TITLE OF THE INVENTION
PLATE MAKING METHOD OF LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING PLATE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to a plate making method of a lithographic printing plate. More particularly, it relates to a plate making method in which a lithographic printing plate precursor is subjected to UV exposure through a lith film and on-press development.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
In general, a lithographic printing plate is composed of an oleophilic image area accepting ink and a hydrophilic non-image area accepting dampening water in the process of printing. Lithographic printing is a printing method utilizing the nature of water and oily ink to repel with each other and comprising rendering the oleophilic image area of the lithographic printing plate to an ink-receptive area and the hydrophilic non-image area thereof to a dampening water-receptive area (ink-unreceptive area), thereby making a difference in adherence of the ink on the surface of the lithographic printing plate, depositing the ink only to the image area, and then transferring the ink to a printing material, for example, paper.
In order to produce the lithographic printing plate, a lithographic printing plate precursor (PS plate) comprising a hydrophilic support having provided thereon an oleophilic photosensitive resin layer (image-recording layer) is heretofore used. Specifically, the PS plate is exposed through a mask, for example, a lith film, and then subjected to development processing, for example, with an alkaline developer to remove the unnecessary image-recording layer corresponding to the non-image area by dissolving while leaving the image-recording layer corresponding to the image area, thereby obtaining the lithographic printing plate.
[0003]
Due to the recent progress in the technical field, nowadays the lithographic printing plate can be obtained by a CTP (computer-to-plate) technology. Specifically, a lithographic printing plate precursor is directly subjected to scanning exposure using laser or laser diode without using a lith film and developed to obtain a lithographic printing plate.
[0004]
With the progress described above, the issue on the lithographic printing plate precursor has transferred to improvements, for example, in image-forming property corresponding to the CTP technology, printing property or physical property. Also, with the increasing concern about global environment, as another issue on the lithographic printing plate precursor, an environmental problem on waste liquid discharged accompanying the wet treatment, for example, development processing comes to the front
[0005]
In response to the environmental problem, simplification of development or plate making or non-processing has been pursued. As one method of simple plate making, a method referred to as an "on-press development" is practiced. Specifically, according to the method after exposure of a lithographic printing plate precursor, the lithographic printing plate precursor is mounted as it is on a printing machine without conducting conventional development and removal of the unnecessary area of image-recording layer is performed at an early stage of printing process.
[0006]
In die simplification of plate making operation as described above, a system using a lithographic printing plate precursor capable of being handled in a bright room or under a yellow lamp and a light source is preferred from the standpoint of workability. Thus, as the light source, a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray having a wavelength of 760 to 1,200 is used. An UV laser is also used
[0007]
While the technology progresses as above, a plate making method in which a PS plate is subjected to UV exposure through a mask, for example, a lith film and then development processing, for example,.with an alkaline developer remains in the market Therefore, in the market there is a need for a lithographic printing plate precursor which is capable of undergoing not only exposure with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray having a wavelength from 760 to 1,200 nm but also UV exposure through a mask, for example, a lith film, and on-press development
[0008]
As the lithographic printing plate precursor which is suitable for exposure with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray and capable of undergoing on-press development, for example, a lithographic printing plate precursor having provided on a hydrophilic support, an image-recording layer (heat-sensitive layer) containing an infrared absorbing dye, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound and a microcapsule having a polymerizable compound encapsulated therein or a polymer particle having a polymerizable group is described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. However, the lithographic printing plate precursor is insufficient in the printing durability even by the exposure with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray, and is also insufficient in the on-press development property. In addition, it does not form an image by the UV exposure through a mask, for example, a lith film.
On the other hand, although lithographic printing plate precursors which are subjected to the UV exposure through a mask, for example, a lith film and capable of undergoing on-press development have also been known, they do not form an image by the exposure with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray and are insufficient in the printing durability (Patent Documents 3 to 5).
[0009]
Further, in case of the UV exposure through a mask, for example, a lith film, when air is present between a PS plate and a lith film, the printing durability deteriorated due to influence of oxygen and thus, it is necessary to conduct vaaiuming (pressure reduction).
It is known that in order to increase an adhesion property of a lithographic printing plate precursor to a lith film at the vacuuming, a mat layer constructed from projections formed independently from each other is preferably provided on the image-recording layer.
As a method of forming the mat layer, for example, a method of spraying water containing a polymer and drying is known (Patent Document 6). Also, a method of adding a polymer fine particle, for example, polyethylene to the image-recording layer or an upper layer of the image-recording layer is known (Patent Document 7).
[0010]
However, the first method has a problem in that since the image-recording layer in the lithographic printing plate precursor of on-press development type is relatively hydrophilic in - comparison with that in the lithographic printing plate precursor of alkali development type, the mat solution penetrates into the image-recording layer. The second method is insufficient in the on-press development property and has a problem in that the polymer fine particles deposit on a dampening water roller, an ink roller or the like after the on-press development to be transferred onto a printed material.
As a lithographic printing plate precursor which solves these problems, a lithographic printing plate precursor containing a polymer having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain in an image-recording layer thereof is known, but the lithographic printing plate precursor is insufficient in the printing durability both by the UV exposure and by the infrared ray exposure (Patent Document 8).
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT PATENT DOCUMENT
[0011]
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2001-277740
Patent Document 2: JP.-A-2001-277742
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2000-39711
Patent Document 4: JP-A-4-166934
Patent Document 5: JP-T-10-500915
Patent Document 6: JP-A-58-182636
Patent Document 7: JP-B-61-8421
Patent Document 6: U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0064318
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS THAT THE INVENTION IS TO SOLVE
[0012]
The present invention has an object to provide a plate making method comprising conducting UV exposure of an on-press developable lithographic printing plate precursor which exhibits high printing durability by image exposure with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray through a lith film and conducting on-press development, wherein the printing durability and on-press development property are good, deposition of scum hardly occurs at the on-press development, and the vacuum adhesion property to a lith film is good.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
[0013]
As a result of intensive investigations, the inventors has found that a lithographic printing plate precursor in which a cyanine dye is used as an infrared absorbing dye and a diphenyl iodonium salt or triphenyl iodonium salt is used as a polymerization initiator, and a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain is introduced into an image-recording layer enables plate making of a lithographic printing plate having high printing durability by any of exposure with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray and UV exposure through a lith film, exhibits good vacuum adhesion property to a lith film at the pressure reduction of UV exposure through the lith film, and exhibits good on-press development property to complete the present invention.
