Flexographic Printing Plate Infrared Ablation Layer Crack Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flexographic printing plate precursors are prone to cracking and wrinkling due to bending stress, and their infrared ablation layers are susceptible to scratches during handling.
Innovation Solution
A flexographic printing plate precursor comprising a support, a photosensitive resin layer, and an infrared ablation layer with a binder polymer and infrared absorbing material, where the binder polymer includes a polymer (A) compatible with the photosensitive resin layer's polymer, and an acrylic resin (B), with a specific mass ratio and elastic modulus, ensuring improved adhesion and scratch resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the infrared ablation layer is made thin to reduce overall plate thickness, then handling flexibility is improved, but the layer becomes more susceptible to cracks and wrinkles under bending stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by formulating the binder polymer as a combination of two distinct polymers: a first polymer providing flexibility and adhesion, and a second polymer providing hardness and crack resistance. This composite polymer system allows the infrared ablation layer to maintain both thinness for flexibility and sufficient strength to resist cracks and wrinkles during handling.
2Ease of operation
If the infrared ablation layer is made thin to improve flexibility, then ease of handling is improved, but scratch resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining two polymers with complementary properties in the binder polymer formulation. The first polymer ensures flexibility and adhesion for easy handling, while the second polymer provides hardness and scratch resistance, allowing the thin infrared ablation layer to maintain both ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the mass ratio between the two polymers (first polymer: 5-50 parts, second polymer: 50-95 parts by mass). This parameter optimization allows the binder polymer to achieve the right balance between flexibility for handling and hardness for scratch resistance in the thin infrared ablation layer.
3Strength
If the binder polymer is made softer to prevent cracks under bending stress, then resistance to cracks and wrinkles is improved, but scratch resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by using composite materials - a binder polymer composed of two distinct polymers. The first polymer (5-50 parts by mass) provides softness and flexibility to prevent cracks and wrinkles under bending stress, while the second polymer (50-95 parts by mass) provides hardness and scratch resistance. This composite formulation allows both properties to coexist in the same binder polymer system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents cracking and wrinkling of the infrared ablation layer under bending stress and enhances scratch resistance, maintaining the layer's integrity during handling and printing processes.
Implementation Method 1
a negative pattern is formed by directly transferring a negative image in a form of digitized information onto the infrared ablation layer with an infrared laser beam
Implementation Method 2
the infrared ablation layer comprises a binder polymer and an infrared absorbing material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3C
Figure 4A~4E
AI summary
Disclosed is a flexographic printing plate precurs or in which formation of cracks and wrinkles in an infrared ablation layer is suppressed and the scratch resistance of the layer is improved. The precursor comprises a support 12, photosensitive resin layer 18, and an infrared ablation layer 20 that are laminated in the order presented. The binder polymer contained in the infrared ablation layer 20 contains a polymer (A) and an acrylic resin (B). The polymer (A) contains the same structural unit as the structural unit contained in the binder polymer in the photosensitive resin layer. The mass ratio (A/B) of the component (A) with respect to the component (B) is within a range of 1/3 to 3/1. The difference between a plastic hardness (Ha) of the infrared ablation layer 20 and a plastic hardness (Hb) of the photosensitive resin layer 18 is 30 mN/mm2 or smaller.