Reflex

Elastoplastic tapes for road markings shall be made from a tape consisting of a mix of special elastomers and resins of sufficient elasticity to withstand differences in expansion and small shifts in the road surface. This tape is bonded to the road surface with suitable systems to guarantee the prescribed life of the marking.

The tapes shall satisfy the following requirements:

• thickness of markings once laid: 1.5 to 3 mm;
• reflectance and daytime visibility: within indicated limits;
• resistance to weather, including variations in temperature;
• on-flammability;
• perfect adhesion to the ground;
• anti-skid properties, for both pedestrians and vehicles of all descriptions and in all conditions;;
• dirt-repellant properties (any dirt should wash away automatically when it rains in any case);
• to guarantee good colourfastness and excellent anchoring of the anti-skid particles and glass beads, the product shall have special resin surface treatment.

Once laid, the material should also respect specific durability requirements in addition to the above specifications: not less than 3 years.

The elastoplastic tape may be laid by placing in new road surfaces, during the spreading of the tarmac, or on existing surfaces using suitable binders spread on the surface of the road and, if necessary, on the underside of the tape itself.

If laying long strips along the length of the road (centre lines and/or margins), the material can be laid using a motorised semiautomatic or automatic applicator with adjustable pointer, draft rollers and a cutter to guarantee fast, precise laying, while creating the minimum of inconvenience for road users.

These specifications call for an elastoplastic tape with high quality polymers, containing a dispersion of special aggregates with high anti-skid properties and micro glass beads offering excellent reflection to give the tape good reflective power. The tape should be laid using suitable binders.

The tape should also comply with the following requirements

Anti-skid properties
The minimum initial value when wet shall not be less than 45 SRT units (British portable Skid Resistance Tester).

Retroreflectivity
Tapes for road markings shall have the following minimum initial values (mean values) of retroreflectivity, where the specific retroreflectivity (RL) is expressed in millicandelas per square metre per incident lux (mcd/lux*m²) with geometry 1.24°/2.29°.

Once laid, the material should also respect specific durability requirements in addition to the above specifications: not less than 3 years.