Specifically, the present invention includes the followings.
[0014]
1. A plate making method of a lithographic printing plate comprising (1) preparing a lithographic printing plate precursor having an image-recording layer capable of forming an image with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray having a wavelength from 760 to 1,200 nm which comprises a support and an image-recording layer containing a cyanine dye, a diphenyl iodonium salt or triphenyl sulfonium salt which may have a substituent on the phenyl group, a radical polymeiizable compound and a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain in this order, (2) placing a lith film on the lithographic printing plate precursor and reducing pressure so that the lith film is closely adhered to the lithographic printing plate precursor, (3) conducting UV exposure, and (4) mounting the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor on a cylinder of a printing machine and removing a non-image area of the image-recording layer with at least any of dampening water and ink.
2. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as recited in the above-mentioned 1, wherein an oxygen-blocking layer is provided on the image-recording layer.
3. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as recited in the above-mentioned 2, wherein the oxygen-blocking layer contains a water-soluble resin and at lest one selected from a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain, an inorganic spherical fine particle and an inorganic stratiform fine particle.
4. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as recited in any one of the above-mentioned 1 to 3, wherein the polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain is a microgel.
5. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as recited in the above-mentioned 3, wherein the inorganic spherical fine particle is a silica fine particle.
6. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as recited in the above-mentioned 3, wherein the inorganic stratiform fine particle is mica
7. A printing method of a lithographic printing plate comprising (1) preparing a lithographic printing plate precursor havingwhich comprises a support and an image-recording layer capable of forming an image with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray having a wavelength from 760 to 1,200 nm containing a cyanine dye, a diphenyl iodonium salt or triphenyl sulfonium salt which may have a substituent on the phenyl group, a radical polymeiizable compound and a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain in this order, (2) placing a lith film on the lithographic printing plate precursor and reducing pressure so that the lith film is closely adhered to the lithographic printing plate precursor, (3) conducting UV exposure, (4) mounting the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor on a cylinder of a printing machine and removing a non-image area of the image-recording layer with at least any of dampening water and ink, and (5) conducting printing.
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION
[0015]
According to the present invention, in a plate making method comprising conducting exposure through a lith film and -conducting on-press development, the printing durability and on-press development property become good, deposition of scum hardly occurs at the on-press development, and the vacuum adhesion property to a lith film becomes good.
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0016]
«Limographic printing plate precursor»
The lithographic printing plate precursor for use in the invention comprises a support and an image-recording layer in this order, and further comprises an oxygen-blocking layer thereon, if desired. Further, it may comprise an undercoat layer between the support and the image-recording layer in some cases.
[0017]
[Image-recording layer]
The constituting components of the image-recording layer will be described in detail below.
The image-recording layer according to the invention is an image-recording layer capable of undergoing on-press development utilising image formation by radical polymerization and contains a cyanine dye, a diphenyl iodonium salt or triphenyl sulfonium salt which may have a substituent on the phenyl group, a radical polymerizable compound and a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain.
Each component which is incorporated into the image-recording layer is described in order below.
[0018]
[Polymer fine particle having polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain]
The polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain includes, for example, a latex obtained by radical polymerization and a microgel obtained by interfacial polymerization.
As to the polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain according to the invention (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a specific polymer compound), the average particle size thereof is preferably in a range from 50 to 2,000 nm, more preferably in a range from 60 to 1,000 nm, and particularly preferably in a range from 70 to 300 nm.
The content of the specific polymer compound according to the invention is preferably in a range from 10 to 90% by weight, more preferably in a range from 10 to 80% by weight, particularly preferably in a range from 15 to 70% by weight, based on the total solid content of the image-recording layer. In the range described above, good on-press development property, vacuum adhesion property and printing durability can be obtained.
[0019]
The oxyalkylene group which is a repeating unit of the polyoxyalkylene chain described above is preferably an oxyalkylene group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, and more preferably an oxyethylene group or an oxypropylene group. One polyoxyalkylene chain may contain both an oxyethylene group and an oxypropylene group. Of the oxyalkylene groups, an oxyethylene group is particularly preferred.
A number of repetitions of the oxyalkylene group in the polyalkylene oxide chain is preferably in a range from 10 to 120, more preferably in a range from 20 to 70, and particularly preferably in a range from 20 to 50.
In the range from 10 to 120 of the number of repetitions of the oxyalkylene group, good on-press development property and printing durability are obtained.
The microgel is more preferred than the latex obtained by radical polymerization from the standpoint of on-press development property. [0020] (Microgel obtained by interfacial polymerization)
The microgel according to the invention can be produced by dissolving a polyfunction^ isocyanate compound having two or more isocyanate groups in a water-immiscible solvent, emulsifying and dispersing the resulting solution in an aqueous solution containing a polyether derivative having a terminal amino group or hydroxy group represented by formula (T) shown below, and then removing the solvent from oil particles in the emulsion dispersion.
Alternatively, it can be produced by dissolving as at least one kind of isocyanate, an isocyanate compound which is a reaction product of a difunctional or higher functional isocyanate compound with a polyether derivative having a terminal amino group or hydroxy group represented by formula (I) shown below in a water-immiscible solvent, emulsifying and dispersing the resulting solution in an aqueous solution, and then removing the solvent from oil particles in the emulsion dispersion.
In the microgel, a polyurea or polyurethane/urea obtained by a polymerization reaction between the isocyanate compound and the polyether derivative having a terminal amino group or hydroxy group represented by formula Q) shown below constitutes the wall material.
[0021]
[0022]
In formula (I), X represents a connecting group, A represents a single bond, an arylene group or an alkylene group, L represents an alkylene group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R represents an organic group having no active hydrogen, Y represents -OH or -NH2, m represents 0 or 1, and n indicates an average addition molar number of the polyether group and represents a number from 10 to 120.
