SOMAY "Stripers Choice" Traffic Safety Marking Paints are used on surfaces of highways, bridges, tunnels,
driveways, parking lots, garages, curbs, wheel bumpers (stops), airport runways, taxiways and loading ramps,
on the floors of warehouses and manufacturing plants (to mark aisles), on the edges of loading docks and
stairways (to mark edges), on playgrounds and tennis courts, etc. SOMAY's regular Traffic Paint customers tell us SOMAY's Traffic Safety Marking Paints are far more
economical than competitive brands. SOMAY's Traffic Safety Marking Paints are manufactured to the
same high quality specifications as our architectural and industrial coatings. We do not use "seconds"
or "off-color" raw materials. This means that our pigment colors are more stable and longer lasting, and will
retain their bright colors with less fading, even in the hot, south Florida sunshine. Our first quality resins
will retain their durability and not break down, even when subjected to the extreme south Florida sunshine
and temperature.
Likewise our Quality Control Laboratory inspects each batch of paint to make sure that each batch meets
the standards which have been set for the particular formula. This ensures a smooth, well-dispersed
formulation, so that the traffic paint will flow smoothly through application equipment without clogging, resulting
in less down time for equipment servicing. This assures far more consistency, allowing more hours of
trouble free operation of traffic marking application equipment, resulting in much more productivity, i.e., more
striping done in less time. In addition, a retain sample is kept from each batch of paint manufactured, so we
will always be able to check on the quality in each can. SOMAY Traffic Safety Marking Paints have a high concentration of volume Solids, which results in paint with
greater coverage, greater hiding and greater durability. SOMAY Traffic Safety Marking Paints are made to accept the incorporation of reflective beads. SOMAY's "Stripers Choice" Traffic Safety Marking Paints have been proven, not only by laboratory tests, but
also by stripers' experience, to be far superior in quality, consistency and reliability than other brands.
SOMAY is not a manufacturer of and does not stock thermoplastic road marking materials. However, we
are able to obtain them for our customers if desired. Also, we can obtain information on road striping
machines and reflective pavement markers, i.e. Cat's Eyes, in white, yellow and red, single or bidirectional, etc. Traffic Paint Durability
It is impossible to predict the useful life one can anticipate from any applied traffic paint. This is because the
normal durability of any traffic paint will be determined by a wide variety of exposure conditions, including: the
amount (volume) and the type (weight, kinds of tires, etc.) of vehicular traffic driving over the traffic paint; the
amount of Ultraviolet light ("UV") exposure, and whether direct or indirect; the actual weather conditions (rain,
ice, sleet, snow, sunshine, clouds, etc.); chemical exposure (e.g. gasoline, motor oil, ethylene glycol,
antifreeze or engine coolant fluid, acid rain, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, other salts or salt air); wind-
blown sand, grit, etc. Tropical environments are the most severe that paints must endure, including strong sunshine and ultraviolet
light, high humidity, salt air, high temperatures, heavy rains, strong winds, thermal shock from daytime showers,
etc. Some U. S. Federal Government performance specifications require traffic paints to last three times longer
18 months) in the latitude of Washington, D.C., as in the latitude of Miami, Florida (6 months). Therefore, one
should always use the most durable paint formulation one can buy for any traffic striping job in a tropical
climate area.
The cost of a paint normally reflects its quality and its durability.
When one understands the effective durability of different resin-based traffic paints, then one can make a
more intelligent decision on the kind of traffic paint one can employ in different use or exposure situations.
For example, if traffic driving over an applied traffic paint causing wear to the paint is of primary concern, such
as pedestrian crosswalk paint lines at a major vehicular traffic intersection in a major city, then one
would NOT use a vinyl-acrylic-resin based paint. Instead, one would use a tougher, longer-wearing
resin-based traffic paint, such as an alkyd-resin (oil-based) traffic paint, or even a synthetic-rubber-based
resin traffic paint. Yes, the paint will cost more per gallon, but the longer wearing, tougher resin will
allow the traffic line to last longer, thus the cost on a per square foot per days (or months) of useful life
should be less, thus saving the purchaser money over the longer duration of the paint's useful life.
Likewise, if the traffic paint is going to be applied in a parking garage or shopping center parking area, and
there will be only an occasional vehicle driving over the paint lines, because the vehicles will park between
the paint lines, so the paint does NOT have to endure the same kind of traffic wear as it would on a
highway, then one could chose to use a vinyl-acrylic-latex-resin based traffic paint. We have seen these
lines in parking lots in southern Florida last six (6) years and even longer … and the same paint probably
wouldn't last six (6) weeks were it used to paint pedestrian crosswalk lines at a major intersection that had
heavy automobile and trucks driving across the lines at the rate of hundreds of vehicles per hour!
