Laser-engravable flexographic printing elements having relief-forming elastomeric layers comprising syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene

1. A laser-engravable flexographic printing element comprising an elastomeric, relief-forming, laser-engravable, thermally and/or photochemically crosslinkable layer comprising,

(a) from 50 to 99.9% by weight of one or more binders as component A, consisting of

(a1) from 5 to 100% by weight of syndiotactic 1, 2-polybutadiene having a content of 1, 2-linked butadiene units of from 80 to 100%, a degree of crystallinity of from 5 to 30% and a mean molecular weight of from 20,000 to 300,000 g/mol as component A1, and

(a2) from 0 to 95% by weight of further binders as component A2,

where the sum of components A1 and A2 gives 100% by weight,

(b) from 0.1 to 30% by weight of crosslinking, one or more oligomeric plasticizers which contain reactive groups in the main chain and/or reactive pendant and/or terminal groups, wherein said plasticizers are selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene oils having a molecular weight of from about 1,000 to about 3,000 g/mol, a content of I, 2-linked units of from 1 to 50%, a flash point of from 170° C. to 300° C. and a viscosity of from 700 to 100,000 mPas at 25° C., as component B,

(c) from 0 to 25% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers as component C,

(d) from 0 to 10% by weight of one or more photomitiators and/or thermally decomposable initiators as component D,

(e) from 0 to 20% by weight of one or more absorbers for laser radiation as component E, and

(f) from 0 to 30% by weight of one or more further conventional additives as component F,

where the sum of components A to F adds up to 100% by weight.

2. A process for the production of a relief printing element, comprising the steps of

(i) thermal or photochemical crosslinking of the elastomeric, relief-forming layer of a flexographic printing element said elastomeric layer comprising

(a) from 50to 99.9% by weight of one or more binders as component A, consisting of

(a1) from 5 to 100% by weight of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene having a content of 1,2-linked butadiene units of from 80 to 100%, a degree of crystallinity of from 5 to 30% and a mean molecular weight of from 20,000 to 300,000 g/mol as component A1, and

(a2) from 0 to 95% by weight of further binders as component A2, where the sutu of components A1 and A2 gives 100% by weight,

(b) from 0.1 to 30% by weight of crosslinking, one or more oligomeric plasticizers which contain reactive groups in the main chain and/or reactive pendant and/or terminal groups as component B,

(c) from 0 to 25% by weight of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers as component C,

(d) from 0 to 10% by weight of one or more photoinitiators and/or thermally decomposable initiators as component D,

(e) from 0 to 20% by weight of one or more absorbers for laser radiation as component E, and

(f) from 0 to 30% by weight of one or more further conventional additives as component F,

where the sum of components A to F adds up to 100% by weight,

(ii) laser engraving of a printing relief into the crosslinked, elastomeric, relief-forming layer.

3. A process for the production of a relief printing element, comprising the steps of

(i) thermal or photochemical crosslinking of the elastomeric, relief-forming layer of a flexographic printing element comprising an elastomeric, relief-forming, laser-engravable, thermally and/or photochemically crosslinkable layer comprising, as binder, at least 5% by weight of syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene having a content of 1,2-linked butadiene units of from 80 to 100%, a degree of crystallinity of from 5 to 30% and a mean molecular weight of from 20,000 to 300,000 g/mol on a flexible, dimensionally stable support, and

(ii) laser engraving of a printing relief into the crosslinked, elastomeric, relief forming layer.