[0023]
Known methods can be applied to the operation. Specifically, an oil phase solution prepared by dissolving a polyfunctional isocyanate compound having two or more isocyanate functional groups, which is soluble in a water-immiscible solvent (which may contain a reaction product between (1) a difunctional or higher functional isocyanate compound and (2) a polyether derivative having a terminal amino group or hydroxy group represented by formula (I) shown above) in a water-immiscible solvent and an aqueous solution (which may contain a polyether derivative having a terminal amino group or hydroxy group represented by formula (I) shown above) are prepared and they are mixed and vigorously stirred and mixed using a emulsifying and dispersing machine, for example, a homogenizer, for example, at 12,000 rpm for from 10 to 15 minutes to emulsify and disperse oil droplets in the aqueous phase. Then, the resulting emulsion dispersion is heated and stirred to evaporate the solvent, whereby the desired aqueous dispersion of microgel particle is obtained.
[0024]
The average particle size of the microgel is preferably in a range from 50 to 2,000 nm, more preferably in a range from 60 to 1,000 nm, and particularly preferably in a range from 70 to 300nm.
[0025]
[Polyfunctional isocyanate]
The polyfunctional isocyanate having two or more isocyanate groups will be described.
Specific examples of the compound include, for instance, as a difunctional compound having two isocyanate groups in its molecule, m-phenylene diisocyanate, p-phenylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, naphthalene-l,4-diisocyanate, diphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate, 3,3'-dimethoxybiphenyl diisocyanate, 3,3'-dimemyldiphenylmethane-4,4'-diisocyanate, xylylene-l,4-diisocyanate, xylylene-l,3-diisocyanate, 4-chloroxylylene-l,3-diisocyanate, 2-methylxylylene-l,3-diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenylpropane diisocyanate, 4,4,-diphenylhexafluoropropane diisocyanate, trimethylene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, propylene-1,2-diisocyanate, butylene-1,2-diisocyanate, cyclohexylene-l,2-diisocyanate, cyclohexylene-l,3-diisocyanate,cycl
ctyloxyphenyl-2,4,6-trimemoxyphenyl iodonium 1-perfluorobutanesulfonate, 4<>ctyloxyphenyl-2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl iodonium hexafluorophosphate and bis(4-tert-butylphenyl) iodonium tetraphenylborate.
[0073]
The triphenyl sulfonium salt may have a substituent on the phenyl group, and in particular, a triphenyl sulfonium having a halogen atom on the phenyl group is preferred.
Examples of the triphenyl sulfonium salt include triphenyl sulfonium hexafluorophosphate, triphenyl sulfonium benzoylformate, bis(4-chlorophenyl)phenyl sulfonium benzoylformate, bis(4-chlorophenyl)-4-methylphenyl sulfonium tetrafluoroborate, tris(4-chlorophenyl) sulfonium 3,5-bis(memoxy(arbcmyl)benzenesulfonate andtris(4-chlorophenyl) sulfonium hexafluorophosphate.
[0074]
The diphenyl iodonium salt or triphenyl sulfonium salt can be added preferably in an amount from 0.1 to 50% by weight, more preferably from 0.5 to 30% by weight, particularly preferably from 0.8 to 20% by weight, based on the total solid content constituting the image-recording layer. In the range described above, good sensitivity and good stain resistance in the non-image area at the printing are obtained.
[0075]
[Radical polymerizable compound]
The radical polymerizable compound for use in the image-recording layer according to the invention is an addition-polymerizable compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond and it is selected from compounds having at least one, preferably two or more, terminal ethylenically unsaturated bonds. The radical polymerizable compound has a chemical form, for example, a monomer, a prepolymer, specifically, a dimer, a trimer or an oligomer, or a mixture thereof. Examples of the monomer include unsaturated carboxylic acids (for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, isocrotonic acid or maleic acid) and esters or amides thereof. Preferably, esters of an unsaturated carboxylic acid with a polyhydric alcohol compound and amides of an unsaturated carboxylic acid with a polyvalent amine compound are used. An addition reaction product of an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester or amide having a nucleophilic substituent, for example, a hydroxy group, an amino group or a mercapto group, with a monofunctional or polyfunctional isocyanate or epoxy compound, or a dehydration condensation reaction product of the unsaturated carboxylic acid ester or amide with a monofunctional or polyfunctional carboxylic acid is also preferably used Moreover, an addition reaction product of an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester or amide having an electrophilic substituent, for example, an isocyanate group or an epoxy group, with a monofunctional or polyfunctional alcohol, amine or thiol, or a substitution reaction product of an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester or amide having a releasable substituent, for example, a halogen atom or a tosyloxy group with a monofunctional or polyfunctional alcohol, amine or thiol is also preferably used. In addition, compounds in which the unsaturated carboxylic acid described above is replaced by an unsaturated phosphonic acid, styrene, vinyl ether or the like can also be used. These compounds are described in references including JP-T-2006-508380, JP-A-2002-287344, JP-A-2008-256850, JP-A-2001 -342222, JP-A-9-179296, JP-A-9-179297, JP-A-9-179298, JP-A-2004-294935, JP-A-2006-243493, JP-A-2002-275129, JP-A-2003-64130,JP-A-2003-280187andJP-A-10-333321.
[0076]
Specific examples of the monomer, which is an ester of a polyhydric alcohol compound with an unsaturated carboxylic acid, include, as an acrylic acid ester, for example, ethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-butanediol diacrylate, tetramethylene glycol diacrylate, propylene glycol diacrylate, trimelhylolpropane triacrylate, hexanediol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, sorbitol triacrylate, isocyanuric acid ethylene oxide (EO) modified triacrylate and polyester acrylate oligomer. As a methacrylic acid ester, for example, tetramethylene glycol dimethacrylate, neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate, trimelhylolpropane trimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dirnethacrylate, pentaerythritol trimethacrylate, bis|j-(3-me
In a 20 ml measuring flask was weighed 3.33 g of a 30% by weight polymer solution (1 g as a solid content) and the measuring flask was filled up to the gauge line with N-methyl pyrrolidone. The resulting solution was put into an Ubbelohde viscometer (viscometer constant: 0.010 cSt/s) and a period for running downof the solution at 30°C was measured. The viscosity was determined in a conventional manner according to the following calculating formula:
Kinetic viscosity = Viscometer constant x Period for liquid to pass through a capillary (sec)
[0108]
Specific examples of the ammonium grournx>ntaining polymer are set forth below.
