Process for preparing overcoated electrophotographic imaging members

Claim 1

A process for forming an overcoated electrophotographic imaging member comprising the steps of providing an electrophotographic imaging member, applying a final outer coating in liquid form comprising a cross-linkable siloxanol-colloidal silica hybrid material having at least one silicon bonded hydroxyl group per every three --SiO-- units on said electrophotographic imaging member and between about 2 and about 30 percent by weight based on the weight of said cross-linkable siloxanol-colloidal silica hybrid material of a hydrolyzed ammonium salt of an alkoxy silane having the formula ##STR10## wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and substituted aliphatic radicals having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R 4 is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic radicals, substituted aliphatic radicals and the group ##STR11## wherein y is a number from 2 to 4, and R 5 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical, z is a number from 1 to 5 and X is an anion, said coating in liquid form having an acid number less than about 1, and curing said cross-linkable siloxanol-colloidal silica hybrid material until said siloxanol-colloidal silica hybrid material reacts with said hydrolyzed ammonium salt to form a hard cross-linked solid organosiloxane-silica hybrid polymer layer substantially free of any detectable acid and having a thickness between about 0.3 and about 3 micrometers.