Toyobo Printight KM95GR polymer plate

2 sizes are available: A4 (21x29,7cm) et A3 (29,7x42cm)

Technical information:

Base: Steel
Polymer: Nylon
Total thickness: 0.95 mm
Relief thickness: 0.69 mm
Base thickness: 0.26 mm
Hardness: 67° Shore

Etymologically, the term "photo" means light, "poly" means several, and "mer" means unit.
A photopolymer plate consists of a set of independent particles that are sensitive to ultraviolet light.
These particles are sensitive in the sense that they bind together to form a hard material after being exposed to UV light.
Water-soluble, the unexposed particles, which are therefore not bonded, are dissolved away.

Plate structure
The plate, with a total thickness of 0.95 mm, consists of five elements:

A protective film to protect against scratches and dust
A coating to ensure good adhesion of the transparency during exposure
A 0.69 mm thick photopolymer nylon layer
An anti-reflective adhesive layer, limiting the diffusion of UV rays by reflection on the base
A steel base (non-retractable)

Development

Toyobo Printight plates are developed using tap water.
During this stage, polymer particles that have not been exposed to UV light are dissolved, and the use of soft brushes or sponges accelerates the process while preserving the finest details.

Drying
Once the plate has been developed, prolonged drying stops the polymer dissolution process and removes any residual water.
Drying for around 15 minutes at 70°C is recommended.

Post-exposure
The plate is finalized with post-exposure: 5 to 15 minutes under UV light (depending on the power of the source) permanently hardens the polymer.