JP2001260563A - Blanket - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a blanket enabling formation of a pattern of high minuteness by an offset printing method using an intaglio or lithography. SOLUTION: The surface glossiness of a surface rubber layer constituting the blanket is made to be within a range of 1-90 deg.. Thereby the blanket is made very excellent in ink receptivity and ink transferability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a blanket used for offset printing, and more particularly to a blanket excellent in forming a fine pattern having a line width of about 50 μm.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has been demanded that fine pattern formation of electrodes in electronic circuits, image display devices, and the like can be performed with higher accuracy and at lower manufacturing cost.

Conventionally, as a method of forming a fine electrode pattern, a pattern is formed by a screen printing method or a photolithography method using a pattern forming paste containing a conductive powder and then fired to form an electrode pattern. There is. However, in the formation of the electrode pattern by the screen printing method, there is a limit in printing accuracy due to the elongation of the mesh material constituting the screen printing plate, and the formed pattern has meshes or bleeds of the pattern. There is a problem that edge accuracy is low. In addition, although the photolithography method can form a highly accurate electrode pattern, the manufacturing process is complicated, the material loss is large, and the reduction of the manufacturing cost is limited.

For this reason, it has been attempted to reduce the cost of forming a fine electrode pattern by using an offset printing method which has a simple process and has high productivity. In this offset printing method, a conductive ink containing conductive powder is supplied to an intaglio or lithographic printing plate, and the ink pattern on the printing plate is transferred to an electrode substrate via a blanket, and then fired. Electrode patterns are formed by decomposing and volatilizing organic components.

In the formation of a barrier constituting a plasma display panel, a barrier layer having a predetermined thickness is formed by a paste for forming a barrier, and the barrier layer is blasted through a blast mask. The formation of a barrier corresponding to this pattern has been performed. Conventionally, the blast mask has been formed by forming a photosensitive resin layer on a barrier layer, exposing and developing the photosensitive resin layer.

[0006]

The offset printing method described above has the advantages that an electrode pattern can be formed with higher accuracy than the screen printing method, and that the amount of ink used is smaller than that of the photolithography method. is there. Furthermore, in the photolithography method, the cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the electrode pattern formed by firing is rectangular, for example,
Like the electrode pattern of a plasma display panel,
When forming a dielectric layer from above, there is a problem that the edge of the electrode breaks through the dielectric layer and is exposed, but since the cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the electrode pattern obtained by the offset printing method is a semi-cylindrical shape. There is also an advantage that this problem can be solved.

However, in intaglio offset printing and lithographic offset printing using a conventional blanket, the line width is 5
In the formation of a fine pattern of about 0 μm, there are problems that undulation in the film thickness direction occurs, line resolution is poor, and a desired thickness cannot be obtained.

Further, there is a problem that the process of forming a blast mask by a conventional photolithography method is complicated. Therefore, it is conceivable to form a mask pattern directly on the barrier layer by offset printing. However, in this case, there are problems such as the above-described poor accuracy and insufficient film thickness of the conventional blanket.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a blanket capable of forming a high-definition pattern by an offset printing method using an intaglio or planographic printing plate. .

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the blanket of the present invention has a surface rubber layer on the outermost surface, and the surface rubber layer has a surface gloss within a range of 1 to 90 °. Was adopted.

The blanket of the present invention has a hardness of 7
The configuration was such that the angle was in the range of 0 to 90 °.

Further, the blanket of the present invention is configured such that the thickness of the surface rubber layer is in the range of 0.2 to 1 mm. Further, the blanket of the present invention is configured such that the hardness of the surface rubber layer is in the range of 40 to 80 °.

Further, the blanket of the present invention is configured so as to be used for forming electrodes of a plasma display panel.

In the present invention as described above, since the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer is in the range of 1 to 90 °, the edge of the printed ink film becomes sharp and the resolution is extremely good. It will be.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the present invention, focusing on the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer located on the outermost surface of the blanket as an index of ink acceptability and ink transferability of the blanket, the surface glossiness is 1 to 90 °, preferably 50 to 90 °. Within the range. If the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer is less than 1 °, the swell of the line width of the printed ink film becomes large, and it becomes difficult to form a fine pattern with a line width of about 50 μm with high precision. In the present invention, the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer is a value measured using a gloss meter.

