On Thu, 09 Oct 2003 15:52:41 -0400, Tom Quackenbush wrote:

After looking on the Web, I _think_ they're made from some sort of
nickel-titanium alloy, but I'm not sure.

Does anyone know what type of alloy this is and what other
applications it may be being used for?


I think you have eyeglass frames made from NiTiNOL. That's a
"memory shape" alloy of Ti and Nickel developed by the Naval Ordinance Labs
(NiTiNOL)(defense department). The plastic property shown in your eyeglass
frame is unique to that material (NiTiNOL). Incidently, the temperature that
the material behaves like a spring and has "memory" can be set to different
points. Your glasses are set for normal "room temp". It could set so that
you mangle the frame, then "repair" it by dipping in boiling (or very hot)
water.

The medical industry uses NiTiNol for stents and the like. The place I
worked at used NiTiNol as a frame for a filter that is inserted into your
aorta (major vessel coming off your heart) during cardiac surgery. The frame
and filter material was drawn back into a syringe looking device and
deployed into your aorta. Once deployed, it "sprang" into shape filling the
interior circumferance of your aorta. It was then drawn back into the
syringe at the appropriate time for removal. Basically, any spring tempered
material can do the job, but NiTiNol also has positive biocompatability
properties. Most spring materials have too much iron and carbon and would
react adversely in the blood. It would rust, basically.

--
Skuke
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