Photopolymer color-proofing films with improved white light stability.

FIELD

0001This invention relates to photopolymer color-proofing films which have improved stability to white light. In particular the invention provides a film containing hydroxylamine compounds for improved stability.

BACKGROUND

0002Photopolymer compositions, films and processes for making color proofs are disclosed in Chu et al. U.S. Patent 3.649,268 and Cohen et al. U.S. Patent 4,174,216, both incorporated herein by reference. The photopolymer compositions include a polymeric binder. an ethylenically unsaturated photopolymerizable monomer, and a photopolymerization initiator. The films of the Chu et al. patent are positive-working films and are composed of a photopolymer layer between a support sheet and a coversheet. Films of the Cohen et al. patent can be positive-working but preferred films are negative working. The Cohen et al. films are composed of a coversheet, photopolymer layer, a contiguous tonable elastomeric layer and, optionally, a support sheet.

0003Films of both types are used extensively in the graphic arts industry for making color proofs of the surprint type. Films of the Cohen et al. patent are also used for making proofs of the overlay type.

0004In making a surprint proof a piece of the film is laminated to color proofing paper and imagewise exposed through a coversheet and color separation transparency with ultraviolet radiation to create an image of exposed, polymerized areas and unexposed areas. The coversheet is removed and the image is developed by toning with toner of corresponding color. Another piece of film is laminated to the toned layer. Exposure, coversheet removal and toning are repeated, using a different color separation transparency and corresponding color toner. This process is repeated until the desired number of layers, usually four, are built up. The proof is examined for color balance under white lights, called 5000 Kelvin lights, which produce a significant amount of ultraviolet light.

0005This invention deals with a problem which arises in handling the film prior to toning, namely premature, blanket exposure and partial polymerization by the small ultraviolet component of room lights (usually fluorescent) and by stray ultraviolet light from the high energy exposure device and the 5000 Kelvin lights.

0006As a consequence of being preexposed with undesired and variable amounts of stray and ambient ultraviolet radiation, films fail to give expected results when they are imagewise exposed and toned to produce a surprint. A serious defect from the undesired effect of stray and ambient ultraviolet radiation is the inability to "hold" dot range, i.e., to reproduce dots ranging in size from small dots in 2% solid areas to large dots in 98% solid areas. Dot size diminishes over the entire tonal range and dots can even be completely eliminated by what is believed to be prepolymerization which begins around the edge of the dot and eventually destroys the dot completely with too high preexposure. The effect on 2% dots is very significant to the visual inspection of the artwork. Other defects such as a false decrease in dot gain occur from this ultraviolet preexposure.Dot gain is an apparent increase in dot size compared to dots in the transparency due to optical effects in the proof. Dot gain in a proof is desirable, provided it is approximately equal to the combined mechanical dot gain which occurs in printing and apparent dot gain due to optical effects in the print, since the purpose of a proof is to simulate the results which will be obtained upon printing. Thus a false decrease in dot gain due to preexposure can create problems in proofing.

0007It is customary in a graphic arts studio to prepare several proofs on a single large piece of paper, e.g., 29 x 40 inches (73.7 x 101.6 cm). Several minutes are required to position the transparencies on the film. Thus, different areas of the film receive different amounts of preexposure, and results for the proofs are not uniform.

0008McKeever U.S. Patent 4.248,678 discloses the use of diethylhydroxylamine and other hydroxylamines as thermal stabilizers in photopolymerizable compositions containing admixtures of photooxidants and leuco dyes. The color proofing films of this invention do not contain leuco dyes. It is believed that the prior art does not disclose the use of hydroxylamines for any purpose in films not containing leuco dyes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0009This invention is an improved photopolymer color proofing film comprising a support layer and a photopolymerizable layer consisting essentially of polymeric binder, ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and photopolymerization initiator, characterized in that the film has improved white light stability due to presence in the photopolymerizable layer of a hydroxylamine compound. In preferred form the film is a positive surprint film in which the support is removable after exposure without disturbing the photopolymer layer.

0010The invention is also an improved process of making a surprint color proof which comprises: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>(a) laminating to color-proofing paper a photopolymer film having a coversheet adhered to a photopolymeriza- _ble layer comprising binder, monomer and initiator;</li><li>(b) imagewise exposing the photopolymerizable layer to ultraviolet radiation through the coversheet and a color separation transparency to create an image of exposed, polymerized areas and unexposed areas;</li><li>(c) removing the coversheet and developing the image by applying a corresponding color toner; (d) removing excess toner, laminating another piece of film to the toned layer: and repeating steps (b)-(c) with a different color separation transparency and corresponding color toner: and (e) optionally repeating step</li><li>(d) until the desired number of layers are built up. The improvement comprises using a photopolymer film as defined above, whereby a proof with well defined 2% dots is obtained.</li></ul>

