Examination of Chinese NiTi wire by a combined clinical and laboratory approach.

Chinese NiTi wire was compared with Nitinol and stainless steel wires in a combined laboratory and clinical examination. In the laboratory test, the loading and unloading-deflection properties of the wires were determined in a three-point bending test and their surface properties were studied in a scanning electron microscope. This test attempts to simulate a common clinical situation. The NiTi material showed a non-linear force-deflection relationship. The increase in force from 1 mm deflection and onwards was very slow and the force delivered during unloading from large deflections was almost constant. This behaviour was somewhat different for smaller downward deflections of NiTi wires. Plastic deformation was insignificant. The clinical study confirmed the laboratory results obtained, characterizing a wire material much superior to stainless steel and even superior to Nitinol for alignment purposes. In clinical use, however, the rate of fractures of NiTi wires turned out to be unsatisfactorily high. This disadvantage was not predicted by the three-point bending test. Scanning electron microscopy revealed surface defects and non-metallic inclusions in fractured NiTi wires. A combination of a bending test simulating a clinical situation and surface examination is recommended when new wire materials are to be tested.