Road marking glass beads are manufactured from glass sand and recycled glass materials. Through high-temperature melting processes, these materials form small spherical glass beads that appear colorless and transparent under microscopic examination. The diameter ranges from 75 microns to 1400 microns, with flame floating being the primary production method for reflective road marking glass beads.
These glass beads serve two main applications in road marking coatings (both normal temperature and hot melt types): as premixed materials to ensure reflective properties throughout the marking's lifespan, and as surface-applied materials during marking construction to provide immediate reflective effects.
| Type | Mesh | Max Microns (μm) | Min Microns (μm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30# | 20-40 | 850 | 425 |
| 40# | 30-40 | 600 | 425 |
| 60# | 40-60 | 425 | 300 |
| 80# | 60-100 | 300 | 150 |
| 100# | 70-140 | 212 | 106 |
| 120# | 100-140 | 150 | 106 |
| 150# | 100-200 | 150 | 75 |
| 180# | 140-200 | 106 | 75 |
| 220# | 140-270 | 106 | 53 |
| 280# | 200-325 | 75 | 45 |
| 320# | >325 | 45 | 25 |
| Parameter | Quality Standard |
|---|---|
| Chemical Composition SiO₂ | >72% |
| Chemical Composition CaO | >8% |
| Chemical Composition Na₂O | <14% |
| Chemical Composition MgO | >2.5% |
| Chemical Composition Al₂O₃ | 0.5-2.0% |
| Chemical Composition Fe₂O₃ | 0.15% |
| Refractive Index | Nd≥1.5% |
| Density | 2.4-2.6g/cm³ |
| Size Distribution | Oversize ≤5% under size ≤10% |