Technical Data Sheet

FASTRACK™ 2706
Polymer Emulsion for Waterborne Traffic
Marking Paints

Regional Product • North America

Availability

Description FASTRACK 2706 is an all-acrylic emulsion designed specifically for use in waterborne
traffic marking paints, especially when application occurs under marginal conditions of
temperature, humidity and air flow. Actual road use studies have proven that traffic
marking paints formulated with FASTRACK 2706 are more resistant.

Advantages of • Environmentally Acceptable–Can be formulated to V.O.C.s as low as 0.8 pounds/gallon,

Traffic Paints meeting or exceeding most regulations for traffic marking paints
based on • Better Retention of Glass Beads–Paints formulated with waterborne acrylics retain their
FASTRACK 2706 flexibility on aging and retain glass beads longer than typical alkyds
Compared with • Longer “Useful Life”–When properly formulated and applied, waterborne traffic paints
Conventional retain their retroreflectivity longer, so reapplication is required less frequently
Solvent-based • Increased Worker Safety–Exposure to volatile organic solvents is greatly reduced
Traffic Paints • Easier, Safer Cleanup–Can be done almost exclusively using water and mild solvents
or detergents
• Significantly Reduced Disposal Costs–Waterborne acrylic paints can be solidified easily
and disposed of as non-hazardous waste
Compared with Conventional Waterborne Traffic Paints:
• Faster drying in high humidity, low temperatures and poor air flow
• Less prone to pigment settling on storage
• Better adhesion to road surfaces

Properties Typical Properties

(These properties are typical but do not constitute specifications).
Density Dry (g/ml) 1.13
Class ACRYLIC
Solids (%) 49.5–50.5
Density Dry (lb/gal) 9.43
Density Wet (g/ml) 1.05
Density Wet (lb/gal) 8.76
Part Size (Micron) 0.20
pH 10.0–10.6
Tg 25.0
Viscosity (cps) <250

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Formulating Because the very fast drying characteristics of FASTRACK™ 2706 emulsion, and paints
made from it, reflect a unique technology, a significant level of thought and sophistication is
required of current manufacturers of acrylic waterborne pavement marking paints to ensure
satisfactory production; further, some significant modifications of production equipment may
be required.
There are several key points to remember when preparing waterborne traffic paints with
FASTRACK 2706:
1) Maintain a pH of 9.6 or above during the manufacture of FASTRACK 2706-based paints
and in the final product.
2) Use only ammonia to raise the pH of the paint. Do not use less volatile bases like
AMP-95 or DMAE.
3) Avoid excessive heating of the paint during manufacture. It is not necessary to "grind"
(disperse at high speed) to adequately mix the pigmentation in with FASTRACK 2706.
Over-grinding will only aggravate skin and gel formation and foaming in the
dispersing process.
4) FASTRACK™ 2706 yields paints with rapid drying characteristics even under high
humidity conditions where normal emulsion paints would not dry. As a result, special
care is required in commercial manufacture and handling.
Volume Solids
The following tips are given to guide the formulator of white and yellow waterborne traffic
paints based on FASTRACK 2706:
It is vital to formulate fast-dry waterborne traffic paints at maximum volume solids, within
the constraints of viscosity and stability, in order to minimize dry-to-no-pickup times. The
starting point demonstration formulations in these notes are formulated to a minimum of
61% volume solids. These formulations can be applied without heating the paint, have good
viscosity stability and pigment settling resistance, and have provided dry-to-no-pickup times
under 60 seconds in numerous road trial demonstrations.
Pigment Volume Concentration
High pigment loading is necessary in traffic marking paints in order to achieve high solids
and high durability on the road. Our road tests demonstrate that waterborne traffic paints
formulated at 60% pigment volume concentration (PVC) provide a good balance of cost
and dry speed, road adhesion and glass bead retention.
Pigmentation Extender
Calcium carbonate is recommended as a filler in formulations with FASTRACK 2706
because of its whiteness, low cost, and low water demand (low oil absorption) which allows
high loadings without excessive viscosity build. Demonstration formulations throughout this
Technocal Datasheet use Omyacarb 5, which has an oil absorption of 7.5 and a mean
particle size of 5.5 microns; extenders with comparable oil absorptions should give similar
results. Larger particle grades may have a lower oil absorption resulting in lower viscosity at
equal loadings but may settle out faster and could present handling problems if the paint is
stored for several months without stirring.
Coarse (10–15 microns) crystalline silicas also are useful in traffic paint formulations. These
extenders improve the abrasion resistance of traffic paints in laboratory tests. Larger particle
size crystalline silicas (50–100 microns) may be useful to improve skid resistance of traffic
markings, particularly when glass beads are not used. However, traffic paints using coarse
crystalline silicas are known to increase wear of spray equipment.

