Non-photosensitive direct thermographic materials have a support and thermally sensitive imaging layer(s) and an outermost "protective" layer comprising: (a) a solid polymer derived from one or more olefins and from one or more ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable carboxylic acids or esters or anhydrides thereof, and (b) a branched .alpha.-olefin polymer, and (c) optionally, an additional wax.