Negative Planographic Plate Precursor for Visible On-Press Development
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planographic printing plate precursors lack sufficient visibility of exposed portions and durability during on-machine development, particularly in UV printing, and generate environmental waste from wet development treatments.
Innovation Solution
A planographic printing plate precursor with an image-recording layer containing an electron-accepting polymerization initiator, an infrared absorber, and a color-developing substance precursor, which is exposed to an infrared laser for on-machine development, ensuring a brightness change of 3.0 or more and utilizing a leuco colorant with phthalide structure and electron donating groups for enhanced visibility and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If an on-machine development type planographic printing plate precursor is used to eliminate wet development treatments, then environmental waste is reduced, but visibility of exposed portions and durability during UV printing are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the image-recording layer by incorporating specific components: an electron-accepting polymerization initiator, an infrared absorber capable of donating electrons, and a color-developing substance precursor. These parameter changes enable the layer to undergo photoinduced electron transfer upon infrared exposure, creating visible color changes and ensuring durability during UV printing without requiring wet development treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite material system in the image-recording layer that combines multiple functional components: the electron-accepting polymerization initiator, the infrared absorber with electron-donating capability, and the color-developing substance precursor. This composite structure enables simultaneous achievement of infrared sensitivity, visible exposure patterns, and printing durability, resolving the contradiction between eliminating wet development and maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If conventional planographic printing plate precursors are used with wet development, then durability is maintained, but environmental waste is generated and the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the wet development treatment step from the conventional plate making process. By incorporating the color-developing substance precursor and electron-donating infrared absorber directly in the image-recording layer, the patent enables the development function to occur automatically during infrared exposure, removing the need for separate wet development equipment and procedures while maintaining durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The image-recording layer is designed to perform self-development through the photoinduced electron transfer mechanism. Upon infrared laser exposure, the electron transfer between the infrared absorber and polymerization initiator triggers color development and polymerization reactions that create the final printing plate structure, enabling the system to serve itself without external wet development intervention.
3Ease of manufacture
If the image-recording layer contains components for on-machine development, then wet treatment is minimized, but visibility and durability are insufficient without specific component optimization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the infrared absorber with specific electron-donating groups positioned to interact with the electron-accepting polymerization initiator at exposure sites. This localized electron transfer capability ensures that color development and polymerization occur precisely where infrared light is applied, achieving high visibility and durability without wet treatments while maintaining ease of manufacture.
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 improved visibility and durability of the exposed portions, enabling effective on-machine development and reducing environmental waste by minimizing wet treatments.
Implementation Method 1
the image-recording layer contains an electron-accepting polymerization initiator, an infrared absorber capable of donating electrons to the initiator
Implementation Method 2
an infrared absorber capable of donating electrons to the initiator, and a color-developing substance precursor, in a case where the image-recording layer is exposed to an infrared laser with a wavelength of 830 nm
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
Provided is an on-machine development type planographic printing plate precursor having a support and an image-recording layer on the support, in which the image-recording layer contains an initiator, an infrared absorber capable of donating electrons to the initiator, and a color-developing substance precursor, the image-recording layer can form an image by exposure to infrared laser, and in a case where the image-recording layer is exposed to an infrared laser with a wavelength of 830 nm at an energy density of 110 mJ/cm2, a brightness change ΔL of the image-recording layer before and after the exposure is 3.0 or more. Also provided are a method for preparing a planographic printing plate or a planographic printing method in which the on-machine development type planographic printing plate precursor is used.