Patent ID: 6165679
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B41C

Abstract:
A heat-sensitive non-ablatable imaging element for providing a lithographic printing plate, having on a support as top layer an image forming layer comprising a heat-switchable binder which provides that said lithographic printing plate is present following exposure in absence of means for removing non-exposed areas, characterized in that said image forming layer becomes more hydrophobic under the influence of heat, said heat-switchable binder having pendant hydrophilic groups being a (co)polymer containing monomeric units selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, 3- or 4-vinylphthalic acid, cis-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid, cis-5-norbene-endo-2,3-dicarboxylic acid and their half esters, and said heat-switchable binder being hydrophilic in non-exposed areas and hydrophobic in exposed areas due to heat generated at the exposed areas.