Least Durable Formulation |
Most Durable Formulation |
Vinyl Acrylic Latex |
Alkyd
(Oil) |
100% Acrylic Latex |
Synthetic Rubber |
Epoxy-Phenolic |
Aliphatic Urethane |
Traffic Paint Specifications (A) United States Federal Government Specifications (made to order only)
(B) State of Florida, Department of Transportation Specifications (normally in stock)(C) Somay Specifications (normally in stock)
(D) Custom Specifications (requires minimum order and non-refundable deposit with the order)
SOMAY "Stripers Choice" Traffic Safety Marking Paints, when made to government specifications, are
guaranteed to meet or exceed Federal or State government specifications. Regular Traffic Paint Formulations (A) Acrylic "Latex" – Use water as solvent for clean-up.(B) Alkyd (Oil) – Use mineral spirits as solvent for clean-up
(C) Polyvinyl-Toluene-Butadiene (Rubber) – Use Xylene as solvent for clean-up.
Special Traffic Paint Formulations
SOMAY can supply special traffic paint formulations for special exposure conditions, including:
(A) Epoxy Phenolic Resin with Amine Adduct Curing Agent (2-component). This special epoxy coating has been
especially formulated for exceptionally severe exposure and long-term resistance to extremely corrosive products
such as "SKYDROL" 500 aviation hydraulic fluid, jet aviation fuel, "gasohol", unleaded gasoline, seawater, fresh
water, distilled water, hot concentrated brine, the effluent of waste treatment plants, etc. This coating can even
withstand sustained immersion in these extremely corrosive products.This special epoxy coating has been used successfully at a major international airport to mark aircraft lead-in
lines, aircraft parking positions at terminal gates, runway stripes and taxiway stripes, and also as a protective
floor coating for aircraft hangers at Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) licensed aircraft maintenance
stations, etc.
Available in "White" (normally in stock). "Medium Gray" and light colors require a minimum order of 500 gallons
of each color and payment with the order.
(B) Aliphatic Urethane Resin with Curing Agent (2-component). This special urethane coating is for use when
chemical resistance plus exceptionally long-term exterior durability and gloss retention is required. Traffic Paint Colors
(A) White (normally in stock) (B) Lead Free Yellow (normally in stock)(C) Black (normally in stock)
(D) Handicapped Blue (normally in stock) (E) Baby Buggy Green (normally in stock in SOMAY Vinyl Acrylic Latex formulation only)
(F) Custom Colors such as Red must be custom manufactured. Requires minimum order and non-refundable
deposit with the order. EPA Compliance
All SOMAY Traffic Paints are VOC Compliant with all current EPA Regulations for Zone Marking Paints. This
means they will release only a small percentage of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere, and
therefore are considered to be environmentally friendly coatings. Application Time and Surface Considerations
According to the Florida Dept. of Transportation Standard Specifications (1991) Section 710-6.1, newly placed
driveway or parking surfaces, whether asphaltic or concrete, shall NOT be marked with permanent pavement
parking prior to 30 calendar days after placement of the final surface. This applies to all kinds of paint
formulations, including oil, rubber, or acrylic latex-based.
Traffic Paint Application to Concrete Whenever applying paint to concrete, especially for the first time, because of the possibility that there may be
various additives in the concrete or sealers that may have been put onto the concrete surfaces, it is
recommended that one always put down a test stripe and allow it to properly cure, to be sure there is complete
compatibility and adhesion between the surface and the paint. Traffic Paint Application to Asphalt Surfaces New asphalt pavement surfaces must "cure" a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to the application of any
permanent paint lines or markings.
When applying Traffic Safety Marking Paint over a freshly applied asphalt-emulsion sealer, always wait at
least 24 hours for the sealer to cure properly prior to applying any paint.
In order for applied paint lines and markings to dry rapidly, so that traffic lanes will not be out of service
any longer than necessary, fast drying (i.e. rapid evaporation) of solvents from the applied paint is desirable
and therefore rapid drying solvents are required, for example, in government specification traffic paints.