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 White Pigmentation
Most traffic marking specifications call for a minimum of 1 pound per gallon titanium dioxide
for adequate opacity in a 7–9 mil (175–225 microns) coating. TiPure R-900 "enamel" grade
is used in the starting formulations presented here because its good dispersibility yields low
viscosity. More durable grades have not been evaluated.
Yellow Pigmentation
Pigment Yellow 75 and Pigment Yellow 65 are organic yellow pigments used to
manufacture lead-free yellow marking paints. FASTRACK™ 2706 yellow starting point
formulations use a ratio of 32 pounds 11–2400 Hansa Yellow X (Pigment Yellow 75) to
20 pounds titanium dioxide to 3 pounds Bayferrox 3950 yellow oxide per 100 gallons to
approximate the color of Federal Standard 33538 (B). Minor ratio adjustments of these
or similar pigments may be necessary to conform to specific color requirements.
Dispersant
Ammonia-based dispersants improve the dry speed of paints based on FASTRACK 2706.
TAMOL™ 901 at 7.2 pounds per 100 gallons is the preferred dispersant recommendation in
our starting point white and yellow formulations for fastest dry speed. However, formulators
should look at levels 33% lower and higher in their formulations, in conjunction with a
volume solids ladder, and thoroughly evaluate stability and dry speed.
Wetting Aid
A surfactant is needed to facilitate wetting of the pigment particle surfaces. Surfynol CT-136
has been found to be an especially effective pigment wetting aid, particularly in the non-toxic
yellow formulations. Use of Surfynol CT-136 reduces “puffiness” and viscosity in
these paints.
Defoamer
Excessive foam in the paint can increase the viscosity and lead to more problems with skins
and gels. While Drew L-493 is one example of an effective defoamer, alternatives should be
evaluated for specific paint applications. It is important to avoid silicone-based defoamers
since these may adversely affect the adhesion of the paint to the reflective glass beads.
Thixotrope
Traffic paint formulations based on FASTRACK 2706 are less prone to pigment settling than
those based on conventional acrylic emulsion polymers. By choosing the proper extender
pigment, such as Omyacarb 5, these formulations do not settle appreciably over many
months of storage. A low level of a high molecular weight HEC thickener, Natrosol 250 HR,
gives some thixotropy to the paint to further reduce settling tendencies. Natrosol 250 HR
should be added as a 2% solution in water. It is prudent to use the bio-resistant grades (250
HBR) or add a low level of biocide to preserve these HEC solutions if they are to be stored.
There are several other thixotropes that are also suitable in these formulations:
1) Benaqua 4000 and 8000 (Rheox): Hectorite clays that can be added as powders
(no pre-mixed solutions) in the pigment mixing operation.
2) ACRYSOL™ TT-615 (Dow): Anionic associative thickener that should be added as
a 1% solution neutralized with ammonia to pH 10.
3) Natrosol Plus Grade 430 (Aqualon): Hydrophobe-modified HEC with better
bio-spoilage resistance.
4) ACRYSOL SCT-215 (Dow): Nonionic associative thickener.
5) ACRYSOL RM-825 (Dow): Nonionic associative thickener.

