Classifications

• • 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
  • B41C1/1008—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by removal or destruction of lithographic material on the lithographic support, e.g. by laser or spark ablation; by the use of materials rendered soluble or insoluble by heat exposure, e.g. by heat produced from a light to heat transforming system; by on-the-press exposure or on-the-press development, e.g. by the fountain of photolithographic materials
• • 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
  • B41C1/1008—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by removal or destruction of lithographic material on the lithographic support, e.g. by laser or spark ablation; by the use of materials rendered soluble or insoluble by heat exposure, e.g. by heat produced from a light to heat transforming system; by on-the-press exposure or on-the-press development, e.g. by the fountain of photolithographic materials
  • B41C1/1016—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by removal or destruction of lithographic material on the lithographic support, e.g. by laser or spark ablation; by the use of materials rendered soluble or insoluble by heat exposure, e.g. by heat produced from a light to heat transforming system; by on-the-press exposure or on-the-press development, e.g. by the fountain of photolithographic materials characterised by structural details, e.g. protective layers, backcoat layers or several imaging layers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2201/00—Location, type or constituents of the non-imaging layers in lithographic printing formes
  • B41C2201/06—Backcoats; Back layers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2201/00—Location, type or constituents of the non-imaging layers in lithographic printing formes
  • B41C2201/12—Location, type or constituents of the non-imaging layers in lithographic printing formes characterised by non-macromolecular organic compounds
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2201/00—Location, type or constituents of the non-imaging layers in lithographic printing formes
  • B41C2201/14—Location, type or constituents of the non-imaging layers in lithographic printing formes characterised by macromolecular organic compounds, e.g. binder, adhesives
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/02—Positive working, i.e. the exposed (imaged) areas are removed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C2210/00—Preparation or type or constituents of the imaging layers, in relation to lithographic printing forme preparation
  • B41C2210/16—Waterless working, i.e. ink repelling exposed (imaged) or non-exposed (non-imaged) areas, not requiring fountain solution or water, e.g. dry lithography or driography

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a heat mode recording material for making a lithographic printing plate for use in lithographic printing without dampening.
• the present invention further relates to a method for imaging said heat mode recording material by means of a laser.
• 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 comprise highly ink repellant areas and oleophilic areas. Generally the highly ink repellant areas are formed by a silicon layer.
• Driographic printing plates can be prepared using a photographic material that is made image-wise receptive or repellant to ink upon photo-exposure of the photographic material.
• heat mode recording materials the surface of which can be made image-wise receptive or repellant to ink upon image-wise exposure to heat and/or subsequent development are also known for preparing driographic printing plates.
• a heat mode recording material that comprises on a support carrying or having an oleophilic surface (i) a heat mode recording layer containing a self oxidizing binder e.g. nitrocellulose and a substance that is capable of converting radiation into heat e.g. carbon black and (ii) a non-hardened silicon layer as a surface layer.
• the disclosed heat mode recording material is image-wise exposed using a laser and is subsequently developed using a developing liquid that is capable of dissolving the silicon layer in the exposed areas. Subsequent to this development the silicon surface layer is cured. Due to the use of naphta as a developing liquid the process is ecologically disadvantageous. Further since the surface layer is not hardened the heat mode recording material may be easily damaged during handling.
• FR-A-1.473.751 discloses a heat mode recording material comprising a substrate having an oleophilic surface, a layer containing nitrocellulose and carbon black and a silicon layer. After image-wise exposure using a laser the imaged areas are said to be rendered oleophilic. The decomposed silicon layer is not removed. Ink acceptance of the obtained plates is poor and the printing properties such as printing endurance and resolution of the copies is rather poor.
• Research Disclosure 19201 of april 1980 discloses a heat mode recording material comprising a polyester film support provided with a bismuth layer as a heat mode recording layer and a silicon layer on top thereof.
• the disclosed heat mode recording material is imaged using an Argon laser and developed using hexane.
• EP-A-573091 discloses a method for making a lithographic printing plate requiring a heat mode recording material comprising on a support having an oleophilic surface (i) a recording layer having a thickness of not more than 3 ⁇ m and containing a substance capable of converting the laser beam radiation into heat and (ii) a cured oleophobic surface layer and wherein said recording layer and oleophobic surface layer may be the same layer.
• a heat mode recording material comprising on a flexible support having an oleophilic surface (i) a recording layer containing a light-to-heat converting substance capable of converting radiation into heat and (ii) an oleophobic surface layer, wherein said oleophobic surface layer and said recording layer may be the same layer, characterized in that the kinetic coefficient of friction ( ⁇ k ) of said material when sliding one side of said material over the other side of said material is not more than 2.6.
• the kinetic coefficient of friction ( ⁇ k ) is measured according to the norm ASTM D1894 whereby the heat mode recording materials are so placed that the back side of the underlying material is in contact with the front side of the upperlying material.
• back side of said material is meant that side of the material in regard to the flexible support which does not carry the oleophobic surface layer
• front side is meant that side of the material in regard to the flexible support that carries the oleophobic surface layer.
• the kinetic coefficient of friction ( ⁇ k ) is not higher than 1.25.
• the lower limit should be as low as possible but is for practical reasons preferably not lower than 0.05, more preferably not lower than 0.10.
• the flexible support of the heat mode recording material is treated with a back side coating or there is added a matting agent to the oleophobic surface layer or both methods are used together.
• a preferred back side coating according to the invention contains between 175 and 750 mg/m 2 gelatin, between 50 and 1000 mg/m 2 colloidal silica with a surface area of at least 100 m 2 /gr, more preferably at least 300 m 2 /gr and between 1 and 100 mg/m 2 of amorphous silica, preferably with a diameter between 1 and 10 ⁇ m.
• Another preferred back side coating according to the invention comprises between 100 and 500 mg/m 2 of a polymethyl-methacrylate latex (particles diameter preferably between 25 and 300 nm), between 5 and 50 mg/m 2 colloidal silica with a surface area of at least 100 m 2 /gr, between 3 and 30 mg/m 2 of a polyethylene wax, between 3.1 and 12 mg/m 2 of polystyrene sulphonic acid, between 0.9 and 4 mg/m 2 of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene) and between 10 and 100 mg/m 2 of polymethyl-methacrylate matting agent (preferably with a diameter between 2 and 10 ⁇ m).
• a polymethyl-methacrylate latex particles diameter preferably between 25 and 300 nm
• colloidal silica with a surface area of at least 100 m 2 /gr between 3 and 30 mg/m 2 of a polyethylene wax, between 3.1 and 12 mg/m 2 of polystyrene sulphonic
• Still another preferred back side coating according to the invention comprises PVA, TiO 2 and hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate, wherein SiO 2 constitutes between 7 and 30 weight % of the total weight of said matrix, TiO 2 constitutes between 63 and 83 weight % of the total weight of said matrix and PVA constitutes between 7 and 30 weight % of the total weight of said matrix.
• the total weight of said matrix lies between 5 and 10 g/m 2 .
• a matting agent such as starch, silicium oxide, silicates, glass pearls, toner particles.
• a matting agent added to the oleophobic surface layer in order to lower the kinetic coefficient of friction may be an organic polymer or copolymer such as a copolymer of acrylic acid and methyl acrylate or a copolymer of styrene, methyl-methacrylate and maleic acid. More preferably said matting agent is an inorganic compound such as silica or a silicate.
• Said matting agent has a weight average diameter of at least 2 ⁇ m,more preferably of at least 3 ⁇ m, most preferably of at least 4 ⁇ m.
• the maximum weight average is not so important but is for practical reasons less than 100 ⁇ m, more preferably less than 60 ⁇ m.
• said oleophobic surface layer preferably comprises at least 30mg/m 2 of a matting agent with a weight average diameter of at least 2 ⁇ m, more preferably between 50 and 500 mg/m 2 of said matting agent, most preferably between 75 and 300 mg/m 2 of said matting agent.
• Flexible supports suitable for use in accordance with the present invention 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, poly(ethylene naphthalenedicarboxylate) film, polycarbonate film, polyvinylchloride film or poly-Alpha-olefin films such as polyethylene or polypropylene film.
• the thickness of such organic resin film is preferably comprised between 0.06 and 0.35 mm.
• These organic resin supports are preferably coated with a oleophilic adhesion layer.
• the heat mode recording material contains a separate heat mode recording layer containing the heat converting substance comprised between the support and the oleophobic surface layer.
• substances capable of converting 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 thickness of the recording layer 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.
• the recording layer preferably has a thickness between 15 nm and 1.5 ⁇ m. The preferred maximum thickness of 3 ⁇ m of the recording layer is especially important when exposure is carried out through the support.
• the recording layer may be a vacuum deposited aluminium layer.
• the thickness of such an aluminium layer should be less than 25 nm and more preferably between 10 nm and 22,5 nm. When the thickness of the aluminium recording layer becomes too large the heat mode recording material in connection with the present invention cannot be imaged.
• the heat mode recording layer used in connection with the present invention may contain a binder e.g. gelatin, cellulose, cellulose esters e.g. cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, a copolymer of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile, poly(meth)acrylates, polyvinyl chloride, silicone resin etc..
• the recording layer may further contain other ingredients such as e.g. wetting agents, matting agents, anti-oxidizing agents etc..
• the heat mode recording layer contains a polymer containing covalently bound chlorine. Alternatively part or all of this polymer may be contained in a separate layer located adjacent to the heat mode recording layer and most preferably between the support and the heat mode recording layer.
• the heat mode recording layer in connection with the present invention may be hardened.
• a nitrocellulose layer hardened with an isocyanate or a melamine may be used.
• Suitable chlorine containing polymers for use in accordance with the present invention are e.g. polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, a copolymer of vinylidene chloride, an acrylic ester and itaconic acid, a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, a copolymer of butylacrylate, vinyl acetate and vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride, a copolymer of vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and itaconic acid, a copolymer of vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and vinyl alcohol, chlorinated polyethylene, polychloroprene and copolymers therof, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polymethyl-alpha-chloroacrylate etc.
• the chlorine containing polymer used in connection with the present invention may be prepared by various polymerization methods of the constituting monomers.
• the polymerization may be conducted in aqueous dispersion containing a catalyst and activator, e.g., sodium persulphate and meta sodium bisulphite, and an emulsifying and/or dispersing agent.
• a catalyst and activator e.g., sodium persulphate and meta sodium bisulphite
• an emulsifying and/or dispersing agent e.g., sodium persulphate and meta sodium bisulphite
• the homopolymers or copolymers used with the present invention may be prepared by polymerization of the monomeric components in the bulk without added diluent, or the monomers may be reacted in appropriate organic solvent reaction media.
• the total catalyst-activator concentration should generally be kept within a range of about 0.01% to about 2.0% by weight of the monomer charge, and preferably within a range of concentration of 0.1% to 1.0%. Improved solubility and viscosity values are obtained by conducting the polymerization in the presence of mercaptans such as ethyl mercaptan, lauryl mercaptan, tertiary dodecyl mercaptan, etc., which are effective in reducing cross-linking in the copolymer. In general, the mercaptans should be used in concentrations of 0.1% to 5.0% by weight, based on the weight of polymerizable monomers present in the charge.
• mercaptans such as ethyl mercaptan, lauryl mercaptan, tertiary dodecyl mercaptan, etc.
• chlorine containing polymer may be prepared by chlorinating homopolymers or copolymers.
