Scratch resistant-water resistant overcoat for photographic systems

Abstract

The present invention is an imaged photographic element having a protective overcoat thereon. The protective overcoat is formed by providing a photographic element having at least one silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer. A first coating of hydrophobic polymer particles having an average size of 0.01 to 1 microns, a melting temperature of from 55 to 200 ° C. at a weight percent of 30 to 95, and one or more hydrophilic polymers at a total weight percent of 5 to 70 is applied to form a first layer over the silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer. A second coating of abrasion resistant particles having an average size of from 0.01 to 1 microns is applied to form a second layer over the first layer. The coatings are dried at temperatures not exceeding the melting point of the particles used in the first coating, or of the glass transition temperature of the abrasion resistant particles used in the second coating, whichever is the lowest. After photoprocessing, the first and second layers can be fused to form a protective overcoat. The photographic element is developed to provide an imaged photographic element.