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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Primer Treatment: Leave enough time for the primer to fully dry before applying the marking paint.

4. 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.

5. 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.