C5 resin is normally screened at 10–22% of the total dry thermoplastic blend. It binds pigment, filler and beads while controlling pavement wetting and hot flow. The right grade must remain light and stable near 200°C, mix cleanly with EVA and PE wax, and help the finished compound pass the buyer’s specification.
A practical formulation starting point
Extrusion, screed and spray grades differ, while specifications may define composition, physical properties, or both. Use these ranges for laboratory screening—not as release limits.
Typical values — formulation screening ranges by total dry-blend weight
| Component | Typical starting range | Main job in the compound |
|---|---|---|
| C5 hydrocarbon resin | 10–22% | Binder, pavement wetting, cohesion and hot flow |
| EVA, where used | 0.5–3% | Toughness and crack-resistance adjustment |
| PE wax | 1–3% | Viscosity control, lubrication and set behavior |
| Titanium dioxide, white grades | 3–12% | Whiteness and opacity |
| Premixed glass beads | 15–35% | Sustained retroreflection as the line wears |
| Calcium carbonate, quartz or talc | Balance; often 40–70% combined | Bulk, hardness, rheology and wear profile |
| Process oil or plasticizer | 0–2% | Flexibility and flow adjustment |
These are independent development windows, not one additive recipe. A Kolon comparison used 15% C5 resin, 60% calcium carbonate, 20% beads, 3% TiO₂, 1% wax and 1% oil.1 A 2023 study reported 14% C5 resin, 28% quartz, 27% calcium carbonate, 18% beads, 10% TiO₂ and 3% PE wax.2 Neither overrides a tender specification.
Match the complete material to the named standard
- AASHTO M 249-12 (2020) covers white and yellow reflective thermoplastic in solid form and permits purchaser-specified alkyd or hydrocarbon resin. It includes at least 18% binder, 30–40% intermixed beads and, for white material, at least 10% TiO₂; material is evaluated after four hours at 218 ± 2°C.3 “Binder” means the complete package, not automatically the neat C5 percentage.
- BS EN 1871:2020 is the current UK adoption of EN 1871 for laboratory testing of white and yellow paint, thermoplastic and cold-plastic materials. For thermoplastics, it addresses color and luminance, softening point, heat stability, cold impact, indentation and other selected properties. The Annex H heat-stability procedure holds material at 200 ± 5°C, or the manufacturer’s maximum processing temperature, for six hours before key properties are compared.4
- BS 3262-1:1989 still appears in some Gulf and Asian tender documents, but BSI records it as withdrawn on 15 August 2000.5 If a purchase order cites “BS 3262,” obtain the exact part, edition and project amendments; do not substitute BS EN 1871 without written approval.
No raw resin is “AASHTO-compliant” or “EN 1871-compliant” by itself. Compliance belongs to the finished road-marking material tested to the contract’s named edition and classes.
What to specify in a thermoplastic road marking resin
Typical values — initial screen for an unhydrogenated road-marking C5 resin
| Property | Typical screening target | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ring-and-ball softening point | 95–105°C | Balance between hot flow, set and high-temperature deformation |
| Gardner color | ≤5 | Protects white brightness and yellow shade control |
| Melt viscosity at 200°C | ≤250 mPa·s (cP) | Mixing, filler wetting and applicator flow |
| Acid value | ≤1.5 mg KOH/g | Lot control and compatibility check |
| Ash | ≤0.10% | Limits inorganic residue from the resin |
| Heat hold | 200°C for 3–5 h, buyer-defined | Compare color, odor, skinning and viscosity before/after heating |
These are representative commercial screening values, not an MR-C5100 sales specification.6 Confirm limits and methods on the current TDS. With the selected EVA, PE wax and oil, require a uniform melt without haze, gel or separation; softening point alone cannot reveal compatibility.
White material versus yellow material
For white thermoplastic, use the lowest practical resin color and reject grades that darken materially during the kettle hold; TiO₂ cannot fully hide an amber binder shift. For yellow thermoplastic, initial resin color may be less visible, but thermal oxidation can still move chromaticity or dull luminance. Evaluate the final pigment-resin combination after the required heat exposure, not fresh powder alone.
Formulate for GCC heat and Vietnam rain
GCC and NEOM-linked paving
A Saudi study measured pavement temperatures of 3–72°C on a coastal slab and 4–65°C inland.7 Hassan Allam also describes 375,000 m² of roads and paving across multiple Port of NEOM zones in Oxagon.8
For GCC projects, screen the complete compound for indentation, flow and tracking at elevated service temperature, plus color after realistic kettle residence. A higher resin softening point may help, but excessive hardness can reduce pavement wetting or promote brittleness. Adjust C5 resin, EVA, wax, plasticizer and mineral skeleton together, then test abrasion and bead retention under the project method.
Vietnam and monsoon exposure
The World Bank/ADB climate profile notes monsoon-driven heavy rainfall from May to October in northern and southern Vietnam and from September to January in central regions.9 The practical buyer pain point is often the interface: thermoplastic applied over damp, dirty or poorly primed pavement can blister or detach.