0011In preferred form, the improved process produces a positive surprint color proof by use of a film from which the coversheet is removable after step (b) without disturbing the photopolymer layer and by toning in step (c) the entire photopolymer layer whereby toner adheres selectively to unexposed areas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0012Hydroxylamine compounds which can be used in this invention include the ones disclosed in McKeever U.S. Patent 4,298,678. These are compounds of the formula R₁R₂NOH, and acid salts thereof, wherein each of R₁ and R₂ can be hydrogen with the proviso that both cannot be hydrogen, a linear or branched-chain alkyl group of 2 to 14 carbon atoms, a cyclic alkyl group of 5 to 14 carbon atoms, an aryl group of 6 to 10 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group wherein the aryl moiety is of 6 to 10 carbon atoms and the alkyl moiety is of 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and an alkaryl group wherein the aryl moiety is of 6 to 10 carbon atoms and the alkyl moiety is of 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and R₁ and R₂ when taken together may with the nitrogen atom form a heterocyclic ring of 5 to 7 carbon atoms.

0013Preferred hydroxylamines are N,N-diethylhydroxylamine, N.N-dibenzylhydroxylamine, N-cyclohexylhydroxylamine, N-hydroxypyridine and N-hydroxypiperidine.

0014The films exhibit improved stability to white light with as little as about 0.005 percent of hydroxylamine by weight, based on weight of the photopolymerizable layer. The film can tolerate about to 3 percent hydroxylamine without unacceptable loss of photospeed. Preferred are amounts in the range of about 0.05 to 0.5% by weight.

0015The binder, monomer and initiator components of the film can be any of the conventional organic polymeric binders, ethylenically unsaturated. free radical initiated, addition polymerizable monomers, and free radical generating photopolymerization initiators described in Chu et al. U.S. Patent 3,649,268 and Cohen et al. U.S. Patent 4,174,216, cited above, and in numerous other patents, including Burg et al. U.S. 3.060.023, Celeste et al. U.S. 3,261,686, Chambers U.S. 3,479,185, Chang et al. U.S. 3,549,367, Baum et al. U.S. 3,652,275, Crary U.S. 3.661.576. Cescon U.S. 3,784,557, Held U.S. 3,854,950, Dessauer U.S. 4,252.887, Chambers et al. U.S. 4.264,708 and Tanaka U.S. 4,459,349. The disclosures of all of these patents are incorporated herein by reference.

0016Preferred binders include polymethylmethacrylate homopolymers and copolymers with acrylic or methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof with polyvinyl acetate, and copolymers of methylmethacrylate/ethyl- acrylate acrylic acid, optionally crosslinked with zinc ions. The latter are especially preferred for use with epoxy acrylate monomers. as described below.

0017Preferred monomers are di-, tri- and tetraacrylates and -methacrylates such as trimethylolpropane triacrylate, ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate and epoxy acrylates. The latter are diacrylate and dimethacrylate esters of bisphenol A/epichlorohydrin epoxy resins. Their use in photopolymerizable compositions is disclosed in the Crary, Cohen et al. and Chambers et al. patents cited above. Their use in low dot gain photopolymer positive surprint color proofing is described in an application of assignee filed simultaneously herewith (Docket No. PD-2320). As described in that application. it is preferred to use the epoxy acrylates in combination with another acrylate or methacrylate which has a plasticizing action on the methylmethacrylate/ethylacrylate/acrylic acid binder.

0018Preferred initiators are the hexaarylbiimida- zoles. especially 2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4'.5.5'-tetraphenylbiimidazole.

0019In addition to the binder, monomer and initiator. practical films of this invention will include conventional components such as chain transfer agents, UV absorbers, optical brighteners and thermal stabilizers and plasticizers, all as disclosed in the above cited patents and co-pending application. As described in the co-pending application a particularly preferred plasticizer for use with an epoxy acrylate and zinc crosslinked methylmethacrylate/ethylacrylate/acrylic acid is a mixture of trimethylolpropane and glycerol triacetate.

0020Proportions of ingredients can vary widely, but in general will fall in the following ranges of weight percent based on the total photopolymerizable layer: binder. 25 to 75%, preferably 35 to 50%, monomer, 10 to 60%, preferably 15 to 50%: initiator. 0.1 to 10%, preferably 1 to 5%, hydroxylamine. 0.005 to 3%, preferably 0.05 to 0.5%, plasticizer 0 to 50%, preferably 5 to 25%. and other components 0 to 5%, preferably 1 to 4%.

EXAMPLES

0021The following examples illustrate the invention wherein the percentages are given by weight. In the following examples photosensitive compositions containing the ingredients set forth below are dissolved in methylene chloride at 15% solids. Samples are prepared to which are added the ,hydroxyamine compounds listed below. Films are cast from a 0.0015 inch (0.038 mm) coating knife onto 0.001 inch (0.025 mm) polyethylene terephthalate film giving a 0.00015 inch (0.0038 mm) coating. The solvent is removed by air drying.

