FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to lithographic printing, and is particularly related to a
method for producing lithographic plates without a developing step using an ink jet
printing apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.
[0002] In lithographic printing, a lithographic plate having a hydrophilic surface coated
with a hydrophobic material forming an image is mounted on a lithographic press. Typically
the plate is rotated beneath a water source to spread water across the plate, and
then hydrophobic ink is applied to the plate. The hydrophobic ink does not stick on
the uncoated surface of the plate because of the water extending over the uncoated
surface. The hydrophobic image repels the water but attracts the ink, and thus ink
is applied to the image. The inked image is then used to make lithographic copies.
[0003] Many techniques for producing lithographic plates have been developed. In one common
method, plates having photosensitive coatings are exposed and developed to leave a
hydrophobic image on the plate corresponding to the lithographic image to be printed.
The unexposed portion of the plate remains hydrophilic. According to another technique,
a transparent sheet having a special coating of graphite and a binder is placed over
a plate and subjected to laser beam imaging. The laser beam causes the graphite and
binder to transfer to the plate surface to create a hydrophobic image on the plate.
Yet another technique includes making plates from a prepared original using master
imager machines that resemble photocopiers. According to still another method, a liquid
ink is sprayed onto a plate through a stencil and then the plate is heated to harden
the ink.
[0004] Unfortunately, the prior methods have numerous disadvantages. Some methods require
special chemicals, materials or coatings on the plate and a developing or heating
step to affix the image to the plate. Other methods require expensive, single purpose
equipment, expensive and often potentially harmful chemicals, or considerably operator
time to make the lithographic plate. Still other methods require the operator to make
an original or a stencil image first and then use the original or stencil to make
the plate. However, the original or stencil must be made through other means, requiring
time and additional materials. Methods requiring liquid ink restrict the possible
plate materials because of absorption or diffusion of the ink into or over the plate.
In many if not most cases, the plates are used once and discarded, thereby destroying
the image. As a result, short runs are often economically impractical and many businesses
cannot afford the expense associated with lithographic printing.
[0005] In
US-A- 4 833 486 there is claimed an ink jet image transfer lithographic apparatus and method therefore
which overcomes these and other disadvantages of the prior methods. The claimed ink
jet printer is an ink jet printer suited for use of a hot melt ink. Said patent discloses
printing on rigid and flexible imaging elements. The disadvantage of said method is
that said printers are expensive.
[0006] In more recent times printers suitable for use with a hot melt ink have appeared
on the market which are much cheaper. Those printers have however the disadvantage
that they can not be used with a rigid (e.g. an aluminum foil) lithographic base.
These printers are however perfectly suited for use with a flexible lithographic base.
Paper is an excellent lithographic base for preparing printing plates with printers
suitable for use with hot melt inks. However it has been found that lithographic printing
plates with paper as support prepared with these cheap printers suitable for use with
a hot melt ink yield copies where also the non-image areas accept ink.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a method for making lithographic printing
plates from a flexible lithographic base image-wise imaged with hot melt ink by a
printer suitable for use with a hot melt ink which yields an excellent lithographic
printing plate with a good ink acceptance in the image areas and no ink acceptance
in the non-image.
[0008] It is further an object of the present invention to provide a method for making lithographic
printing plates without development of the lithographic base in a rapid , economical
and ecological way.
[0009] Further objects of the present invention will become clear from the description hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to the present invention there is provided a method for making lithographic
printing plates including the steps of dispensing hot melt hydrophobic ink from a
printhead of a printer suited for use of hot melt inks onto a lithographic base in
a predetermined pattern by melting the ink in the printhead and spraying droplets
of the melted ink directly onto the lithographic base or transferring the ink by means
of an intermediate drum onto the lithographic base into the predetermined pattern,
wherein the ink solidifies essentially upon contact with the lithographic base, characterized
in that the lithographic base comprises a flexible support having a cross-linked hydrophilic
surface.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] According to the present invention, the lithographic base having a cross-linked hydrophilic
surface comprises a flexible support, such as e.g. paper or plastic film, provided
with a cross-linked hydrophilic layer. A particularly suitable cross-linked hydrophilic
layer may be obtained from a hydrophilic binder cross-linked with a cross-linking
agent such as formaldehyde, glyoxal, polyisocyanate or a hydrolysed tetraalkyl orthosilicate.
