# Patent

## Title
Optical recording employing diacetylene compound and dye to form and

## Abstract

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 865,702, filed May 22, 1986.

## Background
This application relates to radiation-sensitive compositions and more particularly to such compositions comprising acrylated esters.

As used in this specification, the term "acrylated esters" refers to either acrylic or methacrylic acid resins. U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,974 describes photosensitive resins that are styrene solutions of methacrylate esters of epoxy resins available as Epocryl (TM) 321 and 322 resins from the Shell Chemical Corporation. Also disclosed are diacrylate esters of liquid Bisphenol A epoxy resins available as Epocryl DRH-302 and 303. Other suitable acrylate esters are prepared from polyepoxy compounds derived from phenol-formaldehyde novolacs of unsaturated functionality up to 3.3.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,174,307 there are described radiation sensitive compositions which are based on diacrylated oligourethanes. An ultraviolet curable resin now available in a nonvolatile acrylated urethane based on aliphatic isocyanate and sold as CMD 8800 UV/EB Curable Resin by the Celanese Corporation.

Such acrylated resins are especially used in rapid curing ultraviolet light curable coatings. There are a variety of potential uses for these coatings including wood topcoats, coatings for rigid and flexible plastics, floor tile coatings, screen ink coatings and clear coatings, coatings for magnetic tape or disc. An important potential use is as a light-sensitive coating on lithographic plates.

A major drawback in using these radiation-sensitive acrylated esters has been the inhibition to ultraviolet curing in the presence of oxygen, e.g., when carried out in the presence of air. It will be understood therefore that certain commercial limitations arise because of the deleterious effect oxygen has on ultraviolet light curing.

In accordance with the present invention it has now been found that a significant decrease in oxygen inhibition of light curable radiation sensitive compositions, comprising unsaturated oliomers and polymers, can be attained by incorporating minor amounts of N,N'-diorgano dicarboxamides such as N,N'-dialkyl tartardiamide, N,N'-dioctyl tartardiamide, N,N'-dihexyl malondiamide, N,N'-dipropyl succindiamide.

The radiation composition will generally contain a solvent or solvents, one or more conventional additives such as photoinitiators, photoactivators, dyes, polymers, plasticizers and unsaturated monomers, oligomers and polymers.

The radiation sensitive compositions of this invention will combine as essential components unsaturated oligomers and polymers and a minor amount of N,N'-diorgano dicarboxamides dissolved in a solvent for both components; and as mentioned, conventional additives such as photoinitiators, photoactivators, and the like, also in minor amounts. Other additives such as dyes, polymeric resins and plasticizers may be utilized depending upon the end use of the radiation sensitive composition.

In general, the amount of acrylated resin in the final composition will range from about 2 to 95% by weight, preferably from 10 to 75%, of nonvolatile components.

The N,N'-diorgano dicarboxamides suitable for decreasing the oxygen inhibition of the ultraviolet light radiation sensitive acrylate compounds have the following structural formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be the same or different, contain from 2 to 20 carbon atoms and are alkyl, allyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl groups. These groups may have substituents such as hydroxy, cyano, and halogen.

X is the hydroxy carboxylic acid radical or moiety derived from oxalic acid or ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or an aryl group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms. The alkyl and aryl groups may be substituted with, for example, hydroxyl groups.

Illustrative N,N'-diorgano carboxamides are:

In general the amount of the N,N'-diorgano dicarboxamide employed will be at least 1% by weight of the total weight of the nonvolatile portion of the total composition. In most instances from about 1 to 10%, preferably 3 to 6%, by weight will be sufficient to attain the desired results.

Compounds such as tartaric acid, tartaric acid diamide, 2,3-dibenzoyl tartaric acid, tartaric acid dimethyl ether, N,N'-diallyl acrylamide, diallyl urea, triallyl isocyanurate, N,N'-diallyl ethanolamine, bis(diallylamino)methane, dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride, citric acid and ascorbic acid were found ineffective in substantially decreasing oxygen inhibition.

Solvents which may be utilized in formulating the radiation sensitive compositions include Methyl Cellosolve, alcohols such as methanol and isopropanol; ketones such as methylethyl ketone and cyclohexanone, aromatics such as toluene, dimethyl formamide, tetrahydrofuran, methylene chloride, and the like.