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Solvents Alcohols
Methanol is a volatile alcohol solvent that is added to FASTRACK™ 2706 demonstration
formulations to optimize dry-to-no-pickup times and impart freeze/thaw stability. Formulators
who do not want to use methanol in their formulations because of its toxicity can replace it
with blends of 3A alcohol (95% anhydrous ethanol and 5% methanol) and propylene glycol.
Replacing the 30 pounds of methanol with 20/20 or 25/15 pounds of 3A alcohol/propylene
glycol will provide freeze/thaw stability. Dry-to-no-pickup times are only slightly slower with
the use of these methanol replacement blends.
Coalescents
Waterborne traffic paints require the addition of coalescing solvents to obtain good film
formation, particularly at lower application temperatures. Demonstration formulations in this
Technical Datasheet use Texanol coalescing solvent at a level of 10% on polymer solids.
Lower levels may compromise performance, especially if the paint is applied at low road
surface temperatures. Higher levels will compromise paint stability. The use of more water
miscible solvents like butyl Carbitol as the sole coalescing solvent is not recommended.
Paints containing only butyl Carbitol, or large amounts of butyl Carbitol, have been shown in
practical applications on highways to be susceptible to poor or no film formation if exposed
to water (rain) before becoming thoroughly dry.
Preservatives
Lab tests have shown the following FASTRACK 2706 demonstration formulations to
have good bio-spoilage resistance without adding a preservative. For added protection
from spoilage, however, 1 pound per 100 gallon of KATHON™ LX 1.5% microbicide
can be added.

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 Figure 1. Fast-Dry White Traffic Paint Formulation TP-06-02
Materials (Order of Addition): Pounds Gallons Notes
FASTRACK™ 2706 (50%) 460.1 51.99 1
TAMOL™ 901 (30%) 7.2 0.68 2
Surfynol CT-136 2.8 0.32 3
Drew L-493 2.0 0.28
Ti-Pure R-900 100.0 2.92
Omyacarb-5 760.6 33.69 4
Mix the above at a sufficient speed to pull a slight vortex (about 1000 to 1500 rpm) for about 15 minutes,
then add:
Methanol 30.0 4.50 5
Texanol 23.0 2.90
Drew L-493 3.5 0.49
Natrosol 250HR (2%) aqueous 7.0 0.84 6
Water 11.6 1.39
TOTALS 1407.8 100.00

Initial KU/pH 83/9.6

Equilibriated KU/pH 89/9.6
By Volume
% PVC 60.0
% Volume Solids 61.0
By Weight
% Total Solids 77.5
% Pigment Solids 61.1
% Vehicle Solids 38.9
% Non-Volatile Vehicle 42.0
VOC (grams/liter) 92
Density (lbs./gallon) 14.1

Formulation Notes:
1. Check the pH. If below 9.7, add 2 lbs. of 28% ammonium hydroxide.
2. TAMOL 901 is the preferred dispersant.
3. Surfynol CT-136 is the preferred wetting agent.
4. Check and adjust pH as needed. Dispersion should be smooth—Hegman gauge 3 or higher.
5. Add the Methanol before the Texanol, and add the Texanol slowly to avoid polymer flocculation.
6. Check and adjust pH as needed. Add water and/or thickener to adjust to 80–85 KU.

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 Figure 2. Fast-Dry Yellow Traffic Paint Formulation TP-06-03
Materials (Order of Addition): Pounds Gallons Notes
FASTRACK™ 2706 (50%) 460.1 51.99 1
TAMOL™ 901 (30%) 7.2 0.68 2
Surfynol CT-136 2.8 0.32 3
Drew L-493 2.0 0.28
Ti-Pure R-900 20.0 0.58
Omyacarb-5 750.0 33.25
Hansa Yellow (11–2400) 32.0 2.70 4
Bayferrox 3950 3.0 0.07
Mix the above at a sufficient speed to pull a slight vortex (about 1000 to 1500 rpm) for about 15 minutes,
then add:
Methanol 30.0 4.50 5
Texanol 23.0 2.90
Drew L-493 3.5 0.49
Natrosol 250HR (2%) aqueous 6.0 0.72 6
Water 12.7 1.52
TOTALS 1352.3 100.00

Initial KU/pH 84/9.6

Equilibriated KU/pH 90/9.6
By Volume
% PVC 60.0
% Volume Solids 61.0
By Weight
% Total Solids 76.5
% Pigment Solids 59.5
% Vehicle Solids 40.5
% Non-Volatile Vehicle 42.0
VOC (grams/liter) 92
Density (lbs./gallon) 13.5

