CA1073574A - Planographic printing ink - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A novel ink formulation, especially useful in Driography printing, is disclosed. The ink formulation comprises a basic planographic printing ink vehicle, a pigment, a modifying varnish and a flow control agent to provide an ink, especially suitable for use in Driography, which exhibits desirable handling-viscos-ities under ambient conditions, improved rheological properties under severe press-operating conditions, and provides printings having sharp delineation, fidelity and excellent reproducibility in depth of color tones in long press runs. The basic printing ink vehicle may be a vehicle designed for either sheet-fed or heat-set printing systems. The novel ink formulation is designed to have a high viscosity and avoid becoming pseudoplastic in its behavior at higher press temperatures, which generally can range from about 85°F. to 125°F. and preferably, avoids becoming pseudoplastic at temperatures up to about 140°F. or more.

Description

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This invention relates to planographic printing inks.
It particularly concerns novel inks, especially adaptable for use in a planographic printing process known as Driography, which comprise a basic planographic printing ink vehicle, a pigment, a selective modifying varnish and a flow control agent, and, advantageously, certain tack maskers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTI_ In planographic printing, as the term implies, both the image and non-image areas lie substantially in the same plane.
The non-image areas are made ink-repellent so that when ink is applied by roller to the plate surface, only the image areas accept the ink for transfer to a copy sheet. Lithography is the best known form of planography and has heretofore been the only known practical and successful process of planographic printing. It works on the theory that water and oil are immiscible. The non-image areas are made water-receptive (hydrophilic), and when water-wet they repel the oily ink. The image areas are ink-receptive (organophilic) and water-repellent (hydrophobic). On the press, the plate conventionally is first dampened with a fountain solution (which wets the background or non-image areas), after which ink is rolled over the plate by form rollers. The ink coats the image areas, but is repelled from the dampened non-image areas.
In present times, most lithography is done by "offset", wherein the plate does not itself contact the copy sheet, but instead contacts a rubber-like blanket roller, or cylinder :1073~7~

during each revolution. The blanket recelves the ink image and, in turn, revolves and transfers ("offsets") it to the copy sheet.
~ Lithography was well established as a separate branch i of the printing industry in the early l9001s. ~ecause a i number of advantages are realized by the planographic method of printing, lithographic printing has been a well-recognized and widely-accepted part of the printing art for many yearæ.
Despite numerous developments and improvements which have ; 10 been made over the years, and notwithstanding difficulties inherent therein, lithography has retained its total reliance on the original concept that water which is coated o-~er the non-image areas of a printing surface, being irmmiscible with oil, will reject an oil-based printing ink.
~ ne of the difficulties inherent ln having both ink and fountain, or dampening, solutions present is that the dampening solution applied to the plates flows back lnto the train of lnking, or form rollers on the press, during the course of the printing run, causing emulsification of the ink. In addition to back flowing, the fountain solution also tends to flow forward over the offset or blanket cylinder, moistening the paper causing it to curl and change dimension. This cr~ates special difficulties in securing accurate registration ln color printlng where the paper undergoes multiple passes through the presses. Control of the delicate balance between ink and fountain solution, which is necessary to produce image fidelity and uniformity, is difficult to maintain, and must be constantly watched, especially as conditions change on the press during the course of a printing run. This is further complicated by the difficulty ln maintaining the desired chemical consistency of the fountain solution on the press, especially in long p~ess runs. The fountain solution ., ' :. , . - . ' . . - - -iO~3~

is generally a mixture of water, acid, buffer an~ gum designed to keep the non-image areas o~ the pla~e passivated and ink repellent to prevent them from receiving lnk. The nature of the fountain solution affects the working properties o~ the lnk being used. Too m~ch acid causes image removal (sharpening), retards drying and causes roller stripping. Too much gum encourages emulsification. The lithographic process requires that a balance be maintained between ink and fountain solution.
If the water layer on the plate falls below a certain poi~t, the ink begins to catch up into the non-image areas and scumming, or sensitization of the non-image areas, occurs.
Scumming can be eliminated by increasing the amount of water reaching the plate or by lowering the temperature of the fountain solution. This latter change lncreases the viscosity of the ink on the plate and form rollers making it less mobile and thereby less prone to water pick-up and mechanical breakdown into the non-image areas. In an e~fort to minimize these problems, the proper formulation of fountain solution itsel~ has become a highly complex and demanding art since the fountain solution in many cases determines the level of artistic and commercially acceptable quality which can be attained in li~hographic printing.
During the more than half-century in which lithography has been an established commercial form of printing, in which the desirability of eliminating the step of dampening the plate with water has been recognized, no one was able to develop a successful planographic printing plate having a printing surface with background areas that are ink-repellent without being pre-wet by an ink-immiscible liquid until the recent advent of Driography. Driography provides for the flrst time a substantially simplified planographic printing ~ 5 process wherein need for all the sophisticated dampening systems has been obviated.
A Driography printing plate and process are described in U.S. Patent 3,511,178 to J.L. Curtin. The Driography process is based on the properties of the plate involving adhesion.
In general, Driography comprises a printing plate having a background surface, or non-image area with a sufficiently low adhesion to the printing ink so that, without pre-wetting the plate, the ink that is applied to the plate in such areas will not split away and transfer from the inking rollers to -the plate. That is, the adhesion of the ink to the inking roller and the cohesion forces between the ink particles are both greater than the adhesion between the ink and the surface of the plate and the ink will not transfer to the surface.
Although when a press utilizing Driography is started up, the ink spreads over the entire printing plate, the non-image areas of the plate are rapidly cleaned by the form `
rollers since the forces between the roller and the ink are greater than the forces between the ink and non-image areas.
Driography has many advantages over conventional lithog-raphy. The printing quality and cosmetic appeal of the final product are better than conventional lithography utilizing a wet offset process. The press can operate at faster speeds. The makeready is shorter and easier, since there is no need to achieve a balance between the ink and fountain solution or the solution and the printing plate, each of which balances, in conventional, wet lithographic processes, requires a considerable amount of time to achieve, as well as constant monitoring to maintain them for successful printing. Furthermore, the absence of the fountain solution system makes the process more economical.

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~ lthough Drio~raphy has these and other adv~ntages, it results in the provision of new problems which require resolution if the apparent advantages provlded by Driography are to be utilizable in a practical manner. An evaluation of planographic inks can be divided into three categories, (1) those which evaluate the handling characteristics of the ink under ambient conditions, (2) those which relate to hou the ink will perform on a press; and (3) those which relate to the quality (e.g., the physical, optical and chemical properties) of the printing produced.
An example of the new problems created involves the absence of the fountain solution system which results ln the press heating up and the printing plate reaching higher temperatures than in conventional, wet lithography where approximately 40% of the water of the fountain solution evaporates from the press and in doing so, cools the rollers an~ the printing plate. In a conventional, wet lithographic pro~ess, the press will normally run at temperatures up to about 90 to 100F., depending upon ambient conditions, air-conditioning ln the press room, etc., and the printing plateto which the ink is applied will typlcally be about 10F.
below this press temperature. In Driography, the printing press will normally be about lO~F., or more, higher than the wet press temperature due to the absence of the fountain solution. Because of this extra heat in Driography, and the loss of the acid present in the fountain solution which lmmobilizes part of the ink drying system to provide a retarding effect upon ink drying, conventional lithographic lnks tend to dry on the press faster ln Driography than in conventional, wet lithography. For example, a lO~C. rise in press temperature in general doubles the lnk drying rate so that the lnk dries on the press in approximately one-half ; -6-. .

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the time. Since the te~peratures in the press are approximately 20F. hlgher in Driography than in wet lithography, conventlonal lithographic inks tend to dry on the press when used ln Driography and do not move through the press properly to transfer to the copy sheet.
Press stabllity is, therefore, not as good with Driography as it is with conventional wet lithography. By press stability is meant the ability of the ink, under press-operating conditions (e.g., temperatures and shear rates), to move through the press (e.g., through the rollers, plate and blanket and transfer to and from the printing plate) and the tendency of the ink not to dry in the roller train, plate and blanket. The application and form rollers in the printing process both supply ink and keep the printing plate clean by removing ink from the non-image areas of the plate. ~n ink has low press stability when the ink dries in the roller train, on the printing plate or blanket~ or if the ink fails to transfer ~rom the form rollers to the printing plate.
~onin~ is another example of a problem with Driography.
Toning occurs when ink is not refused by the non-image areas of the printing plate. The result of toning is the application of ink to the copy sheet in the non-image areas. Toning may be ln the form of a light background color in the non-image areas of the copy sheet so that the copy sheet appears dlrty. In severe toning, the background, or non-image areas of the copy sheet, merge into the printed, or i~age, areas.
Toning can be related to temperature. The toning temperature of an ink is that temperature at which the in~, under gi~en shear rates, loses internal cohesion and becomes pseudoplastic in behavior. At this te~peratur~, control of ink application, i.e., ink being picked up from the printing plate by the form rollers, is lost. Toning is, accordingly, ~73S'7~

analogous to scummi~g in co~ventional, wet lithography.
Conventional lithbgraphic inks have very low ~oning temperatures when used ln Driography, wor~ing well in Driography at about 75F., and below. Although some conventional lithographic ; inks will function at slightly higher temperatures, e.g., up to 85F., ~eir utility is limited by uncertainty of operation and limitations on color.
Conventional planographic inks do not perform well in Driography printing. They are not press-stable, partlcu~arly under the high temperatures and shear rates occurring in Driography printing, which does not have the advantages provided by a fountain solution. In addition, toning ~s produced and the quality of the printing itself is less than that desired.
It is considered that at low shear rates, typically rhe Driography ink system should be near Newtonian and at hlgh shear rates, it should move into the dilatant zone. This accounts for the plate/form roller behavior to give a wipe action of the form roller oVer the plate with the ink tending to break clean from the low energy surface. In this type o~
syste~, the faster the roller movement~ the more resistant to movement there is from the system. In addition, the Driography ink system tends to heat up and is, therefore, temperature sensitive.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present inventlon is directed to improved planographic printing inks~ especially suitable for use in Driography processes.

