Performance of Thermoplastic Road Marking Material: Technical Paper
Performance of Thermoplastic Road Marking Material: Technical Paper
Performance of Thermoplastic Road Marking Material: Technical Paper
African standards in this study to determine the performance of thermoplastic road-marking Contact details:
materials. Retroreflectivity testing is important in controlling the final road-marking product. PO Box 1290
Pretoria 0001
The objectives of this study were: South Africa
T: +27 12 358 4870
■■ To determine the RL and Qd service lives of various road-marking paints and road-marking
E: [email protected]
materials on asphalt and chip seal road surfaces.
■■ To determine if there are significant differences in RL, Qd and the colour of the road
PROF WYNAND STEYN (Pr Eng, MSAICE) is
markings when washed with liquid soap mixed with water and hard brooms. Head of the Department of Civil Engineering
■■ To check if the colour and skid resistance of the applied road markings comply with the and full professor (focusing on road
pavement related subjects) at the University
specification.
of Pretoria. His research interests centre on
Based on the data obtained from the study, the following conclusions were drawn: vehicle-pavement interaction, accelerated
pavement testing, pavement engineering,
■■ The RL and Qd service lives of various road-marking paints and road-marking materials on
pavement materials and instrumentation.
asphalt and chip seal road surfaces were determined as between 1 and 48 months, and 1 He has authored, co-authored and edited 27 journal papers, 20 book
and 30 months respectively. chapters (author / co-author / editor) and 97 conference papers. He is
■■ There was no significant increase in RL or colour compliance of the washed road markings, Associate Editor of the International Journal for Pavement Engineering
and has a B3 National Research Foundation (NRF) rating. He is a Member
while there was generally an increase in Qd after washing the test markings. of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering.
■■ White road markings generally complied with the colour specification, while yellow road
Contact details:
markings did not comply with the specification. Department of Civil Engineering
■■ The initial skid resistance of white and yellow 1.2 mm thermoplastic road markings complied University of Pretoria
with the specification, while all other road markings did not comply with the specification. Private Bag X20
Hatfield 0028
South Africa
T: +27 12 420 2171
INTRODUCTION experienced high road fatality rates com- E: [email protected]
Public roads without road markings, espe- pared with high-income countries with
cially roads carrying high traffic volumes, high vehicle ownership (Letsoalo 2012).
would lead to chaos and accidents result- This could be attributed to the lack of
ing in injuries and loss of life. The road road safety awareness campaigns, and the
authorities need to ensure that all signage, lack of maintenance of roads and roadside
i.e. horizontal (road markings) and vertical furniture. The contributing factors to the
(traffic signs), are well maintained and con- high number of road accident fatalities are
form to the Southern African Development human factors, vehicle factors, road factors
Community Road Traffic Signs Manual and environmental factors (Letsoalo 2012).
(SADC RTSM) (SADC 1997) and the The highest percentage of road accidents
South African Road Traffic Signs Manual occur at night, and this is the main reason
(SARTSM) (1999). for road markings to be retroreflective
According to Letsoalo (2012), there are in order to guide the road user. It may
approximately 27 road accident fatalities not necessarily be that the road accidents
per 100 000 in South Africa, while globally have occurred as a result of defective road
it is approximately 10.3 road accident fatali- markings, but as road authorities have a
ties per 100 000. Approximately 14 000 certain degree of control over road mark-
people are killed annually on the roads ings, the authorities should ensure that the
in South Africa. Middle and low-income markings are continuously maintained to
countries with low vehicle ownership the required standards to eliminate road Keywords: retroreflectivity, luminance, skid resistance, colour
10 Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering
is achieved, before transferring it to an Filler Screed thermoplastic
application vehicle (AASHTO 2016). The Filler is a powder added to assist the Screed thermoplastic is generally applied by
hot, melted liquid is applied onto the road dispersion of the pigment, thereby provid- manual hand-push equipment for small road
surface with drop-on glass beads added on ing colour uniformity throughout the markings, such as transverse road markings,
top to produce high initial R L as may be mix (SS 2002a). Fillers are made up of a arrows, words and symbols. Thermoplastic
stipulated in the specifications of the road mixture of calcium carbonate, sand and that is required to be applied thicker than
authority. The material usually dries within other inert materials to impart body to the 2 mm for small markings is usually applied
a short space of time. mixture. The filler is also an important by the screed method.
