tive ray, for example diazonium, phosphonium, sulfonium and iodonium salts, an organic halogen compound, orthoquinone-diazidesulfonyl chloride and an organometallic compound/organic halogen compound; a compound having at least one bond that can form cross-links in the presence of the foregoing acids, for example an amino compound having at least two functional groups such as an alkoxymethyl group, a methylol group and an acetoxymethyl group, an aromatic compound substituted with at least two functional groups that are an alkoxymethyl group, a methylol group and an acetoxymethyl group; a Resol resin; and an acrylic resin synthesized from specified monomers.
Examples of known recording materials that can be applied to the layer having similar functions include the negative image recording material having a phenol derivative and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 8-276558; the negative-type recording material having a diazonium compound and disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-306528; and the negative-type image forming material, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-203037, that utilizes cross-link reaction caused by an acid catalyst and in which polymers having heterocyclic groups with unsaturated bonds in the ring are used. The recording layers disclosed in the foregoing patent publications can also be used as the acid cross-linking layer of the present invention.
The acid cross-linking layer of the present invention has an acid generator, a cross-linking agent, a binder polymer and other components. These compounds will be described separately hereinafter.
Acid Generator
In the present invention, by a compound that generates an acid by light or heat (i.e., the acid generator) is meant a compound that is decomposed by being irradiated with infrared light or by being heated at a temperature of 100xc2x0 C. or higher to generate an acid. The acid generated is preferably a strong acid with a pKa value of 2 or less, such as sulfonic acid 