An ob~ect of the present invention is the pr~vision of planographic ink which are suitable for use in a Priography prlnting system. Another ob~ect is the provision of such lnks which exhibit viscosities suitable for handling under ~ 357~ -.

ambient condltions. Still another ob~ect is the provision of such inks having rheological properties (e.g., viscosity~
flow, adhesion, and tack) whlch result ln advantageous performance under the conditions of temperature and stress encountered on a Drio~raphic press, particularly across a broad range of press-operating temperatures, e.g., 85 to 140F., which range involves temperatures higher than temperatures suitable for use with conventional wet lithographic inks~ while exhibiting high press stabillty and with the avoidance of toning.- The non-image area of the dry plate used in Driography is usually a layer of silicone rubber having a low energy surface. Still another ob;ect is the provision of such inks ha~ing such rheology which are not deleteriously affected significantly by interactlon between the vehicle-pigment ingredients of the ink. Another object i8 the provision of such inks which exhibit high viscosities and internal cohesion, and, low yield value and surface energy, and thus are able to flow, transfer and lay down across the broad range of press-operating conditions including the range of temperatures mentioned above, and at low and high shear rates (e.g., those produced by high press speeds, e.g., up to 1000 fpm, or more), while maintaining high viscosities and internal cohesion, ~nd avoid pseudoplasticity.
Another ob~ect, is the provision of such an ink having a low tack while avoiding substantial syneresis in both the stressed and unstressed state. Syneresis further deleteriously ; affects the flow of the ink through, transferability of the ink within, and trapping recovery of overprint a-~ng, the printing operation.
Still another ob~ect is the provision of such an ink which provides high quality printing, e.g., printings which are sharp and exhibit fidelity, excellent reproducibility in 10735~
~epth of color tone, absence of toning and are rub reslstant.
These and other advani,ageous ob~ects are accompllshed by the inks of the present invention whlch exhlbit a unique balance of rheological propert~es and advantageous performance characteristics, particularly under the severe press-operating conditions encountered in Driography, and which provide high-quality printings.
The unique balance of rheological properties and advantag-eous performance characteristics and high quality printings are provided by a novel combination of components, co-acting with one another, to enhance each of their beneficial effects and, simultaneously, to alleviate their deleterious ef~cts, to the novel planographic inks.
The novel inks of the present invention comprise a ba~ic planographic printing ink vehicle, a pigment, conventional ink ingredients, a selected modifying varnish, and a flow control additive, and, advantageously, certain tack maskers.
The basic ink vehicle may be designed for use in a heat-~et printing system ~here the inks are dried by heat or may be designed for use in a sheet-Ped printing system where the inks set and dry by oxidation. The basic vehicle can be a gelled (either chemically- or physically-gelled) or a non-gelled vehicle. A "chemically-gelled vehicle" is one wherein the vehicle has been gelled as a result of chemical reaction with a "chemical-gelling agent", as distinguished from a . .
"physlcally-gelled vehicle", which is a vehicle basically gelled as a result of physical interaction between the vehicle and a "physical-gelling agent". The gelling of the vehicle is another aspect of the present inventlon since it enhances the thermal stability of the ink and diminishes the prospect of toning. ~hemically-gelled vehicles are preferred.
In another aspect o~ the present invention, a non-reactive - .. ..

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,lyamide is employed wlth chemlcally-gelled vehicles to further increase the viscosity of the inks.
The selected modifying varnish is incorporated in amounts sufficient to impart certain desired rheological properties to the ink, e.g., a high viscosity and internal cohesion, low yield value, and the maintenance of a high viscosity at the elevated press temperatures and high press speeds (shear rates) encountered in Driography, and thus good transference and flow characteristics of the ink through the press. The particular modifying varnish employed is from a certain selective group of such varnishes and within that group, is selected, depending upon the composition of the basic planographic vehicle and the particular pigment used, to "modify" and provide the desired vehicle-containing ink.
The flow control additive is added to impart certain rheological properties. e.g., to contribute to the high vlscosity and internal cohesion of the ink, provide some flow or low yleld value, and decrease the surface energy of the ink with respect to the non-image area, and thus assist in keeping the ink off the non-image areas. It is added in amounts which do not deleteriously alter the viscosity characteristics imparted by the modifying varnish. The internal cohesion is sufficient to maintain wetting and transference of the ink to the image areas of a printing plate whereas the surface energy is sufficiently low that the ink-does not wet the non-image areas of the printing plate within the plate operating range of temperatures.
~ The use of the basic vehicle, selected modifying varnish, and flow control additive, provide novel inks having hig~l viscosity and internal cohesion with some flow or low yield value, increase the toning temp2rature of the ink, and thereby reduce the prospect of toning on the copy sheet at :

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the high press temperatures and high press speeds used ln Driography.
The inks of this invention have a high viscosity, generally above 300 poise at 40C. for an ink designed to be used in a sheet-fed system and above 100, typically in the range of about 125 to 175 poise at 40C., for an ink to be used in a heat-set system. The viscosity is measured with a cone and plate type viscometer. It has a low yield value, generally below about 5000 dynes/cm , preferably below about 300G dynes/cm2 as measured on the Laray viscometer. Ar ink having a zero yield value is preferred. Conventional wet lithographic inks have yield values of about 10,000 to 20,000 dynes/cm2. Many inks having such hi~h yield values do not work well in Driography because droplets tend to break off in contact with the plate and not be drawn back onto the form rollers.
The desired viscosities O1 the inlcs of this inver.tion are high in relation to the viscosities normal for conventional inks designed for use in other lithographic systems. Conventional lithographic inks for use in a sheet-fed system typically have a viscosity at 40C. of about 90 tc 100 poise and such inks for use in a heat-set system typically have a viscosity at 40C. of 40 to 50 poise, or less.
A high viscosity system is, however, usually accompanied by high tack, i.e.j 25 to 40 as measured on an Inkometer at 1200 RPM and 90~. over 1 minute, and a flying tendency, i.e., where a fine mist of charged particles is thrown off by the fast moving rollers. A11 tack measurements referred to herein are similarly obtained unless otherwise stated.
The high tack associatëd with the system is advantageously reduced by the addition of tack masking amounts of a vehicle-modifying varnish, tack masker which is compatible with, and ' .

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~oes not deleteriously a~fect, the novel ink~ Or the present inventlon.
The basic planographic printlng ink vehicle is the pigmer.t carrier and provides such charac~eristics as drying, hardness, gloss, chemical resistance and printing qualities.
It is employed in amounts sufficient to carry the pigment, as a dispersion, for instance, during the printing operation and conventional vehicles include drying oil and synthetic drying oil; natural or modified resins such as rosin, copal, dammer, shellac, ha~dened rasin and rosin esters; synthetic reslns ~uch as phenol resin, rosin modified phenol resin, 100% phenol resin, maleic acid resin, alkyd resin, petroleum resin, vinyl resin, acrylic resin, polyamide resin, epoxy resin, aminoalkyd resin, polyurethane resin and aminoplastic resin; cellulose derivatives such as nitrocellulose and ethyl cellulose; rubber derivatives such as chlorinated rubberJ cyclized rubber; and others such ac glue, casein, dextrin and zeln.
The preferred basic vehicles include the phenolic and malelc resins. The resin can be used in making an oil-based vehicle and is advantageously modi~ied by incorporating it lnto an oil. The modi~ied resin is preferably gelled with a chemical gelling agent, such as a metallo-organo one, e.g., an aluminum complexing agent. A solvent can also be added to ad~ust the viscosity and tack, if desired. Oils suitable for use in preparlng the basic vehicle system include linseed oll, lithographic varnishes which are heat-bodied linseed oils, and long oil, linseed alkyd resins which are commercially available. Linseed oil will have a viscosity of abou~ 0.5 poise and the linseed lithographic varnishes will have a viscosity in excess of 150 poise. Suitable alkyd resins for use as an oil component in the printing ink vehicle are formed by condensation of polybasic acids, e.g., phthalic t .

