Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C1/00—Forme preparation
  • B41C1/10—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme
  • B41C1/1008—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by removal or destruction of lithographic material on the lithographic support, e.g. by laser or spark ablation; by the use of materials rendered soluble or insoluble by heat exposure, e.g. by heat produced from a light to heat transforming system; by on-the-press exposure or on-the-press development, e.g. by the fountain of photolithographic materials
  • B41C1/1016—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by removal or destruction of lithographic material on the lithographic support, e.g. by laser or spark ablation; by the use of materials rendered soluble or insoluble by heat exposure, e.g. by heat produced from a light to heat transforming system; by on-the-press exposure or on-the-press development, e.g. by the fountain of photolithographic materials characterised by structural details, e.g. protective layers, backcoat layers or several imaging layers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
  • B41M5/36—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used using a polymeric layer, which may be particulate and which is deformed or structurally changed with modification of its' properties, e.g. of its' optical hydrophobic-hydrophilic, solubility or permeability properties
  • B41M5/368—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used using a polymeric layer, which may be particulate and which is deformed or structurally changed with modification of its' properties, e.g. of its' optical hydrophobic-hydrophilic, solubility or permeability properties involving the creation of a soluble/insoluble or hydrophilic/hydrophobic permeability pattern; Peel development
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
  • B41M5/40—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
  • B41M5/42—Intermediate, backcoat, or covering layers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/02—Positive working, i.e. the exposed (imaged) areas are removed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/06—Developable by an alkaline solution
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/14—Multiple imaging layers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/22—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation characterised by organic non-macromolecular additives, e.g. dyes, UV-absorbers, plasticisers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/24—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation characterised by a macromolecular compound or binder obtained by reactions involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. acrylics, vinyl polymers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/26—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation characterised by a macromolecular compound or binder obtained by reactions not involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/26—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation characterised by a macromolecular compound or binder obtained by reactions not involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • B41C2210/262—Phenolic condensation polymers, e.g. novolacs, resols
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/26—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation characterised by a macromolecular compound or binder obtained by reactions not involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • B41C2210/264—Polyesters; Polycarbonates
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/26—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation characterised by a macromolecular compound or binder obtained by reactions not involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
  • B41C2210/266—Polyurethanes; Polyureas
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
  • B41M5/40—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
  • B41M5/42—Intermediate, backcoat, or covering layers
  • B41M5/44—Intermediate, backcoat, or covering layers characterised by the macromolecular compounds
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
  • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
  • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
  • B41M5/40—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
  • B41M5/46—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography characterised by the light-to-heat converting means; characterised by the heat or radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers
  • B41M5/465—Infrared radiation-absorbing materials, e.g. dyes, metals, silicates, C black

Definitions

• This invention relates to thermal lithographic printing plates that are imaged with an infrared laser and processed with an aqueous alkaline developer.
• U.S. 5,340,699 discloses a radiation-sensitive composition especially adapted to prepare a lithographic printing plate that is sensitive to both ultraviolet and infrared radiation and is capable of functioning in either a positive-working or negative-working manner.
• the disclosed composition is comprised of (1) a resole resin, (2) a novolac resin, (3) a latent Bronsted acid and (4) an infrared absorber.
• the solubility of the composition in aqueous alkaline developing solution is both reduced in exposed areas and increased in unexposed areas by the steps of imagewise exposure to activating radiation and heating.
• U.S. 5,858,626 discloses a lithographic printing plate having a single sensitive layer.
• the sensitive layer is composed of an infrared imaging composition which contains two essential components, namely an infrared absorbing compound, and a phenolic resin that is either mixed or reacted with an o-diazonaphthoquinone derivative.
• These compositions are useful in positive- working elements such as lithographic printing plates that can be adapted to direct- to-plate imaging procedures.
• WO 97/39894 discloses a lithographic printing plate which contains a lithographic base overcoated with a complex of a developer-insoluble phenolic resin and a compound which forms a thermally frangible complex with the phenolic resin.
• This complex is less soluble in the developer solution than the uncomplexed phenolic resin.
• the complex breaks down which allows the non-complexed phenolic resin to dissolve in the developing solution.
• a laser-radiation absorbing material is also present on the lithographic base.
• WO 99/1 1458 discloses a lithographic printing plate that contains a support with a hydrophilic surface overcoated with an imaging layer.
• the imaging layer contains at least one polymer having bonded pendent groups that are hydroxy, carboxylic acid, tert-butyl-oxycarbonyl, sulfonamide, amide, nitrile, urea, or combinations thereof; as well as an infrared absorbing compound.
• the imaging layer may contain a second polymer that has bonded pendent groups which are 1 ,2-napthoquinone diazide, hydroxy, carboxylic acid, sulfonamide, hydroxymethyl amide, alkoxymethyl amide, nitrile, maieimide, urea, or combinations thereof.
• the imaging layer may also contain a visible absorption dye, a solubility inhibiting agent, or both.
• a method is disclosed for directly imaging the lithographic printing surface using infrared radiation without the requirement of pre- or post- UV-light exposure, or heat treatment.
• the imaging layer is imagewise exposed to infrared radiation to produce exposed image areas in the imaged layer which have transient solubility in aqueous alkaline developing solution, so that solubility is gradually lost over a period of time until the imaged areas become as insoluble as non-imaged areas.
• the imaged layer is developed with an aqueous alkaline developing solution to form the lithographic printing surface.
• the infrared radiation preferably is laser radiation that is digitally controlled.
• U.S. 5,493,971 discloses lithographic printing constructions that include a grained-metal substrate, a protective layer that can also serve as an adhesion- promoting primer, and an ablatable oleophilic surface layer.
