Characteristics & Properties of Nitinol
Nitinol has the unique ability to adapt to particular strains and is compatible to the human body. Therefore, it has many uses in the medical field. Nitinol displays a cubic crystal structure, known as austenite (also called the parent phase). At lower temperatures, it spontaneously becomes a complex “monoclinic,” crystal structure called martensite. The temperature at where austenite turns to martensite, also known as the transition temp, is commonly called the Ms temperature. It is also the temperature at its full formation, the Mftemperature. These two features of Nitinol’s structural structure — shape-memory and superelasticity — allow it to show a reversible reaction to applied stress. This is directly caused by the phase change between the martensitic and austenitic phases.
These two aspects are critical to Nitinol’s properties. The transition is “reversible”, meaning that heating above transition temperature will return the crystal structure back to its simpler form. The second important point is that two-way conversion occurs instantly.
Martensite crystals have the unique ability to undergo finite bending without causing any breaking of atomic bond. This type of deformation is called twins and involves the rearrangement of atomic plans without causing permanent damage. It can withstand around 6-8% strain.
Martensite can be converted to austenite using heating. The original austenite structure can still be found regardless of the deformation of the martensite phases. This is why the term “shape memories” is used to describe the fact that high-temperature austenite phases are “remembered”, even if they deform severely at lower temperatures.
The Nitinol medical devices, such as a Stent, can be made at the body temperature, deformed at another temperature and then placed into an artery. Once it is in place, it will return to its normal temperature. The device will also fully recover after being bent to extremely high strain rates (upto 7%).
Super-elastic effect of Nitinol Wire
This “hyperelasticity” allows you to use a Nitinol-wire device that has been bent, shaped or placed in your body. The tube can accommodate small grasping or biopsy tools that are smaller than those made from standard alloys. Nitinol is a lightweight alloy with unique properties that makes it ideal for biomedical applications. This includes heart valve tools, stents and nails, bone anchors, diaphragm defects devices and many other implants.
But heat-treating Nitinol to achieve the desired transition temperature is delicate. Temperature and age control the precipitation process of different Ni-rich phases. These are used to regulate the nickel content within the lattice. Aging decreases the nickel matrix, increasing the transition temperature. It is crucial to combine heat treatment with cold work in order to control the properties and alloy Nitinol.
Niti Alloy Powder Price
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