Planographic Printing Plate Precursor Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current planographic printing plate precursors face challenges in achieving high printing durability and on-press developability, with existing methods often resulting in printing stains and reduced efficiency due to insufficient removal of the image recording layer, particularly when using ultraviolet curable inks and on-press development processes.
Innovation Solution
A planographic printing plate precursor is developed with a support having a hydrophilic surface and an image recording layer containing a polymer A with a weight-average molecular weight of 2,500 to 35,000, incorporating a constitutional unit with an ethylenically unsaturated group, sulfur content from monofunctional or polyfunctional thiol compounds, and specific constitutional units for improved cross-linking and interatomic interactions, enhancing printing durability and developability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional image recording layers are used with standard molecular weights, then the plate can be manufactured with basic functionality, but printing durability is insufficient and printing stains occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the weight-average molecular weight of polymer A to be within 2,500 to 35,000 and the sulfur content to be within 0.1% to 10% by mass. These specific parameter ranges optimize the balance between printing durability and removability, resolving the contradiction by adjusting material properties rather than changing the fundamental system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining polymer A with specific sulfur-containing groups (from monofunctional or polyfunctional thiol compounds) and optional constitutional units (B1, B2, C1) in the image recording layer. This composite structure creates synergistic effects where the polymer matrix provides durability while the sulfur-containing components enhance cross-linking and interatomic interactions, improving both printing durability and removability simultaneously.
2Productivity
If on-press development is performed to simplify the process, then development time is reduced, but printing durability is insufficient due to incomplete removal of image recording layer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating polymer A with optimized molecular weight and sulfur content into the image recording layer before the printing process. This pre-prepared structure enables the layer to be completely and uniformly removed during on-press development, allowing simplified one-step development while ensuring complete removal that guarantees printing durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by adjusting the molecular weight and sulfur content parameters of polymer A to enable complete removal during on-press development. These parameter optimizations allow the image recording layer to be fully removed under the simplified on-press development conditions, resolving the contradiction between development efficiency and printing durability.
3Reliability
If higher sulfur content is used to improve cross-linking, then printing durability improves, but the image recording layer becomes harder to remove completely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the sulfur content to a specific range of 0.1% to 10% by mass rather than using high sulfur content. This optimized parameter range achieves sufficient cross-linking for printing durability while maintaining complete removability during development, resolving the contradiction between durability and removability completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining polymer A with controlled sulfur content with optional constitutional units (B1, B2, C1) that have specific functional groups. This composite structure allows the sulfur-containing groups to provide cross-linking for durability while the overall composition remains compatible with complete removal during on-press development, avoiding the trap of high sulfur content making removal difficult.
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 significantly improves printing durability, especially with ultraviolet curable inks, and reduces the occurrence of printing stains by enhancing the removability of the image recording layer during on-press development, leading to improved printing performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating a constitutional unit with an ethylenically unsaturated group, sulfur content from monofunctional or polyfunctional thiol compounds, and specific constitutional units for improved cross-linking and interatomic interactions
Implementation Method 2
removing unnecessary portions of the image recording layer at an initial stage of a typical printing step
Implementation Method 3
a hydrophilic non-image area which receives dampening water
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a planographic printing plate precursor including a support and an image recording layer formed on the support, in which the image recording layer contains a polymer A which includes a constitutional unit A1 having an ethylenically unsaturated group, a weight-average molecular weight of the polymer A is in a range of 2,500 to 35,000, and a content of the constitutional unit A1 in the polymer A is 15 mol% or more, and a method of producing a planographic printing plate using the planographic printing plate precursor.