High content polyamide hot-applied thermoplastic composition

1. A hot applied thermoplastic pavement marking composition comprising:

3 to 10 weight percent of a modified polyamide resin comprising a di-functional amine;

a rosin-modified ester;

a copolymer;

30 to 70 weight percent of a glass bead intermix;

1 to 15 weight percent of a white or yellow pigment; and

one or more of a plasticizer, an inorganic filler, a wax, an antioxidant or a light stabilizer,

wherein the ester comprises one or more of a pentaerythritol modified ester, a maleic modified glycerol rosin ester or ethylene maleic anhydride.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the glass bead intermix comprises AASHTO Type 1 glass beads and one of AASHTO Type 3 glass beads or AASHTO Type 4 glass beads.

3. A thermoplastic marking for a substrate comprising the composition of claim 1 .

4. A thermoplastic marking for a substrate, the marking comprising:

a polyamide resin comprising a di-functional amine;

a rosin-modified ester;

a copolymer; and

up to 50 weight percent of a glass bead intermix comprising AASHTO Type 1 glass beads and one of AASHTO Type 3 glass beads or AASHTO Type 4 glass beads,

wherein the marking has a softening point from 115° C. to 140° C.

5. The marking of claim 4 , wherein the marking is a profiled marker that forms textures, bumps, profiles, or combinations thereof, wherein the profiled marker extends above a top surface of the substrate.

6. The marking of claim 5 , wherein the profiled markers are configured to be located at varying intervals along a length of the substrate.

7. The marking of claim 4 , wherein the marking is an inlaid marker, applied to grooves in a substrate, wherein the inlaid marker is substantially even with a top surface of the substrate.

8. The marking of claim 4 , further comprising a plasticizer, an inorganic filler, a wax, a pigment, an antioxidant or a light stabilizer, or combinations thereof.

9. The marking of claim 4 , wherein the marking comprises 3 to 10 weight percent of the polyamide resin.

10. The marking of claim 4 , wherein the glass beads have a retro-reflectivity value that ranges from 200 to 2000 mcd/m 2 /1x.

11. The marking of claim 4 , wherein the marking has an Gardner Impact resistance value of greater than 15 inch-pounds at 0° C.

12. The marking of claim 4 , wherein the marking has an Gardner Impact resistance value of 15 to 40 inch-pounds at 0° C.

13. The marking of claim 4 , further comprising a top dressing of at least one of AASHTO Type 1 glass beads or AASHTO Type 4 glass beads.

14. The marking of claim 4 , wherein the marking has abrasion loss in weight of less than 0.5 mg according to test California Test 423 (CTM 423).

15. A method for applying a thermoplastic marking to a substrate, comprising:

heating the composition of claim 1 ; and

applying a portion of the heated composition onto a substrate to form a thermoplastic marking.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising applying a primer to the substrate prior to applying the composition.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a bond strength between the thermoplastic marking and the primed substrate is greater than 250 psi at 90% failure according to ASTM D 4796.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein a bond strength between the thermoplastic marking and the substrate is greater than 400 psi at 50% failure according to ASTM D 4796.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising applying a top dressing of glass beads to the thermoplastic marking on the substrate.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the substrate comprises asphalt or concrete.