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anhydride, terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, etc., with polyhydric alcohol, e.g., glycerol, and modified with drying oils such as linseed oil. For printing ink use, they are modified to give a long oil system, e.g., in excess of 70%
oil length. Commercially available alkyd resins include *Iovite I-57, *Iovite I-llO, and *Iovite C-428, sold by Iovite Chemicals, Inc., and *Terlc,n 3, sold by Lawter Chemicals and are available in viscosities from about 5 to 500 poise. The resin is modified by the oil which lacks hardness and gloss when used alone. Suitable resins include the commercially available esterified, rosin modified, phenolic resins and esterified, rosin modified, maleic resins. These phenolic resins are generally made by esterifying a rosin such as polypale rosin or dimerized rosin with an esterifying polyhydric alcohol such as pentaerithritol, glycerine or sorbitol and reacting the product with a substituted phenol which can be - paraoctylphenol, bis-phenol A, o-phenylphenol, xylenols, cresols, etc. There will normally be about 20 to 30% phenolic modification of the resin. Commercially available phenolic resins include *M-93, *M-88 and *Ameberol F-7 of Union Camp Co.
and *Krumbaar K-1387 of Lawter Chemicals Company. The maleic resins are typically produced by forming an adduct of a rosin, e.g., gum rosin, and maleic anhydride and esterifying with a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerine or pentaerithri-tol. The maleic content of the resin is typically about 7 to 14%. *Arochem 532 and 533 of Ashland Chemicals are suitable maleic resins. A high boiling, low aromatic and olefinic content, hydrocarbon solvent is generally used in combination with the oil and resin. The parafinic, saturated cyclic -solvents such as *Magie 470, *Magie 500 or *Magie 535 are suitable. These solvents boil above 450F. and contain less than 15~ aromatics and olefins.

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The basic vehicle viscosity typically should be about the same as the ink system, i.e., above about 300 poise at 40C. for an ink to be used in a sheet-fed system and above lO0 to 125 poise at 40C. for an ink to be used in a web system. These initial viscosities, however, are generally lowered upon the addition of additives during the formulation of the ink. The viscosity may be varied by varying the proportions of oil, rosin and solvent in the vehicle, use of a complexing or gelling agent, amount of gelling agent, addition of polyamide, etc. Generally, the vehicle will contain about 40 to 60% by weight resin, about 15 to 40~ oil and about 15 to 35% solvent. For a sheet fed printing system, the vehicle preferably contains about 45 to 55%
resin, about 20 to 30% oil and about 20 to 30% solvent, whereas for a heat set printing system, the vehicle will contain less oil and more resin, e.g., about 50 to 60%
resin, about 10 to 20% oil and about 25 to 35% solvent. The preferred basic vehicle system of the novel inks of this invention is a high viscosity oleoresinous vehicle comprising a high melting point, esterified, rosin modified, phenolic, gelled with an aluminium complexing agent. The phenolic is oiled out into either vegetable oils or long oil alkyds to solubilize the resin and let down with high boiling aliphatic hydrocarbons.
A particularly suitable non-gelled basic vehicle system for use in an ink designed for use in a sheet-fed system is supplied by Iovite Chemicals, Inc., as *Iovite 2-108 and contains 40% of an esterified, rosin modified, phenolic resin, 6~ of a lO0~ oil soluble, phenolic resin, 30% oil, 30 23% solvent and 1% of a bodying agent. A preferred gelled vehicle system, also supplied as *Iovite 3-311-43, *XP585 or

2-178, comprises about 16 to 20% bodied linseed oil, ll to ; * Trade Mark ~0'~3574 15.5% long oil l~nseed al~yd, 32.5 to 37.~% blsphenol modi~led rosin ester, 29 to 33% Magie 535 oll and 1 to 2% ~lu~inu~
isopropoxide. Preferred ~ehlcles for use ln lnk deslgned for use in a heat-set printlng system include Iovlte 3-236 which is a pentaerithritol ester phenol~c resln in isophthalic alkyd, gelled and dissolved in Magie 500 oil. This vehicle ls a hlghly structured gel containing 62% solids wh~ch has a tack of 14 at 400 RPM.
Pigments suitable for use in the present invention include colorlng agents such as inorganic and organic pigments which are usable in a planographic ink. Typical inorganic and organic pigment~ include diarylide yellow of the AAA, AAOA and AAOT type, phthalo-cyanide Blue GS, green shade beta type, permanent red 2B calcium, lithol rubine (4B), rhodamine YS, carbon black metal modi~led furnace type (with alkali blue toner) chrome yellow, iron blues, iron oxlde~, tltanlum dioxide, alumina hydrate, blanc fixe, calcium carbonate, lake pigments, PMTA colors, fluorescent pigments, metallic pigments, clayæ, naphthols, and other organic plgments.
The pigments are employed in vehicle-dispersable amounts.
In general, it is desired to carry as much pigment ln the ink as possible. A range of typical pigment amounts used would be approxlmately 12 to 50% by weight Gf the ink. A
preferred manner of adding an organic pigment is as a Plushed dispersion. This dispersion is prepared by treating a pigment press cake with the basic vehicle components which will preferentially flush out or eliminate the watex from the plgment surface. The pigment loading of the dispersion ; 3 is as high as possible and still permit ease of handling of the dispersion. Generally, about 30 to 45% of thls dlsperslon will be pig~ent. A pre~erred vehicle for use in preparing .. . . . .
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the vehicle for use in an ink for a sheet-fed system is a 1:1:1 ratio of *Iovite 2-108, *Iovite I-llO and *Iovite I-102.
The use of a pigment dispersion has led to better flow characteristics and ease ofhandling on the press. Drying on the sheet is also faster. Further, ink performance at low temperatures, e.g., 70F., is improved. A suitable vehicle for preparing a pigment flush for use in an ink designed for a heat-set system is a dimerized rosin ester such as *Iovite 102 which is 53% *Pentalyn K is *Magie 535 oil and has 50 to 55~ solids. *Magie 500 oil can also be used.
The selected modifying varnish is basically added to adjust the rheological properties of the ink and, in general, sufficient amounts are added to provide the high viscosity, and internal cohesion and low yield value over the broad range of press operating conditions including temperatures ; ranging from room temperature to 104 or 125F., and high shear rates resulting from high press speeds, e.g., up to 1000 fpm, or more. The flow control agent is basically added in an amount effective to provide the desired surface energy over the operating range of press conditions. The internal cohesion is sufficient to maintain wetting and transference of the ink to the image areas of a printing plate whereas the surface energy is sufficiently low that the ink does not wet the non-image areas of the printing plate within the plate operating range of temperatures. An ink designed for use in a sheet-fed system will desirably have a viscosity of above about 300 poise at 40C. measures with a cone and plate type viscometer. The viscosity of the inks designed for use in a heat-set system is desired to be above 100 poise, typically in the range of about 125 to 175 poise, at 40C. The ink viscosity measurements herein, unless otherwise stated, are made on a *Haake viscometer at * Trade Mark ~0~3~

40C. using a PKII cone drl~en at a constant speed of 16 RPM
representlng a 318.4 sec 1 shear rate. The initlal peak ls taken as the vlscosity. T~e maxlmum viscosity suitable for the lnk is that at which the ink will not move through the roller train when it is maint~ined at roo~ temperature, e.g., 70F., or about 700 poises. The desired vlscosities of the inks of this invention are high in relation to the viscosities normal for conventional inks designed for use in other lithographic systems. Conventional lithographic inks for use in a sheet-fed system typically have a viscosity at 40C. of about 90 to 100 poise and such inks for use in a heat-set system typically have a viscosity at 40C. of 40 to 50 poise, or less. Sufficient modifying varnish is, therefore, incorporated into the ink vehicle to provide an ink having preferred rheological properties for the end use desired.
An addition o~ the flow control agent, polyamide or gelling agent will tend to further increase the ink viscosity.
Generally, the modifying varnish will comprise about 3 to 35% by weight of the ink system, although preferably it will be less than 20% by weight of the ink. The specific amount of modifying varnish used in a given ink will not only be determined by the basic vehicle system but also will be determined in part by the pigment used since the ink viscosity and flow is related to the specific basic vehicle-pigment relationships. The selected modifying varnishes also improve the performance of the ink system for both printing performance, e.g., transfer through the press and setting, and end use requirements, e.g., rub resistance.

A chemically gelled vehicle is preferred for the sheet-

3 fed ink systems since it further improves the thermal stabilityof the basic vehicle-modifying varnish ink system and pr~vides an ink having a low tack. A physical gelling agent can also , be added to the ink system to improve the thermal stability of an ink made from a non-gelled basic vehicle. However, it is preferred to make the basic vehicle-modifying varnish system the control on stability. The modifying varnish, as well as the chemically-gelled vehicle, or a vehicle physically gelled with a gelling agent, change the response of the ink viscosity to temperature. Whereas, without use of modifying varnish and the chemically- or physically-gelled vehicle as a generalization, the ink viscosity changes about 10% for each 1C. variation; the use of the modifying varnish, gelled vehicle or the gelling agent slows down this viscosity change. Further control of the viscosity, particularly when using a gelled vehicle, can be accomplished by incorporating a small, but sufficient amount of a polyamide, e.g., of the *Versamid type, such as *Versamid 2950, in the vehicle to increase the viscosity. Such polyamides are non-reactive condensation products of dimerized fatty acids and have amine values of about 3 to 8 and a softening point of about 90 to 100C.
The selective modifying varnishes for use with the basic ink vehicle include cyclised rubber; dimerized rosin esters; alkyds and rosin modified alkyds; esterified, rosin modified, phenolic oleoresinous gels; and hydrocarbon resin solutions. The modi~ying varnish, since it is changing the rheology of the basic vehicle, is different from the basic ink vehicle. A cyclised rubber of relatively low molecular weight, such as *Alpex C8415 of American Hoescht Corp., is desirable to improve setting properties of the inks. The cyclised rubber is typically added as a solution in a high boiling aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent such as a *Magie Oil and is preferred for use in gelled ink systems. *Magie 470, a petroleum oil having 85~ saturates, 10~ aromatics and 5 * Trade Mark , ,,-,;, .. ., , ~ .