• imagewise pulses from an imaging laser interact with the surface layer, causing ablation thereof and, probably, inflicting some damage to the underlying protective layer as well.
• the imaged plate may then be subjected to a solvent that eliminates the exposed protective layer, but which does no damage either to the surface layer or to the unexposed protective layer lying thereunder.
• a heat-sensitive imaging element for making positive working lithographic printing plates is disclosed in European Patent Publication EP 0864420 A1 .
• the imaging element disclosed comprises a lithographic base, a layer comprising a polymeric material that is soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and an IR- radiation sensitive second layer.
• a lithographic base a layer comprising a polymeric material that is soluble in an aqueous alkaline solution and an IR- radiation sensitive second layer.
• IR- radiation sensitive second layer Upon image-wise exposure and absorption of IR- radiation in the second (top) layer, the capacity of the aqueous alkaline solution to penetrate and/or solubilize the second layer is changed.
• Image-wise exposure can be performed with an infrared laser with a short as well as with a long pixel dwell time.
• a positive-working thermal imaging element comprising; A. a substrate; and
• thermoly sensitive composite layer structure having an inner surface contiguous to the substrate and an outer surface, the composite layer structure comprising:
• a first layer having the inner surface comprising a first polymeric material, in which the first polymeric material is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous solution, and a solubility inhibiting material which reduces the solubility of the first layer in the aqueous solution;
• a second layer having the outer surface comprising a second polymeric material, in which the second layer is insoluble in the aqueous solution, and in which when the first layer is free of photothermal conversion material, the second layer is free of photothermal conversion material; in which, upon heating the composite layer structure, the heated composite layer structure has an increased rate of removal in the aqueous solution.
• the present invention is a positive-working, lithographic printing plate, precursor comprising;
• A a hydrophilic substrate
• thermoly sensitive composite layer structure having an inner surface contiguous to the hydrophilic substrate and an outer oleophilic surface, the composite layer structure comprising:
• a first layer having the inner surface comprising a first polymeric material and photothermal conversion material, in which the first polymeric material is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous solution, and a solubility inhibiting material which reduces the solubility of the first layer in the aqueous solution;
• An added embodiment of this invention is a method for forming a planographic printing plate comprising the steps, in the order given:
• lithographic printing plate precursor comprising; A. a hydrophilic substrate;
• thermoly sensitive composite layer structure having an inner surface contiguous to the hydrophilic substrate and an outer oleophilic surface, the composite layer structure comprising:
• a first layer having the inner surface comprising a first polymeric material, in which the first polymeric material is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous solution, and a solubility inhibiting material which reduces the solubility of the first layer in the aqueous solution;
• a second layer having the outer oleophilic surface comprising a second polymeric material, in which the second layer is insoluble in the aqueous solution, and in which when the first layer is free of photothermal conversion material the second layer is free of photothermal conversion material;
• the imaged lithographic printing plate is uniformly exposed to thermal energy after step III.
• the aqueous solution preferably has a pH of about 6 or greater; the first polymeric material preferably is insoluble in an organic solvent, and the second polymeric material is soluble in the organic solvent; and the first layer preferably contains a photothermal conversion material particularly when the element is imagewise exposed with a radiant source of energy such as an infrared emitting laser.
• the second layer is free of the photothermal conversion material.
• This invention relates to an imaging element which can be imaged with thermal energy. More particularly, this invention relates to thermal lithographic printing plates, which can be imaged by thermal energy typically by imagewise exposure with an infrared emitting laser, a thermal printing head, or the like.
• the lithographic plates described in this invention are made up of a hydrophilic substrate, typically an aluminum or polyester support, and adhered thereto, a thermally sensitive composite layer structure typically composed of two layer coatings.
• An aqueous developable polymeric mixture containing a solubility inhibiting material, and typically a photothermal conversion material is coated on the hydrophilic substrate to form the first layer.
• the second layer is composed of one or more non-aqueous soluble polymeric materials that are soluble or dispersible in a solvent that does not dissolve the first layer.
• solubility inhibiting material includes one or more compounds that interact(s) with, or otherwise affects the polymeric compound to reduce the solubility of the first layer in the aqueous solution.
• photothermal conversion material means one or more thermally sensitive components that absorb incident radiation and convert the radiation to thermal energy.
• the photothermal conversion material is an "infrared absorbing" compound.
• the second layer may contain the same first material or a different photothermal conversion material, i.e., a second material.
• thermally sensitive is synonymous with the term “heat sensitive”
• image area(s) means the surface area(s) of the imaged plate which is ink-receptive. The plate is exposed in non-image area(s), i.e., areas outside the "image areas” that are not ink-receptive, typically with an infrared laser or a thermal print head.
• the exposed portions are developed away thus exposing hydrophilic surfaces of the substrate that are receptive to conventional aqueous fountain solutions.
• the second layer composed of ink-receptive image areas, protects the underlying aqueous-soluble coating areas from the aqueous developer.
• the second layer may also contain a photothermal conversion material.
• imaging exposure may result in at least partial removal of exposed areas of the second layer from the underlying coating. Any remaining exposed areas of the second layer are removed during development of the imaged plate.
• the invention will be illustrated using infrared radiation, and infrared absorbing material as the photothermal conversion material, but is not intended to be limited thereby.
• solubility inhibiting material in the composite layer structure, solution and development latitude are improved and development can be carried out in a standard processor without production of sludge.
• developability and humidity shelf life are improved relative to single layer, positive-working thermal compositions containing alkali-soluble polymers together with solubility inhibitors.
• the plate construction of the present invention includes a composite layer structure supported by a substrate.
• the composite layer structure contains at least an ink-receptive, aqueous-insoluble second layer overlying an aqueous-soluble infrared absorbing layer that is adhered to the surface of the substrate.
