Surface Characteristics and Hydrophobicity of Ni-Ti Alloy through Magnetic Mixed Electrical Discharge Machining

Abstract

Nickel–titanium (Ni-Ti) alloy has been selected as stent material given its good biocompatibility. In this study, experimental research on this material was conducted using magnetic field-assisted electrical discharge machining (EDM). The surface topography of the machined workpiece was analyzed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Hydrophobicity was measured by using an optical contact angle measuring instrument. The roughness values of different positions on the surface were measured using a TR200 roughness instrument. Results showed that the composite structure of solidification bulge–crater–pore–particle can be prepared on the surface of the Ni-Ti alloy through magnetic mixed EDM using suitable processing parameters. Moreover, the contact angle of the surface reaches 138.2°.