Biobased Road Marking Materials That Utilize Hot-Melt Polyamide Elastomers
Road markings are a critical component of traffic safety. Road markings provide the visibility needed to stay in the intended lane and determine what is down the road. One manufacturer in this market, Kraton Corporation, reports that it has bio-based products available that enable formulators to develop thermoplastic road markings with long-lasting, high-visibility performance.
Thermoplastic is the most popular and cost-effective permanent road marking technology due to its fast return-to-service, long service life, high retro-reflectivity, and lack of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Kraton reports that its road marking materials are optimized for excellent glass bead adhesion and thermal fusion with asphalt so that formulated markings deliver exceptional durability, ensuring retro-reflectivity remains high for years and minimizing maintenance costs.
The company reports that the benefits of using these road marking materials include high retro-reflectivity/visibility, fast return-to-service, reduced road closures, minimized traffic issues, enhanced durability, minimized maintenance needs, 100 percent solids / zero VOC, excellent glass bead adhesion, thermal fusion to asphalt, and good adhesion to concrete.
Preformed thermoplastic markings are also available. They are typically used for transverse lines and pavement symbols, are produced as pre-cut thermoplastic tapes and symbol pieces and applied by arranging on the pavement surface and heating in place. Kraton products enable formulators to optimize preformed markings for manufacturing efficiency, ease of application, visibility and durability.
Source: Kraton Corporation