Photosensitive element and process employing a light-sensitive muconic acid polyester

Claim 2

A photosensitive element which comprises a support having thereon a layer of a photosensitive composition comprising a light-sensitive linear polyester condensation product of a muconic acid reactant having the structural formula: where R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and lower alkyl groups and R'' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and methyl groups, with an organic diol reactant having the structural formula: HO-R''''-OH where R'''' is a divalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkylene radicals, arylene radicals, cycloalkylene radicals and ether radicals, wherein the polyester has an inherent viscosity in the range 0.25 to 1.25 and a sensitizer.

Claim 3

A photosensitive element as defined in claim 3 wherein the muconic acid reactant is selected from the group consisting of trans,trans-muconic acid, cis,trans-muconic acid, cis,cis-muconic acid, Alpha , Alpha ''-trans,trans-dimethylmuconic acid, Alpha , Alpha ''-cis,trans-dimethylmuconic acid, Alpha , Alpha ''-cis, cis-dimethyl-muconic acid and esters thereof and the diol reactant is selected fRom the group consisting of 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,9-nonanediol, neopentyl glycol, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propane and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol.

Claim 4

A photosensitive element as defined in claim 3 wherein the photosensitive composition contains a sensitizer selected from the group consisting of thiazoles, pyrylium salts, and thiapyrylium salts.

Claim 5

A photosensitive element as defined in claim 3 wherein the support is a metal plate.

Claim 6

A photosensitive element as defined in claim 3 wherein the support is a polymeric film base.

Claim 7

A photosensitive element as defined in claim 3 wherein the muconic acid reactant is dimethyl- Alpha , Alpha ''-trans,trans-dimethylmuconate and the diol reactant is selected from the group consisting of 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, and 1,9-nonanediol.

Claim 8

A photosensitive element comprising a support on which is coated a layer of a photosensitive composition comprising a light-sensitive linear polyester condensation product of dimethyl- Alpha , Alpha ''-trans,trans-dimethylmuconate with 1,9-nonanediol and a sensitizing amount of 3-methyl-2-methyl-mercaptothiocarbonylmethylenebenzothiazoline, wherein the polyester has an inherent viscosity in the range 0.25 to 1.25. 10 A photosensitive element comprising a support on which is coated a layer of a photosensitive composition comprising a light-sensitive linear polyester condensation product of dimethyl- Alpha , Alpha ''-trans,trans-dimethylmuconate with 1,5-pentanediol and a sensitizing amount of 1-methyl-2-benzoyl-methylene- Beta -naphthothiazoline, wherein the polyester has an inherent viscosity in the range 0.25 to 1.25.

Claim 9

A photosensitive element comprising a support on which is coated a layer of a photosensitive composition comprising a light-sensitive linear polyester condensation product of dimethyl- Alpha , Alpha ''-trans,trans-dimethylmuconate with 1,4-butanediol and a sensitizing amount of 2,6-bis(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-(4-n-amyloxyphenyl)thiapyrylium perchlorate, wherein the polyester has an inherent viscosity in the range 0.25 to 1.25.

Claim 10

A process for preparing photographic images which comprises imagewise exposing to actinic radiation a photosensitive element which comprises a support having thereon a layer of a photosensitive composition comprising a light-sensitive linear polyester condensation product of a muconic acid reactant having the structural formula: where R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and lower alkyl groups and R'' is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and methyl groups with an organic diol reactant having the structural formula: HO-R''''-OH where R'''' is a divalent organic radical having about two to 20 carbon atoms and a sensitizer, the polyester having an inherent viscosity in the range 0.25 to 1.25, to insolubilize and raise the tackifying point of the polyester in exposed areas, and developing an image with the exposed element.

Claim 11

A process as defined in claim 12 wherein developing an image is accomplished by heating the element to a temperature which is between the tackifying point of the lower melting unexposed areas and the higher melting exposed areas and transferring composition from the unexposed areas to a receiving sheet.