Waterless lithographic printing plates

• US 6,051,365 A
• Filed: 05/21/1998
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New England Science & Specialty Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: New England Science & Specialty Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Kellett, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamilton, Cynthia
• Application Number:
  US09/082,764
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 430/289.1, 430/303, 430/278.1, 430/274.1, 430/271.1, 430/18, 101/458, 101/460, 101/462, 101/467, 101/465, 101/466, 101/457
• US Class Current: 430/278.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41C 1/1033 by laser or spark ablation
• CPC Class Codes: B41C 1/1066 by spraying with powders, by using a nozzle, e.g. an ink jet system, by fusing a previously coated powder, e.g. with a laser
• CPC Class Codes: B41C 2210/16 Waterless working, i.e. ink repelling exposed (imaged) or non-exposed (non-imaged) areas, not requiring fountain solution or water, e.g. dry lithography or driography
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 430/145 Infrared
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 430/146 Laser beam

Abstract

Provided is a media-fluid material set which comprises a media with a support that bears a hydrophilic receiving surface together with a fluid material comprising a liquid carrier medium and a reactive transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid. After application of the fluid material to the hydrophilic receiving surface, the reactive complex reacts to form an ink-releasing layer. Such a media-fluid material set can be advantageously used in preparing waterless lithographic printing plates with ink-releasing layers comprising such fluorinated reaction products. Also provided are imaged waterless lithographic printing plates with such ink-releasing layers made by an ink jet printing application or by laser-induced thermal ablation, and methods of making such waterless lithographic printing plates.

Claims

1. A media/fluid material set for use in preparing a waterless lithographic printing plate, comprising:

(a) a media comprising a support that bears a hydrophilic receiving surface; and

,

(b) a fluid material comprising a liquid carrier medium and a reactive component, which reactive component comprises a transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid, said reactive component reacting after application of said fluid material on said receiving surface, thereby forming an ink-releasing layer on said receiving surface;

wherein the hydrophilic receiving surface of said support further comprises a catalyst to increase the rate of reaction.

2. The media/fluid material set of claim 1, wherein said transition metal complex is a chromium complex.

3. The media/fluid material set of claim 2, wherein said chromium complex comprises a Werner complex of trivalent chromium and a fluorinated organic carboxylic acid.

4. The media/fluid material set of claim 3, wherein said fluorinated organic carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of non-cyclic and cyclic carboxylic acids having 4 to 18 carbon atoms.

5. The media/fluid material set of claim 2, wherein said fluid material is an ink jet fluid material and said application is an ink jet printing application.

6. The media/fluid material set of claim 5, wherein said ink jet printing application is done in a desired imagewise pattern and said ink-releasing layer is formed in said desired imagewise pattern.

7. The media/fluid material set of claim 2, wherein said chromium complex of a fluorinated organic acid reacts upon exposure to heat after application of said fluid material on said receiving surface.

8. The media/fluid material set of claim 2, wherein said chromium complex of a fluorinated organic acid reacts with said receiving surface.

9. The media/fluid material set of claim 2, wherein said support is a paper.

10. The media/fluid material set of claim 2, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

11. The media/fluid material set of claim 2, wherein said support is aluminum.

12. The media/fluid material set of claim 1, wherein said fluid material is an ink jet fluid marking material and said application is an ink jet printing application.

13. The media/fluid material set of claim 12, wherein said ink jet printing application is done in a desired imagewise pattern and said ink-releasing layer is formed in said desired imagewise pattern.

14. The media/fluid material set of claim 1, wherein said catalyst is an alkaline material.

15. The media/fluid material set of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic receiving surface of said support comprises a hydrophilic material selected from the group consisting of:

polyvinyl alcohol and copolymers thereof;

cellulosic polymers;

polyacrylates and copolymers thereof;

polymethacrylates and copolymers thereof;

polymaleic anhydrides and derivatives and copolymers thereof;

polyvinyl pyrrolidones and copolymers thereof;

quarternary ammonium polymers and copolymers thereof;

polyamides; and

aluminum oxides.

16. The media/fluid material set of claim 15, wherein said aluminum oxides are selected from the group consisting of:

aluminum boehmites;

gamma-aluminum oxides;

alpha-aluminum oxides;

aluminum oxides formed by the oxidation of aluminum metal by oxygen; and

aluminum oxides formed by an anodization process.

17. The media/fluid material set of claim 1, wherein said reactive component reacts upon exposure to heat after application of said fluid material on said receiving surface.