0022This coating is laminated at about 110°C to the smooth side of Kromekote® cast-coated one-side paper, manufactured by Champion Paper and Fiber Company, using a Cromalin® Laminator Model 2700 manufactured by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. Wilmington. DE. This element is then given a blanket exposure with no artwork present in a Montakop vacuum contact frame manufactured by Siegfried Theimer Gmbh, Bad Homburg. West Germany fitted with a 5 KW photopolymer lamp. After coversheet removal a second clear photopolymer layer is laminated onto the first layer at 110°C. A section of the photopolymerizable surface is covered with a rectangular, opaque mask and the masked, laminated sample is placed in a Prooflite® viewing booth Model CVB-1 under MacBeth 5000 Kelvin temperature lamps (described as F40T12/50 40W partë 20115020) manufactured by MacBeth a division of Kollmorgen Corp., Newburgh, NY. After uniformly exposing the masked sample for the indicated time, the mask is removed and a 15₀ lines/inch 50% halftone screen tint manufactured by Beta Screen Corp., Carlstadt, NJ is positioned such that half covered the exposed area and other half covered the unexposed area. The sample plus tint is placed in a Montakop vacuum contact frame manufactured by Siegfried Theimer Gmbh, Bad Homburg, West Germany and exposed with a 5 KW photopolymer lamp and Kokamo® glass filter (No. 400), manufactured by the Kokomo Opalescent Glass Co., Kokomo, Ind. and given a sharp exposure where 2% highlight dots are just held. After exposure the tint and polyethylene terephthalate film are removed. An Automatic Toning Machine Model 2900 manufactured by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington. DE is used to apply a magenta colorant material described in Example 11 of U.S. Patent 4,215,193 to the photopolymer surface.

0023A third clear photopolymer layer is laminated onto the toned second layer at 110°C. The three-layer element is then given a blanket exposure with no artwork present and the coversheet removed. Two additional layers are added in this same manner to simulate a traditional five layer proof.

0024The effective dot areas (EDA) of the toned tint in the finished proof over the white light exposed and the unexposed areas are measured using the green filter on a Macbeth RD-918 densitometer manufactured by Kollmorgen Corp., Newburgh, NY. As explained in the RD-918 manual (issue date 12-1980), the Murray-Davies equation (J. Franklin Inst.. Vol. 221. pages 721-744, 1936) is used to calculate the effective dot area. The following results are obtained for the indicated compounds wherein the AEDA equals the difference between EDA (unexposed) minus EDA (exposed).

Examples 1 to 11

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0026The best mode is illustrated below. The solution is prepared as above and the resulting film laminated to Kromekote®. A section of the photopolymerizable surface is covered with a rectangular, opaque mask and the masked, laminated sample is placed in a Prooflite® viewing booth. After uniformly exposing the masked sample for the indicated time, the mask is removed and a 150 lines/inch 50% halftone screen tint is positioned such that half covered the exposed area and other half covered the unexposed area. The sample plus tint is placed in a vacuum contact frame and exposed with a 5 KW photopolymer lamp and Kokomoe glass filter (No. 400) and given a sharp exposure where 2% highlight dots are just held. After exposure, the tint and polyethylene terephthalate film is removed. An Automatic Toning Machine Model 2900 manufactured by E. 1. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington. DE is used to apply a yellow colorant material described in Example 9 of U.S. Patent 4,215.193 to the photopolymer surface.

0027_A second clear photopolymer layer is laminated onto the yellow toned first layer at 110°C. As outlined above the two-layer element is then masked, placed under the proof light for the indicated time, mask removed, 150 lines/inch 50% tint positioned such that half covered the exposed area and other half covered the unexposed area, given a sharp exposure, and the coversheet removed. To the photopolymer surface a magenta colorant material described in Example 11 of U.S. Patent 4,215,193 is applied. This procedure is repeated two more times toning the third layer with a cyan colorant material described in Example 1 of U.S. Patent 4,215,193 and the fourth layer with a black colorant material described in Example 10 of U.S. Patent 4.215.193.

0028After application of the black toner, a fifth photopolymer element is laminated at 110°C over the four-color halftone positive. The five-layer element is given an overall blanket exposure under the above-described light source. Next, the polyethylene terephthalate coversheet is removed.

0029The effective dot areas (EDA) of the toned tint in the finished proof over the white light exposed and the unexposed areas are measured using a Macbeth RD-918 densitometer. The yellow, magenta, cyan, black tints are measured using a green, blue, red, and visual filters respectively. As explained above the Murray-Davies equation is used to calculate the effective dot area. The following results are obtained for the indicated colored toners wherein the AEDA equals the difference between EDA (unexposed) minus EDA (exposed).

Examples 15 to 18

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