quality Thermoplastic Road Marking Paint & Road Marking Machine factory

Advantages of Thermoplastic Road Marking Paint Durability: Thermoplastic road markings are highly durable and can withstand heavy traffic, making them ideal for long-term applications. Retroreflectivity: The addition of glass beads ensures excellent night-time visibility by reflecting light from vehicle headlights. Fast Drying: The material cools and sets quickly, minimizing road closure times and traffic disruption during application. Weather Resistance: Resistant to extreme weather conditions, such as high temperatures, rain, and UV radiation, ensuring consistent performance. High Adhesion: Adheres strongly to road surfaces, particularly when a primer is used, reducing the likelihood of peeling or fading. Cost-Effective: Though initially more expensive than some alternatives, its long lifespan and reduced maintenance needs make it a cost-effective choice over time. Customizable: Available in a variety of colors and formulations, allowing for different line widths, symbols, and patterns based on specific road requirements. Skid Resistance: Can be formulated with anti-skid additives to improve road safety, especially in wet or high-traffic areas. Environmentally Friendly Options: Some formulations are designed to have low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reducing environmental impact. Enhanced Safety: Bright and reflective markings improve road visibility, aiding in driver navigation and reducing accidents. Thermoplastic road marking paint is an excellent choice for both urban and highway applications due to its reliability and performance.    

What Is Thermoplastic Paint?   Thermoplastic paint is a type of paint that becomes soft and pliable when heated and hardens again once it cools. It's primarily used for road markings, such as lane lines and crosswalks. This paint is made from thermoplastic polymers, which are materials that can be melted and reshaped repeatedly without undergoing a chemical change. The key features of thermoplastic paint include: Durability: It is highly resistant to wear and weather, making it ideal for high-traffic areas. Reflectivity: Often mixed with glass beads to increase visibility, especially at night. Fast application and curing: It can be applied quickly, and once heated to the appropriate temperature, it sets quickly as it cools. Thermoplastic paint is typically applied using specialized machines that heat the material to its molten state and spread it onto surfaces. When cooled, it forms a solid, long-lasting coating.  

How to apply thermoplastic paint?   Applying thermoplastic paint involves a specific process due to its unique properties, such as its ability to melt when heated and solidify once cooled. It's commonly used for road markings, parking lots, and other applications where high durability is needed. Here’s a general guide on how to apply thermoplastic paint: Materials and Equipment Needed: Thermoplastic paint (pre-heated or in solid form) Infrared heater or thermoplastic paint applicator Applicator machine or manual tools (if applying by hand) Traffic marking stencils (for designs or symbols) Protective gear (gloves, goggles, etc.) Thermometer (to ensure proper temperature) Cleaning supplies (e.g., broom, power washer) Step-by-Step Process: 1. Surface Preparation: Clean the surface: Ensure the surface (asphalt, concrete, etc.) is clean and dry. Remove any debris, dirt, oils, or old markings that might interfere with the application. Use a broom, power washer, or scraper as needed. Ensure proper temperature: The ambient temperature should typically be above 50°F (10°C) for best results. If applying on roads, avoid wet conditions. 2. Preheating the Thermoplastic Paint: Heating the paint: If the thermoplastic paint is in solid form, you will need to melt it. This can be done using an infrared heater or a specialized thermoplastic applicator machine. Temperature range: Heat the paint to around 400°F to 450°F (200°C to 230°C) until it becomes a thick, fluid consistency. Be cautious not to overheat, as this can cause degradation of the material. 3. Applying the Paint: Using an applicator machine: If you’re using a machine, fill it with the molten thermoplastic paint, then use the machine to spread an even layer of paint across the surface. The applicator machine usually has a nozzle or roller that dispenses the paint as you move along. Manual application: For smaller areas or specific designs, you can apply the molten paint manually using a spatula or a squeegee to spread the material evenly. Control thickness: Apply the paint in layers, ensuring the thickness is consistent. Typically, a layer of 1/16 to 1/8 inch (1.5 mm to 3 mm) is standard for road markings. 