18. The media/fluid material set of claim 1, wherein said reactive component reacts with said receiving surface.

19. The media/fluid material set of claim 1, wherein said support is a paper.

20. The media/fluid material set of claim 1, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

21. The media/fluid material set of claim 1, wherein said support is aluminum.

22. An ink-releasing plate for use in preparing a waterless lithographic printing plate, comprising:

(a) a support that bears a hydrophilic surface; and

,

(b) an ink-releasing layer overlying the hydrophilic surface of said support;

said ink-releasing layer comprising a reaction product of a transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid;

wherein said ink-releasing layer further is capable of being imaged using laser-induced thermal ablation, which ablation removes said ink-releasing layer in exposed regions thereof to thereby reveal the hydrophilic surface of said support;

wherein said ink-releasing layer further comprises a sensitizer to increase the rate of imaging by said ablation.

23. The ink-releasing plate of claim 22, wherein said transition metal complex is a chromium complex.

24. The ink-releasing plate of claim 23, wherein said chromium complex comprises a Werner complex of trivalent chromium and a fluorinated organic carboxylic acid.

25. The ink-releasing plate of claim 24, wherein said fluorinated organic carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of non-cyclic and cyclic carboxylic acids having 4 to 18 carbon atoms.

26. The ink-releasing plate of claim 23, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

27. The ink-releasing plate of claim 23, wherein said support is aluminum.

28. The ink-releasing plate of claim 22, wherein the hydrophilic surface of said support comprises a hydrophilic material selected from the group consisting of:

polyvinyl alcohol and copolymers thereof, cellulosic polymers;

polyacrylates and copolymers thereof;

polymethacrylates and copolymers thereof;

polymaleic anhydrides and derivatives and copolymers thereof;

polyvinyl pyrrolidones and copolymers thereof;

quaternary ammonium polymers and copolymers thereof;

polyamides; and

aluminum oxides.

29. The ink-releasing plate of claim 28, wherein said aluminum oxides are selected from the group consisting of:

aluminum boehmites;

gamma-aluminum oxides;

alpha-aluminum oxides;

aluminum oxides formed by the oxidation of aluminum metal by oxygen; and

aluminum oxides formed by an anodization process.

30. The ink-releasing plate of claim 22, wherein said reaction product comprises a reaction product of the transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid with the hydrophilic surface of said support.

31. The ink-releasing plate of claim 22, wherein said support is a paper.

32. The ink-releasing plate of claim 22, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

33. The ink-releasing plate of claim 22, wherein said support is aluminum.

34. The ink-releasing plate of claim 22, wherein said sensitizer is an infrared-absorbing material.

35. An imaged waterless lithographic printing plate comprising:

(a) a support that bears a hydrophilic surface in the ink-receiving areas of said support; and

,

(b) an ink-releasing layer in a desired imagewise pattern overlying the hydrophilic surface of said support;

said layer comprising a reaction product of a transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid;

wherein said imaged plate is prepared by the steps of providing a lithographic plate blank comprising said support and forming an image on the hydrophilic surface of said support with an ink jet printer in an ink jet printing application, wherein an ink jet fluid marking material utilized in said ink jet printer comprises a liquid carrier medium and a reactive component, which reactive component comprises a transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid, said reactive component reacting upon exposure to an energy source after ink jet printing, thereby forming said ink-releasing layer in said desired imagewise pattern overlying the hydrophilic surface of said support.

36. The imaged plate of claim 35, wherein said transition metal complex is a chromium complex.

37. The imaged plate of claim 36, wherein said chromium complex comprises a Werner complex of trivalent chromium and a fluorinated organic carboxylic acid.

38. The imaged plate of claim 37, wherein said fluorinated organic carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of non-cyclic and cyclic carboxylic acids having 4 to 18 carbon atoms.

39. The imaged plate of claim 36, wherein said support is a paper.

40. The imaged plate of claim 36, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

41. The imaged plate of claim 36, wherein said support is aluminum.

42. The imaged plate of claim 35, wherein said hydrophilic surface comprises a hydrophilic material selected from the group consisting of:

polyvinyl alcohol and copolymers thereof;

cellulosic polymers;

polyacrylates and copolymers thereof;

polymethacrylates and copolymers thereof;

polymaleic anhydrides and derivatives and copolymers thereof;

polyvinyl pyrrolidones and copolymers thereof;

quaternary ammonium polymers and copolymers thereof;

polyamides; and

aluminum oxides.

43. The imaged plate of claim 42, wherein said aluminum oxides are selected from the group consisting of:

aluminum boehmites;

gamma-aluminum oxides;

alpha-aluminum oxides;

aluminum oxides formed by the oxidation of aluminum metal by oxygen; and

aluminum oxides formed by an anodization process.

44. The imaged plate of claim 35, wherein said reaction product comprises a reaction product of the transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid with the hydrophilic surface of said support.

