Abstract:
An imageable element comprises: (A) a substrate; and (B) an imageable composition applied to the substrate comprising: (1) a first layer, comprising: (a) a photosensitive composition capable of absorbing actinic radiation; and (b) a photothermal converter; and (2) an ablatable second layer contiguous to the first layer, wherein the second layer is opaque to the actinic radiation. This imageable element advantageously is useful in both positive and negative working printing plate applications, increases the efficiency of use of mask-generating radiation such as IR radiation and eliminates the need for chemicals and additional time to create a mask.
Abstract:
A waterless or driographic printing plate which can be thermally imaged by an infrared laser is composed of a substrate; a thermal imaging layer containing a photothermal conversion material, such as an infrared absorbing material, and a thermoplastic polyurethane with pendent allyl groups; and a crosslinked silicone polymer top layer. It was discovered that when the imaging layer contains an allyl functional polyurethane mixed with an infrared absorbing dye or pigment, the polymeric layer will have enhanced solubility in certain solvents when exposed to infrared radiation. In addition, the polymeric layer continues to exhibit excellent adhesion to the silicone in unexposed areas so that the infrared absorbing layer can endure development with a suitable organic solvent, or a solvent mixture. Mild brushing or rubbing with the developing solvent readily removes laser-struck portions of the infrared imaging layer while unexposed areas remain firmly intact.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for massive model visualization in product data management (PDM) systems. A method includes storing a hierarchical product data structure that includes a plurality of occurrence nodes and component nodes. The method includes creating an occurrence equivalency table from, the hierarchical product data structure, that identifies at least one anchor occurrence node and at least one equivalent occurrence node. The product component corresponding to the equivalent occurrence node is spatially located within a specified distance threshold of product component corresponding to the anchor occurrence node. The method includes creating an anchor occurrence table corresponding to the hierarchical product data structure that lists a plurality of unique occurrence chain represented by the hierarchical product data structure, where each equivalent occurrence node is replaced by its corresponding anchor occurrence node, and that associates each listed unique occurrence chain with an associated cell index value.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for massive model visualization in product data management (PDM) systems. A method includes storing a hierarchical product data structure that includes a plurality of occurrence nodes and component nodes. The method includes creating an occurrence equivalency table from, the hierarchical product data structure, that identifies at least one anchor occurrence node and at least one equivalent occurrence node. The product component corresponding to the equivalent occurrence node is spatially located within a specified distance threshold of product component corresponding to the anchor occurrence node. The method includes creating an anchor occurrence table corresponding to the hierarchical product data structure that lists a plurality of unique occurrence chain represented by the hierarchical product data structure, where each equivalent occurrence node is replaced by its corresponding anchor occurrence node, and that associates each listed unique occurrence chain with an associated cell index value.
Abstract:
Lithographic printing plate precursors have been designed so that they can be stored, shipped, and used in stacks without interleaf paper between individual precursors. This is achieved by incorporating polymeric particles having an average diameter of from about 3 to about 20 μm into the outermost precursor layer such as an imagable layer or topcoat. The polymeric particles comprise a core of a crosslinked polymer and have grafted hydrophilic polymeric surface groups that are grafted onto the particle surfaces by polymerizing hydrophilic monomers in the presence of the crosslinked polymeric particles. The lithographic printing plates can be either negative- or positive-working elements.
Abstract:
A method is used to prepare lithographic printing plates by developing positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor that has a single imageable layer that comprises a polymer binder having recurring units represented by Structure (Ib) below: wherein the recurring units of Structure (Ib) are present in an amount of at least 25 and up to and including 60 mol %, all based on total recurring units in the polymer binder, and R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaryl group in which the hydroxyl group is ortho to the ester linkage, to form exposed and non-exposed regions in the imageable layer. The resulting imaged lithographic printing plate is developed using a silicate-free developer composition having a pH of at least 12 and comprising at least 0.001 gram-atom/kg of a metal cation M2+ selected from the group consisting of barium, calcium, strontium, and zinc cations.
Abstract:
A radiation-sensitive composition and negative-working imagable element includes a polymeric binder that has a hydrophobic backbone and pendant salt groups that comprise a cation covalently attached to the hydrophobic backbone and a boron-containing anion forming a salt with the cation. The use of these particular polymers provides fast digital speed (high imaging sensitivity) and good printability (good shelf-life) even when the preheat step normally used between exposure and development, is omitted.
Abstract:
A radiation-sensitive composition includes a free-radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating free radicals sufficient to initiate polymerization upon exposure to imaging radiation, an infrared radiation absorbing compound, and a polymeric binder. The initiator composition includes a unique polyonium borate comprising a polyvalent onium cation with multiple onium moieties and sufficient organic borate counterions to provide a net neutral charge. The radiation-sensitive composition can be used to prepare a negative-working imageable element that is sensitive to suitable imaging infrared radiation, can be imaged at relatively low energy, and can be developed either on-press or off-press.
Abstract:
A negative-working imageable element has an imageable layer and a topcoat layer that contains a composition that will change color upon exposure to imaging infrared radiation. The imageable element can be imaged and developed on-press to provide images with improved contrast for print-out.
Abstract:
An imageable element can be imaged using non-ablative processes. This element has a non-silicone, non-crosslinked layer contiguous to and under an ink-repelling crosslinked silicone rubber layer. These elements can be used for providing lithographic printing plates useful for waterless printing (no fountain solution). Processing after imaging is relatively simple with either water or an aqueous solution consisting essentially of a surfactant or mechanical means to remove the crosslinked silicone rubber layer and a minor portion of the non-silicone, non-crosslinked layer in the imaged regions.