Polyfibron Technologies, Inc.

Georgia Tech Research Corporation

Jay L Reimers

F Joseph Schork

Kevin J Fontenot

Photocurable compositions and methods for making same are provided. The compositions comprise at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least one photoinitiator, and at least one water dispersible ethylenically unsaturated rubber. The ethylenically unsaturated rubber is rendered water dispersible by reaction of olefinic functionality therein with a hydrophilic diene. The resulting water-dispersible ethylenically unsaturated rubber is then blended with one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers and one or more photoinitiators.

Rubber-based aqueous developable photopolymers and photocurable elements

Aqueous developable photocurable compositions are provided. The compositions can be formed from a latex polymer and a rubber, and are water dispersible. The compositions are useful in forming flexographic printing plates.

Latex-based, aqueous developable photopolymers and use thereof in

Ionomeric polymers are provided which are dispersible in aqueous solvents yet which cross-link with ethylenically unsaturated monomers to form matrices having relatively low solubility in such solvents. The polymers can be incorporated into photocurable composition for use, for example, in photocurable printing elements.

Polymers which are dispersible in aqueous solvents and photocurable

An essentially stable monomer miniemulsion characterized by small monomer droplet size is prepared and is then polymerized to a polymer latex under free radical polymerization conditions. The monomer miniemulsions herein include, in addition to water, a surfactant, and a monomer or mixture thereof, one or more polymers which function as a polymeric co-surfactant. The monomer miniemulsions are characterized by average monomer droplet size of 10 to 500 nanometers, preferably 80 to 150 nanometers. The amount of polymer added as a co-surfactant is about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight based on monomer weight. The monomer emulsion may contain either a single monomer or a monomer mixture. The monomer emulsion is polymerized under conventional emulsion polymerization conditions yielding a polymer latex having an average polymer particle size of 10 to 500 nanometers, preferably 80 to 150 nanometers, and a narrow particle size distribution, i.e., a polydispersity index of about 1.05 to about 1.40. A representative monomer is methyl methacrylate and a representative polymer as co-surfactant is polymethyl methacrylate.

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Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Jay L Reimers