45. The imaged plate of claim 35, wherein said support is a paper.

46. The imaged plate of claim 35, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

47. The imaged plate of claim 35, wherein said support is aluminum.

48. A method of preparing an ink-releasing plate for use in preparing a waterless lithographic printing plate, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a support that bears a hydrophilic receiving surface;

(b) applying a fluid material comprising a liquid carrier medium and a reactive component, which reactive component comprises a transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid, to said receiving surface;

(c) removing said liquid carrier medium; and

,

(d) reacting said reactive component, thereby forming an ink-releasing layer on said receiving surface;

wherein said fluid material of step (b) is an ink jet fluid marking material and the application of said fluid material to said receiving surface in step (b) is carried out by an ink jet printing application.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said transition metal complex is a chromium complex.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said chromium complex comprises a Werner complex of trivalent chromium and a fluorinated organic carboxylic acid.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said fluorinated organic carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of non-cyclic and cyclic carboxylic acids having 4 to 18 carbon atoms.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein said support is a paper.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein said support is aluminum.

55. The method of claim 48, wherein said reactive component reacts in step (d) upon exposure to heat.

56. The method of claim 48, wherein said reactive component reacts in step (d) with the hydrophilic receiving surface of said support.

57. The method of claim 48, wherein said support is a paper.

58. The method of claim 48, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

59. The method of claim 48, wherein said support is aluminum.

60. A method of preparing an imaged waterless lithographic printing plate, comprising providing a lithographic plate blank having a support that bears a hydrophilic receiving surface and forming an image on the hydrophilic receiving surface of said support with an ink jet printer in an ink jet printing application, wherein an ink jet fluid marking material utilized in said ink jet printer comprises a liquid carrier medium and a reactive component, which reactive component comprises a transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid, said reactive component reacting upon exposure to an energy source after ink jet printing, thereby forming an ink-releasing layer in a desired pattern on said support.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein said transition metal complex is a chromium complex.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said chromium complex comprises a Werner complex of trivalent chromium and a fluorinated organic carboxylic acid.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein said fluorinated organic carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of non-cyclic and cyclic carboxylic acids having 4 to 18 carbon atoms.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein said ink jet printing application is done in a desired imagewise pattern on the hydrophilic receiving surface of said support and said ink-releasing layer is formed in said desired imagewise pattern on said support.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein said energy source is heat.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein said reactive component reacts with said hydrophilic receiving surface.

67. The method of claim 61, wherein said support is a paper.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein said support is aluminum.

70. The method of claim 60, wherein said ink jet printing application is done in a desired imagewise pattern on the hydrophilic receiving surface of said support and said ink-releasing layer is formed in said desired imagewise pattern on said support.

71. The method of claim 60, wherein said energy source is heat.

72. The method of claim 60, wherein said reactive component reacts with said hydrophilic receiving surface.

73. The method of claim 60, wherein said support is a paper.

74. The method of claim 60, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

75. The method of claim 60, wherein said support is aluminum.

76. A method of preparing an imaged waterless lithographic printing plate, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a support that bears a hydrophilic receiving surface;

(b) applying a fluid material comprising a liquid carrier medium and a reactive component, which reactive component comprises a transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid, to said receiving surface;

(c) removing said liquid carrier medium;

(d) reacting said reactive component, thereby forming an ink-releasing layer on said receiving surface; and

,

(e) exposing said layer to laser-induced thermal ablation in a desired imagewise pattern, thereby removing said layer in the exposed regions thereof to thereby reveal the hydrophilic surface of said support in said desired imagewise pattern.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein said transition metal complex is a chromium complex.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein said chromium complex comprises a Werner complex of trivalent chromium and a fluorinated organic carboxylic acid.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein said fluorinated organic carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of non-cyclic and cyclic organic carboxylic acids having 4 to 18 carbon atoms.

80. The method of claim 77, wherein said ink-releasing layer comprises a reaction product of said chromium complex of a fluorinated organic acid with the hydrophilic surface of said support.

81. The method of claim 77, wherein said support is a paper.

82. The method of claim 76, wherein the hydrophilic surface of said support comprises a hydrophilic material selected from the group consisting of:

polyvinyl alcohol and copolymers thereof, cellulosic polymers;

polyacrylates and copolymers thereof;

polymethacrylates and copolymers thereof;

polymaleic anhydrides and derivatives and copolymers thereof;

quaternary ammonium polymers and copolymers thereof;

polyamides; and

aluminum oxides.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein said aluminum oxides are selected from the group consisting of:

aluminum boehmites;

gamma-aluminum oxides;

alpha-aluminum oxides;

aluminum oxides formed by the oxidation of aluminum metal by oxygen; and

aluminum oxides formed by an anodization process.

84. The method of claim 76, wherein said ink-releasing layer comprises a reaction product of the transition metal complex of a fluorinated organic acid with the hydrophilic surface of said support.

85. The method of claim 76, wherein said support is a paper.

86. The method of claim 76, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

87. The method of claim 77, wherein said support is a polymeric plastic film.

88. The method of claim 76, wherein said support is aluminum.

89. The method of claim 76, wherein said support is aluminum.