--- title: "Filtration Fundamentals: Membrane Wetting" description: Dr. Aiwen Wu, Sr. Applications Engineer demonstrates the different wettability properties of various polymer membranes. He also explains how applying surface modification technology to purposely change membrane wettability properties enhances liquid filtration performance. image: https://blog.entegris.com/hubfs/av-agreggator-wetting-10450-770x200-1.svg --- [![logo-header-desktop](https://blog.entegris.com/hubfs/logo-header-desktop.svg "logo-header-desktop")](https://blog.entegris.com) - [Science & Innovation](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/science-technology#featured) - [Chemical Suppliers](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/chemical-suppliers#featured) - [Logic Manufacturers](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/logic-manufacturers#featured) - [Memory Manufacturers](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/memory-manufacturers#featured) - [Semiconductor Manufacturers](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/semiconductor-manufacturers#featured) - [News](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/about-us/news/media-coverage.html) - [Talent](https://www.entegris.com/careers) - [Resources](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/resources.html) - [Reference Materials](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/resources/reference-materials.html) - [Technical Information](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/resources/technical-information.html) - [About Us](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/about-us/corporate-overview.html) - [Entegris.com](https://www.entegris.com/) - [Careers](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/about-us/careers.html) - [Corporate Overview](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/about-us/corporate-overview.html) - [Events](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/about-us/events.html) - [Investor Relations](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/about-us/investor-relations.html) - [Legal/Trademark Notices](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/about-us/legal-trademark-notices.html) - [Locations](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/about-us/locations.html) - [Services Overview](https://www.entegris.com/en/home/our-science/by-service.html) ![hero-654791312-sized](https://blog.entegris.com/hs-fs/hubfs/hero-654791312-sized.jpg?width=3400&name=hero-654791312-sized.jpg "hero-654791312-sized") # Ensights Science that is transforming lives and enabling the future ## Filtration Fundamentals: Membrane Wetting - [Semiconductor Manufacturers (66)](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/semiconductor-manufacturers) - [Science & Innovation (59)](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/science-innovation) - [Logic Manufacturers (41)](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/logic-manufacturers) - [Memory Manufacturers (39)](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/memory-manufacturers) - [Chemical Suppliers (23)](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/chemical-suppliers) - [Materials Solutions (16)](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/materials-solutions) - [Talent (14)](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/talent) - [Advanced Packaging (2)](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/advanced-packaging) - [Corporate (2)](https://blog.entegris.com/tag/corporate) [All](https://blog.entegris.com/) [![](https://blog.entegris.com/hubfs/Blog/Arrow%20Left.png)All Posts](https://blog.entegris.com) # Filtration Fundamentals: Membrane Wetting - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Wetting the membrane is an important first step in preparing your filter. Wetting the membrane pores eliminates dry pathways where contaminants, like particles, gels, or bubbles could pass through, resulting in high defect levels in your process. Polymer membranes are natively hydrophobic or hydrophilic. - Hydrophobic – having a natural aversion to water - Hydrophilic – having a natural affinity to water If a membrane is hydrophobic, it is difficult to wet with water. This results in a high contact angle, or a very round bead of water sitting on top of the membrane. If a membrane is hydrophilic, it is easily wet with water, and the water will penetrate the pores of the membrane.  This phenomenon directly relates to the surface tension of the liquid and the surface energy of the membrane. In the case of hydrophobic membranes, the surface tension of water is much higher than the surface energy of the membrane.  