Nitinol powders generate from Plasma Rotation Electrode Process provide clean powder for biomedical devices used with suitable size, spheroid surface and pure composition

Abstract

The nickel-titanium alloy (57Ni-43Ti in wt%) was atomized by the plasma rotating electrode process (PREP). The PREP parameters such as plasma arc current, rotating electrode speed with corresponding PREP powder size range in weight percentage analysis, powder morphology and biocapability of cells were studied by scanning electron microscopies, Inductively Coupled Plasma and X-ray diffraction techniques. From the electrode of the produced powders, the composition has no obviously changes. Weight percentage up to 31.8% of the range under 300 μm while the rotation electrode speed increase to 12k rpm. Spherical and flat with smooth surface were observed in different size range. Brittle phase was not observed of XRD data. The nitinol powder has high biocapability with cells showed no cytotoxicity and well cell adhesion in the in vivo assay.