The latter is particularly preferred; most preferred is tetraethyl or tetramethyl
orthosilicate.
[0012] As hydrophilic binder there may be used hydrophilic (co)polymers such as for example,
homopolymers and copolymers of acrylamide, methylol acrylamide, methylol methacrylamide,
acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate or
maleic anhydride/vinylmethylether copolymers. The hydrophilicity of the (co)polymer
or (co)polymer mixture used is preferably the same as or higher than the hydrophilicity
of polyvinyl acetate hydrolyzed to at least an extent of 60 percent by weight, preferably
80 percent by weight. A preferred hydrophilic binder is polyvinylalcohol.
[0013] The amount of crosslinking agent, in particular of tetraalkyl orthosilicate, is preferably
at least 0.2 parts by weight per part by weight of hydrophilic binder, more preferably
between 0.5 and 5 parts by weight, most preferably between 1.0 parts by weight and
3 parts by weight.
[0014] A cross-linked hydrophilic layer in a lithographic base used in accordance with the
present embodiment preferably also contains substances that increase the mechanical
strength and the porosity of the layer. For this purpose colloidal silica may be used.
The colloidal silica employed may be in the form of any commercially available water-dispersion
of colloidal silica for example having an average particle size up to 40 nm, e.g.
20 nm. In addition inert particles of larger size than the colloidal silica can be
added e.g. silica prepared according to Stöber as described in J. Colloid and Interface
Sci., Vol. 26, 1968, pages 62 to 69 or alumina particles or particles having an average
diameter of at least 100 nm which are particles of titanium dioxide or other heavy
metal oxides. By incorporating these particles the surface of the cross-linked hydrophilic
layer is given a uniform rough texture consisting of microscopic hills and valleys,
which serve as storage places for water in background areas.
[0015] The thickness of a cross-linked hydrophilic layer in a lithographic base in accordance
with this embodiment may vary in the range of 0.2 to 25 µm and is preferably 1 to
10 µm.
[0016] Particular examples of suitable cross-linked hydrophilic layers for use in accordance
with the present invention are disclosed in
EP-A- 601 240, GB-P- 1 419 512, FR-P- 2 300 354, US-P- 3 971 660, US-P- 4 284 705 and
EP-A- 514 490.
[0017] As flexible support of a lithographic base in connection with the present embodiment
it is particularly preferred to use a plastic film e.g. substrated polyethylene terephthalate
film, cellulose acetate film, polystyrene film, polycarbonate film etc... The plastic
film support may be opaque or transparent.
[0018] It is particularly preferred to use a polyester film support to which an adhesion
improving layer has been provided. Particularly suitable adhesion improving layers
for use in accordance with the present invention comprise a hydrophilic binder and
colloidal silica as disclosed in
EP-A- 619 524, EP-A- 620 502 and
EP-A- 619 525. Preferably, the amount of silica in the adhesion improving layer is between 200 mg
per m
2 and 750 mg per m
2. Further, the ratio of silica to hydrophilic binder is preferably more than 1 and
the surface area of the colloidal silica is preferably at least 300 m
2 per gram, more preferably at least 500 m
2 per gram.
[0019] The hot melt ink used in the present invention is a solid hydrophobic ink that is
melted in the ink jet printhead. A hot melt ink, also called a phase change ink consists
of a hot melt ink carrier composition, and a dye. The phase change ink carrier may
be a composition containing optionally a natural wax or a mixture of natural waxes
or a mixture of (a) natural and (a) synthetic wax(es). The main requirement for the
ink according to the invention is to be a meltable, jettable hydrophobic substance
having appropriate physical characteristics, e.g. a phase change ink carrier. Thus,
dyes and coloring agents are not required , but can help the operator to see the image
on the plate.
