Road marking (also called line marking or pavement marking) can be applied using various materials and paints dependent on the surface and mark being made. These materials each have different properties, such as anti-skid, reflectivity, longevity and performance.
The materials most frequently used in road and floor markings are:
Thermoplastic road marking paint is the most favoured material for road marking due to it being hard-wearing and reflective, making it ideal for high-traffic roads and highways. It is applied to the road surface by spray after heating to 180 degrees Celsius, which is why it’s sometimes called hot melt marking paint or hot tape.
For extra surface friction and reflectivity, glass beads and fillers are often added to the paint to improve safety. Pre-formed thermoplastic tape can also be used for line marking.
Water-based paint used for road marking is low-profile and anti-slip making it ideal for airfield runways and race tracks, which should have no foreign object debris on the surface. Its wide range of colours also makes it a great choice for car parks, shipping ports, block paving surfaces, warehouses and transport yards. It is more environmentally kind than other options and has excellent safety properties.
MMA (Methyl Methacrylate) is a cold, solvent-free plastic that has the benefits of both paint and thermoplastic. It is extremely durable and holds colour well without fading, making it perfect for high traffic areas, junctions, roundabouts and pedestrian crossings. It is cold-applied and dries quickly, which allows works to complete faster.
Take a look at Roadgrip’s project gallery for examples of road markings on highways, airfields, race tracks and car parks.