4.04.2008

Intelligent paint turns roads pink in icy conditions


When temperatures drop, it can be tricky to judge road conditions accurately. Soon, however, some roads could give drivers clear icy warnings by turning themselves pink.

A new temperature-sensitive varnish developed by researchers at French company Eurovia can be applied to road surfaces to warn drivers about dangerous conditions. The technique – still at the testing stage – might help prevent ice-related traffic accidents in future, the researchers say.

The varnish is made of a polymer containing a thermochromic pigment. The same type of coating is already used to make bath thermometers and frozen food packaging that responds to temperature change. However, it is the first time such a coating has been used to monitor road temperatures.

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"So, instead of the yellow brick road, it'll be the pink asphalt road?"

1 comment:

Megan Payne said...

Roads that can turn pink following a drop in temperature sound interesting. Visibility is, indeed, a big problem when driving during the winter season. It would be nice if this temperature-sensitive paint would be used in major streets. Haha, just the thought of driving through pink streets is, in itself, something to look forward to. :)