EP0733487B1 - Procédé pour la fabrication de plaques lithographiques ne nécessitant pas de traitement liquide - Google Patents

Procédé pour la fabrication de plaques lithographiques ne nécessitant pas de traitement liquide Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0733487B1
EP0733487B1 EP19950203378 EP95203378A EP0733487B1 EP 0733487 B1 EP0733487 B1 EP 0733487B1 EP 19950203378 EP19950203378 EP 19950203378 EP 95203378 A EP95203378 A EP 95203378A EP 0733487 B1 EP0733487 B1 EP 0733487B1
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EP
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Prior art keywords
acceptor
heat mode
layer
mode recording
recording composition
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EP19950203378
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0733487A3 (fr
EP0733487A2 (fr
Inventor
Yves c/o Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Die 3800 Verburgh
Joan c/o Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Die 3800 Vermeersch
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Agfa Gevaert NV
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Agfa Gevaert NV
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
    • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
    • B41C1/00—Forme preparation
    • B41C1/10—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme
    • B41C1/1091—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by physical transfer from a donor sheet having an uniform coating of lithographic material using thermal means as provided by a thermal head or a laser; by mechanical pressure, e.g. from a typewriter by electrical recording ribbon therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
    • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
    • B41M5/5236—Macromolecular coatings characterised by the use of natural gums, of proteins, e.g. gelatins, or of macromolecular carbohydrates, e.g. cellulose
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/50—Recording sheets characterised by the coating used to improve ink, dye or pigment receptivity, e.g. for ink-jet or thermal dye transfer recording
    • B41M5/52—Macromolecular coatings
    • B41M5/5254—Macromolecular coatings characterised by the use of polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. vinyl polymers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for obtaining a lithographic printing plate requiring no wet processing by the use of a heat mode recording material and an acceptor material comprising a hydrophilic polymer.
  • Lithographic printing is the process of printing from specially prepared surfaces, some areas of which are capable of accepting ink (oleophilic areas) whereas other areas will not accept ink (oleophobic areas).
  • the oleophilic areas form the printing areas while the oleophobic areas form the background areas.
  • lithographic printing plates Two basic types of lithographic printing plates are known. According to a first type, so called wet printing plates, both water or an aqueous dampening liquid and ink are applied to the plate surface that contains hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. The hydrophilic areas will be soaked with water or the dampening liquid and are thereby rendered oleophobic while the hydrophobic areas will accept the ink.
  • a second type of lithographic printing plates operates without the use of a dampening liquid and are called driographic printing plates. This type of printing plates comprises highly ink repellant areas and oleophilic areas. Generally the highly ink repellant areas are formed by a silicon layer.
  • thermographic printing plate assembly comprising a transfer sheet having a olastic film foundation carrying a layer of heat- transferable oleophilic imaging composition and a translucent planographic printing plate comprising a plastic film foundation carrying a planographic printing layer, said planographic printing layer being face to facewith said heat-transferable oleophilic imaging layers, wherein the plastic film foundation of the printing plate is heat contractile.
  • FR-A 2,258,265 discloses a process for the preparation of a printed printing platen wherein it consist in : guide laser energy through a transparent substrate comprising a layer comprising particles which absorb said laser energy, a self-oxidizing binder and a hardener or a hardener in combination with a hardenable resin or a polymeric material or a non-oxidative resin, said layer being in intimate contact with an offset printing surface, which allows selectively transferring the layer of the element on the surface.
  • EP-A 514,990 discloses a lithographic base comprising a support provided with a hardened hydrophilic layer characterized in that said hardened hydrophilic layer comprises a dextran or a pullulan modified with a group containing amine or amide functions having at least one free hydrogen.
  • EP-A 620,502 discloses a lithographic base comprising on a hydrophobic support a subbing layer contiguous to a hydrophilic layer containing a hydrophilic (co)polymer or (co)polymer mixture and being hardened with a hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate hardening agent wherein said subbing layer contains a hydrophilic binder and silica, the surface area of the silica being at least 300 m 2 per gram.