[0020] A subject phase change ink carrier composition typically comprises a fatty amide-containing
material. The fatty amide-containing material of the phase change ink carrier composition
preferably comprises a tetra-amide compound. The preferred tetra-amide compounds for
producing the phase change ink carrier composition are Dimer acid-based tetra-amides
which preferably include the reaction product of a fatty acid, a diamine (ethylene
diamine) and a Dimer acid. Fatty acids having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms are preferably
employed in the formation of the Dimer acid-based tetra-amide. These Dimer acid-based
tetra-amides are produced by Union Camp and comprise the reaction product of ethylene
diamine, Dimer acid, and the following fatty acids : decanoic acid (Union Camp X3202
-23), myristic acid (Union Camp X3202-56), stearic acid (Union Camp X3138-43, X3164
-23, X3202-44, X3202-46, X3222-65, X3261-37, X3261-53, and X3290-72), docasanic acid
(Union Camp X3202-36). For purposes of this invention, the most preferred Dimer acid-based
tetra-amide is the reaction product of Dimer acid, ethylene diamine and stearic acid
in a stoichiometric ratio of 1:2:2. Stearic acid is the preferred fatty acid reactant
because its adduct with Dimer acid and ethylene diamine has the lowest viscosity of
the dimer acid-based tetra-amides. Its ingredients also are the most readily available
and therefore lowest in cost.
[0021] The fatty amide-containing material can also comprise a mono-amide. In fact, in the
preferred case, the phase change ink carrier composition comprises both a tetra-amide
compound and a mono-amide compound. The mono-amide compound typically comprises either
a primary or secondary mono-amide, but is preferably a secondary mono-amide. Of the
primary mono-amides, stearamide, such as Kemamide S manufactured by Witco Chemical
Company, can be employed herein. As for the secondary mono-amides, behenyl behenamide
(Kemamide EX-666), and stearyl stearamide (Kemamide S-180 and Kemamide EX-672), all
manufactured by Witco Chemical Company, are extremely useful mono-amides. However,
stearyl stearamide is the mono-amide of choice in producing the phase change ink carrier
composition of the present invention.
[0022] Another way of describing the preferred secondary mono-amide compound of this invention
is by structural formula. More especially, the secondary mono-amide compound comprises
as a composition which is represented by the structural formula :

wherein :
x is an integer from 5 to 21
y is an integer from 11 to 43
a is an integer from 6 to 22
b is an integer from 13 to 45.
[0023] The preferred fatty amide-containing compounds of this invention comprise a plurality
of fatty amide materials which are physically compatible with each other. Typically,
even when a plurality of fatty amide-containing compounds are employed to produce
the phase change ink carrier composition, the carrier composition has a substantially
single melting point transition. The melting point of the phase change ink carrier
composition is preferably at least about 70 °C, more preferably at least about 80
°C, and most preferably at least about 85 °C.
[0024] The preferred phase change ink carrier composition comprises a tetra-amide and a
mono-amide. The weight ratio of the tetra-amide to the mono-amide in the preferred
instance is from about 2:1 to 1:10 and more preferably, from about 1:1 to 1:3.
[0025] In order to add more flexibility and adhesion to the phase change ink carrier composition,
a tackifier can be employed. The preferred tackifiers are those which are compatible
with fatty amide-containing materials. These include, for example, Foral 85, a glycerol
ester of hydrogenated abietic (rosin) acid, and Foral 105, a pentaerythritol ester
of hydroabietic (rosin) acid, both manufactured by Hercules Chemical Company; Nevtac
100 and Nevtac 80, synthetic polyterpene resins manufactured by Neville Chemical Company;
and Wingtack 86, a modified synthetic polyterpene resin manufactured by Goodyear Chemical
Company. However, Foral 105 is the tackifier of choice in producing the phase change
ink carrier composition of the present invention.
