Compositions comprising mineral spirits and methods related thereto

Abstract

This invention relates to a composition comprising mineral spirits in combination with an alcohol or diisopropylbenzene or both, and methods directed to the preparation and use of this composition. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising mineral spirits and
 (a) diisopropylbenzene or   (b) at least one alcohol, wherein the at least one alcohol is selected from tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, 2-ethoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, terpineol, cyclohexanol, methyl cyclohexanol, hexyl alcohol, heptyl alcohol, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, 2-butoxyethanol, and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, or a mixture thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral spirits are odorless. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral spirits have an aromatic content of less than 10 wt %. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the diisopropylbenzene and the at least one alcohol are both present in the composition. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alcohol is benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alcohol is present in an amount of about 20 wt %. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising dihydromercynol. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising pine oil. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral spirits have an aromatic content of less than 1 wt %. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral spirits are present in an amount of about 49 wt %. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the diisopropylbenzene is present in an amount of about 28 wt %. 
     
     
         12 . A method for making a flexographic printing plate, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 (a) image-wise exposing a photosensitive resin on a substrate;   (b) washing away unexposed non-crosslinked areas of the photosensitive resin with a solvent solution so as to form a relief pattern of the photosensitive resin on the substrate, wherein the solvent solution comprises mineral spirits and
 (i) diisopropylbenzene or 
 (ii) at least one alcohol, wherein the at least one alcohol is selected from tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, 2-ethoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, terpineol, cyclohexanol, methyl cyclohexanol, hexyl alcohol, heptyl alcohol, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, 2-butoxyethanol, and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, or a mixture thereof; and 
   (c) drying the substrate,   thereby making the flexographic printing plate.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mineral spirits are odorless. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the diisopropylbenzene and the at least one alcohol are both present in the solvent solution. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one alcohol is benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising reclaiming the solvent solution. 
     
     
         17 . A method for reclaiming a solvent solution, the method comprising:
 (a) collecting the solvent solution and at least one non-crosslinked portion of a photosensitive resin, wherein the solvent solution comprises mineral spirits and
 (i) diisopropylbenzene or 
 (ii) at least one alcohol, wherein the at least one alcohol is selected from tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, 2-ethoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, terpineol, cyclohexanol, methyl cyclohexanol, hexyl alcohol, heptyl alcohol, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, 2-butoxyethanol, and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol, or a mixture thereof, and 
 wherein the solvent solution has been used to treat the photosensitive resin; and 
   (b) separating the non-crosslinked portion from the solvent solution,   thereby reclaiming the solvent solution.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the mineral spirits are odorless. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the diisopropylbenzene and the at least one alcohol are both present in the solvent solution. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one alcohol is benzyl alcohol.