Method for producing flexographic printing plates using UV-LED irradiation

US10730283B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Flint Group Germany GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Jens Schadebrodt · Mainz, DE
• Armin Becker · Frankenthal (Pfalz), DE
• Uwe Stebani · Monsheim, DE
• Maximilian Thate · Bad Dürkheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 26, 2018
• Grant date: Aug 4, 2020
• Expiry date: Sep 26, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03F7/2018
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for producing flexographic printing plates, using a photopolymerizable flexographic printing element having, arranged one atop another, a dimensionally stable support, a photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer, an elastomeric binder, an ethylenically unsaturated compound, and a photoinitiator, and optionally a rough, UV-transparent layer, a particulate substance, and digitally imagable layer. The method includes: (a) producing a mask by imaging the digitally imagable layer, (b) exposing the photopolymerizable, relief-forming layer through the mask with actinic light, and photopolymerizing the image regions of the layer, and (c) developing the photpolymerized layer by washing out the unphotopolymerized regions of the relief-forming layer with an organic solvent, or by thermal development. Step (b) includes (1) exposure with actinic light with an intensity of ≥100 mW/cm2 from a plurality of UV-LEDs and (2) exposure with actinic light with an intensity of <100 mW/cm2 from a UV radiation source other than UV-LEDs.