[Mechanical properties of nickel-titanium alloy wire developed by the diffusion method].

The present study was conducted to investigate mechanical properties of the nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) alloy wire developed by the diffusion method, in comparison with the previous Ni-Ti wires. Two types of the wire, work hardening and super elastic wires, were used for three experiments; three-point bending test, tension test and torque test. The following findings were obtained. 1. A newly developed work hardening wire exhibited lower force level with a generous reduction of force at various wire deflections, in comparison with the previous work hardening Ni-Ti wires. It was also found that tension strength and extension ratio of this wire were greater, and its modulus of longitudinal elasticity was smaller than those of the previous wires, indicating high resistibility to breakage. 2. A super elastic wire, developed by the diffusion method, showed similar pattern of force reduction associated with varying wire deflections, although magnitude of force was slightly larger than those of the previous super elastic wires. 3. An interesting finding was that force and its reduction with various deflections were varied by controlling how the wire was ligated onto a bracket, which was more obvious in the work hardening type of the present Ni-Ti wire. 4. Magnitudes of force exerted by Ni-Ti wires were around 200 gf at a deflection of 2 mm with an interbracket distance of 7 mm, and seemed to be beyond an optimal orthodontic force for anterior teeth. A further refinement is expected in terms of improving mechanical properties and/or developing finer wires.