Eastman-kodak Company

Ido Gal

Ophira Melamed

Limor Dahan

Mazi Amiel-Levy

Yehuda Barnes Solomon

Lior Perry

Jankiel Kimelblat

A laser-engraveable composition comprises one or more elastomeric rubbers and 2-30 phr of a near-infrared radiation absorber, such as carbon black and optionally 1-80 phr of an inorganic non-infrared radiation absorber filler. This laser-engraveable composition can be used to form various flexographic printing precursors that can be laser-engraved to provide relief images in flexographic printing plates, printing cylinders, or printing sleeves.

Laser-imageable flexographic printing precursors and methods of imaging

A laser-engravable composition comprises one or more elastomeric rubbers including at least 10 parts of one or more CLCB EPDM elastomeric rubbers, based on parts per hundred of the total weight of elastomeric rubbers (phr). The laser-engravable composition further comprises 2-30 phr of a near-infrared radiation absorber and either 1-80 phr of an inorganic, non-infrared radiation absorber filler, or a vulcanizing composition that comprises a mixture of at least two peroxides. One first peroxide has a tvalue of 1-6 minutes as measured at 160&#xb0; C., and a second peroxide has a tvalue of 8-20 minutes as measured at 160&#xb0; C. This laser-engravable composition can be used to form a laser-engravable layer on a compressible layer that is disposed on a substrate, and to form various flexographic printing precursors. The compressible layer can also be laser-engravable.

A laser-engraveable flexographic printing precursor or patternable element comprises a laser-engraveable layer having two orthogonal dimensions. This laser-engraveable layer comprises one or more elastomeric resins and non-metallic fibers that are oriented in the laser-engraveable layer predominantly in one of its two orthogonal dimensions. The non-metallic fibers have an average length of at least 0.1 mm and an average diameter of at least 1 &#x3bc;m. The oriented non-metallic fibers reduce curl and shrinkage in the precursor and improve print quality and press life.

Laser-engraveable flexographic printing precursors and methods of imaging

A mixture of an elastomer, carbon black, and inorganic fillers provides a highly useful laser-ablatable flexographic printing plate precursor formulation. This formulation is sensitive to infrared radiation. Both flexographic printing plates and printing sleeves can be made using the mixture.

Flexographic printing precursors and methods of making

A laser-engraveable composition comprises one or more elastomeric rubbers including at least 10 parts of one or more CLCB EPDM elastomeric rubbers, based on parts per hundred of the total weight of elastomeric rubbers (phr). The laser-engraveable composition further comprises 2-30 phr of a near-infrared radiation absorber and either 1-80 phr of an inorganic, non-infrared radiation absorber filler, or a vulcanizing composition that comprises a mixture of at least two peroxides. One first peroxide has a tvalue of 1-6 minutes as measured at 160&#xb0; C., and a second peroxide has a tvalue of 8-20 minutes as measured at 160&#xb0; C. This laser-engraveable composition can be used to form various flexographic printing precursors that can be laser-engraved to provide relief images in flexographic printing plates, printing cylinders, or printing sleeves.

A system for preparing a flexographic printing plate having a printing layer, a second layer, and a cushion layer includes a first laser for imaging a first zone on a bottom surface of the cushion layer; and wherein the first laser or a second laser images a first area of a top surface of the printing layer which corresponds to the first zone.

Integral cushion for flexographic printing plates

Flexographic printing precursors are prepared by providing an elastomeric mixture of one or more elastomeric resins and non-metallic fibers having an average length of at least 0.1 mm and an average diameter of at least 1 &#x3bc;m, and adding a vulcanizing composition and optional other components to the elastomeric mixture. The elastomeric mixture is then mechanically treated to orient the non-metallic fibers predominantly in the same dimension in the elastomeric mixture. It is then vulcanized and formed into a laser-engraveable layer having two orthogonal dimensions. The non-metallic fibers are predominantly oriented in one of the two orthogonal dimensions.

Method of making laser-engraveable flexographic printing precursors

A mixture of a high molecular weight EPDM rubber with a low molecular weight (liquid) EPDM rubber provides a highly useful laser-ablatable flexographic printing plate precursor formulation. This formulation is sensitive to infrared radiation by the incorporation of an IR absorbing compound such as a carbon black. The inclusion of the liquid EPDM rubber avoids the need for plasticizers such as process oils during manufacturing, and provides improved image sensitivity, print quality, and run length. Both flexographic printing plates and printing sleeves can be made using the mixture of EPDM rubbers.

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Kafar-Saba, Israel

Ido Gal