constituent to ensure that RL is achieved,
Glass beads as well as for the daylight appearance of the Preformed thermoplastic
Road markings must be applied with glass road markings. Preformed thermoplastic which is
beads on roads where R L is required. The manufactured in sheets (commonly
retroreflection of road markings in wet or 600 mm × 900 mm) will have to be cut
rainy conditions is much lower than in dry APPLICATION OF up into the road marking size required
conditions, and as such the road markings THERMOPLASTIC ROAD- before application (TMRS 2012). The road
should be enhanced with special properties MARKING MATERIALS surface must be cleaned and then the cut-
to improve the R L (BS EN 2007). Thermoplastic road-marking materials up preformed thermoplastic is placed in its
Drop-on glass beads are applied to the can be applied in either a liquid or a solid final position and heated with the flame of
surface of both thermoplastic markings form. Liquid thermoplastic is applied in a blow torch to between 150°C and 180°C
and liquid paint markings through a bead three ways, namely by spraying, extruding (TMRS 2012). It is usually manufactured
dispenser which should be an integral part or by screed (TMRS 2012). Thermoplastic to a thickness of 3 mm, and the dry film
of any paint sprayer. Glass beads are fed in a solid form is commonly referred to as thickness is approximately 2 mm after
onto the paint by means of a mechanical preformed thermoplastic. application onto the road surface. It can
process or by gravity. Thermoplastic road be seen that, due to the manufactured
markings also contain intermix beads Spray thermoplastic sheet size, preformed thermoplastic will be
which become exposed as the surface of Spray thermoplastic is applied by mobile more conducive as road marking arrows
the thermoplastic wears off, thereby pro- equipment at a rapid application rate and and symbols. It is also an ideal product
ducing R L throughout most of its service dries almost instantly. This results in the to be used as Control of Speed by Illusion
life. The added advantage of glass beads requirement for minimal traffic accom- (COSBI) lines for traffic calming purposes.
is that it provides skid resistance. The modation and shorter periods of road
important properties of glass beads to be closures, which reduce travel time delays.
analysed in order for the beads to perform Spray thermoplastic is usually applied at a METHODOLOGY
optimally include gradation, refractive thickness of 1.2 mm in South Africa, while Road trials of permanent road markings
index, roundness and clarity, and coating in most European countries the minimum should be conducted over the full climatic
(Gates et al 2003; Miglets et al 1994). application thickness is 1.5 mm, and 2 mm cycles of at least one year (BS EN 2011;
in the US. In Australia spray thermoplastic SANS 2006a; SANS 2006b). The SABS con-
Binder is applied at 2 mm (TMRS 2012). One of ducts road trials only on transversely applied
Binder (resin) is the constituent that pro- the reasons for thermoplastic road marking test markings (SANS 2006a; SANS 2006b).
vides adhesion to the road surface and the being applied thicker in Europe and the According to BS EN (2011), the test mark-
other constituents (the pigments, fillers and US is due to the scraping away of some of ings are applied transversely and longitudi-
glass beads (SS 2002a). An effective road the thermoplastic under the action of the nally on a flat asphalt road which has been
marking system requires not only quality snowplough where snow has settled on established for at least a year.
glass beads, but also a quality binder. If the road. The other reason is that the US,
either part of the road marking system is Australia and Europe consider road safety
not good, or they are not installed properly, as a high priority and allocate sufficient RESEARCH DESIGN
then the road marking system will not budgets for road-marking maintenance. The following activities were undertaken as
perform as well as it could. part of this study:
Extruded thermoplastic ■■ Nine roads were selected, which
Pigment Extruded thermoplastic is also applied by included asphalt roads and chip seal
Pigment is a fine powder added primarily mobile equipment, but the mix design of roads, both new and long established.