The blanket of the present invention preferably has a hardness (hardness of the entire blanket) in the range of 70 to 90 °. If the hardness of the blanket is less than 70 °, the undulation in the thickness direction of the print film becomes large, and if it exceeds 90 °, the line resolution tends to deteriorate, which is not preferable. The hardness is a value measured by a hard nest tester (JIS A type).

In the blanket of the present invention, the thickness of the surface rubber layer is preferably in the range of 0.2 to 1 mm. When the thickness of the surface rubber layer is less than 0.2 mm, when the base fabric is used in the configuration of the base material as described later, the base fabric is affected by the texture of the base fabric or exists between the surface rubber layer and the base material. Under the influence of dust, the surface smoothness tends to decrease. on the other hand,
If the thickness of the surface rubber layer exceeds 1 mm, the amount of distortion of the surface rubber layer during printing increases, and the resolution of lines perpendicular or oblique to the printing direction tends to deteriorate, which is not preferable. As a method of suppressing the distortion of the surface rubber layer, short fibers having a length of about 50 to 500 μm may be added to the surface rubber layer as a reinforcing material.

Further, the blanket of the present invention is configured such that the hardness of the surface rubber layer is in the range of 40 to 80 °. If the hardness of the surface rubber layer is less than 40 °, the undulation in the thickness direction of the print film becomes large, and if it exceeds 80 °, the line resolution tends to deteriorate, which is not preferable. The hardness of the surface rubber layer is a value measured by a hard nest tester (JIS A type).

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the blanket of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a blanket 1 is composed of a base fabric 2 / an adhesive layer 3 / a base fabric 4 / a cushion layer 5 /
A surface rubber layer 7 is provided on a base material having a laminated structure composed of a base cloth 6.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the blanket of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a blanket 11 has a surface rubber layer 14 provided on a film base 12 via an adhesive layer 13.

The rubber material of the surface rubber layers 7 and 14 is as follows.
Examples thereof include nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), butyl rubber, silicon rubber, urethane rubber, ethylene propylene rubber, fluorine rubber, and chloroprene rubber. These rubber materials can be used alone or as a mixture of two or more. it can. When the surface rubber layers 7 and 14 are formed using such a rubber material, vulcanization conditions and the like are appropriately controlled so that the surface glossiness is within the above range (1 to 1).
90 °).

The surface rubber layers 7 and 14 have hardness control.
SiO2 for the purpose of conditioning, antistatic, etc. _Two, Al_TwoO_Three, T
iO_Two, ZrO_Two, CaO, MgO, BaO, carbon,
SnO_Two, Powders such as ITO (indium titanium oxide)
May be contained in the range of 0.1 to 10% by weight. Further
In order to prevent dust from adhering to the surface rubber layer,
An antistatic agent may be kneaded into the memory layers 7 and 14.

The base fabric 2, which constitutes the above-described blanket 1,
No particular limitation is imposed on the substrates 4 and 6, and a base fabric used for a conventional blanket can be used. The cushion layer 5 has a sponge-like structure, and when pressure is applied to the surface rubber layer 7 from the outside, the cushion layer 5
Are compressed to absorb the stress to prevent deformation of the surface rubber layer 7 and to prevent a decrease in dimensional accuracy of the printed pattern.

The film substrate 12 constituting the blanket 11 is, for example, polyethylene terephthalate,
Resin films such as polyethylene naphthalate and polyimide can be used. The thickness of the film substrate 12 can be set to about 0.1 to 1 mm, preferably about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

The blanket of the present invention has a very good ink receptivity and ink transferability, and has a constant print film thickness and good line resolution.
A fine pattern of about m can be printed with high accuracy. Therefore, the blanket of the present invention can print the conductive ink with high accuracy on the substrate by, for example, the offset printing method, so that a highly accurate electrode pattern can be formed. Furthermore, since the blanket of the present invention can print the resist material ink with high accuracy by the offset printing method, it is possible to form a fine mask pattern such as a blast mask.

Printing plates (lithographic and intaglio) when offset printing is performed using the blanket of the present invention as described above.
As the plate, a silicon plate, a waterless plate, a resin plate, a metal plate, a glass plate, or the like can be used, and a plate obtained by performing a release treatment (such as a silicon coat or a fluorine coat) on each of the above printing plates is used. You may. In the case of an intaglio, the plate depth is 1 to 5
0 μm or less, preferably in the range of 2 to 30 μm.

