*         Life Cycle Assessment shows high-build traffic paint markings made with FASTRACK HD-21A Binder leave a smaller environmental footprint compared to thermoplastic road markings

*         Time-tested and field-proven to facilitate high-build systems that last two times longer than traditional waterborne paint systems applied at 15 wet mils

*         Creates waterborne paints that are less costly than alternative technologies over service lifetime of road markings

Philadelphia, PA, February 21, 2013 – Dow Coating Materials (DCM), a global business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, will present its platform of FASTRACKTM Polymer technologies to make traffic paint more durable, reliable, and sustainable at the 43rd Annual American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) Traffic Expo at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California, February 22-26.

FASTRACK HD-21A Binder was developed by Dow Coating Materials to meet the need for increasing durability and decreasing dry time when striping roads with waterborne traffic paint in excess of 15 wet mils.  Featuring patented quick-dry technology and a patented cross-linking mechanism in the latex binder, FASTRACK HD-21A Binder accelerates the dry speed of waterborne road stripes that are up to two times thicker than standard and durable enough to adhere to a variety of roadway substrates.  To reduce the dry time of thick-films even further, FASTRACK HD-21A Binder can be used in combination with VISILOKTM drying additive from Potters Industries, LLC.  Together, these technologies also expand the window of road striping application to include early morning, late evening, and other time periods where high-humidity can put added stress on dry speed.

Along with its proven quick dry and reliable performance, FASTRACK HD-21A Binder can also help raise the sustainability profile of traffic markings. Dow Coating Materials recently conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to compare the environmental and human health impacts of road striping facilitated by high-build paint based on FASTRACK HD-21A High-durability Waterborne Binder versus hot melt thermoplastic.  The results, validated by an objective third party, demonstrate a substantially smaller impact potential when using FASTRACK(tm) High-Build Binder Systems.  FASTRACK Systems were shown to reduce road striping’s impact potential in 10 out of 10 categories documented by the LCA including a 250% VOC reduction, a 175% human toxicity reduction and a 250% chemical oxygen demand reduction.

“Moving from solvent-borne to waterborne paint traffic paint was a step-change for the traffic paint industry back in the 90s and we see another opportunity today to reduce the environmental impact of road markings considerably by replacing thermoplastic systems with high-build paint systems made with FASTRACK HD-21A Binder,” said Cindy Randazzo, Technical Service Manager, Dow Coating Materials. “These benefits, along with the cost and material efficiency of a longer-lasting stripe, will go a long a way in helping the industry meet its sustainability goals.”

Over a lifetime cost basis, Randazzo also noted that waterborne traffic paints formulated with FASTRACK HD-21A Binder have proven to be less costly than standard waterborne paints, and have also shown longer service life in high-build systems.*

In addition to FASTRACK HD-21A Binder, Dow also offers FASTRACK High Efficiency Technology for formulators looking to use less TiO2 and latex, two key but energy intensive raw materials in traffic paint.  FASTRACK High Efficiency Technology optimizes their performance so that formulators can use less and still obtain equivalent levels of visibility and durability in waterborne road markings.

Said Randazzo, “With efficiencies and durability gained from FASTRACK Technology, DOTs and contractors can rely on high performance, road-marking paint with a better sustainability profile.  In fact, a Life Cycle Assessment conducted by Dow found that FASTRACK High Efficiency Technology could enable the production of waterborne traffic paints with 20% lower associated energy consumption and a 20% reduction in carbon footprint compared to a standard waterborne system. By making raw materials like TiO2 and latex work more efficiently in formulations, FASTRACK Technology enables road markings that use less of these components while still achieving crucial performance targets.”

At ATSSA, DCM also will display lab testing equipment and test methods for evaluating dry speed and water washout resistance of waterborne traffic paints.