Preparation of relief printing plates

US5061606A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Thomas Telser · Weinheim, DE
• Horst Koch · Havelsee, DE
• Karl-Rudolf Kurtz · Heidelberg, DE
• Helmut Bach · Mutterstadt, DE
• Heinz-Ulrich Werther · Monsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 20, 1989
• Grant date: Oct 29, 1991
• Expiry date: Oct 20, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03F7/325
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing a photopolymerized flexographic relief printing plate or a photoresist from a photosensitive element comprising a photopolymerizable layer consisting essentially of PA0 (A) at least one polymer as the binder, PA0 (B) at least one photopolymerizable monomer compatible with said binder (A) and PA0 (C) one photoinitiator, by PA1 (i) imagewise exposing said photopolymerizable layer of said element to actinic light and PA1 (ii) washing out the unexposed, non-photopolymerized parts of said layer with a developer, thereby obtaining a photopolymerized flexographic relief printing plate or a photoresist. The improvement of said process comprises: washing out the non-photopolymerized parts of the irradiated photopolymerizable layer with the developer which consists essentially of at least one hydrogenated petroleum fraction having a flashpoint above 45.degree. C. and a boiling range of from 160.degree. to 220.degree. C., 0 to 2% by weight, based on the developer, of at least one surface active compound and 0 to 10% by weight, based on the developer, of a monoterpene. In a preferred embodiment the improved process makes use of…