Abstract: The present invention is a water-dispersible polyurethane composed of a polyurethane containing carboxylate groups covalently bonded to gelatin through a grafting agent. The polyurethane is formed by providing a polyurethane dispersion containing carboxylate groups wherein the polyurethane dispersion has an acid number of at least 5. The polyurethane dispersion is contacted with a grafting agent. The polyurethane dispersion with the grafting agent is contacted with gelatin to form a polyurethane covalently bonded to gelatin wherein a ratio of gelatin to polyurethane is from 1:10 to 2:1.

Abstract: Photographic support materials are comprised of a conventional support, such as polyester film, cellulose acetate film or resin-coated paper, having thereon an antistatic layer comprising vanadium pentoxide and an overlying barrier layer comprised of a latex polymer having hydrophilic functionality. The barrier layer provides excellent adhesion between the antistatic layer and overlying layers, such as silver halide emulsion layers or curl control layers, and also prevents unwanted diffusion of the vanadium pentoxide; whereby the combination of antistatic and barrier layers serves to impart a high level of permanent antistatic protection.