PTFE vs. nylon vs. PES vs. PVDF: which membrane is right for you?

Material	Wetting	Best for	Watch for
PTFE	Hydrophobic (hydrophilic variants exist)	Aggressive solvents, gases, air venting	Won't wet with aqueous samples unless pre-wetted or hydrophilic-treated
Nylon	Hydrophilic	Alcohols and many organic solvents	Can bind some polar/basic compounds—check against your analyte
PES	Hydrophilic	Aqueous and biological samples, low protein binding	Limited organic solvent compatibility
PVDF	Hydrophobic (hydrophilic variants common)	Protein samples, broad solvent compatibility, low extractables	Confirm hydrophilic treatment for aqueous use

PTFE: the solvent workhorse

Broadest chemical resistance of the four, including strong acids, bases, and aggressive solvents. Standard PTFE is hydrophobic and won't pass aqueous samples without a pre-wet step or a hydrophilic-treated variant—confirm which you're ordering before you standardize.

Nylon: the organic-solvent generalist

Good compatibility with many alcohols and organic solvents at a lower cost than PTFE. The trade-off: nylon can adsorb certain polar and basic compounds, which matters for trace-level analytical work—worth a recovery check with your specific analyte.

PES: the aqueous default

Low protein binding and fast flow make PES a common default for biological and aqueous samples. Narrower solvent compatibility than PTFE or nylon—not the choice for aggressive organic chemistry.

PVDF: the protein and low-extractable option

Valued for low protein binding (often lower than PES for certain applications) and broad solvent compatibility, with hydrophilic-treated variants common for aqueous use. A frequent choice in protein-sensitive analytical and process work where extractables matter.

Quick decision path

Aqueous/biological → PES or hydrophilic PVDF. Aggressive solvents or gas → PTFE. Organic solvents, cost-sensitive → nylon (check analyte binding). Protein-sensitive, low-extractable → PVDF.