Patent ID: 9266316
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: B41C,B41N,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A flexographic printing precursor that is laser-engraveable to provide a relief image, the flexographic printing precursor consisting essentially of a substrate, and, in order: a non-printing laser-engraveable layer that is directly disposed on the substrate, which non-printing laser-engraveable layer has a dry thickness of at least 300 μm and up to and including 2,500 μm and comprises: (1) at least 40 weight % and up to and including 80 weight % of a first elastomer, (2) at least 5 weight % and up to and including 20 weight %, of a polymer that is nitrocellulose, a polymer comprising a triazene group, a glycidyl azide polymer, or a poly(vinyl nitrate), and (3) at least 5 weight % and up to and including 15 weight % of a first near-infrared radiation absorber, all amounts based on the total dry weight of the non-printing laser-engraveable layer, and an outermost non-metallic printing laser-engraveable layer disposed over the non-printing laser-engraveable layer, the outermost non-metallic, printing laser-engraveable layer having a dry thickness of at least 250 μm and up to and including 4,000 μm and comprising: (1) a second elastomer and (2) at least 1 weight % and up to and including 25 weight % of a second near-infrared radiation absorber, the amount based on the total dry weight of the outermost non-metallic printing laser-engraveable layer, wherein the non-printing laser-engraveable layer is more sensitive to laser irradiation at a wavelength of at least 700 nm and up to and including 1300 nm than the outermost non-metallic printing laser-engraveable layer.