High resolution, solvent resistant, thin elastomeric printing plates
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsGary Delmar Jaycox, Graciela Beatriz Blanchet, Nancy G. Tassi
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a printing element comprising at least one polymer layer on a substrate which has photoimagable constituents and a chemically functionalized polymer to make the polymer layer either more hydrophobic or hydrophilic. In one embodiment of the present invention, the printing element comprises two adjacent polymer layers on a substrate in which the photoimaged layer comprises a polymer chemically modified with hydrophobic fluoroalkyl side groups to provide differential wetting with hydrophilic inks.
Claims22
A process for making a printing element comprising:
- a) providing a hydrophilic substrate
- b) depositing a hydrophobic polymer layer on the substrate, the polymer layer comprising:
- i) an eastomeric polymer containing hydrophobic fluoroalkyl side groups;
- ii) a photoinitiator;
- and
- iii) monomers selected from the group consisting of:
- and mixtures thereof;
- c) imaging a pattern on the polymer layer forming a crosslinked polymer pattern and a non-crosslinked polymer pattern;
- and
- d) developing the imaged polymer layer wherein the non-crosslinked polymer pattern is dissolved, thereby creating a relief-based image on the printing element.
A process for making a printing element comprising:
- a) providing a substrate;
- b) depositing a first polymer layer on the substrate wherein the first polymer layer is hdrophhobic and comprises
- i) an elastomeric polymer containing hydrophobic fluoroalkyl groups;
- ii) an initiator;
- iii) monomers selected from the group consisting of:
- and mixtures thereof;
- c) crosslinking the first polymer layer;
- d) depositing a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer wherein the second polymer layer is hydrophilic and comprises;
- i) an elastomeric polymer containing hydrophilic hydroxyl groups;
- ii) a photoinitiator;
- and
- iii) monomers selected from non-fluorinated acrylate or methacrylate;
- e) imaging a pattern on the second polymer layer forming a crosslinked polymer pattern and a non-crosslinked polymer pattern;
- and
- f) developing the imaged second polymer layer wherein the non-crosslinked polymer pattern is dissolved, thereby forming a relief-based image on the printing element.
A process for making a printing element comprising:
- a) providing a substrate;
- b) depositing a first polymer layer on the substrate wherein the first polymer layer is hydrophilic and comprises:
- i) an elastomeric polymer containing hydrophilic hydroxyl side groups;
- ii) an initiator;
- iii) monomers selected from non-fluorinated acrylate or methacrylate;
- c) crosslinking the first polymer layer;
- d) depositing a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer wherein the second polymer layer is hydrophobic and comprises;
- i) an elastomeric polymer containing hydrophobic fluoroalkyl side groups;
- ii) a photoinitiator;
- and
- iii) monomers selected from he group consisting of:
- and mixtures thereof;
- e) imaging a pattern on the second polymer layer forming a crosslinked polymer pattern and a non-crosslinked polymer pattern;
- and
- f) developing the imaged second polymer layer wherein the non-crosslinked polymer pattern is dissolved, thereby forming a relief-based image on the printing element.
A process for making a printing element comprising:
- a) providing a substrate;
- b) depositing a first polymer layer on the substrate wherein the first polymer layer is hydrophilic and comprises:
- i) an elastomeric polymer;
- ii) an initiator;
- iii) monomers selected from non-fluorinated acrylate or methacrylate;
- c) crosslinking the first polymer layer;
- d) depositing a second polymer layer on the first polymer layer wherein the second polymer layer is hydrophobic and comprises;
- i) an elastomeric polymer containing hydrophobic fluoroalkyl side groups;
- ii) a photoinitiator;
- and
- iii) monomers selected from the group consisting of:
- and mixtures thereof;
- e) imaging a pattern on the second polymer layer forming a crosslinked polymer pattern and a non-crosslinked polymer pattern;
- and
- f) developing the imaged second polymer layer wherein the non-crosslinked polymer pattern is dissolved, thereby forming a relief-based image on the printing element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.