(1) 2-(Trimethylammonio)ethyl methacrylate p-toluenesulfonate/3,6-dioxaheptyl methacrylate copolymer (molar ratio: 10/90)
(2) 2-(Trimemylammonio)ethyl methacrylate hexafluorophosphate /3,6-dioxaheptyl methacrylate copolymer (molar ratio: 20/80)
(3) 2-(Ethylclimethylammonio)ethyl methacrylate p-toluenesulfonate/hexyl methacrylate copolymer (molar ratio: 30/70)
(4) 2-(Trimemylammoiiio)ethyl methacrylate hexafluorophosphate /2-ethylhexyl methacrylate copolymer (molar ratio: 20/80)
(5) 2-(Trimethylammonio)ethyl methacrylate methylsuliate/hexyl methacrylate copolymer (molar ratio: 40/60)
(6) 2^utyldimethylammonio)ethyl methacrylate hexafluorophosphate/3,6-dioxaheptyl methacrylate copolymer (molar ratio: 20/80)
(7) 2-(Butyldimethylammonio)ethyl acrylate hexafluorophosphate/3,6-dioxaheptyl methacrylate copolymer (molar ratio: 20/80)
(8) 2-(Butyldimethylammonio)ethyl methacrylate 13-e%l-5,8,ll-trioxa-l-heptadecanesulfonate/3,6^^ 20/80)
(9) 2^utyldimethylammonio)ethyl methacrylate hexafluorophosphate/3,6-dioxaheptyl methacrylate/2-hydroxyO-methacryloyloxypropylmethacty copolymer (molar ratio: 15/80/5)
[0109]
The content of the oil-sensitizing agent is preferably from 0.01 to 30.0% by weight, more preferably from 0.1 to 15.0% by weight, still more preferably from 1 to 10% by weight, based on the total solid content of the image-recording layer.
[0110]
(3) Other components
Other components, for example, a surfactant, a coloring agent, a print-out agent, a polymerization inhibitor, a higher fatty acid derivative, a plasticizer, a fine inorganic particle, an inorganic stratiform compound, a co-sensitizer or a chain transfer agent may further be added to the image-recording layer. Specifically, compounds and amounts added thereof described, for example, in Paragraph Nos. [0114] to [0159] of JP-A-2008-284817, Paragraph Nos. [0023] to [0027] of -JP-A-2006-91479 and Paragraph No. [0060] of U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0311520 are preferably used.
[0011]
[Formation of image-recording layer]
The image-recording layer according to the invention is formed by dispersing or dissolving each of the necessary components described above in a known solvent to prepare a coating solution and coating the solution on a support by a known method, for example, bar coaler coating and drying as described, for example, in Paragraph Nos. [0142] to [0143] of JP-A-2008-195018. The coating amount (solid content) of the image-recording layer formed on the support after coating and drying may be varied according to the intended purpose but is in general preferably from 0.3 to 3.0 g/m . In the range described above, good sensitivity and good film property of the image-recording layer can be achieved.
[0112]
[Oxygen-blocking layer]
The lithographic printing plate precursor for use in the invention preferably has an oxygen-blocking layer. The oxygen-blocking layer preferably contains a water-soluble resin and at lest one selected from a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain, an inorganic spherical fine particle and an inorganic stratiform fine particle. By incorporating the fine particle also into the oxygen-blocking layer, the vacuum adhesion property of a lith film is more improved in comparison with the case where the fine particle is incorporated into the image-recording layer. In the case of adding the fine particle, it is needed to incorporate a water-soluble resin in order to bind the fine particles.
[0113]
[Water-soluble resin]
The water-soluble resin for binding the fine particles is not particularly restricted as long as it can well disperse the fine particles and can form a uniform layer adhering to the image-recording layer, and can be appropriately selected to use. Specifically, for example, polyvinyl alcohol, a modified polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl imidazole, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, a partially saponified product of polyvinyl acetate, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, a water-soluble cellulose derivative, gelatin, a starch derivative or gum arabic is exemplified. The water-soluble resins may be used in combination of two or more thereof, if desired. Of the resins, polyvinyl alcohol, a modified polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, gelatin or gum arabic is more preferred from the standpoint that it is able to be coated using water as a solvent and that it is easily removed with dampening water at the printing.
[0114]
The polyvinyl alcohol for use in the oxygen-blocking layer according to the invention may be partially substituted with an ester, an ether or an acetal as long as it contains a substantial amount of unsubstituted vinyl alcohol units necessary for maintaining water solubility. Also, the polyvinyl alcohol may partially contain other copolymerization components. Specific examples of the polyvinyl alcohol include those being hydrolyzed 71 to 100% by mole and having a polymerization degree in a range from 300 to 2,400.
Specifically, PVA-105, PVA-110, PVA-117, PVA-117H, PVA-120, PVA-124, PVA-124H, PVA-CS, PVA-CST, PVA-HC, PVA-203, PVA-204, PVA-205, PVA-210, PVA-217, PVA-220, PVA-224, PVA-217EE, PVA-217E, PVA-220E, PVA-224E, PVA-405, PVA-420, PVA-613 and L-8, produced by Kuraray Co., Ltd. are exemplified. As the copolymer described above, polyvinyl acetate chloroacetate or propionate, polyvinyl formal and polyvinyl acetal and copolymers thereof each hydrolyzed from 88 to 100% by mole are exemplified.