  • US-A 5,281,509 discloses a light-sensitive element for lithographic printing plates which comprises a support and, coated thereon in succession, at least one undercoat layer, a silver halide emulsion layer and a physical development nuclei layer wherein at least one of the layers on the silver halide emulsion layer-provided side of the support contains 0.1-0.2 g/m 2 of a matting agent of 5 ⁇ m or less in average particle size and the light-sensitive element has an arithmecal mean deviation of profile Ra of 1.2 or less.
  • a lithographic printing plate requiring no wet processing having an aluminum substrate with a hydrophilic, porous anodic oxide layer thereon and an oleophilic image deposited by sublimation from a carrier in and on the anodic oxide layer.
  • a way of carrying out the sublimation is to place a carrier which is transparent to laser radiation having a laser responsive coating containing a sublimatable oleophilic material thereon face down on the lithographic substrate and depositing the oleophilic image by selected irradiation with a laser.
  • lithographic printing plates with an aluminum support are more expensive than lithographic plates with a flexible support and are therefore less favoured, surely for short-run jobs.
  • the lithographic printing plate precursor is also transparent, an exposure through the back of the lithographic printing plate precursor is also possible. Still further it is almost a prerequisite that the support of the acceptor element is a flexible support when said acceptor element will be applied to an external drum.
  • a lithographic printing plate obtained by image-wise exposing using a laser beam a heat mode recording material comprising on a support a recording composition comprising a hydrophobic polymer, a hydrophobic thermal transferable dye and a substance capable of converting the laser beam radiation into heat while said heat mode recording layer is in contact with the acceptor layer of an acceptor element comprising a flexible support, said acceptor layer comprising a hardened non-proteinic hydrophilic polymer obtained by reacting a non-proteinic hydrophilic polymer containing a hydroxyl group or an amino or amido group having a free hydrogen, with a hardener capable of reacting with said groups has good printing properties i.e. good ink acceptance in the printing areas, no ink acceptance in the non-printing areas and a good compatability with dampening solutions and printing inks commonly used in the art.
  • the recording composition of the heat mode recording material comprises a thermal transferable dye .
  • Thermal transferable dyes in the context of the present invention are hydrophobic dyes capable of transferring from the recording composition to the acceptor layer when both layers are in contact which each other and are heated for 1 s at a temperature of 300 °C, more preferably of 250°C, most preferable of 200°C and are not capable of transferring from the recording composition to the acceptor layer when both layers are in contact which each other and are heated at a temperature of not more than 100 °C for not more than 1s.
  • thermal transferable dyes suitable for use in the present invention are disclosed in numerous patents describing typical and specific examples of dyes for use in thermal dye sublimation transfer e.g., EP 209990, EP 209991, EP 216483, EP 218397, EP 227095, EP 227096, EP 229374, EP 235939, EP 247737, EP 257577, E 257580, EP 258856, EP 279330, EP 279467, EP 285665, EP 400706, US 4743582, US 4753922, US 4753923, US 4757046, US 4769360, US 4771035, JP 84/78894, JP 84/78895, JP 84/78896, JP 84/227490, JP 84/227948, JP 85/27594, JP 85/30391, JP 85/229787, JP 85/229789, JP 85/229790, JP 85/229791, JP 85/229792, JP
  • the thermal transferable hydropholic dyes are used in an amount from 20% to 60% by weight versus the dry weight of the heat mode recording composition.
  • Suitable supports for the heat mode recording material are transparent flexible organic resin supports e.g. cellulose nitrate film, cellulose acetate film, poly(vinyl acetal) film, polystyrene film, poly(ethylene terephthalate) film, polycarbonate film, polyvinylchloride film or poly-Alpha-olefin films such as polyethylene or polypropylene film.
  • transparent flexible organic resin supports e.g. cellulose nitrate film, cellulose acetate film, poly(vinyl acetal) film, polystyrene film, poly(ethylene terephthalate) film, polycarbonate film, polyvinylchloride film or poly-Alpha-olefin films such as polyethylene or polypropylene film.
  • Suitable polymers for the recording composition of the heat mode recording material are hydrophobic polymers which are capable of being ablated by heat.
  • Appropriate hydrophobic polymers for use in accordance with the present invention include :
  • hydrophobic polymers can be used in admixture. Preferably they are present in the recording composition in an amount from 20% to 75% by weight.