Formulation Notes:
1. Check the pH. If below 9.7, add 2 lbs. of 28% ammonium hydroxide.
2. TAMOL 901 is the preferred dispersant.
3. Surfynol CT-136 is the preferred wetting agent.
4. This order of addition is important to disperse the Hansa Yellow pigment.
5. Add the Methanol before the Texanol, and add the Texanol slowly to avoid polymer flocculation.
6. Check and adjust pH as needed. Add water and/or thickener to adjust to 80–85 KU.

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 Suppliers of Suggested Raw Materials
FASTRACK™ 2706 Binder Dow Chemical Company 100 Independence Mall West
TAMOL™ 901 Dispersant Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-592-3000
Surfynol CT-136 Surfactant Air Products and Chemicals, 7201 Hamilton Boulevard
Inc. Allentown, PA 18195-1501
610-481-4911
Drew L-493 Defoamer Drew Chemical Co. One Drew Plaza
Boonton, NJ 07005
800-535-0819
Texanol Coalescent Eastman Chemical Prod. P.O. Box 431
Kingsport, TN 37662
423-229-2000
Ti-Pure R-900 Titanium Dioxide E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co 1007 Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19898
800-441-7515
Omyacarb 5 Calcium Carbonate OMYA, Inc. 39 Main Street
Proctor, VT 05765
800-451-4468
11-2400 Hansa Yellow X Pigment Hoechst Celanese Corp. 500 Washington Street
Yellow 75 Coventry, RI 02816
401-823-2000
KATHON™ LX 1.5% Preservative Dow Chemical Company 215-592-3000
Bayferrox 3950 Yellow Oxide The Cary Company 1195 W. Fullerton Ave.
Pigment Addison, IL 60101
630-629-6600
Natrosol 250HR, HBR and Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients
Plus Grade 430 Thickeners Hercules Plaza
1313 N. Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19894
800-345-0447
Benaqua 4000 and 8000 Thickeners Elementis P.O. Box 700
Wyckoffs Road
Hightstown, NJ 08520
609-443- 2000
ACRYSOL™ TT-615 Dow Chemical Company 215-592-3000
ACRYSOL RM-825
ACRYSOL SCT-215 Thickeners

Performance FASTRACK 2706 emulsion is a unique waterborne acrylic polymer that dries faster than
on the Road conventional waterborne polymers. This faster rate of dry is particularly evident when the
drying conditions are poor (high humidity, low air flow and low temperatures). The faster
dry-through characteristics of waterborne traffic markings based on FASTRACK 2706 make
them less susceptible to wash-out failure on the road under a wider range of drying
conditions. Furthermore, FASTRACK 2706-based paints are less prone to chipping and
picking failures than are conventional waterborne paints.
The useful life of a traffic marking is measured by how long it remains on the road and by
its retention of daytime and nighttime visibility. The most prevalent failure point of traffic
marking paints is inadequate visibility at night which is a consequence of the loss of the
reflective glass beads from the surface of the paint film.

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Retro-Reflectance Traffic paints based on waterborne acrylic latex polymers retain glass beads longer than
those based on alkyd resins (with or without modification using a chlorinated thermoplastic
resin). Traffic paints based on alkyds will oxidize as they age which causes the glass beads
to dislodge from the film as it shrinks and embrittles. Traffic paints based on acrylic latex
polymers will retain their film integrity and hold onto the glass beads much longer.
Night visibility can be monitored with a retroreflectometer that measures the low angle
reflectance of light off the beaded paint surface. Table 1 compares the loss of
retroreflectivity of white paints based on FASTRACK™ 2706 with a fast-dry alkyd paint
over a two year period:

Table 1: Retro-Reflectance Retention of Acrylic vs.

Alkyd Paints Retro-Reflectance* (mcd) (Mirolux 12)
Waterborne Acrylic Commercial Solventborne Fast-Dry
Based on FASTRACK 2706 Alkyd Paint
Initial 380 400
3 months 370 180
6 months 310 150
12 months 250 105
24 months 150 80
*These readings were taken on transverse lines next to the existing edge line and thus are comparable to glass
bead retention under normal traffic wear (about 6000 average daily traffic).

