Photosensitive compositions containing microgels

Claim 2

A photosensitive composition comprising (a) addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (b) initiating system activated by actinic radiation, (c) preformed macromolecular polymer binder, and (d) microgel, wherein the photosensitive composition is a solid and wherein at least one of the following is present: (i) the polymer binder and microgel form substantially one phase as viewed by the naked eye, or (ii) the polymer binder and microgel have glass transition temperatures which do not differ by more than 50°C with the microgel having a glass transition temperature above 25°C.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1 wherein properties (i) and (ii) are present.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 1 wherein the substantially one phase is present and observable after a magnification of 10 times.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 2 wherein the substantially one phase is present and observable after a magnification of 100 times.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 1 wherein the glass transition temperature of the polymer binder and the microgel do not differ by more than 25°C.

Claim 7

The composition of claim 1 wherein the microgel swells at least 10% in at least one of the following solvents: n-heptane, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile, acetic acid, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, formamide, water, aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight ammonia, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight potassium hydroxide, methylene chloride-methanol solution containing by weight 92% methylene chloride and 8% methanol, and aqueous sodium carbonate solution containing by weight 1% sodium carbonate.

Claim 8

The composition of claim 6 wherein the microgel swells at least 50% in at least one of the solvents.

Claim 9

The composition of claim 1 which has a creep viscosity of at least 20 megapoise.

Claim 10

The composition of claim 8 which has a creep viscosity of at least 40 megapoise.

Claim 11

An article comprising a storage stable photosensitive composition supported by a flexible film with the article wound in a roll whereby the photosensitive composition comprises (a) addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (b) initiating system activated by actinic radiation, (c) preformed macromolecular polymer binder, and (d) microgel, wherein the photosensitive composition is a solid and wherein at least one of the following is present: (i) the polymer binder and microgel form substantially one phase as viewed by the naked eye, or (ii) the polymer binder and microgel have glass transition temperatures which do not differ by more than 50°C with the microgel having a glass transition temperature above 25°C.

Claim 12

An article comprising a storage stable photosensitive composition supported by a flexible film with the article wound in a roll whereby the photosensitive composition comprises (a) addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (b) initiating system activated by actinic radiation, (c) preformed macromolecular polymer binder, and (d) microgel, wherein the photosensitive composition is a solid and wherein at least one of the following is present: (i) the polymer binder and microgel form substantially one phase as viewed by the naked eye, or (ii) the polymer binder and microgel have glass transition temperatures which do not differ by more than 50°C with the microgel having a glass transition temperature above 25°C.

Claim 13

The article of claim 10 wherein properties (i) and (ii) are present.

Claim 14

The article of claim 10 wherein the substantially one phase is present and observable after a magnification of 10 times.

Claim 15

The article of claim 12 wherein the substantially one phase is present and observable after a magnification of 100 times.

Claim 16

The article of claim 10 wherein the glass transition temperature of the polymer binder and the microgel do not differ by more than 25°C.

Claim 17

The article of claim 10 wherein the microgel swells at least 10% in at least one of the following solvents: n-heptane, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile, acetic acid, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, formamide, water, aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight ammonia, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight potassium hydroxide, methylene chloride-methanol solution containing by weight 92% methylene chloride and 8% methanol, and aqueous sodium carbonate solution containing by weight 1% sodium carbonate.

Claim 18

The article of claim 15 wherein the microgel swells at least 50% in at least one of the solvents.

Claim 19

The article of claim 10 which has a creep viscosity of at least 20 megapoise.

Claim 20

The article of claim 17 which has a creep viscosity of at least 40 megapoise.

Claim 21

An article comprising a storable stable photosensitive composition supported by a flexible film with the article wound in a roll whereby the photosensitive composition comprises (a) addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (b) initiating system activated by actinic radiation, and (c) microgel, wherein the photosensitive composition is a solid with the proviso that the photosensitive composition is substantially free of any preformed macromolecular polymer binder.

Claim 22

An article comprising a storable stable photosensitive composition supported by a flexible film with the article wound in a roll whereby the photosensitive composition comprises (a) addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (b) initiating system activated by actinic radiation, and (c) microgel, wherein the photosensitive composition is a solid with the proviso that the photosensitive composition is substantially free of any preformed macromolecular polymer binder.

Claim 23

The article of claim 19 wherein the microgel swells at least 10% in at least one of the following solvents: n-heptane, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile, acetic acid, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, formamide, water, aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight ammonia, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight potassium hydroxide, methylene chloride-methanol solution containing by weight 92% methylene chloride and 8% methanol, and aqueous sodium carbonate solution containing by weight 1% sodium carbonate.

Claim 24

The article of claim 20 wherein the microgel swells at least 50% in at least one of the solvents.

Claim 25

The article of claim 19 which has a creep viscosity of at least 20 megapoise.

Claim 26

The article of claim 22 which has a creep viscosity of at least 40 megapoise.