The blanket of the present invention has no particular limitation on the offset printing press used. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the offset printing press, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the offset printing press shown in FIG. 3 and 4, the offset printing press 21 has a printing platen 23 and a printing plate 24 arranged at a predetermined interval, and has two guide rails 2.
The base 22 includes a base 22 on which the guides 5 and 25 are laid in parallel, and a print head 26 that can be freely moved on the guide rails 25 and 25 by a moving mechanism (not shown).

The print head 26 is provided with a vertically movable blanket roll 27 and a first inking roll group 28. The first inking roll group 28 includes a kneading roller that swings in the rotation axis direction of the roll, and an inking roll that applies ink to a printing plate. The base 22 is provided with a second inking roll group 29 and an ink blade 30 for storing conductive ink. The second inking roll group 29 includes an ink discharging roll for discharging ink from the ink blade 30, and a kneading roller that swings in the rotation axis direction of the roll.

In the offset printing machine 21, a fine pattern substrate 31 (indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3) is placed on a printing platen 23, and a printing plate 32 (indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3). Is mounted on the printing plate 24. Then, the print head 26 first moves on the guide rails 25, 25 onto the second inking roll group 29. Here, the ink kneaded and uniformed in the second inking roll group 29 is transferred to the first inking roll group 28 of the print head 26. Next, the print head 26 is mounted on the guide rail 2.
5 and 25 are moved toward the printing plate 24 and ink is applied to the printing plate 32 by the inking rolls of the first inking roll group 28. After that, the print head 26 returns to the second inking roll group 29 side on the guide rails 25, 25, and the ink kneaded and uniformized by the second inking roll group 29 again becomes the print head 26. Is transferred to the first inking roll group 28. During this time, the blanket roll 27 has risen to a position where it does not contact the printing plate 32. This ink application operation may be performed a plurality of times.

Next, the print head 26 moves toward the printing platen 23 with the blanket roll 27 lowered to the printing position. The printing head 26 is connected to the printing plate 2
4, the ink on the image portion of the printing plate 32 is transferred to the blanket roll 27, and at the same time, the printing plate 32 is newly applied with ink by the inking rolls of the first inking roll group 28. You. The print head 26 further moves toward the printing platen 23, and ink is printed from the blanket roll 27 on the fine pattern forming object 31 placed on the printing platen 23. Then, the print head 26
Returns to the second inking roll group 29 side.

When the print head 26 returns to the second inking roll group 29 side, the blanket roll 27 may be used to print over the fine pattern forming body 31. Also, the print head is in the second inking roll group 2
When returning to the side 9, the ink is transferred from the printing plate 32 to the blanket roll 27 while returning, and when the print head moves again toward the printing platen 23, the ink is transferred to the blanket roll 27 in an overlapping manner. Good. By doing so, the pattern can be printed thickly,
Further, generation of holes can be prevented.

[0032]

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.

Example 1 Seven types of blankets (Sample 1-1 to Sample 1-7) having the structure shown in FIG. 1 and having different surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer were prepared. The surface rubber layer is formed using NBR, and the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer of each blanket is measured by a gloss meter (Nippon Denshoku Industries Co., Ltd.)
VGS-1001DP).
The results are shown in Table 1 below. In addition, the hardness of each blanket and the hardness of the surface rubber layer were measured using a hard nest tester (JIS
A type) and are shown in Table 1 below together with the thickness of the surface rubber layer.

Next, a conductive ink having the following composition was prepared. Composition of conductive ink・ Silver powder: 77.5 parts by weight (tap density 4.5 g / cm ³ , specific surface area 2.4 m ² , average particle diameter 0.3 μm) ・ Glass frit (Bi ₂ O ₃ glass ( 2.5 parts by weight (coefficient of thermal expansion: 81 × 10 ⁻⁷ / ° C., glass transition temperature: 460 ° C., softening point: 525 ° C., average particle size: 0.9 μm) Resin (Mariarim A4B manufactured by NOF Corporation) -0851) ... 20 parts by weight (copolymer of allyl ether, maleic anhydride and styrene)-Oxidation inhibitor (hydroquinone (manufactured by Junsei Chemical Co., Ltd.) ... 0.5 parts by weight

Next, an offset printing machine as shown in FIGS.
D printing machine), each blanket (Sample 1-1 to Sample 1-7) is mounted on a blanket roll, and a glass substrate (soda glass, 35
0 mm x 450 mm, thickness 2.1 mm), pattern printing is performed under the following printing conditions, and then firing (1 minute at 580 ° C)
(Holding for 0 minutes) to form an electrode pattern.