Glass Bead Glass spheres are generally post-applied or “dropped-on” right after the wet paint is applied.
Selection Normal size ranges from U.S. sieve size 20–80 (180–840 microns); recommended glass
bead usage is 6 pounds per gallon of paint (300 grams per square meter) on a 15 wet mil
(380 micron) wet film thickness. Glass beads treated with a moisture proof (MP) coating to
prevent bead agglomeration perform well on waterborne acrylic paints as shown in Table 2,
but glass beads treated with an adherence promoting coating (AC-07 treated beads from
Potters Industries1) have demonstrated better bead retention. Since the AC-07 treatment
allows better wetting of the glass, more of the bead surface is covered by the waterborne
paints, and thus the initial retro-reflectance is lower. However, these glass beads are
anchored in the film better which contributes to better long-term retention. The data
in Table 2 illustrate this.
1 Potters Industries, Inc., 377 Route 17, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 (201) 288-4700.

Table 2:
Adherence of Two Types of Glass Beads in FASTRACK 2706
Paints Retro-Reflectance* (mcd) (Mirolux 12)
Moisture Proof Glass Beads AC-07 Treated Glass Beads
(1) (2) (1) (2)
Initial 390 450 310 325
6 months 335 – 295 –
9 months – 180 – 300
14 months 295 255
27 months 190 220
*These readings were taken on transverse lines next to the existing edge line and thus are representative of
glass bead retention under normal traffic wear:
(1) about 6,000 average daily traffic
(2) about 20,000 average daily traffic

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Chipping of Although solventborne alkyd traffic paints “weather” and degrade by wear more quickly than
Waterborne Traffic 100%-acrylic waterborne traffic paints, waterborne paints can chip off the road under traffic,
Paints particularly if exposed to a heavy rain during the early life of the film. When testing traffic
markings by applying test lines perpendicular to traffic (transverse lines), chipping failures
are accelerated by the much greater traffic wear.

Waterborne Paints Waterborne 100% acrylic traffic paints based on FASTRACK 2706 have consistently shown
Based on less chipping failures under the same conditions than those based on conventional
FASTRACK™ 2706 commercial acrylic polymers.
vs. Conventional The photographs below show chipping failures of transverse lines applied in November
Acrylics of 1991 which were exposed to 3 months of winter conditions. In the same formulation,
the waterborne paints based on the two conventional commercial acrylic polymers show
significant chipping failure but the paint based on FASTRACK 2706 displays very little
chipping. Following another year of wear, the amount of chipping remained about the same.

Conventional FASTRACK 2706

Acrylics

Effect of Paint The pigment loading and the presence of glass beads also have a significant effect on the
PVC and Glass chipping of waterborne paints. Waterborne paints formulated with percent pigment volume
Beads concentrations of 60% (the recommended starting point) are less likely to chip in transverse
line accelerated tests than those formulated to 50% PVC. This difference is illustrated below
with photographs of 14 month old transverse lines (with glass beads) comparing 60% and
50% PVC paints formulated with FASTRACK™ 2706 and a conventional waterborne acrylic.
Also note that the paints based on FASTRACK 2706 are more resistant to chipping. A
significant amount of the chipping failure seen in these photos occurred after a heavy rain
3 weeks following application.

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 Conventional
FASTRACK 2706- Waterborne
Based Paints Paints

60% 50% 60% 50%

PVC PVC PVC PVC

The same paints applied without glass beads show much more chipping failure
as shown below:

Conventional
FASTRACK 2706- Waterborne
Based Paints Paints
(no glass beads) (no glass beads)

60% 50% 60% 50%

PVC PVC PVC PVC

It is important to note that in all of the photographs of transverse lines shown, the chipping is
minimal in areas away from the central area of the lane. These are areas of more typical
traffic wear such as centerline and edgeline applications.

