Thermoplastic Markings Description
Thermoplastics have been used as a pavement marking material in the United Kingdom since the late 1950s and have been the most common marking material used on roadways in ever since. Thermoplastic is so named because the mixture of plasticizer and resins that serves to hold all of the other ingredients together exists as a solid at room temperature, but becomes liquid when heated. The general temperature needed to make the product workable is 165C. The popularity of thermoplastic markings can be attributed to several factors including:
• readiness for immediate use
• high durability
• good retro reflectivity
• relatively low cost.
When properly formulated for a given roadway surface and correctly applied, thermoplastic pavement markings have been known to last from 5 to 8 years depending on traffic volumes, but research has shown that usual service lives range from 2 to 3 years depending on traffic volumes.
Thermoplastic materials are very sensitive to the variables governing application, warranting strict quality control during application. The following are the key variables that influence the durability and retro reflectivity performance of thermoplastic markings:
• material composition
• application procedure
• roadway surface
• traffic
• environment.
If applied properly, thermoplastic materials provide durability and retro reflective performance that far surpass that of standard traffic paints. However, because of the equipment needed and the hot works implications thermoplastic materials may not always be the most suitable material for certain situations.

Pre-formed Thermoplastic
Pre-formed Thermoplastic is thermoplastic that comes ready made. It can be pre cut into specialist logos and playground games. It is then placed on the floor and heated with a gas torch this then bonds it to the ground. It has a great visual impact and excellent wear characteristics. It can be applied to metal concrete and tarmac but is far slower than the other methods for line marking and the cost of the material can become inhibitive on larger contracts.

Road Marking Paints
A myriad of traffic paint formulations exists, including solvent-based and water-based. Increased environmental awareness in the late 1980s and early 1990s led to a decline in use of volatile organic compounds VOCs. This awareness has also led to a move to reduce the use of solvent-based paints and a desire to use water-based paints, which contain far fewer VOCs.
A number Countries do not allowed the formulation of chlorinated rubber road marking paint due to the hazards in producing it.
This is why the WJ Linkline group have made a conscious effort to move to the safer Acrylic based and water-based paint.
Our solvent based Acrylic meets with all EU standards and is used all over the continent.
Most paint placed for long line applications is applied by spraying the paint onto the surface using an airless paint machine pushed by the operative. Paint adheres to the surface through mechanical bonding within the pores of that surface. All paints are sensitive to changes in temperature and moisture so surface preparation is very important. To achieve proper bonding, the following conditions must exist:
• The road surface must be free of dirt, dust, and other contaminants.
• The road surface must be free of poorly adhered existing markings and curing agents.
• The road surface must be free of moisture.