  • Preferred hydrophobic polymers are e.g. polyesters, polyacrylate and alpha-alkyl polyacrylate esters and copolymers, phenolformaldehyde resins of the novolac type.
  • substances capable of converting the laser beam radiation into heat are e.g. carbon black, infrared or near infrared absorbing dyes or pigments, metals such as Bi, Sn, Te etc. or a combination thereof.
  • Suitable infrared dyes are disclosed in e.g. US-4833124, EP-321923, US-4772583, US-4942141, US-4948776, US-4948777, US-4948778, US-4950639, US-4950640, US-4912083, US-4952552, US-5024990, US-5023229 etc.
  • Suitable infrared pigments are e.g. HEUCODOR metal oxide pigments available from Heubach Langelsheim.
  • the recording layer is preferably a vacuum deposited metal layer.
  • the recording composition of the heat mode recording material comprises oxidizable or explosive substances to increase the sensitivity.
  • Nitrocellulose, peroxides, azides and nitrates are examples of these substances.
  • nitrocellulose is used in an amount from 5% to 50% by weight versus the dry weight of the heat mode recording composition.
  • the thickness of the recording composition is preferably not more than 3 ⁇ m in order to obtain a printing plate of acceptable quality, more preferably the thickness will be less than 2.5 ⁇ m, more preferably the thickness will be between 150 ⁇ and 1.5 ⁇ m.
  • the recording composition will consist of one layer. It is clear that in this embodiment the recording composition constitutes the top layer of the heat mode recording material. However, the recording composition can consist of two layers contiguous to each other. The top layer then comprises the hydrophobic polymer and the thermal transferable dye while the underlying layer comprises the substance capable of converting the laser beam radiation into heat. The optional oxidizable or explosive substance can be contained in either of the two layers but is preferably at least partially contained in the top layer. As binder for the underlying layer may be used any of the hydrophobic polymers mentioned above as suitable polymer for use in the recording composition.
  • An acceptor element according to the present invention comprises a flexible support and an acceptor layer comprising a hardened non-proteinic hydrophilic polymer obtained by reacting a non-proteinic hydrophilic polymer containing a hydroxyl group or an amino or amido group having a free hydrogen with a hardener capable of reacting with said groups.
  • Non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers containing an hydroxy group can be natural polymers e.g. cellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, saccharides, starch, alginates or preferably synthetic polymers e.g. homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl alcohol, methylol acrylamide, methylol methacrylamide, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate. More preferably polyvinyl alcohol hydrolyzed to at least an extent of 60 percent by weight, more preferably at least 80 percent by weight is used.
  • Non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers containing an amino or amido group having a free hydrogen can be synthetic polymers e.g. homopolymers and copolymers of acrylamide, methacrylamide or preferably dextrans or pullulan wherein at least some of the hydroxy groups have been modified into one or more of the following groups: -O-R 1 -O-CO-R 2 wherein R 1 represents an organic residue containing an amine or amide function having a free hydrogen atom, e.g. an amine substituted alkyl, an amine substituted alkylaryl etc..
  • R 2 has one of the significances given for R 1 or stands for -OR 3 or -N(R 4 )R 5 , wherein R 3 has one of the significances given for R 1 and each of R 4 and R 5 which may be the same or different represents - provided that the group -O-CO-R 2 contains at least one amine or amide function having a free hydrogen- hydrogen or an organic group e.g. an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, an alkylaryl group, an organic residue containing an amine or amide function having a free hydrogen atom.
  • an organic group e.g. an alkyl group, a substituted alkyl group, an aryl group, a substituted aryl group, an alkylaryl group, an organic residue containing an amine or amide function having a free hydrogen atom.
  • Pullulan is a polysacharide that is produced by micro-organisms of the Aureobasidium pullulans type (Pullularia pullulans) and that contains maltotriose repeating units connected by a ⁇ -1,6 glycosidic bond. Pullulan is generally produced on industrial scale by fermentation of partially hydrolysed starch or by bacterial fermentation of sucrose. Pullulan is commmercially available from e.g. Shodex, Pharmacosmos.
  • dextrans or pullulan suitable for use in accordance with the present invention are dextrans or pullulan wherein some of the hydroxyl groups have been modified in one of the groups shown in table 1.
