Mechanical Properties of Durable Pavement Marking Materials and Adhesion on Asphalt Surfaces

Mechanical properties of commercially available temporary pavement marking (TPM) tapes and thermoplastic materials used as permanent pavement markings (PPM) were investigated using the non-destructive Tape Drape Test and conventional mechanical testing. The impact of temperature and aging on the adhesion of TPM tapes and thermoplastic PPM applied to asphalt core surfaces with various surface roughness and treatments was determined using a modular peel fixture and shear adhesion tests. The adhesion of TPM tapes to model smooth surfaces decreased as surface temperature was increased from 0 to 40°C (32 to 104°F). For some tapes, reduced adhesion and brittle broken fracture were observed at the lowest investigated temperature of -20°C (-4°F). The adhesion of tapes applied to asphalt decreased significantly within 1 week of aging at -25°C (-13°F). Ghost markings were more likely at higher aging temperatures. For PPM thermoplastics, better adhesion to asphalt was observed for higher application temperatures and rougher surfaces. Asphalt emulsion treatments reduced the adhesion of thermoplastics and increased the likelihood of adhesive failure after 5 months of aging at -25°C (-13°F). More ductile PPM thermoplastic materials had better adhesion to both smooth and rough asphalt surfaces compared to thermoplastic materials with a more brittle mechanical response.