Inkjet-imageable lithographic printing members and methods of preparing and imaging them
Lithographic printing plates are imaged using an inkjet printer to imagewise apply a chemical agent onto the plate surface. The chemical causes a change that facilitates lithographic printing.
1 . A lithographic printing member comprising a soluble and top layer having a first lithographic affinity and a layer thereunder also having the first lithographic affinity, the top layer being responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change to an insoluble state having a second lithographic affinity opposite to the first lithographic affinity.
2 . The printing member of claim 1 , wherein the top layer is water-soluble and hydrophilic prior to the phase change and water-insoluble and oleophilic following the phase change.
3 . The printing member of claim 1 , wherein the top layer is water-soluble and oleophilic prior to the phase change and water-insoluble and hydrophilic following the phase change.
4 . The printing member of claim 1 , wherein the top layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl phosphonic acid, polyvinyl alcohol comprising amino-moieties, and any polymer comprising at least one of carboxylic acid moieties, sulfonic acid moieties, and phosphonic acid moieties.
5 . The printing member of claim 1 , wherein the imaging fluid to which the printing member is responsive comprises an esterifying agent.
6 . The printing member of claim 5 , wherein the esterifying agent comprises a chemical compound selected from the group consisting of tetramethylammonium hydroxide, phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, trimethylsulfonium hydroxide, trimethylsulfoxonium hydroxide, and 1,3-(bistripropylammonium)xylene hydroxide.
7 . The printing member of claim 1 , wherein the imaging fluid to which the printing member is responsive comprises an alkylating agent.
8 . The printing member of claim 1 , wherein the imaging fluid to which the printing member is responsive comprises a polymer comprising a quaternary ammonium salt.
9 . The printing member of claim 1 further comprising a crosslinked hydrophilic intermediate layer disposed between the top layer and the underlying layer.
10 . A system for lithographic printing comprising:
(a) a printing member comprising a soluble top layer and a layer thereunder, the top layer having a first lithographic affinity and the underlying layer also having the first lithographic affinity, and
(b) an imaging fluid;
wherein the top layer responds to the imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change to an insoluble state having having a second lithographic affinity opposite to the first lithographic affinity.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the top layer is water-soluble and hydrophilic prior to the phase change and water-insoluble and oleophilic following the phase change.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the top layer is water-soluble and oleophilic prior to the phase change and water-insoluble and hydrophilic following the phase change.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the top layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl phosphonic acid, polyvinyl alcohol comprising amino-moieties, and any polymer comprising at least one of carboxylic acid moieties, sulfonic acid moieties, and phosphonic acid moieties.
14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises an esterifying agent.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the esterifying agent comprises a chemical compound selected from the group consisting of tetramethylammonium hydroxide, phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, trimethylsulfonium hydroxide, trimethylsulfoxonium hydroxide, and 1,3-(bistripropylammonium)xylene hydroxide.
16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises an alkylating agent.
17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a polymer comprising a quaternary ammonium salt.
18 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the printing member further comprises a crosslinked hydrophilic intermediate layer disposed between the top layer and the underlying layer.
19 . A method of imaging a lithographic printing member, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a printing member comprising a soluble and top layer having a first lithographic affinity and a layer thereunder also having the first lithographic affinity, the top layer being responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change to an insoluble state having a second lithographic affinity opposite to the first lithographic affinity;
(b) dispensing the imaging fluid in an imagewise pattern, the imaging fluid chemically reacting with the top layer and inducing the phase change;
(c) subjecting the printing member to a solvent, the solvent dissolving soluble portions of the top layer; and
(d) removing the soluble portions of the top layer, thereby creating an imagewise lithographic pattern on the printing member.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the top layer is water-soluble and hydrophilic prior to the phase change and water-insoluble and oleophilic following the phase change, the solvent comprising an aqueous fluid.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the top layer is water-soluble and oleophilic prior to the phase change and water-insoluble and hydrophilic following the phase change, the solvent comprising an aqueous fluid.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the top layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl phosphonic acid, polyvinyl alcohol comprising amino-moieties, and any polymer comprising at least one of carboxylic acid moieties, sulfonic acid moieties, and phosphonic acid moieties.
