Imaging blanket and variable data lithography system employing the imaging blanket

A variable data lithography system, comprising:

• an imaging member comprising an imaging blanket, the imaging blanket comprising:
• a base comprising a top layer, the top layer comprising an elastic polymer and sulfur;
• a barrier layer on the top layer, the barrier layer comprising an epoxy polymer;
• and
• a surface layer on the barrier layer, the surface layer comprising an elastomer and
• a platinum catalyst;
• a fountain solution subsystem configured for applying a layer of fountain solution to the surface layer;
• a patterning subsystem configured for selectively removing portions of the fountain solution layer so as to produce a latent image in the fountain solution;
• an inking subsystem configured for applying ink over the imaging blanket such that said ink selectively occupies regions of the imaging blanket where fountain solution was removed by the patterning subsystem to thereby produce an inked latent image;
• and
• an image transfer subsystem configured for transferring the inked latent image to a substrate.

A method of making an imaging blanket, the method comprising:

• providing a base comprising a top layer, the top layer comprising an elastic polymer and sulfur;
• depositing a barrier layer on the top layer, the barrier layer comprising an epoxy polymer;
• depositing an elastomer resin on the barrier layer, the elastomer resin comprising a platinum catalyst;
• and
• curing the elastomer resin to form a surface layer.