Printing conditions Printing speed: 500 mm / sec Printing pressure: 0.1 mm (both on the printing plate and on the substrate) Number of printings: twice Printing plates used: Waterless plate (DG-2) manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.
(50 μm width of the image area) The resolution of the electrode pattern obtained by the above-described electrode pattern formation,
The waviness and thickness of the film were measured, and the results are shown in Table 1 below.

[0037]

[Table 1] As shown in Table 1, the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer was 1 to
Blanket in the range of 90 ° (Sample 1-1 to Sample 1)
In the electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using -6) and firing, the line resolution is 40 to 50 μm, and the undulation of the film thickness is 2 μm.
μm or less, the film thickness was 8 μm, the specific resistance was about 3 μΩ · cm, and a good electrode pattern was obtained.
In particular, when a blanket (sample 1-1 to sample 1-3) in which the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer is in the range of 50 to 90 ° is used, the resolution of the line is 40 μm, and the film thickness is The undulation was 1 μm or less, and a better electrode pattern was obtained.

On the other hand, in the electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using a blanket (sample 1-7) in which the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer is 0.5 ° and firing the film, Although a thickness of 10 μm was ensured, the line resolution was as large as 70 μm, and the undulation of the film thickness was 4 μm, which was not practical for use as an electrode pattern.

Example 2 Four types of blankets (samples 2-1 to 4-2) having a structure as shown in FIG.
Sample 2-4) was produced. The surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer of each blanket, the hardness of the blanket, and the hardness of the surface rubber layer were measured in the same manner as in Example 1, and are shown in Table 2 below together with the thickness of the surface rubber layer. The rubber material of the surface rubber layer used was as shown in Table 2.

Next, using each of the above blankets, an electrode pattern was formed using the same conductive ink and offset printing machine as in Example 1. Printing conditions and firing conditions were the same as in Example 1. The resolution, thickness waviness, and thickness of the electrode pattern obtained by the above-described electrode pattern formation were measured, and the results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0041]

[Table 2] As shown in Table 2, the hardness of the blanket was 70-9.
Blanket in the range of 0 ° (Sample 2-2 to Sample 2-
In the electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using 3) and firing it, the line resolution is 40 μm, the undulation of the film thickness is 1 μm or less, and the film thickness is 8 μm. Is secured and the specific resistance is about 3μΩ
cm and a good electrode pattern was obtained.

On the other hand, an electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using a blanket (sample 2-1) having a hardness of 100 ° and firing it is as follows:
The line resolution was as large as 50 μm.

Further, in the electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using a blanket (sample 2-4) having a hardness of 60 ° and firing, the film thickness,
Line resolution is good, but film undulation is 4
μm, which was not practical for use as an electrode pattern.

Example 3 Four types of blankets (Sample 3-1 to Sample 3-4) having the structure shown in FIG. 1 and having different hardnesses of the surface rubber layer were prepared. The surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer of each blanket, the hardness of the blanket, and the hardness of the surface rubber layer were measured in the same manner as in Example 1, and are shown in Table 3 below together with the thickness of the surface rubber layer. The rubber material shown in Table 3 was used for the surface rubber layer.

Next, using the above blankets, an electrode pattern was formed using the same conductive ink and offset printing machine as in Example 1. Printing conditions and firing conditions were the same as in Example 1. The resolution, thickness waviness, and film thickness of the electrode pattern obtained by the above-described electrode pattern formation were measured, and the results are shown in Table 3 below.

[0046]

[Table 3] As shown in Table 3, the hardness of the surface rubber layer was 40 to 80.
° blanket (sample 3-2 to sample 3-
In the electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using 3) and firing it, the line resolution is 40 μm, the undulation of the film thickness is 1 μm or less, and the film thickness is 8 μm. Is secured and the specific resistance is about 3μΩ
cm and a good electrode pattern was obtained.

On the other hand, the hardness of the surface rubber layer is 90 °
The electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using the blanket (sample 3-1) and firing was as large as 60 μm in line resolution.

