Terpene ether developing solvent for photopolymerizable printing plates

Active Publication Date: 2005-05-12
MIRACLON CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] It is another object of the present invention is to provide solvent syst

Problems solved by technology

One important disadvantage of the known solvents and the procedures for their use is that the solvents being used as developers may act too slowly, cause swelling of the plates and/or cause damage to the fine detail in the plate by undercutting and/or pinholing.
Moreover, when non-chlorinated solvents are used in the washout process, long drying times may be necessary.
Furthermore, many of these solvents have flashpoints of less than 100° F., so that the process can only be operated in special, explosion-protected plants.
When chlorohydrocarbons and other toxic chemicals are us

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

Development of Styrene-Isoprene (SIS) Plates Using MTE Based Solvent Blend Photopolymer

[0033] Plates based on a block copolymer of styrene and isoprene were processed using the terpene ether based solvent blend described above. The washout rate was determined to be 0.0034 inches per minute. The sidewall structure of the image elements was satisfactory, and rounding of the relief edges and undermining of the sidewalls was not observed. The swelling in terms of the thickness was 7.5%. The flexographic printing plate was dried for 100 minutes at 140 degrees F. in a vented dryer until the plate thickness returned to 0.067 inches.

example 2

Development of Butadiene-Acrylonitrile Plates Using MTE Based Solvent Blend Photopolymer

[0034] Plates based on a block copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile were processed using the terpene ether based solvent blend described above. The washout rate was determined to be 0.0040 inches per minute. The sidewall structure of the image elements was satisfactory, and rounding of the relief edges and undermining of the sidewalls was not observed. The swelling in terms of the thickness was 7.5%. The flexographic printing plate was dried for 80 minutes at 140 degrees F. in a vented dryer until the plate thickness returned to 0.067 inches.

example 3

Development of Terpolymer Plates Using MTE Based Solvent Blend Photopolymer

[0035] Plates based on a block terpolymer of butadiene, acrylonitrile and acrylic acid were processed using the terpene ether based solvent blend described above. The washout rate was determined to be 0.0038 inches per minute. The sidewall structure of the image elements was satisfactory, and rounding of the relief edges and undermining of the sidewalls was not observed. The swelling in terms of the thickness was 10.4%. The flexographic printing plate was dried for 90 minutes at 140 degrees F. in a vented dryer until the plate thickness returned to 0.067 inches.

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PUM

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Abstract

Flexographic printing plates are produced by exposing the photopolymer plates to a light source and washing out (developing) the masked out, non-exposed areas with a solvent. The invention provides terpene ether solvents suitable for use in the development of photopolymer printing plates. The solvents, which include terpene ethers alone or mixed with co-solvents and/or non-solvents, are effective in developing a large number of different photopolymer printing plates and can produce images superior to those obtained with commercially available solvents currently used in such applications.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an improved solvent and process for the production of flexographic printing plates crosslinked by photopolymerization. More specifically, the invention relates to a solvent system using terpene ethers, alone or in combination with co-solvents and / or non-solvents, as washout solvents for the unpolymerized material in the printing plates to develop a relief image and a method for developing printing plates. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Washout processes for the development of photopolymerizable flexographic printing plates are well known and is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,815 which is incorporated herein by reference. Ordinarily, exposed plates are washed (developed) in a developing solvent that can remove the unpolymerized material while leaving the polymerized (cured) material intact. The solvent typically used in such processes include: (a) chlorohydrocarbons, such as trichloroethylene, perchloroeth...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B41N3/00G03F7/00G03F7/26G03F7/30G03F7/32
CPCG03F7/325B41N3/006
Inventor HENDRICKSON, CONSTANCE MARIEBRADFORD, DAVID CALVIN
Owner MIRACLON CORP
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