M 249 SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS

Standard Specification for

White and Yellow Reflective Thermoplastic Striping Material (Solid Form)

AASHTO DESIGNATION: M 249-79

1. SCOPE 3.1.3 Glass Beads (Pre-Mix)--The (b) direction of view, per-

beads shall be uncoated and conform to pendicular to surface
AASHTO M 247-Type I. (c) illuminant, CIE stan-
1.1 This specification covers a reflector-
ized thermoplastic pavement striping dard illuminant D65.
material that is applied to the road sur- 4. REQUIREMENTS NOTE-The chromaticities and luminance
face in a molten state by mechanical factors of ordinary colors and colors of retro-
means with surface application of glass reflecting materials shall be determined under
beads at a rate specified by the purchaser. 4.1 Specific Gravity-The specific gravity the following standard conditions:
Upon cooling to normal pavement tem- of the white and yellow thermoplastic (a) angle of illumination: 45 degrees:
perature, it produces an adherent reflec- traffic line material shall not exceed 2.15. (b) direction of view: perpendicular to sur-
4.2 Composition-The pigment, beads, face; and
torized stripe of specified thickness and (c) illuminant: CIE standard illuminant
width capable of resisting deformation by and filler shall be uniformly dispersed in
D65.
traffic. the resin. The material shall be free from
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be all skins, dirt, and foreign objects and TABLE 2 CIE Equations
shall comply with requirements accord- Yellow
regarded as the standard. Orange boundry y = 0.130- 0.636x
ing to Table 1.
White boundry y = 0.910 - x
Green boundry y = I.35.r - 0.093
2. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS TABLE 1 Composition Luminance factor β = 0.27 (mnm)
Component White Yellow White
Binder 18.0 min 18.0 min Purple boundry y=x
2.1 AASHTO Standards: Glass beads 30-40 30-40 Blue boundry y = 0.610 - x
M 247 Glass Beads Used in Traffic Titanium dioxide 10.0 min - Green boundry y = 0.040 - x
Paints Calcium carbonate Yellow boundry y = 0.710 - x
42.0 max See Note
and inert fillers Luminance factor β = 0.35 (mnm)
T 250 Thermoplastic Traffic Line Yellow pigments -
Material
4.3.2 Drying Time-When applied at a
2.2 ASTM Standard: NOTE-Amount of yellow pigment, calcium
temperature range of 211 ± 7°C (412.5 ±
D 36 Test Method for Softening carbonate and inert fillers shall be at the option
of the manufacturer, providing all other re- 12.5°F) and thickness of 3.2 to 4.8 mm
Point of Bitumen (ring-and- quirements of this specification are met. (⅛ to 3/16 in.) the material shall set to bear
ball apparatus) traffic in not more than 2 minutes when
2.3 Federal Standards: the air temperature is 10 t 2°C (50 ± 3°F)
4.3 Physical Characteristics: and not more than 10 minutes when the
Federal Test Method Standards Nº
141 4.3.1 Color-The thermoplastic material air temperature is 32 ± 2°C (90 ± 3°F).
after heating for 240 ± 5 minutes at 218 ± 4.3.3 Cracking Resistance at Low
Federal Test Standard Nº 595 2°C (425 ± 3°F) and cooled to 25 ± 2°C Temperature-After heating the thermo-
(77 ± 3°F) shall meet the following: plastic material for 240 ± 5 minutes at
3. MATERIALS White: Daylight reflectance at 45 de 218 ± 2°C (425 ± 3°F), applying to con-
grees-0 degrees-75-percent crete blocks, and cooling -9.4 ± 1.7°C (15
minimum. ± 3°F), the material shall show no cracks.
3.1 The thermoplastic material shall be
homogeneously composed of pigment, Yellow: Daylight reflectance at 45 de 4.3.4 Impact Resistance-After heating
filler, resins and glass reflectorizing grees-0 degrees-45 percent the thermoplastic material for 240 ± 5
spheres. minimum. minutes at 218 + 2°C (425-t 3°F) and
(a) For highway use, the color forming test specimens, the impact resis-
3.1.1 The thermoplastic material shall
shall match Federal Test tance shall be a minimum of 1.13J (10-in.
be available in both white and yellow.
Standard Number 595Color lbs.).
3.1.2 The vendor shall have the option
13538. 4.3.5 Softening Point-After heating the
of formulating the material according to
(b) For airport use, the color thermoplastic material for 240 ± 5 min-
his own specifications. However, the
shall comply with the re- utes at 218 ± 2°C (425 ± 3°F) and testing
physical and chemical properties con-
quirements established by in accordance with ASTM D 36 the
tained in this specification shal apply
the FAA. The chromaticity materials shall have a softening point of
regardless of the type of formulation
and luminance factors shall 102.5 ± 9.5°C (215 ± 15°F).
used. The material upon heating to appli-
cation temperature shall not exude fumes be within the limits in Ta- 4.3.6 Flowability-After heating the
which are toxic, or injurious to persons or ble 2 when determined un- thermoplastic material for 240 ± 5 min-
property. The pigment beads and filler der standard conditions: utes at 218 ± 2°C (425 ± 3°F) and testing
shall be well dispersed in the resin. The (a) angle of illumination, for flowability, the white thermoplastic
material shall be free from all skins, dirt, 45 degrees shall have a maximum percent residue of
and foreign objects.
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M 249 SPECIFICATIONS FOR MATERIALS

