Two-layer imageable element comprising thermally reversible polymers

A two-layer imageable element comprising:

• a substrate;
• a top layer comprising a first thermally imageable composition comprising a first thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer which exhibits an increased solubility in an aqueous developer solution upon exposure to heat;
• said first thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer comprising:
• at least one covalently bonded unit;
• and at least one thermally reversible non-covalently bonded unit, which includes a two or more centered H-bond within each said non-covalently bonded unit;
• and
• disposed between said substrate and said top layer, a bottom layer comprising a second thermally imageable composition comprising a second thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer which exhibits an increased solubility in an aqueous developer solution upon exposure to heat;
• said second thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer comprising:
• at least one covalently bonded unit;
• and at least one thermally reversible non-covalently bonded unit, which includes a two or more centered H-bond within each said non-covalently bonded unit.

A thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer represented by the formula:

• 28
• wherein each R1 and R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of:
• hydrogen and hydrocarbyl;
• wherein Y is a hydrocarbylene derived from a diisocyanate represented by the formula Y(NCO)2;
• wherein P is a residue derived from a an n functional aqueous developer soluble or dispersible polymer represented by the formula P(OH)n wherein n is at least 1.

A method of producing an imaged element comprising the steps of:

• providing a two-layer imageable element comprising a substrate;
• a top layer comprising a thermally imageable composition comprising:
• (a) a first thermally imageable composition comprising a first thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer which exhibits an increased solubility in an aqueous developer solution upon exposure to heat;
• said first thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer comprising:
• at least one covalently bonded unit;
• and at least one thermally reversible non-covalently bonded unit, which includes a two or more centered H-bond within each said non-covalently bonded unit or (b) a thermally imageable composition free of said first thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer;
• and disposed between said substrate and said top layer, a bottom layer comprising a second thermally imageable composition comprising a second thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer which exhibits an increased solubility in an aqueous developer solution upon exposure to heat;
• said second thermally sensitive supramolecular polymer comprising:
• at least one covalently bonded unit;
• and at least one thermally reversible non-covalently bonded unit, which includes a two or more centered H-bond within each said non-covalently bonded unit;
• exposing said two-layer imageable element to thermal radiation to produce imagewise exposed regions;
• and
• contacting said exposed two-layer imageable element and a developer within a period of time after said exposing step to remove said exposed regions and thereby produce said imaged element.