| abstract |
A photopolymerizable system is provided as a latex system that is an oil-in-water polymer emulsion including particulates of water-insoluble polymers in combination with a water-soluble or water-dispersible, light-sensitive polymer having multiple light-sensitive moieties. Prior to coating onto a substrate, the system is a three-phase precursor emulsion of the emulsion particulates, the water phase, and the light-sensitive polymer. After coating, the bulk of the water phase is evaporated off, leaving a two-phase system of the emulsion particulates surrounded by the light-sensitive polymer. When selected areas are subjected to actinic radiation, a water-insoluble matrix is formed, the matrix containing cross-linked light-sensitive polymer having dispersed therethrough and/or included therein the water-insoluble polymer particulates, thus forming oleophilic image areas. Those portions of the system that were not subjected to actinic radiation are then readily washed from the coated item to form the hydrophilic, non-image areas. |