The development of affordable automobiles had a dramatic impact on the lifestyle of the average American. Roads and highways were built to connect towns and cities, and travelers were no longer at the mercy of railroad schedules and fixed routes. Instead, people could drive themselves directly to wherever they wanted to go. As more people took to the road, however, civic groups, government agencies, and individual citizens began looking for ways to improve highway safety. One solution that caught on quickly was to mark pavement edges and centerlines with paint. Other types of pavement markings soon followed. For many years, various paints were used for all lines and markings, and manufacturers conducted extensive research to develop durable, highly visible, easily applied pavement paints. Today, thermoplastic markings are quickly overtaking traditional paints as the material of choice for parking lots, highways, city streets, and other pavements.

Thermoplastic Markings

The development of affordable automobiles had a dramatic impact on the lifestyle of the average American. Roads and highways were built to connect towns and cities, and travelers were no longer at the mercy of railroad schedules and fixed routes. Instead, people could drive themselves directly to wherever they wanted to go. As more people took to the road, however, civic groups, government agencies, and individual citizens began looking for ways to improve highway safety. One solution that caught on quickly was to mark pavement edges and centerlines with paint. Other types of pavement markings soon followed. For many years, various paints were used for all lines and markings, and manufacturers conducted extensive research to develop durable, highly visible, easily applied pavement paints. Today, thermoplastic markings are quickly overtaking traditional paints as the material of choice for parking lots, highways, city streets, and other pavements.

What Is Thermoplastic?

A thermoplastic is a polymer material that can be heated to make it moldable or pliable. Thermoplastics cool and solidify rapidly. There are numerous thermoplastic formulas that are used for an extensive variety of purposes.

The thermoplastic paint used for pavement markings is sometimes referred to as hot melt paint. It typically contains a synthetic resin, pigments, additives, fillers, and glass beads. Each of these ingredients provides a specific contribution.

• Resins increase plasticity, enhance adhesion, and expedite cooling.
• Pigments determine the color that the markings will display after cooling.
• Additives can make the paint more resistant to pollution and color fading.
• Fillers help with wear resistance and mechanical strength.
• Glass beads enhance reflectivity to improve visibility, especially on wet pavements or at night.

Thermoplastic markings have several advantages over painted markings.

• Longer Life: In Southeast Texas, thermoplastic markings can remain crisp, visible, and neat for six to eight years.
• Resistance to Petrochemicals: Thermoplastics offer better resistance to damage from oil, gas, brake fluid, and other petrochemicals than paints.
• Speed: Thermoplastic markings do not require pavements to be closed for an extended period to prevent tracking. The material cools and solidifies rapidly, so your parking lot or roadway can be reopened quickly.
• Enhanced Reflectivity: Painted markings can have glass beads applied to their surface to improve reflectivity, but these beads can wear away quickly. However, thermoplastic markings have beads suspended throughout, so new beads are exposed as the surface layers wear.

Thermoplastic markings are suitable for both asphalt and concrete pavements. However, special equipment, skill, and training are required for successful results, so not every striping contractor will offer thermoplastic markings.

At Marathon Solutions Group, we are adept at applying Houston thermoplastic markings. We are a full-service paving company with an impeccable reputation, talented team members, and exemplary references. In addition to thermoplastic markings, we also offer asphalt sealcoating, concrete work, parking lot signage, asphalt milling, bollard installation, marking removal, parking lot striping, asphalt crack and pothole repair, asphalt paving, and parking lot maintenance. Request your free quote today by submitting our online form or calling +1 800-879-1147.