Analysis of the impact of low ground temperature on thermoplastic road marking paint
In the process of road marking construction, low ground temperature will lead to rapid cooling of the high temperature thermoplastic marking paint in the instant of contact with the road surface. This rapid temperature change will seriously affect the combination effect of the coating and asphalt or cement pavement. Thermoplastic marking paints and pavement materials are polymers and their physical properties are very sensitive to temperature changes. In the case of a sudden drop in temperature, the contraction rate of the two materials is not the same, which will generate internal stresses and may eventually lead to cracking or peeling of the marking line.
Specific impact performance
1. Decrease in the fusion of paint and road surface
When using road marking machine in low temperature ground construction, the most direct impact is that the degree of fusion of thermoplastic marking paint and road surface is greatly reduced. The paint needs to remain molten for a certain period of time in order to form a good intermolecular bond with the road surface. At low temperatures, this process is greatly shortened, and the coating is cured before it fully penetrates the pavement voids, resulting in a significant decrease in adhesion.
2. Coating surface quality defects
Low temperatures significantly alter the rheological properties of thermoplastic road marking paints. The viscosity of the paint increases and the fluidity deteriorates, which makes the road marking paint surface prone to unevenness, orange peel and other defects. At the same time, the gloss of the paint will also be affected, and the reflective effect becomes worse. What’s more, the pre-mixed or surface-sprinkled glass beads are difficult to be firmly embedded into the coating at low temperatures, resulting in substandard nighttime reflective performance of the marking.
3.Problems with the internal structure of the coating
When the road marking paint is applied under the condition of low ground temperature, the surface layer of the thermoplastic road marking paint will be cured quickly, while the internal heat is difficult to be emitted. This unbalanced cooling process can lead to stress concentrations within the coating, resulting in the formation of micro-cracks or air bubbles. Especially in high humidity environments, moisture is more likely to be trapped inside the coating, expanding with temperature changes and eventually causing the coating to blister or peel.
Professional solutions
1. Construction temperature control technology
Professional road marking construction team will take a variety of measures to deal with the low temperature environment. First of all, the thermoplastic road marking paint is accurately temperature controlled, usually the paint is heated to between 180-220℃, and increased by 5-10℃ according to the ambient temperature. At the same time, the use of melting pots with heat preservation function can ensure that the coating maintains a stable temperature in the construction process.
2. Road surface pretreatment method
Before construction under low temperature conditions, road surface preheating measures can be taken. Professional road marking machine is usually equipped with infrared preheating device, which can raise the surface temperature of the construction area to a suitable range. For small area construction, you can also use portable hot air gun for local heating to ensure that the paint and road surface can be well combined.
3. Optimization of material formula
For low-temperature construction environment, you can choose a special formulation of thermoplastic road marking paint. These coatings usually contain modified resins and special additives, which can maintain good fluidity and adhesion in a wide temperature range. At the same time, the selection of glass beads with the right particle size and the optimization of the spreading process can ensure a good reflective effect at all temperatures.
Professional equipment recommendation
As a professional road marking equipment manufacturer, Henan Huayuan provides a full range of thermoplastic marking construction solutions. Its product line includes:
Melting kettle for thermoplastic road marking paint: equipped with precise temperature control system to ensure that the paint maintains the optimal construction temperature.
Driving type thermoplastic road painting machines: integrated preheating system for marking in all temperature conditions.
Heavy-duty road marking construction fleet: suitable for large road projects with high efficiency and stable quality.
Auxiliary equipment: including road dryers, marking removal equipment, etc., providing a complete solution for marking construction in various environments.
In the process of thermoplastic marking construction, strict control of the construction environment temperature is a key factor to ensure the quality of marking. By choosing high quality thermoplastic marking paint, professional road marking machines and scientific construction techniques, durable and reflective road markings can be obtained even under challenging environmental conditions. The professional construction team will adjust the construction parameters according to the specific environmental conditions to ensure that every marking line meets the best performance standards.