Hydrophilic imaging member surface material for variable data ink-based digital printing systems and methods for manufacturing hydrophilic imaging member surface materials

An ink-based digital printing system, comprising:

• an imaging member, the imaging member having a hydrophilic reimageable switchable imaging member surface including plasma oxidized cross-linked PDMS, the plasma oxidized cross-linked PDMS imaging member surface configured in a hydrophilic state switched for a temporary period from a hydrophobic state via a plasma treatment, the plasma oxidized cross-linked PDMS imaging member surface configured to return from the hydrophilic state to the hydrophobic state after the temporary period, wherein the imaging member surface further comprises a fluoroelastomer copolymer, where two or more monomers of the fluoroelastomer copolymer are selected from the group consisting of hexafluoropropylene (HFP), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), vinylidene fluoride (VDF), perfluoromethyl vinyl ether (PMVE), and ethylene (ET), wherein a fluorine content of the fluoroelastomer copolymer lies in a range of about 60 wt% to about 70 wt%;
• a dampening fluid metering system for applying a layer of dampening fluid to the imaging member surface;
• a laser imaging system for dampening fluid patterning;
• and
• an inking system for applying ink to the imaging member surface having patterned dampening fluid disposed thereon.