Water-resistant protective overcoat for AgX photographic system

Abstract

The present invention is an imaged photographic element having a protective overcoat thereon. The protective overcoat formed by the steps of providing a photographic element having at least one silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer; applying a coating comprising hydrophobic polymer particles having an average size of 0.01 to 1 microns, a melting temperature of from 55.degree. to 200.degree. C. at a weight percent of 30 to 95, and gelatin at a weight percent of 5 to 70 over the at least one silver halide light-sensitive emulsion layer. The silver halide light sensitive emulsion layer is developed to provide an imaged photographic element. The hydrophobic polymer particles are then fused to form a protective overcoat. In an alternate embodiment the coating further includes water soluble polymer materials at a weight percent of from 5 to 45.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.