3M™ REFLECTIVE TAPES V-23

3M™ Reflective Tapes V-23

The importance of reflective V23/ECE104 markings for improved road safety
Did you know that V23/ECE104 reflective markings are essential for increasing the visibility of heavy goods vehicles on the road, especially in low light conditions? This European regulation sets stringent standards to ensure that trucks, trailers and buses are equipped with high quality reflective materials that meet safety requirements.‘’

What does the approval of the V-23 tape entail?

Obtaining homologation certifies that a competent entity has thoroughly evaluated the product, ensuring that it meets all the quality and safety standards established in the regulations for vehicle signalling.

How to identify an approved tape?

The approved tapes have a clearly visible and indelible international certification mark. This mark includes:

The letter ‘E’ in a circle, followed by the code of the country that issued the certification.
Regulation number (104), the letter ‘R’, a dash and the specific approval number.
In addition, symbols indicating the class of the material are included, such as ‘C’ for contour materials, ‘D’ for limited surface markings and ‘E’ for extensive surface markings.

The visibility and legibility of this marking is a prerequisite for ensuring the conformity of the product.

3M™ Reflective Tapes V-23 — *The number after the ‘E’ (such as E21) indicates the country where the tape has been approved.*

Certifications to which the tapes are subjected to

To be certified, the tape must meet stringent quality standards. V23/ECE104 retroreflective tapes must be free of design or manufacturing defects that compromise their performance or durability. In addition, they must be tamper resistant, with a strong and durable adhesive. The surface of the tape must be smooth and easy to clean, thus ensuring optimal visibility. Furthermore, the tape must comply with the technical specifications laid down in the regulations, such as dimensions, colourimetry and retroreflectivity. Although the inclusion of advertising elements is allowed, these must be discreet and not affect the performance of the tape. The competent authorities carry out regular inspections of production facilities to verify that all quality requirements are met.

Tests 3M™ Reflective Tapes V-23 are subjected to

To ensure that the tapes meet the highest quality standards, they are subjected to a series of rigorous tests in specialised laboratories. Several representative samples of the tapes are selected and analysed in detail to verify that they meet the established technical specifications.

The tests are as follows:

Erosion resistance

According to ISO 105-B02, colour fastness tests are carried out to evaluate the resistance of materials to light. In these tests, a sample is exposed to an artificial xenon light source that simulates solar radiation. Subsequently, the presence of colour alterations such as discolouration, yellowing or loss of gloss is assessed. In addition, the material is checked for signs of physical deterioration, such as cracking or peeling. The measured retroreflection value of the sample shall not be less than 80% of the nominal value.

Corrosion resistance

To assess the durability of the tape in corrosive environments, a sample is subjected to a salt spray test. This test simulates the conditions of a marine environment by exposing the tape to a saline atmosphere for an extended period of time. At the end of the test, the sample is inspected for signs of corrosion, such as rust or pitting, that may affect its performance.

Fuel resistance

According to international standards, retro-reflective tapes must be resistant to a wide range of chemicals, including fuels and solvents. To assess this resistance, an immersion test is carried out in a hydrocarbon mixture (n-heptane and toluene). If the tape shows no signs of deterioration after the test, it is considered to comply with the established requirements.

Cold and heat resistance

The materials used in the manufacture of reflectors must be able to withstand large temperature variations without losing their properties. To verify this capability, thermal shock tests are carried out in which samples are exposed to extreme heat (12 hours at 65°C) and cold cycles (12 hours at -20°C).

Cleaning resistance

Both manual and automated cleaning tests are performed. In manual cleaning, a mixture of substances (detergent, lubricating oil and graphite) is applied to simulate common contaminants and the ease of removal is assessed using mild solvents. On the other hand, automatic washing simulates more rigorous conditions by exposing the surface to high pressure water jets, ± 8 MPa, and 60 °C temperature. In both cases, the surface is checked for signs of wear, such as cracking, discolouration or loss of adhesion.

Water resistance

First, it is immersed in hot water at 50°C for 10 minutes to simulate hot and humid conditions. Subsequently, it is inverted and immersed in cold water to evaluate its behaviour in colder conditions. In both cases, it is verified that the water does not penetrate the retroreflective surface, which could compromise its performance.