W. R. Grace Co.-Conn.

Arthur L Berrier

Rustom S Kanga

Srinivas K Mirle

Ronald J Kumpfmiller

Flexographic photosensitive printing plates are made with formulations comprising triblock polymers of poly(vinylpyridine)-poly(butadiene) or poly(isoprene)-poly(vinylpyridine). A variation in the formulations includes the insertion of a copolymerizable monomer such as styrene between the poly(butadiene) and poly(vinylpyridine) blocks. The polymers may be quaternized or neutralized with an organic acid. When made with quaternized polymers, the plates after imaging with UV may be developed in aqueous solutions. The acid neutralized polymers offer further advantages as to ease of synthesis, safety and improved resolution.

Photosensitive elastomer polymer compositions for flexographic printing

An aqueous-developable article is made from a photoprepolymer made by reacting a maleated polyalkadienyl homo- or copolymer (e.g., polybutadiene) with an olefinically unsaturated compound capable of opening anhydride rings (e.g., hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with simultaneous chain extension using a polyalkadienyl polyol, followed by hydrolysis and neutralization with Li--, Na--, or K-containing base. When formulated with unsaturated monomers and photoinitiators, the photoprepolymer is particularly useful in making photopolymer-based flexographic printing plates.

Photocurable composition comprising maleic anhydride adduct of

Flexographic photosensitive printing plates are made with formulations comprising triblock polymers of poly(vinylpyridine)-poly(butadiene) or poly(isoprene)-poly(vinylpyridine). The polymers may be quaternized. When made with quaternized polymers, the plates after imaging with UV may be developed in aqueous solutions.

Flexographic photosensitive printing plates are made with formulations comprising block polymers having an architecture of BA, CBA or CBCA, where A is poly(vinylpyridine), B is poly(butadiene) or poly(isoprene) and C is styrene. The polymers may be quaternized or neutralized with an organic acid. When made with quaternized polymers, the plates after imaging with UV may be developed in aqueous solutions. The block polymers offer further advantages as to ease of synthesis, safety and improved resolution.

Multiblock copolymers for flexographic printing plates

Flexographic photosensitive printing plates are made with formulations comprising triblock polymers of poly(vinylpyridine)-poly(butadiene) or poly(isoprene)-poly(vinylpyridine). The polymers may be quaternized or neutralized with an organic acid. When made with quaternized polymers, the plates after imaging with UV may be developed in aqueous solutions. The acid neutralized polymers offer further advantages as to ease of synthesis, safety and improved resolution.

A photocurable composition P(Y)(Y.sub.1)(Y.sub.2) is prepared by reacting a solid carboxylated copolymer P(Y) having at least one pendent carboxyl group Y, and optionally one or more terminal carboxyl groups Y, with (i) a photosensitive vinyl-containing compound, e.g. glycidyl (meth)acrylate, which produces Y.sub.1 and optionally, with (ii) an anhydride, e.g. maleic anhydride, to produce Y.sub.2. Y.sub.1 has free vinyl groups and Y.sub.2 has free vinyl and acid groups. In addition, P(Y) can be a liquid carboxylated copolymer which is chain extended in order to prepare a solid. Either of the resulting photocurable compositions can be used 'as is' or can be formulated with vinyl containing monomers and photoinitiators to prepare solid, flexible photosensitive articles, e.g. flexographic printing plates, which are water dispersible, and yet possess acceptable mechanical properties for flexographic printing.

Aqueous developable, photocurable composition, and flexible,

Flexographic photosensitive printing plates are made with formulations comprising triblock polymers of poly(vinylpyridine)-poly(butadiene) or poly(isoprene)poly(vinylpyridine). The polymers may be quaternized. When made with quaternized polymers, the plates after imaging with UV may be developed in aqueous solutions.

Flexographic printing plate comprising photosensitive elastomer polymer

A photocurable composition suitable for flexible photosensitive articles is prepared by reacting an acid-containing copolymer and a nitrogen-containing compound having polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated groups. The resulting composition can be used 'as is' or can be formulated with ethylenically unsaturated monomers and photoinitiators to prepare the flexible photosensitive articles, e.g. flexographic printing plates. The plates prepared from the photocurable composition are aqueous developable and sufficiently flexible and soft to be used for printing on flexible packaging surfaces.

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Ellicott City, MD, United States of America

Arthur L Berrier