Keywords: Stents, Nitinol, Nickel, Titanium, Tantalum

Contact Title:: Dr.

Contact First Name: Norman

Contact Last Name: Munroe

University: Florida International University

Web:

Position: Associate Dean

Country: USA

Email: munroen@fiu.edu

Fax: (305) 348-7414

Selection: Definitely YES

Submit: Submit

Date: Thursday, April 08, 2004

Time: 10:37:51 AM

Paper Title:

Manufacture of Ni-Ti-Ta Alloys Through Conventional Powder Metallurgy For Medical Devices

Abstract:

NiTi shape memory alloys have been employed in the manufacture of vascular stents and other medical devices by biomedical firms. However, these alloys exhibit poor X-Ray visibility and narrow transformation temperature hysteresis. Tantalum is added as a ternary element to impart radiopassivity and induce changes in the transformation properties of the alloy. NiTi-Ta alloys were manufactured through conventional powder metallurgy according to the formula (Ni51Ti49)100-xTax by mixing elemental powders in a SPEX 8000 mill followed by cold compaction into pellets. Two sintering profiles, 900 °C and 1000 °C were employed, with the latter profile proving to be better in terms of shape memory characteristic and mechanical properties. DSC analysis of the sintered pellets exhibited excellent shape memory characteristics and the phase transformation temperature increased with tantalum percentage.

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Authors:

Norman Munroe/munroen@fiu.edu/FIU/

Kartikeyan Trichi/ktric002@fiu.edu/FIU/