Nylon vs. PTFE syringe filters: which is better for your sample?

Chemical compatibility

PTFE has the broader compatibility range—aggressive solvents, strong acids and bases, and gas filtration are all PTFE territory. Nylon covers many common organic solvents (alcohols especially) at a lower cost, but has a narrower overall compatibility range than PTFE.

Wetting behavior

Nylon is inherently hydrophilic—it wets readily with aqueous samples. Standard PTFE is hydrophobic and won't pass an aqueous sample without pre-wetting or a hydrophilic-treated variant. If your sample is aqueous and you don't want to deal with pre-wetting, nylon or hydrophilic PTFE are the practical choices.

Analyte binding

This is the trade-off that catches people off guard: nylon can adsorb certain polar and basic compounds, which matters for trace-level analytical work. PTFE generally has lower binding for a broader range of compounds, making it a safer default when you're not sure whether your analyte might stick to nylon.

Cost

Nylon is typically less expensive than PTFE, which matters at high consumption volumes—worth factoring in when both materials are otherwise suitable for your application.

Quick recommendation

Aqueous sample, alcohol-based solvent, cost matters, and you've confirmed your analyte doesn't bind to nylon → nylon. Aggressive solvent, gas filtration, or you're unsure about analyte binding and want the safer default → PTFE.