Additive Manufacturing (AM), commonly referred to as 3D printing, has shown tremendous potential in the medical field, especially in producing customized implants and medical devices. Nickel-titanium (Nitinol) alloy, known as a shape-memory alloy, has garnered significant attention due to its unique shape-memory effect and superelasticity. Processing Nitinol alloy powder through additive manufacturing not only optimizes material properties but also meets the demands for complex shapes and high precision in medical equipment.
Outstanding Properties of Nitinol Alloy Powder
Nickel-titanium alloy is a metallic material primarily composed of nickel and titanium in a near 1:1 ratio. The shape memory effect allows the alloy to return to its preset shape at specific temperatures, making it suitable for minimally invasive devices such as stents and clamps. Its superelasticity enables reversible deformation over a wide strain range, ideal for orthopedic implants and braces. Additionally, Nitinol alloy exhibits excellent biocompatibility, reducing the risk of adverse reactions in implanted devices.
As a derivative product of nickel-titanium alloy, nickel-titanium powder offers additional advantages because of its powdered form:
- Complex Shape Manufacturing: It allows the creation of complex-shaped medical devices without the need for multiple processing steps required in traditional manufacturing.
- Controllable Porous Structure: The porous structure of the material can be controlled, enhancing the material's performance and functionality.
- Large-Scale Components: It is suitable for the production of large-sized medical devices, meeting clinical demands.
Fig 1. Chemical Composition of Nickel-titanium alloy powder
Read more: Nitinol Spherical Powder: A Superelastic Shape-memory Alloy
Advantages of Additive Manufacturing Technology
Additive manufacturing technology offers new possibilities for the application of nickel-titanium alloys in the medical field, with its main advantages reflected in the following aspects:
- Design Freedom: Additive manufacturing enables the creation of complex structures, such as personalized orthopedic implants and stents.
- High Material Utilization: Compared to traditional subtractive manufacturing, additive manufacturing significantly reduces material waste, which is particularly important in the application of high-cost nickel-titanium alloys.
- High Precision and Consistency: Additive manufacturing technology ensures the uniformity of nickel-titanium alloy powder properties through precise parameter control, thereby improving product quality.
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Preparation of Medical Nitinol Alloy Powder
Nickel-titanium alloy powder is a derivative product of nickel-titanium alloy, inheriting its unique properties. The preparation methods for nickel-titanium alloy powder include mechanical alloying, chemical reduction, gas atomization, electrodeposition, plasma atomization, and sol-gel methods. Gas atomization, also known as gas spray atomization, involves using high-pressure inert gas as an atomizing medium to fracture the nickel-titanium alloy, ultimately producing the finished product. This method offers advantages such as high product quality, low operating costs, and easy parameter control, making it the mainstream method for preparing nickel-titanium alloy powder.
Uses of Medical Nitinol Alloy Powder in Additive Manufacturing
One of the key characteristics of nickel-titanium alloy is its low elastic modulus, which is similar to that of natural bone material. Additionally, it possesses excellent biocompatibility and a unique stress/strain response, giving it a compressive strength higher than that of natural bone material. As a result, it is widely used in various biomedical applications.
In orthopedic implants, the technology enables the production of high-performance implants, such as hip prostheses and spinal fixation devices, tailored to fit the patient perfectly and enhance recovery.
For vascular stents, Nitinol’s superelasticity and shape memory properties allow precise control of geometry and optimized mechanical performance, improving implantation outcomes.
In dental applications, Nitinol’s biocompatibility and mechanical characteristics make it ideal for implants and orthodontic devices. Additive manufacturing further supports the production of complex dental equipment, catering to personalized needs.
Specifically, nickel-titanium alloy powder is used to manufacture the following medical devices:
- Cardiac Occluders: Used to close defects or holes in the heart, repairing heart conditions.
- Kidney Micro-Pumps: Used for kidney function support or treatment.
- Vascular Stents: Used to support blood vessels, preventing blockages or narrowing.
- Esophageal Stents: Used to support the esophagus, preventing narrowing.
- Bone Fixation Devices: Used to stabilize fractures or other skeletal injuries.
- Surgical Sutures: Used for wound closure, offering good biocompatibility and strength.
- Orthodontic Wires: Used for dental correction, with the shape memory effect making them easy to adjust and fix.
Conclusion
Additive manufacturing has revolutionized the application of Nitinol alloy powder in the medical field. Through customized designs and efficient manufacturing, Nitinol powder has been successfully used in orthopedic implants, vascular stents, and other medical devices.
Stanford Advanced Materials (SAM) is a premium supplier of metal powders. SAM’s Nickel Titanium (Nitinol) Alloy Powder (NiTi) powders feature:
• Controlled composition
• High sphericity
• Good flowability
• Low oxygen content
• Fewer satellite particles
• Dense internal particle structure
If you are looking for high-quality Nitinol Spherical Powder, please contact us or Get A Quote.
