SURFACE MODIFICATION OF TI-NI SMA BY NITROGEN PLASMA IMMERSION ION IMPLANTATION (PIII) – PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Nickel–titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys are promising materials for surgical implants due to their shape memory and super-elasticity. Studies have also reported that nickel ions leached from the alloys cause toxic reactions in humans, more severely in nickel hyper-sensitive patients resulting in strong allergic reactions. The use of the PIII process aims to avoid this negative effect of nickel release through the nitroge