[0115]
Also, a known modified polyvinyl alcohol can be preferably used. For instance, polyvinyl alcohols of various polymerization degrees having at random a various kind of hydrophilic modified cites, for example, an anion-modified cite modified with an anion, e.g., a carboxyl group or a sulfo group, a cation-modified cite modified with a cation, e.g., an amino group or an ammonium group, a silanol-modified cite or a thiol-modified cite, and polyvinyl alcohols of various polymerization degrees having at the terminal of the polymer cham a various kind offflodified cites, for example, the above-described anion-modified cite, cation modified cite, silanol-modified cite or thiol-modified cite, an alkoxy-modified cite, a sulfide-modified cite, an ester modified cite of vinyl alcohol with a various kind of organic acids, an ester modified cite of the above-described anion-modified cite with an alcohol or an epoxy-modified cite are exemplified. From the standpoint of on-press development property, polyvinyl alcohol having an anion-modified cite is preferred, and polyvinyl alcohol modified with an anion of sulfo group is particularly preferred.
[0116]
As to the modified polyvinyl alcohol according to the invention, a commercially available product may be used. Examples of the commercially available product include KURARAY POVAL KM-118, KL-118, KL-318, KL-506 and KM-618 (produced by Kuraray Co., Ltd.), GOSENAL T and GOSERAN L-3266 (produced by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.). Two or more kinds of modified polyvinyl alcohols may be used in combination.
[0117]
[Fine particle]
By providing the oxygen-blocking layer containing the fine particle on the image-recording layer, the printing durability is more improved as well as the vacuum adhesion property is more improved. The fine particle is at least one selected from a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain, an inorganic spherical fine particle and an inorganic stratiform fine particle. In case of the polymer fine particle, a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain is preferred from the standpoint of preventing the deposition of scum at the on-press development
[0118]
The content of the total fine particle component contained in the oxygen-blocking layer is preferably from 0.1 to 80% by weight, more preferably from 1 to 50% by weight, and still more preferably from 5 to 30% by weight The content of the fine particle in the oxygen-blocking layer is preferably from 5/1 to 1/100 in terms of weight ratio relative to the amount of the water-soluble resin used in the oxygen-blocking layer. When a plurality of the fine particles is used in combination, it is also preferred that the total amount of the fine particles fulfill the above-described weight ratio.
[0119]
[Polymer fine particle having polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain]
The polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain for use in the oxygen-blocking layer is same as the polymer fine particle for use in the image-recording layer described above.
[0120]
[Inorganic spherical fine particle]
The inorganic spherical fine particle includes, for example, metal and a metal compound, for example, an oxide, a compound oxide, a hydroxide, a carbonate, a sulfate, a silicate, a phosphate, a nitride, a carbide, a sulfide or a composite compound of two or more thereof. Specific examples thereof include glass, zinc oxide, silica, alumina, zirconium oxide, tin oxide, potassium titanate, strontium titanate, aluminum borate, magnesium oxide, magnesium borate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, titanium hydroxide, basic magnesium sulfate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, calcium phosphate, silicon nitride, titanium nitride, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, titanium carbide, zinc sulfide and composite compounds of two or more thereof. Preferred examples thereof include glass, silica, alumina, potassium titanate, strontium titanate, aluminum borate, magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate.
[0121]
As the filler, commercially available products may be used. For instance, silica filler includes, for example, SNOWTEX 50 (particle size: 0.025 urn), SNOWTEX O-40 (particle size: 0.025 urn), SNOWTEX CM (particle size: 0.025 um), SNOWTEX 20L (particle size: 0.045 urn), SNOWTEX XL (particle size: 0.05 um), SNOWTEX YL (particle size: 0. 65 um), SNOWTEX ZL (particle size: 0.85 urn), MP 1040 (particle size: 0.1 um), MP 2040 (particle size: 02 um), MP 3040 (particle size: 0.3 um), MP 1040 (particle size: 0.1 um) and MP 4540M (particle size [silica]: 0.45 um) produced by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., and SYLYSIA 310 (particle size: 1.4 um), SYLYSIA 320 (particle size: 1.6 um), SYLYSIA 350 (particle size: 1.8 um), SYLYSIA 370 (particle size: 3.0 um), SYLYSIA 530 (particle size: 1.9 um), SYLYSIA 550 (particle size: 2.7 um), SYLYSIA 250 (particle size: 2.7 um) and SYLYSIA 430 (particle size: 2.5 um) produced by Fuji Silysia Chemical Ltd.
[0122]
In the inorganic spherical fine particle, it is particularly preferred that the inorganic component is silica (SiC*2) from the standpoint of dispersion stability in a coating solution, cost and high friction coefficient
[0123]
As to the size of the inorganic spherical fine particle, an average particle size is preferably in a range from 50 to 2,000 nm, more preferably in a range from 60 to 1,000 nm, and particularly preferably in a range from 70 to 300 nm. When the average particle size is 50 nm or more, the vacuum adhesion property is more improved. When the average particle size is 2,000 nm or less, since the oxygen-blocking property is sufficient, the irnage-forming sensitivity does not decrease, and since the contact area of the inorganic spherical fine particle is sufficient, the effect of increasing the friction coefficient is sufficiently obtained not to cause the displacement
[0124]
The average particle size described above was measured according to a centrifugal sedimentation method using a particle size distribution measurement device (BI-DCP, produced by Brookhaven Instruments Corp.)
[0125]
[Inorganic stratiform compound]
According to the invention, the oxygen-blocking layer may contain an inorganic stratiform compound together with the water-soluble resin. The inorganic stratiform compound is a particle having a thin tabular shape and includes, for instance, mica, for example, natural mica represented by the following formula: A (B, C)2-5 D4 O1o (OH, F, O)2 (wherein A represents any of K, Na and Ca, B and C each represents any of Fe (II), (III), Mn, Al, Mg and V, and D represents Si or Al) or synthetic mica, talc represented by the following formula: 3MgO4SiOH20, taeniolite, montmorillonite, saponite, hectorite and zirconium phosphate.
[0126]
Of the micas, examples of the natural mica include muscovite, paragonite, phlogopite, biotite and lepidolite. Examples of the synthetic mica include non-swellable mica, for example, fluorphlogopite KMg3(AlSi30io)F2 or potassium tetrasilicic mica KMg2j(Si40io)F2, and swellable mica, for example, Na tetrasilicic mica NaMgz5(S14O10)F2, Na or Li taeniolite (Na, Li)Mg2Li(S14010)F2, or montmorillonite-based Na or Li hectorite (Na, Li)I/gMg2/5Lii/g(Si40io)F2. Synthetic smectite is also useful.
