Imaging process and article employing photolabile, blocked surfactant

Claim 1

An imaging process comprising: (1) providing a support having bonded to one surface thereof an actinic radiation-sensitive layer comprising a blend of: (a) actinic radiation-transmissive film-forming polymeric material having adhesion for said support; and (b) photolabile blocked surfactant capable upon exposure to actinic radiation of releasing a detectable amount of surfactant in the exposed areas, wherein the adhesion of the actinic radiation-sensitive layer for the support is greater in unexposed areas than in exposed areas; (2) exposing said radiation-sensitive layer to actinic radiation in an image-wise pattern at an intensity and for a time sufficient to release an image-wise pattern of released surfactant in the exposed area; (3) applying to the surface of the imaged actinic radiation-sensitive layer an adherent layer, wherein the adhesion between said adherent layer and the exposed area of the actinic radiation-sensitive layer is greater than the adhesion between the exposed area of the actinic radiation-sensitive layer and the support and the adhesion between the unexposed area of the actinic radiation-sensitive layer is greater for the support than for the adherent layer, and wherein the cohesion of the actinic radiation-sensitive layer is (a) greater than the adhesion between the exposed area of the actinic; radiation-sensitive layer and the support layer; (b) greater than the adhesion between the unexposed area and the adherent layer; and (c) less than the adhesion between the unexposed area of the actinic radiation-sensitive layer and the support layer; and (4) separating the adherent layer from said actinic light sensitive area whereby the unexposed area of said actinic radiation-sensitive layer remains bonded to the support and the exposed area of said actinic radiation-sensitive layer remains adherently bonded to said adherent layer.