What You Should Know about Reflective Glass Beads?
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Reflective glass beads are an important innovation in the design and application of road marking coatings. When used in combination with thermoplastic road marking coatings, they add reflective properties that improve nighttime visibility for drivers and pedestrians. They have other practical applications in everyday life.
Let's talk more about reflective beads and their special properties.
Material composition
Road Marking Glass Beads are made of inorganic, non-metallic, insulating glass materials that contain silica and oxides, making them very durable. Their chemical durability determines their temperature resistance. They are also very durable when exposed to weather, whether hot or rainy, and to corrosive or abrasive substances.
Density and Refractive Index
Reflective glass beads have a very low density, which affects the reflectivity (the ability of light to bounce off the surface of the material) that they possess. Density also determines whether they should be applied or mixed into paint - as well as their overall refractive index. The lower the density, the higher the refractive index.
Refractive index determines their use
For reflective thermoplastic coating applications, refractive index is one of the most important properties of glass beads. The refractive index determines the amount and distribution of reflected light. This, combined with their sphericity (or roundness), allows light to be reflected back toward the light source - an important property known as retroreflectivity.
Good integration with paint
Reflective glass beads are designed in a way that allows them to bond firmly to specific paint formulations without sinking, which would negatively affect their retro-reflective qualities. They can either be pre-mixed into thermoplastic paint formulations, which can also be named hybrid glass beads, or they can be dripped into thermoplastic paint when used on the road, in which case they are called drop-in glass beads.
Smaller is better
Although larger beads theoretically reflect more light because they have a larger surface, smaller beads have been found to be more durable. Smaller beads are less likely to be crushed or dislodged. They are easier to premix into paint formulations and can reduce drying time. Less reflective glass beads are lost if they are applied in a smaller rather than larger way for thermoplastic and drop-in methods.
They are suitable for many materials
Although the most popular application for reflective glass beads is road marking coatings, their density and chemical composition allow them to be used in other situations. Reflective glass beads can be used as an additive in many powder coating processes. They combine well with many plastics, chemicals and construction materials.
Commercial and Novel Applications
Reflective glass beads can be used in films, safety undershirts, traffic signs and markings. In novel applications, they are equally versatile. You can see them in school bags and backpacks, outdoor gear, shoes, hats, books and toys.
Safety Applications
When combined with paint to create reflective thermoplastic road marking coatings, they can improve visibility in ports and airports, on sidewalks and security walkways, in shopping malls and schools, and other places where path visibility is critical to business operations.
Road marking glass beads are widely used on city road lines, highway pavement, and Guardrail outlines. We supply types of glass beads for road marking: intermix glass beads, drop on glass beads, high index reflective glass beads, all-weather glass beads. Contact us now for reflective glass beads!