[0026] Another compound which can be added in forming the subject change ink carrier composition
is a plasticizer which is incorporated into the carrier composition to increase its
flexibility and lower its melt viscosity. Plasticizers which have been found to be
particularly advantageous in the composition of the subject invention preferably include
dioctyl phthalate, diundecyl phthalate, alkylbenzyl phthalate (Santicizer 278) and
triphenyl phosphate, all manufactured by Monsanto Chemical Company; tributoxyethyl
phosphate (KP-140) manufactured by FMC Corporation; dicyclohexyl phthalate (Morflex
150) manufactured by Morflex Chemical Company Inc.; and trioctyl trimellitate, manufactured
by Kodak. However, Santicizer 278 is the plasticizer of choice in producing the phase
change ink carrier composition of the present invention.
[0027] Other materials may be added to the phase change ink carrier composition. In a typical
phase change ink chemical composition antioxidants are added for preventing discoloration
of the carrier composition. The preferred antioxidant materials can include Irganox
1010 manufactured by Ciba Geigy; and Naugard 76, Naugard 512, and Naugard 524 manufactured
by Uniroyal Chemical Company; the most preferred antioxidant being Naugard 524.
[0028] In a preferred case, the phase change ink carrier composition comprises a tetra-amide
and a mono-amide compound, a tackifier, a plasticizer, and a viscosity modifying agent.
The preferred compositional ranges of this phase change ink carrier composition are
as follows : from about 10 to 50 weight percent of a tetra-amide compound, from about
30 to 80 weight percent of a mono-amide compound, from about 0 to 25 weight percent
of a tackifier, from about 0 to 25 weight percent of a plasticizer, and from about
0 to 10 weight percent of a viscosity modifying agent.
[0029] As previously indicated, the subject phase change ink formed from the phase change
ink carrier composition exhibits excellent physical properties. More details are given
in
EP-A 353 979.
[0030] Other preferred phase change ink carriers and phase change inks are disclosed in
EP-A- 519 138, EP-A- 604 023, EP-A- 739 958,
US-A- 5 592 204,WO-96/015201, US-A- 5 531 819, US-A- 5 560 765, WO 90/005893, WO-
91/010711, WO- 91/010710 and
EP-A- 723 999.
[0031] Printers suitable for use of hot melt inks are piezo-drop-on-demand printers which
are well known to those skilled in the art. Such printers are described in e.g.
WO- 90/005893 and
EP-A- 623 472. The image forming requires the following steps. The solid hydrophobic ink is melted
in the ink jet printhead and held in a reservoir. On demand, microdots of ink are
sprayed onto the lithographic base in a predetermined pattern as the plate passes
through the printer.. According to one embodiment of the invention, the microdots
have a diameter of about 50µm. Upon contact with the lithographic base the ink solidifies
and leaves an upraised, hydrophobic pattern on the lithographic base, forming the
lithographic printing plate. No developing or drying step is required.
[0032] In another embodiment there is used an indirect method including applying the ink
on an intermediate drum and contacting said drum with the lithographic base. Said
process is disclosed in
EP-A- 604 023.
[0033] In another embodiment of the invention an ink jet printer suitable for using a hot
melt ink is placed adjacent to the plate cylinder of an offset printing machine and
directed to spray hot melt ink onto a lithographic base held on the plate cylinder.
A computer or other information source supplies graphics and textual information to
the printhead via a lead.
[0034] The printing plate of the present invention can also be used in the printing process
as a seamless sleeve printing plate. This cylindrical printing plate which has as
diameter the diameter of the print cylinder is slided on the print cylinder instead
of applying in a classical way a classically formed printing plate. More details on
sleeves are given in "Grafisch Nieuws" ed. Keesing, 15, 1995, page 4 to 6.
[0035] The following example illustrates the present invention without limiting it thereto.
All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise specified.
EXAMPLE 1
Preparation of the solution for the subbing layer.
[0036] To a solution of 11.4 g of gelatine (viscosity : 19-21 mPas) in 940 ml of water was
added 31.7 ml(11.4 g solid product) KIESELSOL 300 F (tradename for 30 % aqueous dispersion
of colloidal silica - surface area of 300 m
2 per g). Anionic wetting agents ( 0.6 g ) and biocides (1 g ) were added.
Preparation of the hydrophilic layer.