• chlorinated rubbers such as polychloroprene may be prepared by reacting a rubber with chlorine gas.
• chlorinated polyethylene may be prepared.
• the heat converting substance may be contained in the oleophobic surface layer provided that said substance is homogeneously distributed therein.
• the oleophobic surface layer in accordance with the present invention preferably has a thickness of at least 1.0 ⁇ m and more preferably at least 1.5 ⁇ m.
• the maximum thickness of the surface layer is not critical but will preferably be not more than 5 ⁇ m and more preferably not more than 4 ⁇ m. It has been found that the thickness of the oleophobic surface layer influences the printing endurance, sharpness and resolution of the printing plate.
• the oleophobic surface layer is preferably cured and more preferably contains a hardened silicone coating.
• the silicone coating contains one or more components one of which is generally a linear silicone polymer terminated with a chemically reactive group at both ends and a multifunctional component as a hardening agent.
• the silicone coating can be hardened by condensation curing, addition curing or radiation curing.
• Condensation curing can be performed by using a hydroxy terminated polysiloxane that can be cured with a multifunctional silane.
• Suitable silanes are e.g. acetoxy silanes, alkoxy silanes and silanes containing oxime functional groups.
• the condensation curing is carried out in the presence of one or more catalyst such as e.g. tin salts or titanates.
• hydroxy terminated polysiloxanes can be cured with a polyhydrosiloxane polymer in the presence of a catalyst e.g. dibutyltindiacetate.
• Addition curing is based on the addition of Si-H to a double bond in the presence of a catalyst e.g. platinum.
• Silicone coatings that can be cured according to the addition curing thus comprise a vinyl group containing polymer, a catalyst e.g. chloroplatinic acid complexes and a polyhydrosiloxane e.g. polymethylhydrosiloxane.
• Suitable vinyl group containing polymers are e.g. vinyldimethyl terminated polydimethylsiloxanes and dimethylsiloxane/vinylmethyl siloxane copolymers.
• Radiation cure coatings that can be used in accordance with the present invention are e.g. U.V. curable coatings containing polysiloxane polymers containing epoxy groups or electron beam curable coatings containing polysiloxane polymers containing (meth)acrylate groups.
• the latter coatings preferably also contain multifunctional (meth) acrylate monomers.
• the ink repellant layer may comprise additional substances such as e.g. plasticizers, pigments, dyes etc..
• 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 35 and 20,000mW and preferably operates in the infrared part of the spectrum.
• the support of the heat mode recording material is transparant and image-wise exposure proceeds through the support.
• the heat mode recording element is developed in order to remove on the irradiated areas the oleophobic surface layer.
• said development is effected by rubbing said oleophobic surface layer.
• Rubbing can be done using e.g. a brush or a cotton pad.
• Rubbing of the heat mode recording material may be carried out in the presence of a solvent such a e.g. isopropanol, n.heptane or other hydrocarbon liquids when the surface layer contains a polysiloxane or more preferably in absence of a liquid.
• Rubbing according to the preferred modi operandi offers in addition to the ecological advantage printing plates of high resolution and sharpness.
• the following coating solution for the ink repellant layer was prepared: iso-octane to 1000ml divinyl terminated dimethylpolysiloxane 59.5g dimethylpolysiloxane gum 28.2g divinyltetramethyl disiloxane complex of platinum 0.37g hydride terminated dimethylpolysiloxane (DC 7048 cross-linker from Dow) 1.79g stabilizer (Surfinol 61 from Air products) 0.18g
• the following coating solution for the recording layer was prepared: ethylacetate/butylacetate (60:40)mixture to 1000 ml Spezial Schwartz (carbon black from Degussa) 24.6 g Solsperse 28000 (wetting agent from ICI) 2.64 g Solsperse 5000 (wetting agent from ICI) 0.52 g nitrocellulose 11.87 g Cymel 301 ( melamine hardener from Dyno Cytec) 2.14 g p-toluene sulphonic acid 0.42 g
• a comparitive heat mode recording material A0 was prepared by coating the above coating solution for the recording layer to a polyethylene terephthalate film support (175 ⁇ m) with a wet coat thickness of 22 ⁇ m to a dry layer thickness of 2.2 ⁇ m.
