Lithographic Printing Plate Precursor with Color Developing System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
On-machine development-type lithographic printing plate precursors face challenges in image visibility and contamination issues during laser exposure and ink/water usage, with existing solutions either impairing radical polymerization or causing contamination of non-image areas.
Innovation Solution
A thermal fusion-type lithographic printing plate precursor with an image-recording layer containing a color developing system that achieves Δa/Δb ≥ 0.6 hue change and 70% thermoplastic polymer particles, allowing excellent visibility and suppressing ablation and contamination during infrared laser exposure and on-machine development.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a color developing system is added to improve image visibility, then visibility is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changing compounds that undergo hue changes (Δa/Δb ≥ 0.6) upon infrared laser irradiation. This allows the exposed areas to change color, providing visual feedback for image verification without requiring additional complex detection systems. The color change itself serves as the measurement mechanism.
2Productivity
If infrared laser exposure is used for on-machine development, then productivity is improved, but ablation and contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the infrared laser wavelength parameters to match the absorption characteristics of the infrared absorber compound. By selecting specific wavelength ranges and exposure energy densities, the system achieves sufficient heating for color development while minimizing ablation and contamination. The parameter optimization balances productivity with harmful effect reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an infrared absorber compound as an intermediary that converts infrared laser energy into localized heat. This intermediary enables indirect heating, allowing the use of infrared lasers for on-machine development while controlling the heating process to minimize ablation and contamination through the color developing system.
3Ease of operation
If thermoplastic polymer particles are used for thermal fusion, then on-machine development is enabled, but contamination of dampening water occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the glass transition temperature and molecular weight of thermoplastic polymer particles to achieve melting and fusion at controlled temperatures during on-machine development. By carefully selecting polymer parameters, the system enables effective image formation while minimizing polymer degradation and contamination of dampening water.
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 provides excellent image visibility, suppresses ablation during laser exposure, and minimizes contamination of dampening water or printing ink, enhancing the on-machine development process.
Implementation Method 1
a color developing system in which a hue change generated by infrared laser exposure is Δa/Δb≥0.6
Implementation Method 2
containing an infrared absorber, a polymerization initiator, and a polymerizable compound
Implementation Method 3
a thermal fusion-type image-recording layer containing an infrared absorber and a thermoplastic polymer particle
Implementation Method 4
image exposure is carried out by, for example, scanning and exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor using a laser or a laser diode
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a thermal fusion-type lithographic printing plate precursor in which the visibility is excellent, ablation during laser exposure is suppressed, and the contamination of dampening water and printing ink during on-machine development is suppressed by a lithographic printing plate precursor having a support and an image-recording layer, in which the image-recording layer is capable of forming an image by infrared laser exposure, a non-exposed portion of the image-recording layer is removable by at least one of dampening water and printing ink on a printer, and the image-recording layer contains (1) a color developing system in which a hue change generated by infrared laser exposure is Δa/Δb≥0.6 and (2) 70% by mass or more of a thermoplastic polymer particle with respect to a solid content of the image-recording layer and a plate-making method in which the thermal fusion-type lithographic printing plate precursor is used.