• the composite structure may additionally contain intermediate layers such as substrate subbing layers to enhance hydrophilicity or adhesion to the composite structure, or an adhesion promoting interlayer between the second layer and the infrared absorbing layer.
• Substrate Hydrophilic substrates that may be used in the planographic plate include any sheet material conventionally used to prepare lithographic printing plates such as metal sheet materials or polymeric sheet material
• a preferred metal substrate is an aluminum sheet
• the surface of the aluminum sheet may be treated with metal finishing techniques known in the art including brushing roughening, electrochemical roughening, chemical roughening, anodizing and silicate sealing and the like If the surface is roughened the average roughness Ra is preferably in the range from 0 1 to 0 8 ⁇ m, and more preferably in the range from 0 1 to 0 4 ⁇ m
• the preferred thickness of the aluminum sheet is in the range from about 0 005 in (0 127 mm) to about 0 020 in (0 508 mm)
• the polymeric sheet material may be comprised of a continuous polymeric film material a paper sheet, a composite material or the like Typically the polymeric sheet material contains a sub-coating on one or both surfaces to modify the surface characteristics to enhance the hydrophi city of the surface, to improve
• the first layer of the composite layer structure is composed of a polymeric material, a solubility inhibiting material and optionally, a first photothermal conversion material such as an infrared absorbing compound, in which the polymeric material is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous solution having a pH of about 6 or greater, i e , in a slightly acidic, neutral or alkaline aqueous solution
• a first photothermal conversion material such as an infrared absorbing compound
• the polymeric material is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous solution having a pH of about 6 or greater, i e , in a slightly acidic, neutral or alkaline aqueous solution
• Useful polymeric materials contain acid functionality and may be composed of one or more polymers or resins
• Such polymers and resins include carboxy functional acrylics, acrylics which contain phenol groups and/or sulfonamide groups, cellulosic based polymers and copolymers, vinyl acetate/crotonate
• Useful polymeric materials are alkali-soluble acrylic resins that are free of carboxylic acid functionality and which contain at least one of phenolic group, sulfonamide group, N-acylsulfonamide or combinations thereof.
• Useful acrylic resins of this type include, but are not limited thereby, a terpolymer of ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and the urea adduct of (1 -(1 -isocyanato-1 - methyl)ethyl-3-(1 -methyl)ethenyl benze ⁇ e)/p-am ⁇ nophenol reaction product (hereinafter AR-1 ); a terpolymer of acrylonitrile, methacrylamide and the urea adduct of (1-(1-isocyanato-1-methyl)ethyl-3-(1 -methyl)ethenyl benzene)/p- aminophenol reaction product (hereinafter AR-2); a copolymer of acryl
• solubility inhibiting materials may be used as solubility inhibiting materials to reduce the solubility of the first layer.
• solubility inhibiting materials also known as “dissolution inhibitors”
• dissolution inhibitors may be reversible insolubilizers or they may be compounds which are capable of irreversibly conversion to solvent soluble components.
• Reversible insolubilizers typically have polar or ionic functionality that serve as acceptor sites for hydrogen bonding or weak ionic bond formation with groups on the polymeric material such as hydroxy or carboxylic acid groups.
• a useful class of reversible insolubilizers are nitrogen containing compounds in which at least one nitrogen atom is quaternized, incorporated in a heterocyclic ring, or quaternized and incorporated in a heterocyclic ring.
• useful quatemerized nitrogen containing compounds includes triaryl methane dyes such as Crystal Violet (Cl base violet 3), Ethyl Violet and Victoria Blue BO, and tetraalkyl ammonium compounds such as Cetrimide (a Cu alkyl trimethyl-ammonium bromide).
• a preferred reversible insolubilizer is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound such as quinoline and thazols, e.g., 1 ,2,4-triazol.
• Another preferred reversible insolubilizer is a quaternized heterocyclic compound.
• Suitable quaternized heterocyclic compounds are imidazoline compounds such as Monazoline C, Monazoline O, Monazoline CY, Monazoline T all of which are manufactured by Mona Industries; quinolinium compounds such as 1 -ethyl-2- mehtylquinolinium iodide and 1-ethyl-4-mehtyl-quinolinium iodide; benzothiazolium compounds such as 3-ethyl-2-methyl benzothiazolium iodide; and pyridinium compounds such as cetyl pyridinium bromide, ethyl viologen dibromide, and fluoropyridinium tetrafluoroborate.
• imidazoline compounds such as Monazoline C, Monazoline O, Monazoline CY, Monazoline T all of which are manufactured by Mona Industries
• quinolinium compounds such as 1 -ethyl-2- mehtylquinolinium iodide and 1-ethy
• the quinolinium or benzothiazolium compounds may be cationic cyanine dyes such as Quinoldine Blue, 3-ethyl-2-[3-(3-ethyl-2(3H)- benzothiazolylidene)-2-methyl-1-propenyl] benzothiazolium iodide or Dye A having the structure:
• a further useful class of reversible insolubilizers are carbonyl containing compounds such as ⁇ -naphthoflavone, ⁇ -naphthoflavone, 2,3-diphenyl-1- indeneone, flavone, flavanone, xanthone, benzophenone, N-(4-bromobutyl) - phthalimide, and phenanthrenequinone.
• Formulations useful in preparing the first layer of this invention and which contain reversible insolubilizer compounds are described in WO 97/39894 and U.S. Patent 5,858,626, each being directed to single layer lithographic printing plates.
• Solubility inhibiting compounds that are useful in formulating the first layer of this invention may be compounds capable of irreversible conversion to solvent soluble components, such as conventional o-quinone diazide compounds.
• solvent soluble components such as conventional o-quinone diazide compounds.
