WO2008145530A1

WO2008145530A1 - A lithographic printing plate precursor

Info

Publication number: WO2008145530A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/055954
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Venneman; Peter Hendrikx; Paul Callant; Alexander Williamson
Original assignee: Agfa Graphics Nv
Priority date: 2007-05-25
Filing date: 2008-05-15
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: EP2153280B1; CN101681105B; PL2153280T3; BRPI0811195A2; DE602008006548D1; CN101681105A; US20100104980A1; ES2362956T3; EP2153280A1; ATE507506T1

Abstract

A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image recording layer, said image -recording layer being photopolymerizable upon exposure to actinic light and containing a mixture of sensitizers characterized in that said mixture of sensitizers has in 1-methoxy-2-propanol at 80°C a solubility of at least 30 wt. %. and preferably a MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) of at least 8.5°C, said MSZW measured at a cooling and heating rate of 0.2°C /minute.

Description

A LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING PLATE PRECURSOR

[DESCRIPTION]

5 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image-recording layer, said image -recording layer being photopolymerizable upon exposure to actinic light ando containing a mixture of sensitizers. The invention relates also to a method of making a printing plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5

In lithographic printing, a so-called printing master such as a printing plate is mounted on a cylinder of the printing press. The master carries a lithographic image on its surface and a printed copy is obtained by applying ink to said image and then transferring0 the ink from the master onto a receiver material, which is typically paper. In conventional, so-called 'wet' lithographic printing, ink as well as an aqueous fountain solution (also called dampening liquid) are supplied to the lithographic image which consists of oleophilic (or hydrophobic, i.e. ink-accepting, water-repelling)s areas as well as hydrophilic (or oleophobic, i.e. water-accepting, ink-repelling) areas. In so-called ^λ driographic' printing, the lithographic image consists of ink-accepting and ink-abhesive (ink- repelling) areas and during driographic printing, only ink is supplied to the master. o Printing masters are generally obtained by the so-called computer- to-film (CtF) method wherein various pre-press steps such as typeface selection, scanning, color separation, screening, trapping, layout and imposition are accomplished digitally and each color selection is transferred to graphic arts film using an image- setter .5 After processing, the film can be used as a mask for the exposure of an imaging material called plate precursor and after plate processing, a printing plate is obtained which can be used as a master. Since about 1995, the so-called ^λ computer-to-plate ' (CtP) method has gained a lot of interest. This method, also called s ^λdirect-to-plate' , bypasses the creation of film because the digital document is transferred directly to a plate precursor by means of a so-called plate-setter. A plate precursor for CtP is often called a digital plate . Digital plates can roughly be divided in three categories : (i)o silver plates, which work according to the silver salt diffusion transfer mechanism; (ii) photopolymer plates which contain a photopolymerizable composition that hardens upon exposure to light and (iii) thermal plates of which the imaging mechanism is triggered by heat or by light-to-heat conversion. Thermal plates are mainlys sensitized for infrared lasers emitting at 830 nm or 1064 nm.

Typical photopolymer plates are sensitized for visible light, mainly for exposure by an Ar laser (488 nm) or a FD-YAG laser (532 nm) . The wide-scale availability of low cost blue or violet laser diodes, originally developed for data storage by means of DVD, has enabledo the production of plate-setters operating at shorter wavelength.

More specifically, semiconductor lasers emitting from 350 to 450 nm have been realized using an InGaN material. An advantage of violet plate-setters, compared to visible light plate-setters, are the improved safe-light conditions. Laser diodes, emitting violet light5 with a wavelength around 405 nm (± 15 nm) are at present the most important, commercially available, violet laser diodes. Photopolymer plates generally contain a polymerizable monomer, a binder, a photo-initiator and a sensitizing dye. EP-A 985 683, EP-A 1 048 982 and EP-A 1 070 990 disclose a composition comprisingO a titanocene compound as photo- initiator and specific dyes as sensitizers for the wavelength range from 350 to 450 nm. EP-A 1 035 435 discloses a 1 , 3-dihydro-l-oxo-2H-indene derivative as sensitizing dye. A wide range of dyes for the wavelength range from 300 to 1200 nm is disclosed in EP-A 1 091 247. To enable short exposure times with the commercially available blue or violet laser diodes, resulting m a higher throughput (i.e. higher numbers of printing plate precursors that can be exposed m a given time interval) there is a need to increase the sensitivity of violet sensitive photopolymerizable compositions EP-A 1 349 006 and WO2005/029187 disclose a photopolymerizable composition using optical brightheners, e.g distyrylbenzenes, as sensitizers, suitable for exposure with violet laser diodes. In EP-A 1 621 928, a composition is disclosed which is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light m the wavelength range from 300 to 450 nm, the composition comprising a binder, a polymeπzable compound, a sensitizer and a photo- initiator , wherein the sensitizer is a fluorene compound conjugated via a double or triple bond with an aromatic or heteroaromatic group. Also m EP-A 1 591 242 and 1 688 792, distyryl benzenes are disclosed as efficient sensitizers for the wavelength range of from 300 to 450 nm

The photopolymerizable compositions described in EP-A 1 349 006, WO2005/029187 and EP-A 1 621 928 are high enough m sensitivity to enable exposure with violet light having an energy density, measured on the surface of the plate, of 100 μj/cm² or less.

A problem associated with the above cited sensitizers may be critical crystallization behaviour in the photopolymerizable layer The formation of crystals may locally decrease the polymerization efficiency, resulting m areas m the imaged parts of the precursor partly or completely removed during development. Since these areas may not sufficiently take up ink during printing, a poor, sometimes unacceptable, printing quality may be obtained The occurrence of these crystallization defects may become more pronounced when the printing plate precursor is stored before exposure and development, i.e. the storage stability of the precursor is poor.

To avoid the occurrence of crystallization of the sensitizer WO2005/029187 proposes the use of a sensitizer having a solubility in methylethylketone (MEK) of at least 15 g/kg measured at 20⁰C. Highly preferred sensitizers according to WO2005/029187 are distyrylbenzenes having branched substituents on the benzene rings. However, printing plate precursors comprising these sensitizers may still have a poor storage stability, which may result in printing plates having a poor printing quality due to crystallization defects .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide lithographic printing plate precursors comprising an image-recording layer being photopolymerizable upon exposure to actinic light, characterized in that said precursor has a very good storage stability, a high sensitivity and provides upon exposure and development printing plates with excellent lithographic property.

Another object is to provide a method of making a printing plate wherein a laser emitting actinic light preferably having an energy density, measured on the surface of the plate, of 100 μJ/cm² or less is used and results in printing plates with excellent printing quality.

The first object of the invention is realized by providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image-recording layer, said image-recording layer comprising a mixture of sensitizers as defined in claim 1. Further preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

The second object of the invention is realized by a method of making a printing plate comprising the steps of (i) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor as defined in claim 1, (ii) exposing the precursor with a laser emitting actinic light preferably having an energy density, measured on the surface of the plate, of 100 μJ/cm² or less, (iii) optionally pre-heating the exposed precursor and (iv) developing the exposed precursor. Further preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 illustrates how the MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) of a solution of a sensitizer or a mixture of sensitizers is measured in the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The printing plate precursor according to the present invention comprises a coating on a support having a hydrophilic surface. The coating comprises an image-recording layer, also referred to as photopolymerizable layer, which is photopolymerizable upon exposure to actinic light. The coating may further comprise an overcoat layer provided on top of the image-recording layer and/or an intermediate layer, provided between the support and the image-recording layer. The image-recording layer comprises a mixture of sensitizers, a photo- initiator, at least one polymerizable compound and a binder. The coating may further comprise other ingredients well known in the art.

Mixture of sensitizers

As mentioned in the background of the invention, sensitizers may be characterized by a critical crystallization behaviour in the photopolymerizable layer. The formation of crystals may locally decrease the polymerization efficiency resulting in areas in the imaged parts of the precursor partly or completely removed during development. Since these areas may not sufficiently take up ink during printing, a poor, sometimes unacceptable, printing quality may be obtained. Typical solvents used to prepare a coating solution of the photo- polymerizable layer are organic solvents like l-τnethoxy-2 -propanol (MOP), methylethylketone (MEK), tetrahydrofurane (THF), etc. Often mixtures of organic solvents are used, e.g. a mixture of MOP and MEK. A typical concentration of sensitizers in the photo- polymerizable layer is between 1.0 and 10 percent by weight, preferably between 2.5 and 7.5 percent by weight, relative to the total weight of the non-volatile ingredients of said image-recording layer. In a coating solution of said photopolymerizable layer, a typical concentration of sensitizers is between 0.1 and 5.0 percent by weight, preferably between 0.25 and 2.5 percent by weight relative to the total weight of the coating solution, including the organic solvents used to prepare the coating solution. Suitable sensitizers are therefore soluble in these organic solvents in the indicated concentration range. For example, WO2005/029187 discloses sensitizers of which the solubility in MEK is above 15 g/kg, measured at 2O⁰C.

However, during the preparation of the printing plate precursor, after providing the photopolymerizable layer onto the support or an optional intermediate layer and before providing the optional overcoat onto said photopolymerizable layer, a drying step at elevated temperatures, such as e.g. between 80⁰C and 100⁰C, is typically carried out. During this drying step, the organic solvent (s) evaporate (s) , resulting in an increase of the concentration of the sensitizers in the photopolymerizable layer. Moreover, if two or more different organic solvents with different boiling points are used, the composition of the solvent mixture may change during the drying step. This increase of the concentration of the sensitizer and/or the change in the composition of the solvent mixture during the drying step may induce crystallization of the sensitizer in the photopolymerizable layer.

Such crystallization of the sensitizer may also occur in deposits of the photopolymerizable layer on guiding rollers of the coating apparatus. Such crystals, present on guiding rollers of the coating apparatus, may induce or enhance nucleation and/or accelerate the crystallization of the sensitizer in the photopolymerizable layer.

The fact that the problems associated with the described crystallization phenomena may only become visible after ageing of the printing plate precursor, may indicate that nuclei are formed in the photopolymerizable layer of a freshly prepared precursor, and that these nuclei may grow and form larger crystals during storage of the precursor. These phenomena may depend on the storage conditions, i.e. temperature and humidity, of the precursor.

The above indicates that crystallization, or the formation of nuclei, may occur during preparation of the precursor, probably during drying of the coated photopolymerizable layer. Drying times are typically between 10 and 80 seconds. Taking into account that especially at the end of the drying step, due to an ever increasing concentration of the sensitizer, the crystallization behaviour becomes more and more critical, the critical time during which crystallization may be induced, may typically be between 10 and 30 seconds .

The crystallization behaviour in a particular solvent at a particular temperature is influenced by the solubility of the sensitizer in that particular solvent at that particular temperature. However, kinetic phenomena may also play an important role, especially when the critical crystallization conditions occur in a limited time frame, as in the drying step described above. If the crystallization kinetics are slow, it may occur that no crystallization will take place, even when the concentration of the sensitizers becomes above the solubility of the sensitizer in the particular solvent, i.e supersaturation occurs.

The kinetics of crystallization of compounds in particular solvents and the extent in which supersaturation of these compounds in the particular solvents may occur can be investigated by evaluating the MetaStable Zone of a particular solution. These kinds of investigations are known in the art, especially in the art of chemical engineering wherein e.g. the crystal size of synthesized compounds in particular solvents is optimized. See for example Ulmann' s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, "Crystallization and Precipitation", J. W. Mullin.

There are various ways to investigate the MetaStable Zone of a solution. In these investigations, a solution is subjected to one or more cooling and heating cycli wherein the temperatures, at which nucleation (during cooling cycli) and solubilization (during heating cycli) take place, are determined. These measurements are typically performed at different concentrations of the solution. In the present application the MetaStable Zone of solutions of a sensitizer and/or a mixture of sensitizers were measured with Lasentec® FBRM® technology, from Mettler Toledo. In this experimental set up, a Lasentec Probe is used in an automated

Labmax^® 2 litre reactor, both from Mettler Toledo. In a typical investigation, the solution is cooled at a controlled rate (°C/min.) At a certain temperature, the probe detects nucleation and holds the solution at that temperature as crystallization proceeds. After completion of the crystallization, the solution is subjected to a controlled heating (°C/min) until the probe detects the temperature at which dissolution of the crystals is nearly completed. Again, the solution is kept at that temperature until all crystals are dissolved. Such cooling and heating cycli are performed for different concentrations of the solution. All actions, i.e. performing the cooling and heating cycli, dilution of the solution, storage and analysis of the data are performed automatically by the experimental set up used.

All investigations were performed on a sensitizer solution in 1- methoxy-2-propanol , since this typical coating solvent has a high boiling point (120⁰C) and, as described above, will probably determine the crystallization behaviour at the end of the drying step of the photopolymerizable coating. The obtained data for each investigated solution of a sensitizer or a mixture of sensitizers may be represented as in Figure 1. In Figure 1, curve S is the solubility curve and curve N the nucleation curve. These curves border three regions characterizing the solution as a function of concentration and temperature: the Unsaturated Zone (USZ) , a stable zone wherein the solution is unsaturated (sensitizer is completely dissolved); an Unstable Zone (UZ) , wherein crystallization occurs; and a MetaStable Zone (MSZ) wherein the solution is supersaturated but wherein no cyrstallization occurs. The MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) , expressed in ⁰C, at a given temperature, is the width of the Metastable Zone (MSZ) starting at the curve S at that given temperature. Since the MSZW is dependent on the cooling and heating rates, these rates were identical for all solutions investigated, i.e. 0.2°C/min. If the cooling rate would be indefinitely slow, the nucleation curve would practically coincide with the solublity curve and no MetaStable Zone would be detected.

A high MSZW of a solution indicates that a high supersaturatation may exist before nucleation occurs. Referring to the drying process of a photopolymerizable layer described above, a solution of a sensitizer or a mixture of sensitizers characterized by a high MSZW, may result in postponed or even absence of nucleation during drying.

A suitable sensitizer in the first place must provide a high enough sensitivity to the printing plate precursor towards an exposure with actinic light. Therefore, a selection of sensitizers based on absorption characteristics and efficiency to initiate polymerization has been made in the prior art. However, a solution of such efficient sensitizers may be characterized by a MSZW, which may be disadvantageous with respect to crystallization behaviour, as explained above.

It has been found that solutions of a mixture of sensitizers are characterized by a higher solubility and MSZW compared to those of the solutions of the individual sensitizers. By using mixtures of sensitizers, the solubility and the MSZW of the sensitizer solution can thus be optimized towards minimal or no crystallization behaviour of the sensitizers in the photopolymerizable layer.

It has been found that a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image-recording layer, said image-recording layer being photopolymerizable upon exposure to actinic light and containing a mixture of sensitizers characterized in that said mixture of sensitizers has in l-methoxy-2-propanol at 80 ⁰C a solubility of at least 30 wt . % and preferably a MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) measured at a cooling rate of 0.2⁰C per minute of at least 8.5°C, is less susceptible to crystallization phenomena, resulting in an improved shelf life while the sensitivity of the precursor is not adversely effected. Upon exposure and development of said precursor, a printing plate is obtained with excellent lithographic properties.

According to a preferred embodiment, the mixture of sensitizers according to the present invention comprises different sensitizers according to formula I,

Formula I

wherein

R¹ to R⁶ independently represent a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkoxy group, a cyano group, a halogen atom, a dialkylamino group; an alkylarylamino group or a diarylamino group; L is an optionally substituted a divalent linking group selected from the list consisting of:

n is an integer from 0 to 2 ;

X represents S, O or NR ;

* represents the linking positions of the linking group L to the phenyl groups of Formula I ;

R, R' and R^x represent an optionally substituted alkyl group. ore preferred embodiment the mixture of sensitizers according present invention comprises different sensitizers accordingmula II,

Formula II

wherein

R to R have the same meaning as in Formula I;

L is an optionally substituted divalent linking group selected from the list consisting of:

m is 1 or 2, most preferably m is 1.

R and R' have the same meaning as in Formula I ;

* represents the linking positions of the linking group L to the phenyl groups of Formula II The alkyl group referred to, also the alkyl group present in the alkoxy groups, means all variants possible for each number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group, i.e. for three carbon atoms: n-propyl and i -propyl; for four carbon atoms: n-butyl, i-butyl, sec-butyl and t- butyl; etc.

The alkyl and alkoxy groups referred to may be substituted for example with a halogen, an ester group, an ether group, a thioether group or a hydroxyl group .

Preferably, R to R in Formulae I and II are alkoxy group, more preferably R , R , R and R are methoxy groups and R and R are alkoxy groups having 2 to 15 C-atoms, preferably having 3 to 12 C- atoms, most preferably having 4 to 10 C-atoms.

Most preferably, the mixture of sensitizers according to Formula I

5 2 and II comprises at least one sensitizer wherein R or R are branched alkoxy groups having 3 to 15 C-atoms, more preferably having 4 to 10 C-atoms. Particularly preferred, R or R are branched alkoxy groups comprising an asymmetric C-atom, e.g. 2-butoxy and 1- ( 2 -ethyl ) hexoxy.

An asymmetric C-atom is characterized by four different substituents on the C-atom. A sensitizer comprising one asymmetric C-atom is characterized by two stereoisomers also referred to as enantiomers. In the present application, a sensitizer comprising one or more asymmetric C-atoms and therefore characterized by two or more stereoisomers is referred to as one sensitizer. A mixture of stereoisomers of a single sensitizer having one or more asymmetric carbon atom is not a mixture of sensitizers according to the present invention. Different sensitizers referred to in the description and the claims means sensitizers each having a different chemical formula. For example, different sensitizers according to Formula I or II are each, preferably, characterized by at least one different substituent selected from R to R . Sensitizers according to Formula I or II wherein R¹ = R⁴ , R² = R⁵ and R = R are referred to as symmetric sensitizers while those according to Formula I or II wherein R¹ ≠ R⁴ or R² ≠ R⁵ or R³ ≠ R⁶ are referred to as asymmetric sensitizers. Preferably, the mixture of the present invention comprises at least one asymmetric sensitizer according to Formula I or II. The amount of asymmetric sensitizers in the mixture is preferably at least 25, more preferably at least 35, most preferably at least 45 percent by weight relative to the total amount of sensitizers in the mixture.

Preferably the mixture of sensitizers according to Formula I or II comprises less than 25 percent by weight, more preferably less than 10 percent by weight, most preferably no sensitizers according to Formula I or II of which the solubility is less than 7.5 percent by weight in l-methoxy-2-propanol at 80⁰C. These low soluble sensitizers according to Formula I or II are often characterized by highly symmetric substituents, e.g. R = R = methoxy, 2-propoxy, 3- pentoxy, cyclopentyloxy or cyclohexyloxy.

The mixture of sensitizers comprises at least two, more preferably at least three sensitizers according to Formula I or II. In view of a preferred preparation of the mixture of sensitizers, the mixture preferably comprises 3, 6, 10 or 15, most preferably 3 or 6 different sensitizers.

The mixture of sensitizers according to the present invention may comprise two or more sensitizers according to Formula I or II having the same linking group L or L or may comprise two or more sensitizers having a different linking group L or L .

A solution of a mixture of sensitizers according to Formula I and II can be prepared by adding the individual sensitizers of the mixture to the solution. For this type of mixtures, the individual sensitizers are prepared separately, as described in the examples.

Preferably however, the mixture of sensitizers according to Formula II are prepared in situ by reacting at least two different aldehydes according to Formula III and IV,

Formula III Formula IV

with a bis-phosphonate according to Formula V,

Formula V

wherein

R to R have the same meaning as in Formula I;

R" represents an alkoxy group or a phenyl group;

L^1' represents an optionally substituted divalent linking group selected from the list consisting of:

wherein m is 1 or 2, most preferably m is 1.

R and R' represent an optionally substituted alkyl group.

When two different aldehydes according to Formula III and IV are used, a mixture of three different sensitizers according to Formula II is obtained: two symmetric and one asymmetric sensitizer, as shown in scheme I .

Scheme I

When three different aldehydes are used, a mixture of six different sensitizers according to Formula II is obtained: three symmetric sensitizers and three asymmetric sensitizers. When four different aldehydes are used, a mixture of ten different sensitizers according to Formula II is obtained: four symmetric and six asymmetric sensitizers, etc.

By varying the relative amount of the different aldehydes, the ratio of the different sensitizers in the mixture can be adjusted. In another preferred embodiment, the mixture of sensitizers according to the present invention comprises sensitizers according to formula VI,

Formula VI

wherein

A represents an aromatic ring which may have a substituent or a heteroring which may have a substituent; g

X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or N-(R ) ;

R , R and R independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent non-metallic atomic group;

8 7 Q

AA aanndd RR aanndd RR aanndd RR mmaayy bbee <combined with each other to form an aliphatic or aromatic ring.

Specific examples of sensitizers according to Formula VI are disclosed in EP-A 1 748 357 (paragraph [0028] to [0042] ) and EP-A 1 048 982 (paragraph [0130] to paragraph [0146] ) .

As described for the sensitizers according to Formula I and II, the following factors positively influence the preparation of a mixture of sensitizers according to Formula VI characterized in that said mixture has in l-methoxy-2-propanol at 80⁰C a solubility of at least 30 wt. % and preferably a MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) of at least 8.5°C measured at a cooling and heating rate of 0.2⁰C per minute:

• higher number of different sensitizers in the mixture,

• a high solubility of the individual sensitizers, • asymmetric structure of the sensitizer,

• asymmetric structure of the substituents . In another preferred embodiment, the mixture of sensitizers according to the present invention comprises sensitizers according to formula VII,

Formula VII

wherein

R , R and R are independently selected from a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group, which may also be fused, an optionally substituted aralkyl group, a group -NR R and a group -OR , wherein R 13 and R14 are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, R is an optionally alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group or a hydrogen atom, k, 1 and p are independently 0 or an integer from 1 to 5.