  • the modified dextrans or pullulan can be prepared by a reaction of a dextran or pullulan with e.g. alkylating agents, chloroformates, acid halides, carboxylic acids etc...
  • non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers containing a hydroxyl group or an amino or amido group having a free hydrogen can be used in admixture, it is preferred to use either non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers containing a hydroxyl group or non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers containing an amino or amido group having a free hydrogen. It is even more preferred to use in the acceptor layer as non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers only polymers with the same or very similar structure (e.g. polyvinyl alcohol of different saponification degrees) which however may vary in molecular weight.
  • the acceptor layer preferably contains non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers containing a hydroxyl group or an amino or amido group having a free hydrogen in an amount from 0.1 g/m 2 to 7 g/m 2 , more preferably in an amount from 0.3 g/m 2 to 4 g/m 2 ,
  • a non-proteinic hydrophilic polymer containing a hydroxyl group or an amino or amido group having a free hydrogen is reacted with a hardener capable of reacting with said groups.
  • Appropriate hardening agents for non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers containing a hydroxyl group or an amino or amido group having a free hydrogen are those of the epoxide type, those of the ethylenimine type, aldehydes e.g. formaldehyde, glyoxal, and glutaraldehyde, N-methylol compounds e.g. dimethylolurea and methyloldimethylhydantoin.
  • the binders can also be hardened with fast-reacting hardeners such as carbamoylpyridinium salts.
  • Appropriate hardening agents for non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers containing an amino group are further those of the vinylsulfone type e.g. 1,3-vinylsulphonyl-2-propanol, chromium salts e.g. chromium acetate and chromium alum, dioxan derivatives e.g. 2,3-dihydroxy-dioxan, active vinyl compounds e.g. 1,3,5-triacryloyl-hexahydro-s-triazine, active halogen compounds e.g. 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine, and mucohalogenic acids e.g. mucochloric acid and mucophenoxychloric acid.
  • vinylsulfone type e.g. 1,3-vinylsulphonyl-2-propanol
  • chromium salts e.g. chromium acetate and chromium alum
  • the appropriate hardeners can be used alone or in combination.
  • the degree of hardening may be adjusted at wish.
  • Preferred hardeners for non-proteinic hydrophilic polymer containing a hydroxyl group, especially for polyvinyl alcohols are hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicates.
  • hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate crosslinking agents are hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilicate and hydrolyzed tetramethyl orthosilicate.
  • the amount of tetraalkyl orthosilicate crosslinking agent is preferably at least 0.2 parts by weight per part by weight of non-proteinic hydrophilic polymer, more preferably between 0.5 and 5 parts by weight, most preferably between 1 and 3 parts by weight.
  • non-proteinic hydrophilic polymers containing an amino or amido group having a free hydrogen are hardened with an aldehyde e.g. formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal or a mixture thereof.
  • an aldehyde e.g. formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal or a mixture thereof.
  • the oxidation product of e.g. a periodate oxidation of dextran may be used for hardening.
  • the hardened acceptor layer preferably also contains substances that increase the mechanical strength and the porosity of the layer.
  • colloidal silica may be used.
  • the colloidal silica employed may be in the form of any commercially available water-dispersion of colloidal silica for example having an average particle size up to 40 nm, e.g. 20nm.
  • inert particles of larger size than the colloidal silica can be added e.g. silica prepared according to Stöber as described in J. Colloid and Interface Sci., Vol.
  • pages 62 to 69 or alumina particles or particles having an average diameter of at least 100 nm which are particles of titanium dioxide or other heavy metal oxides, preferably of titanium dioxide having an average size from 0.3 ⁇ m to 0.5 ⁇ m.
  • alumina particles or particles having an average diameter of at least 100 nm which are particles of titanium dioxide or other heavy metal oxides, preferably of titanium dioxide having an average size from 0.3 ⁇ m to 0.5 ⁇ m.
  • the roughness of the acceptor layer is adjusted such that an arithmetical mean deviation of profile R a of at least 0.3 ⁇ m, more preferably of at least 0.5 ⁇ m, most preferably of at least 0.7 ⁇ m is obtained.