The other additives may include photoinitiators and photoactivators, used in minor amounts such as benzophenone, Michler's Ketone, isopropyl thioxanthone, 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholino-propan-1-one, benzil dimethyl ketal, isopropylbenzoin ether, ethyl-4-dimethylamino benzoate, and acetophenone derivatives.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following illustrative embodiments. In these tests the radiation curable composition was coated on a grained, anodized and silicated aluminum plate. To measure the curing rate a 21 step Fogra Grey Scale Negative was used (described in Fogra praxis report No. 24, Deutche Faschung-Gesellschaft fur Druck und Reproduktions Technik E.V. Copyright 1979 by FOGRA.), O.sub.2 effect was tested by measuring change in gray scale on exposure for 10 sec. in a 5 kw Berkey UV light source at 27 and 7 inch by vacuum. After exposure the coating was developed for 10 sec. in Polychrome 972 developer, rinsed and inked. The grey scale inked tail was recorded as a measure of curing rate. A significant increase in curing rate was noticed especially at low vacuum upon addition of carboxamide.

(A) 5.6 grams of acrylated urethane, sold under the trademark Celrad 3701 by the Celanese Corp., was dissolved in 300 ml of methyl cellosolve. To the resulting solution 0.2 gram benzophenone and 0.2 gram Michlers Ketone were added. The resulting radiation sensitive composition was coated on a grained, anodized and silicated aluminum lithographic plate. When the coated plate was inked and exposed at 27 and 7 psi vacuum, developed and inked using a 5 kw Berkey lamp, a Fogra Grey Scale negative tail of 14 vs 5 was obtained.

(B) When Run A was repeated with the exception that 0.27 gram of N,N'-diallyl tartardiamide was employed as an additional component in formulating the radiation sensitive composition, a Grey Scale tail of 158 was obtained under the same test conditions.

A series of radiation sensitive compositions was formulated utilizing the following components: Amount ______________________________________ DV-530 (an acrylated urethane 0.85      gram oligmer sold by Polychrome Corp.) U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,390 Benzophenone         0.033     gram Michlers Ketone      0.033     gram Diorgano dicarboxamide additive 0.05      gram (except in Reference Comp.) Methyl Cellosolve    50        ml ______________________________________

As in Example I (Run A), each of the resulting radiation sensitive compositions was coated on grained, anodized and silicated aluminum lithograhic plates, developed, inked and subjected to identical exposures at 7 psi and 27 psi vacuum, and the Grey Scale tail inked, was observed.

The results are tabulated below: ______________________________________ Grey Scale-Inked Vacuum, psi Additive                27      7 ______________________________________ (1) Reference (no additive) 14      5 (2) N,N'--Diethyl tartardiamide 17      11 (3) N,N'--Dipropyl tartardiamide 17      11 (4) N,N'--Dibutyl tartardiamide 18      12 (5) N,N'--Dioctyl tartardiamide 19      12 (6) N,N'--Diisopropyl tartardiamide 14      7 (7) N,N'--Diisobutyl tartardiamide 16      8 (8) N,N'--Neopentyl tartardiamide 15      8 (9) N,N'--Diisoamyl tartardiamide 17      10 (10) N,N'--Dicyclopropyl tartardiamide 17      9 (11) N,N'--Dicyclopentyl tartardiamide 15      8 (12) N,N'--Dicyclohexyl tartardiamide 15      7 (13) N,N'--Di(6-hyroxyhexyl)tartardiamide 14      7 (14) N,N' Di(6-cyanohexyl)tartardiamide 14      6 (15) N,N'--Diallyl tartardiamide 17      11 (16) N,N'--Dibenzyltartardiamide 16      11 (17) N,N'--Diphenethyltartardiamide 16      10 (18) N,N'--Di(4-methoxybenzyl)tartardiamide 16      8 (19) N,N'--Dipropyloxalyldiamide 14      8 (20) N,N'--Dibutyloxalyldiamide 15      9 (21) N,N'--Dihexyloxalyldiamide 15      8 (22) N,N'--Didodecyloxalyldiamide 14      6 (23) N,N'--Diisopropyloxalyldiamide 14      7 (24) N,N'--Dicyclohexyloxalyldiamide 14      6 (25) N,N'--Dibenzyloxalyldiamide 14      6 (26) N,N'-- Di(2-methylphenyl)oxalyldiamide 16      8 (27) N,N'--Dipropylmalondiamide 16      8 (28) N,N'--Dibutylmalondiamide 16      9 (29) N,N'--Dihexylmalondiamide 17      11 (30) N,N'--Dipropylsuccindiamide 16      9 (31) N,N'--Dibutylsuccindiamide 17      10 (32) N,N'--Diphenyl Tartardiamide 17      10 (33) N,N'--Dipropylmalicdiamide 15      8 (34) N,N'--Dipropyl terephthalyldiamide 16      8 ______________________________________

