| Summary, etc |
Thermoplastic road marking paint is commonly applied for its durability, fast drying property, and firm adhesion to pavement surfaces, which makes it vital for effective and long-lasting road safety markings Developing the performance of this material while ensuring environmental sustainability is a principal research focus. This study attempts to delve into the usage of recyclables - in this case, recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) flakes into thermoplastic road marking pants and assess how that incorporation affects specific gravity and water absorption, the two very important properties of thermoplastic paints Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the impact of varying PET microflakes percentages 0% 4%, 6%, and 8% on the specific gravity and water absorption of thermoplastic pant. It was then compared to the maximum specific gravity of 2.15 of the thermoplastic road marking without PET and 0.5% by weight of retained water, based on the DPWH Standard Specification 2015 and the City of Saskatoon Division 7, respectively Specific gravity controls the density and handling characteristics of thermoplastic paint, while water absorption is crucial in ensuring durability against external influences such as moisture and weathering Testing in the laboratory according to ASTM D792 20 and ASTM D570 20 standards shows that the addition of PET microflakes reduces the specific gravity of the paint. In addition, with the optimum amount of PET flakes water absorption reduces drastically, thus enhancing paint resistance to moisture penetration and extending ins life Thus, it can be inferred that adding recycled PET microflakes can improve the physical properties of thermoplastic road markings, thus benefiting both in practice and in the recycling of plastic waste This will contribute to sustainable development and the durability of road infrastructure
Keywords. Thermoplastic Road Markings Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Specific Gravity, Water Absorption, Microflakes |