Protective overcoat comprising interpenetrating network for photographic elements

摘要

The present invention is a photographic element which includes a support, at least one silver-halide emulsion layer superposed on the support and a processing-solution-permeable protective overcoat overlying the silver halide emulsion layer. The processing-solution-permeable overcoat is composed of a polyurethane-containing component having acid functionalities wherein the polyurethane-containing component is an interpenetrating network further comprising at least two polymers, including at least one vinyl polymer and at least one urethane polymer. Suitably, a water-soluble polymer is also present in the overcoat. The present invention is also directed to a method of making a photographic print involving developing the photographic element in an alkaline developer solution.