  • R a is obtained in accordance with the following formula: with m being 0.8
  • the profile of said acceptor layer is measured with a perthometer Mahr Perthen S6P containing as measuring head RTK 50 (tradenames of Feinpruef Perthen GmbH, Goettingen, Germany) equipped with a diamond stylus with a diameter of 5 ⁇ m under a pressure of 1.0 mN.
  • Supports suitable for use in the acceptor element may be opaque or transparent, e.g. a paper support or resin support.
  • a paper support preference is given to one coated at one or both sides with an Alpha-olefin polymer, e.g. a polyethylene layer which optionally contains an anti-halation dye or pigment.
  • an organic resin support e.g. cellulose nitrate film, cellulose acetate film, poly(vinyl acetal) film, polystyrene film, poly(ethylene terephthalate) film, polycarbonate film, polyvinylchloride film or poly-Alpha-olefin films such as polyethylene or polypropylene film.
  • One or more subbing layers may be coated between the flexible hydrophobic support and the nearest hydrophilic layer and contiguous to said nearest hydrophilic layer, being the acceptor layer or an optional intermediate hydrophilic layer as described below in order to get an improved adhesion between the hydrophobic support and the nearest hydrophilic layer.
  • a preferred subbing layer for use in connection with the present invention is a subbing layer comprising a hydrophilic binder and silica.
  • hydrophilic binder in said subbing layer usually a protein, preferably gelatin may be used.
  • Gelatin can, however, be replaced in part or integrally by synthetic, semi-synthetic, or natural polymers.
  • Synthetic substitutes for gelatin are e.g. polyvinyl alcohol, poly-N-vinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl imidazole, polyvinyl pyrazole, polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acid, and derivatives thereof, in particular copolymers thereof.
  • Natural substitutes for gelatin are e.g. other proteins such as zein, albumin and casein, cellulose, saccharides, starch, and alginates.
  • the semi-synthetic substitutes for gelatin are modified natural products e.g.
  • gelatin derivatives obtained by conversion of gelatin with alkylating or acylating agents or by grafting of polymerizable monomers on gelatin, and cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyalkyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, phthaloyl cellulose, and cellulose sulphates.
  • a preferred silica in said subbing layer is a siliciumdioxide of the anionic type.
  • the colloidal silica preferably has a surface area of at least 300 m 2 per gram, more preferably a surface area of 500 m 2 per gram.
  • the surface area of the colloidal silica is determined according to the BET-value method described by S. Brunauer, P. H. Emmett and E. Teller, J.Amer. Chem. Soc. 60 , 309-312 (1938).
  • the silica dispersion may also contains other substances, e.g. aluminium salts, stabilising agents,biocides etc.
  • KIESELSOL 300 and KIESELSOL 500 Such types of silica are sold under the name KIESELSOL 300 and KIESELSOL 500 (KIESELSOL is a registered trade name of Wegriken Bayer AG, Leverkusen, West-Germany whereby the number indicates the surface area in m 2 per gram).
  • the weight ratio of the hydrophilic binder to silica in the subbing layer is preferably less than 1.
  • the lower limit is not very important but is preferably at least 0.2.
  • the weight ratio of the hydrophilic binder to silica is more preferably between 0.25 and 0.5.
  • the coverage of said subbing layer is preferably more than 200 mg per m 2 but less than 750 mg per m 2 , more preferably between 250 mg per m 2 and 500 mg per m 2 .
  • the coating of the above defined subbing layer composition preferably proceeds from an aqueous colloidal dispersion optionally in the presence of a surface-active agent.
  • an intermediate hydrophilic layer is coated between the support, optionally provided with a subbing layer and the acceptor layer.
  • hydrophilic binder in said intermediate hydrophilic layer usually a protein, preferably gelatin may be used. Gelatin can, however, be replaced in part or integrally by synthetic, semi-synthetic, or natural polymers as mentioned above.
  • Said intermediate hydrophilic layer is preferably hardened.
  • Appropriate hardening agents especially when the hydrophilic binder is gelatin are e.g. those of the vinylsulfone type e.g. methylenebis(sulfonylethylene), aldehydes e.g. formaldehyde, glyoxal, and glutaraldehyde, N-methylol compounds e.g. dimethylolurea and methyloldimethylhydantoin, active halogen compounds e.g. 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine, and mucohalogenic acids e.g. mucochloric acid and mucophenoxychloric acid.
