Multilayer photographic support material

A method for preparing a multilayer photographic support material using at least one coating mixture and accelerated electron radiation to provide a smooth unmottled surface, wherein harmful reactive products that remain after exposure to the accelerated electron radiation are rendered inert to a photographic silver halide emulsion subsequently applied onto said surface, comprising in combination:

• applying to at least one surface of a photographic base paper a liquid acrylic coating mixture consisting essentially of liquid acrylic acid esters containing two or more C.dbd.C double bonds and characterized by molecular weights of about 1000 or less, hardenable by electron radiation;
• and containing a pigment,
• hardening said liquid acrylic coating mixture in a polymerization reaction by irradiation with accelerated electrons at substantially room temperature in an inert gas atmosphere or covered with an inert solid material to polymerize a layer of acrylic polymer onto said surface, said layer of acrylic polymer including harmful reactive products that remain after the exposure to electron radiation, and said acrylic layer further including a hardening surface,
• subjecting said hardened surface to oxidizing treatment selected from the group consisting of corona, flame, ozone, ultraviolet radiation or wet oxidizing chemical treatment to facilitate adhesion to a subsequent coating,
• melt extrusion coating onto said treated hardened surface a film of pigmented polyolefin resin;
• and
• applying onto the polyolefin resin a coating that includes a silver-halide photographic emulsion.