Fluo TP

The term “water-based” refers to the binder in the paint. The binder in this case is a resin dispersed in water and not in an organic solvent. This then allows water to be added instead of the organic solvent as a “binder”.

Fluo TP Hydro is formulated with 20% water instead of solvents, which reduces VOC emissions during use and limits the impact on the environment and health. It is currently the marking spray with the highest water content in its formulation on the market.

If there were not the constraint of the drying time for use as a construction marker, the paint could be 100% water-based, as is the case for some decorative paint aerosols.

When certain products are labelled “water-based”, this is usually due to the addition of water to the solvent-based formula (solvent-based resin and not water-based emulsion), but the quantities of water are small and do not significantly reduce the VOC content.

There are 12 aerosols per box which are then stored on pallets of 75 boxes, i.e. 900 aerosols per pallet. This packaging optimises transport in trucks that can hold a maximum of 33 pallets.

Yes, during the processing of orders, depending on the quantities requested, there can be a mix of colours. On the other hand, within a box, the colours can

The FLUO TP aerosol can be stored for 5 years before use provided that the storage conditions given in the technical data sheet are respected, i.e. at a temperature of 15 to 25°C and in the absence of humidity.

Under the same conditions, FLUO TP Hydro has a storage life of 3 years.

Beyond these temperatures, micro-corrosion phenomena linked to the presence of water could appear in the casing.

Very simply by reading the date on the bottom of the aerosol can. The date that is mentioned is the date of the limit of use which corresponds to 3 or 5 years after the production date.

This depends on the conditions of application and exposure of the marking such as: exposure to UV (sun, strong luminosity), humidity or external stresses, such as the passage of vehicles, or traffic in general. The colours of Fluo TP or Fluo TP markers remain visible for a long time thanks to the high quantity of highly fluorescent pigments and the choice of resins which allow a good adhesion to the support.

They are the most visible long-term fluorescent construction markers known on the market today. Tests have shown a permanence of markings of more than 6 months.

No, because the paints have been designed to be non-sedimenting. The aerosol is purged regularly during use by spraying upside down, which diffuses the gas to clean the valve and prevent clogging.

It all depends on the applicator, the speed of application and the required coverage.

The tests we carry out are calibrated in a reproducible way and show that FLUO TP and FLUO TP Hydro allow up to 40% more marking than competing products with optimal coverage, i.e. with just the right amount of paint so that the substrate is no longer visible.

Yes, thanks to the reliability of our paints and our cap and valve packaging accessories, the can can be used up to the end, i.e. all the paint. We have measured the residual paint weight on our aerosols once they have been emptied and depressurised, and there is less than 1% by weight of paint remaining on the inside of the can.

The natural degradation of the colour due to weathering, UV exposure, and possibly mechanical stresses (pedestrian or car traffic), will cause a gradual whitening of the marking, until it disappears completely after several months

To erase these markings more quickly, one can use a tracer whose colour is close to the support (or surface) like our grey or black PROMARKER.

If the user wishes to apply a marking for a short period (a few weeks or only 1 or 2 months), we recommend the use of our temporary construction site markers: Tempo Marker, Tempo TP (+ Mercalin TS).

A waterborne paint is water sensitive until it has dried (coalesced) and the water in the paint has evaporated completely, which takes longer at low temperatures and/or high humidity. (For example, in exterior applications, a FLUO TP Hydro paint will dry better in winter in dry and sunny weather, even if it is very cold, compared to the same application at 15°C but with 90% relative humidity); as long as the coalescence is not completely done, the film remains sensitive to water since it is its “solvent”.

But when it is dry, it is dry! It’s like water-based façade paints, they are no longer sensitive to rain after drying. It can rain on an FLUO TP Hydro marking if it is dry.

At room temperature and a humidity of about 65% FLUO TP and Fluo TP Hydro dry just as quickly (about 15 minutes).

What matters is the temperature of the aerosol at the time of use. Indeed, what limits the use of a construction tracer is the drop in pressure of the gas inside the aerosol.

At constant volume (which is the case in a 500ml aerosol), the pressure of the gas varies with temperature: the lower the temperature, the lower the pressure, and conversely, the higher the temperature, the higher the pressure.

When FLUO TP H is stored down to -15°C, it works in the same way as FLUO TP, provided that the aerosol is well shaken before use. Due to the choice of gas and the initial pressure, there is enough power left in the can at -15°C to extract the paint. The marking is very visible but the line is less clear. The higher the temperature of the can, the sharper the marking.

For example, if the can is stored at Temperature >5°C, the pressure inside is sufficient to draw out the paint and you can mark properly even if outside or on the ground it is

<-10°C (outside temperature from -20°C to -15°C); we have carried out these tests.

On the other hand, at high temperatures, there is a limit: for safety reasons, the regulations recommend avoiding leaving aerosols at temperatures above 50°C because the internal pressure could exceed 15bars, which is the admissible limit for aerosols packaged with liquefied propellants.

Thanks to the alcohol and gas in the paint, even after storage at -15°C, Fluo TP Hydro does not freeze and can be used immediately; it behaves like Fluo TP, at these temperatures marking is possible.

