Abstract A photopolymerizable film element is made by coating a photopolymerizable composition onto an actinically transparent support, drying, and laminating it with a temporary protective cover sheet or to a surface to be imaged. The photopolymerizable composition comprises a mixture of an organic binder, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and an initiating system. The monomer is present in an amount in excess of the absorptive capacity of the binder for monomer, so that a thin layer of substantially free monomer forms on the monomer-binder layer upon drying. The optical density of the photopolymerizable layer, in the actinic region of the exposure, must be no greater than 0.7 and the thickness of the dried layer must be at least 0.00005 inch. The support for the photopolymerizable composition must have greater adhesion to the unexposed photopolymerizable layer than that exhibited by the cover sheet, and less adhesion to the exposed photopolymer layer than that exhibited by the cover sheet or the surface to be imaged.
An element according to claim 1 wherein the contact angle of said monomer on said film support is at least 2* greater than that of said monomer on said substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
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An element according to claim 2 wherein said film support is polyethylene terephthalate and said substrate is metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
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An element according to claim 2 wherein said film support is polyethylene terephthalate and said substrate is metallized polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
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An element according to claim 2 wherein said film support is polyethylene terephthalate and said substrate is hardened gelatin-coated polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
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An element according to claim 2 wherein said monomer is pentaerythritol triacrylate and said polymer binder is a halogenated organic polymer or copolymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
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An element according to claim 2 wherein said monomer is pentaerythritol triacrylate and said polymer binder is chlorinated rubber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
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An element according to claim 2 wherein said monomer is trimethylolpropane triacrylate and said polymer binder is chlorinated rubber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
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An element according to claim 2 wherein said substrate is a temporary cover sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
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An element according to claim 2 wherein said substrate is a surface to be imaged.