To overcome this phenomenon, a lower surface tension fluid, like IPA (isopropyl alcohol), can be used to wet the membrane.  Watch as Dr. Aiwen Wu, senior applications engineer, demonstrates the different wettability of various polymer membranes when exposed to DI (deionized) water and IPA. He also explains how the use of surface modification technology can alter wettability to enhance liquid filtration performance in specific applications. Keep an eye out for the next blog where Dr. Wu describes how filter membranes can maintain wettability, even when confronted by outgassing chemistries. **Related: [The Lithographer's Toolkit](https://www.entegris.com/content/en/home/resources/industry-insights/chasing-the-perfect-pattern/lithographers-toolkit.html)** ![Entegris](https://blog.entegris.com/hubfs/Logo_transparent.png) ###### Entegris - Recent - Popular - Categories [Molybdenum’s Role in Ultra-Fast Computing: The Metal Behind the Speed](https://blog.entegris.com/molybdenums-role-in-ultra-fast-computing-the-metal-behind-the-speed) May, 2026 [Effect of POU Filter Pore Size on EUV Bridge Defect Density](https://blog.entegris.com/effect-of-pou-filter-pore-size-on-euv-bridge-defect-density) Apr, 2026 [Hydrogen Halides in Semiconductor Manufacturing: Three Gases, Three Distinct Challenges and Solutions](https://blog.entegris.com/hydrogen-halides-in-semiconductor-manufacturing-three-gases-three-distinct-challenges-and-solutions) Mar, 2026 [Discover EDM-C3® Premium Copper- Impregnated Graphite](https://blog.entegris.com/discover-edm-c3-premium-copper-impregnated-graphite) Feb, 2026 [End-to-End Manufacturing Excellence: Seven Questions Every New (or Growing) Fab Team Should Be Asking](https://blog.entegris.com/end-to-end-manufacturing-excellence-seven-questions-every-new-or-growing-fab-team-should-be-asking) Feb, 2026 [Under Pressure: Solving High Viscosity Material Challenges in Advanced Packaging](https://blog.entegris.com/under-pressure-solving-high-viscosity-material-challenges-in-advanced-packaging) Jan, 2026 [Cleaner Chemistry and Faster Startup with Next Generation Ancillary Photochemical Filters](https://blog.entegris.com/cleaner-chemistry-and-faster-startup-with-next-generation-ancillary-photochemical-filters) Dec, 2025 [Solving Bridge Defects in EUV CAR Resists with Advanced UPE Filtration](https://blog.entegris.com/solving-bridge-defects-in-euv-car-resists-with-advanced-upe-filtration) Dec, 2025 [Building Resilient Infrastructure to Better Serve Our Customers](https://blog.entegris.com/building-resilient-infrastructure-to-better-serve-our-customers) Dec, 2025 [Collaborating to Solve Advanced Packaging Substrate Challenges](https://blog.entegris.com/collaborating-to-solve-advanced-packaging-substrate-challenges) Dec, 2025 [Molybdenum’s Role in Ultra-Fast Computing: The Metal Behind the Speed](https://blog.entegris.com/molybdenums-role-in-ultra-fast-computing-the-metal-behind-the-speed) May, 2026 [Scaling New Heights: How Molybdenum is Revolutionizing 3D NAND Architectures](https://blog.entegris.com/scaling-new-heights-how-molybdenum-is-revolutionizing-3d-nand-architectures) Aug, 2025 [End-to-End Manufacturing Excellence: Seven Questions Every New (or Growing) Fab Team Should Be Asking](https://blog.entegris.com/end-to-end-manufacturing-excellence-seven-questions-every-new-or-growing-fab-team-should-be-asking) Feb, 2026 [Collaborating to Solve Advanced Packaging Substrate Challenges](https://blog.entegris.com/collaborating-to-solve-advanced-packaging-substrate-challenges) Dec, 2025 [DRAM: Device Fabrication](https://blog.entegris.com/dram-device-fabrication) Jun, 2020 [Hydrogen Halides in Semiconductor Manufacturing: Three Gases, Three Distinct Challenges and Solutions](https://blog.entegris.com/hydrogen-halides-in-semiconductor-manufacturing-three-gases-three-distinct-challenges-and-solutions) Mar, 2026 [Under Pressure: Solving High Viscosity Material Challenges in Advanced Packaging](https://blog.entegris.com/under-pressure-solving-high-viscosity-material-challenges-in-advanced-packaging) Jan, 2026 [New Materials: Smoothing the Transition to Molybdenum](https://blog.entegris.com/new-materials-smoothing-the-transition-to-molybdenum) Sep, 2023 [Optimizing Wafer Polishing: Innovations in CMP Slurry Characterization and Filtration](https://blog.entegris.com/optimizing-wafer-polishing-innovations-in-cmp-slurry-characterization-and-filtration) Oct, 2025 [Cleaner Chemistry and Faster Startup with Next Generation Ancillary Photochemical Filters](https://blog.entegris.com/cleaner-chemistry-and-faster-startup-with-next-generation-ancillary-photochemical-filters) Dec, 2025 ### Lists by Topic - 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