Lithographic printing plate precursor

Abstract

A lithographic printing plate precursor is disclosed, comprising a hydrophilic support having thereon a heat-sensitive layer containing either a microcapsule containing a compound having a functional group capable of reacting by heat or a fine particulate polymer, wherein (1) when the heat-sensitive layer contains a fine particulate polymer, the fine particulate polymer may be a fine particulate polymer capable of combining or incapable of combining by heat used for the image formation and the fine particulate polymer has a functional group capable of reacting with a functional group present in another fine particulate polymer or with a functional group present in another component in the heat-sensitive layer; or (2) when the heat-sensitive layer contains a microcapsule containing a compound having a functional group capable of reacting by heat, the microcapsule may be a microcapsule having an outer wall capable of rupturing or incapable of rupturing by heat used for the image formation and a light-to-heat converting material is contained in the heat-sensitive layer or in a layer adjacent thereto.

1 - 18 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         19 . A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving area, comprising in order: 
 (a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a support; and (ii) a heat-sensitive layer comprising a radical polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one terminal ethylenic group, an infrared absorbing dye, and a radical initiator onium salt; wherein said heat-sensitive layer forms a three-dimensional crosslinked image upon exposure to an infrared laser radiation, and is soluble or dispersible in and on-press developable with ink and/or fountain solution;    (b) image exposing the plate with the infrared laser radiation according to digital imaging information to cause cross-linking of the heat-sensitive layer in the exposed areas; and    (c) contacting said exposed plate with ink and/or fountain solution on a lithographic press to remove the heat-sensitive layer in the non-cross-linked areas, and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving area.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said heat-sensitive layer is soluble or dispersible in and on-press developable with ink and fountain solution and further wherein said exposed plate is contacted with ink and fountain solution on a lithographic press to remove the heat-sensitive layer in the non-cross-linked areas, and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving area.  
     
     
         21 . A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving area, comprising in order: 
 (a) providing on a lithographic press a lithographic printing member comprising (i) a support; and (ii) a heat-sensitive layer comprising a radical polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one terminal ethylenic group, an infrared absorbing dye, and a radical initiator onium salt; wherein said support is a sheet material mounted on a plate cylinder or is the surface of a plate cylinder of the lithographic press; and said heat-sensitive layer forms a three-dimensional crosslinked image upon exposure to an infrared laser radiation, and is soluble or dispersible in and on-press developable with ink and/or fountain solution;    (b) image exposing the plate with the infrared laser radiation according to digital imaging information to cause cross-linking of the heat-sensitive layer in the exposed areas; and    (c) operating said press to contact said exposed plate with ink and/or fountain solution to remove the heat-sensitive layer in the non-cross-linked areas, and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving area.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said heat-sensitive layer is soluble or dispersible in and on-press developable with ink and fountain solution and further wherein said exposed plate is contacted with ink and fountain solution on a lithographic press to remove the heat-sensitive layer in the non-cross-linked areas, and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving area.  
     
     
         23 . A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving area, comprising in order: 
 (a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a hydrophilic support; (ii) an oleophilic heat-sensitive layer comprising a radical polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one terminal ethylenic group, an infrared absorbing dye, and a radical initiator onium salt; wherein said heat-sensitive layer forms a three-dimensional crosslinked image upon exposure to an infrared laser radiation, and is soluble or dispersible in and on-press developable with ink and fountain solution;    (b) image exposing the plate with the infrared laser radiation according to digital imaging information to cause cross-linking of the heat-sensitive layer in the exposed areas; and    (c) contacting said exposed plate with ink and fountain solution on a lithographic press to remove the heat-sensitive layer in the non-cross-linked areas, and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving area.    
     
     
         24 . A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving area, comprising in order: 
 (a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) a support; and (ii) a heat-sensitive layer comprising a radical polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one terminal ethylenic group, an infrared absorbing dye, and a radical initiator onium salt; wherein said heat-sensitive layer forms a three-dimensional crosslinked image upon exposure to an infrared laser radiation, and is on-press developable with ink and/or fountain solution;    (b) image exposing the plate with the infrared laser radiation according to digital imaging information to cause cross-linking of the heat-sensitive layer in the exposed areas; and    (c) contacting said exposed plate with ink and/or fountain solution on a lithographic press to remove the heat-sensitive layer in the non-cross-linked areas, and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving area.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said heat-sensitive layer is on-press developable with ink and fountain solution and further wherein said exposed plate is contacted with ink and fountain solution on a lithographic press to remove the heat-sensitive layer in the non-cross-linked areas, and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving area.  
     
     
         26 . A method of lithographically printing images on a receiving area, comprising in order: 
 (a) providing a lithographic plate comprising (i) an electrochemically grained, anodized, and silicate treated aluminum support; and (ii) a heat-sensitive layer comprising a polymer, an acrylic monomer, a nonionic surfactant, a thermosensitive free radical initiator, an infrared absorbing polymethine dye, and a solvent; wherein said heat-sensitive layer forms a three-dimensional crosslinked image upon exposure to an infrared laser radiation, and is on-press developable with ink and/or fountain solution;    (b) image exposing the plate with the infrared laser radiation according to digital imaging information to cause cross-linking of the heat-sensitive layer in the exposed areas; and    (c) contacting said exposed plate with ink and/or fountain solution on a lithographic press to remove the heat-sensitive layer in the non-cross-linked areas, and to lithographically print images from said plate to the receiving area.