  • These hardeners can be used alone or in combination.
  • the binders can also be hardened with fast-reacting hardeners such as carbamoylpyridinium salts of the type, described in US 4,063,952.
  • Said intermediate hydrophilic layer comprises hydrophilic binder preferably in the range from 0.5 g/m 2 to 10 g/m 2 , more preferably in the range from 0.8 g/m 2 to 6 g/m 2 , most preferably in the range from 1.1 g/m 2 to 4 g/m 2 .
  • said intermediate hydrophilic layer comprises matting agents. More preferably the number average diameter of the matting agent should be greater than the thickness of the intermediate hydrophilic layer so as to be protruding into the acceptor layer and so increasing the Ra value of the acceptor layer.
  • the average diameter of a matting agent in connection with the present invention can be measured by means of a Coulter Counter.
  • the total coverage of matting agent in the intermediate hydrophilic layer is preferably between 0.1 g/m 2 and 10 g/m 2 more preferably between 1 g/m 2 and 5 g/m 2 .
  • Suitable matting agents for use in connection with the present invention are organic and inorganic matting agents e.g. silica, alumina, calcium carbonate, starch, polymethylmethacrylates, polyethylacrylates or mixtures thereof.
  • the recording composition of the heat mode recording material and the acceptor layer of the acceptor material are brought in intimate contact with each other e.g. by taping the two materials to each other.
  • the heat mode recording material is image-wise exposed using a laser.
  • lasers are e.g. semiconductor lasers, YAG lasers e.g. Nd-YAG lasers, Argon lasers etc..
  • the laser may have a power output between 40 and 7500mW and preferably operates in the infrared part of the spectrum.
  • the image-wise exposure proceeds through the support of the heat mode recording material.
  • the acceptor material is transparent, the image-wise exposure may also proceed through the support of the acceptor material.
  • the acceptor material is separated from the heat mode recording material and can then be used as a lithographic printing plate. It is however advantageous to overall expose said lithographic printing plate to heat to improve its printing properties e.g. ink acceptance and printing endurance.
  • a preferred way of overall exposing said lithographic printing plate to heat is by conveying said lithographic printing plate through a heated roll laminator device.
  • These heat mode recording materials are prepared by coating on a polyethylene therephthalate film support having a thickness of 175 ⁇ m by means of a knife coater recording layers at a dry weight of 1 g/m 2 .
  • the composition of the recording layers is given in table 2.
  • the coating solution for the acceptor layer was coated on a polyester support containing a subbing layer at a wet coating thickness of 50 g/m 2 and dried at 35 °C.
  • the recording layer of the appropriate heat mode recording material (A-1 till C-3) is brought in intimate contact with the acceptor layer of a sample of the acceptor material M by means of an adhesive tape.
  • the package of the heat mode recording material and the acceptor material are applied on the cylinder of an external drum laser equipment by means of an adhesive tape and/or vacuum suction. At a frequency of rotation of 800 r.p.m. the package is information-wise exposed through the support of the heat mode recording material, whereby the laser beam (ND-YLF 1053 nm, diameter of the spot 14,9 ⁇ m, output 0.4 W) is focused in the recording layer.
  • the acceptor material is separated from the respective heat mode recording materials yielding the respective printing plates.
  • the printing plates are used to print on a conventional offset press (GTO-46) using a commonly employed ink (K+E 123W) and fountain (Combifix 3% in water-isopropanol 90:10 by volume). There were printed 1000 copies of each printing plate. The quality of the obtained copies, as judged on the 10 th copy is given in table 2.
  • an IR-absorbing dye as a substance capable of converting the IR-laser beam radiation into heat is essential as is proven by the printing plates AA-3, BB-3 and CC-3 which were prepared using a heat mode recording material not comprising an IR-absorbing dye. It is clear that the presence of a thermal transferable dye improves the quality of the printed copies as is proven by the results in table 2 (compare AA-1 to AA-2, BB-1 to BB-2, CC-1 to CC-2).
