What is AASHTO Thermoplastic Road Marking Paint and Key Testing Parameters
AASHTO thermoplastic road marking paint is a hot-applied, durable material compliant with the AASHTO M249 standard, widely used for high-traffic roads, airports, and expressways. Composed of synthetic resins (e.g., C5 petroleum resin), pigments like titanium dioxide (for white) or lead-free alternatives (for yellow), glass beads, and mineral fillers, it is heated to 180–220°C for application and solidifies within 1–3 minutes upon cooling. Key advantages include long service life (2–5 years), high retroreflectivity for nighttime visibility, and resistance to heavy traffic, UV exposure, and extreme weather
Critical Testing Parameters per AASHTO Standards:
Softening Point: 90–125°C (ensures heat resistance without deformation)
Retroreflectivity: 200–400 mcd/m²/lx (measured with glass beads to guarantee night visibility)
Skid Resistance: ≥45 BPN (prevents slipping, tested via British Pendulum)
Compressive Strength: ≥12 MPa (validates durability under traffic load)
Luminance Factor: ≥0.70 for white, ≥0.40 for yellow (maintains color contrast and daylight visibility)
Environmental Compliance: Low VOC content and heavy-metal-free formulations meet eco-safety norms
Additional checks cover glass bead content (18–30%), adhesion strength, and weathering resistance (e.g., UV aging, water immersion) to ensure full compliance with AASHTO M249 and allied standards like ASTM D713
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