Nitinol is metal alloy of nickel and titanium. It has wide range of applications. The most significant application is production of self-expanding stent-grafts, which are commonly used in vascular surgery. Stent-graft manufactures are confronted with two basic requirements: stents must have an infinite life; stents must be made of the thinnest wires us possible. Stent-graft failure or device fatigue remains major concern for stent-graft manufactures and researches. The stent-grafts are mechanically loaded, and also the device is placed in very aggressive environment. The corrosion stability of Nitinol is strongly dependent on the surface preparation: grinding, polishing, chemical etching. The paper deals with fatigue degradation of stent-grafts in corrosive environment.
Seaweeds’ carbohydrate polymers as plant growth promoters
