Fluorosilicone composite and formulation process for imaging plate

A method of manufacturing a fluorosilicone composite surface layer for a variable data lithography imaging blanket, comprising:

• A) adding a heated silica, a carbon black, a dispersant, a first portion of butyl acetate and beads together in a container;
• B) mixing the heated silica, the carbon black, the dispersant, the first portion of butyl acetate and the beads resulting in a first mixture;
• C) adding fluorosilicone into the first mixture;
• D) mixing the fluorosilicone and the first mixture resulting in a first part of the fluorosilicone composite;
• E) adding platinum catalyst to the first part of the fluorosilicone composite;
• F) mixing the platinum catalyst and the first part of the fluorosilicone composite resulting in a second mixture;
• G) adding a crosslinker solution to the second mixture and mixing the combination resulting in a third mixture;
• H) diluting the third mixture by combining and mixing a second portion of butyl acetate with the third mixture;
• and
• I) removing the beads from the third mixture resulting in the fluorosilicone composite.