Method for producing flexo printing forms by means of laser-direct engraving

1. A process for the production of flexographic printing plates by means of laser engraving, in which the starting material used is a crosslinkable, laser-engravable flexographic printing element which at least comprises, arranged one on top of the other,

a dimensionally stable substrate,

at least one crosslinkable, laser-engravable relief-forming layer having a thickness of at least 0.2 mm, at least comprising an elastomeric binder, a plasticizer and components for crosslinking,

and which process comprises at least the following steps:

(a) uniform crosslinking of the relief-forming layer and

(b) engraving of a print relief into the crosslinked relief layer with the aid of a laser, the height of the relief elements to be engraved with the laser being at least 0.03 mm,

wherein the binder is a styrene/butadiene block copolymer having an average molecular weight M w of from 100 000 to 250 000 g/mol, a Shore A hardness of from 55 to 85 and a styrene content of 20-40% by weight, based on the binder, and the amount of the plasticizer is from 20 to 40% by weight, based on the sum of all components of the layer.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the average molecular weight M w of the binder is from 150 000 to 250 000 g/mol.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the styrene content of the binder is from 25 to 35% by weight.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is an inert plasticizer.

5. A process as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the inert plasticizer is at least one inert plasticizer selected from the group consisting of aromatic, naphthenic and paraffinic mineral oils.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the uniform crosslinking (a) is carried out photochemically, by means of electron beams or thermally.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the relief layer additionally comprises an absorber for laser radiation.

8. A process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flexographic printing element comprises an additional, water-soluble laser-engravable layer which is arranged on the laser-engravable relief-forming layer and comprises at least one polymer soluble, swellable or dispersible in aqueous solvents and which is removed after process step (b) in a further process step (c) by means of water or an aqueous cleaning agent.

9. A process as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the polymer is at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene glycol graft copolymers, polyvinylpyrrolidone and cellulose derivatives.

10. A flexographic printing plate obtainable by a process as claimed in claim 1 .

11. The use of a flexographic printing plate as claimed in claim 10 for flexographic printing with water-based and/or alcohol-based printing inks.