Patent ID: 7785431

Claim:
Process for making a compressible flexographic printing plate comprising the steps of (a) preparing a photopolymer layer; (b) preparing a compressible layer of a material comprising (i) voids forming between 10% and 60% of the volume of the material, (ii) at least 70% by weight of a polymer or a polymer mixture that is chemically compatible with the photopolymer, and (iii) at least one functional monomer reactive to a predetermined activation means comprising U.V. radiation; wherein the polymer in the compressible layer is formed using a first activation means selected from the group consisting of heat, isocyanates, electron bombardment and x-rays; wherein the at least one functional monomer reactive to a predetermined activation means comprising U.V. radiation does not react in response to the first activation means; (c) exposing the compressible layer to the first activation means and then fastening the photopolymer layer and the compressible layer to one another, either directly or indirectly, without the use of a separate adhesive layer; (d) after fastening the photopolymer layer and the compressible layer to one another, exposing the flexographic printing plate to the predetermined activation means comprising U.V. radiation such that at least some of the at least one functional monomer reacts with the polymer in the compressible layer wherein zones of different compressibility are obtained within the compressible layer because at least some of the at least one functional monomer reacts in response to the predetermined activation means comprising U.V. radiation.