[0127]
In the invention, of the inorganic stratiform compounds, mica is preferred and fluorine-based swellable mica, which is a synthetic inorganic stratiform compound, is particularly useful. Specifically, the swellable synthetic mica and a swellable clay mineral, for example, montmorillonite, saponite, hectorite or bentonite have a laminate structure comprising a unit crystal lattice layer having thickness of approximately from 10 to 15 angstroms, and metallic atom substitution in the lattices thereof is remarkably large in comparison with other clay minerals. As a result, the lattice layer results in lack of positive charge and to compensate it, a cation, for example, Li+, Na+, Ca2+ or Mg2* is adsorbed between the lattice layers. Particularly, in the case where the cation between the layers is Li* or Na+, since the ionic radius is small, the bond between the stratiform crystal lattices is weak, thereby greatly swelling with water. When share is applied under such a condition, the stratiform crystal lattices are easily cleaved to form a stable sol in water. The bentonite and swellable synthetic mica strongly show this tendency and are useful in the invention and in particular, the swellable synthetic mica is preferably used.
[0128]
As to the shape of the inorganic stratiform compound for use in the invention, from the standpoint of control of diffusion, the thickness is preferably smaller and as long as the smoothness of the coated surface and the transmission of actinic radiation are not impaired, the plane size is preferably larger. Therefore, an aspect ratio is preferably 20 or more, more preferably 100 or more, and particularly preferably 200 or more. The aspect ratio is a ratio of major axis to thickness of particle and can be determined, for example, from a projection drawing of particle by a microphotography. As the aspect ratio is larger, the effect obtained is higher.
[0129]
As to a particle diameter of the inorganic stratiform compound for use in the invention^ an average major axis is from 0.3 to 20 um, preferably from 0.5 to 10 um, and particularly preferably from 1 to 5 urn. Also, an average thickness of the particle is 0.1 urn or less, preferably 0.05 \aa or less, and particularly preferably 0.01 um or less. For example, with respect to the swellable synthetic mica that is the representative compound of the inorganic stratiform compound, the thickness is approximately from 1 to 50 nm and the plain size is approximately from 1 to 20 um.
[0130]
When such an inorganic stratiform compound particle having a large aspect ratio is incorporated into the oxygen-blocking layer, strength of the coated layer increases and penetration of oxygen or moisture can be effectively inhibited and thus, the oxygen-blocking layer can be prevented from deterioration, for example, due to deformation, and even when the lithographic printing plate precursor is preserved for a long period of time under a high humidity condition, deterioration of the image-forming property in the lithographic printing plate precursor due to the change of humidity is prevented and the excellent preservationstability is obtained.
[0131]
[Undercoat layer]
In the lithographic printing plate precursor according to the invention, it is preferred to provide an undercoat layer between the image-recording layer and the support. The undercoat layer strengthens adhesion between the support and the image-recording layer in the exposed area and makes removal of the image-recording layer from the support in the unexposed area easy, thereby contributing improvement in the development pror«rty without accompanying degradation of die printing durability. Further, in die case of infrared laser exposure, since the undercoat layer acts as a heat insulating layer, decrease in sensitivity due to diffusion of heat generated upon the exposure into the support is prevented.
[0132]
As a compound for use in the undercoat layer, specifically, for example, a silane coupling agent having an addition-polymerizable ethylenic double bond reactive group described in JP-A-10-282679 and a phosphorus compound having an ethylenic double bond reactive group described in JP-A-2-304441 are preferably exemplified. A polymer resin having an adsorbing group capable of adsorbing to a surface of the support, a hydrophilic group and a crosslinkable group as described in JP-A-2005-125749 and JP-A-2006-188038 is more preferably exemplified. The polymer resin is preferably a copolymer of a monomer having an adsorbing group, a monomer having a hydrophilic group and a monomer having a crosslinkable group. More specifically, a polymer resin which is a copolymer of a monomer having an adsorbing group, for example, a phenolic hydroxy group, a carboxyl group, -PO3H2, -OPQ3H2, -CONHSQ.-, -SO2NHSO2- and -COCH2COCH3, a monomer having a hydrophilic sulfo group and a monomer having a polymerizable crosslinkable group, for example, a methacryl group or an allyl group.
The polymer resin may contain a crosslinkable group introduced by a salt formation between a polar substituent of the polymer resin and a compound containing a substituent having a counter charge to the polar substituent of the polymer resin and an ethylenically unsaturated bond and also may be further copolymerized with a monomer other than those described above, preferably a hydrophilic monomer.
[0133]
The content of the unsaturated double bond in the polymer resin for undercoat layer is preferably from 0.1 to 10.0 mmol, most preferably from 2.0 to 5.5 mmol, based on 1 g of the polymer resin.
The weight average molecular weight of the polymer resin for undercoat layer is preferably 5,000 or more, more preferably from 10,000 to 300,000.
[0134]
The undercoat layer according to the invention may contain a chelating agent, a secondary or tertiary amine, a polymerization inhibitor or a compound containing an amino group or a functional group having polymerization inhibition ability and a group capable of interacting with the surface of aluminum support (for example, l,4-diazobicyclo[2,2,2]octane (DABCO), 2,3,5,6-tetrahyoxy-p-piinone, chloranil, sulfophthalic acid, hydroxyemylemylenediaminetriacetic acid, d&ydroxyethylethylenediaminediacetic acid or hydroxyemyliminodiacetic acid) in addition to the compounds for the undercoat layer described above in order to prevent the occurrence of stain due to the lapse of time.
[0135]
The undercoat layer is coated according to a known method The coating amount (solid content) of the undercoat layer is preferably from 0.1 to 100 mg/m2, and more preferably from 1 to 30 mg/m2.
[0136]
[Support]
As the support for use in the lithographic printing plate precursor according to the invention, a known support is employed. Particularly, an aluminum plate subjected to roughening treatment and anodizing treatment according to a known method is preferred.