• Formulations useful in preparing the first layer of this invention and which contain irreversible insolubilizer compounds are described in Sheriff et al., U.S. Patent
• the o-quinone diazide which is a reaction product of the aqueous solution soluble polymeric material (as described above) and an o-diazonaphthoquinone reactive derivative is used in preparing the first layer
• a derivative has a functional group (such as chloride or reactive imide group) that can react with a suitable reactive group (for example, a hydroxy group) of the polymeric material (such as a phenolic resin) and thereby become part of the polymeric material rendering the material sensitive to light
• the reactive group can be in the 4- or 5-pos ⁇ t ⁇ on of the o-diazonaphthoquinone molecule
• Representative reactive compounds include sulfonic and carboxylic acid, ester or amide derivatives of the o-diazonaphthoquinone moiety
• Preferred compounds are the sulfonyl chloride or esters, and the sulfonyl chlorides are most preferred Such reactions with the phenolic resin
• the first layer contains a first photothermal conversion material such as an infrared absorber
• a first photothermal conversion material such as an infrared absorber
• An infrared absorber may be selected from either a dye or pigment
• a primary factor in selecting the infrared absorber is its extinction coefficient which measures the efficiency of the dye or pigment in absorbing infrared radiation in accordance with Beer's Law The extinction coefficient must have a sufficient value in the wavelength region of infrared radiation exposure usually from 780 nm to 1300 nm
• Examples of infrared absorbing dyes useful in the present invention include, Cyasorb IR 99 and Cyasorb IR 165 (Glendale Protective Technology), Epolite IV- 62B and Epolite 111-178 (Epoline Corporation), PINA-780 (Allied Signal), Spectra IR 830A and Spectra IR 840A (Spectra Colors), ADS 830A and ADS 1060A (ADS Corp) and EC 21
• solubility inhibiting material is the photothermal conversion material
• Dye B having the formula:
• the second layer of the composite layer structure i.e. the top layer, is insoluble in the aqueous solution having a pH of about 6 or greater, and contains as an essential ingredient a polymeric material which is ink-receptive and soluble or dispersible in a solvent such as an organic solvent or an aqueous solvent dispersion.
• a polymeric material which is ink-receptive and soluble or dispersible in a solvent such as an organic solvent or an aqueous solvent dispersion.
• the polymeric material itself is insoluble in the aqueous solution having a pH of about 6 or greater.
• Useful polymers of this type include acrylic polymers and copolymers; polystyrene; styrene-acrylic copolymers; polyesters, polyamides; polyureas; polyurethanes; nitrocellulosics; epoxy resins; and combinations thereof.
• the second layer may also contain a photothermal conversion material, which typically is the same infrared absorbing dye which is used as the photothermal conversion material in the first infrared absorbing layer.
• the second layer may also contain a dye or pigment, such as a printout dye added to distinguish the exposed areas from the unexposed areas during processing; or a contrast dye to distinguish image areas in the finished imaged plate.
• the second layer may also contain polymeric particles, which are incompatible with the second polymeric material. As used herein the term "incompatible" means that the polymeric particles are retained as a separate phase within the second polymeric material.
• the polymeric particles have an average diameter between about 0.5 ⁇ m and about 10 ⁇ m.
• Preferred polymeric particles of this type are poly tetrafluoroethylene particles. The presence of such polymeric particles improves scratch resistance of the composite layer and surprisingly enhances exposure latitude for processing the plate
• the second layer is substantially free of ionic groups
• the composite layer structure may be applied to the substrate by sequentially applying the first layer and then the second layer using conventional coating or lamination methods Alternatively, both layers may be applied at the same time using multiple layer coating methods such as with slot type coaters, or from a single solution which undergoes self-stratification into top and bottom layers upon drying However it is important to avoid substantial intermixing the layers, which tends to reduce the sensitivity Regardless of the method of application, the first layer has an inner surface that is contiguous to the substrate, and the second layer of the applied composite has an outer surface
• the first layer may be applied to the hydrophilic substrate by any conventional method
• the ingredients are dissolved or dispersed in a suitable coating solvent, and the resulting solvent mixture is coated by known methods such as by whirl coating, bar coating, gravure coating, roller coating, and the like
• suitable coating solvents include alkoxyalkanols such as 2- methoxyethanol, ketones such as methyl ethyl ketone, esters such as ethyl acetate or butyl acetate, and mixtures thereof
• the second or top layer may be applied to the surface of the first layer by any conventional method such as those described above Typically the ingredients are dissolved or dispersed in a suitable organic coating solvent which is not a solvent for the first layer Suitable coating solvents for coating the second layer include aromatic solvents such as toluene and mixtures of aromatic solvents with alkanols such as a 90 10 weight ratio of toluene and butanol
• the first layer, the second layer or both layers may be applied by conventional extrusion coating methods from a melt mixture of layer components Typically, such a melt mixture contains no volatile organic solvents Plate Imaging and Processing
• the thermal digital lithographic printing plate precursor is imaged by the method comprising the following steps First a lithographic printing plate precursor is provided which comprises a hydrophilic substrate and adhered thereto, a composite layer structure having an inner surface contiguous to the hydrophilic substrate and an outer oleophilic ink-receptive surface
• the composite layer structure comprises a first layer which forms the inner surface of the composite layer structure and a second layer which forms the outer surface of the composite layer structure
• the first layer comprises a first polymeric material, a solubility inhibiting material and a photothermal conversion material as previously described, in which the first polymeric material is soluble or dispersible in an aqueous solution having a pH of about 6 or greater, and the solubility inhibiting material reduces the solubility of the first layer
• the second layer consists essentially of a second polymeric material, as previously described, which is soluble in the organic solvent, in which the second layer is insoluble in the aqueous solution
• the composite layer structure is imagewise exposed to thermal energy
• the lithographic plate of this invention and its methods of preparation have already been described above
• This plate may be imaged with a laser or an array of lasers emitting infrared radiation in a wavelength region that closely matches the absorption spectrum of the first infrared absorbing layer
• Suitable commercially available imaging devices include image setters such as a Creo Trendsetter (CREO Corporation, British Columbia, Canada) and a Gerber Crescent 42T (Gerber Corporation) While infrared lasers are preferred other high intensity lasers emitting in the visible or ultraviolet may also be used to image the lithographic plate of this invention
• the lithographic plate of this invention may be imaged using a conventional apparatus containing a thermal printing head or any other means for imagewise conductively heating the composite layer such as with a heated stylus, with a heated stamp, or with a soldering iron as illustrated in the following examples.
