Author: Vanessa 26 Mar. 2025     Category: Understanding Filtration

Ⅰ. The “previous life” of PES: From military materials to medical stars

In 1965, the British ICI laboratory accidentally synthesized an amber polymer, polyethersulfone (PES). Originally used as an aeronautical high temperature resistant coating, PES was used by NASA in the Apollo program for its excellent stability. Until the 1980s, the medical industry discovered its biocompatibility potential and PES officially started “medical-grade evolution”:

  • 1982: The first PES hemodialysis membrane paper was published in Journal of Biomedical Materials Research
  • 1995: Passed the complete set of biocompatibility tests of ISO 10993 (cytotoxicity, sensitization, hemolyticity)
  •  2010: Become a FDA-approved core material for Class II medical equipment (21 CFR 177.2440)

Ⅱ. The “This Life” of PES: Irresistible Material and Chemical Performance

PerformanceParametersComparative Materials (PSU/PP) Advantages
Heat resistance Continuous use temperature 180℃ (220℃ for short term)30℃ higher than polysulfone (PSU)
Mechanical strength Tensile strength 83MPa, modulus 2.6GPa5 times stronger than polypropylene (PP) 
Gamma ray resistanceDosage >50kGy (sterilization standard 25kGy)Alternative solution for ethylene oxide sterilization 

1. Physical performance: “Hexagonal War Parameters” in harsh medical environments

2. Chemical properties: “tumbler” among strong acids and alkalis

Solvent resistance:

  • Soaked in DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) for 30 days, with a swelling rate of <0.5% (ASTM D543)
  •  Tolerate 5% sodium hypochlorite (commonly used in hospitals) rinse continuously for 100 times without aging

Low precipitation characteristics:

Ⅲ. Applications in the medical field: all-round protection from blood vessels to vaccines

1. Blood purification: the “gold standard” of dialyzers

Hollow fiber membrane:

 The wall thickness is 40-60μm and the pore size is 0.01μm (precisely intercept β2-microglobulin). For example, the FX series dialyzer in Germany uses PES membrane, and the urea clearance rate is >95%.

Advantages:

 Activate the complement system less than cellulose membrane (60% reduction in C3a), ultrafiltration coefficient (Kuf) reaches 20mL/(h·mmHg), reducing the risk of hypotension

2. Biopharmaceuticals: The “last line of defense” for vaccine safety

Sterilization and filtration:

  • 0.22μm PES membrane with retention rate of >7LRV (ISO 13408)
  •  Used for mRNA liposome sterile filtration in the production of new crown vaccine

Ultrafiltration concentration:

 30kDa tangential flow PES membrane pack, antibody recovery rate >99% (92% compared to cellulose membrane)

3. Respiratory Therapy: ECMO’s “Invisible Hero”

PES microporous membrane in oxygenator: gas exchange efficiency of 300mL/min·m² (50% higher than silicone membrane), continuous operation for 30 days without plasma leakage (EN 12022 certified)

Ⅳ. PES folding membrane cylinder filter element: the top technology

1. Structural innovation

Gradient aperture design:

  • Level Pore size (μm) Function
  • Pre-filter layer 5.0 intercepts cell debris and colloids
  • Main filter layer 0.45/0.22 Bacteria/particle ultimate interception
  • Support layer – Anti-compression (resistant to 0.5MPa blasting pressure)

2. Performance benchmark

  • High flux: Water flux >5000L/m²·h@0.1MPa (1.8 times that of PVDF membrane)
  • Low protein adsorption: BSA adsorption <5μg/cm² (better than nylon membrane)
  • Integrity test: bubble point ≥3.2Bar (ASTM F838)

3. Industry certification

  • International: FDA DMF No. 35421, EDQM CEP 2023-001
  • China: NMPA Class III Certificate (National Equipment Registration 20233140211)

4. PES technology pursuit

Trenntech believes that mature medical-grade PES meltblown-stretch molding process must meet or even exceed the following technical standards:

  • ØRaw material purity: monomer residue <1ppm (GC-MS detection)
  • ØPore size consistency: CV value <5% (laser diffraction method)
  • ØTerminal sterilization: Provide pre-verification services for irradiation/steam sterilization

From the precise interception of hemodialysis membrane to the sterile guarantee of vaccine production, to the reliable operation of ECMO life support system, PES has proved with half a century of evolution that true innovation always begins with materials and ends with life. In the field of life sciences, PES is changing from “optional materials” to “necessary choice” – this is not a victory for materials, but an ultimate commitment to the dignity of life. With a deep understanding of PES materials and process innovation, Trenntech’s PES technology has always been at the forefront of clinical needs.

Vanessa

My name is Vanessa, and I am a content writer specializing in corporate content creation. With more than 10 years of writing experience, I am committed to providing companies with high-quality, impactful content to help them stand out in a competitive market. My background covers multiple industries, including technology, finance, marketing, etc. In the process, I have accumulated rich knowledge and skills, and can deeply understand the needs of audiences in different fields, so as to create more targeted articles and content. I am good at writing blog posts, white papers, case studies, product descriptions, etc., and I am familiar with SEO optimization strategies to ensure that the content gets good exposure in search engines. At the same time, I also have good project management skills and can complete high-quality works within a tight time frame. I believe that high-quality content can not only convey information, but also build customer trust and brand image.