A variety of food-contact and non-food-contact applications use nonmetal materials. Plastic, rubber and rubber-like materials are the largest and most diverse category.

Specialized applications use ceramics and/or carbon composites due to their hardness and rigidity, inertness and resistance to high temperatures and chemicals. Ceramics are commonly used in membrane and mechanical seal applications, while carbon composites are used in molded parts, sensor components and mechanical seal applications. The use of certain nonmetals (e.g., glass, wood, paper, cloth) is restricted to certain applications when necessary and appropriate.