Spray-on Coating Lights Up the Road
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2013
A UK company has rolled out a spray-applied aggregate surfacing that reportedly absorbs and stores UV energy during the day to illuminate roads and pathways at night.
The product, called STARPATH, is a quick-drying, spray-applied elastomeric coating into which a wide range of media—for example, stone for a pathway, or rubber crumb for a playground—can be added.
The product "could be an alternative to street lighting," says manufacturer Pro-Teq Surfacing (UK) Ltd.
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| Pro-Teq Surfacing (UK) Ltd. |
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The coating can be mixed with a variety of media, including rubber crumb for a non-skid, flexible playground surface, according to manufacturer Pro-Teq. |
Pro-Teq calls STARPATH a "world first" that follows "an extensive period of chemical trials."
How it Works
The aggregate material absorbs and stores energy from ambient light (UV rays) during the day, then releases this energy at night, allowing the particles to glow, according to Pro-Teq. The product can be applied to any existing surface, including concrete, tarmac, timber or any hard stand substrate (solid base).
Pro-Teq owner Hamish Scott says STARPATH "adjusts to the natural light, so if it is pitch black outside, the luminous natural earth enhances, and if the sky is lighter, it won’t release as much luminosity...."
The finish is anti-slip and non-reflective; a finishing coat provides durability and water resistance, the company says.
Applications include public and commercial pavement, pathways and driveways.
Park Trial
Comprising a multitude of product samples, mix ratios and application techniques, STARPATH is being tested in Christ’s Pieces, a park in Cambridge, England, that is used during the day and at night by pedestrians and cyclists.
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The Cambridge (UK) City Council is conducting a trial of UV-harvesting STARPATH in Christ's Pieces Park.   |
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It took 30 minutes to spray-apply the material to the 150-square-meter surface, with the pathway returned to service in less than four hours, the company said.
Scott said the product avoids the cost of removing old paved surfaces and electric lighting.
"We are so pleased Cambridge City Council has agreed to trial the product," Scott said. "...We continue to refine and adapt the product to ensure it meets the ongoing needs of our customers and the environment.”
Tagged categories: Asphalt; Coating Materials; Concrete; Concrete resurfacing systems; Concrete Surfacing; Roads/Highways; Wood
