A series of comb-like amphiphilic copolymers (PES-g-PEO) were synthesized through grafting poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) to cardo poly(aryl ether sulfone) (PES-NH) backbone. By controlling the ratios of PEO and cardo poly(aryl ether sulfone), amphiphilic copolymers with a range of PEO side chain were obtained and were employed to ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. The PES-g-PEO-XX materials showed high thermal stability (T-d > 238 degrees C) and good mechanical properties especially elongation at break reached to 150% compared to 23% of PES-NH. The contact angle of PES-g-PEO-80 asymmetric membrane was decreased to a slow as 59 degrees which was 30 degrees lower than the value of PES-NH membrane (90 degrees), indicating that PES-g-PEO-80 membrane exhibited remarkable hydrophilic property. No protein adsorption was found on the surface of PES-g-PEO-60 and PES-g-PEO-80 membranes, showing excellent antifouling properties compared to PES-NH. The results of this work suggest that PES-g-PEO copolymers are promising materials for the fabrication of fouling resistant membranes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.