• the developer liquid may be any liquid or solution which can both penetrate the exposed areas and dissolve or disperse the exposed areas of the infrared absorbing layer without substantially affecting the complimentary unexposed portions of the composite layer structure.
• Useful developer liquids are the aqueous solutions having a pH of about 6 or above as previously described. Preferred developer solutions are those that have a pH between about 8 and about 13.5.
• Useful developers include commercially available developers such as PC3000, PC955, PC956, PC4005, PC9000, and GoldstarTM DC aqueous alkaline developers (Kodak Polychrome Graphics, LLC).
• the developer liquid is applied to the imaged plate by rubbing or wiping the second layer with an applicator containing the developer liquid.
• the imaged plate may be brushed with the developer liquid or the developer liquid may be applied to the plate by spraying the second layer with sufficient force to remove the exposed areas.
• the imaged plate can be soaked in the developer liquid, followed by rubbing or brushing the plate with water.
• lithographic printing plates having high press life with good ink receptivity are produced at high imaging speeds by the method of this invention
• press life surprisingly is further enhanced by uniformly exposing the imaged lithographic printing plate to thermal energy after it has been developed in step III.
• Such a uniform thermal exposure may be carried out by any conventional heating technique, such as baking, contact with a heated platen, exposure to infrared radiation, and the like
• the developed imaged lithographic printing plate is passed through a baking oven at 240° C for 3 minutes after treatment with a baking gum
• thermal lithographic printing plate of the present invention will now be illustrated by the following examples but is not intended to be limited thereby
• Synthesis Example 2 (AR-2) 201 g of m-TMI and 11 1.3 g of p-aminophenol were heated in dimethylacet- amide (487 g) to 40°C in a N 2 purge. Following completion of the reaction, monitored as above, the resulting monomer adduct was precipitated using water/ice, filtered and dried at room temperature.
• Vazo®-64 DuPont, Wilmington, DE, USA
• 50 g of the monomer adduct, 10 g of methacrylamide, 40 g of acrylonitrile and 1.0 g of Vazo®-64 (DuPont, Wilmington, DE, USA) were premixed and copolymerized by addition over 2 hrs to a solution of 100 g dimethylacetamide and 0.3 g Vazo®-64, heated to 80°C. After the addition was complete, an additional 1.0 g of Vazo®-64 was added in two equal portions. The reaction was completed in 8 hr, as determined by conversion to the theoretical % non-volatiles.
• the monomer adduct (37.5 g) was copolymerized with 10 g of acrylonitrile by heating at 80°C with 0.25 g of Vazo®-64 in 61.5 g dimethylacetamide. Then a mixture of 1 12.5 g of monomer adduct, 30 g of acrylonitrile and 0.5 gram of Vazo®-64 were added in 2 hours. After the addition was complete, 0.25 gram of Vazo®-64 was in 2 equal portions. The reaction was completed, as determined by conversion to the theoretical %non-volatile in 15 hrs.
• the product copolymer AR-3 had the following structure:
• Synthesis Example 4 201 g of m-TMI and 111.3 g of p-aminophenol were heated to 40°C in dimethylacetamide (487 g) in a N 2 purge. Following completion of the reaction, monitored as described above, the intermediate monomer adduct was precipitated using water/ice, filtered and dried at room temperature. The monomer adduct (50 g) was copolymerized with 10 g of methacrylamide, 40 g of N-phenylmaleimide (Nippon Shokubai Co., LTD Japan) by heating at 60°C with 0.2 g of Vazo®-64 in 300 g dimethylacetamide for 22 hrs.
• the product (AR-4), terpolymer of methacrylamide, N-phenylmaleimide and the urea adduct of TMI/p-aminophenol was isolated as in Synthesis Example 1.
• the product terpolymer AR-4 had the following structure:
• Synthesis Example 5 32.04 g of m-TMI and 30.0 g of 2-amino-4-sulfonamidophenol were heated to 30°C in dimethylformamide (98 g) in a N 2 purge. Following completion of the reaction, monitored as described above, the intermediate monomer adduct was precipitated using water/ice, filtered and dried at room temperature.
• the monomer adduct (35 g) was copolymerized in 300.6 grams of dimethylacetamide with 10 g of methacrylamide, 45 g of N-phenylmaleimide and 10 g of acrylonitrile, using 0.2 g of Vazo®-64, by heating first at 60°C for 22 hrs and then at 80°C for 10 hrs.
• Acrylic resin AR-6 which is a terpolymer of acrylonitrile, methacrylamide and the urea adduct of isocyanatoethyl methacrylate/p-aminophenol, was obtained from Dai Nippon Ink and Chemical Company.
• the product terpolymer AR-6 had the following structure.
• the resulting solution was spin coated onto an electrochemically grained and anodized aluminum plate at 30 revolutions per minute for one minute and dried in a forced air oven at 100°C for one minute.
• the plate precursor was laser imaged on a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device having a laser diode array emitting at 830 nm with a dose of 120 to 250 mJ/cm 2 .