 At a temperature of >10°C and <30°C, away from humidity and preferably in their original box.

Yes, absolutely. The aerosols are first of all collected by specific collection centres adapted to the treatment of chemical waste. In the recycling process, the aerosols are crushed and compacted. The caps are removed to separate the plastics from the metal. The metal recycling channels then take care of the processing.

Aerosols are waste similar to Diffuse Hazardous Waste (DHW) if they contain a substance considered to be dangerous for the environment and for people, due to its physical and chemical characteristics.

The first regulation is :

-European  Directive (EU) 2016/2037 of 21 November 2016 (amending Directive 75/324/EEC), which lays down rules for the marketing of aerosols. It harmonises safety requirements, including requirements relating to nominal capacities, packaging and other pressure-related hazards, as well as requirements concerning the labelling of aerosol dispensers.

Other regulations concern classification and labelling

-The CLP regulation, Classification, Labelling and Packaging n° 1272/2008

-The REACH regulation : Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals n°1907/2006.

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) is a European regulation (regulation n°1907/2006) that came into force in 2007 to secure the manufacture and use of chemical substances in European industry. Since May 2018 it is no longer possible to manufacture or import substances if they have not been registered. The main objectives of this regulation are

-To protect human health and the environment from the potential risks of chemical substances -To establish identical and transparent information on the nature and risks of substances, on their own or in a mixture, from the supplier to the final customer;

One of the main objectives of CLP is to determine whether a substance or mixture has properties that lead to its classification as a hazardous substance or mixture. CLP sets out detailed criteria for the labelling elements: pictograms, warning statements and standard statements for hazard, prevention, storage and disposal, for each hazard class and category. This results in the regulatory texts and hazard pictograms on the aerosol labels/containers.

VOC or Volatile Organic Compound is a molecule which is made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms and which evaporates rapidly into the atmosphere from its liquid or solid state.

When an aerosol is used, VOCs are emitted during diffusion because of the components used: gases and solvents.

The rate of emission is related to the amount of solvent.

Water-based paints reduce the VOC content by replacing the solvent with water, and contribute to the respect of the environment.

Since 01/05/22, the labelling is calculated without taking into account the Liquefied Propellant Gas

Depending on the classification of each component of the formula in relation to a health risk and its proportion in the paint mixture, we obtain a labelling calculation which is given in the SDS and leads to the label text

It is translated into risk phrases and health hazard pictograms

Since 01/05/22, the propellant, which is also a paint solvent, does not have to be included in the risk labelling calculation. This increases the contribution of each component to its health risk and may therefore result in new hazard pictograms on the aerosol, even if the formula has not been changed.

The FLUO TP and FLUO TP hydro are formulated according to these new constraints to keep only the flammability risk materialized by the flame pictogram despite the new regulatory constraint.

Reading the SDS gives the answer: there is a sentence in paragraph (2) which mentions the calculation rules with or without gas. There is an obligation to respect this new rule in case of control by the DGCCRF*. The compliance of the labelling and the SDS is checked.

*(Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control)

It all starts with the paint: we say that we “formulate” a marking paint. It is a mixture of pigments, binders, solvents also called “vehicles” and additives. The properties of a paint depend on the formulation, i.e. the choice of these constituents and the way they are mixed.

 The binder: This is what ensures that the paint adheres to the substrate. These are polymers or “resins” chosen according to the characteristics expected of the paint

Pigments : These are powders that are insoluble in water or solvents and provide the colour. They are chosen to be fluorescent to make FLUO TP and FLUO TP Hydro.

The vehicle: This is a liquid, water or solvent that helps transfer the paint to the substrate.

The additives: provide or improve certain characteristics of the paint (thickener) during its manufacture or use (anti-foam, anti-corrosion).

Then, a liquid gas is introduced (liquefied propellant gas, a mixture of liquid and gas under pressure (DME or Butane Propane) which is miscible with the paint. The metal casing must be well sealed and equipped with a valve, a diffuser to extract the paint and a protective cover.

Fluorescence and phosphorescence are two chemical processes: the absorption and emission of light by a material, in this case pigments. Fluorescence occurs much faster than phosphorescence.  When the excitation source (daylight) is removed, the brightness ceases almost immediately, and the fluorescent markings are not seen to glow in the dark.

 Phosphorescence lasts much longer than fluorescence (from a few minutes to several hours and up to a few days after the light is turned off. Phosphorescent or photoluminescent markings do not appear brighter in daylight but are visible in the dark.

Our marking product PHOTOLIGHT (Phosphorescent or photoluminescent) has these characteristics.

In absolute terms, the paint used for animal marking is not totally different from that used for a construction marker. The regulations are not very strict and there are many products on the market, especially from Asia. It all depends on the type of livestock being marked: especially for sheep, the marking must not damage the wool and the marking time is quite short.

We do not recommend the use of our FLUO TP/FLUO TPH marking sprays for these applications, mainly because of the permanence of the markings.

No, what counts in an aerosol is the “net” useful volume mentioned on the can/label, i.e. 500ml in the case of our markers. The weight depends on the density of the solvents used. For example, FLUO TPH is heavier than FLUO TP because water is heavier than organic solvents, yet the marking metreage is nearly the same.