PE
Polyethylene
Films, bottles and industrial containers. Density, branching and grade selection influence behaviour.
Questions to take forward
Ask about rigidity, barrier requirements, stress cracking and available collection routes.
Material intelligence
Start with the material.
Keep the application in mind.
A concise orientation to common polymer families and the questions to take into a technical discussion.
6 polymer families
PP
Polypropylene
Rigid packaging, closures and durable components. Formulation and processing determine the final properties.
Questions to take forward
Check stiffness, impact needs, temperature exposure and grade-specific recycled options.
PET
Polyethylene terephthalate
Bottles, trays and fibres. Application and processing requirements vary widely.
Questions to take forward
Confirm intrinsic viscosity, clarity, contamination control and local recovery pathways.
PA
Polyamide
Engineering components and fibres. Different polyamides and reinforcement systems serve different requirements.
Questions to take forward
Review moisture conditioning, heat exposure, dimensional tolerances and disassembly.
PC
Polycarbonate
Transparent and engineering applications where optical and mechanical demands interact.
Questions to take forward
Validate chemical exposure, flame requirements, coatings and the actual material grade.
TPU
Thermoplastic polyurethane
Flexible components, films and wear-related applications across multiple industries.
Questions to take forward
Specify hardness, abrasion, hydrolysis exposure, bonding and end-of-life options.
Educational starting points, not a grade-selection recommendation. Many families serve multiple industries; these filters show examples only. Check supplier datasheets, application testing and applicable approvals.
Further technical context: BASF Plastics Hub and LYB Circulen portfolio. See the source library.