• a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device having a laser diode array emitting at 830 nm with a dose of 120 to 250 mJ/cm 2 .
• a developer drop test was carried out in which a series of drops of developer were applied to the exposed area as well as to the unexposed (image) area of the undeveloped plate.
• the time required for the drop of developer to penetrate and remove the coating under the drop was subsequently determined in 5 second intervals.
• the drops of the series are applied to the plate surface in sequence in which each subsequent drop is applied to a different spot on the plate surface at a 5 second interval from previous drop application on a previous spot.
• the drop test is completed 5 sec after the final drop is applied, by rinsing the plate surface with a stream of water.
• the surface of the plate is then surveyed for the most recent spot in the series where the coating has been removed and the time calculated from the number of intervals before rinsing. In this instance, the drop of developer removed the coating under the drop within 10 sec in the exposed area and within 15 sec in the unexposed area.
• Shelf life of the plate precursor was determined by an accelerated aging test in which samples were stored in a chamber at 80%R.H. and 60°C. At daily intervals a sample was removed from the chamber and imaged and developed as described above. Shelf life in days indicates the length of treatment required before the treated plate precursor fails to produce a useful printing plate. The shelf life of this conditioned plate precursor was determined to be less than 1 day.
• Example 1 A lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Comparative Example 1. 13.2 g of A-21 (a 30% solution of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in toluene/butanol 90:10 solvent mixture from Rohm & Haas) was dissolved in 190 g of toluene. The solution was stirred and then coated on top of the coated layer of above mentioned printing plate precursor.
• A-21 a 30% solution of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) in toluene/butanol 90:10 solvent mixture from Rohm & Haas
• the coated plate precursor was laser imaged on a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device and developed as described in Comparative Example 1 to provide a printing plate in which laser exposed areas were cleanly removed.
• a lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as follows A coating solution was prepared as a solution in 1-methoxypropane-2-ol/xylene (98:2 wt %) containing 70 parts by weight of LB6564 (a l phenol/cresol novolac resin supplied by Bakelite, UK); 20 parts by weight of LB744 (a cresol novolac resin supplied by Bakelite, UK); 6 parts by weight of Si kophen P50X, a phenyl methyl siloxane (Tego Chemie Service Gmbh, Essen, Germany); 2 parts by weight Crystal Violet (basic violet 3, C I 42555, Gentian Violet), and 2 parts by weight of the dye KF654B PINA (Riedel de Haan UK, Middlesex, UK) believed to have the structure (hereinafter identified as Dye C)-
• This coating solution was coated by means of a wire wound bar onto a 0.3 mm sheet aluminum which had been electrograined; anodized and post-anodically treated with an aqueous solution of an inorganic phosphate.
• the solution concentrations were selected to provide a dry film coating weight of 2.5 g/m after through drying a 100°C for three minutes in a Mathis labdryer oven as supplied by Werner Mathis AG, Germany.
• the plate precursor was laser imaged on a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device having a laser diode array emitting at 830 nm with a dose of 120 to 250 mJ/cm 2 .
• the developer drop test as described in Comparative Example 1 was carried out on the exposed undeveloped plate In this instance, the drop of developer removed the coating under the drop within 15 sec in the exposed area and within 30 sec in the unexposed area Shelf life of the plate precursor was determined by an accelerated aging test described in Comparative Example 1 The shelf life of this conditioned plate precursor was determined to be 2 days
• Example 2 A lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Comparative Example 2
• the coated plate precursor was laser imaged on a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device and developed as described in Comparative Example 2 to provide a printing plate in which laser exposed areas were cleanly removed
• a polymeric coating was prepared by dissolving 0 2 g SpectralR830 dye (Spectra Colors Corp , Kearny, NJ), 0 05 g ethyl violet, 0 6 g Uravar FN6 resole phenolic resin (DSM, Netherlands), 1 5 g PMP-65 co-polymer (PMP-65 co-polymer is based on methacrylamide, acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, and APK which is methacryloxyethylisocyanate reacted with aminophenol (Polychrome Corporation), and 7.65 g PD140A novolac resin (Borden Chemicals, MA), into 100 g solvent mixture containing 15% Dowanol® PM, 40% 1 ,3-d ⁇ oxolane and 45% methanol The solution was coated with a wire wound bar onto an EG-aluminum substrate and dried at 100°C for 5 minutes to produce a uniform polymeric coating having a coating weight of 1 .8 to 2.2
• the plate precursor was laser imaged on a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device having a laser diode array emitting at 830 nm with a dose of 120 to 250 mJ/cm 2 .
• a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device having a laser diode array emitting at 830 nm with a dose of 120 to 250 mJ/cm 2 .
• positive developer PC-4000 Kert Polychrome Graphics
• laser exposed areas were cleanly removed.
• the developer drop test as described in Comparative Example 1 , was carried out on the exposed undeveloped plate. In this instance, the drop of developer removed the coating under the drop within 20 sec in the exposed area and within 50 sec in the unexposed area.
• a lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Comparative Example 3.
• Shelf life of the coated plate precursor as determined by an accelerated aging test in Comparative Example 1 was found to be 4 days, indicating a substantially improved shelf life of the coated plate.
• a lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as follows: A photosensitive coating formulation was prepared using a cresol-formaldehyde resin (purchased from Schenectady Chemical Company) derivatized (3%) with 2- d ⁇ azo-1 ,2-d ⁇ hydro-1 -oxo-5-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride 45 3 g of derivatized resin), 2-[2-[2-chloro-3-[(1 ,3-d ⁇ hydro-1 , 1 ,3-t ⁇ methyl-2H-benz[e] ⁇ ndol-2-yl ⁇ dene)- ethyl ⁇ dene-1 -cyclohexen-1 -yl]ethenyl]-1 , 1 ,3-tr ⁇ methyl-1 H-benz[e] ⁇ ndol ⁇ um, salt with 4-methylbenzenesulfon ⁇ c acid IR absorbing dye (0 626 g), and 1 -methoxy-2- propanol solvent (950 g).