to impart colour and opacity to the mix- the material is different and the viscosity is The roads were categorised into “clean
ture. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a common also higher than spray thermoplastic. The asphalt surfaced roads” (roads that are
reflective pigment used in white road applied product takes a longer time to dry self-cleansing, for example when it rains
markings, and higher levels in R L can be than spray plastic, as it is usually applied and sand from the edge of the road is
achieved by adding more TiO2 (Smadi et al at a thickness of 3 mm in South Africa. washed onto the road, the sand will flow
2013). Too much TiO2 used in yellow road In Singapore extruded thermoplastic is into the stormwater system due to the
markings may result in the road markings applied between 2.5 mm and 3 mm, while effective gradient and efficient storm-
appearing a lighter yellow, and this is usu- in Europe and the US it is applied up to water system), “dirty asphalt surfaced
ally observed on road markings where a 5 mm and 4.8 mm respectively (SS 2002b; roads” (sub-standard roads resulting
high initial R L is specified. AASHTO 2016). in sand remaining on the roads due to
Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 11
the ineffective gradient and also due to
a lack of stormwater systems), “clean
sealed roads” and “dirty sealed roads”.
■■ A link of the road, as can be seen in
Figure 1, was selected, and at least two
blocks of transverse markings were
applied, depending on the length of
the link. A set of transverse markings
comprised various types of road mark-
Section 1
ings, namely waterborne road-marking
Block 1
paints, cold plastic and thermoplastic
road-marking materials.
■■ A block of transverse test road mark-
Typical link
to a width of 150 mm, as recommended
Section 2
in SANS (2006a) with a gap of 200 mm Block 2
over the width of a lane selected.
■■ The positions of the longitudinal test
road markings were also broken up into
blocks, similar to that of the transverse
test road markings.
■■ The test road markings were applied on
clean, dry surfaces and the temperature
Section 3
12 Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering
■■ Imported waterborne road-marking
paints
■■ Cold plastic road-marking material
blended in South Africa
■■ Imported cold plastic road-marking
material
■■ Thermoplastic road-marking material
blended in South Africa
■■ Imported thermoplastic road-marking
material.
Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 13
Figure 6 X-Rite Model SP60 colour machine
Figure 5 LTL-XL retroreflectometer brooms and left to dry. Nine measurements Measuring luminance
were conducted over the length of the white The LTL-XL (Figure 5) was used to measure
were conducted in the region of the left and yellow longitudinal test road markings. Qd. The number of Qd measurements con-
and right wheel part of each transverse test The measurement points were distributed ducted was equal to the number of RL meas-
road-marking line painted, and three meas- more or less evenly over the length of the urements conducted in the dirty and washed
urements were conducted towards the centre longitudinally applied test road markings. condition. Similar to RL, the Qd value was
of each of the transverse road-marking lines The longitudinal lines were only measured established as the average of a number of
painted. Two sets of measurements were in the dirty condition, as the washing of only measurements conducted with shifts of the
conducted during the same day on trans- the transverse markings was sufficient to instrument in steps along the marking.
verse lines. The first set of measurements identify if there were significant differences
was conducted on the test road markings in the various parameters in the “dirty” Measuring colour
as found on that day, and the second set and “washed” condition. The RL value was An X-Rite Model SP60 colour machine
of measurements was conducted after established as the average of a number of (Figure 6) was used to conduct the
washing the test road markings with liquid measurements conducted with shifts of the measurements of the test road markings.
