Thermal Road Marking Compound Formulation
Patent Number: US 11840638 Grant Date: 2023-12-12 Filing Date: 2023-02-15
Overview
Our firm drafted and prosecuted claims that secure an inventive manufacturing approach for melt-bonding road marking compounds that incorporates pulverized recycled PET as a functional bead component. Filed on February 15, 2023 and granted on December 12, 2023, the patent covers practical formulation ranges and processing parameters that balance maximum recycled content with the flowability required for standard road-paint application equipment. Inventors based in Childress, Texas developed a clear, substantially spherical PET bead—sized and optimized (about 400–750 microns) to pass through screens and nozzles—so the compound can be melted and applied via conventional hot-melt kettles and spray or pump systems. The claims also specify composition ranges (by weight) such as 30–45% glass beads (silica), 20–42% calcium carbonate filler, 18–23% thermoplastic binder, and 1–20% PET, plus pigment options for white and yellow formulations. The method further contemplates heating to roughly 400–425° F to form an applicative melted mixture.
Our drafting emphasized both technical detail and enforceable scope: bead sizing, PET mass fractions, resin and filler tradeoffs, and processing temperatures are all claimed to enable durability improvements while increasing recycled-plastic content and lowering material cost.
Key Features
- Recycled PET beads optimized for flow (400–750 µm)
- Explicit component weight ranges enabling manufacturing control
- Processing temperature guidance (≈400–425°F)
- Environmental and wear-resistance benefits from increased PET
This patent aligns material science with practical road-maintenance workflows, advancing sustainable, cost-effective solutions for transportation infrastructure and recycled-material integration.
Invention Details
Abstract: A method of manufacture for an improved composition for melt-bonding road marking compound is disclosed. Comprising preparing a PET component from pulverized recycled plastic. combining the PET component, a pigment component, a filler component, a silica component and a binder component to form a road marking compound. melting the road marking compound form the melt-bonding road marking compound. selecting an amount of the PET component to maximize PET in the melt-bonding road marking compound while ensuring the melt-bonding road marking compound remains liquid for application to a road surface. The PET component comprises glass beads, is substantially clear, and substantially spherical. The PET component comprises glass beads. The method of manufacture comprises optimizing a bead diameter of the PET component to ensure the melt-bonding road marking compound can flow through screens and nozzles in a typical road paint application equipment.
Summary of the Invention: A first embodiment of a method of manufacture for melt-bonding road marking compound is disclosed.
Said method of manufacture comprises: preparing a PET component from pulverized recycled plastic. combining said PET component, a pigment component, a filler component, a silica component and a binder component to form a road marking compound. melting said road marking compound form said melt-bonding road marking compound. selecting an amount of said PET component to maximize PET in said melt-bonding road marking compound while ensuring said melt-bonding road marking compound remains liquid for application to a road surface. Said PET component comprises glass beads, is substantially clear, and substantially spherical. Said PET component comprises glass beads. Said method of manufacture comprises optimizing a bead diameter of said PET component to ensure said melt-bonding road marking compound can flow through screens and nozzles in a typical road paint application equipment. Said PET component comprises said bead diameter of 400-750 microns. Said melt-bonding road marking compound comprises, as a percentage by weight: said silica component comprising 30-45% glass beads, said filler component comprising 20-42% calcium carbonate, said binder component comprising 18-23% thermoplastic resins, and said PET component comprising 1-20% polyethylene terephthalate.
A second embodiment of said method of manufacture for said melt-bonding road marking compound is disclosed.
Said method of manufacture comprises: preparing said PET component from pulverized recycled plastic. combining said PET component, said pigment component, said filler component, said silica component and said binder component to form said road marking compound. melting said road marking compound form said melt-bonding road marking compound.
A third embodiment of said method of manufacture for said melt-bonding road marking compound is disclosed.
Patent Document
Related: Mechanical Engineering | Materials | Transportation | Childress, Texas | Tyler, Texas | Shannon Warren, Patent Attorney