiourea compounds, thioamide compounds, phenol derivatives and amine compounds.

[Exposure Step] Image exposure is performed using a light source that emits light having a wavelength corresponding to the spectral sensitivity of silver halide (sensitizing dye) that is a photosensor. Examples of light sources include tungsten lamps, halogen lamps, xenon lamps,
Lamps such as xenon flash lamps, mercury lamps, carbon arc lamps, various lasers (eg semiconductor laser, helium neon laser, argon ion laser, helium cadmium laser, YAG laser),
A light emitting diode, a cathode ray tube, etc. can be mentioned.
The exposure wavelength is generally visible light, near ultraviolet light, or near infrared light, but X-rays or electron beams may be used. The exposure dose is generally in the range of 0.01 to 10000 erg / cm ² , more preferably 0.1 to 1000 erg / cm ² . When the photopolymerization initiator is a photosensor, it is generally 1
0 ² to 10 ⁷ erg / cm ² , more preferably 10 ³ to
It is in the range of 10 ⁵ erg / cm ² . When the support is transparent, exposure can be performed through the support from the back side of the support.

In general, the process of exposing silver halide, that is, the process of forming a latent image, is affected by temperature and humidity during exposure,
It is known that the sensitivity of photosensitive materials changes. Therefore, it is desirable that the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere of the light-sensitive material and the light source at the time of exposure are controlled within a constant range as much as possible. Specific adjusting means of the image recording apparatus for achieving the above object is disclosed in JP-A-3-63143 and JP-A-3-63143.
It is described in each publication of No. -63637. In the image exposure, it is preferable to set one point in the range of 5 to 40 ° C. (preferably 10 to 35 ° C.) as a set temperature and control the temperature within ± 5 ° C. from the set temperature. It is preferable to similarly control the atmospheric humidity in the apparatus including the photosensitive material and the optical system. The humidity is preferably in the range of 10 to 80% (relative humidity), more preferably in the range of 15 to 75%, most preferably in the range of 25 to 70%.

[Development Step] The development of the light-sensitive material is preferably carried out by heating (heat development). The thermal development can be carried out by a method of bringing the light-sensitive material into close contact with a heated object (for example, a metal plate, a block, a roller), a method of immersing it in a heated liquid, a method of irradiating infrared rays, or the like. The heating temperature is 80 ° C or higher, preferably 80 to 200
C., more preferably 100 to 150.degree.
The heating time is 1 to 180 seconds, more preferably 5 to 60 seconds.
It is in the range of seconds. The photosensitive material may be preheated at a temperature higher than the main heating temperature for a short time before the exposure step or after the exposure step, or may be postheated after the main heating. Pre-heating or post-heating can improve the sensitivity and the curing degree of the image. The post-heating may be performed after the post-treatment of image formation, for example, after the elution step. When a cured image is formed by utilizing the polymerization inhibiting action of the reducing agent or its oxidized product, it is necessary to uniformly generate radicals from the polymerization initiator. When a thermal polymerization initiator is used, heating can be performed once, since radicals can be generated by heating during thermal development. When a photopolymerization initiator is used, the entire surface must be exposed after thermal development in order to generate radicals. The light at this time must have a wavelength that the photopolymerization initiator absorbs. The light source can be appropriately selected from those exemplified as the light source used for the image exposure. Exposure dose is 10 ^{3 to} 10 ⁷ erg /
cm ² .

[Removing Step] In the removing step, the uncured portion of the curable layer is removed. The hydrophilic layer is preferably removed before removing the curable layer. Removal of the hydrophilic layer can be easily carried out using water (preferably warm water). The removal process includes a method using an eluate and a method using a removal sheet. First, the method using the eluate will be described. As the eluent (or etching solution) for removing the uncured portion, any solvent can be used as long as it can remove the uncured portion of the curable layer. Preferably, an alkaline solvent is used. The alkaline solvent is an aqueous solution containing an alkaline compound, an organic solvent containing an alkaline compound, or a mixture of an aqueous solution containing an alkaline compound and an organic solvent. As the alkaline compound, various organic and inorganic compounds can be used. Examples of the alkaline compound include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium metasilicate, potassium metasilicate, sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, ammonia and amino alcohols (eg, Monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine). As the solvent of the eluate, water or various organic solvents can be used as described above. The solvent of the eluate is preferably mainly composed of water. An organic solvent can be added to the eluate mainly composed of water, if necessary. Alcohols or ethers are preferred as the organic solvent. Examples of alcohols include lower alcohols (eg, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol), alcohols having an aromatic group (eg, benzyl alcohol, phenethyl alcohol), and polyhydric alcohols (eg, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene). Glycol, polyethylene glycol) and amino alcohols (eg, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine). Examples of ethers include cellosolves. The eluate may contain a surfactant, an antifoaming agent, and other various additives as required.