soap added into clean drinkable water with instrument in steps along the marking. When conducting measurements with this
400
350
300
Retroreflectivity (mcd/m2/lx)
250
200
150
100
50
0
23 July 2013 5 November 2013 20 March 2014 29 July 2014
Measurement dates
Waterborne (SP2) 1 mm cold plastic (SP1) 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP2)
Waterborne (SP1) 1 mm cold plastic (SP4) 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP1)
Waterborne (SP3) 3 mm screed (SP1)
Figure 8 U
nwashed white transverse markings in retroreflectivity on long-established clean
Figure 7 Skid-resistance tester asphalt road
14 Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering
Table 1 D
escriptive statistics of white transverse markings in retroreflectivity on long-established clean asphalt road
Type of road-marking 23 July 2013 5 November 2013 20 March 2014 29 July 2014
paint / material Unwashed Washed Unwashed Washed Unwashed Washed Unwashed Washed
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 215.2 196.3 175.3 176.3 151.8 149.5 136.4 138.4
Waterborne N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
(SP2) SD 37.6 35.7 28.5 28.3 30.8 18.0 23.7 14.0
CV 0.18 0.18 0.16 0.16 0.20 0.12 0.17 0.10
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 254.2 222.6 203.9 207.2 168.1 171.4 149.4 161.0
Waterborne N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
(SP1) SD 46.6 28.7 31.0 36.6 27.4 28.4 16.8 29.5
CV 0.18 0.13 0.15 0.18 0.16 0.17 0.11 0.18
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 220.5 202.3 170.9 173.0 147.2 152.5 128.3 128.7
Waterborne N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
(SP3) SD 31.0 21.6 19.2 17.5 22.7 14.7 18.1 16.2
CV 0.14 0.11 0.11 0.10 0.15 0.10 0.14 0.13
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 167.1 159.7 130.7 127.4 139.4 135.8 103.8 102.7
1.2 mm
N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Thermoplastic
SD 18.3 12.3 16.5 12.5 12.8 10.4 9.6 10.8
(SP2)
CV 0.11 0.08 0.13 0.10 0.09 0.08 0.09 0.11
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 352.2 294.5 285.7 273.6 285.9 270.1 213.6 223.0
1.2 mm
N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Thermoplastic
SD 57.9 79.7 53.7 44.6 69.4 52.0 48.2 30.0
(SP1)
CV 0.17 0.27 0.18 0.16 0.24 0.19 0.23 0.14
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 264.2 266.0 247.6 245.5 256.8 254.7 196.4 198.9
1 mm
N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Cold plastic
SD 26.4 30.4 49.4 36.8 19.4 32.2 32.3 34.7
(SP1)
CV 0.10 0.11 0.20 0.15 0.08 0.13 0.16 0.18
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 370.4 304.6 285.2 292.9 308.2 291.1 223.0 227.7
3 mm Screed N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
(SP1) SD 46.7 55.3 49.0 25.9 50.4 37.8 40.0 43.6
CV 0.12 0.18 0.17 0.08 0.16 0.13 0.18 0.19
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 194.6 200.0 122.2 129.5 125.1 116.5 86.7 82.4
1 mm
N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Cold plastic
SD 49.0 36.4 37.3 22.9 23.6 19.9 17.7 18.9
(SP4)
CV 0.25 0.18 0.31 0.18 0.19 0.17 0.20 0.23
250
X
x=
X+Y+Z 200
Y
y= 150
X+Y+Z
100
Measuring skid resistance
A British Portable Pendulum skid resist- 50
ance tester (Figure 7) was used to measure
the skid resistance of the test markings 0
23 July 2013 5 November 2013 20 March 2014 29 July 2014
applied on the test plates. A pendulum Measurement dates
fitted with a spring-loaded slider at its free Waterborne (SP2) 1 mm cold plastic (SP1) 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP2)
end was released from a fixed position, Waterborne (SP1) 1 mm cold plastic (SP4) 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP1)
and the frictional energy loss caused by Waterborne (SP3) 3 mm screed (SP1)
the dragging motion of the rubber rear
edge of the slider over the markings was Figure 9 W
ashed white transverse markings in retroreflectivity on long-established clean
measured and expressed in SRT units. The asphalt road
Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 15
Table 2 Summary of white transverse markings in luminance on long-established clean asphalt road
Type of road-marking 23 July 2013 5 November 2013 20 March 2014 29 July 2014
paint / material Unwashed Washed Unwashed Washed Unwashed Washed Unwashed Washed
