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Excellent road glass microbead products need to be matched with standardized construction processes to give full play to their reflective advantages. Unscientific construction methods will lead to problems such as low microbead embedding rate, uneven distribution and poor reflective effect, which greatly reduce the use value of products. This article sorts out the mainstream application methods and key construction technologies of road glass microbeads.

There are two mainstream application methods for road glass microbeads in road marking engineering: pre-mixed type and drop-on type. The pre-mixed process is to mix glass microbeads evenly into the road marking paint in advance. After stirring uniformly, the paint is sprayed on the road surface. This method enables the microbeads inside the paint to play a continuous reflective role with the gradual wear of the paint surface, with long service life and stable later effect, suitable for permanent road markings.

The drop-on process is to uniformly scatter glass microbeads on the surface of the newly sprayed wet marking paint during the marking construction. The microbeads are embedded in the paint surface by the viscosity of the wet paint. This process has the advantages of simple operation, immediate reflection effect and low cost, and is widely used in temporary road markings, road renovation projects and low-traffic road sections. At present, drop-on glass microbeads occupy a major market share in the global road marking industry due to their efficient and convenient construction characteristics.

In terms of construction technical points, first, control the embedding depth of microbeads. The optimal embedding state is that 50% – 60% of the microbead volume is embedded in the paint, and the rest is exposed to the air. This state can maximize the retroreflective performance of the microbeads. Excessive embedding will reduce light reflection area, and too shallow embedding will cause microbeads to fall off easily.

Second, control the construction environment and dosage. The construction should avoid rainy, foggy and windy weather to prevent dust and water stains from affecting the adhesion of microbeads. The dosage of microbeads needs to be matched according to the paint thickness and road type. Excessive dosage will cause microbead accumulation and affect flatness, and insufficient dosage will lead to weak reflection.

Third, do a good job in post-construction protection. After the marking construction is completed, it is necessary to close the road for curing for a certain period to avoid vehicle rolling and pedestrian friction before the paint is dry, ensuring that the glass microbeads are firmly combined with the paint layer, and improving the durability and stability of the reflective layer.