Reflective glass beads (microglass beads)
Microglass beads (hereinafter referred to as MGB) are round glass spheres with a diameter of 0.1 to 1.0 mm used to apply horizontal road markings to surfaces to ensure their visibility at night in the reflected light of vehicle headlights. MGB are made from window sheet glass and have a stable chemical composition. For thin-layer markings (up to 1.5 mm thick) with paints and spray plastics, fractions of 125-600 µm, 212-850 µm, and 250-850 µm are used; for thick-layer markings (over 1.5 mm thick), fractions of 250-850 µm, 400-850 µm, 500-900 µm and more are used. MGB are treated with special finishing agents that improve their properties.
For thin-layer marking, adhesive, flotation, and hydrophobic treatments are used; for thick-layer marking, hydrophobic and adhesive treatments are used.
Application
To ensure high-quality application of the MGB onto the material, it is necessary to take into account the correct MGB consumption for a specific type of marking, weather conditions, the quality of material preparation, machine settings, and the qualifications of the operator.
Methods of application
Glass beads are applied using road marking machines or manually. The markings are sprinkled with glass beads no later than 10 seconds after application.
Glass beads consumption depends on the material:
- paint: 300 – 450 g/m2 ( 30 … 50% of the material weight);
- cold plastic: 300 – 450 g/m2 ( 10% of the material weight);
- thermoplastic: 300 – 450 g/m2 ( 10% of the material weight).
Package
The MSSh are packaged in 25 kg paper bags with a polyethylene insert. The MGB are transported on wooden pallets with 40 bags per bag, protected by shrink wrap. MGB can be packaged in 1000 kg big bags upon customer request.
Transportation and storage
Glass beads in the manufacturer’s packaging can be transported using any type of closed-body vehicle (wagon). Glass beads should be stored in their original packaging in closed, moisture-protected warehouses.
Guaranteed shelf life
36 months from date of manufacture.
Main technical characteristics
| Characteristic | GLASS BEADS |
|---|---|
| Appearance | homogeneous light free-flowing mass |
| Availability of processing: | |
| — adhesive | A |
| — hydrophobic | G |
| — flotation | F |
| Granulometric composition, µm | 125-600, 212-850, 500-900 and others on request |
| Content of defective glass beads, % | no more than 20 |
| Content of foreign particles, % | no more than 3 |
| Resistance to water and calcium chloride solution | stable |
| Refractive index of glass, not less than | 1,5 |
| Bulk density, g/cm3 | 1,5 — 1,6 |