Centrifuge tubes are mainly divided into plastic and glass types. Plastic ones are more widely used. Different plastic materials have distinct properties.

• PC (Polycarbonate): It features high hardness and good air permeability, and can be disinfected at high temperature. It is suitable for ultra-high speed centrifugation, but not resistant to strong acids, strong alkalis and organic solvents such as alcohol.
• PE (Polyethylene): It is opaque and chemically stable against acetone, hydrochloric acid and other substances, yet it tends to soften under high temperature.
• PP (Polypropylene): Translucent with excellent temperature resistance and chemical stability. It will become brittle at low temperature, so it is not applicable to centrifugation below 4℃.
• PA (Polyamide): A polymer of PP and PE. It is translucent and chemically stable, but cannot be used in high-temperature environments.
• PF (Polyfluoride): It adapts to low-temperature conditions and works well within the temperature range from -100℃ to 140℃.
• CAB (Cellulose Acetate Butyrate): Fully transparent. It can be applied to tests of dilute acid, dilute alkali, salt solution, alcohol and sucrose gradient.
• PS (Polystyrene): High hardness and stable against most aqueous solutions. It is vulnerable to corrosion by organic solvents, mostly used for low-speed centrifugation and disposable application.

Common capacities include 1.5mL, 2mL, 5mL, 10mL, 15mL and 50mL. 10mL and 50mL are the most popular in domestic laboratories. Centrifuge tubes with special capacities are mostly imported products.

In terms of shape, there are round-bottom and pointed-bottom tubes. For caps, screw caps are equipped with precise scales, while plug caps are only marked with total capacity.

Plastic centrifuge tubes are more commonly used than glass ones in laboratories, as glass tubes cannot adapt to high-speed and ultra-high-speed centrifuges. Plastic tubes allow researchers to observe samples directly, while they are easy to deform and poor in resistance to organic solvents, leading to a relatively short service life. They are essential regular consumables in labs.