Uniroyal Inc.

Uniroyal Plastics Co., Inc.

W. R. Grace Co.

Royalite Plastics Limited

John R Worns

Milton Farber

James W Chase

Bruce W Capriotti

David T Hughes

Trevor J Williams

This invention presents terpene-based solvents suitable for use in the processing of a wide variety of photopolymer printing plates. The solvents, which may be terpenes alone, terpenes mixed with organic non-solvents, or terpenes emulsified with water are effective in developing a wide variety of photopolymer printing plates and can produce images superior to those obtained with commercially available solvents currently used in such applications.

Method for developing a photopolymer printing plate using a developer

The present invention relates to a flexible photopolymer printing plate composition comprising a homogenous blend of:

Photosensitive elastomeric polymer composition for flexographic printing

A photosensitive elastomeric composition which comprises a high molecular weight elastomeric diene polymer having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of about 30,000 to 125,000, and a Mooney viscosity (ML-4 at 100.degree. C.) of 35 or higher; a low molecular weight diene polymer having a number average molecular weight of about 1,000 to 25,000; a photopolymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated cross-linking agent; and an addition polymerization initiator activatable by actinic radiation.

Photosensitive elastomeric composition for flexographic printing plates

A layered sheet construction suitable after processing for use as a relief printing plate is provided. The sheet is made of a photosensitive layer comprising an elastomeric polymer, between about 5 and 30 phr of an ethylenically unsaturated compound and between 0.1 and 5 phr of a photoinitiator activatable by actinic radiation; a base layer immediately adjacent to said photosensitive layer capable of supporting a relief image after processing; having the same or a different composition than said photosensitive layer. The sheet is bonded to an open or closed cell foam layer having a thickness between about 0.010 inch and 0.250 inch. Said foam has a recovery rate of at least 80%, a compression value between about 0.003 inch and 0.030 inch and a density of between about 2 to 50 lbs/ft.sup.3 and is bonded to a dimensionally stable supporting layer.

Compressible photopolymer printing plate

A layered sheet construction suitable after processing for use as a relief printing plate is provided. The sheet is made of a photosensitive layer comprising an elastomeric polymer, between about 5 and 30 phr of an ethylencially unsaturated compound and between 0.1 and 5 phr of a photoinitiator activatable by actinic radiation; a base layer immediately adjacent to said photosensitive layer capable of supporting a relief image after processing; having the same or a different composition than said photosensitive layer. The sheet is bonded to an open or closed cell foam layer having a thickness between about 0.010 inch and 0.250 inch. Said foam has a recovery rate of at least 80%, a compression value between about 0.003 inch and 0.030 inch and a density of between about 2 to 50 lbs/ft.sup.3 and is bonded to a dimensionally stable supporting layer.

A high molecular weight butadiene/acrylonitrile copolymer is used in a photosensitive composition containing the following:

A photopolymer elastomeric article designed to be used primarily in a flexographic printing system comprising: a polymer matrix made up of a mixture of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene and cis-1,4-polyisoprene; a photoinitiator, which is a compound, which when irradiated, will initiate polymerization and/or crosslinking; and optionally, 0-3 phr of photopolymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated crosslinking agent, as typified by esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid.

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Mishawaka, IN, United States of America

John R Worns