Further, in an electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using a blanket (sample 3-4) in which the hardness of the surface rubber layer is 38 ° and firing it, the film thickness and line resolution Was good, but the undulation of the film thickness was 4 μm, which was not practical for use as an electrode pattern.

Example 4 Six types of blankets (Sample 4-1 to Sample 4-6) having the structure shown in FIG. 1 and having different thicknesses of the surface rubber layer were prepared. The surface rubber layer was formed using NBR, and the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer of each blanket, the hardness of the blanket, and the hardness of the surface rubber layer were measured in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 4.

Next, using each of the above blankets, an electrode pattern was formed using the same conductive ink and offset printing machine as in Example 1. Printing conditions and firing conditions were the same as in Example 1.

The resolution, undulation and thickness of the electrode pattern obtained by the above-described electrode pattern formation were measured, and the results are shown in Table 4 below. In addition, in addition to the resolution of the pattern in the same printing direction as in the above-described Examples 1 to 3, the resolution of the pattern in the oblique direction (60 °) with respect to the printing direction and the printing direction The resolution of the pattern in the vertical direction (90 °) was also measured.

[0052]

[Table 4] As shown in Table 4, the thickness of the surface rubber layer was 0.2 to 1
mm blanket (sample 4-2 to sample 4-
In the electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing and firing by offset printing using 5), the line resolution (resolution of the pattern along the printing direction) is 40 μm, and the film thickness is The undulation is 1 μm or less, the film thickness is 8 μm, the specific resistance is about 3 μΩ · cm,
A good electrode pattern was obtained. Further, the resolution of the pattern in the oblique direction (60 °) with respect to the printing direction is 50 to 6
0 μm, and the resolution of the pattern in the vertical direction (90 °) is 70 to 80 μm. When the sample 4-2 (surface rubber layer thickness = 1 mm) is used, it is on a practical level.

On the other hand, the thickness of the surface rubber layer was 1.3.
The electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using a blanket (sample 4-1) having a thickness of 2 mm and firing it has a line resolution (pattern resolution along the printing direction) of 60 μm. The resolution of the pattern in the direction oblique (60 °) and the direction perpendicular to the printing direction (90 °) is more than 300 μm, which is not practical for an electrode pattern. Was.

On the other hand, in an electrode pattern obtained by performing pattern printing by offset printing using a blanket (sample 4-6) having a surface rubber layer having a thickness of 0.1 mm and baking it, the film thickness and line resolution Although the properties were good and the undulation of the film thickness was 1 μm or less, the surface condition of the blanket was bad, which had a bad influence on the surface shape of the electrode pattern and could not be put to practical use as an electrode pattern.

[0055]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, by setting the surface glossiness of the surface rubber layer within the range of 1 to 90 °, it is possible to obtain a high ink transfer rate and improve the ink receptivity. An excellent blanket can be formed, and a high-definition pattern having a line width of about 50 μm can be formed by intaglio offset printing or planographic offset printing using the blanket. And the blanket of the present invention is
Since the conductive ink can be printed on the substrate by the offset printing method with high accuracy, it is possible to form the electrode pattern with high accuracy. Further, the blanket of the present invention can print a resist material ink with high accuracy by an offset printing method, so that a fine mask pattern such as a blast mask can be formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing one embodiment of a blanket of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the blanket of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an offset printing press using the blanket of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the offset printing press shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Blanket 2, 4, 6 ... Base cloth 3 ... Adhesive layer 5 ... Cushion layer 7 ... Surface rubber layer 11 ... Blanket 12 ... Film base material 13 ... Adhesive layer 14 ... Surface rubber layer 21 ... Planographic offset printing machine 23 ... Printing Surface plate 24 printing plate 25 guide rail 26 print head 27 blanket roll 28 first inking roll 29 second inking roll

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yozo Kosaka 1-1-1 Ichigaya-Kaga-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Dai-Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H114 AA02 AA04 CA04 CA10 DA46 EA05 FA02 FA10 5C027 AA01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A blanket comprising a surface rubber layer on the outermost surface, wherein the surface rubber layer has a surface gloss within a range of 1 to 90 °. 2. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein the hardness is in a range of 70 to 90 °. 3. The surface rubber layer has a thickness of 0.2 to 1 mm.
The blanket according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein 4. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein the surface rubber layer has a hardness within a range of 40 to 80 °. 5. The blanket according to claim 1, wherein the blanket is used for forming an electrode of a plasma display panel.