# US 9,040,219 B2 · Image forming material, planographic printing plate precursor, and method for manufacturing a planographic printing plate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,219 B2 - Document ID: US9040219B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/193,224 - Filed: 2011-07-28 - Published: 2012-03-01 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-31 - Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation - Applicants: Yoshinori Taguchi; Noriaki Watanabe; Shigekatsu Fujii; Shigefumi Kanchiku - Inventors: Yoshinori Taguchi; Noriaki Watanabe; Shigekatsu Fujii; Shigefumi Kanchiku - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040219B2 ## CPC - B41C 1/1016: {characterised by structural details, e.g. protective layers, backcoat layers or several imaging layers} - B41C 2201/04: Intermediate layers - B41C 2201/14: characterised by macromolecular organic compounds, e.g. binder, adhesives - B41C 2210/02: Positive working, i.e. the exposed (imaged) areas are removed - B41C 2210/06: Developable by an alkaline solution - B41C 2210/14: Multiple imaging layers - B41C 2210/22: characterised by organic non-macromolecular additives, e.g. dyes, UV-absorbers, plasticisers - B41C 2210/24: characterised by a macromolecular compound or binder obtained by reactions involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. acrylics, vinyl polymers - B41C 2210/262: Phenolic condensation polymers, e.g. novolacs, resols - B41C 2210/266: Polyurethanes; Polyureas - B41C: PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES (photomechanical processes for producing printing surfaces G03F; photoelectrical processes for producing printing surfaces G03G) ## Abstract The invention provides an infrared-sensitive positive-working image forming material which provides excellent development latitude, image formability and image region strength, and in which decrease in development property is prevented even when a certain time has passed after pattern exposure until development treatment; an infrared-sensitive positive-working planographic printing plate precursor which is formed from the image forming material and has excellent image formability and image region printing durability; and a method for manufacturing a planographic printing plate using the planographic printing plate precursor. The image forming material includes; on a support, a lower layer containing a polymer having carboxylic acid groups at side chains thereof, at least a part of the carboxylic acid groups forming a salt structure with a monovalent basic compound, and an infrared absorbing agent; and an upper layer whose solubility to aqueous alkaline solution is increased by heat, in this order. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image forming material comprising: a support; and on the support, in this order, a lower layer and an upper layer whose solubility in an aqueous alkaline solution is increased by heat, the lower layer comprising a polymer, which has carboxylic acid groups at side chains thereof, and an infrared absorbing agent, at least a part of the carboxylic acid groups forming a salt structure with a monovalent basic compound, wherein: the monovalent basic compound comprises onium hydroxide, and the polymer in which at least a part of the carboxylic acid groups thereof form a salt structure with the monovalent basic compound has a carboxylic acid value of from 0.001 mmol/g to 2.00 mmol/g, this value being the carboxylic acid value of the polymer in the form of a salt structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image forming material according to claim 1, wherein the monovalent basic compound comprises a nitrogen-containing basic compound. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image forming material according to claim 1, wherein the onium hydroxide comprises a compound having a structure represented by any one of the following Formulae (1) to (4): wherein, in Formulae (1) to (4), each of R1 to R17 independently represents a monovalent substituent; at least two of R1 to R4 may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure; at least two of R5 to R7 may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure; at least two of R8 to R11 may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure; and at least two of R12 to R17 may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image forming material according to claim 1, wherein the polymer which has carboxylic acid groups at side chains thereof has a main chain structure selected from the group consisting of an acrylic resin, an acetal resin and a polyurethane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image forming material according to claim 4, wherein the acrylic resin is a copolymer containing a structural unit derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of an N-substituted maleimide and a (meth)acrylamide. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image forming material according to claim 1, wherein the main chain structure of the polymer which has carboxylic acid groups at side chains thereof is a polyurethane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image forming material according to claim 1, wherein the polymer which has carboxylic acid groups at side chains thereof is a polymer obtained by applying and drying a coating liquid composition comprising a polymer (A-1) having carboxylic acid groups and a monovalent basic compound (A-2). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image forming material according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer whose solubility in an aqueous alkaline solution is increased by heat comprises a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image forming material according to claim 1, wherein the upper layer whose solubility in an aqueous alkaline solution is increased by heat further comprises an infrared absorbing agent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An infrared sensitive positive-working planographic printing plate precursor, comprising the image forming material according to claim 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method for manufacturing a planographic printing plate, the method comprising, in the following order: subjecting the infrared sensitive positive-working planographic printing plate precursor according to claim 10 to pattern exposure by an infrared ray; and developing the precursor using an aqueous alkaline solution having a pH of from 8.5 to 10.8. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method for manufacturing a planographic printing plate according to claim 11, wherein the aqueous alkaline solution further comprises an anionic surfactant or a nonionic surfactant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The image forming material according to claim 1, wherein the carboxylic acid value of the polymer in which at least a part of the carboxylic acid groups thereof form a salt structure with the monovalent basic compound is from 0.01 mmol/g to 1.80 mmol/g. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The image forming material according to claim 1, wherein the amount of the basic compound is from 15 mol % to 80 mol % with respect to 100 mol % of the carboxylic acid groups included in the polymer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The image forming material according to claim 8, wherein the water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin in the upper layer is a novolac phenol resin.