title: Biocorrosion investigation of two shape memory nickel based alloys: Ni-Mn-Ga and thin film NiTi.
abstract: Thin film nitinol and single crystal Ni-Mn-Ga represent two new shape memory materials with potential to be used as percutaneously placed implant devices. However, the biocompatibility of these materials has not been adequately assessed. Immersion tests were conducted on both thin film nitinol and single crystal Ni-Mn-Ga in Hank's balanced salt solution at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4. After 12 h, large pits were found on the Ni-Mn-Ga samples while thin film nitinol displayed no signs of corrosion. Further electrochemical tests on thin film nitinol samples revealed breakdown potentials superior to a mechanically polished nitinol disc. These results suggest that passivation or electropolishing of thin film nitinol maybe unnecessary to promote corrosion resistance.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering IDP, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. lenka@seas.ucla.edu
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Stepan
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gans
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Mohanchandra
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ujihara
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Carman
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000592:standards; D003343:Corrosion; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D008422:Materials Testing; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C072670:Hanks Balanced Salt Solution; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium