Clean flexographic printing plate and method of making the same

摘要

A clean running flexographic relief image printing element and a method of making the same is described. The relief image printing element comprises (a) a backing layer; (b) a floor layer disposed on the backing layer and comprising a photopolymer containing a silicone monomer or silicone oil, wherein the cured floor layer has a surface energy of between about 18 to about 25 dynes/cm; (c) a cap layer disposed on the floor layer and comprising a photocurable composition that is capable of being imagewise exposed to actinic radiation to create a relief image therein, wherein the cap layer has a surface energy of between about 30 and about 40 dynes/cm; and (d) a removable cover sheet. The differential of surface energies between the floor layer and the cap layer increases how clean the plate will print over time.

主权项

1. A flexographic relief image printing element comprising:
a) a backing layer; b) a first photopolymer layer disposed directly on the backing layer and comprising a first photopolymer comprising a silicone monomer or silicone oil; c) a second photopolymer layer disposed directly on the first photopolymer layer and comprising a second photopolymer that is capable of being imagewise exposed to actinic radiation to create a relief image therein, wherein the second photopolymer layer has a surface energy which is at least 5 dynes/cm higher than the surface energy of the first photopolymer layer when the layers are cured; and d) a removable cover sheet; wherein the second photopolymer layer does not include silicone oil or a silicone monomer.