Overcoat for thermally imaged sheets

摘要

A process of forming a single color image which has improved abrasion resistance comprising: a) providing a thermal donor element comprising a heat-activatable image layer of a dye or pigment on a support, the image dye or pigment absorbing in the region of from 300 to 700 nm; b) providing a receiving element in superposed relationship with the thermal donor element; c) imagewise-exposing the thermal donor element by means of a laser or thermal head, thereby causing a change in the adhesion of at least a portion of the exposed areas of the heat-activatable layer to the receiving element or causing a portion of the exposed areas of the heat-activatable layer to diffuse into the receiver element; d) separating the thermal donor element from the receiver element, thus creating an image layer on either or both of the elements; e) charging either the thermal donor element or the receiver element containing the image layer to a given polarity or applying a voltage across the surface of the element which is attracted to a conductive surface behind the element; f) applying colorless, charged particles to the element containing the image layer which causes them to be electrostatically attracted to the surface of the image layer; and g) heat-fusing the particles to obtain a protective overcoat over the entire surface of the image layer.