  • These heat mode recording materials are prepared by coating on a polyethylene therephthalate film support having a thickness of 175 ⁇ m by means of a knife coater recording layers at a dry weight of 1 g/m 2 .
  • the composition of the recording layers is given in table 3.
  • the coating solution for the acceptor layer was coated on a polyester support containing a subbing layer at a wet coating thickness of 50 g/m 2 , dried at 30°C and subsequently hardened by subjecting it to a tempertature of 57°C for 1 week.
  • the recording layer of the appropriate heat mode recording material (D-1 till D-3) is brought in intimate contact with the acceptor layer of a sample of the acceptor material N by means of an adhesive tape.
  • the package of the heat mode recording material and the acceptor material are applied on the cylinder of an external drum laser equipment by means of an adhesive tape and/or vacuum suction. At a frequency of rotation of 800 r.p.m. the package is information-wise exposed through the support of the heat mode recording material, whereby the laser beam (ND-YLF 1053 nm, diameter of the spot 14,9 ⁇ m, output 0.4 W) is focused in the recording layer.
  • the acceptor material is separated from the respective heat mode recording materials yielding the respective printing plates.
  • the respective printing plates are conveyed through a heated roll laminator device at 160°C and are then used to print on a conventional offset press (GTO-46) using a commonly employed ink (K+E 123W) and fountain (Combifix 3% in water-isopropanol 90:10 by volume). There were printed 1000 copies of each printing plate. The quality of the obtained copies, as judged on the 10 th copy is given in table 3.
  • a single scan with a spot width of 14.9 ⁇ m is represented in the recording composition D-1 as a line with a width of 11.3 ⁇ m, in the recording composition D-2 as a line with a width of 14.4 ⁇ m and in the recording composition D-3 as a line with a width of 15.6 ⁇ m.
  • a heat mode recording material E is prepared by coating on a polyethylene therephthalate film support having a thickness of 175 ⁇ m (having provided thereon a hydrophilic adhaesion layer) by means of a knife coater a recording layer at a dry weight of 0.7 g/m 2 with the following composition:
  • a polyethylene therephthalate film support containing a subbing layer is coated by means of a knife coater with an intermediate layer comprising gelatin (2.0 g/m 2 ), SiO 2 with average particle size 1.8 ⁇ m (1.6 g/m 2 ), SiO 2 with average particle size 4.0 ⁇ m (0.5 g/m 2 ), TiO 2 with average particle size 0.3 to 0.5 ⁇ m (0.25 g/m 2 ), triacrylformaldehyde (0.16 g/m 2 ) and a fluortenside (0.01 g/m 2 ) and said coating is subsequently hardened by subjecting it to a temperature of 57°C for 1 week.
  • the Ra value of said layer is 0.9 ⁇ m.
  • the coating solution for the acceptor layer was coated on the above mentioned intermediate layer at a dry coating weight of 0.5 g/m 2 , dried at 30°C and subsequently hardened by subjecting it to a temperature of 57°C for 1 week.
  • the Ra value of the acceptor layer was 0.7 ⁇ m.
  • the recording layer of the heat mode recording material E-1 is brought in intimate contact with the acceptor layer of the acceptor material O by means of an adhesive tape.
  • the package of the heat mode recording material and the acceptor material are applied on the cylinder of an external drum laser equipment by means of an adhesive tape and/or vacuum suction. At a frequency of rotation of 800 r.p.m. the package is information-wise exposed through the support of the heat mode recording material, whereby the laser beam (ND-YLF 1053 nm, diameter of the spot 14,9 ⁇ m, output 0.4 W) is focused in the recording layer.
  • the acceptor material is separated from the respective heat mode recording materials yielding a printing plate.
