Even "plastic" may not be plastic
"Plastic" is a term that covers a lot of territory, and is basically a non-description.
It would take far too long to go into great detail, but suffice it to say that there are literally hundreds of materials, including category after category of sub-variants, that are commonly called "plastic". All plastics are, by definition, a polymer. Calling them "space age" or "technically advanced" is all marketing hype. There are also specific formulations that have been patented and trademarked (like Kydex).
You would need the particular type of polymer - polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene, etc. - to know the characteristics. Some are temp sensitive and will easily melt when heat is applied, while others are thermally stable after being formed and will not deform under heat (although they will still burn). Some are quite flexible, while others are very brittle. Some are as fragile as gossamer, while others are - pound for pound - stronger than steel. As with metal composites and alloys, you can add other substances (either in solution or as a matrix) to change the characteristics of the finished product.
A more familiar term that covers almost as much territory is the word "metal". Iron, gold, silver, aluminum, zinc, etc. are all commonly called metals, as are the infinite numbers and kinds of alloys (which may or may not include non-metallic materials). Saying that something is "metal" only tells you that the material is from a general category of substances. It tells you exactly zero about the properties of the substance in question. The same is true with the term "plastic".
You might want to search the web for a little history on polymers. From the earliest bakelite products to the highly advanced stuff being produced today, it's a thoroughly interesting subject.
Brad