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 141.7 145.4 128.7 136.5 108.1 107.0 103.6 105.8
Waterborne N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
(SP2) SD 11.7 12.5 9.8 9.1 1.7 1.5 1.7 1.6
CV 0.08 0.09 0.08 0.07 0.02 0.01 0.02 0.02
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 136.6 141.8 119.5 125.5 106.9 108.0 102.8 106.1
Waterborne N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
(SP1) SD 6.2 6.1 7.2 6.3 1.7 3.7 2.2 2.0
CV 0.05 0.04 0.06 0.05 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.02
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 138.0 141.3 122.5 129.1 106.4 106.9 101.5 103.5
Waterborne N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
(SP3) SD 7.0 6.8 8.6 7.8 2.4 1.6 1.7 2.1
CV 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.06 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 144.2 147.1 134.0 140.0 108.7 112.7 103.0 105.5
1.2 mm
N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Thermoplastic
SD 9.4 9.5 12.3 10.1 2.9 4.8 0.9 3.4
(SP2)
CV 0.07 0.07 0.09 0.07 0.03 0.04 0.01 0.03
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 153.7 158.1 143.8 152.3 116.1 122.1 111.0 108.3
1.2 mm
N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Thermoplastic
SD 9.9 8.7 10.9 9.6 6.9 4.0 3.9 3.6
(SP1)
CV 0.07 0.06 0.08 0.06 0.05 0.03 0.04 0.04
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 139.4 143.3 134.3 139.8 111.2 109.4 103.6 107.1
1 mm
N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Cold plastic
SD 5.0 3.2 7.6 7.3 3.2 2.2 2.6 1.7
(SP1)
CV 0.04 0.02 0.06 0.05 0.03 0.02 0.03 0.02
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 155.5 160.0 144.8 151.2 121.8 122.8 116.9 121.1
3 mm Screed N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
(SP1) SD 12.2 9.6 15.1 15.2 2.5 2.6 3.3 3.1
CV 0.08 0.06 0.10 0.10 0.02 0.02 0.03 0.03
Mean (mcd/m2/lx) 139.7 144.7 125.9 131.3 109.6 109.6 101.3 104.6
1 mm
N 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0 9.0
Cold pastic
SD 11.0 10.5 6.9 6.5 1.7 2.5 1.9 2.6
(SP4)
CV 0.08 0.07 0.06 0.05 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.03
160
DISCUSSION OF THE FOUR
PARAMETERS 140
Luminance (mcd/m2/lx)
Retroreflectivity 120
There was generally no significant increase
100
in the RL service life of the washed test road
markings, as can be seen in Table 1, and 80
Figures 8 and 9. Some of the unwashed white
test road markings had a longer RL service 60
life than washed markings. There could be a
40
few possible reasons for this, namely:
■■ The measurements of the washed mark- 20
ings could have been conducted before
the road markings were completely dry, 0
23 July 2013 5 November 2013 20 March 2014 29 July 2014
which possibly reduced the R L measure- Measurement dates
ments after washing. Waterborne (SP2) 1 mm cold plastic (SP1) 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP2)
■■ The method of washing the markings Waterborne (SP1) 1 mm cold plastic (SP4) 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP1)
was not very effective. Waterborne (SP3) 3 mm screed (SP1)
■■ The measurements might not have been
conducted at the exact spot before wash- Figure 10 U
nwashed white transverse markings in luminance on long-established clean
ing and after washing the markings. asphalt road
16 Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering
produced a longer Qd service than
180 the unwashed markings. The possible
reasons for the increase in the Qd after
160
washing are:
140 ■■ The fines from the sand particles which
had been stuck to the test road mark-
Luminance (mcd/m2/lx)
40
Colour
20 Higher percentages of the later measure-
ments in some instances fell into the
0 compliance regions, as can be seen in
23 July 2013 5 November 2013 20 March 2014 29 July 2014
Measurement dates
Table 3, and Figures 12 and 13. The pos-
Waterborne (SP2) 1 mm cold plastic (SP1) 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP2) sible reasons are:
Waterborne (SP1) 1 mm cold plastic (SP4) 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP1) ■■ The measurements might not have been
Waterborne (SP3) 3 mm screed (SP1) conducted on the exact spot, as the
machine measures only approximately
Figure 11 W
ashed white transverse markings in luminance on long-established clean asphalt road 1 cm in diameter.
