Standard Guide for Testing of Preformed Thermoplastic Pavement Marking Material in the Laboratory and Installed Preformed Thermoplastic Pavement Markings in the Field

Abstract

5.1 In this guide, guidance is provided as to which compositional and physical properties, with appropriate sampling, sample preparation, and test methods, are recommended for consideration when evaluating the quality and consistency of preformed thermoplastic pavement marking materials. This is useful to assist manufacturers in their product research and development work, governmental agencies in the development of a suitable quality assurance sampling and testing program, and governmental agencies in the development of a suitable material specification for preformed thermoplastic pavement marking materials. 5.2 In this guide, guidance is provided on how to evaluate the field performance properties of preformed thermoplastic pavement markings on the roadway that contribute to the safety of the driving public. Governmental agencies can use this guide to evaluate the performance of these markings in the field and help determine when these markings need to be replaced. It can also be helpful in the development of field performance specifications for preformed thermoplastic pavement markings. 5.3 In Appendix X2, the properties and related test methods that have been found to be inappropriate and, therefore, should not be specified or evaluated as a property of preformed thermoplastic pavement marking material with an explanation as to why. Note 1: Within the realm of pavement markings, preformed thermoplastic pavement marking materials are compositionally similar to hot-applied thermoplastic pavement marking materials; however, because of the difference in the form of the product as delivered to the customer, a different testing protocol is required. Preformed thermoplastic pavement marking material is typically provided to the user with surface applied optics/skid particles, which makes the product compositionally representative of the finished, installed pavement marking. On the other hand, hot-applied thermoplastic pavement marking material is provided to the user without the surface applied optics/skid particles and, therefore, is not compositionally representative of the finished, installed pavement marking, which includes retroreflective optics/skid particles applied to the surface of the pavement marking at the time of installation. The difference in the delivered form of preformed thermoplastic pavement marking material as compared to hot-applied thermoplastic pavement marking material makes the testing of some physical properties in the laboratory irrelevant or requires some modifications to the standard testing procedure to become relevant.