FOLLOW-UP STUDY: FLOATING GLASS BEADS FOR TRAFFIC STRIPES

A previous New Jersey study indicated that a new type of specially graded, flotation coated reflective glass bead provided improved traffic stripe performance when applied by gravity feed to a conventional slow-drying paint. This report presents the results of a follow-up study undertaken to determine if the pneumatic pressure bead application technique required for the state's current fast-drying paint would negate the night visibility advantage previously observed for the special bead. The beads studied were of four types: the conventional wide-gradation beads with and without the flotation treatment and uniformly-graded floating and non-floating beads. The various beads were applied as lanelines and edgelines on both concrete and bituminous pavements. Night visibility measurements were made with a Colorado-type photometer. A series of special night visibility photographs were taken to complement these instrument measurements of stripe brightness. Conventional close-up photographs were made to assess the relative embedment of the beads. The collected night visibility data indicates that uniformly-graded, flotation coated glass beads applied using N.J.'s conventional (pneumatic pressure) equipment yield traffic stripes of greater brightness than those reflectorized with any of the other bead types studied. It is recommended that the state adopt the use of the special beads applied at 4 lbs/gallon on blacktop and 5 lbs/gallon on concrete. If adjusting bead application rate to the predominant pavement type is not deemed feasible by Maintenance, 4 lbs/gallon should be used on both pavement types.

• Corporate Authors:

  New Jersey Department of Transportation

  Division of Research and Demonstration, 1035 Parkway Avenue
  Trenton, NJ  United States  08625

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Croteau, J
• Publication Date: 1977-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 68 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brightness; Drying; Glass; Glass beads; Highway traffic control; Night visibility; Pavements; Reflectivity; Reflectorized materials; Road marking materials; Visibility
• Old TRIS Terms: Beads; Traffic marking materials
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Operations and Traffic Management; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00169763
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-NJ-RD-77-007 Final Rpt., 77-007-7771
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Mar 14 1978 12:00AM