Method of improving light stability of flexographic printing plates featuring flat top dots

1. A photocurable flexographic printing blank comprising:

a) a support layer;

b) one or more photocurable layers disposed on the support layer, wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprise:

i) a binder;

ii) one or more monomers;

iii) an alpha-aminoketone photoinitiator, wherein the alpha-aminoketone photoinitiator comprises 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholinpropan-1-one; and

iv) an additive selected from the group consisting of phosphites, phosphines, thioether amine compounds, and combinations of one or more of the foregoing;

c) a laser ablatable masking layer disposed on the one or more photocurable layers, the laser ablatable masking layer comprising a radiation opaque material; and

d) optionally, a removable coversheet.

2. The photocurable flexographic printing blank according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprises an additive which comprises tris(nonylphenyl)phosphite.

3. The photocurable flexographic printing blank according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprises an additive which comprises a thioether amine compound selected from the group consisting of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(4,6-bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino)phenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(nonylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl ] amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octadecylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-octylsulfanyl) -1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-bis(2-methylnonan-2-yl)phenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(hexylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(heptylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2-tert-butyl-6-m -ethylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(ethylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentan-2-ylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(2-octylsulfanylethylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-dibutylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-dimethylphenol, 2,6-ditert-butyl-4-[[4-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxyanilino)-6-octylsulfany-1-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]phenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(pentylsulfanyl) -1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino-2,6-dimethylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(hexylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2-tert-butylphenol, 2,6-ditert-butyl-4-[(4-octylsulfanyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]phenol, 4[[4,6-bis(ethylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-dimethylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-butylamino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-cyclohexylamino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 2-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-6-tert-butylphenol, 2-tert-butyl-6-methyl-4-[[4-octylsulfanyl-6-[(2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)amino]-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]phenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanylmethyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)methylamino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[(4-amino-6-chloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, and 4-[(4-cyclohexyl-6-cyclohexylsulfanyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]-2,6-di(propan-2-yl)phenol.

4. The photocurable flexographic printing blank according to claim 3 , wherein the additive comprises 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(4,6-bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino)phenol.

5. The photocurable flexographic printing blank according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprises an additive which comprises a phosphine selected from the group consisting of triphenyl phosphine, tri-p-tolylphosphine, diphenylmethylphosphine, diphenylethylphosphine, diphenylpropylphosphine, dimethylphenylphosphine, diethylphenylphosphine, dipropylphenylphosphine, divinylphenylphosphine, divinyl-p-methoxyphenylphosphine, divinyl-p-bromophenylphosphine, divinyl-p-tolylphosphine, diallylphenylphosphine, divinyl-p-bromophenylphosphine, and diallyl-p-tolylphosphine and combinations of one or more of the foregoing.

6. The photocurable flexographic printing blank according to claim 1 , further comprising a material selected from the group consisting of amine acrylates, amine reaction accelerators, and combinations of one or more of the foregoing.

7. The photocurable flexographic printing blank according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers further comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, antiozonants, fillers, reinforcing agents, UV absorbers and combinations of one or more of the foregoing.

8. The photocurable flexographic printing blank according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers does not contain butylated hydroxytoluene, 2,4-Bis(octylthio)-6-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylanilino)-1,3,5-triazine, or 1,3,5-Trimethyl-2,4,6-tris (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene.

9. The photocurable flexographic printing blank according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more compounds comprise a plasticizer.

10. A method of producing a flexographic relief image printing element from a photocurable flexographic printing blank, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a photocurable flexographic printing blank, the photocurable flexographic printing blank comprising:

i) a backing or support layer;

ii) one or more photocurable layers disposed on the backing or support layer, wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprise:

1) a binder;

2) one or more monomers;

3) an alpha-aminoketone photoinitiator, wherein the alpha-aminoketone photoinitiator comprises 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl) -2-morpholinpropan-1-one; and

4) an additive selected from the group consisting of phosphites, phosphines, thioether amine compounds, and combinations of one or more of the foregoing; and

iii) a laser ablatable masking layer disposed on the one or more photocurable layers, the laser ablatable masking layer comprising a radiation opaque material;

b) selectively ablating the laser ablatable masking layer to create an in situ negative of a desired image in the laser ablatable masking layer;

c) exposing the one or more photocurable layers to actinic radiation through the in situ negative to selectively crosslink and cure portions of the one or more photocurable layers; and

d) developing the exposed one or more photocurable layers of the photocurable printing blank to reveal the relief image therein, said relief image comprising a plurality of relief printing dots.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprises an additive which comprises tris(nonylphenyl)phosphite.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprises an additive which comprises a thioether amine compound selected from the group consisting of 2,6-di-tert -butyl-4-(4,6-bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino)phenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(nonylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octadecylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-bis(2-methylnonan-2-yl)phenol, 4[[4,6-bis(hexylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(heptylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2-tert-butyl-6-m-ethylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(ethylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentan-2-ylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(2-octylsulfanylethylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-dibutylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-dimethylphenol, 2,6-ditert-butyl-4[[4-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxyanilino)-6-octylsulfany-1-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]phenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(pentylsulfanyl) -1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino-2,6-dimethylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(hexylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2-tert-butylphenol, 2,6-ditert-butyl-4-[(4-octylsulfanyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]phenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(ethylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-2,6-dimethylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]butylamino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-cyclohexylamino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 2-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]-6-tert-butylphenol, 2-tert-butyl-6-methyl-4-[[4-octylsulfanyl-6-[(2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl]amino]-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]amino]phenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanylmethyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[[4,6-bis(octylsulfanyl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)methylamino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, 4-[(4-amino-6-chloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]-2,6-ditert-butylphenol, and 4-[(4-cyclohexyl-6-cyclohexylsulfanyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino]-2,6-di(propan-2-yl)phenol.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the additive comprises 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(4,6-bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazin-2-ylamino)phenol.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprises an additive which comprises a phosphine selected from the group consisting of triphenyl phosphine, tri-p-tolylphosphine, diphenylmethylphosphine, diphenylethylphosphine, diphenylpropylphosphine, dimethylphenylphosphine, diethylphenylphosphine, dipropylphenylphosphine, divinylphenylphosphine, divinyl-p-methoxyphenylphosphine, divinyl-p-bromophenylphosphine, divinyl-p-tolylphosphine, diallylphenylphosphine, divinyl-p-bromophenylphosphine, and diallyl-p-tolylphosphine and combinations of one or more of the foregoing.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of amine acrylates, amine reaction accelerators, and combinations of one or more of the foregoing.

16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers further comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of plasticizers, antiozonants, fillers, reinforcing agents, UV absorbers and combinations of one or more of the foregoing.

17. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers does not contain butylated hydroxytoluene, 2,4-Bis(octylthio)-6-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylanilino) -1,3,5-triazine, or 1,3,5-Trimethyl-2,4,6-tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)benzene.

18. The photocurable flexographic printing plate according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprises one or more additional photoinitiators, the one or more additional photoinitiators being selected from the group consisting of benzoin alkyl ethers, dialkoxyacetophenones, aldehyde and ketone carbonyl compounds having at least one aromatic nucleus attached directly to the carboxyl, and combinations of the foregoing.

19. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more photocurable layers comprises one or more additional photoinitiators, the one or more additional photoinitiators being selected from the group consisting of benzoin alkyl ethers, dialkoxyacetophenones, aldehyde and ketone carbonyl compounds having at least one aromatic nucleus attached directly to the carboxyl, and combinations of the foregoing.