~ 5~

olefins can be used. Dimerized rosin esters are esterification products of dimerized rosin and pentaerithritol and are commercial available, such as *Iovite I-102 or 3-103 which is 53~ *Pentalyn K produced by Hercules, Inc., in *Magie Oil 535. *Iovite 3-105 is an example of a rosin modified alkyd suitable for use as a modifying varnish. This alkyd comprises 70% polyester resin, 30% tall oil and 0.03% aluminum isopropylate cut to 60% solids with *Magie 535. The phenolic oleoresinous gel is a heat-set phenolic resin, as described above, gelled with a gelling agent, generally an aluminum complex such as aluminum isopropylate. A number of these gels are commercially available such as *LV-322 of Lawter Chemicals Company. *Lawter 931 is a suitable modifying varnish for use in combination with a *Iovite 3-236 vehicle. *Lawter 931 is a low structure modified pentaerithritol ester in alkyd comprising 67% solids in *Magie 470; it has a tack of 20 at 400 RPM. Hydrocarbon resins, such as *Nevchem 140 of Nevill Chemicals, melting above about 140C. (Ball and Ring) are suitable. Resin solutions containing about 60% resin solids in a solvent such as *Magie 535 are ;
particularly suitable.
The flow control additives of this invention used with both the sheet-fed and heat-set ink systems are, advantageously, polysiloxanes, e.g., essentially linear polysiloxanes, having chemically reactive radicals which polysiloxanes are chemically-, or physically-, combined with organic surfactants, preferably polyether surfactants. The polysiloxanes generally have a viscosity ranging from about 25 to 150 centistokes at 25C. and the chemically reactive radicals are generally a chain-terminating radical, e.g., radicals such as hydrogen; hydroxyl; -OR, where R can be lower alkyl, e.g., methyl or ethyl, or aryl, e.g., phenyl;

or halogen, e.g., chloro; preferably hydroxyl or -OR radicals;

* Trade Mark . .,' - .

~'73~

but most preferably, a hydroxyl radical. One group of such polysiloxanes has the general formula R ¦ R
7 _ o si __x R R n wherein X is the chemically reactive radical, R has the same meaning as set forth in the previous sentence and different R radicals can be the same or different, and n is from about 3 to 100. Preferably, R is methyl.
Polysiloxanes chemically-combined with surfactants include silicone polymers, e.g., resins including silicone block copolymers such as silicone alkylene block copolymers, silicone phenyl block copolymers, silicone chlorophenyl block copolymers and, preferably, silicone alkylene oxide block -copolymers, which can contain differing polyalkylene oxide units, e.g., the alkylene oxide units including those having 2 ; to 4 carbon atoms, and further, the differing units can be connected by a suitable connecting (linking) organic functional group, e.g., carboxyl, alkylene, amine, ester or ether group.
The preferred include silicone-polyether copolymers, e.g., silicone-ethylene oxide, silicone-propylene oxide, and silicone-ethylene oxide-propylene oxide copolymers. They can be terminated with an end-blocking radical, such as, for instance, a hydroxyl or a lower alkoxy, e.g., butoxy, radical.
It is convenient and advantageous to add these flow control materials (additives) as a 10 to 60% by weight solution in a hydrocarbon, preferably aromatic, solvent, e.g., xylene or toluene. These materials function to change the surface energy of the ink as well as increase the viscosity.
; 30 A chemically-, or physically-, combined group of ~ 3~

preferred polyethers include polypropylene oxide polyethers and polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide polyethers having a wt. ratio of C2 to C3 ranging generally from about 1:1 to 1:12, preferably from about 1:1.2 to 1:10. A particular material suitable for use is S-30 of Union Carbide which is a silicone-polyether combination containing about 20 wt. percent dimethyl polysiloxane component and substantially the balance polypropylene oxide component, incorporated as a 12 wt. percent solution in xylene.
Another material suitable for use is DC-ll of Dow Corning which is a toluene solution of a silicone-polyether combination containing ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units in a wt. ratio of C2 to C3 of about 43:57. Another example of such a silicone-polyether has the structure CH3Si ~ [Si(CH3)2]7_l2 (C3H6)10-15 4 9] 3 An amount of the flow control additive is used which is sufficient to increase the toning temperature of the ink to a temperature at which the toning does not occur in the printing operation. The minimum amount of addition is that required to provide an ink which does not become Newtonian, i.e., reach its toning temperature, at temperatures at or below the printing plate temperature. Preferably, the toning temperature is at least 5F. above the expected plate temperature. Since plate temperatures of 90F. to 125F., or higher, are to be expected in Driography, inks having toning temperatures of 85 to 125F., preferably 140F., are desired. Obviously, for operations during the winter and in air-conditioned facilities, a lower toning temperature can be tolerated than during the summer, or in non-air-` conditioned facilities. In general, the flow control additive will comprise about 0.25 to 1.5%, or 2% by weight of the ink.
The amount of flow control additive preferably used is about 0.50 to 1%, by weight of the ink. A higher amount has no apparent increased effect, although it does not hurt the ink 10~3S74 unless the amount added begins to act as a dll~ent and reduce~ the effectiveness of the overall lnk system.
Complexing or che~cal-gelllng agents suitable ~or use in this invention to chemically gell the preferred basic vehlcle include metallo-organo chelating compounds, e.g., the alumlnum alkyoxylates such as the commercially available methoxylated, ethoxylated and butoxylated aluminum derivatives.
Aluminum octoate can be used. Aluminum isopropoxide is particularly suttable. The complexing agent is rap~dly and thoroughly dispersed in the basic vehicle system under heat, e.g., 350 to 450F., in an amount sufficient to produce the desired increased viscosity. Amounts of about 1 to 5% by weight of the basic vehicle, preferably a~out 1 to 3%, are suitable. If desired, dispersion of the complexing agent can be alded by incorporating it in the vehicle using a carrier such as the ~olvent in the vehicle. In contrast to use of a gellir.g agent ln the non-gelled basic ~rehicle nk system, the complexing agent complexes the resin in the ; vehlcle rather than physically gelling the ink system.
A polyamide, as described above, can also be used with the complexing agent to increase the viscosity of the ink prepared from a gelled basic vehicle. Its action is a physical effect and the polyamide is added in an amount effective to increase the viscosity the desired amount. In general, the polyamide is used in amounts of about 1 to 3%
by weight of the basic vehicle. The use of about 2% poly-amide with an ink system having a viscosity of about 300 poise at 40~. will increase the viscosity to about 450 poise.
Physical-gelling agents for thermally stab~lizing the inks of this lnvention prepared from non-gelled vehicles include clay gellants such as montmorillonlte clay gellants ... .

and *Bentone 38 gellant, an organically modified montmorillon-ite; fumed silica gellants, particularly the fumed, colloidal, amorphous silica gellants having particles of submicroscopic size, i.e., surface area of 200 to 400 square meters per gram, such as *Cab-O-Sil M-5 and M-7 which are made by vapor phase hydrolysis of silicon tetrachloride; and aluminum gelling agents such as aluminum stearate or aluminum isopro-pylate. The gelling agent is added in an amount sufficient to provide the ink with the desired thermal stability, i.e., with a toning temperature above that desired, and in the range of 85F. to 125F., or 140F., or higher. If too much gelling agent is included in the ink, however, the viscosity of the ink will be increased too much, i.e., to above 700 poise at 70F., and the ink will not move through the press.
If too little gelling agent is used, it has no effect on the ink. Approximately 1 to 4%, preferably 1 to 2% by weight, of the ink will generally be gelling agent.
A consequence of obtaining the high viscosity of the inks of this invention, however, is that the ink also has a high tack. The high tack of both the sheet-fed and web ink systems is masked by the addition of an organo-silicone oil which lowers the surface energy of the ink but also masks the tack. An effective tack masking, organo-silicone oil in effective amounts is used, frequently and advantageously in combination with solvent, e.g., a gelled solvent, hydrocarbon solvent or vegetable oil. If, however, too much of this tack masking agent is included in the ink, syneresis will occur and the ink will not transfer through the roller train and to the printing plate. In general, approximately 0.5 to 2% by weight, preferably about 1 to 2%, of the tack masking agent is used in the inks of this invention. Low molecular weight, low viscosity, dimethyl polysiloxanes, i.e., of 10 * Trade Mark .
- : . . .. .. . . .

