Multilayer recording element suitable for the production of flexographic printing plates by digital information transmission

• Main Authors: NUYKEN, OSKAR, -DR, LOERZER, THOMAS, SCHERER, CLIFF
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 16.08.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY; LINING MACHINES; MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING,INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES,e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTORDEVICES; PHYSICS; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM; PRINTING; PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS; PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTINGSURFACES; STAMPS; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS

The novel features in a multi-layer recording element used to make flexographic-printing plates by digital information transfer and comprising a dimensionally-stable support carrying, in order, an optionally adhesive-bonded layer (A) crosslinkable by actinic radiation, a layer (B) also sensitive to such radiation and optionally also a peelable cover film, are that : (i) layer (A) is crosslinkable by imagewise 0.5-5 J/cm actinic radiation and can thereafter be developed by washing-out, and contains an elastomeric binder, a copolymerisable organic compound and a photoinitiator (system) as well as further auxiliaries; and (ii) layer (B) is soluble or dispersible in developers, has an optical density of above 2.5 in the actinic range, undergoes a change in optical density of above 1 with one or more laser pulses of wavelength 254-532 nm and of energy from above 5 to 50 J/cm and contains arylazophosphonate-containing compounds. Production of the plates is by structurising layer (B) with a UV laser according to a digital data system, crosslinking layer (A) in the printing regions by overall actinic exposure, dissolving or dispersing layer (B) in a developer and developing the non-crosslinked parts of layer (A) using the same or another developer.