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Drying The drying characteristics of waterborne traffic paints are different from solventborne paints.
Performance Low air flow, low road surface temperature and low air temperatures will slow the drying of
both waterborne and solventborne paints. Waterborne paints, in particular, dry more slowly
under high ambient humidity. Furthermore, the drying stages of waterborne films are
different from those of solventborne films. Waterborne films that exhibit enough surface dry
to prevent the paint from being “picked-up” and tracked onto the road by traffic may not be
dry under this surface film and must reach a “dry-through” stage of dry before they begin to
resist washing off the road from an early rain shower. Waterborne paints will remain
susceptible to chipping or picking off the road when exposed to rain and traffic while the
films are continuing to fully coalesce.
The demonstration white and yellow formulations based on FASTRACK™ 2706 emulsion
have been tested numerous times on the road for Auto-No-Track Time as specified in ASTM
Method D 713. When these paints were applied at a 15 wet mil (375 wet microns) thickness
and glass beads were dropped onto the paint at a rate of 6 pounds per gallon of paint, no-
track times of less than 60 seconds were recorded under many different drying conditions.
An example is shown below:

Figure 3. Auto-No-Track Road Test

Road Temperature 60°F

Relative Humidity 84%
Air Speed 1 to 3 mph
Wet Film Thickness 15 mils (375 microns)
Formulation: No-Tracking at:
TP-06-02 White 36 seconds
TP-06-03 Yellow 33 seconds

Testing of In order to identify waterborne traffic paints with the best drying characteristics or to
Dry Time compare the relative drying rates of waterborne traffic paints, it is important to study drying
under marginal conditions of high relative humidity and low air flow. Studying the drying
characteristics of waterborne paints under good drying conditions can lead to the false
conclusion that one paint performs essentially the same as another. Studying the same
drying characteristics under conditions of higher relative humidity, reduced air flow and low
temperatures, however, can lead to the conclusion that one paint dries significantly faster
than another. The data contained in Tables 3 and 4 illustrate this fact. The data contained
in these charts were generated using a computer-controlled environmental room and a
statistical modeling technique. The use of the environmental room allowed for careful control
of the three variables—relative humidity, air flow, and temperature. Both a “conventional”
acrylic waterborne polymer and FASTRACK 2706 were studied in the same formulation.

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Table 3: Effect of Air Flow and Relative Humidity at 75°F
Dry-Through Time in Minutes, Conventional Acrylic Emulsion (C) vs. FASTRACK 2706 (RF)
Air Flow – Feet Per Minute 25 50 100 150 200 225
Binder C RF C RF C RF C RF C RF C RF
% Relative Humidity
50 20 8 17 7 13 6 10 6 9 5 8 5
60 24 10 21 9 16 8 13 7 11 6 10 6
70 32 13 28 12 22 10 18 9 15 8 14 8
80 48 19 42 18 34 15 29 13 25 12 23 11

Table 4: Effect of Air Flow and Relative Humidity at 45°F

Dry–Through Time in Minutes, Conventional Acrylic Emulsion (C) vs. FASTRACK 2706 (RF)
Air Flow – Feet Per Minute 25 50 100 150 200 225
Binder C RF C RF C RF C RF C RF C RF
% Relative Humidity
50 37 23 31 18 23 13 19 10 16 8 14 8
60 48 26 40 21 30 16 24 12 20 10 19 9
70 67 31 56 26 42 19 34 15 28 13 26 12
80 111 38 93 33 70 25 56 20 47 17 43 16
Test procedure for dry-through time: This test procedure follows ASTM 1640, with the exception that no thumb pressure is used. Paints were drawn
over clean cold-rolled steel to a wet film thickness of 11 mils (275 microns). Using only enough thumb pressure to maintain contact with the paint
film, the thumb is turned through an angle of 90°. The drying time at which this rotation does not break the film is recorded.

