Diamond Grade™ DG3 Reflective

Sheeting
Series 4090
Preliminary Product Bulletin 4090 May 2005
Health and Safety Information Properties
Read all health hazard, precautionary and first aid The minimum initial coefficient of retro-reflection
statements found in the Material Safety Data Sheets RA (cd⋅lx-1⋅m-2) of 3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG3
and/or product label of chemicals prior to handling or 4090, when measured in accordance with the
use. procedure specified in CIE Publication No. 54, using
CIE standard illuminant A, conforms to the values in
Description Table A and B.
3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG3 Reflective Sheeting is a Table A conforms to the requirements for Typ 3A in
super-high efficiency, full cube retroreflective sheeting DIN 67520-4:2005, intended for long distance
designed for the production of traffic control signs and performance
delineators that are exposed vertically in service. DG3
sheeting is designed to have the highest retroreflective RA[cd/lx/m²] α = 0.1° α = 0.2° α = 0.33°
characteristics at medium and short road distances as β2 = 0, ε = 0
determined by the RA value at 1.0° and 1.5° observation β1 = β1 = β1 =
Color 5° 20° 30° 5° 20° 30° 5° 20° 30°
angle in Table B. The performance at this angle
White 850 600 425 625 450 325 425 300 225
represents the most common viewing geometries
encountered by the driving public. 4090 sheeting also Yellow 550 390 275 400 290 210 275 195 145
provides brightness at high entrance angles shown by Red 170 120 85 125 90 65 85 60 45
the values at 40° in Table B. Blue 55 40 28 40 30 20 28 20 15
Green 85 60 40 60 45 30 40 30 20
Applied to properly prepared sign substrates, DG3
Table A: Long Distance Performance Typ 3A*
provides long-term reflectivity and durability.
Table B characterizes the sheeting for the medium
Sheeting Color and short distance range. This is relevant for the sign
4090 White action distance when traffic signs become legible.
4091 Yellow This is also the range when larger entrance angles are
4092 Red encountered.
4095 Blue
4097 Green RA[cd/lx/m²] α = 0.5° α = 1.0° α = 1.5°
β2 = 0, ε = 0
β1 = β1 = β1 =
Color 5° 20° 30° 40° 5° 20° 30° 40° 5° 20° 30° 40°
White 320 240 160 80 120 90 60 30 32 24 16 8
Yellow 224 168 112 56 84 63 42 21 22 16,5 11 5,5
Red 64 48 32 16 24 18 12 6 6,5 5 3 1,5
Blue 16 12 8 4 6 4,5 3 1,5 1,5 1 - -
Green 32 24 16 8 12 9 6 3 3 2,5 1,5 1
Table B: Minimum RA in the sign action distance*

*The angular definitions apply for the CIE Goniometer system (co-
planar geometry). The sheeting shall be mounted in 0° orientation
on the goniometer (as shown below).

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Product Bulletin PB-4090-EU-DRAFT-May05
Chromaticity and the luminance factor conform to the Diamond Grade™ DG3 sheeting these lines are
color boxes of Table B, when illuminated with CIE slightly thicker than the seal pattern legs. Tooling
standard illuminant D65 and measured with 45/0 lines are noticeable in shop light but are not
geometry. The colorboxes comply with EN 12899- observable on the road either in daylight or at night
1:2001 Class R2. The luminance factors for white and (Figure 2).
yellow are exceeding Class R2 requirements to
demonstrate superior daytime performance.
Color 1 2 3 4 Luminance
factor
x y x y X y x y β
White 0,305 0,315 0,335 0,345 0,325 0,355 0,295 0,325 ≥ 0,40
Yellow 0,494 0,505 0,470 0,480 0,513 0,437 0,545 0,454 ≥ 0,24
Red 0,735 0,265 0,700 0,250 0,610 0,340 0,660 0,340 ≥ 0,03
Green 0,110 0,415 0,170 0,415 0,170 0,500 0,110 0,500 ≥ 0,03
Blue 0,130 0,090 0,160 0,090 0,160 0,140 0,130 0,140 ≥ 0,01

Table C: Chromaticity and luminance factors

Application
Orientation Diamond Grade DG3 sheeting should be conditioned
3M™ Diamond Grade™ DG3 Reflective Sheeting is prior to application to provide a minimum sheeting
designed to be an effective wide angle reflective temperature of 15°C throughout the roll or sheeting
sheeting regardless of the orientation on the substrate or stack.
ultimate orientation after installation. However, The sheeting should be applied with mechanical
because the efficiency of light return from cube corner squeeze roll applicators to properly prepared
reflectors is not equal at all rotation angles, especially substrates.
with increasing entrance angles, it is possible to get the Hand application is recommended for legend and
widest entrance angle light return when the sheeting is copy only. Use firm pressure with a rubber roller or
oriented in a particular manner. equivalent to obtain maximum initial adhesion. Use
If high entrance angle performance beyond 40° is a multiple, heavy overlapping strokes. Re-roll all
requirement for your signs, you can obtain this edges.
performance as easily as specifying the orientation of Application of Diamond Grade sheeting for complete
your completed signs. In these situations the completed signs or backgrounds must be done with a roll
sign should have the sheeting positioned at the 0° laminator, either mechanical or hand. For further
rotation angle. information refer to Information Folder IF 1.4, IF 1.5
Primary Groove Line and IF 1.6.