Next, a method of using the removal sheet will be described. When the removal sheet is brought into close contact with the surface of the curable layer, the adhesive force between the interface between the curable layer and the removal sheet becomes different between the uncured portion and the cured portion. When the curable layer and the removal sheet are peeled off, the adhesive force at the interface between the uncured portion and the adhesive layer is greater than the adhesive force at the removal sheet side, and the adhesive force at the interface between the cured portion and the adhesive layer is at the removal sheet side. When the adhesion is smaller than that, only the cured portion is transferred to the removal sheet. Conversely, when the adhesive force at the interface between the uncured portion and the adhesive layer is smaller than the adhesive force at the removal sheet side, and the adhesive force at the interface between the cured portion and the adhesive layer is greater than the adhesive force at the removal sheet side, Only the uncured portion is transferred to the removal sheet. Whether the cured part is transferred or the uncured part is transferred depends on the property of the polymerizable compound in the curable layer, the amount of the polymerizable compound added, the property of the binder in the curable layer, and the property of the curable layer. The adhesive strength may vary depending on the properties of other components and the addition amount thereof, as well as various conditions of the removing step (heating temperature, time, pressurizing temperature, etc.).

[Transfer Processing] In the transfer processing, the cured image is transferred by being attached to another sheet (image receiving material). As a result, the portion transferred to the image receiving material is used as an image.
The image receiving material may be laminated with the photosensitive material before image exposure or development. Further, the toner image obtained may be transferred by first performing the following toner development processing.

[Toner Development Processing] A coloring substance (toner) is attached to the cured image to visualize the image. It is also possible to provide an adhesive layer on the photosensitive material, selectively remove the uncured portion, and then attach the toner to the exposed adhesive layer. Further, the toner developing process can be performed on the image receiving material to which the cured portion is selectively transferred.

[Dyeing process] The cured image is dyed to visualize the image. You may perform dyeing processing with respect to the image receiving material which transferred the cured image. The image obtained as described above can be used for printing plates, color proofs, hard copies, reliefs and the like.

[0072]

【Example】

[Example 1] Preparation of photosensitive material " Preparation of aluminum support" A surface of an aluminum plate having a thickness of 0.24 mm was covered with nylon brush and pumice stone (4
(00 mesh) in water suspension, and then thoroughly washed with water. Next, it was immersed in a 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at 70 ° C. for 60 seconds for etching, and then washed with running water. Neutralize and wash with 20% nitric acid solution,
Washed with water. The obtained aluminum plate was subjected to a sinusoidal alternating wave current (conditions: voltage at anode 12.7 v, ratio of electricity at cathode to electricity at anode was 0.8, electricity at anode was 16
Electrolytic surface roughening treatment was performed in a 1% nitric acid aqueous solution using 0 Coulomb / dm ² ). The surface roughness of the obtained plate was 0.
It was 6 μm (Ra indication). Following this process, 30
% Desulfuric acid aqueous solution at 55 ° C. for 2 minutes. Next, 20 so that the thickness becomes 2.7 g / dm ^2.
% Sulfuric acid aqueous solution was used for anodic oxidation treatment (current density: 2
A / dm ² ). The obtained aluminum plate was immersed in a 3% by weight sodium silicate aqueous solution at 70 ° C. for 20 minutes by dipping, washed with water and dried to prepare a support.

[Formation of Curable Layer] The following coating solution was applied onto the above support and dried to form a curable layer having a dry film thickness of 1.8 μm.

