On well-built and designed roads, road marking lines are always clearly observed. Different lines exist for other purposes and directions; traffic lines are different from those used in airport runways and those used in pedestrian crossings. The need for road marking paint is to give clear information on direction as it should to pedestrians, drivers, and other road users to reduce misinterpretations of what they mean and also reduce the risk of accidents and other road casualties.
Road marking, also called line marking, uses specific surface coatings to make visible marks to pass on information on pedestrian and vehicle paths such as roads, airport runways, highways, etc. Variations in these lines, their colors, and patterns are sometimes observed in different countries and states, but the main aim is to bring about the safety of all road users.
Table of contents
Introduction
What are road marking paints
What is road marking paint made of
Types of Road Marking paint
How to use Road Marking Paint
Key selection consideration for Road Marking Paint
Where to find professionals for road marking Project
Benefits of Road Marking
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
What are Road Marking Paints
Road marking paint is a type of paint with a quick drying coating and an alkyd base that gives a matt finish; its fast drying nature makes it suitable for surfaces such as asphalt, concrete, and coal tar. The paint possesses different properties such as performance, reflectivity, and longevity.
A professional in road mark painting determines and chooses a particular kind of paint for a specific project because of particular road lining jobs and certain conditions such as the type of surface to be worked on, amount of traffic, and drying time. The nature of paint that is suitable for road surfaces does not bleed or melt out (l.e, it has a barrier coating), also doesn’t change color or change the color of other paints when used.
What is Road Marking Paint Made of
Different road marking paints are widely available, and generally, they consist of;
- Synthetic thermoplastic resin
- Premixed glass beads
- Pigments are made up of titanium dioxide.
The synthetic thermoplastic resin is mixed with premixed glass beads that are tiny and reflective; they are also combined with pigments made up of titanium dioxide. The glass beads that are present in a road marking paint serve a long term use in road safety as it exhibits a physical characteristic known as retroreflective; this causes the road lines to give back brightness under car headlights at night time while the pigment contained gives properties of durability and effective functioning.
The use of highly professional road marking machines delivers the paint accurately in a controlled manner on the road.
Types of Road Marking Paint
Road marking paint types differ, with each unique offering characteristic regarding their formulation and performance, making them suitable for different purposes. Considering the area of application, such as traffic levels, heat exposure, and the nature of the surface for the job, these makeup for the differences in the various types of road marking paint. They include;
Thermoplastic Road Marking Paint
Thermoplastic road marking paint is quite known to be widely accepted and the most used in road marking; this is due to its being reflective and very durable. Also, its complex wears properties make it best for newly constructed roads and paved with severe weather situations and high traffic highways. It is originally solid; it changes to a liquid when heated and back to a solid state as it cools. It is otherwise called a hot tape or hot melting paint because at 180 degrees Celsius, it is sprayed on the road surface, glass beads are added to make the paint reflective, and to enhance friction which promotes safety, fillers are usually added.
Thermoplastic paints are known to last for about 3-6 years, and they are used for several signs on the road; these are pedestrian crossing signs, traffic line markings, etc.
Water-based Road Marking Paint.
Water based paint is a reliable and durable road paint made up of some polymer materials and binders which as acrylic latex; it is pretty inconspicuous, bright, and conspicuous, known to present a kind of grip, giving it its anti slippery characteristics, which makes it suitable for race tracks and aircraft’s runways. It comes with a diverse range of colors that are best for pavement surfaces, warehouses, car parking lots, yards, shipping ports, and areas with light traffic. Glass beads are also present here, making it reflective.
Compared to other types of road paint, water-based paint is more environmentally friendly; its variety of colors makes it easy to customize and identify them. They also have excellent safety properties when used.
MMA Cold Plastic Road Marking Paint
MMA (Methyl Methacrylate) is a highly long lasting road marking paint that possesses the properties of both a thermoplastic and a paint; it is a solvent-free cold paint that has a high color retaining capacity which is very efficient for areas and roads that experience high traffic like pedestrian lines, junctions, roundabout.
One advantage of MMA road marking paint is that it dries fast because it is applied when cold, completing the job more quickly..
Acetone Road Paint
This type of paint uses a solvent, basically acetone, which acts as a solvent-based coating that meets the new and improved VOC (volatile organic compound) requirements. It is noted that acetone does not affect the VOC coating of the paint. During installing this road marking paint, the contractors and workers must follow the VOCs regulations.
Acetone road paint is relatively low in VOCs; glass beads are present as it improves the visibility of the paint; it sticks considerably with different substrates such as cured asphalt surfaces, high traffic zones like airports, car parks, roadways, etc.
Latex Road Paint
Latex road paint is a fast drying application commonly used on the roads, and when it is heated, it can dry within 1 to 2 minutes after it is applied. This paint usually does not last for more than a year or two, but it is suitable for quick drying projects, and glass beads may also be added to it to make it retroreflective.
Acrylic thermoplastic road marking paint:
This is durable and weather-resistant paint for lining dual carriageways, airport runways, pedestrian crossings, parking lots, etc. This paint is a premium quality fast, drying alkyd-based paint for road marking, highly reflective paint, a chlorinated rubber-based road marking paint used to draw parking bay lines, arrows, numbers, lines, etc. It is mainly used in street and highway construction. The colors usually used for thermoplastic road marking are white and yellow. Gz supplies is a leading thermoplastic road marking paint distributor in Lagos, Nigeria.