~LO'~35~4 .

to 100 centistokes, have been used in Priographic inks heretofore to achieve image/non-image contrast, but up ~o now larger amounts, e.g., orer 5% b~ weight, have been necessary and have given side effects such as syneresis both in the stressed and unstressed state. This manifests itself~
with respect to the ink, in a fallure o~ the ink to transfer through the roller train an~ refusal to trap on overprinting.
By using smaller amounts, generally below 2% by weight, of a higher molecular weight and viscosity dimethyl polysiloxane, which is compatible in the inks of thls invention, these side effects do not occur.
Organo-si'~cone oils usable as tack maskers in the novel inks of the present invention are water-insoluble, substantlally non-volatile, liquid polysiloxanes having a viscosity greater than 200 centistokes at 25C. and any of the commonly known compounds of this type which are compatible with, nGt deleteriGus to, and provide tack-maskirlg propeities in~ the novel inks can be used. Essentially linear polysiloxanes whereln the organic radical is a low molecular weight aliphatic group, e.g., lower alkyl such as methyl or ethyl, or wherein a high percentage of low molecular weight aliphatic groups are present, are preferred. The particularly preferred polysiloxanes are end-blocked with chemically non-reactive radicals, ~or instance, with organic radicals such as trialkyl~
e.g., trimethyl, radicals. Others include aryl, e.g., phenyl and substituted (e.g., chloro-substituted) phenyls, and alkyl-aryl, e.g., methyl-phenyl, sillcone oils. The organo-silicone oils employed ~enerally have a viscosity ~ ~ro~ abDut 200 to 600, preferably 200 to 500, centlstokes at 3 25C. ~n inter~ediate molecular weight, intermediate viscosity, dimethylpolysiloxane is particularly preferred. The materials sold by Unlon Carbide as L-45 silicone fluids and Dow Corning . .

.. . .. . . . .......... . .
. ...

3~

*DC-200 are suitable for use in the present in~ention. These materials are available in a range of standard viscosities.
A material with a viscosity of about 350 centistokes, or slightly higher, e.g., up to about 500 centistokes as measured on a U-tube capillary viscometer, is particularly appropriate.
A gelled basic vehicle is preferred because the tack of the ink system prepared from this vehicle is generally less than the tack of an ink system prepared from the non gelled vehicle.
The tack is also advantageously controlled by the inclusion of a tack reducer such as a solvent, e.g., *Magie 470 oil, *Magie 500 oil, gelled *Magie 470, etc. Vegetable -oil, e.g., tung oil, or a very low viscosity, long oil linseed alkyd, such as *Lawter Solvar, are suitable tack reducers for use in a sheet-fed system. Amounts from about 5 to 10~, preferably 5 to 8% by weight of the ink are typical for the tack reducer. The linseed alkyd will generally have a viscosity of 0.75 to 1 poise, or less. In general, it is desired that the tack of the ink be below about 20, preferably below 16, as measured on an Inkometer at 1200 RPM and 90F.
over 1 minute and the tack masking agent and tack reducer are advantageously added in combination in amounts selected to reduce the tack and meet this objective. For instance, the use of tack reducers generally involve a solvent-type action which, while reducing tack, also tend to reduce viscosity, and the tack masker, a non-solvent type, effects a lowering of tack without deleteriously reducing viscosity.
Accordingly, the combination is particularly advantageous in lowering tack with a minimum, if any, lowering of viscosity.
Additives which are added to the basic vehicle system, conventional in the art, include wax compounds, driers, and anti-oxidants. The wax compound, or combinations of wax * Trade Mark ~ 3~

compounds, provide slip and rub resistance. Printing ink grade polyethylene such as *AC-6 of Allied Chemicals Co., or *Epolene N-10 of Eastman Chemical Co. and waxes commercially available may be used in the present invention. The polyethylene wax is of a low density, medium crystallinity and the form sold as a dispersion, such as *Iovite XP107 or *Lawter 697, in an alkyd resin is suitable for use in a sheet-fed ink whereas the form sold in 440 *Magie oil is suitable for use in a heat-set ink system. The Fisher Tropsch (FT) waxes, generally available in aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, such as *Texolon of Lawter Chemicals Company, are also suitable. Generally, less than about 10~ by weight, preferably less than about 8%
of the wax compound is used in the ink because it reduces the ink viscosity and gloss. The drier can be one of the commercially available cobalt/manganese combinations. A
number of cobalt/manganese driers are commercially available as cobalt/manganese linoleate, hexadeconate or octoate.
*Lin-all printing ink drier of Mooney Chemicals is a suitable drier. *HEX-CEM lead-free drier of Mooney is also suitable.
Any conventional antioxidant that will not react in the ink system may be used. Specific examples would include the commercially available butylated hydroxy toluene, *Eugenol, and *Bartyl. Also, greases can be used to improve transfer of the ink through the press. Orange solid oil, a common printing ink grease, is suitable.
Typical ink formulations in accordance with this inven-tion using an organic pigment would be as follows (percent by weight);

* Trade Mark ~735~4 Ge~eral Pre~erre~
.
organic pigment10-18p 10~18% 12-18% 12-18%
non-gelled vehicle25-60% -- 35-50% --gelled vehicle -- 40_55% __ 45 50%
modifying - varnish3-35% 5-25% 3-20% 5-20%
gelling agent 1-4% -- 1-2% --wax compound5-10% 5-10% 5-8% 5-8%
reducer5-10% 4-10% 5-8% 4-8%
flow con-trol a~ent (50% s~lu-tion) 0. 5-3% 0.5-3% 1-2% 1-2%
tack mask-ing agent0. 5-2% 0.5-2% 1-2% 1-2%
drier 0.5-2.5% 0.5-2.5% 0.5-1.5% 0.5-1.5%
antioxl-dant 0. 25-0.5~ 0.25-0.5% 0.25-0.5~ 0.5-1.5 grease o-3% o-3% 0-3% o-3%
solvent o-4% 0-4% 0-4% o-4%

.~ When a-black pigment is used, a blue toner is desirable and it replaces a portion ol the vehicle. Also, in using a pigment flush, a substantial portion of the vehicle is first used to prepare this dispersion. Furthermore, formulations using inorganic pigments, because o~ their high specific gravity, will be used at higher pigment loadings with the neces~ary reductlon in vehicle component. The use of grease and solvent ls particularly desirab~e ln a heat-set ink system and with such a system the drier and antioxidant may ! -be omitted ~n m~ny applications.
The invention may be further ll].ustrated by the foll~owing L
examples: I

f ~L0735 EX PLE I
The following materials were used in the ~e~uislte amounts by weig~t to produce inks of the colors described in Table I. Materials 7 to ~0 were separately weighed and mixed. Materials 1 to 6 were weighed and milled. The two parts were combined and giVen a canning pass. The ink had a uni~orm consistency and a particle size of less than 2 as measured by NPIRI Grindometer. The viscosities were 800 to 900 polse at 70F. as measured by Laray viscometer.

' 10~357~

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1~35~
The ink w~s run with 3M driographlc plates, de~cribed - in U. S. Patent No. 3,511~178, supra, in a Driography process using a 4 color, sheet-~ed 38 lnch, Miller press. No toning occurred durlng the printing run. An infrared sensor was used to monitor press temperatures. Running temperatures of the press were deter~ined to be black, 91F.; yellow, 90F.;
red, 100F.; and blue, 91~ to 94~F. No toning occurred.
The black was subsequently found to ha~e a toning temperature o~ 97F. on a dif~erent press. The drying and skinning rates were 4 hours on an open press. The tack equates with the wet offset process~
Acceptable color copies were made with a composite form with 5 varied process sub~ects, standard GATF color bars and stars on center sheet, full GAT~ color blocks, a set o~
multi-screen, multi blocks and a set of 0-100/single screen bars. Four papers were used: Mountie offset smooth 80#, Mountle Vellum, Shasta suede and letterpress gloss coated.
The 3equence of printing was blue, red, yelloti and black.

The setting rate and drying speed o~ the pa~er were:
Setting Drying Mountie offset smooth; some setoff, overnight Mountie vellum, slower t~lan conventional Shasta suede, equal to 4-6 hours Letterpress gloss coated, con~entional Trapping was good on all colors and the print quality and lay were acceptable. The rub resistance was acceptable.

~;XAMPLE II

Four inks were r-m in a Driography process using a 4 color, sheet-fed 38 inch ~arris press. The plates consisted of boolc covers printed on Kromecote and ~allantine coated coverstocks. Table II sets ~orth the requisite amounts by weight o~ materials used to formulate the inks. Acceptable - . c ~ 35~

COp~2S were made wit~ all colors. T~e setting rate was instantaneous on the Xromecote and good on the B~llantine coverstock. The drying speed was 2 to 4 hours and sklnning rate 2 to 4 hours (blue 2). Trapplng was good an~ prlnt quality and lay were acceptable. The black gave some mottle.
All covers spirit lacquered witho~t problem. The plate temperatures when running these lnks were:
yellow 97F.

red 98F.
blue 98F.
black 90F.

iO735~

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EXAMPLE III

An ink of the following for~ulation wa~ prepared: -TA~LE III

Vehicle (Iovite 2-1~8) 1l~.o%*

Varnish 13.5 Polyethylene - printing 4.0 ink grade 45~ in alkyd (Iovite CN-56M~

40% FT Wax in Magie 500 4.Q
Oil CLawter LV-1405~

Pigment l6.0 Alkali blue toner lO.~

Gelling agent l.O*

~, Tung oil 7.o Dimethylpolysiloxane l.5 (L-45, 350 centistokes) Flow Control Additive** 2.0 Drier (2.8% cobalt, 3.0%0.5 manganese) Butylated hydroxy toluene 0.5 extended in alkyd :
* The amount of gelling agent was varied and the amount of Vehicle ad~usted when more, or less, than 1% gelling agent was used.
** Same as Example I.