Splices
Series 4090 sheeting should be butt spliced when
0 90° more than one piece of sheeting is used on one piece
of substrate. The sheeting pieces should not touch
each other. A splice gap of up to 1,5mm is
acceptable. This is to prevent buckling as the
sheeting expands in extreme temperature and
Figure 1 – Sheeting is positioned at 0° rotation angle humidity exposure.

When the “primary groove line” is vertical in the Substrates

completed sign, sheeting is said to be at a 0° For traffic sign use, product application is limited to
orientation. When the “primary groove line” is properly prepared aluminum (see Information Folder
horizontal in the completed sign, the sheeting is said to 1.7). The substrate should be conditioned prior to
be at a 90° orientation. application to provide a minimum surface
temperature of 15°C.
Tooling Lines Extrusions are to be wrapped and flat panel signs are
The manufacturing of prismatic sheeting results in to be carefully trimmed, so that sheeting from
tooling lines being present in the product. In 3M™ adjacent panels do not touch on assembled signs.
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Product Bulletin PB-4030-EU-DRAFT-May05
Users are urged to carefully evaluate all other substrates period is subject to the terms of sale) that 3M™
for adhesion and sign durability. 3M™ Diamond Diamond Grade™ DG3 Reflective Sheeting Series
Grade™ DG3 sheeting is designed primarily for 4090 sold by 3M to be used for traffic control signs,
applications to flat substrates. Rivets or bolts should work zone devices and delineators is free of defects in
also support any use that requires a radius of curvature material and workmanship, subject to the following
of less 130mm. provisions:
Sign failures caused by the substrate or improper If Sheeting Series 4090 is processed and applied to a
surface preparation are not the responsibility of 3M. vertical ±10° surface in accordance with all 3M
application and fabrication procedures provided in
Compatible Products 3M's product and information folders, technical
Screen Print Applications memos (which will be furnished to the agency upon
• 3M™ Process Colors 880I request), including the exclusive use of 3M matched
• 3M™ Process Colors 880-00 component systems, process colors, overlay films and
recommended application equipment.
Copy Part Applications
• 3M™ Scotchcal™ Film 3650-12 (Black) Important Notice to Purchaser
• 3M™ Scotchcal™ Film 7720-12 All statements, technical information and
recommendations herein are based o tests we believe
• 3M™ Controltac™ Scotchcal™ Film 180-12
to be reliable, but the accuracy or completeness
• 3M™ ElectroCut™ Film Series 1170 thereof is not guaranteed. Before using, user shall
• 3M™ TFEC 260 D determine the suitability of the product for its
All Applications intended use, and user assumes all risk and liability
whatsoever in connection therewith. All questions of
• Selected 3M application tapes warranty and liability relating to this product are
governed by the terms of the sale subject where
Important: Care should be taken to avoid flexing applicable to the prevailing law.
Series 4090 sheeting before and especially after No statement or recommendation not contained
screening. herein shall have any force or effect unless in an
Screen-printed sign faces must be sufficiently agreement signed by officers of seller and
ventilated during the filling of the rack or manufacturer.
immediately run through a conveyor. If the print is
not ventilated properly, the solvents may damage
the top film of the sheeting. Refer to Product Literature Reference
Bulletin 880I and Information Folder 1.8 for more Instructions for Squeeze Roll Applicator IF 1.4
details. Hand Application Instructions IF 1.5
Instructions for Hand Squeeze Roll Applicator IF 1.6
General Performance Considerations Sign Base Materials IF 1.7
The performance and durability of 3M™ Diamond Instructions for using 3M Process Colors IF1.8
Grade DG3 Reflective Sheeting Series 4090 will depend
upon a number of factors including (but not limited to): Cutting, Matching, Premasking and Prespacing
Instructions IF 1.10
• Selection, preparation and temperature of the 3M Process Color 880I PB 880I
substrate
3M Process Color 880-00 PB880-00
• Application procedures
• Geographic area
• Exposure and atmospheric conditions (e.g. snow, For Further Assistance
frost) For help on specific questions relating to 3M™
• Correct combination of sheeting, ink and overlay film reflective products, please contact your local
3M Technical Service person or contact:
• Ink formulation 3M Deutschland GmbH
• Ink drying/curing methods TSS Laboratory
• Cleaning and maintenance methods Traffic Safety Systems Division
Carl-Schurz-Str. 1, D-41453 Neuss
Warranty Phone: +49 21 31/14-27 93
Fax: +49 21 31/14-12 27 93
In Europe, 3M warrants for a period up to 12 years
from date of application (concrete definition of the All rights reserved © 3M Company, 2005
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Product Bulletin PB-4030-EU-DRAFT-May05