Lithographic Plate Outermost Layer Contact Angle for Ink and Development
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithographic printing plate precursors face a trade-off between printing ink receptivity and on-press developability, with improvements in one often leading to deterioration in the other.
Innovation Solution
A lithographic printing plate precursor with a specific outermost layer configuration, containing a hydrophobic polymer and a hydrophilic polymer, and a contact angle optimized for both exposed and non-exposed areas, enhancing both receptivity and on-press developability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lithographic printing plate precursor is improved in on-press developability, then the developability during on-press development is improved, but the printing ink receptivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the contact angle of the outermost layer surface (5° to 40°) and adjusting the molecular weight and content of the polymer (10,000 to 1,000,000 molecular weight, 1 to 50 parts by mass). These parameter optimizations enable the surface to achieve balanced properties that simultaneously improve on-press developability while maintaining printing ink receptivity, resolving the technical contradiction between these two opposing requirements
2Reliability
If the lithographic printing plate precursor is improved in printing ink receptivity, then the receptivity is improved, but the on-press developability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction through parameter changes by optimizing the contact angle range (5° to 40°) and polymer characteristics (molecular weight 10,000 to 1,000,000, content 1 to 50 parts by mass). These controlled parameter changes enable the outermost layer to maintain appropriate hydrophobicity for ink receptivity while ensuring sufficient hydrophilicity for on-press development, achieving simultaneous improvement of both properties
3Reliability
If a hydrophobic polymer is added to the outermost layer, then the printing ink receptivity is improved, but the on-press developability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the contact angle (5° to 40°) and limiting the hydrophobic polymer content to 1 to 50 parts by mass. This quantitative control transforms the hydrophobic polymer from a harmful factor into a beneficial component, enabling it to enhance ink receptivity while the contact angle control ensures sufficient hydrophilicity for on-press development
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining hydrophobic polymer with other components in the outermost layer to create a composite structure. This composite approach allows the hydrophobic polymer to provide ink receptivity enhancement while the overall composition maintains the contact angle within the optimal range for on-press developability, resolving the contradiction between these two functions
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 configuration achieves improved printing ink receptivity and on-press developability without compromising the other, ensuring high-quality printing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a contact angle of a water droplet on a surface of the outermost layer that is measured 2 seconds after the water droplet is landed by an airborne water droplet method is 5° or more and 40° or less
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an on-press development type lithographic printing plate precursor having a support, an image-recording layer, and an outermost layer in this order, in which the outermost layer contains a hydrophobic polymer, and a contact angle of a water droplet on a surface of the outermost layer that is measured 2 seconds after the water droplet is landed by an airborne water droplet method is less than 36°. The present disclosure also provides applications of the on-press development type lithographic printing plate precursor.