Imaging member for offset printing applications
View Patent ↗An imaging member surface layer including between 55% and 95% fluorosilicone, between 5% and 20% infrared-absorbing material by weight, between 1% and 5% silica, between 0.15% and 0.35% catalyst and between 10% and 18% crosslinker by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer. The surface layer has a thickness between 10 microns and 1 millimeter and a surface tension energy of 22 dynes/cm or less and a polar components of 5 dynes or less.
1. A surface layer fluoroelastomer, comprising:
between 55% and 95% fluo ° silicone by weight, based on a total weight of the surface layer fluoroelastomer;
between 5% and 20% infrared-absorbing material by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer fluoroelastomer;
between 1% and 5% silica by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer fluoroelastomer;
between 0.15% and 0.35% catalyst by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer fluoroelastomer; and
between 10% and 18% crosslinker by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer fluoroelastomer.
2. The surface layer fluoroelastomer of claim 1 , comprising:
between 83% and 93% fluorosilicone,
between 7% and 15% infrared-absorbing material by weight,
between 1% and 4% silica,
between 0.2% and 0.3% catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a Pt catalyst, and between 12% and 16% crosslinker.
3. The surface layer fluoroelastomer of claim 2 , wherein the infrared-absorbing material comprises at least one of carbon black, a metal oxide, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphite, and carbon fibers.
4. The surface layer fluoroelastomer of claim 1 , comprising:
about 20% carbon black,
about 1.15% silica,
about 0.25% of a 14.3% Pt Catalyst in TFT, and
about 15% crosslinker.
5. The surface layer fluoroelastomer of claim 3 , wherein the carbon black has a sulphur content of 0.3% or less.
6. The surface layer fluoroelastomer of claim 5 , wherein the silica comprises a hydrophobic silica.
7. The surface layer fluoroelastomer of claim 6 , wherein the surface layer fluoroelastomer comprises about 1.15% hydrophobic silica.
8. The surface layer fluoroelastomer of claim 7 , wherein the carbon black has an average particle size of between 2 nanometers and 10 microns, and wherein the silica has an average particle size of between 10 nanometers and 0.2 microns.
9. The surface layer fluoroelastomer of claim 8 , wherein at least 75% of siloxane units in the fluorosilicone are fluorinated.
10. The surface layer fluoroelastomer of claim 9 , wherein the carbon black is not agglomerated within the fluorosilicone.
11. An imaging member comprising a surface layer, wherein the surface layer comprises:
between 55% and 95% fluorosilicone by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer;
between 5% and 20% infrared-absorbing material by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer;
between 1% and 5% silica by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer;
between 0.15% and 0.35% catalyst by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer; and
between 10% and 18% crosslinker by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer,
wherein the surface layer has a thickness between 10 microns and 1 millimeter, and a surface tension energy of 22 dynes/cm or less and a polar components of 5 dynes or less.
12. The imaging member of claim 11 , wherein the surface layer comprises:
between 83% and 93% fluorosilicone,
between 7% and 15% infrared-absorbing material by weight,
between 1% and 4% silica,
between 0.2% and 0.3% catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a Pt catalyst, and
between 12% and 16% crosslinker.
13. The imaging member of claim 12 , wherein the infrared-absorbing material comprises at least one of carbon black, a metal oxide, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphite, and carbon fibers.
14. The imaging member of claim 13 , wherein the surface layer comprises hydrophobic silica, and wherein the carbon black has a sulphur content less than 0.3%.
15. A method of forming an imaging member, comprising:
flow coating a surface layer on an substrate; and
curing the coated surface layer at an elevated temperature,
wherein the surface layer comprises:
between 55% and 95% fluorosilicone by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer;
between 5% and 20% infrared-absorbing material by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer;
between 1% and 5% silica by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer;
between 0.15% and 0.35% catalyst by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer; and
between 10% and 18% crosslinker by weight, based on the total weight of the surface layer,
wherein the surface layer has a thickness between 10 microns and 1 millimeter, and a surface tension energy of 22 dynes/cm or less and a polar components of 5 dynes or less.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the surface layer comprises:
between 83% and 93% fluorosilicone,
between 7% and 15% infrared-absorbing material by weight,
between 1% and 4% silica,
between 0.2% and 0.3% catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a Pt catalyst, and
between 12% and 16% crosslinker,
wherein the infrared-absorbing material comprises at least one of carbon black, a metal oxide, carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphite, and carbon fibers.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the surface layer comprises a hydrophobic silica, and wherein the carbon black has a sulphur content of 0.30% or less.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the carbon black has an average particle size of between 2 nanometers and 10 microns, and wherein the silica has an average particle size of between 10 nanometers and 0.2 microns.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least 75% of siloxane units in the fluorosilicone are fluorinated.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the carbon black is not agglomerated within the fluorosilicone.