Also, an enlarging treatment or a sealing treatment of micropores of the anodized film described in JP-A-2001-253181 and JP-A-2001-322365 or a surface hydrophilizing treatment, for example,with an alkali metal silicate as described in U.S. Patents 2,714,066, 3,181,461, 3,280,734 and 3,902,734 or polyvinyl phosphonic acid as described in U.S. Patents 3,276,868, 4,153,461 and 4,689,272 may be appropriately selected and applied to the aluminum plate, if desired.
The support preferably has a center line average roughness of 0.10 to 1.2 μm.
[0137]
The support may have a backcoat layer containing an organic polymer compound described in JP-A-5-45885 or an alkoxy compound of silicon described in JP-A-6-35174, provided on the back surface thereof, if desired.
[0138]
«UV exposure/Transparent base material/Pressure reduction»
For the ultraviolet ray, a flatbed exposure machine which can be used for exposure of a conventional PS plate wherein the image exposure is conducted through a lith film is preferably utilized. At this time, me vacuuming is conducted according to a stand exposure machine. Specifically, a lithographic printing plate precursor is placed on an exposure table and a lith film is place of the lithographic printing plate precursor. Further, a transparent base material, for example, glass or a transparent film is placed on the lith film, the vacuuming is conducted, and the UV exposure is conducted, for example, with a halogen lamp or a mercury lamp. The degree of vacuum is preferably 100 mmHg or less, and particularly preferably 30 mmHg or less. This is because oxygen in the air causes polymerization inhibition in the case of the image-recording layer in which an image is formed by radical polymerization. By providing the oxygen-blocking layer, the polymerization inhibition due to oxygen in the airis prevented to acMeve Mgh printing" durability.
[0139]
«Plate making method/Printing method of lithographic printing plate»
Plate making of the lithographic printing plate precursor according to the invention is performed by an on-press development method. The on-press development method includes a step in which the lithographic printing plate precursor is imagewise exposed and a printing step in which at least any of oily ink and an aqueous component is supplied to the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor without undergoing any development processing to perform printing, and it is characterized in that the unexposed area of the lithographic printing plate precursor is removed in the course of the printing step. The imagewise exposure may be performed with an infrared semiconductor laser of high output or with UV exposure by a high-pressure mercury lamp or a metal halide lamp after placing a lith film and conducting vacuuming. After the exposure, the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor is mounted as it is on a printing machine without undergoing a development processus step. Then, the printing is conducted using the printing machine with supplying oily ink and an aqueous component and at an early stage of the printing the on-press development is carried out Specifically, the image-recording layer in the unexposed area is removed and the hydrophilic surface of support is revealed therewith to form the non-image area.
As the oily ink and aqueous component, printing ink and dampening water for conventional lithographic printing can be employed, respectively.
EXAMPLE
[0140]
The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following examples, but the invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. With respect to polymer compound, unless otherwise specified, a molecular weight of the polymer compound means a weight average molecular weight (Mw) and a ratio of repeating units is indicated as a mole percent
[0141]
Example 1
[0142]
[Preparation of Lithographic rjrinting plate precursor (1)]
(1) Preparation of Support
An aluminum plate (material: JIS A1050) having a thickness of 0.3 mm was subjected to a degreasing treatment at 50°C for 30 seconds using a 10% by weight aqueous sodium aluminate solution in order to remove rolling oil on the surface thereof and men grained the surfece thereof using three nylon brushes embedded with bundles of nylon bristle having a diameter of 0.3 mm and an aqueous suspension (specific gravity: 1.1 g/cm3) of pumice having a median size of 25 um, followed by thorough washing with water. The plate was subjected to etching by immersing in a 25% by weight aqueous sodium hydroxide solution of 45°C for 9 seconds, washed with water, then immersed in a 20% by weight nitric acid solution at 60°C for 20 seconds, and washed with water. The etching amount of the grained surface was about 3 g/m2.
[0143]
Then, using an alternating current of 60 Hz, an electrochemical roughening treatment was continuously carried out on the plate. The electrolytic solution used was a 1% by weight aqueous nitric acid solution (containing 0.5% by weight of aluminum ion) and the temperature of electrolytic solution was 50°C. The electrochemical roughening treatment was conducted using a rectangular alternating current having a trapezoidal waveform such that the time TP necessary for the current value to reach the peak from zero was 0.8 msec and the duty ratio was 1:1, and using a carbon electrode as a counter electrode.- A ferrite was used as an auxiliary anode. The current density was 30 A/dm2 in terms of the peak value of the electric current, and 5% of the electric current flowing from the electric source was divided to the auxiliary anode. The quantity of electricity in the nitric acid electrolysis was 175 C/dm2 in terms of the quantity of electricity when the aluminum plate functioned as an anode. The plate was then washed with water by spraying.
[0144]
The plate was further subjected to an electrochemical roughening treatment in the same manner as in the nitric acid electrolysis above using as an electrolytic solution, a 0.5% by weight aqueous hydrochloric acid solution (containing 0.5% by weight of aluminum ion) having temperature of 50°C and under the condition that the quantity of electricity was 50 C/dm2 in terms of the quantity of electricity when the aluminum plate functioned as an anode. The plate was then washed with water by spraying.
The plate was then subjected to an anodizing treatment using as an electrolytic solution, a 15% by weight aqueous sulfuric acid solution (containing 0.5% by weight of aluminum ion) at a current density of 15 A/dm2 to form a direct current anodized film of 2.5 g/m2, washed with water and dried to prepare Support (1).
Thereafter, in order to ensure the hydrophilicity of the non-image area, Support (1) was subjected to silicate treatment using a 2.5% by weight aqueous sodium silicate No. 3 solution at 60°C for 10 seconds and then was washed with water to obtain Support (2). The adhesion amount of Si was 10 mg/m2. The center line average roughness (Ra) of the support was measured using a stylus having a diameter of 2 um^nd found to be 0.51 urn.
[0145]
(2) Formation of Undercoat layer.
Coating solution (1) for undercoat layer shown below was coated on Support (2) described above so as to have a dry coating amount of 20 mg/m2 to prepare a support having an undercoat layer for using in the experiments described below.
