Eastman-kodak Company

Oliver Richard Blum

Oliver Merka

Jan-Phillip Kemmling

Celin M Savariar-Hauck

Gerhard Hauck

Benedikt Uhl

Michael Nielinger

Philipp Viehmann

Stephanie Mueller

Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique aluminum-containing substrate and one or more radiation-sensitive imageable layers. The aluminum-containing substrate is prepared by three separate and sequential anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (T) of 500-1,500 nm and a multiplicity of inner pores having an average inner pore diameter (D) larger than 0 and &#x3c;15 nm. A formed middle aluminum oxide layer has a dry thickness (T) of 60-300 nm and a multiplicity of middle pores of average middle pore diameter (D) of 15-60 nm, arranged over the inner aluminum oxide layer. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises a multiplicity of outer pores having an average outer pore diameter (D) of 5-35 nm and an average dry thickness (T) of 30-150 nm, arranged over the middle aluminum oxide layer. Dis larger than Dthat is larger than D.

Lithographic printing plate precursors and method of use

Lithographic printing plate precursors are prepared with a unique substrate and one or more radiation-sensitive imageable layers. The substrate is prepared by two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (T) of 650-3,000 nm and a multiplicity of inner micropores having an average inner micropore diameter (D) of &#x2264;15 nm. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises a multiplicity of outer micropores having an average outer micropore diameter (D) of 15-30 nm; an average dry thickness (T) of 130-650 nm; and a micropore density (C) of 500-3,000 micropores/&#x3bc;m. The ratio of Dto Dis greater than 1.1:1, and Din nanometers and the outer aluminum oxide layer micropore density (C) in micropores/&#x3bc;m, are further defined by the outer aluminum oxide layer porosity (P) according to the following equation:0.3&#x2264;&#x2264;0.8where Pis 3.14(C)(D)/4,000,000.

On-press developable, negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors are used to provide lithographic printing plates. Such precursors are prepared with a substrate and one or more negative-working, infrared radiation-sensitive imagable layers. The substrate is prepared by two separate anodizing processes to provide an inner aluminum oxide layer having an average dry thickness (T) of 650-3,000 nm and inner micropores having an average inner micropore diameter (D) of &#x3c;15 nm. A formed outer aluminum oxide layer comprises outer micropores having an average outer micropore diameter (D) of 15-30 nm; an average dry thickness (T) of 130-650 nm; and a micropore density (C) of 500-3,000 micropores/&#x3bc;m. The ratio of Dto Dis greater than 1.1:1, and Din nanometers and the outer aluminum oxide layer micropore density (C) in micropores/&#x3bc;m, are further defined by the outer aluminum oxide layer porosity (P) as:0.3&#x2264;&#x2264;0.8wherein Pis 3.14(C)(D)/4,000,000.

Method for making lithographic printing plates

Electrochemically grained and anodized aluminum supports are treated with a post-treatment coating solution containing a polymer derived at least in part from vinyl phosphonic acid and phosphoric acid. This post-treated support is useful as substrates in the preparation of lithographic printing plate precursors. The post-treatment substrate treatment enables wide latitude in manufacturing and compatibility with silicate-free developers to achieve negligible background staining and oxide attack.

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Bovenden, Germany

Oliver Richard Blum