Lithographic Printing Plate Precursor with Multi-Weight Polymers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithographic printing plates face challenges in developing and printing durability, especially when using UV ink, due to issues like 'plate missing' and environmental concerns from wet treatment waste liquids.
Innovation Solution
A lithographic printing plate precursor with a specific configuration of an image-recording layer containing an infrared absorber, polymerization initiator, polymerizable compounds of varying molecular weights, and polymer particles, which enhances developability and printing durability by maintaining crosslink density and preventing ink permeation and abrasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lithographic printing plate precursor uses a lipophilic photosensitive resin layer on a hydrophilic support, then the plate can receive ink in the image area and dampening water in the non-image area, but environmental issues arise from waste liquid generated by wet development treatments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the wet development treatment step from the plate making process. By designing a plate precursor that can be developed through simple washing with water or organic solvent, the harmful wet development step is removed, eliminating the generation of hazardous waste liquid while maintaining effective image formation and printing durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the photosensitive resin layer by incorporating specific polymerizable compounds with controlled molecular weights (including low molecular weight compounds with Mn < 1000 and medium molecular weight compounds with 1000 ≤ Mn ≤ 3000). This compositional adjustment enables the layer to be removable through simple washing without requiring harsh wet development treatments, thus reducing environmental impact while preserving printing performance
2Ease of manufacture
If the image-recording layer is made removable through simple washing, then environmental impact is reduced, but developability and printing durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct regions within the photosensitive resin layer through controlled polymerization. The layer contains unreacted or partially reacted polymerizable compounds that remain water-soluble or organic-solvent soluble in the non-image areas, allowing easy removal through washing, while the crosslinked polymerized regions in the image areas maintain their structural integrity and printing durability. This spatial differentiation of solubility properties enables both easy development and reliable printing performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining multiple polymerizable compounds with different molecular weights and solubility characteristics. The composition includes low molecular weight compounds (Mn < 1000) for easy removal, medium molecular weight compounds (1000 ≤ Mn ≤ 3000) for balanced properties, and crosslinking agents for durability. This composite formulation allows the layer to exhibit both ease of removal through washing and sufficient printing durability when properly polymerized
3Ease of manufacture
If polymerizable compounds with specific molecular weights are used, then developability improves, but maintaining film thickness and preventing plate missing becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the molecular weight parameters of the polymerizable compounds to achieve the desired balance. By selecting compounds with Mn < 1000 and 1000 ≤ Mn ≤ 3000, the patent ensures sufficient water or organic solvent solubility for easy removal of non-image areas while maintaining adequate film-forming capability. The specific molecular weight range prevents excessive film thinning during development while enabling complete removal of unwanted areas, thus resolving the contradiction between developability and film thickness control
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 developability and printing durability, reducing the occurrence of 'plate missing' and environmental impact by improving the removal of the image-recording layer and maintaining film thickness, even with UV ink, while minimizing waste from wet treatments.
Implementation Method 1
the image-recording layer has an infrared absorber, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound
Implementation Method 2
a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provided is a lithographic printing plate precursor having a support and an image-recording layer on the support, in which the image-recording layer has an infrared absorber, a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable compound 1, a polymerizable compound 2, and a polymerizable compound 3, in which a molecular weight of the polymerizable compound 1 is less than 1,000, a weight-average molecular weight of the polymerizable compound 2 is 1,000 or more and 3,000 or less, and a weight-average molecular weight of the polymerizable compound 3 is more than 3,000 and 15,000 or less.