If one or more of R , R and R represents an optionally substituted alkyl group, it is preferred that the alkyl group is either unsubstituted or substituted with one substituent selected from CN, COORⁿ (Rⁿ being hydrogen or alkyl) .

Preferably, R , R and R are independently selected from a halogen atom, a C1-C8 alkyl and a group -NR R , wherein R and R are preferably independently selected from hydrogen atoms and C1-C6 alkyl . k,l and p are preferably independently 0 or 1.

Oxazole derivatives of Formula VII wherein at least one of R 10 , R ,11

and R¹² represents a group -NR¹³R¹⁴ wherein R¹³ and R¹⁴ are preferably independently selected from hydrogen atoms and C1-C6 alkyl , and especially preferred R = R C1-C6 alkyl, are especially preferred.

The oxazole derivatives according to Formula VII can be prepared according to processes well known to the person skilled in the art. Reference is made to DE-A-I 120 875 and EP-A 129 059.

As described for the sensitizers according to Formula I and II, the following factors positively influence the preparation of a mixture of sensitizers according to Formula VII characterized in that said mixture has in l-methoxy-2-propanol at 80⁰C a solubility of at least 30 wt. % and preferably a MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) of at least 8.5 ⁰C measured at a cooling and heating rate of 0.2⁰C per minute:

• higher number of different sensitizers in the mixture,

• a high solubility of the individual sensitizers,

• asymmetric structure of the sensitizer,

• asymmetric structure of the substituents R , R or R . A mixture comprising sensitizers according to Formula I or II and Formula VI, or according to Formula I or II and Formula VII, or according to Formula VI and Formula VII, or according to Formula I and Formula VI and Formula VII characterized in that said mixture has in l-methoxy-2-propanol at 80⁰C a solubility of at least 30 wt . % and preferably a MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) of at least 8.5°C measured at a cooling rate of 0.2⁰C per minute, may also be used in the present invention. Preferably, the mixture of sensitizers according to the present invention comprises sensitizers, preferably sensitizers according to Formula I or II, whose absorption spectra are approximately identical, i.e. the absorption maxima of the different sensitizers s making up the mixture differ not more than 25 nm, more preferably not more than 10 nm, most preferably not more than 5 nm.

The total amount of sensitizers in the photopolymerizable layer is preferably between 1 and 10 percent by weight, more preferablyo between 2.5 and 7.5 percent by weight relative to the total amount of non-volatile ingredients.

Photo- initiator s The photopolymerizable layer comprises one or more photo- initiator (s) , capable of initiating a polymerization reaction upon exposure with actinic light, preferably upon exposure with light having a wavelength of from 300 nm to 500 nm, most preferably upon exposure with light having a wavelength of from 350 nm to 450 nm,0 when used in combination with the mixture of sensitizers according to the present invention.

Known photo- initiators that may be used are: aromatic ketones, aromatic onium salts, organic peroxides, thio compounds, hexaarylbisimidazole compounds, ketooxime ester compounds, borate5 compounds, azinium compounds, metallocene compounds, active ester compounds and compounds having a carbon-halogen bond. Many specific examples of such compounds are found in EP-A 1 091 247 (paragraph [0068] to [0095] ) , WO2005/111 717 (page 16 to page 31) and EP-A 1 491 536 (paragraph [0046] to paragraph [0080] ) . o Hexaarylbisimidazole compounds, titanocene compounds, trihalomethyl compounds or onium salts are preferably used as photo- initiators, more preferably titanocene and hexarylbisimadazole compounds. Preferred titanocene compounds are for example described in EP-A 1 491 536 (paragraph [66] and [67] ) . Particularly preferred photo- initiators are hexaarylbisimidazole (HABI) compounds. Preparation methods of these compounds are described in DE 1 470 154 and their use in photopolymerizable compositions is described in EP 024 629, EP 107 792, US 4 410 621, s EP 215 453 and DE 3 211 312. Preferred derivatives are e. g.

2,4,5,2' ,4' ,5' -hexaphenylbisimidazole, 2,2' -bis (2-chlorophenyl) - 4,5,4' , 5 ' -tetraphenylbisimidazole, 2,2' -bis (2-bromophenyl) - 4,5,4' ,5' -tetraphenylbisimidazole, 2 , 2 ' -bis (2 , 4-dichlorophenyl) - 4,5,4' ,5' -tetraphenylbisimidazole, 2,2' -bis (2-chlorophenyl) -o 4 , 5 , 4 ' , 5 ' -tetrakis (3 -methoxyphenyl) bisimidazole , 2,2' -bis (2- chlorophenyl) -4,5,4' , 5 ' -tetrakis (3,4, 5-trimethoxyphenyl) - bisimidazole, 2,5,2' ,5' -tetrakis (2-chlorophenyl) -4,4'-bis(3,4- dimethoxyphenyl) bisimidazole, 2,2' -bis (2 , 6-dichlorophenyl) - 4,5,4' , 5 ' -tetraphenylbisimidazole, 2,2' -bis (2-nitrophenyl) -5 4, 5, 4' , 5' -tetraphenylbisimidazole, 2,2' -di-o-tolyl-4 , 5,4' , 5 ' - tetraphenylbisimidazole, 2,2' -bis (2-ethoxyphenyl) -4,5,4' , 5' - tetraphenylbisimidazole and 2 , 2 ' -bis (2 , 6-difluorophenyl) -4,5,4' , 5 ' - tetraphenylbisimidazole . 0 A mixture of two or more different photo- initiators may be used in the present invention.

The amount of the photo-initiator typically ranges from 0.01 to 30 percent by weight, preferably from 0.5 to 20 percent by weight,5 relative to the total weight of the non volatile components of the photo-polymerizable layer.

Co- initiator o Co-initiators, as described in EP 107 792, may be present in the photopolymerizable layer to further increase the sensitivity. Preferred co-initiators are sulfur-compounds, especially thiols like for example 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 2-mercaptobenzoxazole or 2- mercapto-benzimidazole . Other preferred co-initiators are polythioles as disclosed in WO2006/048443 and WO2006/048445. These polythioles may be used in combination with the above described thiols, preferably with 2-mercaptobenzthialole .

The amount of co-initiator generally ranges from 0.01 to 10 % by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 2 % by weight relative to the total weight of the non volatile components of the photopolymerizable composition.

Polymerizable compounds

The photopolymerizable layer comprises one or more polymerizable monomer(s) or oligomer(s). Preferred monomer(s) or oligomer(s) are ethylenically unsaturated compounds. These ethylenically unsaturated double bond- containing compounds have at least one, preferably from 2 to 6, terminal ethylenically unsaturated bonds.

Preferred monomers include esters of an unsaturated carboxylic acid (e.g. acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, isocrotonic acid, and maleic acid) and an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol compound, such as: ethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, 1, 3-butanediol diacrylate, tetramethylene glycol diacrylate, propylene glycol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane tri (acryloyloxypropyl) ether, trimethylolethane triacrylate, hexanediol diacrylate, 1 , 4-cyclohexanediol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, pentaerythritol diacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol diacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, sorbitol triacrylate, sorbitol tetraacrylate, sorbitol pentaacrylate, sorbitol hexaacrylate, tri (acryloyloxyethyl) isocyanurate, tetramethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolethane trimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1, 3-butanediol dimethacrylate, hexanediol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol trimethacrylate, pentaerythritol tetramethacrylate, dipentaerythritol dimethacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexamethacrylate , dipentaerythritol pentamethacrylate, sorbitol trimethacrylate, sorbitol tetramethacrylate, bis [p- (3-methacryloxy-2-hydroxypropoxy) pheny] dimetliylmethane, and bis [p- (methacryloxyethaxy) phenyl] dimethylmethane, ethylene glycol diitaconate, propylene glycol diitaconate, 1 , 5-butanediol diitaconate, 1, 4-butanediol diitaconate, tetramethylene glycol diitaconate, pentaerythritol diitaconate, and sorbitol tetraitaconate, ethylene glycol dicrotonate, tetramethylene glycol dicrotonate, pentaerythritol dicrotonate, sorbitol tetradicrotonate, ethylene glycol diisocrotonate, pentaerythritol diisocrotonate, and sorbitol tetraisocrotonate, ethylene glycol dimaleate, triethylene glycol dimaleate, pentaerythritol dimaleate and sorbitol tetramaleate .

Other preferred monomers include amides of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and an aliphatic polyhydric amine compound, such as: methylene bisacrylamide, methylene bismethacrylamide, 1,6- hexamethylene bisacrylamide, 1, 6-hexamethylene bismethacrylamide, diethylenetriamine trisacrylamide, xylylene bisacrylamide and xylylene bismethacrylamide.

Other preferred monomers include urethane compounds containing two or more ethylenically unsaturated bonds. These polymerizable compounds are reaction products of a polyisocyanate compound, containing two or more isocyanate groups, with a multifunctional alcohol of which the hydroxyl groups are partly or completely esterified with (meth) acrylic acid. Particularly preferred compounds are prepared by reacting hydroxyalkyl (meth) acrylates with diisocyanates, as disclosed in DE 28 22 190 and DE 20 64 079.

Other preferred monomers contain primary, secondary and in particular tertiary amino groups, thio or enol groups, as disclosed in EP 1 349 006 (paragraph [0014] to [0024] ) . An example of a particularly preferred monomer is:

The total amount of polymerizable compounds typically ranges from 10 to 90 percent by weight, preferably from about 20 to 80 percent by weight, relative to the total weight of the non volatile components of the photopolymerizable layer.

Binder

The binder of the photopolymerizable layer may be selected from a wide series of organic polymers or co-polymers. Also a mixture of two or more different polymers or co-polymers may be used. The selected binder may be different dependent on the development process of the printing plate precursor, to ensure complete removal of the non-image areas of the photopolymerizable layer during development .

Suitable polymers to be used as binder may include (meth) acrylic resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, polyurethane resins, polyamide resins, epoxy resins, polystyrene resins and polyester resins.

Preferred polymers or co-polymers usable as binder are disclosed in WO2005/111727 (page 17 In.21 to page 20 In.3) and WO2005/029187 (page 16 In.26 to page 18 In.11) . In the embodiment wherein an alkaline developer is used in the development process the binder is preferably insoluble in water, but soluble or at least swellable in aqueous-alkaline solutions. Preferred binders contain an acid group such as a carboxyl group, a sulfone group or a phosphate group. Particularly preferred and well known are polymers or co-polymers containing carboxyl groups, in particular polymers or co-polymers containing monomeric units of α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acids and/or monomeric units of α,β- unsaturated dicarboxylic acids. Specific examples are polymers or co-polymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, vinylacetic acid, maleic acid or itaconic acid. Preferred binders have an acid number, expressed as mg KOH/g polymer, of from 10 to 250, preferably from 20 to 200.

