Application of nickel alloys in medical apparatus and instruments

2024-06-26

Nickel-containing materials and products play an essential role in helping healthcare companies advance global healthcare. They are part of manufacturers’ response to the continuing challenge of health. Many key nickel applications make an essential contribution to optimal medical solutions and prolonging lives.Surgical materials, tools and equipment must be easy to sterilise and must not pose a threat to human health. The properties of nickel-containing stainless steels bring this feature to the healthcare sector, through:

Ease of cleaning
Excellent corrosion resistance to aggressive disinfecting chemicals
Autoclavable
Biocompatibility
Excellent formability
Ease of welding
Excellent surface finish on medical tools
Non-magnetic with no interference with sensitive electronics
Ability to withstand cryogenic temperatures
Minimal moisture absorption and high surface cleanliness.

Nickel alloys and nickel-containing stainless steels are essential materials in a wide spectrum of medical instruments and devices. These range from innovative surgical tools and techniques to a variety of devices used to manage chronic conditions. Nickel alloys and stainless steels are employed in a range of implantable medical devices, ranging from orthopaedic applications such as joint replacements to stents used in angioplasty.

It is not simply the corrosion resistance of nickel-containing austenitic stainless steel that makes it essential for medical environments. The ability to withstand ultra-low temperatures (-269°C) make it indispensable for containing the liquid nitrogen used in cryosurgery for removing abnormal tissue.