23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises an esterifying agent.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the esterifying agent comprises a chemical compound selected from the group consisting of tetramethylammonium hydroxide, phenyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, trimethylsulfonium hydroxide, trimethylsulfoxonium hydroxide, and 1,3-(bistripropylammonium)xylene hydroxide.
25 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises an alkylating agent.
26 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a polymer comprising a quaternary ammonium salt.
27 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the printing member further comprises a crosslinked hydrophilic intermediate layer disposed between the top layer and the underlying layer.
28 . The method of claim 19 , flurther comprising a step of heating the printing member between steps (b) and (c).
29 . A lithographic printing member comprising a dispersible top layer having a first lithographic affinity and a layer thereunder having a second lithographic affinity opposite to the first lithographic affinity, the top layer being responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change from a dispersible state to an insoluble state.
30 . The printing member of claim 29 , wherein the top layer is water-dispersible and oleophilic, and responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change to a water-insoluble state.
31 . The printing member of claim 29 , wherein the top layer is water-dispersible and hydrophilic, and responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change to a water-insoluble state.
32 . The printing member of claim 29 , wherein the top layer comprises a water-dispersible polymer.
33 . The printing member of claim 32 , wherein the water-dispersible polymer comprises an epoxy resin.
34 . The printing member of claim 29 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a multiflnctional amine.
35 . The printing member of claim 29 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a tetra-carboxylic acid.
36 . The printing member of claim 29 , wherein the printing member fiuther comprises a crosslinked hydrophilic intermediate layer disposed between the top layer and the underlying layer.
37 . The printing member of claim 36 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises PVOH—ZrOH.
38 . A system for lithographic printing comprising:
(a) a printing member comprising a dispersible top layer and a layer thereunder, the top layer having a first lithographic affinity and the underlying layer having a second lithographic affinity opposite to the first lithographic affinity, and
(b) an imaging fluid;
wherein the top layer responds to the imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change from a dispersible state to an insoluble state.
39 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the top layer is water-dispersible and oleophilic, and responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change to a water-insoluble state.
40 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the top layer is water-dispersible and hydrophilic, and responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change to a water-insoluble state.
41 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the top layer comprises a water-dispersible polymer.
42 . The system of claim 41 , wherein the water-dispersible polymer comprises an epoxy resin.
43 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a multifunctional amine.
44 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a tetra-carboxylic acid.
45 . The system of claim 38 , wherein the printing member flurther comprises a crosslinked hydrophilic intermediate layer disposed between the top layer and the substrate.
46 . The system of claim 45 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises PVOH—ZrOH.
47 . A method of imaging a lithographic printing member, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a printing member comprising a dispersible top layer having a first lithographic affinity and a layer thereunder having a second lithographic affinity opposite to the first lithographic affinity, the top layer being responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change from a dispersible state to an insoluble state;
(b) dispensing the imaging fluid in an imagewise pattern, the imaging fluid chemically reacting with the top layer and inducing the phase change;
(c) subjecting the printing member to a solvent, the solvent dissolving dispersible portions of the top layer; and
(d) removing the dispersible portions of the top layer, thereby creating an imagewise lithographic pattern on the printing member.
48 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the solvent comprises an aqueous fluid.
49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the top layer is water-dispersible and oleophilic, and responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change to a water-insoluble state.
50 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the top layer is water-dispersible and hydrophilic, and responsive to an imaging fluid by undergoing a phase change to a water-insoluble state.
51 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the top layer comprises a water-dispersible polymer.
52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the water-dispersible polymer comprises an epoxy resin.
53 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a multifunctional amine.
54 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a tetra-carboxylic acid.
55 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the printing member further comprises a crosslinked hydrophilic intermediate layer disposed between the top layer and the substrate.
56 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises PVOH—ZrOH.