When the development is carried out in a gum solution or on press by applying ink and/or fountain solution, the binder preferably does not substantially contain an acid group. Such binders preferably have an acid number, expressed as mg KOH/g polymer of 20 or less, more preferably of 10 or less. Preferred binders are (meth) acrylic acid ester co-polymers, such as a co-polymer of a (meth) acrylic acid alkyl or aralkyl ester with a (meth) acrylic acid ester containing a -CH₂-CH₂-O- or -CH₂-CH₂-NH- unit in R of the ester residue ( -COOR) of the (meth) acrylic ester. The alkyl group in the (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester is preferably an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, more preferably a methyl group. Preferred examples of the (meth) acrylic acid aralkyl ester include benzyl (meth) acrylate .

In view of improving the developing properties in an aqueous solution, the binder preferably comprises hydrophilic groups, e.g. a hydroxyl group, a carboxylate group, a hydroxyethyl group, an ethyleneoxy group, an aminopropyl group, an ammonium group, an amido group or a carbomethyl group. Particularly suitable binders when development is carried out in a gum solution or on-press are copolymers of vinylacetate and vinylalcohol comprising vinylalcohol in an amount of 10 to 98 mol%, preferably between 35 and 95 mol %, more preferably between 40 and 75 mol %, particularly preferred between 50 and 65 mol % vinylalcohol. The ester-value, measured by the method as defined in DIN 53 401, of the copolymers of vinylacetate and vinylalcohol ranges preferably between 25 and 700 mg KOH/g, more preferably between 50 and 500 mg KOH/g, most preferably between 100 and 300 mg KOH/g. The viscosity of the copolymers of vinylacetate and vinylalcohol are measured on a 4 weight % aqueous solution at 20⁰C as defined in DIN 53 015 and the viscosity ranges preferably between 3 and 60 mPa.s, more preferably between 4 and 30 mPa.s, most preferably between 5 and 25 mPa.s. The average molecular weight M_w of the copolymers of vinylacetate and vinylalcohol ranges preferably between 5 000 and 500 000 g/mol , more preferably between 10 000 and 400 000 g/mol , most preferably between 15 000 and 250 000 g/mol.

Other particularly preferred binders for the embodiment wherein development is carried out in a gum solution or on press are copolymers of vinylacetals, vinylacetate and vinylalcohol. These copolymers may be prepared starting from polyvinylacetates : the polyvinylacetate is first partially hydrolyzed to form a copolymer of vinylacetate and vinylalcohol, followed by a partially acetylization of the vinylalcohol by reaction with an aldehyde. The most common aldehydes are formaldehyde and butyraldehyde resulting in vinylformal or vinylbutyral , preferably vinylbutyral . The vinylbutyral monomers are hydrophobic while the vinylalcohol and/or vinylacetate monomers are hydrophilic. The hydrophobicity of the binder may influence the ink acceptance and the run length while the hydrophilicity of the binder may influence the developability, especially when development is carried out on press or in a gum solution. By adjusting the ratio vinylbutyral versus vinylalcohol and vinylacetate, the hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity of the binder may be optimized. A partial esterification of the co-polymer with polycarboxylic acids, e.g. trimellit acid, may introduce carboxylic acid groups into the co-polymer to further optimize the hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity of the binder. When the development is carried out in a gum solution or on-press by applying ink and/or fountain solution, the photopolymerizable layer may also comprises a polymer as described in the unpublished PCT/EP2006/068619 (filed on 2006-11-17) . According to this preferred embodiment the photopolymerizable layer comprises a polymer containing an acid group and a basic nitrogen-containing compound capable of neutralizing said acid group, or said photopolymerizable layer comprises a polymer containing an acid group which is neutralized by a basic nitrogen-containing compound.

The binder may also comprise a crosslinkable functional group in the main chain or a side chain. A crosslinkable group is capable of crosslinking the polymeric binder upon exposure. The crosslinkable functional group may be an ethylenically unsaturated group, an amino group, an epoxy group, a thiol group, a halogen atom or an onium salt. Preferably, the polymeric binder contains an ethylenically unsaturated group. Examples of suitable crosslinkable binders are discloses in EP 1 748 317 (paragraph [0075] to [0084] ) . The content of the crosslinkable group (content of radical-polymerizable unsaturated double bond determined by iodine titration) in the binder polymer is preferably from 0.1 to 10.0 mmol, more preferably from 1.0 to 7.0 mmol, and most preferably from 2.0 to 5.5 mmol, per g of binder polymer. The crosslinking property of the binder may increase the durability of the image-areas of the printing plate and therefore improve the run length.

The organic polymers used as binders have a typical mean molecular weight M_w between 600 and 200 000, preferably between 1 000 and 100 000. The amount of binder(s) generally ranges from 10 to 90 % by weight, preferably 20 to 80 % by weight, relative to the total weight of the non-volatile components of the composition.

The total amount of the polymerizable compounds relative to the total amount of binder is preferably from 4.0 to 0.5, more preferably from 2.0 to 1.0.

Hydrophilic polymer

A hydrophilic polymer may be added to the photopolymerizable layer to enhance the developability. Suitable examples of the hydrophilic polymer include those having a hydrophilic group such as a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, a carboxylate group, a hydroxyethyl group, a polyoxyethyl group, a hydroxypropyl group, a polyoxypropyl group, an amino group, an aminoethyl group, an aminopropyl group, an ammonium group, an amide group, a carboxymethyl group, a sulfonic acid group and a phosphoric acid group. Specific examples thereof include gum arabic, casein, gelatin, starch derivatives, carboxymethylcellulose and sodium salts thereof, cellulose acetate, sodium alignate, cinul acetate-maleic acid co-polymers, styrene- maleic acid co-polymers, polyacrylic acids and salts thereof, poly (meth) acrylic acids and salts thereof, homopolymers and copolymers of hydroxyethyl (meth) acrylate, homopolymers and co-polymers of hydroxypropyl (meth) acrylate, homopolymers and co-polymers of hydroxybutyl (meth) acrylate, polyethylene glycols, hydroxypropylene polymers, polyvinyl alcohols, hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates, polyvinyl formal, polyvinyl butyral , polyvinyl pyrrolidone, homopolymers and polymers of (meth) acrylamide . The hydrophilic polymer preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 5 000 or more, more preferably from 10 000 to 300 000. The hydrophilic polymer may be a random polymer, a block polymer or a graft polymer. The content of the hydrophilic polymer in the image-recording layer is preferably 20 percent by weight or less, more preferably 10 percent by weight or less, relative to the entire solid content of the image-recording layer.

Particularly preferred hydrophilic polymers are those disclosed in the unpublished EP-A 06 120 509 wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a polymer having at least 1 mol percent of a monomeric unit capable of interacting with the support and at least 30 mol percent of a hydrophilic monomeric unit. In EP-A 06 120 509 the hydrophilic polymer is used in combination with a non-polymeric adhesion promoting compound, said compound comprising a group capable of interacting with the aluminum surface. The hydrophilic polymer and the adhesion promoting compound may also be incorporated in an intermediate layer, positioned between the support and the image- recording layer.

Contrast Dye

The coating of the lithographic printing plate may further comprise a colorant. The colorant can be a dye or a pigment. After development with a gum solution or with an alkaline developer, at least part of the colorant remains in the hardened coating areas and provides a visible image, enabling an examination of the lithographic image on the developed printing plates. Preferred dyes and/or pigments are disclosed in WO 2005/111727. Highly preferred pigments are predispersed phthalocyanines . Their amount generally ranges from about 1 to 15 % by weight, preferably from about 2 to 7 % by weight, with respect to the total weight of the non-volatile compounds in the photosensitive composition. Particularly suitable predispersed phthalocyanine pigments are disclosed in DE 199 15 717 and DE 199 33 139. Preference is given to metal-free phthalocyanine pigments .

The photopolymerizable composition may also comprise compounds that undergo discoloration or coloration upon exposure with violet light. Compounds that undergo discoloration or coloration by radicals or acids, generated by the violet exposure, are preferred. Especially for the on-press processing embodiment of this invention, such compounds give rise to a print-out image enabling inspection of the image to be printed. Various dyes may be used for this purpose, e.g. s diphenylmethane , triphenylmethane, thiazine, oxazine, xanthene, anthraquinone , iminoquinone , azo and azomethine dyes.

Other ingredients o The photopolymerizable compostion may further comprise other ingredients such as for example surfactants, polymerization inhibitors, plasticizers, inorganic particles, low molecular weight hydrophilie compounds . Preferred inhibitors for use in the photopolymer coating ares disclosed in US 6 410 205, EP 1 288 720 and WO2005/109103.

Various surfactants may be added to the photopolymerizable layer. Both polymeric and small molecule surfactants can be used. Nonionic surfactants are preferred. Preferred nonionic surfactants are polymers and oligomers containing one or more polyether segments0 (such as polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and copolymer of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol) . Examples of preferred nonionic surfactants are block copolymers of propylene glycol and ethylene glycol (also called block copolymer of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide); ethoxylated or propoxylated acrylate oligomers; and5 polyethoxylated alkylphenols and polyethoxylated fatty alcohols. The nonionic surfactant is preferably added in an amount ranging between 0.1 and 30% by weight of the coating, more preferably between 0.5 and 20%, and most preferably between 1 and 15%. 0 Overcoat

The coating preferably comprises a top layer, also referred to as overcoat layer, overcoat or protective layer and typically applied onto the image-recording layer, which acts as an oxygen barrier layer.

Preferred binders which can be used in the top layer are disclosed in WO2005/029190 (page 36 line 3 to page 39 line 25) , US 2007/0020563 (paragraph [0158] ) and EP 1 288 720 (paragraphs [0148] and [0149] ) . The most preferred binder for the toplayer is polyvinylalcohol . The polyvinylalcohol has preferably a hydrolysis degree ranging between 74 mol % and 99 mol %. The weight average molecular weight of the polyvinylalcohol can be determined by measuring the viscosity of a 4 % by weight aqueous solution at 20⁰C, as defined in DIN 53 015. This viscosity number ranges preferably between 3 and 26, more preferably between 3 and 15, most preferably between 3 and 10. Preferably, a mixture of polyvinylalcohols having a different hydrolysis and viscosity number are used.

Modified polyvinylalcohols, e.g. polyvinylalcohols having a carboxyl group and/or a sulphonic acid group may also be used, preferably together with unmodified polyvinylalcohols. The coating thickness of the top layer is preferably between 0.25 and 1.75 g/m , more preferably between 0.30 and 1.30 g/m , most preferably between 0.40 and 1.00 g/m². In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the top layer has a coating thickness between 0.25 and 1.75 g/m and comprises a polyvinylalcohol having a hydrolysis degree ranging between 74 mol % and 99 mol % and a viscosity number as defined above ranging between 3 and 26.