[0146]
Compound (1) for undercoat layer having structure shown below 0.18 g
Hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid 0.10 g
Methanol 55.24 g
Water 6.15 g
[0147]
(Mw: 100,000) Compound (1) for undercoat layer
[0148]
(3) Formation of Image-recording layer
Coating solution for image-recording layer having the composition shown below was coated on the undercoat layer formed as described above by a bar and dried in an oven at 100°C for 60 seconds to form an image-recording layer having a dry coating amount of 1.0 g/m2.
The coating solution for image-recording layer was prepared by mixing a pre-coating solution for image-recording layer shown below with an aqueous dispersion of polymer fine particle shown below just before the coating, followed by stirring.
[0149]
Binder polymer (1) having structure shown below 0.240 g
Cyanine dye (Compound (A-7)) 0.030 g
Radical polymerization initiator (1) having structure shown below 0.162 g
Radical polymerizable compound CTris(acryloyloxyethyl) 0.192 g
isocyanurate (NK ESTER A-9300, produced by Shin-Nakamura Chemical Co., Ltd.))
Hydrophilic low molecular weight compound 0.062 g
(Tris(2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate)
Hydrophilic low molecular weight compound (1) having structure 0.050 g
shown below
Oil-sensitizing agent (Phosphonium compound (1) having 0.055 g
structure shown below)
Oil-sensitizing agent (Benzyl dimethyl octyl ammonium PF6 salt 0.018 g
Oil-sensitizing agent (Ammonium group-containing polymer 0.035 g
having structure shown below (reduced specific viscosity: 44cSt/g/ml)
Fluorine-based surfactant (1) having structure shown below 0.008 g
2-Butanone 1.091 g
l-Methoxy-2-propanol 8.609 g
[0150]
Aqueous 6% by weight solution of polyvinyl alcohol (CKS 50, 0.55 g
sulfonic acid-modified, saponification degree: 99% by mole or more, polymerization degree: 300, produced by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)
Aqueous 6% by weight solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-405, 0.30 g
saponification degree: 81.5% by mole, polymerization degree: 500, produced by Kuraray Co., Ltd.)
Aqueous 1% by weight solution of surfactant (EMALEX 710, 0.86 g
produced by Ninon Emulsion Co., Ltd.)
Ion-exchanged water 6.0 g
[0176]
Aqueous 6% by weight solution of polyvinyl alcohol (CKS 50, 0.55 g
sulfonic acid-modified, saponification degree: 99% by mole or more, polymerization degree: 300, produced by Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.)
Aqueous 6% by weight solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA-405, 0.30 g
saponification degree: 81.5% by mole, polymerization degree: 500, produced by Kuraray Co., Ltd.)
Aqueous 1% by weight solution of surfactant (EMALEX 710, 0.86 g
produced by Nihon Emulsion Co., Ltd.)
Ion-exchanged water 6.0 g
Aqueous dispersion of fine particle (adjusting fine particle 1.5 g
concentration to 3.2% by weight
[0177]
(Preparation of Dispersion (1) of inorganic stratiform compound)
To 193.6 g of ion-exchanged water was added 6.4 g of synthetic mica (SOMASIF ME-100, produced by CO-OP Chemical Co., Ltd.) and the mixture was dispersed using a homogenizer until an average particle size (according to a laser scattering method) became 3 urn. The aspect ratio of the inorganic particle thus-dispersed was 100 or more. (Preparation of Dispersion (1) of inorganic spherical fine particle)
To 393.6 g of ion-exchanged water was added 6.4 g of silica fine particle having an average particle size of 450 nm (SNOWTEX MP 4540M, produced by Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd., solid content concentration: 40% by weight) and the mixture was dispersed.
[0178]
[0179]
(3) Evaluation of Lithographic printing plate precursor
The exposure was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 and the evaluation of lithographic printing plate precursor was conducted. The results obtained are shown in Table 5.
[0180]
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0181]
According to the invention, in a plate making method comprising conducting exposure through a lith film and conducting on-press development, the printing durability and on-press development property become good, deposition of scum hardly occurs at the on-press development, and the vacuum adhesion property to a lith film becomes good.
Although the invention has been described in detail and by reference to specific embodiments, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to add various alterations and modifications insofar as the alterations and modifications do not deviate from the spirit and the scope of the invention.
This application is based on a Japanese patent application filed on March 30, 2010 (Japanese Patent Application. No. 2010-79921) and a Japanese patent application filed on February 2, 2011 (Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-21229), and the contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference.
CLAIMS
1. A plate making method of a lithographic printing plate comprising (1) preparing a lithographic printing plate precursor capable of forming an image with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray having a wavelength from 760 to 1,200 nm which comprises a support and an image-recording layer containing a cyanine dye, a diphenyl iodonium salt or triphenyl sulfonium salt which may have a substituent on the phenyl group, a radical polymerizable compound and a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain in this order, (2) placing a lith film on the lithographic printing plate precursor and reducing pressure so that the lith film is closely adhered to the lithographic printing plate precursor, (3) conducting UV exposure, and (4) mounting the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor on a cylinder of a printing machine and removing a non-image area of the image-recording layer with at least one of dampening water and ink.
2. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an oxygen-blocking layer is provided on the image-recording layer.
3. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the oxygen-blocking layer contains a water-soluble resin and at lest one selected from a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain, an inorganic spherical fine particle and an inorganic stratiform fine particle.
4. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain is a microgel.
5. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the inorganic spherical fine particle is a silica fine particle.
6. The plate making method of a lithographic printing plate as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the inorganic stratiform fine particle is mica.
7. A printing method of a lithographic printing plate comprising (1) preparing a lithographic printing plate precursor which comprises a support and an image-recording layer capable of forming an image with a semiconductor laser emitting an infrared ray having a wavelength from 760 to 1,200 nm containing a cyanine dye, a diphenyl iodonium salt or triphenyl sulfonium salt which may have a substituent on the phenyl group, a radical polymerizable compound and a polymer fine particle having a polyoxyalkylene chain in its side chain in this order, (2) placing a lith film on the lithographic printing plate precursor and reducing pressure so that the lith film is closely adhered to the lithographic printing plate precursor, (3) conducting UV exposure, (4) mounting the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor on a cylinder of a printing machine and removing a non-image area of the image-recording layer with at least any of dampening water and ink, and (5) conducting printing.