A New Technology of Reusable Plate using TiO2 Photocatalysis

Authors build reusable printing plate having coated photo-catalysis (titanium dioxide) layer on its surface. This surface shows superhydrophilicity after UV (ultra-violet) irradiation and it functions as non-image area without grains found in conventional PS plates. This plate is verified to be reusable with the process of writing print image with organic compound which can be decomposed by the joint action of the photo-catalysis and UV irradiation. Images are erased and the plate recovers superhydrophilicity by UV irradiation after the print job. Discussion also covers several optical writing methods such as ink-jet, UV, and IR (infrared).