■■ The rains might have cleaned the
■■ A certain amount of dirt on road mark- Luminance markings.
ings do not make a significant differ- There was generally an increase in the The washing of road markings generally
ence in the R L . Qd measurement values of the washed did not positively contribute to colour
■■ Possible removal of glass beads could test road markings, as can be seen in compliance. Although the colour of road
have happened while washing the mark- Table 2, and Figures 10 and 11. As a markings complied in a few instances with
ings with hard brooms. result of this, some of the washed markings the specification after being washed, road
Table 3 Summary of the white markings colour analysis on long-established clean asphalt road
White transverse road markings
Waterborne (SP1) 0.0 100.0 33.3 66.7 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
Waterborne (SP2) 66.7 33.3 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
Waterborne (SP3) 33.3 66.7 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
Unwashed
1 mm Cold plastic (SP1) 66.7 33.3 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
1 mm Cold plastic (SP4) 33.3 66.7 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
1.2 mm Thermoplastic (SP1) 66.7 33.3 66.7 33.3 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
1.2 mm Thermoplastic (SP2) 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 33.3 66.7 100.0 0.0
3 mm Screed (SP1) 33.3 66.7 66.7 33.3 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
Waterborne (SP1) 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
Waterborne (SP2) 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
Waterborne (SP3) 33.3 66.7 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
1 mm Cold plastic (SP1) 66.7 33.3 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
Washed
1 mm Cold plastic (SP4) 0.0 100.0 66.7 33.3 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
1.2 mm Thermoplastic (SP1) 33.3 66.7 33.3 66.7 0.0 100.0 0.0 100.0
1.2 mm Thermoplastic (SP2) 100.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 100.0 0.0
3 mm Screed (SP1) 66.7 33.3 100.0 0.0 33.3 66.7 0.0 100.0
Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 17
0.9 0.9
520 530 520 530
515 515
0.8 540 0.8 540
480 480
0.1 0.1
470 470
0 460 400 0 460 400
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
x x
Figure 12 U
nwashed white markings in colour on clean established Figure 13 W
ashed white markings in colour on clean established
asphalt road asphalt road
markings are generally not washed by the The cold plastic and thermoplastic road seem to start getting closer to the minimum
road authorities, and also the rainy season marking materials generally declined over RL of 100 mcd/m2/lx after a year.
is usually of limited duration. the year. However, it can be seen in Table 1 The fact that there is no overlap
and Figure 8 that the R L mean of some of between the 95% CIs of the first and last
Skid resistance the measurements conducted later were measurements, as can be seen in Figure 14,
The skid resistance of the test road mark- higher than the R L mean values of the mea- is an indication that the difference between
ings was conducted on test plates in the surements conducted earlier. For example, them is statistically significant. Friedman’s
laboratory, which might not be a true the R L mean of unwashed 1.2 mm ther- Chi Square Test revealed that there is at
reflection of the road markings on the road moplastic (SP2) was 130.7 mcd/m2/lx on least one pair of measurements over time
surface. It is likely that the skid resistance 5 November 2013, and the same marking that is significantly different within each
of the road markings applied on the road was 139.4 mcd/m2/lx on 20 March 2014, of the different road-marking paints and
surface will be higher due to the rough- which is 4.5 months later. The intermix materials, and referring to Figure 14 it
ness of the road surface, especially road beads in the plastic road marking materials seems as though these differences exist at
markings applied onto chip seal surfaces. became exposed over time as a result of the least between the first and last repetitions.
