Photosensitive Resin Composition for Flexographic Printing Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aqueous developable photosensitive resin compositions for flexographic printing face challenges in achieving both high developability to aqueous developing solutions and water resistance, with existing solutions often compromising between these properties.
Innovation Solution
A photosensitive resin composition comprising a hydrophilic copolymer, an elastomer, a polymerizable unsaturated monomer, and a photopolymerization initiator, with specific proportions and additives to ensure a phase structure that balances developability and water resistance, including a hydrophilic copolymer phase area of 15-60% and a phase area of 3-100 µm², and a mass ratio of the hydrophilic copolymer to the elastomer that enhances both properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hydrophilic copolymer and elastomer are mixed in a photosensitive resin composition for aqueous development, then developability to aqueous developing solution is improved, but water resistance and printing durability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The photosensitive resin composition is segmented into distinct hydrophilic copolymer phases dispersed within a continuous elastomer matrix. This phase separation allows the hydrophilic domains to interact with aqueous developing solutions while the hydrophobic elastomer matrix maintains water resistance and printing durability, resolving the contradiction between developability and water resistance
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cured photosensitive layer exhibit different properties: hydrophilic copolymer-rich phases provide developability where needed, while the elastomer-dominated matrix provides water resistance. This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous achievement of both developability and water resistance without compromise
2Ease of operation
If the proportion of hydrophilic copolymer is increased to enhance developability, then developability improves, but water resistance and printing durability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the proportion of hydrophilic copolymer within a specific range (0.1-10 parts by mass per 100 parts of elastomer) and controls phase area (15-60%) to achieve the optimal balance between developability and printing durability. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient hydrophilic content for development while maintaining adequate hydrophobic content for water resistance
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 composition achieves high developability to aqueous solutions while maintaining excellent ink resistance and printing durability, addressing the trade-off between these properties in previous solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a photosensitive layer comprising a photosensitive resin composition obtained by mixing a hydrophilic copolymer, a hydrophobic resin such as an elastomer, a polymerizable unsaturated monomer, and a photopolymerization initiator
Data Source
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AI summary
A photosensitive resin composition for flexographic printing, comprising at least (A) a hydrophilic copolymer, (B) an elastomer, (C) a polymerizable unsaturated monomer, and (D) a photopolymerization initiator, wherein, in a cross-section of a cured product of the resin composition, a phase area of a phase comprising the hydrophilic copolymer (A), SA, is 15% or more and 60% or less, and a proportion of the phase having a phase area of 3 µm2 or more and less than 100 µm2 is 20 (% by area) or more of the phase comprising the hydrophilic copolymer (A).