However, whenever a paint containing a rapid drying solvent (including government specification traffic paint)
is applied to asphaltic-based pavement "sealer", there is a possibility the black or dark brown pigments in
the coal-tar asphaltic base of the "sealer" may migrate into the freshly applied paint, because of its rapid drying
solvent, resulting in a discoloration of the traffic paint line or marking on the highway or parking lot surface. The
discoloration may cause "white" lines to appear "brown", and "yellow" lines to appear "orange". The discoloration
does NOT mean there is anything wrong with the paint specification or formulation.
To avoid the occurrence of the above condition, many knowledgeable traffic paint applicators recommend that
only acrylic latex traffic paint which is water-thinner (not solvent-thinned) should be used on freshly applied
asphalt pavement "sealers". Since the solvent (water) in an acrylic latex traffic paint generally will not cause the
pigment in the fresh "sealer" to migrate into the fresh paint, usually there should be no discoloration of the painted
lines or marking when acrylic latex traffic paint is applied to these "sealed" surfaces. A Note of Caution:
It is unwise to apply too thick a coat of a good quality acrylic latex (water-thinned) traffic paint over a poor quality
and/or not fully cured fresh asphalt surface. Too heavy a coat of paint can cause the asphalt to separate (pull away
itself) and curl whenever the coherent (internal) strength of the paint film, plus the adherent strength of the paint
film to the asphalt surface is greater (stronger) than the coherent (internal) strength of the asphalt to itself. Application Rates
All properly formulated traffic paints made to government specifications will cover up to 100 sq. ft. per gallon,
at a normal wet film thickness of 0.015 inch (15 mils), assuming a perfectly smooth, non-porous surface.
The actual coverage will be considerably less on rough, textured and/or porous surfaces, in which case more
paint must be used to develop the required minimum 15 mils wet film thickness.
Drying Time
The drying times of SOMAY Traffic Safety Marking Paints vary according to each specification. For example,
SOMAY's paint made to Federal Specification TT-P-115F, Type II, will dry in 5 minutes; TT-P-115F, Type I and
TT-P-85 will dry in a maximum of 30 minutes; TT-P-1952D will dry in approximately 20 minutes. Florida Dept.
of Transportation Specification Traffic Paints will dry in approximately 30 minutes, and SOMAY Specification
Acrylic Latex Traffic Paints will dry in approximately one hour.
Highway Striping – Quantity Needed
Solid Traffic Stripe, four inches wide, will normally require a minimum of
16.5 gallons per mile on a smooth, non-porous surface.
|
Skip Traffic Stripe, four inches wide, will normally require a minimum of 4.125
gallons per mile on a smooth, non-porous surface, when each stripe is 10 feet long, and each paint stripe is separated by an unpainted space 30 feet in length.
|
MILES |
GALLONS USED
SOLID STRIPE |
GALLONS USED
SKIP STRIPE
|
.10 |
1.650 |
.413 |
.25 |
4.125 |
1.032 |
.50 |
8.250 |
2.064 |
.75 |
12.375 |
3.096 |
1.00 |
16.500 |
4.125 |
2.00 |
33.000 |
8.250 |
3.00 |
49.500 |
12.375 |
4.00 |
66.000 |
16.500 |
5.00 |
82.500 |
20.625 |
6.00 |
99.000 |
24.750 |
7.00 |
115.500 |
28.875 |
8.00 |
132.000 |
33.000 |
9.00 |
148.500 |
37.125 |
10.00 |
165.000 |
41.350 |
Parking Lot Striping – Quantity Needed
Parking Lot Stripes, four inches wide and 18 feet long equal
6.00 sq. ft., so that approximately 16 stripes can be painted with one (1) gallon of paint when painting a smooth, non-porous surface.
|
NUMBER OF STRIPES |
GALLONS USED
|
1 |
.06 |
2 |
.12 |
3 |
.18 |
4 |
.25 |
5 |
.30 |
6 |
.36 |
7 |
.42 |
8 |
.48 |
9 |
.54 |
10 |
.60 |
11 |
.66 |
12 |
.72 |
13 |
.78 |
14 |
.84 |
15 |
.90 |
16 |
.96 |
17 |
1.02
|
18 |
1.08
|
19 |
1.14
|
20 |
1.20
|
Weather Considerations No paint should be applied when any moisture is present on the surface to be painted or when the ambient air
temperature is below 50° F., or when there are poor drying conditions and/or the possibility of precipitation or
dew within an hour after application or before the paint can properly dry and cure.
Thinning
All SOMAY traffic paints are formulated to be applied full strength, as manufactured by SOMAY, without thinning.