4. Shaping and Marking: If you are creating specific symbols or road signs, use pre-cut stencils to outline and mark the area where the thermoplastic paint should be applied. Ensure that the thermoplastic is spread evenly within the stencil and remove the stencil carefully to avoid disturbing the design. 5. Cooling and Solidifying: Allow the thermoplastic paint to cool and harden, which typically takes just a few minutes depending on the thickness and ambient temperature. Once cooled, the paint will harden into a durable, reflective surface that’s resistant to weather and traffic wear. 6. Post-application: Clean up: Remove any excess or spillage before the paint solidifies to maintain a clean application. Traffic use: The surface can usually be used by vehicles after the thermoplastic has solidified and cooled, typically within 20 minutes to an hour. Additional Tips: Use reflective beads: Often, retroreflective beads are sprinkled onto the wet thermoplastic paint to enhance visibility, especially for road markings. Temperature monitoring: Ensure you monitor the temperature of both the surface and the paint to maintain optimal application conditions. Safety: Always wear appropriate protective gear as molten thermoplastic paint can cause severe burns. By following these steps, you should be able to successfully apply thermoplastic paint for a durable, high-visibility surface.

Construction Preparation - Technical Preparation: Before construction, a construction plan should be prepared according to the design drawings and other documents, and then reviewed and approved. Surveyors need to accurately determine the positions of the road markings using surveying instruments such as theodolites. - Mechanical Equipment: Prepare mechanical equipment like electric welding machines, gas cutting sets, and cutting machines, and ensure their normal operation. - Working Conditions: Relevant technical documents and construction plans should be completed. Construction workers should be in place and have received technical briefings. Raw materials should arrive at the site and pass inspection. Construction Environment - The temperature and humidity during construction must meet the requirements of the marking materials. Generally, for hot-melt coating construction, the air temperature should not be lower than 10 °C. Construction must be stopped in bad weather such as rainy days, dusty days, and windy days. - The construction site should be kept clean to prevent debris, dust, etc. from affecting the quality of the road markings. Material Requirements - Road marking materials should comply with relevant standards such as "Pavement Marking Coatings" (JT/T 280 - 2004), having properties such as durability and adaptability. - Auxiliary materials like primer and glass beads also need to meet corresponding technical conditions. For example, the specifications, quality, and spreading amount of glass beads are strictly regulated. Construction Process - Road Surface Treatment: First, use a high-pressure air road sweeper to clean away debris, dust, etc. from the road surface, ensuring that the road surface is dry, flat, and free of loose particles. - Setting Out: Use an automatic setting-out machine to set out according to the design requirements, determine the positions and dimensions of the road markings, and pass the preliminary inspection and acceptance by the supervision engineer. - Spraying Primer: Use a high-pressure airless primer spraying machine to spray the primer according to the specified type and dosage. Start the road marking construction only after it is fully dried. - Marking Construction: Use professional equipment such as self-propelled hot-melt marking machines for coating application, ensuring that the width and thickness of the road markings are uniform, the lines are smooth, the color meets the standard, and there are no phenomena such as dripping, peeling, flaking, or cracking, and that they are coordinated with the road alignment. - Spreading Glass Beads: Spread glass beads under pressure according to the required amount after the coating is applied, so that they are evenly distributed and firmly attached, ensuring the retroreflective performance of the road markings. Quality Acceptance - Position and Dimensions of Markings: They should meet the design specifications, and the deviation from the road centerline and other distances should be within the allowable range. - Color and Brightness of Markings: The colors should be clear, bright, and in line with the standards, with sufficient brightness, enabling drivers to clearly recognize them under various weather and lighting conditions. - Marking Quality: The surface of the road markings should be flat, without defects such as bubbles, cracks, or peeling, and the slope should be reasonable with smooth drainage. - Reflective Performance: The retroreflective coefficient of reflective road markings should meet relevant requirements, and the glass beads should be evenly distributed for uniform reflection.  

