Method of controlled laser imaging of zirconia alloy ceramic lithographic member to provide localized melting in exposed areas
US5839369A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 24, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 18, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S430/146
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Reusable lithographic printing members are prepared from a zirconia ceramic that is an alloy of ZrO.sub.2 and a second oxide chosen from MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Sc.sub.2 O.sub.3, a rare earth oxide or a combination of any of these. In use, a printing surface of the zirconia alloy ceramic is imagewise exposed to electromagnetic radiation such as from a laser under controlled conditions to provide localized "melting" of the zirconia in the exposed areas. Those areas are transformed from a hydrophilic to an oleophilic state or from an oleophilic to a hydrophilic state, thereby creating a lithographic printing surface which is hydrophilic in non-image areas and is oleophilic and thus capable of accepting printing ink in image areas. Such inked areas can then be used to transfer an image to a suitable substrate in lithographic printing. The printing members are directly laser-imageable as well as image erasable, and can include printing plates, printing cylinders, printing tapes and printing sleeves.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.