• This formulation was applied to give a dry coating weight of 1 g/m 2 onto electrochemically grained and sulfu ⁇ c acid anodized aluminum sheets that had been further treated with an acrylamide- vinylphosphonic acid copolymer (according to US-A-5,368,974,) to form the lithographic printing plate precursor
• the plate precursor was laser imaged on a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device having a laser diode array emitting at 830 nm with a dose of 120 to 250 mJ/cm 2 .
• a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device having a laser diode array emitting at 830 nm with a dose of 120 to 250 mJ/cm 2 .
• positive developer PC-3000 Kert Polychrome Graphics
• laser exposed areas were cleanly removed.
• the developer drop test as described in Comparative Example 1 , was carried out on the exposed undeveloped plate. In this instance, the drop of developer removed the coating under the drop within 10 sec in the exposed area and within 20 sec in the unexposed area. Shelf life of the plate precursor was determined by an accelerated aging test described in Comparative Example 1. The shelf life of this conditioned plate precursor was determined to be less than 2 days.
• Example 4 A lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Comparative Example 4
• the coated plate precursor was laser imaged on a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device and developed as described in Comparative Example 4 to provide a printing plate in which laser exposed areas were cleanly removed.
• Shelf life of the coated plate precursor as determined by an accelerated aging test in Comparative Example 1 was found to be 4 days, indicating a substantially improved shelf life of the coated plate.
• Example 5 A lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Comparative Example 1.
• the coated plate precursor was laser imaged on a Creo Trendsetter thermal exposure device and developed as described in Comparative Example 1 to provide a printing plate in which laser exposed areas were cleanly removed.
• Example 6 A lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Example 2 except that the precursor plate of Comparative Example 2 contained ADS-1060 IR dye in place of KF654B PINA.
• the coated plate precursor was laser imaged on a Gerber Crescent 42T exposure device, emitting at 1064 nm, and developed as described in Comparative Example 2. Laser exposed areas of both the bottom layer and overcoat layer were removed without affecting the unexposed areas of either layer.
• a coating formulation was prepared using 90.5% by weight of solids of PD140A, 5.5%o by weight of solids of ADS 1060 (a 1060 nm sensitive IR dye from ADS, Montreal, Canada), 2.0% by weight of solids of IR Sensi a 830 nm sensitive IR dye from FEW Wolfen, Germany), and 2.0 % by weight of solids of Ethyl Violet was dissolved in a solvent mixture of Dowanol® PM, 1 ,3-dioxolane and methanol (15:45:40 vol. %) to give a 16 % by weight of solids solution. This solution was coated on an EG grained polyvinylphosphonic sealed substrate to give a dry coating weight of 2.0 g/m 2 .
• Two plate precursors were laser imaged with a 810 nm laser diode mounted on a rotating drum to provide single lines and solid areas.
• One imaged plate was then developed with aqueous alkaline developer GoldstarTM DC (Kodak Polychrome Graphics) and the other imaged plate was developed in aqueous alkaline developer PC4005 (Kodak Polychrome Graphics). While the laser exposed areas could be selectively developed with GoldstarTM DC; areas not exposed by the laser were strongly attacked by the PC4005 developer.
• Example 7 A lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Comparative Example 7 in which the coated layer formed the bottom layer.
• Top Layer A 3% by weight butyl acetate solution of nitrocellulose E950 (Wolff Walsrode, Germany) was coated over the bottom layer of the above plate to give a dry coating weight of 0.35 g/m 2 .
• a lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as follows: A coating formulation was prepared using 89% by weight of solids of PD140A, 1.5% by weight of solids of tetrahydrophthalic acid anhydride , 5.5% by weight of solids of ADS 1060, 2.0% by weight of solids of IR Sensi, and 2.0 % by weight of solids of Ethyl Violet , dissolved in a solvent mixture of Dowanol® PM, 1 ,3-dioxolane and methanol (15:45:40 vol. %) to give a 16 % by weight of solids solution. This solution was coated on an EG grained polyvinylphosphonic sealed substrate to give a dry coating weight of 2.0 g/m 2 .
• Example 8 A lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Comparative Example 8 in which the coated layer formed the bottom layer.
• Top Layer A 3% by weight butyl acetate solution of nitrocellulose E950 was coated over the bottom layer of the above plate to give a dry coating weight of 0.34 g/m 2 .
• a coating formulation was prepared using 78% by weight of solids of LB 6564 (phenolic resin, Bakelite), 4.6% by weight of solids of LB 744 (phenolic resin, Bakelite), 1.8% by weight of solids of KF 654 (IR active dye, Riedel de Haen), 1.8% by weight of solids of Crystal Violet (Aldrich), 13.8% by weight of solids of Makrolon® 3108 polycarbonate (Bayer AG), and 0.03 % by weight of solids of FC 430 (fluorocarbon surfactant from 3M, St. Paul, MN, USA), dissolved in a solvent mixture of methyl glycol and 1 ,3-dioxolane (15:85 vol. %) to give a 10 % by weight of solids solution.
• FC 430 fluorocarbon surfactant from 3M, St. Paul, MN, USA
• This solution was coated on an EG grained polyvinylphosphonic sealed substrate to give a dry coating weight of 2.0 /m 2 .
• Two plate precursors were laser imaged with a 810 nm laser diode mounted on a rotating drum to provide single lines and solid areas.
• One imaged plate was then developed with aqueous alkaline developer GoldstarTM DC, and the other imaged plate was developed in 10% sodium metasilicate solution.
