The advantage of Thermoplastic road marking

Thermoplastic road marking is used for special application. In comparison with the usual alkyd based traffic paints, both drying time and lifetime are improved. The binder system is mostly a mixture of resins e.g. rosin ester and C5 hydrocarbon resin (15-20 %), white pigment (Ti02, 25 %), filler (CaC03, 45-50 %) and reflective glass beads (25 %). Film thickness is about 2-3 mm when coated normally, 5-7 mm when screen applied into flat recesses. For yellow markings aromatic resins may also be used, but when unstabilized they are more sensitive to oxidation and discolouration.

For road markings, paints are used more than thermoplastic materials. The coating thickness is 0.5-mm. These, paints are based on binder systems containing alkyd resins, Chlorinated rubber, and combined with hydrocarbon resins or rosin esters. The main requirements are stability to light and abrasion resistance. Resin characteristics must meet the following standards light stability (UV resistance), neutral and unsaponifiable, resistant against water, diluted acids, alkali and mineral oils, good film forming and wetting properties, good compatibility with synthetic rubber, synthetic copolymers, and other resins which are normally used in the formulation of road marking systems. Good thermal stability must allow heating to temperatures of 200°C.

For this area of application, there are a number of commercially available resins, especially low priced binders. The aliphatic C5 resins types(TX-1200R) are by far the most popular, but other resin types are also used.

1. C5 hydrocarbon resins.

2. Hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins.