Polymerizable composition and uses of the same

Abstract

A polymerizable composition is provided, including an infrared absorber, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound, and a polymer binder, wherein the polymer binder is a particulate random copolymer, and the polymer binder has structural units derived from a polymerizable polyalkylene oxide-based monomer and a polymerizable nitrogen-free non-polyalkylene oxide-based monomer. The polymerizable composition may be used in the production of imageable elements or printing plates.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A polymerizable composition, comprising:
 an infrared absorber; 
 a polymerization initiator; 
 a polymerizable compound; and 
 a polymer binder, wherein the polymer binder is a particulate random copolymer and comprises structural units derived from a polymerizable polyalkylene oxide-based monomer and a polymerizable nitrogen-free non-polyalkylene oxide-based monomer, wherein the polymerizable polyalkylene oxide-based monomer has at least one carbamate group, and wherein the polymerizable polyalkylene oxide-based monomer with at least one carbamate group comprises a polyalkylene oxide segment of the following formula (1):
   —(O—CH 2 ) x ) y —OR  formula (1),
 
 
 wherein x is an integer from 1 to 3, y is an integer from 5 to 200, and R is a C 1  to C 6  alkyl or a benzyl. 
 
     
     
       2. The polymerizable composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable polyalkylene oxide-based monomer with at least one carbamate group comprises a polyalkylene oxide segment of the following formula (2):
   —(NH)—C(═O)—(O—(CH 2 ) x ) y —OR  formula (2),
 
 wherein x is an integer from 1 to 3, y is an integer from 5 to 200, and R is a C 1  to C 6  alkyl or a benzyl. 
 
     
     
       3. The polymerizable composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable nitrogen-free non-polyalkylene oxide-based monomer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-based monomers, alkyl vinyl ethers, alkyl vinyl esters, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       4. The polymerizable composition of  claim 1 , wherein based on the total weight of the polymerizable polyalkylene oxide-based monomer and the polymerizable nitrogen-free non-polyalkylene oxide-based monomer, the ratio of the polymerizable polyalkylene oxide-based monomer is 5 wt % to 40 wt %. 
     
     
       5. The polymerizable composition of  claim 1 , wherein based on the total weight of the polymerizable composition, the amount of the infrared absorber is 0.125 wt % to 2.0 wt %, the amount of the polymerization initiator is 0.25 wt % to 12.5 wt %, the amount of the polymerizable compound is 12.5 wt % to 40 wt %, and the amount of the polymer binder is 10 wt % to 85 wt %. 
     
     
       6. The polymerizable composition of  claim 5 , wherein based on the total weight of the polymerizable composition, the amount of the polymer binder is 35 wt % to 75 wt %. 
     
     
       7. A negative imaging paste solution, comprising the polymerizable composition of  claim 1  and a solvent. 
     
     
       8. An imageable element, comprising:
 a substrate; and 
 an imageable layer on the substrate, 
 wherein the imageable layer is formed by coating the negative imaging paste solution of  claim 7  on the substrate. 
 
     
     
       9. A method of producing a printing plate, comprising:
 (i) providing the imageable element of  claim 8 , and defining an imaging area and a non-imaging area on the imageable layer of the imageable element; 
 (ii) exposing the imageable layer in the imaging area to near infrared radiation in order to form a latent image; and 
 (iii) after step (ii), contacting the imageable layer with a fountain solution in order to selectively remove the imageable layer in the non-imaging area from the substrate.