| abstract |
A seamless, trilaminate, photopolymer cylindrical printing plate useful in a variety of printing processes, including the flexographic, letter press, dry-offset, intaglio, and gravure processes, capable of millions of printing runs with minimal degradation. The seamless, photopolymer, cylindrical printing plate has a seamless trilaminate cylindrical sleeve with a constant cross-sectional diameter and a longitudinal axis, a clear matte sealant layer completely covering the seamless trilaminate cylindrical sleeve, a bonder layer completely covering the clear matte sealant layer, and a photopolymer layer completely covering the bonder layer. A pigmented primer layer may completely cover the matte sealant layer and be completely covered by the bonder layer. A hardening layer and an anti-oxidant layer may completely cover the photopolymer layer. A method of manufacturing the seamless, trilaminate, photopolymer cylindrical printing plate is also provided. The wall thickness of the seamless, trilaminate, photopolymer cylindrical printing plate can be varied as desired to achieve different cylindrical repeat sizes, especially by controlling the thickness of the seamless trilaminate cylindrical sleeve, the thickness of the photopolymer layer, or both thicknesses. |