Imaging member for offset printing applications

A variable data lithography system comprising:

• an imaging member comprising a surface layer at the outermost layer of the imaging member, wherein the surface layer includes a fluorosilicone and an infrared-absorbing filler consisting of energy absorbing particles;
• wherein the infrared-absorbing filler when exposed to an infra-red portion of a laser source supports evaporation of the dampening solution on the surface layer of the imaging member;
• wherein the infrared-absorbing filler is selected from the group consisting of carbon black, iron oxide, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphite, and carbon fibers;
• a dampening fluid subsystem to uniformly wet the imaging member with a dampening solution to form a layer having a uniform and controlled thickness and an optical patterning subsystem that selectively applies energy to portions of the layer to image-wise evaporate the dampening solution;
• wherein the dampening solution comprises a mixture of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5);
• wherein the fluorosilicone comprises siloxane units;
• wherein at least 75% of the siloxane units are fluorinated;
• wherein the optical patterning subsystem uses the laser source to image-wise evaporate the dampening solution and create a latent negative of an ink image that is desired to be printed on a receiving substrate in the variable data lithography system;
• wherein the infrared-absorbing filler is able to absorb energy from the laser source with wavelength of from about 750 nm to about 1000 nm;
• wherein the infrared-absorbing filler has an average particle size of 2 nanometers to 10 microns;
• wherein the infrared-absorbing filler is present in an amount from 5 to 20 weight percent of the surface layer;
• wherein the fluorosilicone includes amino-functional groups.