Patent ID: 7811744
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: B41C,B41N

Abstract:
1. A flexographic infrared direct engraveable printing blank consisting essentially of two layers, wherein the first layer is formed by heating and curing a non-photosensitive flexographic liquid or paste precursor, and the second layer forms a capping layer designed for optimum printing qualities, the printing blank having a thickness of from 1 to 2 mm, the second layer being thinner than the first layer, wherein the non-photosensitive flexographic liquid or paste precursor comprises: a mixture of acrylate oligomers and acrylate or methacrylate monomers; infrared absorbing material; a filler comprising a material that reduces the overall density of the resultant flexographic blank after heat curing, the filler being present in an amount of from 5 to 40 weight % and comprising hollow plastic microspheres, filled plastic microspheres, or poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylonitrile) microspheres; and a heat decomposable peroxide, wherein the viscosity of the mixture of acrylate oligomers and acrylate or methacrylate monomers is less than 2000 cps, which, when the flexographic liquid or paste precursor is heated, it forms a non-thermoplastic elastomeric solid material in the form of a continuous self assembled film that is directly engraveable by infrared laser ablation.