[0037] To 440 g of a dispersion containing 21.5 % TiO
2 (average particle size 0.3 to 0.5 um) and 2.5 % polyvinyl alcohol in deionized water
were subsequently added, while stirring, 250 g of a 5 % polyvinyl alcohol solution
in water, 105 g of a hydrolyzed 22 % tetramethyl orthosilicate emulsion in water and
22 g of a 10 % solution of a wetting agent. To this mixture was then added 183g of
deionized water and the pH was adjusted to pH=4.
Preparation of the lithographic base.
[0038] To a polyethylene terephthalate support,coated with a primer containing 170 mg/m
2 of a latex of copoly(vinylidenechloride/ methyl methacrylate/ icatonic acid) and
40 mg/m
2 of silica with a surface area of 100 m
2/g was applied the above described solution for the subbing layer at a solids coverage
of 750 mg/m
2. On top of the subbing layer was coated the above mentioned hydrophilic layer to
a wet coating thickness of 50 g/m
2, dried at 30°C and subsequently hardened by subjecting it to a temperature of 60°C
for 1 week.
Printing
[0039] With a printer suitable for use of hot melt inks Tektronix phaser 340 (marketed by
Tektronix USA) and as hot melt ink Black Colorstix ink for Phaser 340/350 an image
was applied on the lithographic base. Said imaged lithographic base was used as a
lithographic printing plate on an ABDick printing machine . The Van Son Rubberbase
ink and as fountain solution 2% Tame was used. The printing copies were excellent
from the fifth copie, showing a good ink acceptance in the image areas and no ink
acceptance in the non-image areas.
[0040] When a white copying paper Agfa 701 (81 g/m
2; Bekk porosity 25 ml/s)was used in the same printing procedure the hundredth copie
still showed a strong ink acceptance in the non-image areas.
1. A method for making lithographic printing plates including the steps of dispensing
hot melt hydrophobic ink from a printhead of a printer suited for use of hot melt
inks onto a lithographic base in a predetermined pattern by melting the ink in the
printhead and spraying droplets of the melted ink directly onto the lithographic base
or transferring the ink by means of an intermediate drum onto the lithographic base
into the predetermined pattern, wherein the ink solidifies essentially upon contact
with the lithographic base, characterized in that the lithographic base comprises a flexible support having a cross-linked hydrophilic
surface.
2. A method for making lithographic printing plates according to claim 1 wherein said
cross-linked hydrophilic surface comprises a hydrophilic binder
3. A method for making lithographic printing plates according to claim 2 wherein said
hydrophilic binder has a hydrophilicity which is the same as or higher than the hydrophilicity
of polyvinyl acetate hydrolyzed to at least an extent of 60 percent by weight.
4. A method for making lithographic printing plates according to claim 3 wherein said
hydrophilic binder is polyvinylalcohol.
5. A method for making lithographic printing plates according to claim 1 wherein said
cross-linked hydrophilic surface comprises a cross-linking agent.
6. A method for making lithographic printing plates according to claim 5 wherein said
cross-linking agent is a hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate.
7. A method for making lithographic printing plates according to claim 6 wherein said
hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate is tetramethyl or tetraethyl orthosilicate.
8. A method for making lithographic printing plates according to claim 1 wherein the
hydrophilic surface contains a hydrophilic binder and a cross-linking agent and wherein
the amount of cross-linking agent is at least 1 part by weight per part by weight
of hydrophilic binder.
9. A method for making lithographic printing plates according to any of claims 1 to 8
wherein the hydrophobic support is an organic resin support or a polyolefine coated
paper base.
10. A method for making lithographic printing plates according to any of claims 1 to 9
wherein the hot melt ink comprises a fatty amide-containing material.