──────────────────────────────────── Curable layer coating liquid ────── ────────────────────────────── pentaerythritol tetraacrylate 0.25g allyl methacrylate / methacrylic acid copolymer (copolymerization ratio = 71/29) 20 wt% propylene glycol monomethyl ether solution 2.35 g Pigment dispersion below 3.43 g ───────────────────────── ─────────────

──────────────────────────────────── Pigment dispersion ──────── ──────────────────────────── Copper phthalocyanine 6.90g Allyl methacrylate / methacrylic acid copolymer (copolymerization ratio = 80/20) 5.73 g Cyclohexanone 12.90 g Propylene glycol monomethyl ether 74.47 g ─────────────────────────────────────

[Preparation of Silver Halide Emulsion] Gelatin, potassium bromide and water were added, and sodium hydroxide was added to adjust the pH at room temperature to 9.5 and the solution was heated to 55 ° C. Further, the following thioether compound was added in an amount corresponding to 2.0 × 10 ⁻³ mol based on the total amount of silver nitrate added. While keeping the pAg value in the reaction vessel at 9.0, the aqueous solution of silver nitrate and the bromide containing rhodium ammonium chloride were added so that the molar ratio of rhodium to the total amount of potassium iodide and silver nitrate would be 2 × 10 ^-7 mol. Aqueous potassium solution, p
The silver iodobromide grains were formed by addition by the Ag control double jet method. Further subsequently, 55 ℃, p
At Ag = 8.6, an aqueous solution of silver nitrate and an aqueous solution of potassium bromide to which hexachloroiridium (III) acid salt has been added so that the molar ratio of iridium to silver is 5 × 10 ⁻⁷ mol are obtained by the double jet method. A two-stage addition was performed to prepare a core / shell type silver iodobromide emulsion having the following composition.

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Core: silver iodobromide (silver iodide content: 8.5 mol%) Shell: pure silver bromide Core / shell: 3/7 (silver mol ratio) Average silver iodide content: 2.55 Mol% Average particle size: 0.30 μm

The obtained emulsion grains were monodisperse, and 98% of the total number of grains were present within ± 40% of the average grain size. Then, this emulsion was desalted and then adjusted to pH 6.5, p
After adjusting Ag to 9.0, while stirring at 50 ° C,
A methanol solution of the following spectral sensitizing dyes A and B in a mixing ratio of 2: 1 was added in a total amount of 8 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol / mol Ag, and the mixture was left for 20 minutes. Further, a sodium salt of thiol having the following structure was added in an amount corresponding to 6 × 10 ⁻⁴ mol / mol Ag and stirred for 5 minutes to prepare a silver halide emulsion.

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[Formation of Photosensitive Layer] The following coating solution was prepared, coated on the curable layer and dried to form a photosensitive layer having a dry film thickness of about 2.0 μm.

──────────────────────────────────── Photosensitive layer coating liquid ────── ────────────────────────────── Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-405, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) with a saponification degree of 81% 10 wt% aqueous solution 6.30 g 5 wt% aqueous solution of the following surfactant 0.20 g 10 wt% aqueous dispersion of the following reducing agent 0.21 g 0.507% methanol solution of the following mercapto compound 0.21 g of the above Silver halide emulsion 2.20 g ────────────────────────────────────

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[Chemical 6]

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[Chemical 7]

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[Preparation of Base Precursor Dispersion] 250 g of the following base precursor powder was dispersed in 750 g of a 3% by weight aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-205, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) using a Dynomill disperser.
The particle size of the base precursor was 0.5 μm or less.

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[Formation of Image Formation Accelerating Layer] The following coating solutions were prepared, coated on the photosensitive layer and dried to form an image formation promoting layer having a dry film thickness of 1.0 μm. The coating amount of the base precursor was 0.20 g / m ² .

──────────────────────────────────── Coating solution for the image formation promoting layer ──── ───────────────────────────────── Polyvinyl alcohol with a saponification degree of 81% (PVA-405, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) ) 10% by weight aqueous solution 5.00 g of the above base precursor dispersion 0.53 g 5% by weight aqueous solution of the above surfactant 0.13 g ─────────────────── ─────────────────

[Formation of Overcoat Layer] The following coating solution was prepared, coated on the image formation promoting layer and dried,
An image formation promoting layer having a dry film thickness of 3.0 μm was provided.