When any paint is thinned, diluted or otherwise adulterated with any foreign material, it drastically reduces the
serviceable life of the applied paint because it reduces the percentage of solids in the formulation, which will
adversely affect such properties as adhesiveness or bonding, hiding, coverage, and the durability of the applied
paint, which will be evidenced by powdering, chalking, fading and premature failure.
Traffic Paint Shelf Life
Solvent-thinned Traffic Safety Marking Paints should normally NOT be kept in storage more than 6 months
180 days) under ideal storage conditions. Water-thinned paints normally may be stored for one year or longer,
but MUST be protected from freezing temperatures. Paint should always be stored in a protected area, never
outside where it is exposed to direct sunlight or inclement weather.
Traffic Paint Packaging Traffic Safety Marking Paints which are solvent-thinned are normally packaged in heavy-duty five (5) gallon steel
containers. Water-thinned paints are normally packaged in heavy-duty five (5) gallon plastic containers. One
gallon containers and 55-gallon drums are available on a special order basis. Please contact us for prices. Traffic Paint Shipping Cautions
All solvent-thinned Traffic Safety Marking Paints require a RED (Flammable) shipping label; those made with
acrylic latex resin (which is water-thinned) do NOT require a RED label, but must be protected from freezing
temperatures during transit and storage prior to application.
NOTE: Special metal pails are required, at an additional cost, if shipping solvent-thinned Traffic Safety Marking
Paints by air. Federal regulations also provide significant restrictions on the quantity of any solvent-thinned
Traffic Paint that may be shipped via air cargo.SOMAY will palletize export shipments, if required, 24 pails per pallet. Traffic Paint Headlight Reflectivity
Traffic Paints can be either: (A) Non-Reflectorized (do not reflect headlights, etc.)
(B) Reflectorized (to reflect auto headlights or airplane landing lights):
a. With pre-mixed beads (long term reflectivity, but NOT immediately reflective.
b. With drop on beads (immediately reflective, but NOT long term reflectivity);
c. With both pre-mixed beads and drop on beads (gives both immediate reflectivity AND long term
reflectivity)
NOTE: Traffic Paint with pre-mixed beads is not immediately reflective because the glass spheres (beads) in the
paint are surrounded by paint, which is opaque. The paint must be worn off the exposed tops of the beads (by
traffic driving over the paint stripe) before the paint become reflective. However, once the paint stripe becomes
reflective, it will continue to reflect as long as there is any paint with pre-mixed beads left on the road surface.
Drop on beads provide immediate reflectivity, but once the drop on beads have worn off (by traffic driving over
the paint stripe), the stripe will no longer be reflective, unless the paint originally contained pre-mixed beads
also. To Make a Non-Reflectorized Traffic Paint Reflective Glass spheres should be dropped onto the painted stripe before the paint dries or sets up. Glass spheres
should be applied uniformly at the following rates of glass spheres per each gallon of paint applied
PAINT SPECIFIED |
GLASS BEADS (Spheres) SPECIFIED
Retro-Reflective
|
AMOUNT OF BEADS SPECIFIED
|
Florida. Dept of Trans.
Specification
|
971-14 Type I
|
6 lbs./gal.
|
U.S. Fed. Govt.
Specification |
|
|
TT-P-85
|
TT-B-1325 Type III,
Gradation A
(High Index, Coarse)
|
10 lbs./gal.
|
TT-P-87 Premixed
Plus Drop On
|
TT-B-1325 Type I,
Gradation B
TT-B-1325 Type I,
Gradation A
(Low Index, Fine & Coarse)
|
5 lbs./gal. plus
5 lbs./gal.
|
TT-P-115
|
TT-B-1325
|
6 lbs./gal.
|
TT-P-1952
|
TT-B-1325 Type III,
Gradation A
(High Index, Coarse)
|
10 lbs./gal
|
Beads (Glass Spheres) Florida Dept. of Transportation Specifications 971-14, Type 1 (Drop On Beads)
U.S. Fed. Govt. Spec. TT-B-1325 B (all Types, all Gradations) (Pre-mixed & Drop on)
SOMAY does not always stock these beads. The bead manufacturer does not always stock these
beads, and sometimes has to produce them when an order from a traffic paint manufacturer is
ceived. Therefore, orders for traffic paints requiring these beads normally will require extra lead time
efore SOMAY can commence production. We will order these beads for our customers on a Special
rder basis. A minimum 50% deposit will be required. Please contact us for prices.
Summary of Traffic Paint Specifications
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