The skid resistance of road markings is wheels of the vehicles passing over the road
important, especially for motor cyclists markings, which contributed positively to
in urban areas (De Witt et al 2000). The the R L . LUMINANCE SERVICE LIFE OF
high percentage of area that is covered Waterborne (SP1, SP2 and SP3), 1 mm WHITE TRANSVERSE MARKINGS
with road markings ahead of intersections cold plastic (SP1), 1.2 mm thermoplastic All the test road markings applied on the
is extremely dangerous for motor cyclists (SP1 and SP2) and 3 mm thermoplastic (SP1) long-established clean asphalt road were
if the skid resistance is not up to standard produced RL service lives of more than 12 higher than the minimum specification of
(De Witt et al 2000). months. The average decline in RL of all test 100 mcd/m2/lx over the four measurement
markings over the year was approximately periods, as can be seen in Table 2 and
40%, and if the decline continues at the Figure 10. The average decline in Qd of all
RETROREFLECTIVITY same rate, then thermoplastic materials will test markings over the year was approxi-
SERVICE LIFE OF WHITE produce a RL service life of approximately mately 26%. If the decline in Qd continues
TRANSVERSE MARKINGS two years. Although most of the test road at the same rate, 1.2 mm thermoplastic
All the test road markings, except for markings applied on Middel Street complied (SP1) and 3 mm thermoplastic (SP1) will
1 mm cold plastic (SP4), applied on the with the specification for more than a year, produce Qd service lives of approximately
long-established clean asphalt road, were the RL means of 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP1) 15 months and 17 months respectively. All
higher than the minimum specification and 3 mm thermoplastic (SP1) were in the the other road marking paints and materi-
of 100 mcd/m2/lx over the four measure- region of 200 mcd/m2/lx after a year. This als produced Qd service lives of approxi-
ment periods, as can be seen in Table 1 is an indication that thermoplastic road mately one year.
and Figure 8. In the fourth measurement marking materials are much more durable The fact that there is no overlap
period, the R L mean of 1 mm cold plastic on clean asphalt roads, compared with between the 95% CIs of the first and last
(SP4) was 86.7 mcd/m2/lx. waterborne road marking paints, which measurements, as can be seen in Figure 15,
18 Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering
450
400
400
Mean retroflectivity reading – 95% CI
300
300
200
200
100
50
Waterborne Waterborne Waterborne 1.2 mm 1.2 mm 1 mm 3 mm 1 mm
(SP2) (SP1) (SP3) thermoplastic thermoplastic cold plasic screed cold plasic
(SP2) (SP1) (SP1) (SP1) (SP4)
Type of road marking paint/material (application date: 8 July 2013)
23 July 2013 5 November 2013 20 March 2014 29 July 2014
Figure 14 95% Confidence interval in retroreflectivity of unwashed white transverse markings on clean established asphalt road
170
160
150
Mean retroflectivity reading – 95% CI
140
130
120
110
100
90
Waterborne Waterborne Waterborne 1.2 mm 1.2 mm 1 mm 3 mm 1 mm
(SP2) (SP1) (SP3) thermoplastic thermoplastic cold plasic screed cold plasic
(SP2) (SP1) (SP1) (SP1) (SP4)
Type of road marking paint/material (application date: 8 July 2013)
23 July 2013 5 November 2013 20 March 2014 29 July 2014
Figure 15 95% Confidence interval in luminance of unwashed white transverse markings on clean established asphalt road
Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 19
Table 4 Summary of thermoplastic road marking material performance
Initial skid
Condition of road
RL service life Qd service Colour
resistance
(months) life (months) compliance
Road-marking
compliance
Class of road
Type of road
longitudinal
Transverse /
Established
surface
1.2 mm
1.2 mm
1.2 mm
1.2 mm
period
colour
AADT
3 mm
3 mm
3 mm
3 mm
Transverse 4 to 9 4 to 9 1 to 4 1 to 4 Yes Yes
White
Light = 6557 Longitudinal 4 to 9 4 to 9 4 to 9 4 to 9 N/A N/A
Chip seal Newly Dirty 3 Heavy = 255 Yes No
Total = 6814 Transverse 1 to 4 1 to 4 4 to 9 4 to 9 No No
Yellow
Longitudinal 9 to 12 9 to 12 9 to 12 4 to 9 N/A N/A
20 Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering
is an indication that the difference between high R L over long periods of time, the out- increase when the road-marking material
them is statistically significant. Friedman’s come of the study indicates that RL is not is worn away by the action of the tyres.
