Planographic Printing Plate Precursor with Core-Shell Particles for UV Ink Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Planographic printing plates using UV ink exhibit insufficient printing durability due to the limitations of existing planographic printing plate precursors, which fail to provide adequate hardness and resistance to contamination and development scum when exposed to ultraviolet curable inks.

Innovation Solution

A planographic printing plate precursor is developed with an image recording layer containing an infrared absorbing agent, a polymerization initiator, and core-shell particles, where the core portion has a resin A with functional group A and the shell portion has a resin B with functional group B that is bondable to or interactable with A, enhancing the hardness and dispersibility of the layer, thereby improving printing durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing planographic printing plate precursors are used, then the plate can be prepared with basic image recording functionality, but the printing durability is insufficient when using UV ink

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting durabilityVSAvoidhardness of image recording layer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by combining resin A (with functional group A) and resin B (with functional group B that bonds to A) to form the image recording layer. This composite structure provides both the necessary hardness for UV ink resistance and the chemical bonding capability for enhanced durability, directly resolving the contradiction between basic functionality and improved printing durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the image recording layer is made harder to resist UV ink, then printing durability improves, but the layer becomes more prone to contamination and development scum

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting durabilityVSAvoidcontamination and development scum

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the image recording layer by introducing specific functional groups (functional group A in resin A and functional group B in resin B) that can bond together. This chemical modification allows the layer to maintain hardness for UV resistance while the bonded structure prevents contamination and development scum, resolving the contradiction between durability and resistance to harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If core-shell particles with bonding functional groups are added to enhance hardness, then printing durability improves, but the complexity of the image recording layer composition increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting durabilityVSAvoidcomposition complexity of image recording layer

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the particle structure into core and shell portions, where the core contains resin A with functional group A and the shell contains resin B with functional group B. This segmented structure allows each component to perform its specific function (hardness from core, bonding from shell) while maintaining a manageable composition complexity through clear functional division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 planographic printing plate with excellent printing durability even when using UV ink, reducing contamination and development scum, and maintaining a smooth surface state, thus addressing the shortcomings of existing precursors.

Implementation Method 1

the image recording layer contains an infrared absorbing agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the image recording layer contains a polymerization initiator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP3900943B1Planographic printing plate precursor, method of preparing a planographic printing plate, and planographic printing method

Publication Date: 2024.10.16 FUJIFILM CORP

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Figure 2B~3A
Figure 3B~4A

AI summary

Provided are a planographic printing plate precursor including a support, and an image recording layer on the support, in which the image recording layer contains an infrared absorbing agent, a polymerization initiator, and a core-shell particle, a core portion of the core-shell particle contains a resin A containing a functional group A, and a shell portion of the core-shell particle contains a resin B containing a functional group B that is bondable to or interactable with the functional group A and a dispersion group; a method of preparing a planographic printing plate using the planographic printing plate precursor; and a planographic printing method carried out using the planographic printing plate precursor.