──────────────────────────────────── Coating solution for the overcoat layer ───── ─────────────────────────────── carboxylic acid-modified polyvinyl alcohol (KM-106, Kuraray ( Co., Ltd.) 10 wt% aqueous solution 100 g 5 wt% aqueous solution of the above surfactant 2.0 g ──────────────────────────── ─────────

(Image formation) The obtained light-sensitive material was 670
Scanning exposure was performed using a red laser exposure device of nm. Next, a hot plate heated to a predetermined temperature (140 to 160 ° C.) is pressed against the back surface of the photosensitive material (the surface on the side of the support), and 3
It was heated for 0 seconds and thermally developed. After removing the photosensitive layer, the image formation accelerating layer and the overcoat layer by washing with water, the curable layer is treated with an alkaline aqueous solution (D manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.).
P-4 was diluted to 1/8 with water, and 1% by weight of the above-mentioned surfactant was added thereto), etching was performed at 30 ° C. for 20 seconds, followed by washing with water to form an unexposed portion of the curable layer. It was removed by elution. In this way, a relief image of the polymer was obtained on the exposed area. About the obtained image, 175 lpi, 4
The halftone dot reproducibility (%) at 000 dpi was evaluated. Also, the temperature range of heat development in which a good image was obtained was examined.
The results are shown in Table 3.

[Example 2] Example 2 was repeated except that the thickness of the image formation promoting layer was changed to 1.3 µm (the coating amount of the base precursor was 0.26 g / m ² ) in the preparation of the light-sensitive material of Example 1. A light-sensitive material was prepared in the same manner as in 1, and an image was formed and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 3.

Example 3 A photosensitive material was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the thickness of the overcoat layer was changed to 2 μm in the preparation of the photosensitive material of Example 2, and an image was formed and evaluated. . The results are shown in Table 3.

[Example 4] In the preparation of the light-sensitive material of Example 1, the following coating solution for the image formation promoting layer was used, and the thickness of the image forming promotion layer was 2.0 µm (the coating amount of the base precursor was 0. A light-sensitive material was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount was changed to 20 g / m ² ) and an image was formed and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 3.

──────────────────────────────────── Coating solution for the image formation promoting layer ──── ───────────────────────────────── Polyvinyl alcohol with a saponification degree of 81% (PVA-405, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) ) 10% by weight aqueous solution 5.00 g of the base precursor dispersion used in Example 1 0.27 g 5% by weight aqueous solution of the surfactant used in Example 1 0.13 g ─────────── ─────────────────────────

[Comparative Example 1] The following coating solution was prepared, coated on the photosensitive layer provided in Example 1 and dried to provide an image formation promoting overcoat layer having a dry film thickness of 4.0 µm. It was The amount of base precursor applied is 0.60 g / m.
^{Was 2} . Using the obtained photosensitive material, a photosensitive material was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, and an image was formed and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 3.

──────────────────────────────────── Coating liquid for the image formation promoting overcoat layer ── ────────────────────────────────── carboxylic acid modified polyvinyl alcohol with a saponification degree of 98% (KM-106, 10 wt% aqueous solution of Kuraray Co., Ltd. 100 g 10 wt% aqueous solution of terminal alkyl-modified polyvinyl alcohol (MP-103, Kuraray Co., Ltd.) having a saponification degree of 98% 4.00 g Used in Example 1. Base precursor dispersion liquid 7.50 g 5% by weight aqueous solution of the surfactant used in Example 1.20 g ──────────────────────────── ──────────

[Comparative Example 2] Comparative Example 2 was the same as Example 1 except that the following coating solution for the image formation promoting layer was used (the coating amount of the base precursor was 0.26 g / m ² ) in the preparation of the photosensitive material of Example 1. Similarly, a light-sensitive material was prepared, and an image was formed and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 3.

──────────────────────────────────── Coating solution for the image formation promoting layer ──── ──────────────────────────────── carboxylic acid-modified polyvinyl alcohol with a saponification degree of 98% (KM-106, Claret Co., Ltd.) 10 wt% aqueous solution 5.00 g Base precursor dispersion used in Example 1 0.53 g Surfactant 5 wt% aqueous solution used in Example 1 0.13 g ─────── ─────────────────────────────

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Table 3 Table 3 ──────────────────────────────────── photosensitive image formation accelerating layer o - Bar coat layer Image quality Reproducible material Saponification degree Coating amount Thickness Saponification degree Thickness reproducibility Temperature range ───────────────────────── ──────────── Fruit 1 81% 0.20 1.0 98% 3 2-98% 148-160 Fruit 2 81% 0.26 1.3 98% 3 2-98% 148 -160 Actual 3 81% 0.26 1.3 98% 23-98% 150-160 Actual 4 81% 0.20 2.0 98% 33-97% 150-160 Ratio 1 (saponification degree 98% , Coating amount 0.60, thickness: 4) 2 to 97% 148 to 155 ratio 298% 0.20 1.0 98% 3 10 to 98% none * ────────────── ──────── ──────────────── (Note) Saponification degree: Degree of saponification of polyvinyl alcohol used Coating amount: Coating amount of base precursor used (g / m ² ) Thickness: Thickness of each layer (μm) Reproducible temperature range: Range of heat development temperature at which a clear image was obtained (° C) Ratio 1: Single image formation promoting overcoat layer data (in parentheses) Ratio 2 (none * ): No clear image is obtained at any temperature