The plgment was furnace black. The modifying varnish was cyclised rubber, Alpex ~8415, added as a solution in Magie 470 oil which contained 53% solids. Two gelling agents, Bentone 38 and Cab-Q-Sil ~-5, were used to prepare a number o~ inks and the inks were successfully printed using the Priography process in a sheet-~ed syste~. T~ble IV sets forth the amount of gelling ~gent used in the inks together with the toning temperature and tack Or the ink. The viscosity , - ' ~ 3C~

of the inks were 1000 to 1100 poise at 70F.
TABLE IV
Gelling Agent Bentone 38 Cab-O-Sil M-5 1/2% 1% 1 1/2% 2% 1% 2% 3%
Toning (F.) 105 115 104 108100 110 108 Tack* 20.2 21.2 6.6 15.221.8 21.4 17.9 * See Table I
Additional inks containing, respectively, 1~ Bentone 38 and 2% Cab-O-Sil M-5 were prepared substituting for the black pigment and blue toner, 16% of a pigment listed in Table I
and 10% vehicle. The toning temperature and tack of these inks were:
Bentone 38 Cab-O-Sil M-5 Toning (F.) TackToning (F.) Tack Yellow107 20.5 107 22 Red 104 17.5-20.5 101 15.8-20 Blue 98 21.4 96 21.7 EXAMPLE IV
A blue ink was prepared as described in Example I as follows:
Vehicle (Iovite 2-108)36% (by weight) Varnish (Iovite 3-105) 36 Polyethylene (Iovite CN-56M) 5 Phthalocyanine Blue GS10 Tung oil 7 S-30 3 ~-L-45 (350 centistokes) Drier (2.8% cobalt/3.0%
manganese) 2 100%

:

~ ~, ~0'~3S~

This ink printed successfully in a sheet-~ed system and ~ad a tonlng temperature of 121F. T~e tack ~as 2I-22 on ~he Inkometer at 1200 RPM and 90F. over l minute and the ~ls-cosity was about lO00 at 70~.
EXAMPLE V
The ink of Ex&mple III, replacing the gelling agent with additional vehicle successfully printed and had a toning temperature o~ 85F.

~XAMPLE VI
Inks having the formulae set forth in Table V in percent by weight were prepared and successfully used in sheet-fed press runs using the Driographic plate and process. The viscosity, tack and toning temperature are stated. The toning temperature is the plate surface temperature measured by a contact pyrometer. The press was a water-cooled temperature-controlled ATF Chief press.
The modifying varnish was a solution comprising 52%
Alp~x C8415 cyclised rubber, 2% Tridecanol and 46% Magie 470. ~The basic vehicle was the same except that in one vehicle 1.5% polyamide (Versamid 2950) was added after ~elling. The basic vehicle comprised 16 to 20% bodied linseed oil, 11 to 15.5% long oil linseed alkyd, 32.5 to 37~5% bisphenol modified rosin ester, 29 to 33% Magie 535 oil gelled with about 1% aluminum isopropoxide and l to 3%
aluminum octoate at 350 to 450~F.

.

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- .~0~.~357~

EXAMPLE VII
Inks were prepared acco.ding to the ~ormulae o~ Table VI in percent by weight and successf~lly printed in a sheet-fed system. The basic vehicle w~s the same as Example VI
except that the gel.ing was accomplished wlth about 1 to 2%
aluminum isopropoxide at 350 to 450F. and no polyamide was included. The modi~ying varnish was the sa~e as i~ Example V~. :

~-.

- ,

5~

TABLE VI
Red Blue Yellow Black Bas~c vehicle 53.25 53.25 49.25 42.00 Modify~ng varnish 10.00 14.00 14.00 12.00 #6 linseed alkyd (Modifying Varnish) 6.00 3.00 7.00 5.00 Polyethylene wax (LV563) 8.00 8.00 8.oo 8.00 Solvent (gelled Magie 470) 2.00 1.00 3.00 __ Dry yellow ~ 14.00 --Dry red 16.00 -- -- --Dry blue -- 16.00 -- --Dry black -- -- -- 18.00 Blue toner base -- -- -- 10.00 Dimethyl-arl~
(L45) 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 i ' 20 Flow control additlve (same as Example VI)2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Butylated hydroxytoluene0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 Drier (2.8% Co, 3 Mn) 0.75 0.75 0.75 1.00 Mn ~eeder drier (hexcemLFD) 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 Viscosity (p)* 350 345 431 352 i 30 Tack (IR + 0.5)16.00 16.00 14.50 18.50 Toning temper-ature (F.) 115 114 114 110 ~ ~ At 40C. Haake PK II

.

.

.' ~, -~l2-.

iot~357~

- EXAMPLE VIII
50 lbs. of each lnk formula set forth in Table VII in percent by weIght were made and printed in a sheet-fed Miller 38 inch system. No problems in running, drying or back-up were experienced in a 37,000 copy run in four colors.
The color pigments used were prepared from pigment flushes using a vehicle comprising equal parts of Iovite 2-108, I-110 and I-102. The pigments were:

% Pigment in Pigment Pigment Flush yellow AAA diarylide 30 red lithol rubine 36 blue phthalo blue GS 33 The remaining 0.250 percent of the yellow ink was an orange base used to adj~st the color.
Runs of 6,000 to 67,000 impressions were also successfully made with inks of t~e formulae set forth in Table VII using a four-color Harris 38 inch system.

.. , .. ....... , , . - . . . . . ............. - . - - ~ . . - .. - -..... . . . . , .. - ~ . .: . ~ . . .

TABLE VII
Color Yellow Red B _Black Iovite XP585 33.5 33.5 35.542.5 Modifying Varnish (same as Example VI) 5.0 5.0 5.06.0 Modifying Varnish (Iovite I~112) ~ -- 6.0 Polyethylene Wax (Lawter LV563) 6.0 8.0 6.08.0 Pigment base 46.0 46.0 46.0 --Furnace black -- -- --16.0 Blue toner -- -- --10.0 FT Wax (Lawter FT300) 2.0 2.0 2.02.0 Dimethylpoly-siloxane (L45) 1.0 1.0 1.01.0 Flow Control Additive (DCll, 27%
in toluene 2.0 2.0 2.02.0 Orange Solid Oil (Famous Lubricants, l-S) 2.0 -- -- 4.0 Drier (HEX-CEM LFD) 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Butylated hydroxy-toluene 0.5 0.5 0.50.5 Drier (2.8% Co, 3% Mn) 1.5 1.5 1.51.5 Viscosity (p)* 300 325 305346 Tack (IR 0.5 at 800 RPM) 16.0 17.5 15.716.5 Toning Temp. (F.) 112 110 107 100 * at 40C.

.~'~

- : . . :.: - . ~ . -. .

0'~3574 EXAMPLE IX
Inks o~ the f~rmulae set ~orth ln Table VIII ln perce~t by weight were successfully printed ln a heat-set press, -~
Hantscho MKII blanket to blanket press in which the compres-sible bIankets were replaced with a ~oft top conventlonal type. The drying was at 675 FPM at 425F. ln an Offenaire drler.
The pigment flushes used were:

% Plgment Pi~ment Vehicle in FIush yeIlow AAA diarylide 53% Pentalyn K . 28 in Magie 500.
Oil red lithol rubine 53% Pentalyn K 33 in Magie 535 0~1 blue phthalo blue 53~ Pentalyn K 33 GS in Magie 500 .:. .. , . .. , -, -4~-~0~3574 T~BLE VIII
Colo~ Yellow Red Blue Bl~ck Vehicle (Iovite 3-236) 28.5 30.25 35.2533.25 Modlfying Varnish (Lawter 931) 10.0 8.o 5.0 27.0 Polyethylene Wax (Iovite XP107) 6.0 6.o 6.o 6.0 FT Wax (Lawter LV1405)* 4.0 4.0 2.0**2.0**
Pigment 46.0 46.0 46.0 16.0 Blue toner -- -- -- 8.o Dimethyl Polysiloxane (L45) 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Flow Control Additive (DCll) 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Orange Solid Oil (l-S) 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 Drier (2.8% Co, 3% Mn) 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 Butylated hydroxy toluene 0.250 0.25 0.250.25 301verl~*** -- -- -- 2.û
Viscosity ~p~*** 120-140 120-1~0 130-150130-150 Tack (IR - 0.5) 17.5 15.5 17.5 16.0 * Lawter LV1405 ** Lawter Texalon ; *** Magie 500 **** at 40~-EXAMPLE X
The ink is essentially the same as the ink set rorth in .~ Example I, except that instead of the flow control additive set forth in Example I, the flow control additive ls composed of a polysiloxane of the formula -. . . . .. . . .. ...

