Abstract

Nickel titanium gained substantial popularity because of their desirable properties. Relative high cost has prompted clinicians to recycle these alloy wires. It was seen that 52% of the orthodontists using these wires recycled them. Recycling involved repeated exposure of the wire to mechanical stresses, oral environment sterilization and the combined effect of the above exposures could subject the wire to corrosion and cold working. According to Waters et al., Nitinol was susceptible to corrosion when subjected to either oral fluids or chloride solutions.