Besides acting as barrier for oxygen, the overcoat layer must be easily removable during processing and be sufficiently transparent for the actinic radiation, e.g. from 300 to 500 nm. The overcoat layer may comprise other ingredients such as anionic surfactants, e.g. sodium alkyl sulphate or sodium alkyl sulphonate,- amphoteric surfactants, e.g. alkylaminocarboxylate and alkylamino- dicarboxylate ; non- ionic surfactants, e.g. polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether; additives, e.g. alkoxylated alkylene diamines, disclosed in EP 1 085 380 (paragraph [0021] and [0022]); glycerine, inorganic particles, pigments, etc.

Intermediate layer - adhesion promoting compound

The optional intermediate layer may comprise adhesion promoting compounds. These adhesion promoting compounds may however also be incorporated in the photopolymerizable layer. The adhesion promoting compound is preferably a compound capable of interacting with said support, e.g. a compound having an addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond and a functional group capable of interacting with the support, more preferably a functional group capable of interacting with a grained and anodised aluminum support. Under "interacting" is understood each type of physical and/or chemical reaction or process whereby, between the functional group and the support, a bond is formed which can be a covalent bond, an ionic bond, a complex bond, a coordinate bond or a hydrogen-bridge bond, and which can be formed by an adsorption process, a chemical reaction, an acid-base reaction, a complex-forming reaction or a reaction of a chelating group or a ligand. The adhesion promoting compound may be selected from at least one of the low molecular weight compounds or polymeric compounds as described in EP-A 851 299 from lines 22 on page 3 to line 1 on page 4, EP-A 1 500 498 from paragraph [0023] on page 7 to paragraph [0052] on page 20, EP-A 1 495 866 paragraph [0030] on page 5 to paragraph [0049] on page 11, EP-A 1 091 251 from paragraph [0014] on page 3 to paragraph [0018] on page 20, and EP-A 1 520 694 from paragraph [0023] on page 6 to paragraph [0060] on page 19. Preferred compounds are those compounds which comprise a phosphate or phosphonate group as functional group capable of adsorbing on the aluminum support and which comprise an addition-polymerizable ethylenic double bond reactive group, especially those described in EP-A 851 299 from lines 22 on page 3 to line 1 on page 4 and EP-A 1 500 498 from paragraph [0023] on page 7 to paragraph [0052] on page 20. Also preferred are those compounds comprising tri-alkyl-oxy silane groups, hereinafter also referred to as "trialkoxy silane" groups, wherein the alkyl is preferably methyl or ethyl, or wherein the trialkyloxy silane groups are at least partially hydrolysed to silanol groups, as functional group capable of adsorbing on the support, especially silane coupling agents having an addition-polymerizable ethylenic double bond reactive group as described in EP-A 1 557 262 paragraph [0279] on page 49 and EP-A 1 495 866 paragraph [0030] on page 5 to paragraph [0049] on page 11. The adhesion promoting compound may be present in the photopolymerizable layer in an amount ranging between 1 and 50 % by weight, preferably between 3 and 30 % by weight, more preferably between 5 and 20 % by weight relative to the total amount of the non-volatile components of the composition. The adhesion promoting compound may be present in the intermediate layer in an amount of at least 50 % by weight, preferably at least 80 % by weight, more preferably at least 90 % by weight, most preferably 100 % by weight relative to the total amount of the non-volatile components of the composition. The optionally intermediate layer has a coating thickness preferably ranging between 0.001 and 1.5 g/m , more preferably between 0.003 and 1.0 g/m², most preferably between 0.005 and 0.7 g/m².

Support

A particularly preferred lithographic support is an electrochemically grained and anodized aluminum support. The aluminum support has a thickness of about 0.1-0.6 mm. However, this thickness can be changed appropriately depending on the size of the printing plate used and the plate-setters on which the printing plate precursors are exposed. Graining an anodizing of aluminum supports is well known. The acid used for graining can be e.g. nitric acid or sulfuric acid. The acid used for graining preferably comprises hydrogen chloride. Also mixtures of e.g. hydrogen chloride and acetic acid can be used. The relation between electrochemical graining and anodizing parameters such as electrode voltage, nature and concentration of the acid electrolyte or power consumption on the one hand and the obtained lithographic quality in terms of Ra and anodic weight (g/m² of Al₂O₃ formed on the aluminum surface) on the other hand is well known. More details about the relation between various production parameters and Ra or anodic weight can be found in e.g. the article "Management of Change in the Aluminium Printing Industry" by F. R. Mayers, published in the ATB Metallurgie Journal, volume 42 nr. 1-2 (2002) pag. 69.

Preferred anodic weights are between 0.5 and 10 g/m² of Al₂O₃, more preferably between 1 and 5 g/m² of Al₂O₃

A preferred aluminum substrate, characterized by an arithmetical mean center-line roughness Ra less then 0.45 μm is described in EP 1 356 926.

The anodized aluminum support may be subject to a so-called post- anodic treatment to improve the hydrophilic properties of its surface. For example, the aluminum support may be silicated by treating its surface with a sodium silicate solution at elevated temperature, e.g. 95°C. Alternatively, a phosphate treatment may be applied which involves treating the aluminum oxide surface with a phosphate solution that may further contain an inorganic fluoride. Further, the aluminum oxide surface may be rinsed with a citric acid or citrate solution. This treatment may be carried out at room temperature or may be carried out at a slightly elevated temperature of about 30 to 50⁰C. A further interesting treatment involves rinsing the aluminum oxide surface with a bicarbonate solution. Still further, the aluminum oxide surface may be treated with polyvinylphosphonic acid, polyvinylmethylphosphonic acid, phosphoric acid esters of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylsulfonic acid, polyvinylbenzenesulfonic acid, sulfuric acid esters of polyvinyl alcohol, and acetals of polyvinyl alcohols formed by reaction with a sulfonated aliphatic aldehyde.

Another useful post-anodic treatment may be carried out with a solution of polyacrylic acid or a polymer comprising at least 30 s mol% of acrylic acid monomeric units, e.g. GLASCOL E15, a polyacrylic acid, commercially available from ALLIED COLLOIDS. Another treatment is the so-called sealing of the micropores as described in WO-2005/111717. Optimizing the pore diameter and distribution thereof of the grainedo and anodized aluminum surface as described may enhance the press life of the printing plate and may improve the resolution of the printing plate. Avoiding large and deep pores may also improve the toning behaviour of the printing plate. In the unpublished EP-A 06 110 468 (filed on 2006-02-28) a s characterizing method of the surface of a grained and anodized aluminum is disclosed. The parameter 'mean pith depth', calculated according to this characterizing method, correlates with the number and depth of the pits present at the aluminum surface. The mean pith depth of the aluminum surface is preferably less then 2.0 μm, more0 preferably less then 1.8 μm, most preferably less then 1.5 μm. The standard deviation of the 'mean pith depth' is preferably less then 0.70, more preferably less then 0.50, most preferably less then 0.35. The grained and anodized aluminum support may be a sheet-like 5 material such as a plate or it may be a cylindrical element such as a sleeve which can be slid around a print cylinder of a printing press .

The support can also be a flexible support, which may be provided with a hydrophilic layer, hereinafter called ^vbase layer' . The0 flexible support is e.g. paper, plastic film or aluminum. Preferred examples of plastic film are polyethylene terephthalate film, polyethylene naphthalate film, cellulose acetate film, polystyrene film, polycarbonate film, etc. The plastic film support may be opaque or transparent. The base layer is preferably a cross-linked hydrophilic layer obtained from a hydrophilic binder cross-linked with a hardening agent such as formaldehyde, glyoxal, polyisocyanate or a hydrolyzed tetra-alkylorthosilicate . The latter is particularly preferred. The thickness of the hydrophilic base layer may vary in the range of 0.2 to 25 μm and is preferably 1 to 10 μm. More details of preferred embodiments of the base layer can be found in e.g. EP-A 1 025 992.

Exposure

The method of making a printing plate according to the present invention utilizes a laser emitting actinic light. Preferably a laser emitting light having a wavelength of from 300 to 500 nm, more preferably of from 350 to 450 nm and preferably having an energy density measured on the surface of the plate of 100 μJ/cm² or less.

Preferably laser diodes, highly preferably, commercially available InGaN-based semiconductor laser diodes having a wavelength of 405 nm, are used to expose the lithographic printing plate precursors. The power of the laser diodes may be between 5 and 200 mW, preferably between 20 mW and 150 mW, most preferably between 50 mW and 80 mW. One laser diode may be used to expose the lithographic printing plate precursors, but also multiple laser diodes may be used.

Three major categories of plate-setters, i.e. apparatuses wherein the lithographic printing plates are image—wise exposed with a laser beam, are known and may be used in the present invention: flat bed, internal drum (ITD) and external drum (XTD) type plate-setters.

A particularly preferred plate-setter, an external drum apparatus emitting one or more scanning laser beams having a wavelength between 390 and 420 nm and an energy density, measured on the surface of the precursor, of 100 μJ/cm² or less, and a method of preparing a printing plate using the plate-setter is disclosed in the unpublished EP-A 06 112 161 (filed 2006-04-03) . The pixel dwell time of the scanning laser beam is preferably from 0.5 to 10 microseconds .

Also suitable is the apparatus described in US2006/0001849 comprising an imaging head comprising a plurality of laser diodes emitting light of a wavelength between 350 nm and 450 ran. Since each spot on the lithographic printing plate to be exposed receives light, emitted from a plurality of laser diodes, low power laser diodes can be used.

The method disclosed in WO2005/111717 comprising image-wise exposing a photopolymerizable lithographic printing plate precursor with an imaging time per pixel of 1 milliseconds or less using a laser light with an emission wavelength of from 250 nm to 420 nm may also be used in the present invention.

Pre-heat

The lithographic printing plates are optionally subjected to a preheat step. In such a pre-heat step, performed after image-wise exposure and before development, the plate precursor is heated to enhance or to speed-up the polymerization and/or crosslinking reaction. The pre-heat step may improve the printing properties, e.g. rendition of small dots or run length, of the printing plate. There is no particular time limit between exposure and pre-heat but the pre-heat step is usually carried out within a time period after exposure of less than 10 minutes, preferably less than 5 minutes, more preferably less than 1 minutes, most preferably the pre-heat is carried out immediately after the image-wise exposing, i.e. within less than 30 seconds. In this heating step, the precursor is heated at a temperature of preferably 80⁰C to 150⁰C, more preferably of 90 to 140°C, most preferably of 100⁰C to 130⁰C during preferably 1 seconds to 1 minute, more preferably 5 seconds to 45 seconds, most preferably 10 seconds to 30 seconds. The pre-heating unit is preferably provided with heating elements such as IR- lamps, UV- lamps, heated air, a heated metal or silicone rubber roll, etc.

The pre-heating unit is preferably connected with the development apparatus to enable automatic transport from the pre-heating unit to the development apparatus in a single apparatus. Preferably a cooling section is provided between the pre-heating section and the development section of said single apparatus.

The pre-heating unit, the development unit may also be connected to the plate-setter to enable automatic transport of the exposed precursor to first the pre-heating unit and then the developing unit. Again, a cooling section may be provided between the pre- heating unit and the development unit.

Deve1opment

Alkaline Developer

Photopolymerizable printing plate precursors are, according to one embodiment of the present invention, developed in an alkaline aqueous solution. In the development step, the complete overcoat layer and the unexposed part of the photosensitive layer are removed. The removal (wash-off) of the overcoat layer and the development of the photosensitive layer can be done in two separate steps in this order, but can also be done in one step simultaneously. Preferably the overcoat layer is washed-off with water before the development step. The wash-off can be done with cold water, but it is preferred to use hot water to accelerate the process .

The developer solution preferably is an aqueous alkaline solution having a pH from 9 to 14, a pH from 11.5 to 13.5 being particularly preferred. The developer solution can contain a small percentage, preferably less than 5 wt.%, of an organic, water-miscible solvent. To adjust the pH of the solution, an alkali hydroxide is preferably used.

Examples of preferred, additional ingredients of the developer solution comprise alone or in combination alkali phosphates, alkali carbonates, alkali bicarbonates , an organic amine compound, alkali silicates, buffering agents, complexants, defoamers, surface active agents and dyes, as described in e.g. EP-A 1 273 972, EP-A 1 521 123, WO2005/111717 and the EP-As 1 722 274 and 1 722 275, but the suitable ingredients are not limited hereto and further ingredients can be used.

The method of development employed is not particularly limited, and may be conducted by immersing and shaking the plate in a developer, physically removing non-image portions while being dissolved in a developer by means of e . g. a brush, or spraying a developer onto the plate so as to remove non-image portions. The time for development is selected so that the non-image portions are adequately removed, and is optionally selected within a range of 5 seconds to 10 minutes. Development can be carried out at room temperature or at elevated temperatures, for example between 25°C and 50⁰C, more preferably between 25⁰C and 40⁰C.

Gum solution

In another preferred embodiment of this invention the developer used in the method as defined in claim 1 is a gum solution. A preferred composition of the gum solution to be used in the present invention is disclosed in W02005/111727 (page 5 to 11) and in the unpublished EP-A 05 110 943 (filed on 2005-11-18) . Development with the gum solution can be performed at room temperature or at elevated temperatures, e.g. between 25 and 50⁰C. Development can be carried on until the gum solution is exhausted and has to be replaced by a fresh gum solution or the gum solution is constantly regenerated by adding fresh gum solution as a function of the amount of printing plate precursors developed. The gum solution, used for regeneration, can be of the same or different, preferably higher, concentration. The development step of the method as defined in claim 1 may comprise a prewash step as disclosed in the unpublished EP-A 05 110 915 (filed on 2005-11-18). In this method development comprises washing the precursor in a prewashing station by applying water or an aqueous solution to the coating, thereby removing at least part of the toplayer, followed by development of the precursor in a gumming station by applying a gum solution to the coating of the precursor, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support and gumming the plate in a single step. The development step of this invention may also comprise two gumming steps as disclosed in the unpublished EP-A 05 110 916 and EP-A 05 110 919 (both filed on 2005-11-19) . EP-A 05 110 916 describes a development carried out in a gumming station, said gumming station comprises a first and at least a second gumming unit, wherein the precursor is washed in the first gumming unit by applying a gum solution to the coating, thereby removing at least part of the top layer, and wherein, subsequently, the precursor is developed in the second gumming unit with a gum solution, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the photo-polymerizable layer from the support and gumming the plate in a single step. EP-A 05 110 919 describes a development carried out in a gumming station, comprising a first and at least a second gumming unit, wherein the precursor is consecutively developed in said first and said second gumming unit with a gum solution, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support and gumming the plate in a single step.

On press development

In another preferred embodiment of this invention the development is carried out on press by applying ink and/or fountain to the image- wise exposed printing plates. The non-exposed areas of the photo- polymerizable layer are removed by dissolution or dispersion by the ink and/or the aqueous fountain solution while the exposed areas are substantially not removed by applying ink and/or fountain. Also for the on press development embodiment the photopolymerizable composition comprises preferably a polymer as described in the unpublished EP-A 05 110 943 and explained in detail above.

Development may also be performed by combining the embodiments for development as described above, e.g. combining development with a gum solution with development on press by applying ink and/or fountain.

After development the printing plate may be subjected to several well known post-development treatments (e.g. drying, baking, rewashing, etc.) .

EXAMPLES

MATERIALS

All materials used in the examples were readily available from standard sources such as Aldrich Chemical Co. (Belgium) and Acros (Belgium) unless otherwise specified.

• PVA-I: partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol); degree of saponification is 88 mol %; viscosity of a 4 wt % aqueous solution at 20 ⁰C is 4 mPa»s.

• PVA-2: fully hydrolyzed poly (vinyl alcohol); degree of saponification is 98 mol %; viscosity of an aqueous solution of 4 wt % at 20 ⁰C is 6 mPa»s.

• PVA-3: partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl alcohol); degree of saponification is 88 mol %; viscosity of an aqueous solution of 4 wt % at 20 ⁰C is 8 mPa»s.

• Acticide: Acticide LA 1206, a biocide commercially available from THOR. • Lupasol P: 50 wt % solution of a polyethylene imine in water, commercially available from BASF.

• Lutensol A8 : 90 wt % solution of a surface active agent, commercially available from BASF. • Edaplan: 10 wt % solution of Edaplan LA 411, a modified siloxane- glycol copolymer commercially available from MUNZING CHEMIE GMBH, in Dowanol PM .

• Dowanol PM: l-methoxy-2-propanol , commercially available from DOW CHEMICAL COMPAGNY. • FST426R: a solution containing 88.2 wt % of a reaction product from 1 mole of 2 , 2 , 4-trimethyl-hexamethylenediisocyanate and 2 moles of hydroxyethylmethacrylate (viscosity 3.30 mm²/s at 25 ⁰C) .

• Mono Z1620: a solution in MEK containing 30.1 wt % of a reaction product from 1 mole of hexamethylenediisocyanate, 1 mole of 2- hydroxyethylmethacrylate and 0.5 mole of 2- (2-hydroxyethyl- piperidine (viscosity 1.7 mm at 25 ⁰C) .

• MEK: methylethylketone .

• Heliogene Blue: Heliogene Blue D 7490 dispersion (9.9 wt %, viscosity 7.0 mm²/s at 25 ⁰C), trade name of BASF AG, as defined in EP 1 072 956.

• Hostanox 03: a phenolic antioxidant, commercially available from Clariant .

• HABI: 2- (2-chlorophenyl) -4 , 5-diphenyl bisimidazole, commercially available from SUMITOMO.

• MBT: 2-mercaptobenzithiazole .

• KL7177: methacrylic acid - metylmethacrylate copolymer, commercially available from Clariant.

EXAMPLE 1: Preparation of the symmetric sensitizers SS-Ol to SS- 06

All symmetric sensitizers SS-Ol to SS-06 were prepared as disclosed in WO2005/029187. The preparation of SS-04 is described below in detail. SS-Ol, SS-02, SS-03, SS-05 and SS-06 were obtained using the same reaction scheme.

Preparation SS-04

SS- 04 was prepared according to reaction scheme II and III

Scheme II

To a mixture of 8.365 kg (45.0 mol) of syringaldehyde (1) and 1.494 kg (9.0 mol) of potassium iodide was added 20.25 1 of sulfolane at room temperature. After heating up the mixture to 30⁰C, 3.12 kg (47.25 mol) of KOH and 2.80 kg (20.25 mol) of K₂CO₃ were added. After warming the reaction mixture to 75°C, 12.78 kg (90.0 mol) of 2-bromo butane (2) is added over a period of 30 minutes. Heating at 75⁰C was continued for 24 hours, followed by cooling to 25°C. Then, 25 1 of water is added and the reaction mixture was extracted with 18 1 of methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) . The organic phase was consecutively (i) two times washed with 6.0 1 of a 7.5 wt % K₂CO₃ solution in water,

(ii) two times washed with 13.5 1 of pure water and finally (iii) two times washed with 4.5 kg of a 20 wt % solution of NaCl in water. The solvent MBTE was removed by distillation under reduced pressure of 50 mBar at 75°C. 7.845 kg of the intermediate (3) was obtained as yellow oil which is used without purification in the subsequent reaction (see reaction scheme III) .

(3) (4)

(5)

Scheme III

To a mixture of 9.63 kg (25.46 mol) p-xylene-bis-phosphonate (4) and 12.13 kg (50.92 mol) of the crude intermediate (3) in 20 1 THF, 4.70 kg (71.3 mol) of KOH was added at room temperature. After heating the stirred reaction mixture at reflux for 3.5 hours, the reaction product was precipitated by adding a mixture of 25.2 kg methanol and 9.9 kg water, followed by further cooling to 20⁰C. The crystalline product SS- 04 (5) was filtered off, washed with several portions of methanol/water on the filter and dried at 50⁰C.

The symmetric sensitizers SS-Ol to SS-06 are given in Table 1 together with their solubility in methylethylketone (S (MEK) ) measured at 20⁰C. Table 1

EXAMPLE 2: Preparation of the asymmetric sensitizers AS-Ol to AS-05

Synthesis of asymmetric sensitizer AS-Ol

AS-Ol was prepared according to reacting scheme IV.

Scheme IV

The intermediates (5) and (8) were prepared as described in WO2005/029187 and Example 1. Step 1

To a solution of p-xylene-bis-phosphonate (6) (189 g; 0.5 mol) in ethanol (1.3 1) was added KOH (33 g; 0.55 mol) . After warming up to 40 ⁰C, a solution of (5) (119 g; 0.5 mol) in ethanol (0.2 1) was added over a 1 hour period, keeping the reaction temperature at 50⁰C. After 1 hour, an additional portion of KOH (9 g; 0.15 mol) was added and stirring was continued for 2 hours at 55⁰C. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo with a rotary evaporator, yielding an oil, which was dissolved in ethyl acetate (2.5 1) . After washing with aqueous acetic acid (HOAc) (1 M), water and drying over MgSO₄, the solution was concentrated in vacuo with a rotary evaporator, yielding an oil (290 g) . This oil was dissolved in methanol (0.6 1) at room temperature . After cooling to 5°C, a precipitate (56.5 g mainly containing the symmetric SS-04) was filtered off. The solution was concentrated, yielding an oil (140 g) which is purified by preparative column chromatography (silicagel; dichloromethane /ethylacetate l/l) to obtain (7) (27.1 g; 11.7%) as white crystals.