                                                                 Thermoplastic Field Guide   Thermoplastic is a pavement marking material that is a 100% solid, environmentally and user safe compound. A mixture of glass beads, pigments, binder, and filler materials, thermoplastic, as its name suggests, becomes liquid when heat is applied.   Glass Beads -  provide the retroreflectivity necessary for its bright night time appearance Pigments -  provide the color and opacity Binder -  a mixture of plasticizer and resins that provide toughness, flexibility, and bond strength while holding all the components together Fillers -  such as calcium carbonate, sand and/or other inert substances that provide bulk   Thermoplastic Types:   Two basic types of thermoplastic are available. The two, hydrocarbon and alkyd, take their names fromtheir binder types. Hydrocarbon thermoplastic is made from petroleum-derived resins.   • Hydrocarbon tends to be more heat stable, with more predictable application properties, than alkyd   • Because it tends to break down under oil drippings and other automobile contaminants, hydrocarbonis recommended for long-line, skip lines and edge-line applications and not for high-traffic areaswhere cars are stationary.(Such as stop bars, crosswalks, turn arrows)   Alkyd thermoplastic is made from wood-derived resins that is resistant to petroleum products. Alkyd thermoplastic exhibits some advantages over hydrocarbon materials such as:   • higher retroreflective values   • being oil impervious   • being more durable     Alkyd is recommended for inner-city markings and other high-traffic areas where petroleum drippings are common.   Both hydrocarbon and alkyd thermoplastic are available in granular or block form, packaged in 50-pound bags or boxes. The application properties of each should have a guaranteed shelf life of one year when stored inside at a temperature less than 100° F.   Hot applied thermoplastic is prepared for road application in a melting kettle where the granular or block material is introduced and heated until it liquefies at temperatures exceeding 400° F. An agitator blends the ingredients until thermoplastic is transferred into a screed, ribbon or spray device where it is then shaped into its specified width and thickness as a line, legend or symbol. Glass beads are immediately applied to provide initial retroreflectivity.   When applied on asphaltic surfaces, thermoplastic material develops a thermal bond via heat-fusion. When applied on Portland Concrete Cement and on oxidized or aged asphaltic surfaces, and a recommended sealer is properly applied, a tenacious mechanical bond is achieved.   Providing that all necessary conditions are met concerning temperature of material and substrate, absence of moisture, road preparation and minimum thickness, you can achieve excellent performance using thermoplastic pavement marking compounds. Typical performance life ranges from 4 to 8 years depending on roadway conditions.     Correct application of thermoplastic:   Temperature is the most important factor in the proper mixing, melting and bonding of thermoplastic.   • Heated to a temperature between 400 and 440° F and agitated properly, the thermoplastic compound becomes a homogenized liquid.   • Applied at this temperature, the thermoplastic melts into the upper surface of the asphalt, forming a thermal bond.   • When installed on porous surfaces, such as open-graded asphalt or tined concrete, the hot liquid thermoplastic fills all voids, creating a good mechanical lock on concrete.     Thickness of the applied thermoplastic should be as specified. A minimum thickness of 90 mils is important to the material's ability to hold the heat necessary for good bonding. The thermal bonding that occurs when application is at the proper thickness ensures the thermoplastic's durability and long-term retroreflectivity, A minimum thickness of 30 mils is required to hold the heat necessary for proper bonding when recapping a line because of poor reflectivity or inadequate thickness.   Being raised above the road surface, combined with the retroreflectivity produced by the glass beads makes thermoplastic more visible from a distance and at night. The thickness also contributes to improved retroreflective performance in wet conditions and the exceptional durability of the product.   The amount of glass beads, both mixed in with the compound and dropped on the installed line, must be correct.   •  Drop-on beads must be applied evenly and adhered to a depth of 50 to 60%. •  Apply at 8 to 10 lbs / 100 ft2. •  Proper application thickness, temperature and formulation, in conjunction with correct bead coatings, ensure that bead depth is accurate.   •  Intermix beads shall be mixed in the thermoplastic in accordance with agency's specification.     Equipment:   Application equipment should meet the criteria of the specification. The engineer may be responsible forapproving such equipment, whether it be mobile or portable, prior to the start of work.   Melting Kettle(s) must be capable of :   • Heating thermoplastic material to its application temperature evenly, without scorching.   • Maintaining temperatures above 400’ F. The heating mechanism of the kettle should employ a heattransfer medium consisting of oil or hot air.   • A temperature gauge must be visible on the outside of the kettle to indicate the temperature of thethermoplastic material. The material gauge must not be confused with the heat transfer medium (oiltemperature)gauge.    • Material temperatures should be monitored frequently with an external, calibrated thermometer Proper application temperatures should always be checked at the point of application.   Mixing and Agitating Equipment - Melting kettles and portable applicators:   • Must be equipped with material agitators.   • Must be capable of thoroughly mixing the material at a rate which will ensure even disbursement and uniform temperatures throughout the material mass.     Priming Equipment On pavement surfaces that are to be primed before the application of the thermoplastic material, theprimer material shall be sprayed on the surface at the specified rates recommended by the manufacturer ofthe primer/sealer material. All of the priming equipment should be inspected and checked to ensure thatit is completely operational and capable of disbursing the primer/sealer at the rate prescribed by themanufacturer.   Glass Bead Dispenser Both mobile and portable thermoplastic application equipment are required to be equipped with a drop-onor a pressure-type bead dispenser. The glass beads are to be evenly dropped-on to the hot thermoplasticstripe immediately after its application, embedding and anchoring at a depth of 50 to 60%. The purposeof the glass beads is to provide initial night time retroreflectivity of the pavement marking which, withoutthem, would be barely visible to the motorist, The bead dispenser shall be inspected frequently to ensureproper operation and to ensure uniform rates of each application over the entire marking surface.     Dispensing Devices There are various devices used to screed/extrude thermoplastic material onto the pavement. The deviceshould be positioned such to protect it from the wind. Ribbon Dispensers are heated and suspended above the road surface, applying a forced-extrusion,well-defined thermoplastic line.   Spray Dispensing Devices - Thermoplastic spray pattern shall result in a uniformly thick, well.defined and securely-bonded stripe as specified. Compressed air must be dry when mixing with themolten thermoplastic.   Screed Extrusion Devices - The dispensing shoe rides directly on the road surface and a continuosline is formed by a three sided die with a control gate set to a pre-determined thickness.     Successful Performance: Because bond failures are application related, they can be minimized by proper application controls. This can be accomplished through correct and frequent inspection at the project site. The following guidelinesare intended to assure successful installation performance.   Marking Location - To minimize damage from snowplow blades and from substrate failure, thermoplastic markings must be:    • placed directly on the lane, preterably 2 inches from the shoulder and construction joints.   •  Do not apply edgeline markings directly over the joint formed between the roadway and the adjoining shoulder. •  Do not apply skip line markings over the longitudinal joint between travel lanes.   Equipment - A daily inspection of equipment should be made to ensure that is operable and within thespecification requirements. Breakdowns of equipment during the day may cause thermoplastic materialsor primers to be subsequently held too long or heated improperly. This can result in parts of the jobfailing to meet the overall specifications and longevity requirements of the road marking materialintermitent malfunctions of equipment can also cause inconsistent performance of small sections of laneines within a limited area, Continuous uniform operation of all equipment used to make thermoplasticapplications is of extreme importance. Keep equipment clean and free of material residue buildup.   