Do not attempt to solve wet application with resin alone. Schedule a dry window, verify substrate moisture, clean the line, use the specified primer on concrete or aged asphalt, and trial adhesion after water exposure. Retain enough melt wetting for adhesion without lowering the compound’s softening behavior so far that hot-weather tracking becomes likely.
Why start with MR-C5100
MR-C5100 is Milorez’s nominal 100°C C5 selection point and a practical first screen for hydrocarbon-binder thermoplastic. It sits in the common road-marking softening-point window while allowing the formulator to tune flow with wax, EVA and filler. Review the broader C5 resin family if your incumbent formula needs a different softening point, color limit or compatibility profile.
Milorez is a transparent export trading company in Fujian, China. We match the agreed requirement to reviewed partner supply, coordinate documentation and pre-shipment QC, and do not present ourselves as the manufacturer. Final approval remains with the buyer’s laboratory and project authority.
Container economics: calculate through the finished mix
The commercial MOQ is 1 × 20’ FCL. A resin container is approximately 18 tonnes in the standard palletized packing plan, subject to quotation confirmation. At 10–22% resin dosage, that quantity supports roughly 82–180 tonnes of finished thermoplastic; at 15%, it supports about 120 tonnes.
Compare landed resin cost at the validated dosage, not price per tonne alone. A cheaper resin can cost more if it needs extra dosage, TiO₂, wax or rework. Confirm payload, packing, batch COA, heat-stability limits, destination terms and sample-to-shipment consistency.
Request a formulation-matched sample
Request a free 1–2 kg MR-C5100 sample and send your standard, white or yellow formula, current resin, dosage, kettle temperature and hold time, application method, destination climate and pass/fail tests. Courier freight is collected. After the laboratory trial, Milorez can quote the one-container commercial order against the agreed specification.
Frequently asked questions
How much C5 resin is used in thermoplastic road marking paint?
Use 10–22% as a screening window; many trials start at 14–18%. Rebalance the recipe to the project’s binder, bead, pigment and performance requirements.
Does an AASHTO or EN resin make the paint compliant?
No. They apply to finished thermoplastic. Test the complete formula to the purchaser’s named edition, classes and amendments.
Which resin properties should I compare?
Compare softening point, Gardner color, darkening after a 200°C hold, melt viscosity, acid value, ash and compatibility with the actual EVA, PE wax, oil, pigment and filler package.
Is one resin suitable for both white and yellow material?
Not automatically. White demands tighter initial color and darkening control. Yellow still needs heat-stable color because binder oxidation can shift the finished chromaticity.
How should I test a free sample?
Replace only the incumbent resin at equal dosage. Record melt clarity, flow, heat-aged color, set, adhesion, indentation, abrasion and bead retention.
What happens after sample approval?
Confirm the resin specification, packing, net payload, inspection scope, documents and destination terms. The commercial MOQ is one 20-foot FCL.
Sources
Footnotes
-
Kolon Industries, HIKOREZ for hot-melt road-marking applications. ↩
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Lu et al., Investigation on the technical performance and workability of hot-melting road marking materials, Case Studies in Construction Materials 18 (2023). ↩
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AASHTO, M 249-12 (2020), White and Yellow Reflective Thermoplastic Striping Material (Solid Form). ↩
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BSI, BS EN 1871:2020, Road marking materials—physical properties; EN 1871:2020 public preview. ↩
-
Credrez, C5 Petroleum Resin for Hot Melt Road Marking Paint technical data. ↩
-
Al-Abdul Wahhab and Balghunaim, Asphalt Pavement Temperature Related to Arid Saudi Environment, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering 6(1). ↩
-
Hassan Allam Holding, Port of NEOM roads and paving works. ↩
-
World Bank Group and Asian Development Bank, Climate Risk Country Profile: Vietnam (2021). ↩
Frequently asked questions
How much C5 resin is used in thermoplastic road marking paint?
A practical screening window is 10–22% of the total dry blend. Many development formulas begin around 14–18%, but the final binder package must be adjusted to the required standard, glass-bead content, pigment level, application method and climate.
Does using an AASHTO or EN grade resin make the finished paint compliant?
No. AASHTO M 249 and BS EN 1871 apply to the finished thermoplastic material and its test results, not to C5 resin alone. The complete formula must be tested against the purchaser's named edition, classes and project specification.
Which C5 resin properties matter most for road marking?
Start with softening point, initial color, color change after a 200°C heat hold, melt viscosity, acid value, ash and compatibility with the actual EVA, PE wax, process oil, pigment and filler package.
Is the same resin suitable for white and yellow thermoplastic?
Not automatically. White material normally needs the lowest practical initial color and thermal darkening, while yellow material still requires controlled heat stability so the final chromaticity does not drift during kettle residence.
How should I run a C5 resin sample trial?
Keep the incumbent formula and process fixed, replace only the resin at equal dosage, then compare melt clarity, flow, color before and after heat aging, set time, adhesion, indentation, abrasion and bead retention. Milorez provides a free 1–2 kg sample; courier freight is collected.
What is the commercial MOQ?
Milorez's commercial MOQ is one 20-foot full container load. Confirm the net payload and packing plan in the quotation, then calculate resin cost per tonne of finished compound at the validated dosage.