As is clear from the results shown in Table 3, when the image formation promoting layer and the overcoat layer are separated from each other, the temperature range of heat development for obtaining a good image is widened. However, the effect cannot be obtained unless the binder of each layer is used according to the definition of the present invention. When the relief image obtained by using the light-sensitive material of Example 2 was attached as a printing plate to a printing machine and printed, a good printed matter was obtained. Further, when the light-sensitive material of Example 2 was allowed to stand for 3 days under the conditions of a temperature of 45 ° C. and a relative humidity of 40%, an image was formed, and a good image was obtained. Furthermore, a good image was obtained even when the photosensitive material of Example 2 was left under the conditions of a temperature of 45 ° C. and a relative humidity of 75% for 3 days and then image formation was performed.

[Example 5] In the preparation of the light-sensitive material of Example 1, the following coating solution for the image formation accelerating layer was used, and the thickness of the image formation accelerating layer was 1.3 µm (the coating amount of the base precursor was 0. A light-sensitive material was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount was changed to 26 g / m ² ) and an image was formed and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 4.

──────────────────────────────────── Coating solution for the image formation promoting layer ──── ───────────────────────────────── 10% by weight aqueous solution of polyacrylamide 5.00 g Base precursor used in Example 1 Dispersion 0.53 g 5% by weight aqueous solution of the surfactant used in Example 1 0.13 g ───────────────────────────── ────────

Example 6 In the preparation of the light-sensitive material of Example 1, the following coating solution for the image formation promoting layer was used, and the thickness of the image forming promotion layer was 1.3 μm (the coating amount of the base precursor was 0.1 μm). A light-sensitive material was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount was changed to 26 g / m ² ) and an image was formed and evaluated. The results are shown in Table 4.

──────────────────────────────────── Coating solution for the image formation promoting layer ──── ───────────────────────────────── Polyvinyl alcohol with a saponification degree of 81% (PVA-405, manufactured by Kuraray Co., Ltd.) ) 10% by weight aqueous solution 5.00 g sorbitol 0.10 g Base precursor dispersion liquid used in Example 1 0.27 g 5% by weight aqueous solution of the surfactant used in Example 1 0.13 g ──────── ─────────────────────────────

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[Table 4] Table 4 ──────────────────────────────────── Photosensitive image formation promoting layer Thermal development Image quality Reproducible material Binder Accelerator Reproducibility Temperature range ──────────────────────────────────── Example 2 No polyvinyl alcohol 2 to 98% 148 to 160 ° C Example 5 No polyacrylamide 3 to 98% 150 to 160 ° C Example 6 Polyvinyl alcohol included 2 to 98% 145 to 160 ° C ─────────── ──────────────────────────

As is clear from the results shown in Table 4, hydrophilic polymers other than polyvinyl alcohol can be used as the binder of the image formation promoting layer. Also,
When a heat development accelerator (sorbitol) is added to the photosensitive material, the reproducible temperature range can be further widened. When the relief images obtained by using the light-sensitive materials of Examples 5 and 6 were attached to a printing machine as a printing plate and printed, good printed matters were obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a layer structure of a light-sensitive material of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Support 2 Curable Layer 3 Photosensitive Layer 4 Image Formation Accelerating Layer 5 Overcoat Layer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A curable layer containing a polymerizable compound or a crosslinkable polymer, a photosensitive layer containing silver halide, an image formation promoting layer containing a base or a base precursor and a hydrophilic polymer, and hydrophilicity on a support. A photosensitive material further comprising an overcoat layer containing a polymer and a reducing agent, wherein the hydrophilic polymer contained in the image formation promoting layer is polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of less than 90%. Other than the above, the hydrophilic polymer contained in the overcoat layer is polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 90% or more. 2. The photosensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of 90% or more contained in the overcoat layer has an acid residue or a salt of an acid residue. 3. The light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the image formation promoting layer contains a base or a base precursor in an amount in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 g / m ² . 4. The light-sensitive material according to claim 1, wherein the overcoat layer has a layer thickness of 1 to 10 μm.