Materials - Material specifications should be reviewed completely, It is the function of the governmenttesting laboratory to determine whether or not the material meets the requirements of the materialspecifications, Field samples of material may be retained by the project engineer for quality verification. Material packaging shall have accurate batch number designations, The material type and formulationshould be distinctively shown on the container: 1) Alkyd or Hydrocarbon and 2) Extrude or Spray.   Although alkyd and hydrocarbon materials will fuse to one another on the road, they areincompatible in a melting kettle, Failure to completely clean out kettles during material change.overs can cause severe equipment problems, DO NOT MIX ALKYD AND HYDROCARBONMATERIALS!!!   Pavement Surface - Pavement surfaces must be clean, dust free and dry. Remove poorly adhering.existing markings and curing compounds. Air and surface temperatures shall be at least 50' F and risingduring applications. Heavy deposits of existing painted pavement markings, polymer trafic tapes, and built-up roadsideaccumulations of dirt, etc., will all require removal. In some cases, an air blast or manual or mechanicalbrooming will be sufficient to clean the surface, In others, more effort or different methods such asabrasive-blasting, water blasting or mechanical removal will be needed.   New thermoplastic applications should successfully bond to worn existing thermoplastic lines or preformthermoplastic markings. Do not apply thermoplastic over existing tape markings.   All pavement should be more than visibly dry, oisture is the most detrimental factor in bondingSubsurface moisture can be present in amounts sufficient to affect proper bonding, Early morning dewand fog conditions will usually cause dampness. If excess pavement moisture exists, it will usually resultin blistering the hot-applied marking. Blisters will form as surface bubbles which may or may not haveburst open. They are easily spotted, and if the condition occurs, marking operations should be stoppeduntil the pavement dries. The only way to be certain, whether moisture is present is to conduct a test.There are numerous ways to test for moisture.   • Tape a 12 inch square sheet of thin plastic to the road surface, being careful to seal all edges, After15 minutes, examine the bottom of the sheet and the road surface. If more than a sparse amount ofmoisture is present, do not apply thermoplastic.   •  Place an 18 inch piece of tar paper on pavement and apply thermoplastic heated to 420’F on topWait two minutes and lift tar paper. Check underside. If moisture is present, do not apply.   Air Temperature - Thermoplastic should only be applied if the air temperature is 50 F and rising. Besure to account for wind chill factors, If the temperature falls below 50 F, then striping operation shouldbe halted. Primer Application - Use the thermoplastic manufacturer's recommended primer:   •  on all Portland concrete   •  on asphalt surfaces that are more than two years old, oxidized and/or have aggregate exposed   If specified prior to the thermoplastic application, the primer must be applied to all pavement surfaces atmanufacturer's recommended application rates, It must set for the specified cure or evaporation timeprior to thermoplastic being applied.   Primed pavement surfaces must be striped within the specified set time or within the same working day.If the primed surfaces are not striped within these time limits, they must be reprimed prior to thethermoplastic application at the prescribed rate denoted by the manufacturer. If an approved epoxyprimer is used, proportional mixing must be checked and thermoplastic application must occur beforeepoxy has cured. Improper primer/sealer application will cause bond failure between the thermoplastic and substrate.Improper application may also result in physical degradation of the thermoplastic material by excessivepinholing and blistering of the line. This degradation may occur through extraction of the binder by thesolvent system contained in the primer/sealer promoted by improper drying time and application rates.        

