Infra-red sensitive aqueous wash-off photoimaging element

Abstract

An aqueous processable element for thermally-induced photoimaging and a photoimaging process using the element are disclosed. The element comprises, in order: (A) a dimensionally stable support, and (B) an active layer comprising: (1) a cationic polymer containing pendant ammonium groups, said cationic polymer being removable from said support by aqueous processing, said pendant groups having the general formula: --N (R.sub.1)(R.sub.2)(R.sub.3)!.sup.+ X.sup.-, (2) an infra-red absorbing material, and (3) optionally, a colorant; wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted alkenyl, and substituted and unsubstituted aryl; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 together contain not more than about thirty carbon atoms; and X is an anion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.