(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2016/0376467 A1 Puffer, SR
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US 20160376467A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2016/0376467 A1 Puffer, SR. et al. (43) Pub. Date: Dec. 29, 2016 (54) THERMOPLASTIC PAVEMENT MARKING Publication Classification COMPOSITION AND METHOD (51) Int. Cl. C09D 67/08 (2006.01) (71) Applicants: Daniel John Puffer, SR., Laplace, LA C09D 5/33 (2006.01) (US); Lam Thanh Nguyen, Laplace, C09D 9/00 (2006.01) LA (US) (52) U.S. Cl. (72) Inventors: Daniel John Puffer, SR. Laplace, LA CPC ........... C09D 167/08 (2013.01); C09D 191/00 (US); Lam Thanh Nguyen, Laplace, (2013.01); C09D 5/004 (2013.01) LA (US) (57) ABSTRACT A composition of matter Suitable for use as a road marking (21) Appl. No.: 15/239,044 substance and a method thereof provides for the steps of mixing a binder mixture with a filler mixture, heating the mixed ingredients while mixing into a homogenous molten (22) Filed: Aug. 17, 2016 mixture and then extruding the molten mixture. The extruded material is cooled, cut into individual pellets, coated with an anti-clumping coating and packaged for use Related U.S. Application Data in making a road marking Substance in situ. The binder can (63) Continuation of application No. 14/339,023, filed on be alkyd-based or hydrocarbon based. The binder includes Jul. 23, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part of rosin resins, wax and a plasticizer, and a hydrocarbon resin application No. 14/329.462, filed on Jul. 11, 2014, is added for the hydrocarbon-based binder. The filler con now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of tains titanium dioxide, a pigment (if necessary) and ground application No. 14/270,068, filed on May 5, 2014. calcium carbonate. Patent Application Publication Dec. 29, 2016 Sheet 1 of 5 US 2016/0376.467 A1 too 9 i. Patent Application Publication Dec. 29, 2016 Sheet 2 of 5 US 2016/0376.467 A1 N N v \ X - R li Patent Application Publication Dec. 29, 2016 Sheet 3 of 5 US 2016/0376.467 A1 n c Patent Application Publication Dec. 29, 2016 Sheet 4 of 5 US 2016/0376.467 A1 Patent Application Publication Dec. 29, 2016 Sheet 5 of 5 US 2016/0376.467 A1 US 2016/0376467 A1 Dec. 29, 2016 THERMOPLASTIC PAVEMENT MARKING ment marking specifications are normally based on some COMPOSITION AND METHOD variation of AASHTO M-249, which is a federal specifica tion that sets minimum and basic requirements of the CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED materials to be used. The binder is made up of a combination APPLICATIONS of rosin or petroleum based resins, plasticizing oils, elasto mers, and viscosity and flow modifiers. The pigment for 0001. This application is a continuation application of my white materials is predominately Type II rutile titanium co-pending application Ser. No. 14/339,023 filed on Jul. 23, dioxide. The pigment for yellow materials is an organic 2014, entitled “Thermoplastic Pavement Marking Compo based yellow pigment which can be a combination of yellow sition and Method,” which is a continuation-in-part of and red or orange pigments designed to withstand high application Ser. No. 14/329.462 filed on Jul. 11, 2014, temperatures and provide excellent UV resistance and entitled “Pelletizing system for thermoplastic pavement weatherability. Glass beads are incorporated into the mate marking material” (abandoned), which is a continuation-in rial So that as the material degrades under UV, water, and part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 14/270,068 filed traffic exposure the glass beads will become exposed and on May 5, 2014 entitled “Pelletizing system for road surface serve as reflective elements for nighttime visibility while marking material,” the full disclosures of which are incor under illumination from vehicles headlamps. An exemplary porated by reference herein and priority of which is hereby compositional range for each component is as follows: claimed. binder 18-26%, pigment (TiO2 only) 10-12% for white, N/A for yellow, and beads 30-40%. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0006 Conventional thermoplastic mix is supplied in 0002 Road surface markings are used on paved road powdered form, which makes it difficult to load into the road ways to provide guidance and information to drivers and marking machine. The technicians have to strictly follow pedestrians. Road Surface markings can be formed using safety regulations and use special equipment when preparing mechanical or non-mechanical devices. Mechanical road the marking mix. My co-pending application Ser. No. Surface markers may be raised or recessed into the road 14/329.462 filed on Jul. 11, 2014 discloses a system of surface, and can be either reflective or non-reflective. producing pelletized thermoplastic pavement marking mate Examples of mechanical markers are Botts dots and rumble rial, which eliminates or significantly minimizes hazards strips. Non-mechanical markers may be formed by paint, associated with dust produced by powdered mixes. This thermoplastic, preformed polymer tape, epoxy and other application is directed to an apparatus and method of pro methods. ducing the thermoplastic pavement marking material in a 0003. Thermoplastic markers are some of the most com pelletized form. mon types of road marking based on their balance between cost and performance longevity. Thermoplastic binder sys SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION tems are generally based on one of three core chemistries: 0007. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to hydrocarbons, rosin esters, and maleic modified rosin esters provide an apparatus and method of making a pelletizing (MMRE). Thermoplastic coatings are generally homoge material that can be used for creating thermoplastic pave neous dry mixes of binder resins, plasticizers, glass beads ment markers. (or other optics), pigments, and fillers. These types of 0008. It is another object of the invention to provide a markers demonstrate increased durability, lasting 3 to 6 pelletizing system capable of pelletizing a mixture of raw years, and retro-reflectivity. materials with embedded reflective elements. 0004. Thermoplastic pavement markings are used in a 0009. It is a further object of the invention to provide a hot-melt application process for various types of traffic composition and method of producing pelletized road mark control indicia. They are normally comprised of alkyd or ing material, while mixing the powdered materials with hydrocarbon based resin Systems, although hybrid versions reflective elements. of the materials can be formulated to impart favorable properties of each individual system into one combined 0010. These and other objects of the invention are system. Typically, thermoplastic pavement marking materi achieved through a provision of a composition of matter als are used on roadways in longitudinal lines as edge and Suitable for use as a road marking Substance and a method center-lines either as a continuous line or a skipped/dashed thereof provides for the steps of mixing a binder mixture line. They can also be used for transverse markings such as with a filler mixture, heating the mixed ingredients while stop bars, chevrons, traffic taming markings, bike and pedes mixing into a homogenous molten mixture and then extrud trian crossings, railroad crossings, or similar markings. ing the molten mixture. The extruded material is cooled, cut Thermoplastic pavement markings are used on public and into individual pellets, coated with an anti-clumping coating private highways, public and private properties, airports, and and packaged for use in making a road marking Substance in parking lots. situ. The binder can be alkyd-based or hydrocarbon based. The binder includes rosin resins, wax and a plasticizer, and 0005. Thermoplastic pavement are non-reactive coatings a hydrocarbon resin is added for the hydrocarbon-based systems that are 100% solids materials composed of binder, pigment, glass beads, and inert fillers. Each state, and some binder. The filler contains titanium dioxide, a pigment (if cities and counties, govern the type and application of necessary) and ground calcium carbonate. thermoplastic application by specifying the chemical com position and final film properties in terms of field perfor BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS mance over the lifecycle of the marking. Although most 0011 Reference will now be made to the drawings, governmental agencies have their own internal and indepen wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and dent pavement marking specifications, thermoplastic pave wherein US 2016/0376467 A1 Dec. 29, 2016 0012 FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the pelletizing system ing of ricinoleic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, of the present invention. Stearic acid, palmitic acid, dihydroxy Stearic acid, myristic acid, myristoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, Sapelinic acid, elaidic DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION acid, vaccenic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, arachidonic acid, 0013 Turning now to the drawing in more detail, eicosapentaenoic acid, erucic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, numeral 10 designates the pelletizing system of the present caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, arachidic acid, behenic invention. The system 10 includes a mixing station 12, a acid, lignoceric acid, and cerotic acid. cooling station 14, a drying station 16, and a pellet-coating 0019. The alcohols are comprised of one or more mem station 18. bers selected from the group consisting of glycerol, ethanol, 0014. The mixing station 12 comprises a plurality of methanol, pentaerythritol, iso-propanol, isopropyl alcohol, separate containers 22, each of which is configured to retain butanol, dihydroxybutanol,