Types of Plastic: A Comparison of PP, PE, PET, PVC, PS, ABS
There are dozens of plastic types on the market, but most of what you encounter in daily life comes from six or seven main families. Where is each used, and what are the key differences?
Polyolefins: PP and PE (the focus of our catalog)
PP (polypropylene) and PE (polyethylene, AYPE/YYPE/LLDPE) are the plastics produced in the largest volumes in the world. They are lightweight, chemically resistant and relatively low cost. They are common in packaging, textiles, pipes and injection-molded parts. See our 'What Is PP' and 'What Is PE' articles for details.
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
The most commonly used plastic for water and beverage bottles. It stands out for its high transparency, gas barrier properties and recyclability. It belongs to a different polymer family from polyolefins (the polyester group) — it is not part of our catalog.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
A plastic type different from PP/PE that contains chlorine in its structure. It can be produced rigid (pipe, window/door profiles) or, with plasticizer additives, flexible (cable insulation, some films).
PS (Polystyrene)
Used in single-use cups, food packaging and, in its expanded form (EPS/styrofoam), in insulation and protective packaging. It is brittle and has relatively low impact strength.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
Known for its high impact strength and surface quality; preferred for electronics housings, toys (e.g. Lego) and automotive interior parts. It is a higher-cost engineering plastic compared with polyolefins.
How do you choose the right material?
The choice depends on factors such as cost, processing method (injection/extrusion/blow molding), heat resistance, impact strength, transparency and food-contact requirements. If the PP/PE family suits your need, we can work together to determine the right grade from the spec tables in our catalog.
Related product group
See the related spec tables in our catalog.
Related articles
What Is Polypropylene (PP)? Properties and Uses
One of the most widely used members of the polyolefin family: how is PP produced, what are its standout properties, and which industries use it?
What Is Polyethylene (PE)? The AYPE, YYPE and LLDPE Family
Three materials produced from the same monomer (ethylene) but behaving very differently depending on density and chain structure: where does the difference between AYPE, YYPE and LLDPE come from?
What Do Plastic Recycling Symbols (1-7) Mean?
The numbers inside the triangle on the bottom of bottles and packages are actually a material code. We explain what plastic each number from 1 to 7 represents and why it matters.
Need product-specific technical data?
Our spec tables clearly show MFI, density and application info for every grade.
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