Chi Square Test revealed that there is at maintained for long periods on dirty type More test points should be considered, or
least one pair of measurements over time roads. It can be seen that road authorities measurements should be conducted a few
that is significantly different within each are applying thermoplastic road marking days later.
of the different road marking paints and materials that do not comply with the yel- Although thermoplastic road-marking
materials, and referring to Figure 15 it low colour specification. It can be further materials generally produced the longest
seems as though these differences are at seen that the skid resistance of 3 mm service life, especially in respect of RL , it
least between the first and last repetitions. thermoplastic road-marking material did might not be cost-effective to apply them
not comply with the specification. on roads where they will have similar ser-
vice lives to those of cheaper road-marking
SKID-RESISTANCE ANALYSIS OF paints, such as waterborne. After clas-
MARKINGS ON THE TEST PLATES CONCLUSIONS sifying the roads into the dirty and clean
Only white waterborne (SP3), 1 mm Based on the data obtained from the study, categories, and using the tendered rates,
cold plastic (SP1 and SP4), white 1.2 mm the following conclusions are drawn: a more realistic road-marking budget can
thermoplastic (SP1) and yellow 1.2 mm ■■ The R L and Qd service lives of various be requested. The outcome of the results
thermoplastic (SP1) complied with the road-marking paints and road marking on the applied test road markings was not
minimum specification of 50 SRT units. materials on asphalt and chip seal road affected by extraordinary weather condi-
All other test markings were between 35 surfaces were determined as between tions, as the rainfall and temperature were
and 45 SRT units. It is likely that the skid 1 and 48 months and 1 and 30 months similar to those of previous years.
resistance of road markings will be higher respectively. The range in service lives The SABS should seriously consider
on the road surface due to the combined were wide, due to the low service lives continuing the work it started in develop-
effect of the road surface and the mark- of waterborne road-marking paints ing a national thermoplastic road-marking
ings. Road-marking applicators need to on dirty roads and high service lives standard, which will offer much guidance
consider increasing the amount of antiskid of plastic road-marking materials on to all stakeholders involved.
aggregates to improve the skid resistance of clean roads.
the markings. ■■ There was no significant increase in
R L or colour compliance of the washed ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
road markings, while there was gener- The authors would like to thank the City of
COLOUR ANALYSIS ally an increase in Qd after washing the Tshwane for the funding made available to
OF MARKINGS test markings. execute this research project.
The white test road markings generally ■■ White road markings generally com-
complied with the BS EN (2007) specifica- plied with the colour specification,
tion except for 1.2 mm thermoplastic (SP2) while yellow road markings did not DISCLAIMER
after one-and-a-half years of application. comply with the specification. This paper reflects the views of the
Figures 12 and 13 indicate the graphical ■■ The initial skid resistance of white and authors, who are responsible for the facts
positions of the white test road markings yellow 1.2 mm thermoplastic complied and the accuracy of the data presented
on the chromaticity diagrams. with the specification, while all other herein.
road markings did not comply with the
specification.
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22 Volume 60 Number 2 June 2018 Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering