Microprismatic retroreflective elements for highways

One of the newest developments of the Institute is related with creation of technology and precise equipment for mass production of microprism retroreflective elements - cataphotes for equipping of highways, vehicles and personal safety means. Technological cycle has been developed at the Institute from making of stampers to replicating of microprism retroreflective elements with improved light reflective properties.

Depending on their assignment cataphotes are subdivided into: frontal ones; sloping ones at the angle of 30o; with any intermediate slope angle. The production of cataphotes is provided using flexible and hard polymeric materials.

Now cataphotes developed and made by the Institute are used under the reconstruction of Paton Bridge in Kyiv.

Cataphotes are important elements of transport system because traffic safety depends on them. Using of cataphotes under the bad visibility and in the dark time of the day allows under the traffic with near light to increase the distance of pedestrian revealing at the road from 25-40 to 130-140 meters. Under the traffic with distant light this distance achieves 400 meters.

Wide application of cataphotes:

• light retroreflective elements of separating lines of highways, stands and columns;
• yellow retroreflective contour bands at heavy large size vehicles;
• white walking sticks for blinds;
• various retroreflective elements of pedestrian clothes and accessories for baby-carriages, bicycles, motor-cycles, sledges, etc.,

allows to drivers to see the pedestrian at the dark time under the car headlights and streetlights that in turn increases traffic safety.