The data in Chart 3 illustrate that the dry-through of the conventional waterborne paint is
only 3 minutes slower than the FASTRACK 2706 paint under the favorable drying conditions
of 50% relative humidity and 225 feet per minute air flow (about 2.5 mph). There is a much
more substantial difference (12 minutes) when the humidity is increased to 80% at the same
air flow; and an even greater difference (29 minutes) when, in addition, the air flow is
reduced to 25 feet per minute.
Chart 4 illustrates that reducing the temperature from 75°F to 45°F at 80% relative humidity
and 25 fpm air flow will result in a very substantial difference of 73 minutes in dry-through
time favoring the FASTRACK 2706-based paint.
The following graph further illustrates the drying advantage of FASTRACK™ 2706 paints
from the same temperature, humidity and airflow study. This graph contrasts the differences
in dry-through times of the conventional acrylic emulsion and FASTRACK 2706 (in the same
high solids formulation) at the extremes of drying conditions. Under relatively unfavorable
conditions of temperature (45°F), airflow (25 fpm) and increasing humidity, the difference in
dry-through time is very apparent:

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 Figure 4.
FASTRACK™ 2706 vs. Conventional Acrylic Emulsion
Dry Through Time-Minutes

45°, 25 fpm
• Conventional Acrylic
… FASTRACK 2706

% Relative Humidity

It should be noted that the dry time numbers determined in laboratory tests cannot be
expected to predict absolute dry times in real life, especially when glass beads are not used
in laboratory tests. The relative differences in dry time shown in these tests, however, are
significant and relevant to real life applications.

Laboratory Drying To study the drying of a waterborne traffic paint under the more difficult conditions of higher
Chamber relative humidity and air flow without the benefit of an environmental chamber, a laboratory
drying chamber has been developed by Dow. The chamber allows the control of humidity by
mixing room air with nearly saturated air in the chamber. This is accomplished by opening
and closing the ports on the chamber until the humidity is equilibrated to the desired level.
The humidity of the room air will influence the degree to which these ports are opened, and
thus will influence the amount of air flow in the box. The room temperature also will
influence the drying of the paints inside the box.
The effect of external room temperature and humidity on the dry-through of the TP-06-02
white formulation based on FASTRACK 2706 is shown in Figure 1. Note that there is more
than a 30 minute difference in dry-through measured at 90% humidity inside the chamber
when the conditions outside of the chamber vary from the extremes of 3% humidity/66°F to
80% humidity/80°F.

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 Figure 5
Formulation TP-06-02
11 wet mils (275 wet microns)
Drying chamber at 90%

Contours are drythrough time in minutes

%
Relative
Humidity

Deg F
This variability in dry-through time measurement in the chamber emphasizes the need to
include a control paint of known performance every time a test is run in the chamber. Using
the test chamber in a constant temperature and humidity room also is advised, if possible;
this will minimize variation due to widely varying conditions outside the chamber.
Chamber Operation
1) Fill the bottom of the chamber with 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water. Close all ports and doors
and allow to equilibrate overnight.
2) After overnight equilibration, the relative humidity in the chamber should be close to
100%. By carefully opening and closing the ports on the sides of the chamber, establish
a relative humidity of 90% ± 3% in the chamber.
3) Using clean glass panels (4" x 12"), draw down the test paint and the control paint so
that on complete drying, the film thickness is 7–8 mils (175–200 microns).
4) Promptly place the wet films in the test chamber. The relative humidity will begin to
rise. Adjust the ports on the sides of the chamber to re-establish a 90% ± 3%
relative humidity.
5) Open the door briefly to touch the films at 15 minute intervals and begin dry-through
testing outside the chamber at 15 minute intervals after the films are dry to touch (finger
does not pick up wet paint). The film is dry through if it is not distorted from a 90 degree
thumb twist with no pressure on the film.
6) A control (standard) paint should be tested every day that dry-through time tests are run
in the chamber. The temperature and humidity inside and outside the chamber should
be recorded because these data define the variables that give the drying result.

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Page 14 of 17 FASTRACK™ 2706 Polymer Emulsion / Dow Coating Materials February 2010
 Dry-to-No-Pickup
In Figure 2, the dry-to-no-pickup times of paints based on Fastrack 2706 and three
commercially available waterborne traffic paints are compared using the laboratory traffic
paint drying time wheel and ASTM Method D 711. The laboratory drying chamber was used
to maintain the humidity at 65 ± 2%. In terms of temperature and humidity, the bench top
and drying chamber were identical. Air flow inside the drying chamber was negligible.
On the bench top outside the chamber, air flow was in the 50 to 150 fpm range. In essence,
the chamber was used to baffle the air flow.

