NO.

700/1997
NO.944/1998

PAINTS AND VARNISHES

GLASS BEADS FOR ROAD MARKING PAINTS

PAINTS AND VARNISHES

GLASS BEADS FOR ROAD MARKING PAINTS

Date of GSMO Board of Directors Approval

1418-06-14 (1997-10-15)

GULF STANDARD

GS 700/1997

PAINTS AND VARNISHES

GLASS BEADS FOR ROAD MARKING PAINTS

SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION

This standard is concerned with glass beads used in all types of road marking
paints.
2

COMPLEMENTARY REFERENCES

2.1

GS 699/1997 Paints and Varnishes Methods of Testing Glass Beads for Road
Marking Paints

2.2

GS/..: Paints and Varnishes Road Marking Paints (Solvent Based).

2.3

GS/..: Paints and Varnishes Road Marking Paints (Thermoplastic).

2.4

GS/... Methods for Sampling of Concrete Aggregates.

CLASSIFICATION

3.1

Glass beads for road marking shall be classified into two types:

3.1.1

Type I = Premix
Type II = Drop-on

4
4.1

DEFINITIONS
Premix
Glass spheres which are mixed in the paint during the process of manufacture.

4.2

Drop-on
Glass spheres which are dropped in the wet paint just after application.

4.3

Foreign matter
Non-glass materials including magnetic particles.

4.4

Bubbles
Voids at the interior of glass beads that affect the refractive index.

4.5

Spherical beads
Spherical beads that have the required properties when tested using
roundometer or microscope.

CHARACTERISTICS
Glass beads shall meet the following;

5.1

Composition
The chemical composition of glass beads shall be as follows:

GULF STANDARD

GS 700/1997

5.1.1

Silicone dioxide content shall not be less than 70%.

5.1.2

Calcium oxide and magnesium oxide together shall not be less than 8%.

5.1.3

Oxides of sodium, potassium, aluminium and iron together shall not be more
than 18%

5.2

Appearance
The beads shall be clear, clean, transparent and free from magnetic particles,
bubbles and foreign matter.

5.3

Particle size distribution

The beads shall pass each sieve series, as a percentage by mass as specified in
the Table hereunder.
Type I
Sieve

% passing by
mass

1.18

100

180 micrometers

5 max

Type II

5.4

Sieve

%passing by mass

1.18 mm

100

600 micrometers

85 100

425 micrometers

45 100

300 micrometers

10 45

180 micrometers

0 20

100 micrometers

0-5

Roundness
The glass beads shall contain not less than 70% (for type I), and 85% (for type
II) by mass of spherical beads.

5.5

Refractive index
The glass beads shall have a refractive index of not less than 1.50.

5.6

Resistance to acid
The beads shall not develop haziness or dulling.

5.7

Resistance to calcium chloride

The beads shall not develop surface haze or dulling.

GULF STANDARD

5.8

GS 700/1997

Resistance to sodium sulfide

The glass beads shall not be darkened by sodium sulfide solution.

5.9

Resistance to water
The glass beads shall not produce any dulling or haziness and not more than 4.5
ml of 0.1 N hydrochloric acid shall be used for titration.

5.10

Moisture proofing
The glass beads (type II only) shall be properly coated to ease of flow during
application.

5.11

Floatation
At least 90% of the glass beads (type II only) shall float in xylene.

SAMPLING

6.1

Take a representative sample of glass beads not less than 500 g according to the
Gulf standard mentioned in 2.4.

6.2

Sample shall be prepared according to the Gulf standard mentioned in 2.4.

METHODS OF TEST

7.1

Tests shall be carried out according to the Gulf standard in mentioned 2.1.

7.2

The following tests shall be performed on the samples taken according to item
6:

7.2.1

Visual inspection.

7.2.2

Determination of particle size distribution.

7.2.3

Determination of roundness.

7.2.4

Determination of refractive index.

7.2.5

Determination of resistance to acid.

7.2.6

Determination of resistance to calcium chloride.

7.2.7

Determination of resistance to sodium sulfide.

7.2.8

Determination of resistance to water.

7.2.9

Determination of moisture proof coating.

7.2.10

Determination of floatation.

PACKING
The glass beads shall be packed in clean, dry, air and watertight suitable bags
or containers.

MARKING
The following information shall be legibly and indelibly marked in Arabic or in
both Arabic and English on each bag or container of glass beads:

9.1

Name and type of the glass bead.

GULF STANDARD

GS 700/1997

9.2

Name of manufacturer and/or trade mark.

9.3

Batch No.

9.4

Date of manufacture.

9.5

Mass and/or volume of bag or container.

10

RULES OF ACCEPTANCE AND REJECTION

10.1

Each consignment of glass beads filled in containers shall be accompanied with a

certificate stating its compliance with this standard.