Road Marking - Key Points for Thermoplastic Coating Application - Guangdong Hua Qun Traffic Facilites Co. Ltd. By Shares   [Summary Description] Currently, the road marking paints used in China can be categorized into three types: thermoplastic, water-based, and solvent-based at normal temperature. Traffic safety management departments utilize road markings to enhance traffic safety, reduce accidents, and beautify urban roads. The visibility and effectiveness of road markings depend on high-performance marking paints. With the increasing emphasis on environmental protection in modern construction and the high demands for wear resistance, skid resistance, weather resistance, and durability of road markings, low-cost thermoplastic marking paint has become the preferred choice for road marking applications in China.   Thermoplastic road marking paint utilizes the thermoplasticity of synthetic resin to enable fast drying and ensure a strong bond between the markings and the road surface. Thermoplastic reflective road marking paint typically consists of thermoplastic resin, pigments, fillers, reflective materials, and other additives. This type of paint offers excellent adhesion, long-lasting durability, strong nighttime reflectivity, quick drying during application, and good weather and water resistance. Additionally, it is cost-effective, affordable, and environmentally friendly. In its natural state, thermoplastic paint is a powder at room temperature and contains no volatile solvents. During application, it is heated to a molten state and then applied to the road surface using specialized equipment. It solidifies into a film through physical cooling. The thickness of thermoplastic markings typically ranges from 1.0 mm to 2.5 mm. The paint contains reflective glass beads mixed into it, with additional beads sprinkled on the surface during application to enhance nighttime visibility. These markings provide excellent nighttime reflectivity and have a long service life. Based on the estimated demand for various road marking paints in highway construction with high traffic volumes, thermoplastic markings generally last 2–3 years under normal conditions.   At room temperature, thermoplastic road marking paint is a solid powder. During construction, the paint is loaded into a melting kettle, and the temperature inside the kettle is controlled between 180°C and 210°C. The paint is stirred while melting, and once it reaches a molten, flowing state, it is transferred into the insulating hopper of the marking machine. The molten paint is then introduced into the marking hopper, where it is kept at an appropriate temperature to maintain its molten state. Before marking, a pre-marking machine is used to mark the positions. The primer is applied using a primer machine according to the design layout. After the primer has fully dried, the marking paint can be applied. When marking begins, the marking hopper is placed on the road surface. Due to the gap between the hopper and the surface, when the marking machine moves forward, the paint flows automatically and evenly spreads a neat line. The glass bead applicator automatically and evenly spreads a layer of reflective glass beads over the marking. Key Points for Thermoplastic Road Marking Construction: Temperature Control during Melting: The temperature during the melting process should be maintained between 180°C and 220°C. After melting, the paint should be stirred slowly and kept at the proper temperature for 3-5 minutes before it is applied. This ensures that the thermoplastic road marking paint performs optimally. Weather Conditions for Application: It is recommended to apply the paint when the temperature is above 0°C to ensure a clean, dry working surface. For high-temperature construction, the material temperature can be appropriately increased. Primer Treatment: Leave enough time for the primer to fully dry before applying the marking paint. New Cement Pavement: For newly finished cement roads, it is advisable to delay marking for at least three months or to conduct two primer treatments. Otherwise, the markings are likely to peel off. High-Traffic Roads: On roads with heavy traffic, after applying the primer, place warning cones to avoid the wheels running over the primer, which could remove it and leave dust behind. If the material temperature is below 180°C, the petroleum resin may not stretch properly, affecting the paint's fluidity. This may cause issues such as fraying on the markings, rough edges, or excess paint, which will affect the appearance of the markings. Furthermore, low temperatures can weaken the adhesion of the paint to the road surface by limiting the extension of the petroleum resin molecules. Reasons for Slow Drying of Thermoplastic Paint: Ambient Temperature: The standard ambient temperature for drying is 23°C. At this temperature, the drying time of the thermoplastic paint is less than 3 minutes. If the ambient temperature exceeds this value, the drying time will increase accordingly. High Surface Temperature: When the surface temperature is high, such as in summer on asphalt roads, the temperature can exceed 60°C. If the surface temperature is still high after the markings are applied, the paint will not cool down, causing the markings to remain undried. This issue is most noticeable during the daytime (around 11 AM to 4 PM), especially in the middle of the road, where there is longer exposure to sunlight and slower cooling. Density of the Paint: The density of the marking paint itself can be an issue. Excessive use of leveling agents and other additives can improve the flow of the paint, reduce costs, and lower the softening point of the thermoplastic paint, which causes it to gradually soften and dry more slowly.  

The HUI-HE High Speed Way is a China government project in 2021, which used our thermoplastic paint for road line marking. It was well received by the government.