Abstract: A process for producing a thermographic recording material including on one side of a support, called the heat-sensitive side, a thermosensitive element, the outermost layer on the heat-sensitive side containing a cured polymer or cured polymer composition and silica, comprising the steps of: providing the heat-sensitive side of the support with an outermost layer by coating with a composition produced by mixing ingredients including colloidal silica, a curable polymer and a curing agent therefor; and drying and curing the outermost layer, wherein any acidic groups present in the colloidal silica upon acidification are substantially neutralized with ammonium ions, the curable polymer is a hydrophilic polymer having active hydrogen atoms and the curing agent is selected from the group consisting of polyisocyanates, aldehydes, titanates, zirconates, sulfone, boric acid and hydrolyzed tetraalkyl orthosilicate; and a method of recording an image therewith.