Category: NiTinol wire

Industrial and Medical Applications Rely on Super Elastic NiTinol Wire

There are two different categories of NiTinol wire available for a variety of applications and purposes. One type is shape memory, because the wire has the ability to return to its original state upon heating it to its transformation temperature. While this feature is both unique and beneficial, it often presents creative challenges when it is needed for industrial applications, due to having a high transformation temperature. As a result, most operations rely on the other kind, which is super elastic.

Super elastic NiTinol wire also returns to its original state, but has a much lower transformation temperature. This type also provides the ability to be strained by as much as eight times more than regular spring steel and still able to return to its original state without permanent deformation. It comes in straight lengths of either 36 inches or 72 inches, is annealed, and has a natural oxide finish. Additionally, the wire may be ordered in custom cut lengths to fit with your own specific requirements.

Common medical and industrial applications for the super elastic type include wire mandrels, stents, guide wires, prosthetics, robotic actuators, mechanical switching devices, and eye glass frames. Another use for this kind of wire is in the manufacturer of tubing with a specific inner diameter. In this application, the wire is coated with the desired tubing material and left to cure. Once fully cured, the wire is stretched in order to decrease its diameter. The wire is then able to be easily removed from within the newly created tubing. By applying a charge or a small amount of heat to the wire, it returns back to its original shape and diameter and is able to be reused again.

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There are differences between NiTinol wire, so it is important that you select the right kind for your projects and applications. One type available is called super elastic and provides the ability to recover to a specific diameter after being pulled and stretched. The super elasticity of the wire has a narrow temperature range between its original shape and the deformed shape to which it is stretched or pulled. In order to return the wire back to its original diameter, it has to reach its transformation temperature. Because this range is so narrow, there is often no heating required to cause the wire to return to its original diameter.

Super Elastic NiTinol Wire Can Be Used in Place of springs and for Switches

Super elastic NiTinol wire has a vast elasticity, greater than most types of metal springs, that can be up to 30 times greater. As a result, this wire works well within products and materials where springs are required. Due to the ability of the wire to be deformed through stretching, it is able to return back to its original shape once it reaches the transformation temperature. This kind of wire is also able to be used for switching mechanisms in different ways. For instance, the wire could be stretched and used to hold a pressure switch plate in place. Upon an increase in temperature, the wire returns back its original diameter, and, at the same time, releases the pressure plate switch. This is just a simple example of how the wire is able to be used, as there are numerous other ways, depending upon your exact applications, processes and requirements.

You could custom manufacturer your own tubing using NiTinol wire when you require a specific inside diameter. The type of tubing you can make includes intravenous catheter, multi-lumen or catheter tubing. Starting with the wire in its original size and shape, you coat the wire with the tubing material you are using. Just make sure to leave a small section of exposed wire at both ends. Once the material has had time to harden and fully cure, you can remove the wire by pulling on both ends and decreasing the diameter of the wire. Since the wire is now smaller than the original diameter, it will slide out of the tubing you just made. You do not have to discard the wire because it is able to be reused again, simply by heating it to the correct temperature to return it back to its original length and diameter.
NiTinol Wire Is Used as a Switch in Some Products and Devices

You can also use NiTinol wire as a switch in certain types of devices and products. For instance, the wire could be used to engage a cooling fan when temperatures are comparable to the temperatures needed to return the wire to its original shape and size. The wire is able to be stretched out and made longer and thinner. In this state, the wire might be secured in a manner where it is depressing and holding a switch or button in place. As the temperatures increase and reach the level needed to transform the wire, the wire will start to shrink back to its original shape and become shorter. Because the wire is now shorter, it is no longer able to hold the switch or button in place, and releases it, engaging the cooling fan.

Super elastic NiTinol wire is a special type of wire used for a variety of applications and purpose. The wire has specific proprieties which allow it to recover to its original diameter after being stretched to a smaller diameter. In order to return the wire to its original diameter it is heated or charged. Once returned to its original diameter the wire can be reused over and over.

Plastic Tubing Can Be Made by Using Super Elastic NiTinol Wire 

One application for super elastic NiTinol wire is to make plastic tubing. The hot plastic material is coated onto the outside of the wire and smoothed so that it is uniform. A small amount of wire is left exposed on each end. Once the plastic coating has fully cooled and cured the wire is stretched to a smaller diameter and removed. The wire is able to be heated to return it to its original diameter and used again to make another section of plastic tubing.

NiTinol wire is a special type of wire used in place of springs for certain applications. This wire has the ability to retain its shape and be strained by as much as eight times more than an ordinary steel spring. Wiring is available in straight lengths with the option for custom finishing. Custom finishing helps to make the wire ready to use and not have to worry about performing your own in-house preparations before being able to use the wiring.

A Variety of Medical and Industrial Operations Use NiTinol Wire

The types of applications and uses for NiTinol wire cover a variety of industrial and medical operations. You find this wire being used as wire mandrels and in mechanical switching devices in various products. In medical fields this kind of wire is used to build robotic actuators and prosthetic devices, as well as used as stents for surgical procedures.

There are two different kinds of NiTinol wire manufactured for different purposes. One type is shape memory, while the other one is super elasticity. The reason there are two types of NiTinol is because the metal alloy has these two similarly related properties. As a result you will find this wire used for a variety of applications and purposes in many different industries including medicine, toys, clothing, and for specialized parts and components.

Both Super Elastic and Shape Memory NiTinol Wire Can Be Returned to Its Original Shape

Shape memory NiTinol requires heating the wire above the necessary transformation temperature in order for it to return to its original shape after it has been transformed into a new shape. One the other hand, super elastic NiTinol wire is able to be transformed from one state to another state without the use of high levels of heat. Rather the wire can be returned to its original shape with low level or natural heat sources. For example, dentists use super elastic NiTinol for braces. The natural warmth of the mouth reacts with the wire and causes it to slowly transform back into its original shape. As a result of the wire transforming, teeth are also slowly moved and straightened

Nickel titanium wire, or NiTinol wire, is used in devices which require a super elasticity and flexibility. NiTinol has the ability to transform from its resting shape into another shape and back again. For example, when this type of wire is being used in place of a steel spring, it can be stretched and stained up to eight times more, and still retain its original shape.

The Types of Devices Where You Will Find NiTinol Wire

The types of devices which will use NiTinol wire include prosthetics, stents, robotic actuators, wire mandrels, and mechanical switching devices. Prosthetics have several moving parts and components in order to simulate the functions of the body part they are replacing. The stress and strain of repeated movements would cause ordinary wiring and springs to wear out much faster than NiTinol. Since NiTinol provides better flexibility, while retaining its original shape, it is ideally suited for the repeated movements.