Step 2

To a solution of (8) (1.65 g; 5.3 mmol) and (7) (2.31 g,- 5.0 mmol) in THF (30 ml) at room temperature was added NaH (0.40 g; 7.5 mmol) . The reaction mixture was gradually warmed to 50-55⁰C and after 30 minutes further heated at 65°C for another 30 minutes. After adding methanol (50 ml) and concentration of the reaction mixture in vacuo with a rotary evaporator, the crude product (9) was recrystallized

(cooling to 1O⁰C) from methanol/water (100/1) . After filtration and washing with methanol the sensitizer AS-Ol was obtained (1.70 g; 56 %) . The asymmetric sensitizers AS-02, AS-03, AS-04 and AS-05 were obtained using a similar preparation method. The asymmetric sensitizers AS-Ol to AS-05 are given in Table 2 together with their absorption maxumum (Abs.Max (nm) ) and their melting point (⁰C) .

Table 2

EXAMPLE 3: Preparation of the mixtures SSMIX-Ol to SSMIX-05

The mixtures of sensitizers SSMIX-Ol to SSMIX-05 were obtained by- adding individual sensitizers m appropriate amounts to l-methoxy-2- propanol or the coating solution The composition of SSMIX-01 to SSMIX-05 is given m Table 3.

Table 3

Mixture Sensitizer (SS)

SSMIX-01 33 Wt .% SS-04 33 Wt% SS-05 33 Wt. % SS-03

SSMIX-02 60 Wt .% SS-04 20 wt% SS-05 20 Wt. % SS-03

SSMIX-03 60 Wt .% SS-04 40 Wt% SS-02 -

SSMIX-04 33 Wt % SS-Ol 33 Wt% SS-03 33 Wt. % SS-05

SSMIX-05 33 Wt .% SS-04 33 Wt% SS-02 33 Wt. % SS-06

EXAMPLE 4: Preparation of the mixtures SSMIX-06 to SSMIX-12

The mixtures of sensitizers SSMIX-05 to SSMIX-12, comprising at least three different sensitizers, were obtained in situ.

Preparation of SSMIX 06

SSMIX-06 has been prepared according to Scheme V.

Scheme V To a mixture of 6.15 kg (16.25 mol) p-xylene-bis-phosphonate, 3.47 kg (14.95 mol) of the crude intermediate, n-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, and 5.62 kg (22.43 mol) of the crude intermediate, 1-methyl-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, in 10.8 kg tetra- hydrofuran (THF), 3.11 kg (47.1 mol) of potassium hydroxide (KOH) was added at room temperature. After heating the stirred reaction mixture at reflux for 3.5 hours, the reaction product was crystallized by adding a mixture of 16.1 kg Methanol (MeOH) and 6.3 kg of water, followed by further cooling to 20⁰C. The crystalline product (mixture of three different products) was filtered off, washed with several portions of MeOH/water on the filter and dried at 50⁰C.

The 40/60 molar ratio of the two aldehydes statistically should lead to a molar ratio 36/48/16 in the product mixture, as shown in scheme V. The analysis of the product mixture with gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) showed a ratio of 38/47/15. This ratio has been proven to be reproducable within a 2 % range.

Preparation of SSMIX- 07

SSMIX- 07 has been prepared according to Scheme VT

Scheme VI To a mixture of 454 g (1.2 mol) p-xylene-bis-phosphonate , 215 g (756 mmol) of the crude intermediate, n-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, and 422 g (1404 mmol) of the crude intermediate, 1- methyl -propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, in 800 g tetrahydrofuran (THF), 206g (3.1 mol) of potassium hydroxide (KOH) was added at room temperature. After heating the stirred reaction mixture at reflux for 3.5 hours, the reaction product was crystallized by adding a mixture of 949 g methanol (MeOH) and 468 g of water, followed by further cooling to 2O⁰C. The crystalline product (mixture of three different products) was filtered off, washed with several portions of MeOH/water on the filter and dried at 50⁰C. The 35/65 molar ratio of the two aldehydes statistically should lead to a molar ratio 42/46/12 in the product mixture, as shown in scheme below. The yield was 549 g (85%) .

Preparation of SSMIX- 08

SSMIX-08 has been prepared according to Scheme VII.

Scheme VII

To a mixture of 454 g (1.2 mol) p-xylene-bis-phosphonate, 276 g (972 mmol) of the crude intermediate, n-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, and 357 g (1188 mmol) of the crude intermediate, 1- methyl -propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, in 800 g tetrahydrofuran (THF), 206g (3.1 mol) of potassium hydroxide (KOH) was added at room temperature. After heating the stirred reaction mixture at reflux for 3.5 hours, the reaction product was crystallized by adding a mixture of 949 g methanol (MeOH) and 468 g of water, followed by further cooling to 20⁰C. The crystalline product (mixture of three different products) was filtered off, washed with several portions of MeOH/water on the filter and dried at 5O⁰C. The 45/55 molar ratio of the two aldehydes statistically should lead to a molar ratio 30/20/50 in the product mixture, as shown in scheme below. The yield was 553 g (86%) .

Preparation of SSMIX- 09

SSMIX-09 has been prepared according to Scheme VIII.

Scheme VIII

To a mixture of 454g (1.2 mol) p-xylene-bis-phosphonate, 201 g (542 mmol) of the crude intermediate, 2-ethyl-hexyl alkylated syringaldehyde, and 529 g (1758 mmol) of the crude intermediate, 1- methyl -propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, in 800 g tetrahydrofuran (THF), 230 g (3.5 mol) of potassium hydroxide (KOH) was added at room temperature. After heating the stirred reaction mixture at reflux for 3.5 hours, the reaction product was crystallized by adding a mixture of 1.19 kg methanol (MeOH) and 468 g of water, followed by further cooling to 20⁰C. The crystalline product (mixture of three different products) was filtered off, washed with several portions of MeOH/water on the filter and dried at 5O⁰C. The 76.5/23.5 molar ratio of the two aldehydes statistically should lead to a molar ratio 58.5/36/5.5 m the product mixture, as shown m scheme below. The yield was 443 g (68%)

Preparation of SSMIX-10

SSMIX-10 has been prepared according to Scheme IX.

Scheme IX

To a mixture of 456g (1.2 mol) p-xylene-bis-phosphonate, 156 g (504 mmol) of the crude intermediate 2-ethyl-hexyl alkylated syrmgaldehyde, 119 g (504 mmol) of the crude intermediate n-propyl alkylated syrmgaldehyde and 379 g (1512 mmol) of the crude intermediate 1-methyl-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde in 800 g THF, 230 g (3.5 mol) of KOH was added at room temperature. After heating the stirred reaction mixture at reflux for 3.5 hours, the reaction product was crystallised by adding a mixture of 1.19 kg methanol and 0.47 kg water, followed by further cooling to 20⁰C. The crystalline product (mixture of six products) was filtered off, washed with several portions of methanol/water on the filter and dried at 50⁰C. The yield was 550 g (theoretical yield of 84%) of the mixture of the six expected products in the expected ratio.

Preparation of SSMIX-Il

SSMIX-Il has been prepared according to Scheme X.

Scheme X To a mixture of 454 g (1.2 mol) p-xylene-bis-phosphonate, 114 g (307 mmol) of the crude intermediate, 2-ethyl-hexyl alkylated syringaldehyde , 87 g (307 mmol) of the crude intermediate, i-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, 90 g (307 mmol) of the crude intermediate, n-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, and 415 g (1380 mmol) of the crude intermediate, 1-methyl-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, in 800 g tetrahydrofuran (THF) , 230 g (3.5 mol) of potassium hydroxide (KOH) was added at room temperature. After heating the stirred reaction mixture at reflux for 3.5 hours, the reaction product was crystallized by adding a mixture of 1.19 kg methanol (MeOH) and 468 g of water, followed by further cooling to 20⁰C. The crystalline product (mixture of ten different products) was filtered off, washed with several portions of MeOH/water on the filter and dried at 50⁰C. The 60/13.3/13.3/13.3 molar ratio of the four aldehydes statistically should lead to a molar ratio

36/16/16/16/3.6/3.6/3.6/1.8/1.8/1.8 in the product mixture, as shown in scheme below. The yield was 553 g (84%) .

Preparation of SSMIX-12

SSMIX- 12 has been prepared according to Scheme XI

Scheme XI

To a mixture of 454g (1.2 mol) p-xylene-bis-phosphonate, 65.2 g (230 mmol) of the crude intermediate i-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, 70.4 g (230 mmol) of the crude intermediate 1-ethyl- propyl alkylated syringaldehyde, 85.6 g (230 mmol) of the crude intermediate 2-ethyl-hexyl alkylated syringaldehyde, 67.1 g (230 mmol) of the crude intermediate n-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde and 415 g (1380 mmol) of the crude intermediate 1 -methyl-propyl alkylated syringaldehyde in 800 g THF, 230 g (3.5 mol) of KOH was added at room temperature. After heating the stirred reaction mixture at reflux for 3.5 hours, the reaction product was crystallised by adding a mixture of 1.19 kg methanol and 0.47 kg water, followed by further cooling to 20⁰C. The crystalline product (mixture of six products) was filtered off, washed with several portions of methanol/water on the filter and dried at 50⁰C. The yield is 510 g (theoretical yield of 78%) of the mixture of the fifteen expected products in the expected ratio.

EXAMPLE 5: Determination of the Solubility and the MSZW in MOP

The solubility of the sensitizers SS-Ol to SS-05 and the mixture of sensitizers SSMIX-01 to SSMIX-12 in l-methoxy-2-propanol (MOP) at 80⁰C and the MetaStable Zone width (MSZW) at 8O⁰C, were measured with the Lasentec^® FBRM^® technology from Mettler Toledo, as described above.

350 g of a sensitizer SS-Ol to SS-05 or a mixture of sensitizers SSMIX-01 to SSMIX-12 were mixed with 525 g of l-methoxy-2-propanol. The suspension was stirred at 350 rpm and heated until complete dissolution of all sensitizers. All following actions were automatically performed by the experimental set up used. The experimental set up constituted a Labmax^® 2 liter automated lab reactor equiped with Lasentec^® Probe and the Lasentec^® D600 hardware, all distributed by Mettler Toledo. The Lasentec^® FBRM^® technology enables the detection of nucleation and dissolution temperatures of a solution. FBRM^® stands for Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement. The Lasentec^® probe measures the number and the average diameter of the particles in the suspension (the laser of the Lasentec^® probe continuously scans, with a linear scan speed of 2 m/s, a region of the suspension; the laser light is reflected by the particles residing in the scanned region) .

The 40 percent by weight solution was cooled at 0.2°C/minute . Upon detection of nucleation, i.e. when the Lasentec^® FBRM^® technology detects more than 800 particles with an average diameter of 1 to 20 μm, the so called 'fines' region, the mixture was kept at the attained temperature during 0.5 hour as crystallization proceeds. Upon completion of the crystallization, the mixture was heated at 0.2°C/minute . Upon detection of solubilization, i.e. when the Lasentec^® FBRM^® technology detects less than 30 particles with an average particle diameter of 20 to 50 μm, the so called 'coarses' region, the temperature was kept at the attained temperature during 0.5 hour until completion of the solubilization. Three cooling and heating cycli were performed at this concentration. The solution was then automatically diluted: to the 40 percent by weigth solution, 125 g of l-methoxy-2-propanol is added to obtain a 35 percent by weight solution. At this new concentration, three cooling and heating cycli as described above were performed. This procedure was repeated for a 30 wt %, a 25 wt% and a 20 wt % solution.

