Method for treating a lithographic printing plate
Method for cleaning a lithographic printing plate comprising the step of applying a liquid to the plate including an aqueous phase, a solvent phase and at least one alkyl (poly) glucoside, said solvent phase including a mixture comprising aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons, characterized in that the amount of solvent phase in the liquid is ≦40% wt.
1. A method for cleaning a lithographic printing plate comprising the step of applying to the plate a liquid including an aqueous phase, a solvent phase and at least one alkyl (poly)glucoside, said solvent phase including a mixture comprising aliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the amount of solvent phase in the liquid is ≦40% wt.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of solvent phase in the liquid is ≦30% wt.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the level of alkyl (poly)glucoside is ≦2% wt.
4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the level of alkyl (poly)glucoside is ≦2% wt.
5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the aromatic hydrocarbons are selected from C 10 -C 11 hydrocarbons.
6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the aromatic hydrocarbons are selected from C 10 -C 11 hydrocarbons.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the aromatic C 10 -C 11 hydrocarbons are alkyl substituted benzenes.
8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the aromatic C 10 -C 11 hydrocarbons are alkyl substituted benzenes.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbons are linear or branched C 7 -C 14 hydrocarbons.
10. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the aliphatic hydrocarbons are linear or branched C 7 -C 14 hydrocarbons.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of aromatic hydrocarbons to aliphatic hydrocarbons ranges from 1:3 to 3:1.
12. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the weight ratio of aromatic hydrocarbons to aliphatic hydrocarbons ranges from 1:3 to 3:1.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid has a flash point of ≧60° C.
14. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the liquid has a flash point of ≧60° C.
15. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the liquid has a flash point of ≧60° C.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the printing plate is obtained by exposing and developing a printing plate precursor comprising a coating including an oleophilic resin which is soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer.
17. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the printing plate is obtained by exposing and developing a printing plate precursor comprising a coating including an oleophilic resin which is soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer.
18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the aromatic hydrocarbons are C 10 -C 11 hydrocarbons and the aliphatic hydrocarbons are linear or branched C 7 -C 14 hydrocarbons.