Effects of recycling on the mechanical properties and the surface topography of Nickel-Titanium alloy wires

Lee, Sung Ho; Chang, Young Il

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of mechanical properties, surface topography and frictional force of various nickel titanium wires after recycling. Three types of nickel-titanium wires and one type of stainless steel wire were divided to three groups: as-received condition(TO:control group), treated in artificial saliva for four weeks(T1) and autoclaved after being treated in artificial saliva(T2). Some changes were observed for the selected mechanical properties in tensile test, surface topography by means of SEM and 3D profilogram, and frictional coefficient, The findings suggest that 1. Nickel-titanium wires demonstrated no statistically significant differences in maximum tensile strength, elongation rate and modulus of elasticity, but stainless steel wire demonstrated statistically significant differences in maximum tensile strength, elongation rate and modulus of elasticity between the groups(p<0.05). 2. NiTi, Optimalloy, Stainless Steel wires demonstrated increased pitting and corrosion in SEM finding. 3. Recycled NiTi, Optimalloy and stainless steel wires demonstrated significantly greater surface roughness(Ra and Rq) through 3D profilogram when compared with the control wires(p<0.05), but Sentalloy didn't demonstrate significant difference. 4. Recycled NiTi, Optimalloy and stainless steel wires demonstrated significantly greater maximum frictional coefficient when compared with the control wires(P<0.05), but Sentalloy didn't demonstrate significant difference. The changes of surface roughness and frictional coefficient in NiTi and Optimalloy had no clinical implication. Consequently recycled nickel- titanium wires demonstrated no clinical problem in tensile properties, surface topography and frictional coefficient.