Abstract:
A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes on a grained and anodized aluminum support a coating including hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a hydrophilic binder, and an organic compound, wherein the organic compound includes at least one phosphonic acid group or at least one phosphoric acid group or a salt thereof.
Abstract:
A method for making a lithographic printing plate is disclosed which comprises the steps of: (i) providing a negative-working, heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating comprising an image-recording layer which comprises hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder, wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle size in the range from 45 nm to 63 nm and wherein the amount of the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles in the image-recording layer is at least 70% by weight relative to the image-recording layer; (ii) exposing the coating to heat or infrared light, thereby inducing coalescence of the thermoplastic polymer particles at exposed areas of the coating; (iii) developing the precursor by applying an aqueous, alkaline solution, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, wherein the aqueous alkaline solution has a pH≧11 and comprises a phosphate buffer or a silicate buffer.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an alkaline developer for irradiated radiation sensitive compositions, which developer is based on water and at least one inorganic salt having an alkaline reaction, wherein the developer has a pH of at least 11 and comprises at least three structurally different surfactants of formulae (A), (B) and (C), characterised in that the surfactant of formula (A) has one anionic group, the surfactant of formula (B) has two anionic groups, the surfactant of formula (C) is non-ionic and has at least one non-ionic hydrophilic group, and the concentration of each of the surfactants of formulae (A), (B) and (C) in the developer is at least 0.05 weight-% based on the total weight of the developer. The developer leads to less depositions and has a superior stability when used.
Abstract:
A method for making a lithographic printing plate is disclosed which comprises the steps of: (i) providing a negative-working, heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating comprising an image-recording layer which comprises hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder, wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle size in the range from 45 nm to 63 nm, and wherein the amount of the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles in the image-recording layer is at least 70% by weight relative to the image-recording layer; (ii) exposing the coating to heat or infrared light, thereby inducing coalescence of the thermoplastic polymer particles at exposed areas of the coating; (iii) developing the precursor by applying an aqueous alkaline solution, thereby removing non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, wherein the aqueous alkaline solution has a pH≧10 and comprises a surfactant.