Using the procedures of Example I the following radiation sensitive compositions were formulated and tested for their Grey Scale tails after being coated on grained, anodized and silicated aluminum lithographic plates, then exposed, developed and with subsequent inking: Amount ______________________________________ Celrad CMD 8800 (a nonvolatile acrylated 0.85    gram urethane based on an aliphatic isocyanate) sold by Celanese Corp. Benzophenone             0.033   gram Michler's Ketone         0.033   gram Additive (except Ref. comp.) 0.05    gram Methyl Cellosolve        50      ml ______________________________________

The results are set forth below: ______________________________________ Vacuum, psi Additive                27      7 ______________________________________ (35) Reference Comp. (no additive) 11       4 (36) N,N'--Dipropyl tartardiamide 17      11 (37) N,N'--Dioctyl tartardiamide 16      10 (38) N,N'--Dicyclopentyl tartardiamide 14       7 (39) N,N'--Diallyl tartardiamide 18      13 (40) N,N'--Dibenzyl tartardiamide 18      12 (41) N,N'--Dihexyl oxalyldiamide 15       9 (42) N,N'--Di(2-methylphenyl)oxalyldiamide 14       8 (43) N,N'--Dihexyl malondiamide 18      12 (44) N,N'--Dipropyl succindiamide 16      10 ______________________________________

Another series of radiation sensitive compositions was formulated utilizing the following components: Amount ______________________________________ DV-530                  0.85    gram Irgacure 907 (2-methyl 1-[4-(methylthio) 0.033   gram phenyl]-2-morpholino-propan-1-one Quantacure ITX(Isopropyl-thioxanthone) 0.004   gram Additive (except for Reference Comp.) 0.05    gram Methyl Cellosolve       50      ml ______________________________________

As in the preceding Examples, each of the resulting radiation sensitive compositions was coated on grained, anodized and silicated aluminum lithographic plates, inked and subjected to the Grey Scale test. ______________________________________ Vacuum, psi Additive                27       7 ______________________________________ (45) Reference Comp. (no additive) 7       2 (46) N,N'--Diethyl tartardiamide 10       5 (47) N,N'--Dioctyl tartardiamide 10       5 (48) N,N'--Dicyclopentyl tartardiamide 8       4 (49) N,N'--Di(6-hydroxyhexyl)tartardiamide 10       3 (50) N,N'--Diallyl tartardiamide 11       5 (51) N,N'--Dibenzyl tartardiamide 11       5 (52) N,N'--Dihexyl oxalyldiamide 9       4 (53) N,N'--Di(2-methylphenyl) oxalyldiamide 10       5 (54) N,N'--Dihexyl malondiamide 12       6 (55) N,N'--Dipropyl succindiamide 11       5 ______________________________________

In commercial operations for manufacturing lithographic printing plates the plates will be coated with a composition comprised of the radiation-sensitive components of this invention and conventional film-forming resins or polymers such as the known celluloses, epoxies, phenolics, acrylates, and the like. Typical proportions of the two major components will be utilized, and it will be understood that neither the particular film-forming material nor the amounts of the components are critical features of this invention.

It will be further understood that the foregoing embodiments are intended to be illustrative only and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broad scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the radiation sensitive compositions of this invention may be curable by an electron beam.

## Claims

1. A radiation sensitive composition comprising an acrylic or methacrylic acid ester, a photoinitiator, and an anti-oxygen inhibitory amount of a N,N'-diorgano dicarboxamide selected from the group consisting of

2. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 which is ultraviolet light curable.

3. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the acrylic or methacrylic acid ester is acrylated urethane.

4. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the amount of the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide ranges from about 1 to 10% by weight.

5. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide is N,N'-diallyl tartardiamide.

6. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide is N,N'-dibutyl tartardiamide.

7. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide is N,N'-dioctyl tartardiamide.

8. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide is N,N'-dihexyl tartardiamide.

9. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide is N,N'-diisoamyl tartaramide.

10. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide is N,N'-dibutyl succindiamide.

11. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide is N,N'-dihexyl malondiamide.

12. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide is N,N'-dicyclopropyl tartaramide.

13. The radiation sensitive composition of claim 1 wherein the N,N'-diorgano carboxamide is N,N'-dibenzyl tartardiamide.