Epocoat 410 Road Marking Paint 4L
Technical Data of Epocoat 410 Road Marking Paint 4L
Finish: Glossy
Colours Available: Yellow, Black, White
Spreading Rate: 8-10m2/lit at 35 microns DFT
surface roughness
Drying time: 30 minutes
Recoating time: 90 minutes
Full cure: 90 minutes
Storage – Store at temperatures between 5°C and 40°C, away from direct sunlight, open flames, or sparks.
How to use Road Marking Paint
Any surface to be painted must have no dirt, dust, or grime because these contaminants will mess with the paint and cause many problems, causing bubbles or streaks to appear randomly on your finished product.
Once you’ve cleaned up the surface, you can start applying the one or two coats of road marking paint and make sure it’s left to dry for as long as possible.
When applying route marking paint, you can use a brush, spray, or roller for the smaller areas. The longer paint is allowed to dry on a rough roadway, the longer it will last without smearing or flaking off. Generally, road marking paint dries quickly within three to five minutes and can be applied to any new, clean, or painted surfaces.
Key Selection Considerations for Road Marking Paint
When choosing a paint for a road marking project, there are several factors to keep in mind, such as:
- State and national regulations. The regulations surrounding road marking can vary from country to country and state to state, with some state rules being more strict than federal rules. One of the factors affected by both state and federal requirements and restrictions is the VOC content of the paint; in the United States, national road marking standards call for formulations with less than or equal to 150 g/l of VOC, while some states (e.g., California) demand paints with even smaller quantities of VOC. Check out this map for additional information about state VOC limitations.
- Location. Guidelines for road markings can also differ depending on where the markings will be placed (e.g., road vs. parking lot vs. airport runway). For example, high-traffic areas (e.g., parking lots) require paints that demonstrate high durability and longevity, while areas that require high visibility (e.g., airport runways) need paints with high reflectivity.
- Environmental conditions. The conditions to which road markings will be subjected affect how long they last. For example, water-based paints are generally unsuitable for environments with high moisture content, while paints with high-quality pigments are ideal for environments with high concentrations of UV light.
Where to find professionals for road marking projects
There are various professionals for road marking projects in Nigeria that can guarantee road marking paint longevity, such as
Epoxy Oilserv Port Harcourt
238 Aba Road Rumuogba
First floor Onyejieke Plaza
08071993873, 08071993874
Tikweld Lagos
Suit 10 Olive Plaza Formerly Sebuf plaza Lekki Epe Expressway Lekki, 105102, By Osopa London. Lagos
08065256578, 08031586135
Tikweld Abuja
Shop 016, Zitel Plaza, Plot 227 P.O.W. Mafemi Cres, Utako 900108, Abuja
09055793558
GZ Industrial Supplies Ikeja
18 Adesina Street, Off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos.
08053390168, 07050682172
GZ Industrial Supplies Apapa
10 Apapa Oshodi Expressway, Coconut Bus stop Opposite Total Jetty,
Apapa, Lagos.
08053390161, 0702575217
GZ Industrial Supplies Calabar
30/32 Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Marian, Calabar.
08035819955, 07063821504
GZ Industrial Supplies Ogba
79 Yaya Abatan, by College Road Ogba, Lagos.
08053390169, 08068186305
Benefits of Road Marking
Traffic signals are fundamental aspects of road safety because of their highly visible position on the road. The high visibility of the markings is an important element for drivers to pay attention to, and their function is to warn the drivers about the road conditions ahead. Road markings assist by providing continuous lines along the entire road, making it easier for drivers to discipline their lane and obey any stop signs, construction areas, and stoppage signs. Road marking aid drivers with poor visibility to drive safer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are road markings painted?
Road markings can be applied to various surfaces on roads and highways, leisure complexes., pavements, sports courts, airfields, car parks, and race tracks.
Which road markings should you use?
Depending on the purpose, country, and region, road markings use a standard system of lines, marks, and colors in conveying stopping, lanes, safety, speed limit, directions, zones, speed limit, and parking.
How are road markings applied?
Road surface marking is applied by hand, by trained professionals, and by road marking machines or non-mechanical highway marking equipment. For symbols, stencils are used for accuracy.
What materials are used for road marking?
A road marking paint company chooses the appropriate road marking paint or material to suit a chosen surface and then marks the surface with road markings. For example, different paints will be used for traffic congested areas, anti-skid, longevity, waterproofing, or reflective properties. MMA, Water-based paints, thermoplastic, polymer tape, and epoxy resin are used in road and floor marking.
Why is thermoplastic preferred?
Thermoplastic road marking materials are an 80-year technology that has not lost its luster; despite being around for so long. The main appeal of thermoplastic road marking material is that it stays intact for about a decade, making it a pretty worthwhile investment, and version 1.0 is made from 3 layers: two for reflecting, and one for protecting all of the paint underneath like the top layer, to make sure it does not fade away. They comprise a solid hydrocarbon or alkyd resin intermixed with pigments, fillers, and glass beads. The resins come from natural renewable resources, plantations of pine trees, and petroleum distillates.
Conclusion
Road marking paint has proven to be an essential aspect of road construction, such as pedestrian lines, junctions, roundabouts, and safety signs, thus coordinating road drivers and reducing the rate of accidents. Choosing the right type of road paint for your project can be challenging so it is best to consult an expert to make the right decisions on the best road marking paint. Contact Epoxy Oilserv Nigeria Limited for more information.