Water-Based Paint History

Before automobiles became something more than a novel toy for the wealthy, America's roads were primarily narrow dirt thoroughfares. In 1900, most experts estimate that there were only 150 miles of paved roads in the country, and most of those were adjacent to large cities. In 1904, Americans owned approximately 50,000 automobiles; by 1910, that number had grown to more than 450,000. Automobile owners clamored for paved roads, and state officials complied. However, more cars meant more accidents, so state and local officials began looking for ways to make the roads safer.

The Center Stripe
In 1911, an official in Wayne County, Michigan, saw a truck leaking milk as it drove down the street. The white color contrasted nicely with the dark pavement, so he had the idea of using white paint to mark the center of roads to help prevent head-on collisions. The center stripe was born.

In …show more content…
Lead-based paint was phased out during the last quarter of the 20th century. Solvent-based paints have been banned for use in pavement markings by several states and numerous local governments.

On modern parking lots and roads, you are more likely to find either a water-based paint or thermoplastic markings. Water-based paints do not last very long; two years is normally the maximum, and in heavily traveled areas, the life is frequently between 90 and 180 days. This makes them ideal for temporary pavement markings or for use in lightly traveled areas. Thermoplastic markings typically last between five and eight years, but they can be damaged by snowplows, reducing their useful life. Both painted and thermoplastic markings can be topped with glass beads to improve their reflective properties. Thermoplastic markings, however, typically have beads in the mix, and as the surface beads wear away, these beads are exposed so that there is no loss of