Multilayer photosensitive element with solvent-soluble layer

Claim 1

A peel apart photosensitive element comprising, in order, from top to bottom (1) a strippable cover sheet, (2) a photoadherent layer coated on cover sheet (1) comprising a material with ethylenically unsaturated or benzophenone type groups, a polymeric binder and a photoinitiating system, (3) a solvent-soluble, nontonable, polymeric, nonphotosensitive contiguous layer, and (4) a sheet support, the unexposed element having the following force relationship: C>A 1 <<A 2 wherein C represents the cohesive value of the unexposed photoadherent layer (2); A 1 represents the adhesive force between cover sheet (1) and unexposed photoadherent layer (2); and A 2 represents the adhesive force between unexposed photoadherent layer (2) and contiguous layer (3); the exposed areas (5) of said photoadherent layer, after imagewise exposure through the cover sheet (1) of said element to actinic radiation, having greater adhesion to said cover sheet than to said contiguous layer, and are completely removable with said cover sheet and the unexposed areas (6) of said photoadherent layer having greater adhesion to said contiguous layer than to said cover sheet, the exposed element having the following force relationship: C<A 1 *>>A 2 *<C* wherein C is as defined above; A 1 * represents the adhesive force between exposed areas (5) of photoadherent layer (2) and cover sheet (1); A 2 * represents the adhesive force between exposed areas (5) and contiguous layer (3); and C* represents the cohesive value of the photoadherent layer in the exposed areas (5); the areas of the photoadherent layer remaining on the contiguous layer after stripping off the cover sheet must be insoluble under a condition under which the contiguous layer is soluble.