Claim 27

In a process for laminating a photosensitive film to a substrate comprising the steps of (a) laminating to the substrate a supported solid photosensitive film, (b) imagewise exposing the layer to actinic radiation, (c) removing unexposed areas of the layer to form resist areas, (d) permanently modifying areas of the substrate which are unprotected by the resist areas by etching the substrate or by depositing a material onto the substrate, and wherein the improvement comprises the photosensitive film which contains (a) addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (b) initiating system activated by actinic radiation, (c) preformed macromolecular polymer binder, and (d) microgel, wherein the photosensitive composition is a solid and wherein at least one of the following is present: (i) the polymer binder and microgel form substantially one phase as viewed by the naked eye, or (ii) the polymer binder and microgel have glass transition temperatures which do not differ by more than 50°C with the microgel having a glass transition temperature above 25°C.

Claim 28

In a process for laminating a photosensitive film to a substrate comprising the steps of (a) laminating to the substrate a supported solid photosensitive film, (b) imagewise exposing the layer to actinic radiation, (c) removing unexposed areas of the layer to form resist areas, (d) permanently modifying areas of the substrate which are unprotected by the resist areas by etching the substrate or by depositing a material onto the substrate, and wherein the improvement comprises the photosensitive film which contains (a) addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (b) initiating system activated by actinic radiation, (c) preformed macromolecular polymer binder, and (d) microgel, wherein the photosensitive composition is a solid and wherein at least one of the following is present: (i) the polymer binder and microgel form substantially one phase as viewed by the naked eye, or (ii) the polymer binder and microgel have glass transition temperatures which do not differ by more than 50°C with the microgel having a glass transition temperature above 25°C.

Claim 29

The process of claim 24 wherein after step (d) the resist areas are removed from the substrate.

Claim 30

The process of claim 24 wherein properties (i) and (ii) are present.

Claim 31

The process of claim 26 wherein the substantially one phase is present and observable after a magnification of 10 times.

Claim 32

The process of claim 27 wherein the substantially one phase is present and observable after a magnification of 100 times.

Claim 33

The process of claim 26 wherein the glass transition temperature of the polymer binder and the microgel do not differ by more than 25°C.

Claim 34

The process of claim 26 wherein the microgel swells at least 10% in at least one of the following solvents: n-heptane, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile, acetic acid, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, formamide, water, aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight ammonia, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight potassium hydroxide, methylene chloride-methanol solution containing by weight 92% methylene chloride and 8% methanol, and aqueous sodium carbonate solution containing by weight 1% sodium carbonate.

Claim 35

The process of claim 30 wherein the microgel swells at least 50% in at least one of the solvents.

Claim 36

The process of claim 26 which has a creep viscosity of at least 20 megapoise.

Claim 37

The process of claim 32 which has a creep viscosity of at least 40 megapoise.

Claim 38

In a process for laminating a photosensitive film to a substrate comprising (a) laminating to the substrate a supported solid photosensitive film, (b) imagewise exposing the layer to actinic radiation, (c) removing unexposed areas of the layer to form resist areas, (d) permanently modifying areas of the substrate which are unprotected by the resist areas by etching the substrate or by depositing a material onto the substrate, and wherein the improvement comprises the photosensitive film which contains (a) addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (b) initiating system activated by actinic radiation, and (c) microgel, wherein the photosensitive composition is a solid with the proviso that the photosensitive composition is substantially free of any preformed macromolecular polymer binder.

Claim 39

In a process for laminating a photosensitive film to a substrate comprising (a) laminating to the substrate a supported solid photosensitive film, (b) imagewise exposing the layer to actinic radiation, (c) removing unexposed areas of the layer to form resist areas, (d) permanently modifying areas of the substrate which are unprotected by the resist areas by etching the substrate or by depositing a material onto the substrate, and wherein the improvement comprises the photosensitive film which contains (a) addition polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer, (b) initiating system activated by actinic radiation, and (c) microgel, wherein the photosensitive composition is a solid with the proviso that the photosensitive composition is substantially free of any preformed macromolecular polymer binder.

Claim 40

The process of claim 34 wherein after step (d) the resist areas are removed from the substrate.

Claim 41

The process of claim 34 wherein the microgel swells at least 10% in at least one of the following solvents: n-heptane, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, acetone, acetonitrile, acetic acid, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, formamide, water, aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight ammonia, aqueous potassium hydroxide solution containing up to 10% by weight potassium hydroxide, methylene chloride-methanol solution containing by weight 92% methylene chloride and 8% methanol, and aqueous sodium carbonate solution containing by weight 1% sodium carbonate.

Claim 42

The process of claim 36 wherein the microgel swells at least 50% in at least one of the solvents.

Claim 43

The process of claim 34 which has a creep viscosity of at least 20 megapoise.

Claim 44

The process of claim 38 which has a creep viscosity of at least 40 megapoise.