1. Ein durch die nachstehenden Schritte
gekennzeichnetes Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten :
die Zufuhr von hydrophober Heißschmelztinte von einem Druckkopf eines für Verwendung
mit Heißschmelztinten geeigneten Druckers auf einen lithografischen Träger entsprechend
einem vorgegebenen Muster, indem die Druckfarbe im Druckkopf geschmolzen wird und
Tropfen der geschmolzenen Farbe direkt auf den lithografischen Träger gespritzt werden
oder die Druckfarbe über eine zwischengeschaltete Trommel entsprechend dem vorgegebenen
Muster auf den lithografischen Träger übertragen wird, wobei die Druckfarbe im wesentlichen
bei Kontakterhaltung mit dem lithografischen Träger erstarrt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der lithografische Träger einen biegsamen Träger mit einer vernetzten hydrophilen
Oberfläche enthält.
2. Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die vernetzte hydrophile Oberfläche ein hydrophiles Bindemittel enthält.
3. Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das hydrophile Bindemittel eine Hydrophilie aufweist, die höher oder gleich der Hydrophilie
von zu wenigstens 60 Gew.-% hydrolysiertem Polyvinylacetat ist.
4. Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das hydrophile Bindemittel Polyvinylalkohol ist.
5. Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die vernetzte hydrophile Oberfläche ein Vernetzungsmittel enthält.
6. Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Vernetzungsmittel ein hydrolysiertes Tetraalkylorthosilikat ist.
7. Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das hydrolysierte Tetraalkylorthosilikat Tetramethylorthosilikat oder Tetraethylorthosilikat
ist.
8. Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die hydrophile Oberfläche ein hydrophiles Bindemittel und ein Vernetzungsmittel enthält
und die Menge Vernetzungsmittel zumindest 1 Gewichtsteil je Gewichtsteil hydrophiles
Bindemittel beträgt.
9. Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten nach einem der Ansprüche 1
bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der hydrophobe Träger ein Träger aus organischem Harz oder ein polyolefinbeschichteter
Papierträger ist.
10. Verfahren zur Herstellung lithografischer Druckplatten nach einem der Ansprüche 1
bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Heißschmelztinte ein Fettsäureamid enthaltendes Material enthält.
1. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique englobant les étapes
consistant à distribuer une encre hydrophobe thermofusible à partir d'une tête d'impression
d'une imprimante appropriée pour utiliser des encres thermofusibles sur une base lithographique
dans un modèle prédéterminé en portant l'encre à fusion dans la tête d'impression
et en pulvérisant des gouttelettes de l'encre portée à fusion directement sur la base
lithographique ou en transférant l'encre à l'aide d'un tambour intermédiaire sur la
base lithographique dans le modèle prédéterminé, dans lequel l'encre se solidifie
essentiellement lors de sa mise en contact avec la base lithographique, caractérisé en ce que la base lithographique comprend un support flexible possédant une surface hydrophile
réticulée.
2. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique selon la revendication
1, dans lequel ladite surface hydrophile réticulée comprend un liant hydrophile.
3. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique selon la revendication
2, dans lequel ledit liant hydrophile possède un caractère hydrophile qui est identique
ou supérieur au caractère hydrophile d'un acétate de polyvinyle soumis à une hydrolyse
à concurrence d'au moins 60 % en poids.
4. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique selon la revendication
3, dans lequel ledit liant hydrophile est l'alcool polyvinylique.
5. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique selon la revendication
1, dans lequel ladite surface hydrophile réticulée comprend un agent de réticulation.
6. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique selon la revendication
5, dans lequel ledit agent de réticulation est de l'orthosilicate de tétraalkyle hydrolysé.
7. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique selon la revendication
6, dans lequel ledit orthosilicate de tétraalkyle hydrolysé est de l'orthosilicate
de tétraméthyle ou de tétraéthyle.
8. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique selon la revendication
1, dans lequel ladite surface hydrophile contient un liant hydrophile et un agent
de réticulation et dans lequel la quantité de l'agent de réticulation s'élève à au
moins 1 partie en poids par partie en poids du liant hydrophile.
9. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique selon l'une quelconque
des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel le support hydrophobe est un support en résine
organique ou une base de papier couché avec de la polyoléfine.
10. Procédé pour fabriquer des clichés d'impression lithographique selon l'une quelconque
des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel l'encre thermofusible comprend une matière contenant
un amide gras.