Aluminum Alloy Support for Lithographic Printing Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional presensitized plates suffer from defects such as white spot defects, corrosive micro-stains, and residual film spots during long-term storage and use, leading to ink adherence and printing stains, and require additional wet processing steps that generate wastewater, posing environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A presensitized plate with a support made from an aluminum alloy containing intermetallic compound particles at a surface density of 35,000 pcs/mm2 or more, combined with a photosensitive layer and protective layer, which suppresses defects and enhances scumming resistance, allowing for on-press development without additional wet processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional aluminum alloy supports are used with standard surface treatment, then the support provides basic structural integrity, but the photosensitive layer develops defects during long-term storage and exhibits poor scumming resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the aluminum alloy support by precisely controlling the composition and distribution of intermetallic compound particles. The support uses specific aluminum alloys (JIS 1050, 1100, or 3003) with controlled intermetallic particle densities (3,000-30,000 pcs/mm²), which fundamentally alters the surface properties to prevent photosensitive layer defects and improve scumming resistance without changing the basic manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure within the aluminum alloy support by incorporating intermetallic compound particles as reinforcement phases. This composite material approach, combining aluminum matrix with dispersed intermetallic particles, enhances the support's surface characteristics and chemical stability, thereby preventing defects in the photosensitive layer during storage and improving printing performance
2Reliability
If additional wet processing steps are added to improve printing quality, then printing stains are reduced, but wastewater generation increases causing environmental concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the naturally hydrophilic aluminum surface into a beneficial feature by controlling the intermetallic particle distribution. The etched surface with controlled hydrophilic areas eliminates the need for chemical treatments to create water-receptive zones, thereby preventing printing stains without generating harmful wastewater. The inherent surface properties are optimized rather than chemically modified
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional wet processing steps by incorporating the necessary functional properties directly into the support structure. The controlled intermetallic particle distribution provides built-in scumming resistance and printing quality, removing the requirement for separate chemical treatment processes that would generate wastewater
3Reliability
If the support surface is highly roughened to improve ink receptivity, then printing performance improves, but the photosensitive layer adhesion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating zones of different surface properties through controlled intermetallic particle distribution. Areas with higher intermetallic particle density provide enhanced ink receptivity, while areas with lower density maintain better photosensitive layer adhesion. This spatial variation in surface characteristics allows simultaneous optimization of both ink receptivity and adhesion without compromising either property
Data Source
AI summary
A presensitized plate having a long press life and excellent resistance to scum and corrosive micro-stains and capable of on-press development is provided. The presensitized plate includes a photosensitive layer containing (A) a sensitizing dye, (B) a polymerization initiator, (C) a polymerizable compound, and (D) a binder polymer; and a protective layer which are formed on a support in this order. The support is prepared from an aluminum alloy plate containing intermetallic compound particles with a circle equivalent diameter of 0.2 μm or more at a surface density of 35,000 pcs/mm2 or more and aluminum carbide particles with a maximum length of 1 μm or more in an amount of up to 30,000 pcs/g.