Copolymers of N-vinylcarbazole with monomers containing carboxylic acid groups or carboxylic anhydride groups. I

N-Vinylcarbazole has been copolymerized with olefinic monomers possessing carboxylic acid or carboxylic anhydride functionality to yield copolymers with associated solubility in aqueous alkaline media. The copolymers were prepared to be part of a photoconductive lithographic printing plate assembly. The composition of the copolymers and the reactivity ratios have been evaluated. Copolymerization mechanisms are discussed. Alkali solubility has been measured in terms of the decoating speeds of films of the copolymers from aluminum plates. The major aim of producing an alkali-soluble copolymer that retained the photoconductive properties associated with poly(N-vinylcarbazole) was achieved in part.