18 and the yellow thermoplastic shall 5.2 The material shall not exude fumes indemnify and save harmless the pur-
have a maximum percent residue of 21. which are toxic, obnoxious, or injurious chaser and his duly authorized represen-
4.3.7 Yellowness Index-The white to persons or property when it is heated tatives from all suits at law, or action of
thermoplastic material shall not exceed a during applications. every nature for or on account of the use
yellowness index of 0.12. 5.3 The application of additional glass of any patented materials, equipment,
beads by drop-on methods shall be at a devices, or processes.
4.3.8 Flowability-Extended Heating-
After heating the thermoplastic material rate specified by the purchaser and
8.0 t 0.5 hours at 218 ± 2°C (425 agreed upon by the applicator. 7. SAMPLING
3°F), with stirring the last 6 hours, and
tested for flowability, the thermoplastic 6. PACKAGING AND MARKING 7.1 The minimum size batch of thermo-
shall have a maximum percent residue of plastic traffic striping material sampled
28. and tested shall not be less than 1360 kg
6.1 The thermoplastic material shall be
4.4 Storage Life-The material shall meet packaged in suitable containers to which (3000 lbs) unless the total order is less
the requirements of this specification for it will not adhere during shipment and than this amount. Any manufacturer not
a period of 1 year. The thermoplastic storage. The blocks of cast thermoplastic familiar with the technique of making
must also melt uniformly with no evi- material shall be approximately 300 by this material should consult the pur-
dence of skins or unmelted particles for 915 by 51 mm (12 by 36 by 2 in.) and chaser. A small trial batch should be
this 1-year time period. Any material not shall have a mass of approximately 23 kg made prior to making the thermoplastic
meeting the above requirements shall be (50 lbs). Each container label shall desig- traffic striping material in large quantities
replaced by the manufacturer. nate the color, manufacturer's name, to make certain the finished product will
batch number, and date of manufacture. comply with all the requirements of this
Each batch manufactured shall have its specification.
5. APPLICATION PROPERTIES
own separate number. The label shall
warn the user that the material shall be 8. TESTING
5.1 The thermoplastic material shall heated to 211 ± 7°C (412.5 ± 12.5°F)
readily extrude at temperatures of 211 ± during application.
7°C (412.5 ± 12.5°F) from approved 6.2 The contractor shall assume all cost 8.1 The material shall be tested in accor-
equipment to produce a line 3.2 to 4.8 resulting from the use of patented materi- dance with AASHTO T 250 or with the
mm (⅛ to 3/16 in.) thick which shall be als, equipment, devices or processes used appropriate method in Federal Test
continuous and uniform in shape having on or incorporated in the work, agrees to Method Standard Nº 141 or ASTM des-
clear and sharp dimensions. ignation.

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