REFLECTIVE VINYL, RETROREFLECTIVE MATERIALS and MICROPRISMATIC

REFLECTIVE VINYL Q AND A

WHAT IS “ENGINEERING GRADE VINYL” ?

This is a REFLECTIVE SELF ADHESIVE VINYL formerly known as “CLASS 2 REFLECTIVE VINYL” but since 2006 BS 8442 it is now known in specification sheets as “CLASS RA1 REFLECTIVE MATERIAL”and is ideal for such applications as Temporary Road Signs , Street name Signs, Building site direction and directional signage, Vehicle Number Plates and VAN SIGNS – THE VINYL CORPORATION supplies a very good range of ENGINEER or more commonly called ENGINEERING GRADE  vinyl, this can be used on a plotter to produce Corporate Branded Logos and lettering or as VEHICLE STRIPING to accent and enhance the vehicle swageline as seen with the “TRON” highlighting in the above photo.

WHAT IS H.I.P “HIGH INTENSITY PRISMATIC” VINYL?

HIGH INTENSITY PRISMATIC (HIP) VINYL SHEETING or REFLECTIVE VINYL TAPE has sometimes identified by the HONEYCOMB pattern that is usually found under the surface of HIP because of the manufacturing process. Since 2006 the European standards for ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNS has replaced what was previously referred to as “CLASS 1 REFLECTIVE SHEETING”  or also known pre 2006 as “CLASS 1 HI INTENSITY PRISMATIC VINYL” is now referred to correctly as “REF 2 ” under the regulations BS EN 12899-1  . . SO in brief what was called CLASS 1 HIGH INTENSITY PRISMATIC REFLECTIVE VINYL commonly used for permanent road signage and having the hexagonal or octagonal pattern is now still High Intensity Prismatic but just called “REF 2”

WHAT IS MICROPRISMATIC CUBE CORNER RETROREFLECTIVE VINYL?

The Very Best RETROREFLECTIVE VINYL with the highest, most efficient reflectivity is manufactured in one of two possible methods, Firstly the “GLASS BEAD TECHNOLOGY” this is where a light is shone at the reflective vinyl and some of the light passes through the front surface and is refracted from the rear surface where it bounces off the mirrored back of the glass bead, it is then reflected back through the front surface of the spherical glass bead and redirected back to the light source . . . .unfortunately Glass Bead Technology (GBT) is only approximately 28% efficient  in providing RETROREFLECTION.Secondly a more efficiently method of manufacturing a RETROREFLECTOR is the “CUBE CORNER MICROPRISM” (CCM) or MICROPRISMATIC MATERIAL – these products are usually 66% efficient in providing RETROREFLECTION  . . .two to three times more efficient than GBT !

HOW DOES  CUBE CORNER MICROPRISMATIC VINYL WORK?

A CUBE CORNER MICROPRISM  uses its total internal reflection to direct light back to its original source, the incoming light beam enters the three sided prism and bounces off each facet and is then directed back to the light source . . WOW! there are 47,000 of these prisms per square inch of Retroreflective vinyl!!

WHAT IS ” OMNICUBE” RETRO REFLECTIVE SHEETING ?

NEWSFLASH!! – OMNICUBE with intelligent cube technology is the Very Latest FULL CUBE design for improved Retro reflectivity . .. AVERY DENNISON have been developing the FULL CUBE PRISMS  which return approximately 60% of the available light back to the source compared to only 40% with many other PRISMATIC SHEETING PRODUCTS.The intelligent cube technology uses full cube sheeting with multiple lenses and tiles of prisms arranged in such a way as to deliver an even and uniform reflectivity, this is done to satisfy the widest range of demands and uses of this product, as this is primarily a road sign development the purpose of the OMNICUBE TECHNOLOGY is to give better visibility at ALL observation angles to drivers,For example A lorry driver will have an elevated driving position compared to a motorcycle rider and so the lorry driver has a larger observation angle and this REFLECTIVE VINYL accommodates a wide variety of these geometric angles to provide maximum visibility from many varied heights and distances.

WHICH REFLECTIVE VINYL SHEETING OR STRIPING TO CHOOSE?

THE VINYL CORPORATION has had a long a mutually beneficial trading arrangement for many years with the leading innovators and developers of REFLECTIVE  SIGN MAKING MATERIALS and whilst there are many brand choices in the UK market today THE VINYL CORPORATION has always believed that 3M’s DIAMOND GRADE DG3 has been at the forefront of REFLECTIVE TAPES and The Vinyl Corporation stocks the DG3 DIAMOND GRADE REFLECTIVE VINYL along with the AURA 150 and the AVERY  V8000 MICROPRISMATIC also the ORAFOL product marketed as ORALITE VC 612 REFLECTIVE are considered to be the market leading products and supported by www.thevinylcorporation.co.uk or call the friendly helpdesk on 0115 930 1133 OR should you have a repair or “Match up” in a bodyshop please email a photo to dmtvc.march@btconnect.com