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 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:
 (i) mineral spirits; 
 (ii) diisopropylbenzene; and 
 (iii) 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, 2-butoxyethanol, and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol, or a mixture thereof, and
 wherein the mineral spirits are odorless or have an aromatic content of less than 2 wt %; 
 wherein dipropylene glycol methyl ether is absent from the solvent solution; and 
 
   (c) drying the substrate,   thereby making the flexographic printing plate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diisopropylbenzene is present in an amount of about 28 wt %. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alcohol is benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alcohol is present in an amount of about 20 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral spirits are odorless. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral spirits have an aromatic content of less than 2 wt %. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral spirits are present in an amount of about 49 wt %. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral spirits are present in an amount of about 49 wt %, the at least one alcohol is present in an amount of about 20 wt %, and the diisopropylbenzene is present in an amount of about 28 wt %. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reclaiming the solvent solution. 
     
     
         10 . 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:
 (i) mineral spirits; 
 (ii) diisopropylbenzene; and 
 (iii) 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, 2-butoxyethanol, and 2-(2-butoxyethoxy) ethanol, or a mixture thereof,
 wherein the mineral spirits are odorless or have an aromatic content of less than 2 wt %; 
 wherein dipropylene glycol methyl ether is absent from the solvent solution, 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.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the diisopropylbenzene is present in an amount of about 28 wt %. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one alcohol is benzyl alcohol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one alcohol is present in an amount of about 20 wt %. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mineral spirits are odorless. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mineral spirits have an aromatic content of less than 2 wt %. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mineral spirits are present in an amount of about 49 wt %. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mineral spirits are present in an amount of about 49 wt %, the at least one alcohol is present in an amount of about 20 wt %, and the diisopropylbenzene is present in an amount of about 28 wt %. 
     
     
         18 . 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:
 (i) mineral spirits having an aromatic content of less than 1 wt %; 
 (ii) diisopropylbenzene; and 
 (iii) at least one alcohol selected from benzyl alcohol and cyclohexanol, and
 wherein dipropylene glycol methyl ether is absent from the solvent solution; and 
 
   (c) drying the substrate,   thereby making the flexographic printing plate.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the mineral spirits have an aromatic content of less than 0.1 wt %. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the mineral spirits are present in an amount of about 49 wt %, the at least one alcohol is present in an amount of about 20 wt %, and the diisopropylbenzene is present in an amount of about 28 wt %.