Lithographic Printing Plate Precursor HOMO Level Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lithographic printing plate precursors have insufficient printing durability and color development issues, particularly due to inferior performance of infrared absorbents that promote acid color former decomposition, leading to premature color development and reduced color formability.

Innovation Solution

A lithographic printing plate precursor with an image recording layer containing a polymerization initiator, an infrared absorbent with a specific compound represented by Formula 1, and an acid color former, where the infrared absorbent includes a compound that reduces the difference in HOMO levels between the infrared absorbent and the polymerization initiator, enhancing electron transfer and decomposition rates for improved durability and color formability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional infrared absorbents are used to promote acid color former decomposition, then color development occurs, but printing durability deteriorates and color formability becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting durabilityVSAvoidcolor formability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the infrared absorbent by selecting compounds with specific HOMO levels (0.5-7.0 eV) that match the polymerization initiator. This parameter optimization enables simultaneous achievement of high printing durability and excellent color formability by controlling the energy levels for electron transfer and acid color former decomposition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite system combining specific infrared absorbents (with defined HOMO levels) and polymerization initiators (with complementary HOMO levels). This composite approach ensures proper electron transfer while maintaining printing durability and achieving superior color formability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If infrared absorbent promotes acid color former decomposition, then color development is enhanced, but premature color development occurs reducing exposure control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor development efficiencyVSAvoidexposure control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the HOMO level parameter of the infrared absorbent to fall within 0.5-7.0 eV, which controls the timing and rate of acid color former decomposition. This parameter control ensures that color development occurs at the appropriate exposure stage, preventing premature development while maintaining high color development efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism through the energy level matching between infrared absorbent and polymerization initiator. The electron transfer process provides feedback that regulates acid color former decomposition, ensuring it occurs only after proper exposure has taken place, thus maintaining precise exposure control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 a lithographic printing plate precursor with enhanced printing durability and color formability by optimizing the decomposition of the acid color former, ensuring better exposure control and ink transfer efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the infrared absorbent includes a compound represented by Formula (1)... the infrared absorbent includes a compound that reduces the difference in HOMO levels between the infrared absorbent and the polymerization initiator, enhancing electron transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the image recording layer includes a polymerization initiator, an infrared absorbent, a polymerizable compound... enhancing electron transfer and decomposition rates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS11294279B2Lithographic printing plate precursor, and method for producing lithographic printing plate

Publication Date: 2022.04.05 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A lithographic printing plate precursor including an image recording layer on a hydrophilic support, in which the image recording layer includes a polymerization initiator, an infrared absorbent, a polymerizable compound, and an acid color former, and the infrared absorbent includes a compound represented by Formula 1, as well as a method of preparing a lithographic printing plate by use of the lithographic printing plate precursor. In Formula 1, at least one of Ar1 or Ar2 has a group represented by —X, where X represents a halogen atom, —C(═O)—X2—R11, —C(═O)—NR12R13, —O—C(═O)—R14, —CN, —SO2N15R16, or a perfluoroalkyl group, X2 represents a single bond or an oxygen atom, R11 and R14 each independently represents an alkyl group or an aryl group, and R12, R13, R15 and R16 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group: