How to Apply Traffic Glass Beads

Reflective beads in paint lines that are visible under headlights.

Traffic glass beads are reflective beads that are embedded in the paint of traffic lines in order to provide increased retro reflectivity during night time driving conditions. When 50% of the the beads are embedded they adhere well to the paving surface and enough of the bead rises above the paint to catch the head light of traveling automobiles. The beads reflect the light back to the driver allowing the driver to better see the roadway and marked lines. Traffic beads are sprayed into the wet paint of road lines by machinery that follows behind the paint spraying equipment when road lines are being painted.

Things You'll Need

• Traffic beads
• Clean surface
• Binder material
• Computer aided delivery system
• Trained applicators
• Good weather

Instructions

1. Clean the roadway surface where the glass beads will be applied. Traffic beads are applied (sprayed) into the still wet binding material (paint). To apply the glass beads the roadway surface should be as clean as possible and the day of application should meet the ambient conditions that will give the best results. Simply put, better weather will often produce better long-term results.

2. Spray the marking material (binder such as line paint or other) so that the resin in the binder creates a good bond with the road surface. The wet and dry thickness of the binder is critical to how deeply embedded the glass beads will be in the paint. Optimum levels of traffic glass beads is 50-60% when the binder is dry. The binder in a wet paint line will shrink by almost 50% so beads which are initially 70% embedded will dry to 50%.

3. Spray the glass traffic beads into the still wet binder (paint). This process is done using specialized equipment. One person drives the vehicle where the equipment is mounted and a second person operates the line application and beading equipment. A computer aids in maintaining the binder thickness and the correct bead spray flow. All equipment works best when clean and well maintained.

Tips & Warnings

• Skilled operators are important to how well traffic beads and marking lines are applied to roadway surfaces. The right equipment, trained applicators and good weather conditions produce the best results.

References

• Virginia Department Of Transportation: Reflective Glass Beads