ETP

ETP (engineering technoplastics) are those polymeric thermoplastic resins that possess properties that are clearly superior to the most common plastic polymers: such as polystyrene (PS), poly-chloride-vinyl (PVC), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), called “commodities”.

ETPs or technopolymers are distinguished by their mechanical, thermal and dimensional stability qualities. Being more performing than commodities, they are generally used in the production of objects with greater complexity and added value, often replacing traditional materials such as: glass, wood, metal in technical and safety applications.

The most well-known and sold ETPs include Acryl-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) at the base of the pyramid, then, while increasing in temperature, we can find: PC / ABS alloy, Polycarbonate (PC), Polyamides (PA) 6 and 6.6, the Polybutylene-terephthalate (PBT), Polysulfone (PSU), Polyetherimide (PEI), Polyphenylene-sulfide (PPS). The increase in thermal performances corresponds to a reduction in sales volumes. For this reason the best performing products such as PSO, PSU, PPS, PEI, PEEK are also indicated as “exotic” polymers.

Among the examples of applications made with these ETP (Engineering Thermoplastics) or Technopolymers (Engineering Tecnoplastics), we can name the PC / ABS alloy and ABS which are widely used in the automotive industry for the internal parts of cars (dashboards, moldings and vents) ), the PC / PBT alloy (for high-performance bumpers and parabolic headlights for cars and for other lighting segments), Polycarbonate (for car headlight lenses, glasses, visors and helmets for motorcycles) Polyamides 6 , 66 and 12 commercially known as Nylon, used for elastic cable strips, connectors, industrial sockets and plugs and for ski boots and accessories. However, it should be noted that over the years one of the best-known commodities, the PP, has undergone a strong technical evolution taking on the dignity of technopolymer as well and subtracting space to ABS in many technical applications.