Lithographic Plate Precursor Composition Against Humidity-Induced Aggregation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithographic printing plate precursors face issues with development defects in high-humidity environments and loss of developability over time, particularly due to aggregation of onium polymerization initiators.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a compound A, an onium salt with a lower shape index than the onium polymerization initiator, into the image-recording layer to suppress aggregation and improve dispersibility, ensuring excellent developability and visibility even after prolonged exposure to high humidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an onium polymerization initiator is used in the image-recording layer, then polymerization reaction efficiency is improved, but aggregation occurs leading to loss of developability over time
Solution Approach 1:
A compound (Formula 1) acting as an intermediary substance is introduced between the onium polymerization initiator and the environment. This compound suppresses aggregation of the onium polymerization initiator through molecular interaction, thereby maintaining developability over time while preserving polymerization efficiency. The compound serves as a protective mediator that prevents harmful aggregation without interfering with the intended polymerization function.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical environment parameters of the image-recording layer are modified by adding compound (Formula 1). This changes the molecular distribution parameters and suppresses aggregation tendencies. The addition alters the physical-chemical parameters of the system to maintain initiator dispersibility and prevent loss of developability while preserving polymerization reactivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lithographic printing plate precursor is stored in high-humidity environment, then availability is improved, but aggregation of onium polymerization initiator occurs reducing developability
Solution Approach 1:
Compound (Formula 1) acts as a protective intermediary that shields the onium polymerization initiator from humidity-induced aggregation. The compound interacts with the initiator to prevent moisture from causing aggregation, thereby maintaining developability even when stored in high-humidity environments. This intermediary protection enables the plate precursor to be stored and transported under less stringent humidity conditions.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If on-press development method is used, then environmental friendliness is improved by eliminating wet treatment, but development defects occur due to aggregation
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing compound (Formula 1) as an intermediary that suppresses initiator aggregation, the patent enables on-press development to proceed without the harmful wet treatment steps. The compound ensures that even without conventional alkaline development, the initiator remains sufficiently dispersed to allow clean differentiation between image and non-image areas, thereby eliminating waste liquid generation while maintaining development quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The compound (Formula 1) performs preliminary protective action by suppressing aggregation before the on-press development process occurs. This pre-protection ensures that when on-press development is applied, the initiator is already in a dispersed state that prevents development defects, allowing the environmentally friendly on-press method to achieve high manufacturing precision without conventional wet development.
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 lithographic printing plate precursor maintains excellent developability and visibility, reducing development defects and enhancing printing durability by using an onium salt with a lower shape index to inhibit aggregation of the onium polymerization initiator.
Implementation Method 1
the image-recording layer contains an onium polymerization initiator, an onium salt formed of a cation having a shape index lower than a shape index of a cationic moiety of the onium polymerization initiator
Implementation Method 2
the image-recording layer contains an onium polymerization initiator, an infrared absorber, a chromogenic agent, and a compound A
Implementation Method 3
the image-recording layer contains a radical initiator, a radically polymerizable component, and a radiation absorption compound
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provided are: a lithographic printing plate precursor having a support and an image-recording layer on the support, in which the image-recording layer contains an onium polymerization initiator, a borate compound, an infrared absorber, a chromogenic agent, and a compound A which is an onium salt formed of a cation having a shape index lower than a shape index of a cationic moiety of the onium polymerization initiator; a method of preparing a lithographic printing plate using the lithographic printing plate precursor; and a lithographic printing method.