Compressible printing blanket and method of making same

A printing blanket comprising, in order:

• a first compressible fabric ply comprising a plurality of warp and fill fibers or yarns forming a fabric substrate wherein the warp fibers or yarns have a tensile strength of at least about 150 pounds per inch, the fill fibers or yarns have a tensile strength of at least abut 60 pounds per inch and the fabric substrate has a weight of between about 4 and 8 ounces per square yard, said substrate having a lower and upper surface, wherein said substrate is substantially impregnated on only the upper surface thereof with a binder material selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, a polyurethane or a natural or synthetic elastomer, said binder material containing a plurality of cells therein in an amount sufficient to impart increased compressibility to the fabric ply and wherein said binder material fills the interstices of the fabric substrate substantially in the area nearest the upper surface thereof, and further wherein at least the lower surface of said substrate has a protective coating thereupon to prevent adsorption and wicking of water, inks and solvents through said ply, wherein said protective coating comprises a fluorocarbon or a silicone material;
• an intermediate compressible layer comprising a polymer matrix formed from a flexible thermoplastic or elastomeric material, wherein said matrix has a plurality of closed cells distributed substantially uniformly therein such that said layer has substantially uniform compression characteristics;
• a first adhesive layer securing said intermediate compressible layer to a second fabric ply;
• a second compressible fabric, ply, having an upper and a lower surface, said second ply being substantially entirely impregnated with said binder material containing said plurality of cells, wherein said binder material fills the interstices of said second ply substantially entirely throughout said ply;
• a second adhesive layer securing said second ply to a third compressible fabric ply;
• a third compressible fabric ply, having an upper and a lower surface, said third ply being substantially impregnated only upon said lower surface with said cell-containing binder material, wherein said binder material fills the interstices of said third ply substantially in the area nearest the lower surface thereof;
• a subface formed from a high durometer, high tensile, low elongation elastomeric compound;
• and
• an elastomeric printing face having a surface profile with a roughness average of above 0.6 but below about 0.95 microns.