The collected data, for each solution, results in the solubility and nucleation curves as depicted in Figure 1. The solubility and the MetaStableZone Width (MSZW) at 8O⁰C, calculated from the experimental data using a curve fitting programm (Excel) are shown in Table 4.

Table 4

EXAMPLE 6: Preparation printing plate precursors PPP-Ol to PPP-17

Support

A 0.3 mm thick aluminum foil was degreased by spraying with an aqueous solution containing 26 g/1 NaOH at 65⁰C for 2 seconds and rinsed with demineralised water for 1.5 seconds. The foil was then electrochemically grained during 10 seconds using an alternating current in an aqueous solution containing 15g/l HCl, 15g/l S04^2" ions and 5g/l Al ⁺ ions at a temperature of 37°C and a current density of about 100 A/dm . Afterwards, the aluminum foil was desmutted by etching with an aqueous solution containing 5.5 g/1 NaOH at 36°C for 2 seconds and rinsed with demineralised water for 2 seconds. The foil was subsequently subjected to anodic oxidation during 15 seconds in an aqueous solution containing 145 g/1 of sulfuric acid at a temperature of 50⁰C and a current density of 17 A/dm², then washed with demineralised water for 11 seconds and post -treated for 3 seconds (by spray) with a solution containing 2.2 g/1 PVPA at

70 °C, rinsed with demineralised water for 1 seconds and dried at

12O⁰C for 5 seconds.

The support thus obtained was characterised by a surface roughness

Ra of 0.35-0.4 μm (measured with interferometer NTIlOO) and had an anodic weight of 3.0 g/m². Photopolymerizable layers PL-Ol to PL-17

The photopolymerizable layers PL-Ol to PL- 17 were prepared by coating the solutions of which the compositions are shown in Table 5 on the above described support. The wet coating thickness was 20 μm.

2

After drying, a dry coating weight of 1.5 g/m was obtained.

Table 5

Preparation of the overcoat layer OC-Ol

The overcoat layer OC-Ol, also referred to as top layer, was applied from an aqueous solution. The composition of a 1000 g coating solution is defined in table 6. The wet coating thickness was 45 μm. After drying at 110⁰C for 2 minutes a dry coverage weight of 1.75 g/m was obtained.

Table 6

Preparation of the printing plate precursors PPP-01 to PPP- 17

On top of the coated photo-polymerizable layers PL-Ol to PL-17, the above described overcoat layer OC-Ol was applied. However, to better evaluate the propensity of the different photopolymerizable layers towards crystallization of the sensitizer, before application of the overcoat layer, the photopolymerizable layers were 'doped' with the sensitizers or mixture of sensitizers used in the photo- polymerizable layers. Thereto, after drying the photopolymerizable layers, the plates were fixed onto a flat surface, said surface kept at 50⁰C. A rubber roller was contaminated over its width with a small amount of sensitizer or sensitizer mixture. The contaminated rubber roller was then rolled over the photopolymerizable layer. The superfluous powder was removed by wiping it off with a cotton pad. After this 'doping' treatment, the overcoat layer was applied onto the 'doped' photopolyτnerizable layer, resulting in the printing plate precursors PPP-Ol to PPP-17.

Evaluation of the printing plate precursors PPP-Ol to PPP-17 s

Each printing plate precursor was cut in two parts. One part was aged at 50⁰C for 4 days, this part referred to as the 'aged' printing plate precursor. The other part is referred to as the 'fresh' part. The 'aged' and the 'fresh' parts were taped togethero again before exposure, pre-heat and development.

Exposure

Exposure was carried out at 1200 dpi on an Advantage DL3850 violets plate-setter, available from Agfa Graphics NV. The 'fresh' and

'aged' printing plate precursors were exposed through an UGRA step wedge (wedge constant = 0.15) . The exposure level chosen amounted to a solid step 1 (or even less) on the reproduction of the UGRA step wedge on the printing plate after exposure, pre-heat and 0 development, which means that the printing plate precursor was largely underexposed. This exposure level allowed a better evaluation of the crystallization tendency of the sensitizer or sensitizers in the image-recording layer of the precursors. s Another 'fresh' sample of each printing plate precursor was exposed in order to determine its sensitivity. This is the energy density (μj/cm²) required to obtain a density of at least 97 % of Dmax (Dmax is the maximum solid density that can be obtained) after pre-heat and processing on step 3 of the reproduction of the UGRA step wedge0 on the printing plate.

Pre-heat

After exposure a pre-heat treatment was performed in the pre-heat5 unit of a VSP-85 processor (speed = 1.2 m/min; temperature measured on the backside of the printing plate precursor = 110⁰C) . A VSP- 85 processor is commercially available from Agfa Graphics NV.

Development s

After pre-heat, the plates were developed in a VSP- 85 processor with

PLlO developer, available from Agfa Graphics NV, at 24°C and a speed of 1.2 m/min. o Printing

Printing was done on a Heidelberg GTO52 printing press equiped with a Dahlgren dampening system with K+E 800 ink and 100% Rotaprint Rotamatic as dampening solution. 5

Evaluation of crystallization

The evaluation of the crystallization behaviour was performed on the 'aged' printing plates, after (under) exposure, pre-heat and o development. Since the occurrence of micro-crystals in the photo- polymerizable layer locally resulted in a decrease of the polymerization degree: a part of, or even the complete photo- polymerizable layer was removed after development, resulting in streaks of lower density. The occurrence of these impressions or5 streaks was visually evaluated and ranked, taking into account the number of impressions or streaks, their wideness and their deepness. When the complete layer was removed, the lowest density (Dmin) was observed. The samples were ranked according to the following scale: 0 6 : No impressions visible

5 : Small impressions visible with no Dmin areas

4 : Small impressions visible with almost no Dmin areas

3 : Impressions visible with limited Dmin areas

2 : Impressions visible with Dmin areas over the complete width5 of the impressions

1 : Impressions visible with large and wide Dmin areas The results of the evaluation of the crystallization tendency of the printing plates PP-Ol to PP- 17 are shown in Table 7, together with some lithographic properties.

Table 7

From Table 7 it is clear that all inventive printing plate precursors comprising a mixture of sensitizers having in MOP at 8O⁰C a solubility of at least 30 wt . % and preferably a MSZW of at least 8.5⁰C, measured at a cooling rate of 0.2⁰C per minute, are characterized by a high sensitivity, a good shelf life and improved lithographic properties of the resulting printing plate.

Claims

[CLAIMS]

1. A lithographic printing plate precursor comprising an image- recording layer, said image-recording layer being photo- 5 polymerizable upon exposure to actinic light and containing a mixture of different sensitizers characterized in that said mixture of sensitizers has in l-methoxy-2-propanol at 80⁰C a solubility of at least 30 wt . % . o 2. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 1 wherein said mixture of sensitizers has in l-methoxy-2-propanol at 80⁰C a MetaStable Zone Width (MSZW) of at least 8.5°C, said MSZW measured at a cooling and heating rate of 0.2°C/minute . s 3. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claims 1 and 2 wherein said mixture of sensitizers comprises at least three different sensitizers.

4. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claims 1o to 3 wherein said mixture of sensitizers is a mixture of different sensitizers according to formula I,

5 Formula I

wherein

R to R independently represent a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkoxy group,o a cyano group, a halogen atom, a dialkylamino group, an alkylarylamino group or a diarylamino group; L is an optionally substituted divalent linking group selected from the list consisting of:

n is an integer from 0 to 2 ;

X represents S, 0 or NR ;

R, R' and R represent an optionally substituted alkyl group.

5. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 4 wherein R to R are alkoxy groups.

6. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 5 wwhheerreeiinn RR ,, RR ,, RR aanndd RR aarree mmeetthhooxxyy groups and R and R are alkoxy groups having 3 to 15 C-atoms.

7. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 6

5 2 wherein for at least one sensitizer R or R are branched alkoxy groups having 3 to 15 C-atoms.

. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 7

5 2 wwhheerreeiinn ffoorr aatt lleeaa;st one sensitizer R or R comprises an asymmetric C-atom.

9. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claims 4 to 8 wherein for at least one sensitizer R ≠ R or R ≠ R or R

≠ R⁶.

10. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claims 7 to 9 wherein said at least one sensitizer is present in an amount of at least 25 percent by weight relative to the total weight of the sensitizing system.

11. The lithographic printing plate according to claims 4 to 10 wherein said mixture of sensitizers is a mixture of different sensitizers according to formula II,

Formula II wherein

R to R have the same meaning as in Formula I .

wherein m is 1 or 2,

* represents the linking positions of the linking group L to the phenyl groups of Formula II;

R and R' represent an optionally substituted alkyl group.

The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claims 1 to 3 wherein said mixture of sensitizers is a mixture of different sensitizers according to formula VI,

Formula VI

wherein

A represents an aromatic ring which may have a substituent or a hetero ring which may have a substituent;

X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or N-(R ) ;

7 R ^Q

R , R and R independently represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent non-metallic atomic group;

A and R and R and R may be combined with each other to form an aliphatic or aromatic ring.

13. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claims 1 to 3 wherein said mixture of sensitizers is a mixture of different sensitizers according to formula VII,

Formula VII wherein

R , R and R are independently selected from a halogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group which may also be fused, an optionally substituted aralkyl group, a group NR R and a group -OR , wherein R and

14

R are independently selected from a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, an aryl or an aralkyl group;

R is an optionally alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group or a hydrogen atom,- k, 1 and p are independently 0 or an integer from 1 to 5.

14. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to any of the preceding claims wherein the photopolymerizable coating further comprises a hexaarylbisimidazole compound as photo- initiator .

15. The lithographic printing plate precursor according to claim 14 wherein the photopolymerizable layer further comprises a mercaptobenzothiazole compound as co-initiator.

16. A process of preparing the mixtures of sensitizers as defined in claim 11 by reacting at least two different aldehydes according to Formulae III and IV;

Formula III

with a bis-phosphonate according to Formula V,

Formula V

wherein

R to R independently represent a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkoxy group, a cyano group or a halogen atom;

R" is an alkoxy group or a phenyl group;

L^1' is an optionally substituted divalent linking group selected from the list consisting of:

m i s 1 or 2 ;

* represents the linking positions of the linking group L ; s R and R' represent an optionally substituted alkyl group.

17. A method of making a printing plate comprising the steps of:

- providing a lithographic printing plate precursor as defined in claims 1 to 15; o - image-wise exposing said precursor with a laser emitting actinic light;

- optionally pre-heating said exposed precursor;

- developing said precursor. s 18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said actinic light has an energy density, measured on the surface of the plate, of 100 μj/cm or less.

19. The method according to claims 17 and 18 wherein said actinico light has a wavelength of from 300 to 500 run.

20. The method according to claims 17 to 19 wherein the development is performed in a gum-solution. 5

0