• the ink repellant layer from the above described coating solution to a dry thickness of 3.42 ⁇ m. Subsequent the ink repellant layer was cured for 3min. at 130°C.
• Heat mode recording materials according to the invention were prepared similar to the comparative sample with the exception that or the back side of the flexible support was left as such, giving elements An, was coated with a back side solution B, giving elements Bn, with a back side solution C, giving elements Cn or with a back side solution D, giving elements Dn (whereby n stands for an integer from 0 to 3) and/or the coating solution for the ink repellant layer further contained no supplemental agent giving elements X0 or contained 100 mg/m 2 of matting agent 1, giving elements X1 or contained 100 mg/m 2 of matting agent 2, giving elements X2 or contained 100 mg/m 2 of matting agent 3, giving elements X3, X standing for A, B, C or D with these capitals having the meaning as mentioned above.
• the back coating B contains 233 mg/m 2 gelatin, 520 mg/m 2 colloidal silica with a surface area of 300 m 2 /gr and 10 mg/m 2 of amorphous silica with a diameter of 4 ⁇ m.
• the back coating C comprises PVA, TiO 2 and hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate, wherein SiO 2 constitutes 7.5 weight % of the total weight of said matrix, TiO 2 constitutes 75 weight % of the total weight of said matrix and PVA constitutes 17.5 weight % of the total weight of said matrix.
• the total weight of said matrix amounts to 6.8 g/m 2 .
• the back coating D comprises 200 mg/m 2 of a polymethyl-methacrylate latex (particles diameter between 25 and 300 nm), 20 mg/m 2 colloidal silica with a surface area of 100 m 2 /gr, 10 mg/m 2 of a polyethylene wax, 7 mg/m 2 of polystyrene sulphonic acid, 3 mg/m 2 of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene) and 30 mg/m 2 of polymethyl-methacrylate matting agent with a diameter of 6 ⁇ m.
• Matting agent 1 is amorphous silica with a weight average diameter between 4.3 and 5.3 ⁇ m, treated with an amide of a fatty acid (SYLOBLOC 250).
• Matting agent 2 is a wax-treated amorphous silica with a weight average diameter between 4.3 and 4.9 ⁇ m (SYLOID 7000).
• Matting agent 3 is an amorphous aluminosilicate with a weight average diameter of at most 40 ⁇ m (SYLOSIV A3).
• SYLOBLOC 250, SYLOID 7000 and SYLOSIV A3 are trade names from Grace Davison, Belgium.
• ⁇ k The kinetic coefficient of friction ( ⁇ k ) and the blocking of the obtained heat mode recording materials were measured.
• ⁇ k was measured according to ASTM D1894. Blocking was measured by a visual inspection during roll-on of the film. Therefore a film with a width of 24 cm is rolled-on at a speed of 7 m/min. The mechanismus which steers the rolling-on of the film is displaced over 2 cm. The effect of this displacement on the rolled-on film is evaluated qualitatively. Evaluation Result 5 heavy wrinkles 4 wrinkles 3 light wrinkles 2 no wrinkles, stiff recovery 1 no wrinkles, lightly stiff recovery 0.5 light effect 0 no effect
• heat mode recording material A0 comparative material
• a kinetic coefficient of friction of 4.4 showed very strong blocking while the other heat mode recording materials (materials according to the invention) showed an acceptable to none blocking.
• the best results are obtained when as well a back layer coating as a matting agent in the ink repellant layer are used.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)

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Cited By (8)

Citations (9)

• 1997
  • 1997-09-10 EP EP97202780A patent/EP0830941B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime

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