35~

: CH3 S.i - _ o Si -CH3 CH3 - n where X is hydroxyl and n is 50, and the polysiloxane is physically combined with a polyether having a wt. ratio of .
ethylene oxide to propylene oxide units of about 1:9.
EX~PLE XI
The ink is essentially the same as the ink of Example X
except that the polysiloxane is chemically combined with a polyether having a wt. ratio of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide units of about 1:1.4. :
EXAMPLES XII - XVI
The inks are essentially the same as the ink of Example XI except that the chemically reactive group (X) of the polysiloxane is as indicated for the respective example:
Example XII hydrogen ~ XIII -O methyl I XIV -O phenyl XV chloro XVI -O butyl Planographic printing plates particularly suitable for use with the novel inks of the present invention include those described in U.S. Patent No. 3,511,178, supra.
They include those which are imaged with an image which is oleophilic and oleo ink-receptive when dry, and when so imaged, and in the absence of dampening, suitable for accepting ~-.
oleo-ink only in the image areas and printing therefrom, while rejecting the oleo ink in the non-image areas, comprising a backing having bonded thereover a highly adhesive layer adapted to form the : . ~
~ -47-:

i~35~4 non-image areas which is oleo ink repellent when dry, chara,c-terized b~ an adhesive release value when dry of less than about 100 grams per inch. The plate can be pre-sensltized and capable of being imaged by light exposure through a photographic transparency and development.
The abheslve layer can co~prise a cured, solid, essentially linear elastomeric organopolysiloxane, for instance, one having a ratio of organo gro~ps to silicone a~oms of about 1.95 to 2.1.
A light-sensitive material having one solubility state in r~lation to aqueous media before exposure to light and another solubility state, in relation to aqueous media after exposure to light and bei.ng soluble in one of said states and insoluble in its other state, can be placed over and in contact with the backing with the highly abhesive layer overlying the light-sensitive material and being firmly bonded to the underlying layer wher~ the latter is in its in~oluble state.
The light-sensitive material is a light-sensitive diazo resin characterized in being water-solub].e in lts light-sensltive state, and becoming water-insoluble in its light-exposed state. It can be an lnsoluble light-sensitive poly-complex oxygenated anion diazonium salt characterized in that it is insoluble prior to light exposure, and upon light exposure ls decomposed and readily washed away. An in situ ~ormed decomposed diazo primer can be interposed between the light-sensitive material and the overlying highly abhesive surface layer.
An imaged planographic printing plate suitable for 3 printing in the absence of dampenlng, and upon being rolled with oleo-ink on a prlnting press, of acceptlng said ink only in the image areas and printing therefrom, while reJecting 10~3~4 the ink ln the non-image areas, can adv~n~a~eous~y. ~omprlse .
a backing ha~ing thereover an essentially planar surface, .
the portion of sald surface in the image areas being oleophilic and oleo ink-receptive when dry, the non-image portions of said surface be~ng highly abhesive and oleo ink repellent when dry. The non-image portlons can comprise ~ cured, solld, llnear sllicone elastomer characterized by an adhesive .
release value when dry of less than about 100 grams per inch and the image areas can comprise a radiation modified, cured, solid silicone elastomer having an adhesive release value when dry greater than about 100 grams per inch.

_1~9_

Claims (61)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A planographic printing ink which is thermally stable at temperatures of about 85°F. to 140°F. and especially adapted for use in Driography comprising (a) pigment dispersed in a planographic ink vehicle; (b) a modifying varnish in an amount sufficient to provide an ink having a yield value below about 5000 dynes/cm2 and a viscosity above 100 poise at 40°C. with high internal cohesion, the modifying varnish being selected from the group consisting of cyclised rubber, dimerized rosin esters, alkyds, rosin modified alkyds, esterified rosin modified oleo-resinous gels, and hydrocarbon resin solutions; and (c) a sili-cone polymer, flow control additive in an amount sufficient to increase the temperature, at which the ink becomes pseudoplastic, to at least 85°F. and provide an ink having a low surface energy;
said internal cohesion being sufficient to maintain wetting and transference of the ink to the image areas of a printing plate whereas said surface energy is sufficiently low to avoid wetting, by the ink, of the non-image areas of the printing plate with-in the operating temperatures of the plate.

2. The ink of claim 1 wherein the ink includes a tack masking, organo-silicone oil having a viscosity of about 200 to 600 centistokes in an amount effective to reduce the tack of the ink.

3. The ink of claim 2 wherein the planographic ink vehicle is an oil-based phenolic or maleic resin; the modifying varnish is cyclised rubber, dimerized rosin ester; or heat-set, esterified, rosin modified, phenolic oleoresinous gel and the silicone polymer is a polysiloxane having chemically reactive radicals which polysiloxanes are chemically- or physically-combined with organic surfactants.

4. The ink of claim 3 wherein the tack masking, organo-silicone oil is an end-blocked, polysiloxane wherein the organic radical is low molecular weight aliphatic, aryl or alkyl-aryl.

5. The ink of claim 4 wherein the tack masking, organo-silicone oil is a lower-alkyl polysiloxane having a viscosity of about 200 to 500 centistokes and is employed in amounts effective to reduce the tack of the ink to below 20 without causing syneresis of the ink.

6. The ink of claim 5 wherein the silicone polymer, flow control additive is employed as a 10 to 60 weight percent hydrocarbon solvent solution.

7. The ink of claim 6 wherein the silicone polymer, flow control additive is a silicone-polyether combination.

8. The ink of claim 7 wherein the tack masking, lower-alkyl polysiloxane is dimethylpolysiloxane.

9. The ink of claim 6 wherein the silicone of the silicone polymer, flow control additive is trimethylsiloxy dimethylpolysiloxane having a chain-terminating chemically reactive radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen;
-OR where R is lower alkyl or aryl; and chloro.

10. The ink of claim 9 wherein the tack masking, lower-alkyl polysiloxane is dimethylpolysiloxane.

11. A planographic printing ink having thermal stability at temperatures between about 85°F. and 140°F. comprising by weight about 25 to 60% of a oil-based, planographic, basic printing ink vehicle, about 10 to 50% pigment, about 3 to 35 of a modifying varnish different from the basic printing ink vehicle and selected from the group consisting of cyclised rubber, dimerized rosin esters, alkyds, rosin modified alkyds, heat set esterified rosin modified phenolic oleoresinous gells and hydrocarbon resin solutions, the amount of modifying varnish being sufficient to provide an ink having a yield value below about 5000 dynes/cm2 and a viscosity above 100 poise at 40°C.
with high internal cohesion, and about 0.25 to 2% (dry basis) of a silicone polymer, flow control additive, the amount of silicone polymer flow control additive being sufficient to increase the temperature, at which the ink becomes pseudoplastic, to at least 85°F. and provide an ink having a low surface energy, said internal cohesion being sufficient to maintain wetting and transference of the ink to the image areas of a printing plate whereas said surface energy is sufficiently low to avoid wetting, by the ink, of the non-image areas of the printing plate within the operating temperatures of the plate.

12. The ink of claim 11 wherein the planographic ink vehicle is a phenolic or maleic resin; the modifying varnish is cyclised rubber, dimerized rosin ester, or heat-set, esterified, rosin modified, phenolic oleoresinous gel; the silicone polymer, flow control additive is a silicone-polyether copolymer; and the ink includes a tack masking, organo-silicone oil having a viscosity of about 200 to 600 centistokes.

13. The ink of claim 12 wherein the silicone of the silicone-polyether flow control additive is an alkylpolysiloxane having a hydroxyl chain-terminating radical.

14. The ink of claim 13 wherein the polyether of the silicone-polyether flow control additive is one having a wt.
ratio of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide units ranging from about 1:1 to 1:12.

15. The ink of claim 12 wherein the basic vehicle is chemically-gelled or the ink includes a physical-gelling agent in an amount sufficient to increase the ink toning temperature without increasing the ink viscosity to above 700 poise at 70°F.

16. The ink of claim 15 wherein the basic vehicle is chemically-gelled with a metallo-organo chelating compound or the ink includes a physical-gelling agent which is selected from the group consisting of clay gellants and fumed silica gellants.

17. The ink of claim 12 wherein the tack masking agent is a dimethylpolysiloxane having a viscosity of about 200 to 500 centistokes, said tack masking agent being used in an amount sufficient to reduce the tack of the ink to below 20 but insufficient to cause syneresis of the ink.

18. The ink of claim 17 wherein the planographic printing ink vehicle comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of esterified, rosin modified, phenolic resins and esterified, rosin modified, maleic resins, the resin being modified with an oil selected from the group consisting of linseed oil, linseed lithographic varnishes and long oil linseed alkyd resins and a parafinic saturated solvent and wherein the vehicle contains about 40 to 60% by weight resin, about 15 to 40% by weight oil and about 15 to 35% by weight solvent.

19. The ink of claim 18 wherein the silicone of the silicone-polyether flow control additive is an alkylpolysiloxane having a hydroxyl chain-terminating radical.

20. The ink of claim 19 wherein the polyether of the silicone-polyether flow control additive is polypropylene oxide.

21. The ink of claim 18 wherein the vehicle is gelled with a chemical-gelling agent in an amount sufficient to increase the ink toning temperature without increasing the ink viscosity to above 700 poise at 70°F.

22. The ink of claim 21 wherein the gelling agent is an aluminum gelling agent.

23. The ink of claim 11 wherein the basic printing ink vehicle comprises by weight about 16 to 20% bodied linseed oil, about 11 to 15.5% long oil linseed alkyd, about 32.5 to 37.5%
esterified, rosin modified, phenolic resin, and about 29 to 33%
hydrocarbon solvent, gelled with an amount of an aluminum chelating agent effective to provide a vehicle having a viscosity of at least about 300 poise at 40°C.

24. The vehicle of claim 23 wherein the aluminum chelating agent is aluminum isopropoxide and is used in an amount of about 1 to 2% by weight of the vehicle.

25. The vehicle of claim 23 wherein about 1 to 3% of a non-reactive polyamide having an amine value of 3 to 8 is incorporated into the vehicle after gelling to increase the viscosity.

26. The ink of claim 11 wherein the basic ink vehicle is a sheet-fed printing ink vehicle comprising a resin modified with an oil and a solvent and contains about 45 to 55% resin, about 20 to 30% oil and about 20 to 30% solvent, said modifying vehicle being added in an amount sufficient to provide an ink viscosity above 300 poise at 40°C.

