Icy Pink Roads

By Miss Cellania in Science & Tech on Apr 4, 2008 at 1:37 pm

It’s hard to see icy patches on the road ahead. Wouldn’t it be great if the road could signal whether it was icy? Scientists are working on a road coating that will turn pink in dangerously icy conditions!

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.

The color change would also make it easier for road crews to distribute salt. The challenge ahead is to make the coating more visible at night, and to make it last through the summer months. Link -via Reddit

(image credit: Eurovia)

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Thespian24601
Apr 4th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
But what about the evil pink ice storms?
That sounds like a good idea, if it will work and is cost-efficient.
JoBo S
Apr 4th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
What is someone is color blind?
bean
Apr 4th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
It sounds like the road would turn pink whether or not there’s actually ice on it, so long as the ambient temperature outside is below freezing. That’s not very helpful.
stacyj
Apr 4th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Wow, that’s a brilliant idea, if they can get it to work. When I lived in Chicago I never had much problem driving in snow, but lord, those occasional “black ice” patches were truly terrifying (to say the least!). Here’s hoping this idea comes to fruition!
probinu
Apr 4th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
yeah great idea, I live in Cincinnati where the traffic stops with a few drops of rain. The sensationalist media here would have a field day with…

“Well Bob, it looks like it is beginning to become pink, take some extra time going to work today…”

Great, a 3 hour commute.
Cindy
Apr 4th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Sounds great, but the cost would probably be outrageous. And it looks like the road would be solid white when it wasn’t cold and that would be to bright.
Ali S.
Apr 4th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I would be slightly freaked out if my road suddenly turned pink or if it’s really bad…blood red!

“Honey, the roads are bleeding again!” @_@
CheeseDuck
Apr 4th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Pink roads? Alot of people are red/green color blind. >_>
hhype
Apr 7th, 2008 at 8:02 am
I admire the folks concerned about color blindness, but I think people with color blindness would see a gray square in the white square and see a change, alerting them to icy conditions, they just might not see pink as we see it (and that is left for a discussion of qualia and a philosophy course).

An idea I had years ago would be for the road to turn black when it is cold and white when it is hot. The black road would get warmer in sunlight and help melt the road and the white when it is warm would keep the road from becoming even hotter in the summer and making urban heat islands. I am not sure how to keep the road from becoming a middle gray when it reaches equilibrium withe the sun and its surroundings.
jason
Dec 24th, 2008 at 7:41 am
this will happen about a week before flying cars are the norm.. doh

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