Road marking is defined as devices or materials used on the road surface to convey official information. These markings are also applicable to other services used by vehicles in marking spaces for parking purposes and specified areas for other uses. The main purpose of road markings is to control and guide traffic on highways, city roads and on road crossings. They are an essentials part of traffic signs. These markings have effects of a psychological barrier and define the traffic path and lateral clearance from traffic accidents for the safety of vehicles and peddlers. Thus, these road markings are crucial for the safety of people and ensure a smooth, safe and continuous flow of traffic. There are various types of road markings present including longitudinal markings, transverse markings, unique markings and object markings to tell the driver about hazardous locations. Road markings are defined by lines, words, patterns and other devices, signs, and objects adjacent to the path for a warning, guiding, informing and guiding the travellers. These road markings are classified as transverse markings, longitudinal markings, object markings, marking for parking areas, word messages and hazardous locations marking, etc.
There are specified processes for road markings called road marking project. Particular substances like paints are formed by approved ways by authorities. The paint team use arrows, text and letters to define relative positions in measured form, thermoplastic paint gets sprayed and then reflective plastic pellets are thrown over it. The used white paint is made of raw materials of the thermoplastic resin that contains titanium dioxide pigment and small reflective glass beads in mixed form. On national highways and critical paths, this is applied using specified road marking machines and vehicles that spray the white paint under controlled environment by digital devices. Still, it is necessary to be highly precise while doing it and at the right pace suitable to conditions. So, these tasks are performed by highly trained persons and skillful steersman.
On smaller roads, the job becomes trickier as the clearances get decreased. This time, paint gets sprayed from a laying pram, defined as a single metal trolley that is fitted with a heater containing the paint fluid. One has to ensure that paint gets thrown on right rate, so lines acquire right width and thickness, to gain good patterns, the flow's timing is vital to be correct. This paint achieves solid powder form at room temperature. For preparing it, the thermoplastic paint is put into a kettle named thermoplastic pre-heater, to melt and mix the molten paint.
Yellow lines are mostly used in a two-way road as a separator, in the middle of a road. Vehicles are not permitted to cross this yellow line. Sometimes it is also used on the side of a path indicating the parking and waiting at that area is prohibited. They divide the traffic flow in the opposite direction and define the pavement edges.
Air blower machine is used to remove dust particles from the road by throwing pressurized as air on the road. This process removes dust particles from the road and thus increases the strength of paint as the material sticks directly to the road. Road cleaning machine also does the same job of removing outside matter from the road and preparing it for the road marking process.
By the coating used, road marking machines can be classified into categories like thermoplastic paint, cold plastic paint, and two-component paint type. The thermoplastic material is used hot and contains good durability and is suitable for all type roads. Cold plastics contain single or multi-component forms. This paint gets laid on a carriageway and a chemical activity forms a cohesive film. Regular hot and cold paints are formulated to make bonding with the road surface, and it holds glass beads, immediately thrown over the wet paint. Every machine of this type contains a rod as a hydraulic guide that ensures the accuracy and straightness of painting line. Before marking the road, a pre-marker is used to mark lines to increase accuracy.
Waterline paint is used for striping and adds beads of glass for reflectivity. A striping truck is used for applying this. The thermoplastic resin is used while marking special pavements marks. Most highway constructions use thermoplastic type marking method, but cold plastic road marking is also used for the same as it also acts as a thermoplastic resin.