27. The ink of claim 11 wherein the basic ink vehicle is a heat-set printing ink vehicle comprising a resin modified with an oil and a solvent and contains about 50 to 60% resin, about 10 to 20% oil and about 25 to 30% solvent.

28. In a planographic printing ink comprising a plano-graphic printing ink vehicle and a pigment, the improvement comprising incorporating into the planographic printing ink (a) a modifying varnish different from the basic printing ink vehicle and selected from the group consisting of cyclised rubber, dimerized rosin esters, alkyds, rosin modified alkyds, heat set esterified rosin modified oleoresinous gels and hydrocarbon resin solutions, said modifying varnish being added in an amount sufficient to provide an ink having a yield value below about 5000 dynes/cm2 and a viscosity above 100 poise at 40°C. with high internal cohesion, and (b) a silicone resin, flow control additive in an amount sufficient to increase the temperature at which the ink becomes pseudoplastic to at least 85°F. and thereby provide an ink having a low surface energy, said internal cohesion being sufficient to maintain wetting and transference of the ink to the image areas of a printing plate whereas said surface energy is sufficiently low to avoid wetting, by the ink, of the non-image areas of the printing plate within the plate operating range of temperatures.

29. The improvement of claim 28 wherein the amount of modifying varnish incorporated into the ink comprises about 3 to 35% by weight of the ink.

30. The improvement of claim 29 wherein the ink includes a tack masking, organo-silicone oil having a viscosity of about 200 to 600 centistokes, said tack masking agent being used in an amount sufficient to reduce the tack of the ink to below 20 but insufficient to cause syneresis of the ink.

31. The improvement of claim 30 wherein the amount of silicone resin flow control additive incorporated into the ink comprises about 0.25 to 2% (dry basis) by weight of the ink and the tack masker is a lower-alkyl polysiloxane.

32. The improvement of claim 31 wherein the silicone of the silicone resin flow control additive is an alkylpolysiloxane having a hydroxyl chain-terminating radical.

33. The improvement of claim 32 wherein the polyether of the silicone resin flow control additive is one having a wt. ratio of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide units ranging from about 1:1.2 to 1:10.

34. The improvement of claim 30 wherein the ink is designed for use in a sheet-fed printing system and the viscosity of the ink is above 300 poise at 40°C. said printing ink vehicle being a sheet-fed printing ink vehicle.

35. The improvement of claim 30 wherein the ink is designed for use in a web printing system and the viscosity of the ink is above 100 poise at 40°C. said printing ink vehicle being a web printing ink vehicle.

36. The improvement of claim 30 wherein the planographic basic printing ink vehicle comprises a resin selected from the group con-sisting of esterified, rosin modified, phenolic resins and esterified, rosin modified, maleic resins, the resin being modified with an oil sel-ected from the group consisting of linseed oil, linseed lithographic var-nishes and long oil linseed alkyd resins and a parafinic saturated solvent and wherein the vehicle contains about 40 to 60% by weight resin, about 15 to 40% by weight oil and about 15 to 35% by weight solvent.

37. The improvement of claim 36 wherein the tack masker is a dimethylpolysiloxane having a viscosity of about 200 to 500 centistokes.

38. The improvement of claim 37 wherein the silicone of the silicone resin flow control additive is an alkylpolysiloxane having a hydroxyl chain-terminating radical.

39. The improvement of claim 38 wherein the polyether of the silicone resin flow control additive is one having a wt. ratio of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide units ranging from about 1:1.2 to 1:10.

40. A planographic printing ink having thermal stability at temperatures between about 85°F. and 140°F. and especially adapted for use in Driography comprising (a) pigment dispersed in an oil-based, phenolic or maleic resin, planographic printing ink vehicle;
(b) a modifying varnish, which is cyclised rubber, dimerized rosin ester or heat-set, esterified, rosin modified phenolic oleoresinous gel, in an amount sufficient to provide the ink with a yield value below about 5000 dynes/cm2, a viscosity above 100 poise at 40°C., and high internal cohesion;
(c) a silicone polymer flow control additive which is a silicone-polyether in an amount sufficient to increase the temperature at which the ink becomes pseudoplastic to at least 85°F. and provide an ink having a low surface energy; said internal cohesion being sufficient to maintain wetting and transference of the ink to the image areas of a printing plate whereas said surface energy is sufficiently low to avoid wetting, by the ink, of the non-image areas of the printing plate within the operating temperatures of the plate; and (d) a tack masking organo-silicone oil having a viscosity of about 200 to 600 centistokes in an amount effective to reduce the tack of the ink.

41. The ink of claim 40 wherein the planographic printing ink vehicle composes about 25 to 60 weight percent of the ink;
the modifying varnish composes about 10 to 35 weight percent of the ink; the silicone oil tack masker is a lower-alkyl poly-siloxane having a viscosity from about 200 to 500 centistokes;
and, in addition to the tack masker, the ink includes from about 5 to 10 weight percent of a tack reducing solvent, vegetable oil or long oil linseed alkyd.

42. The ink of claim 41 wherein the vehicle is a phenolic resin vehicle, the silicone polymer flow control additive composes from about 0.25 to 1.5 weight percent (dry basis) of the ink; the tack masker is dimethylpolysiloxane and composes from about 0.5 to 2 weight percent of the ink; and the ink includes from about 5 to 10 weight percent of a wax, about 0.5 to 2.5 weight percent of a drier, and about 0.25 to 0.5 weight percent of an antioxidant.

43. The ink of claim 42 wherein the vehicle is a chemically-or physically-gelled vehicle.

44. The ink of claim 43 wherein the vehicle comprises an esterified, rosin modified phenolic oiled out with long oil linseed alkyd which is chemically-gelled.

45. The vehicle of claim 44 wherein the vehicle is gelled with an aluminum chelating agent and is used in an amount of about 1 to 2% by weight of the vehicle and the modifying varnish is cyclised rubber.

46. The vehicle of claim 44 wherein about 1 to 3% of a non-reactive polyamide having an amine value of 3 to 8 is incorporated into the vehicle after gelling to increase the viscosity and the modifying varnish is cyclised rubber.

47. The ink of claim 43 wherein the silicone of the silicone-polyether flow control additive is an alkylpolysiloxane having a hydroxyl chain-terminating radical.

48. The ink of claim 47 wherein the polyether of the silicone-polyether flow control additive is one having a wt.
ratio of ethylene oxide to propylene oxide units ranging from about 1:1.2 to 1:10.

49. The ink of claim 43 wherein the ink is designed for use in a sheet-fed printing system and the viscosity of the ink is about 300 poise at 40°C. and the yield value is below about 5000 dynes/cm2, said painting ink vehicle being a sheet-fed printing ink vehicle.

50. The ink of claim 43 wherein the ink is designed for use in a heat-set printing system and the viscosity of the ink is above 100 poise at 40°C. and the yield value is below about 5000 dynes/cm2, said printing ink vehicle being a heat-set printing ink vehicle.

51. The ink of claim 42 wherein the vehicle is esterified, rosin modified, phenolic resin.

52. The ink of claim 51 wherein the modifying varnish is a cyclised rubber, a dimerized rosin ester, or a rosin modified alkyd.

53. The ink of claim 42 wherein the vehicle is a gelled, pentaerithritol ester phenolic resin in alkyd.

54. A planographic printing process employing a plano-graphic plate having image and non-image areas comprising applying the ink of claim 1 to said areas to provide for acceptance of the ink by an image area and rejection of the ink by a non-image area.

55. A printing process employing a planographic plate having image and non-image areas and a blanket cylinder to contact the plate and receive ink-image from the image area and transfer ink-image to a copy sheet comprising applying ink of claim 1 to the plate to provide for acceptance of the ink by an image area and rejection of the ink by a non-image area, con-tacting the plate with the blanket roller to receive ink-image from the image area, and transferring ink-image to a copy sheet to produce a printing.

56. The process of claim 55 wherein the ink is an oleo ink;
the planographic plate is suitable for printing in the absence of dampening; and the plate comprises a backing having thereover an essentially planar surface, the portion of said surface in the image area being oleophilic and also ink-receptive when dry, the non-image portions of said surface being highly abhesive and also ink-repellent when dry.

57. A process of printing planographicaliy comprising, rolling the surface of a planographic plate with the oleo-inks described in claim 1 in the absence of dampeners, and contact-transferring the ink in areas accepted by said plate successively to copy sheets, the surface of said plate in the image areas being oleophilic and oleo ink-receptive when dry, the non-image portions thereof being highly abhesive and oleo ink-repellent when dry, and characterized by an adhesive release value when dry of less than about 100 grams per inch.

58. The process of claim 57 conducted on an offset printing press wherein the oleo ink is first contact-transferred from the plate to an offset blanket and then is again contact-transferred from said blanket to the copy sheets.

59. The process of claim 58 wherein said non-image portions are cured, solid, essentially linear, elastomeric organopoly-siloxane.

60. The process of claim 59 wherein the image areas comprise radiation modified, cured, solid silicone elastomer having an adhesive release value when dry greater than about 100 grams per inch.

61. The process of claim 60 wherein the ink is applied to the plate by application and form rollers which both supply ink and keep the printing plate clean by removing ink from the non-image areas of the plate.