Imaging member containing switchable polymers and method for use
AssigneeKodak Polychrome Graphics LLC
InventorsJeffrey W. Leon, Shiying Zheng, Charles H. Appell, Ian Moir Hodge
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Abstract
An imaging member is prepared by applying to a support a heat-sensitive imaging layer which comprises at least one heat-sensitive polymer capable of undergoing transformation from a hydrophilic to hydrophobic state or hydrophobic to hydrophilic state, wherein the transformation occurs such that the activation energy Ea and the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor A associated with the transformation simultaneously fulfill the relationships: ln (A).gtoreq.0.4 Ea+8.84 and ln (A).ltoreq.1.69 Ea-14.37. The imaging member is useful in processless thermal lithographic printing.
Claims16
An imaging member prepared by the process comprising applying to a support a heat-sensitive imaging layer which comprises at least one heat-sensitive polymer capable of undergoing transformation from a hydrophilic to hydrophobic state or hydrophobic to hydrophilic state, wherein the transformation occurs such that the activation energy Ea and the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor A associated with the transformation fulfill the relationships:
- ln(A).gtoreq.0.4 Ea+8.84;
- and
- ln(A).ltoreq.1.69 Ea-14.37.
A method of imaging comprising:
- (a) providing an imaging member prepared by the process comprising applying to a support a heat-sensitive imaging layer which comprises at least one heat-sensitive polymer capable of undergoing transformation from a hydrophilic to hydrophobic or from a hydrophobic to hydrophilic state, wherein the transformation occurs such that the activation energy Ea and the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor A associated with the transformation fulfill the relationships:
- ln(A).gtoreq.0.4 Ea+8.84, and
- ln(A).ltoreq.1.69 Ea-14.37;
- and
- (b) imagewise exposing the imaging member to energy to provide exposed and unexposed areas in the imaging layer, whereby exposed areas are rendered more oleophilic or more hydrophilic than the unexposed areas by heat provided by the imagewise exposing.
A method of printing comprising:
- (a) providing an imaging member prepared by the process comprising applying to a support a heat-sensitive imaging layer which comprises at least one heat-sensitive polymer capable of undergoing transformation from a hydrophilic to hydrophobic or from a hydrophobic to hydrophilic state, wherein the transformation occurs such that the activation energy Ea and the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor A associated with the transformation fulfill the relationships:
- ln(A).gtoreq.0.4 Ea+8.84, and
- ln(A).ltoreq.1.69 Ea-14.37;
- (b) imagewise exposing the imaging member to energy to provide exposed and unexposed areas in the imaging layer, whereby exposed areas are rendered more oleophilic or more hydrophilic than the unexposed areas by heat provided by the imagewise exposing;
- (c) contacting the imagewise exposed imaging member with a lithographic printer ink;
- and
- (d) transferring imagewise the ink to a receiving material.
An imaging member comprising a support having applied thereto a heat-sensitive imaging layer which comprises at least one heat-sensitive polymer capable of undergoing transformation from a hydrophilic to hydrophobic state or hydrophobic to hydrophilic state, wherein the transformation occurs such that the activation energy Ea and the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor A associated with the transformation fulfill the relationships:
- ln(A).gtoreq.0.4 Ea+8.84;
- and
- ln(A).ltoreq.1.69 Ea-14.37.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.