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Method for manufacturing a flexographic printing master

A flexographic printing and mastering technology, applied in the directions of printing plate, printing, printing plate preparation, etc., can solve the problems such as hindering the accurate reproduction of small dots, time-consuming, and complexity.

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-01-04
AGFA NV
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0004] The process of making flexographic printing plates is simplified by applying a layer forming an image mask directly on the printing plate precursor. In US6521390 (AGFA), an IR ablatable layer which is substantially opaque to actinic radiation On the plate precursor. US6358668 (AGFA) discloses the ink-receiving layer on the photopolymerizable layer of the flexographic printing plate The introduction of an image-mask-forming layer into the plate precursor simplifies the process of making flexographic printing plates, but the process is complex and time-consuming. In addition, the process is not suitable due to the high waste generated in the unexposed areas where the photopolymerizable layer is removed. Environmentally friendly.
[0005] US5511477 (IDANIT TECHNOLOGIES) discloses a method of producing a photopolymer letterpress printing plate, the method comprising the steps of: using a photopolymer ink composition optionally preheated to about 30-260° C. and subject the obtained printing substrate to UV radiation, thereby curing the image-forming ink composition. Suitable substrates for this method are limited to steel, polyester, and other rigid materials, limiting aniline Possibility for printing applications. Another problem is that the jetted drops of polymer inks are still mobile and tend to deform, thereby preventing the accurate reproduction of small dots and the formation of sharp edges and thus sharp images. .

Method used

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  • Method for manufacturing a flexographic printing master
  • Method for manufacturing a flexographic printing master
  • Method for manufacturing a flexographic printing master

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

preparation example Construction

[0125] Preparation of curable sprayable liquids

[0126] The colorant dispersion of the curable sprayable liquid suitable for the method of the present invention for making a flexographic printing master can be prepared by mixing, grinding and dispersing the colorant and resin. The mixing equipment may include a pressure kneader, an open kneader, a planetary mixer, Dissolvers and Dalton Universal Mixers. Suitable grinding and dispersing equipment are colloid mills, high speed dispersers, twin rolls, bead mills, paint conditioners and triple rolls.

[0127] In the mixing, grinding and dispersing process, each process is carried out with cooling to prevent heat build-up and under light conditions that substantially exclude UV light as much as possible.

[0128] ink receiver

[0129] A curable jettable liquid suitable for use in the method of the present invention for making a flexographic printing master is jetted onto the surface of an ink receiver. The ink receiver includes a...

Embodiment 1

[0252] This example illustrates the problem of incorporating elastomers in curable sprayable liquids.

[0253] A number of elastomers were tested for their solubility in a typical UV curable inkjet ink INK-1. For simplicity, no colorant was added to INK-1, and its composition is shown in Table 1.

[0254] Table 1

[0255]

[0256] The solubility of the elastomers of Table 2 was tested in UV curable inkjet ink INK-1 by adding the elastomer in an amount of 16 wt% based on the total ink weight.

[0257] Table 2

[0258]

[0259] It is clear from Table 2 that none of the elastomers are directly soluble in the radiation curable composition.

[0260] Therefore, an indirect method of incorporating elastomers into the UV-curable inkjet ink INK-1 was attempted, which included the following steps:

[0261] ●Choose a suitable organic solvent

[0262] ●Dissolve the elastomer in the solvent of choice

[0263] ●Mixed elastomer solution with UV curable inkjet ink INK-1

[0264] ●...

Embodiment 2

[0277] This example illustrates the necessity of plasticizers in jettable liquids to produce high quality flexographic printing plates using jettable liquids comprising monofunctional monomers, multifunctional monomers and / or oligomers and photoinitiators .

[0278] Curable sprayable liquid

[0279] Crystal UFE inks are described by SUN CHEMICALS as UV-curable inks with improved flexibility. In EP1428666A (AGFA) the UV-curable black ink Crystal 7577 was used to prepare flexographic printing plates. Similar cyan ink Crystal in this example 5562 was used to prepare comparative curable sprayable liquids COMP-1 and COMP-2 according to Table 6. Comparative curable sprayable liquid COMP-3 and inventive curable sprayable liquid INV-1 were also prepared according to Table 6.

[0280] Table 6

[0281]

[0282] Preparation of flexographic printing plates

[0283] Comparative curable jettable liquids COMP-1 to COMP-3 and curable jettable liquid INV-1 of the present invention wer...

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Abstract

A method for manufacturing a flexographic printing master comprising the steps of: (a) providing an ink-receiver surface; (b) jetting a curable jettable fluid on the ink-receiver surface characterized in that the curable jettable fluid comprises at least one photo-initiator, at least one monofunctional monomer, at least 5 wt % of a polyfunctional monomer or oligomer and at least 5 wt % of a plasticizer both based on the total weight of the curable jettable liquid capable of realizing a layer after curing having an elongation at break of at least 5%. A storage modulus E' is smaller than 200 MPa at 30 Hz, and a volumetric shrinkage is smaller than 10%.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to digital flexography, and more particularly to a method of making flexographic masters using curable jettable liquids. Background technique [0002] Flexographic printing plates are well known for printing on soft and deformable surfaces such as packaging materials such as cardboard and plastic films. They can be prepared from printing plate precursors having a layer consisting of a photopolymerizable composition Typically includes an elastomeric binder, at least one monomer and a photoinitiator. Earlier patents on flexographic printing plates include US3960572 (ASAHICHEMICAL), US3951657 (UP JOHN), US4323637 (DU PONT) and US4427759 (DU PONT). [0003] Traditionally, an image is applied to the printing plate precursor by flood exposing the photopolymerizable layer to actinic radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation, using an image mask positioned between the radiation source and the printing plate precursor. Actinic radia...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(China)
IPC IPC(8): G03F7/16G03F7/027B41N1/00B41C1/00
CPCB41C1/003
Inventor D·埃迪L·卢克
Owner AGFA NV