• areas not exposed by the laser were strongly attacked by each of the GoldstarTM DC developer and the 10% sodium metasilicate solution when the plates were soaked in the developers for less than 30 sec.
• Example 9 A lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Comparative Example 9 in which the coated layer formed the bottom layer
• Each two-layer plate precursor was laser imaged and developed as described in Comparative Example 8
• the developers removed only the IR exposed areas so that a good ink-receptive image remained on a clean background
• the resistance of the image to developer attack was determined by soaking non imaged plates in GoldstarTM DC developer and in 10% sodium metasilicate solution For both developers, removal of areas not exposed to IR radiation took longer than 4 minutes
• a lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as follows A coating formulation was prepared using 0 75 g PD140A, 0 15 g PMP-92 co- polymer (PMP-92 co-polymer is based on methacrylamide, N-phenyl-maleimide, and APK which is methacryloxyethylisocyanate reacted with aminophenol (Polychrome Corporation), 0 10 g CAP (cellulosic resin from Eastman Kodak) 0 04 g ADS 830A, and 0 03 g Ethyl Violet, dissolved in 13 g of a solvent mixture of Dowanol® PM, 1 ,3-d ⁇ oxolane and methanol (15 45 40 vol %) This solution was coated on an electrolytically grained, anodized and polyvinylphosphonic sealed substrate to give a dry coating weight of 1 9 g/m 2
• a lithographic printing plate precursor was prepared as described in Comparative Example 10 in which the coated layer formed the bottom layer
• Example 11 A coating solution was prepared by dissolving 8.5 g of polyvinyl phenol (SiberHegner, Baltimore, MD), 10 5 g of acrylic resin AR-1 , 3.38 g of ADS-830A IR dye (American Dye Source, Inc, Quebec, Canada) and 0.113 g of Victoria Blue BO indicator dye in 353 g of solvent mixture, consisting of 30% 2-methoxyethanol, 25% methyl ethyl ketone and 45% methanol. The solution was spin coated on a grained and anodized aluminum substrate at 80 rpm and dried at 60°C for 4 min to produce a uniform coating having a coating weight between 1.4 to 1.6 g/m 2 .
• the resulting coated substrate was over-coated with a solution of 1% toluene solution of Acryloid® A-21 (polymethyl methacrylate solution from Rohm & Haas) by spin coated at 50 rpm, resulting in a second layer coating weight of 0.3 g/m 2 .
• the resultant 2-layer plate was laser imaged on a Creo Trendsetter exposure device having a laser diode array emitting at 830nm with a dose of 200mJ/cm 2 .
• Example 12 A coating solution was prepared by dissolving 3.89 g of acrylic resin AR-6, 0.563 g of ADS-830 IR dye and 0.045 g of Victoria Blue BO indicator dye into 70.5 g of 2-methoxyethanol. The solution was spin coated on a grained and anodized aluminum substrate at 80 rpm and dried at 60°C for 4 minutes to produce a uniform coating having a coating weight between 1.4 to 1.6 g/m 2 .
• the resulting coated substrate was over-coated and laser imaged as described in example 11.
• the imaged plate was developed with aqueous developer JK-5 (a mixture of Kodak Polychrome Graphics developer PD-1 , Kodak Polychrome Graphics developer 951 and water at 1:1 :6 volume ratio), which removed the laser-exposed regions.
• JK-5 a mixture of Kodak Polychrome Graphics developer PD-1 , Kodak Polychrome Graphics developer 951 and water at 1:1 :6 volume ratio
• the resulting plate provided 185,000 impressions on an OMCSA- Ha ⁇ s-125 press and had excellent resistance to alkaline plate cleaners (Prisco LPC and Rycoline both having pH >13) as well as to UV/EB ink plate washes.
• Example 13
• a coating solution was prepared by dissolving 6.49 g of acrylic resin AR-3, 0.938 g of ADS-830 IR dye and 0.075 g of Victoria Blue BO indicator dye into a mixture of 50.5 g of 2-methoxyethanol, 50.5 g of dioxalane and 16.5 g of methyl lactate. The solution was spin coated on a grained and anodized aluminum substrate at 80 rpm and dried at 60°C for 4 minutes to produce a uniform coating having a coating weight between 1.4 to 1.6 g/m 2 .
• the resulting coated substrate was over-coated and laser imaged as described in example 11.
• the imaged plate was developed with an aqueous developer 955 or 956 (Kodak Polychrome Graphics), which removed the laser exposed regions, to provide a positive working plate.
• Example 14 A coating solution was prepared by dissolving 5.7 g of acrylic resin AR-2, 3.8 g of AR-3, 1.38 g of ADS-830A IR dye and 0.11 g of Victoria Blue BO indicator dye into a mixture of 80.3 g of 2-methoxyethanol, 80.3g of dioxalane and 26.5 g of methyl lactate. The solution was spin coated on a grained and anodized aluminum substrate at 80 rpm and dried at 60°C for 4 minutes to produce a uniform coating having a coating weight between 1.4 to 1.6 g/m 2 .
• the resulting coated substrate was over-coated and laser imaged as described in example 1 1.
• the imaged plate was developed with aqueous developer JK-6 (a mixture of Kodak Polychrome Graphics PD-1 (25%), Kodak Polychrome Graphics 951 (17%). benzyl alcohol (3%), Cyna-50 (Mona Industries) (3%) and water (52%), which removed the laser exposed regions, to provide a positive working plate.
• Example 15 Example 14 was repeated using 5.7 g of acrylic resin AR-4 in place of AR-2, to provide an analogous positive working plate.
• Example 16 Example 15 was repeated using 5.7g acrylic resin AR-5 in place of AR-4, to provide an analogous positive working plate.

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