Re: Cat's eyes.

[John Denker <jsd@MONMOUTH.COM>]

At 07:31 AM 9/13/00 -0400, Ludwik Kowalski wrote:
> >retroreflective tape ....
>
> What is the primary use of such tape? Where can one buy it?

A web search turns up many answers to this question
  http://www.altavista.com/cgi-bin/query?q=tape+near+retroreflect*+and+pric
http://www.altavista.com/cgi-bin/query?q=tape+near+retroreflect*+and+pric*&p
g=aq

Also, you can probably find some at the local sewing supplies store.

> How does it work?

Multiple versions exist:

1) In some the tapes I've seen, there was a transparent front layer that
was flat on the front and had zillions of pyramids embossed on the
back.  The back of this first layer was reflective.  Then there was a
second, optically-inactive layer, and then some adhesive.

2) There are other ways of doing it.  For marking roadways, they do it by
putting down relatively ordinary paint, and then (while the paint is still
wet) dusting it with retroreflective glass beads.  There are also tapes
that use glass beads.  There's even a federal procurement specification for
such beads: TT-B-1325