  • This printing plate is conveyed through a heated roll laminator device at 120°C and is then used to print on a conventional offset press (GTO-46) using a commonly employed ink (K+E 123W) and fountain (Combifix 3% in water-isopropanol 90:10 by volume). There were printed 10,000 copies. The quality of the obtained copies, as judged on the 10 th copy is excellent.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Procédé pour obtenir un cliché d'impression lithographique ne nécessitant pas un traitement au mouillé, comprenant les étapes consistant à:
    exposer en forme d'image, en utilisant un faisceau laser, un matériau d'enregistrement en mode thermique comprenant, sur un support, une composition d'enregistrement comprenant un polymère hydrophobe et une substance capable de transformer le rayonnement du faisceau laser en chaleur, tandis que ladite composition d'enregistrement en mode thermique se trouve en contact avec la couche accepteuse d'un élément accepteur comprenant un support flexible, ladite couche accepteuse comprenant un polymère hydrophile non protéinique durci que l'on obtient par la mise en réaction d'un polymère hydrophile non protéinique contenant un groupe hydroxyle ou un groupe amino ou amido possédant un atome d'hydrogène libre, avec un durcisseur capable de réagir avec lesdits groupes, et
    séparer ledit matériau d'enregistrement en mode thermique dudit matériau accepteur,
    caractérisé en ce que ladite composition d'enregistrement comprend un colorant transférable par voie thermique qui est transféré aux zones exposées depuis le matériau d'enregistrement jusqu'à la surface de l'élément accepteur, dans lequel le colorant hydrophobe transférable par voie thermique est utilisé en une quantité de 20% à 60% en poids par rapport au poids à sec de la composition d'enregistrement en mode thermique.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'épaisseur de la composition d'enregistrement n'est pas supérieure à 3 µm.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la composition d'enregistrement du matériau d'enregistrement en mode thermique comprend des substances oxydables ou explosives.
  4. Procédé selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la composition d'enregistrement du matériau d'enregistrement en mode thermique comprend de la nitrocellulose en une quantité de 5% à 50% en poids par rapport au poids à sec de la composition d'enregistrement en mode thermique.
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit polymère hydrophile non protéinique contenant un groupe hydroxyle est l'alcool polyvinylique hydrolysé jusqu'à concurrence d'au moins 60 pour cent en poids.
  6. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit polymère hydrophile non protéinique contenant un groupe hydroxyle ou un groupe amino ou amido possédant un atome d'hydrogène libre est un dextran ou un pullulan dont au moins un certain nombre des groupes hydroxyle ont été modifiés pour obtenir un ou plusieurs des groupes ci-après: -O-R1 -O-CO-R2 dans lesquels R1 représente un résidu organique contenant une fonction amine ou une fonction amide contenant un atome d'hydrogène libre, R2 possède une des significations données pour R1 ou représente un groupe -OR3 ou un groupe -N(R4)R5, R3 ayant les mêmes significations que celles données pour R1 et chacun des radicaux R4 et R5, qui peuvent être identiques ou différents représente - à condition que le groupe -O-CO-R2 contienne au moins une fonction amine ou une fonction amide possédant un atome d'hydrogène libre - un atome d'hydrogène ou un groupe organique.
  7. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit durcisseur est un orthosilicate de tétraalkyle hydroxylisé.
  8. Procédé selon la revendication 6, dans lequel ledit durcisseur est un aldéhyde.
  9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 et 7 à 8, dans lequel ladite couche accepteuse contient de la silice colloïdale.
  10. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 et 7 à 9, dans lequel ladite couche accepteuse contient des particules de dioxyde de titane possédant une granulométrie moyenne de 0,3 µm à 0,5 µm.
  11. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 et 7 à 10, dans lequel ladite couche accepteuse possède une valeur Ra s'élevant à au moins 0,3 µm.
EP19950203378 1995-01-30 1995-12-07 Procédé pour la fabrication de plaques lithographiques ne nécessitant pas de traitement liquide Expired - Lifetime EP0733487B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19950203378 EP0733487B1 (fr) 1995-01-30 1995-12-07 Procédé pour la fabrication de plaques lithographiques ne nécessitant pas de traitement liquide

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP95200221 1995-01-30
EP95200221 1995-01-30
EP19950203378 EP0733487B1 (fr) 1995-01-30 1995-12-07 Procédé pour la fabrication de plaques lithographiques ne nécessitant pas de traitement liquide

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EP0733487A2 EP0733487A2 (fr) 1996-09-25
EP0733487A3 EP0733487A3 (fr) 1998-01-07
EP0733487B1 true EP0733487B1 (fr) 2000-05-24

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EP0733487A3 (fr) 1998-01-07
EP0733487A2 (fr) 1996-09-25

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