Figure 6
ASTM Test Method D711

Commercial “C”

Commercial “B”

Commercial “A”

Negligible Air Flow

Emulsion E-2706
50–100 fpm

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Minutes

Paints were drawn down over clean cold-rolled steel to a wet film thickness of 11 mils
(275 microns) and dried at 70°F and 63–67% relative humidity. No glass beads applied
to wet film.
Despite considerable variation in drying speed at different air flows, the paints based on
FASTRACK™ 2706 dry much more quickly under the conditions tested.
Dry-Through
Waterborne traffic paints that have dried to the point of no-pickup in the laboratory wheel
test or no-tracking on the road are not at the dry-through point and could wash off if
immediately exposed to rain. The dry-through point indicates the stage of dry where
waterborne paints begin to exhibit some film integrity and resistance to rain. Waterborne
paints based on FASTRACK 2706 are much more water resistant at the dry-through point
than those based on conventional acrylic emulsions which will wash away at the dry-through
point. The laboratory test procedure for dry-through follows ASTM Method D 1640 with the
exception that minimal thumb pressure is used (this test is described in Charts 3 and 4).
The laboratory drying chamber should be used to control the humidity and minimize the
effects of air flow when comparing the dry-through times of waterborne traffic paints.
Maintaining a humidity of 90% in the chamber is recommended so that the dry-through tests
can be run at any laboratory humidity (i.e. room humidity would not be above 90%). Running
the dry-through tests at 90% humidity also will magnify the differences between the
waterborne paint test samples. This is illustrated in Chart 7 where the humidity in the drying
chamber was increased from 50% to 90% and the dry-through times of FASTRACK 2706
were compared to a conventional waterborne polymer in the same formulation.

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Page 15 of 17 FASTRACK™ 2706 Polymer Emulsion / Dow Coating Materials February 2010
 Figure 7
Conventional vs. FASTRACK™ 2706 Waterborne Paints
Drying Chamber–75°F

200

150

100

50

0
50 60 70 80 90
% Relative Humidity

FASTRACK 2706 Conventional

The dry-through test run at 90% humidity in the drying chamber also provides the vendor
and supplier with a way to conduct drying tests under the same conditions, run quality
control tests on drying speed of batches of the same paint, and test the effects of changing
the paint formulation. Again, it is necessary to test a control paint, preferably the same
standard paint sample, every time that the drying chamber is used to evaluate relative dry
times of waterborne paints.

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Safe Handling Based on animal testing with similar materials, this product is expected to be non-toxic
Information via oral or dermal exposure and should be only slightly irritating to skin and eyes.
Dow Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) contain pertinent information that you may need
to protect your employees and customers against any known health or safety hazards
associated with our products.
Under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, workers must have access to and
understand MSDS on all hazardous substances to which they are exposed. Thus, it is
important that you provide appropriate training and information to your employees and make
sure they have available to them MSDS on any hazardous products in their workplace.
Dow Company sends MSDS for all its products, whether or not they are considered
OSHA-hazards, to the “bill to” and/or “ship to” locations of all its customers upon initial
shipment (including samples). If you do not have access to one of these MSDS, please
contact your local Dow representative for an additional copy. Updated MSDS are sent
upon revision to all customers of record. In addition, MSDS are sent annually to all
customers receiving products deemed hazardous under the Superfund Amendments
and Reauthorization Act.
MSDS should be obtained from your suppliers of other materials recommended
in this bulletin.
Dow Company is a member of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and is committed to
ACC's Responsible Care® Program.

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These suggestions and data are based on information we believe to be reliable. They are offered in good faith, but without
guarantee, as conditions and methods of use of our products are beyond our control. We recommend that the prospective user
determine the suitability of our materials and suggestions before adopting them on a commercial scale.
Suggestions for uses of our products or the inclusion of descriptive material from patents and the citation of specific patents in
this publication should not be understood as recommending the use of our products in violation of any patent or as permission
or license to use any patents of the Dow Company.

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