Abstract:
A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of : a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on said support, comprising a photopolymerizable layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein said photopolymerizable layer comprises a polymerizable compound and a polymerization initiator, b) image-wise exposing said coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a preheating unit, d) developing the precursor off -press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the photopolymerizable layer from the support , wherein said photopolymerizable layer further comprises a polymer containing an acid group and a basic nitrogen-containing compound capable of neutralizing said acid group, or wherein said photopolymerizable layer further comprises a polymer containing an acid group which is neutralized by a basic nitrogen-containing compound.
Abstract:
A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of : a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on said support, comprising a photopolymerizable layer and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein said photopolymerizable layer comprises a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator and a binder, b) image-wise exposing said coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a preheating unit, d) treating the precursor 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.
Abstract:
A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of : a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on said support, comprising a photopolymerizable layer, a toplayer and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, wherein said photopolymerizable layer comprises a polymerizable compound, a polymerization initiator and a binder, b) image-wise exposing said coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a preheating unit, d) treating the precursor 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 toplayer, and wherein, subsequently, the precursor is developed in the 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.
Abstract:
Thermally imageable multilayer imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors that have good solvent resistance are disclosed. The underlayer of the imageable element comprises an acidic copolymer that comprises, in polymerized form, 10 mol% to 75 mol% of one or more monomers of the formula (I): CH 2 =CH(R 1 ) Z-X-NH-CO-NH-C 6 H 3 -(R2)(CO 2 H); in which: R 1 is H or CH 3 ;R 2 is H or OH; Z is -C 6 H 4 -or - C(O) - Y- ;Y is - O - or - NH- ; and X is selected from -C(CH 3 ) 2 - , -CH(CH 3 )- and -(CH 2 ) n -, in which n is an integer from 1 to 12.
Abstract:
Substrates for imageable elements are disclosed. The substrates comprise, in order, an aluminum or aluminum alloy support, a silicate layer, and a layer of interlayer material. The interlayer material is a co-polymer that comprise (1) phosphonic acid groups and/or phosphate groups and (2) acid groups and/or groups that comprise ethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol side chains. Imageable elements that comprise an imageable layer over the interlayer material are useful as lithographic printing plate precursors.
Abstract:
Solubility transitions rather than ablation mechanisms facilitate selective removal of the imaging layer of a lithographic plate, which allows for imaging with low-power lasers that need not impart ablation-inducing energy levels.
Abstract:
Imageable elements that contain silicate-coated polymer particles in the imageable layer, stacks of these elements, and methods for forming images using these elements are disclosed. The elements do not stick to each other when stacked without interleaving paper, and only one imageable element is lifted at a time when the imageable elements are handled by automatic processing equipment. Blanket piling is not observed when silicate-coated particles are present in the imageable layer.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a thermally curable polymer composition, and a photolithographic substrate coated therewith, the composition comprising a hydroxyl-containing polymer, an amino cross-linking agent and a thermal acid generator. The thermally curable polymer composition may be dissolved in a solvent and used as an undercoat layer in deep UV lithography.
Abstract:
A thermal lithographic printing plate, which can be imaged by thermal energy typically by imagewise exposure with an infrared emitting laser, a thermal printing head, etc., is made up of a hydrophilic substrate, and a composite layer structure composed of two layer coatings. Preferably, the first layer of the composite is composed of an aqueous developable polymer mixture containing a photothermal conversion material which is contiguous to the hydrophilic substrate. The second layer of the composite is composed of one or more non-aqueous soluble polymers which are soluble or dispersible in a solvent which does not dissolve the first layer. The plate is exposed with an infrared laser or a thermal print head, and upon aqueous development of the imaged plate, the exposed portions are removed exposing hydrophilic substrate surfaces receptive to conventional aqueous fountain solutions. The unexposed portions contain the ink-receptive image areas. The second layer may also contain a photothermal conversion material. Alternatively, the composite layer may be free of photothermal conversion material when thermal imaging is carried out using a thermal printing head.
Abstract:
Presensitised lithographic plates are prepared which permit direct formation of printable images on plates by digital computerization without the intervening formation of a photographic image with a quality that allows the plates to be used for high volume printing applications. The lithographic printing plate has a structure which contains a substrate; a positive or negative working photosensitive layer; and a thermally sensitive masking layer which is opaque to the actinic radiation but which is soluble in an aqueous medium. The masking layer contains a heat softenable disperse phase which is insoluble in the aqueous medium; a polymeric continuous phase which is soluble or swellable in the aqueous medium; and a colorant which strongly absorbs radiant energy and converts the radiant energy to heat. In use, the masking layer is digitally exposed to a computer controled laser beam so that exposed images areas of the masking are insolubilized in the aqueous medium; soluble mask image areas of the mask layer are then removed to form an opaque image mask on the photosensitive layer which is then exposed to actinic radiation passing through the mask to solubilize or insolubilize exposed areas of the photosensitive layer; the photosensitive layer is then developed with the developer liquid to remove the soluble image areas and any overlying mask areas to form the lithographic printing plate. Both wet and waterless lithographic printing plates may be digitally prepared in this manner.