BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF TINI ALLOY SURFACES

A review on biocompatibility of TiNi alloys and related surface proper ties is presented. TiNi alloys showed biocompatibility comparable to t hat of stainless steel in in vivo and to titanium and Co-Cr alloys in in vitro. The nature of good biocompatibility is related to the proper ties of TiNi surfaces which revealed the tendency to be covered with T iO2 based oxides with a little amount of Ni (0-5%) in them. Estimation s of the concentrations of both alloy components in the biological med ia after exposure to autoclaved TiNi specimens indicate that release o f metals may be biologically insignificant.