Shape memory Nitinol wires are used in medical devices like stents to open blocked blood vessels. They are also used in orthodontic wire to correct tooth alignment, as they can return to their original shape and apply gentle, consistent force. In robotics, these wires help design flexible drives for more adaptive motion.

Nickel titanium shape memory wire is a kind of wire made of nickel titanium alloy. It has an extraordinary ability to "remember" and return to a predetermined shape after being deformed.
This wire operates according to a phase change mechanism. At lower temperatures, it is in the martensitic phase and can bend or deform. When heated above a certain transition temperature (austenite completion temperature), it returns to its original shape when it transforms into an austenitic phase. The change in crystal structure during the phase transition allows the wire to regain its memory shape.

The working principle of Nitinol guides is based on their superelastic and shape memory properties. They can be bent and shaped to fit through the body's complex anatomy, such as blood vessels or catheters. The wire is inserted and guided to the target area, its flexibility allows it to follow the path, while its stiffness provides enough pushability to reach the destination, helping to locate other medical devices or provide treatment.

Super elastic nitinol wires are widely used in orthodontics for dental braces due to their ability to apply constant force and return to their original shape. They're also used in some medical devices like stents to provide support and flexibility in the body's vessels or ducts.

The typical service life of a nitinol guide wire depends on various factors such as usage frequency, application, and operating conditions. In minimally invasive procedures like angioplasty, it can usually last for a single procedure or a few uses if properly sterilized and maintained, generally ranging from several minutes to a few hours per use.

Shape memory nitinol foil are usually manufactured through techniques like sputtering. In sputtering, high - energy particles bombard a nickel - titanium target, ejecting atoms which then deposit on a substrate to form a thin film. Another method is evaporation, where the nickel titanium material is heated to vaporize and then condensed onto a surface to create the thin film.

The elastic modulus of nickel titanium wire varies depending on the phase state it is in, as follows:
- Austenite: The elastic modulus is generally 75-83GPa.
- Martensite: The elastic modulus is usually between 28 and 40GPa.

Superconductivity of nitinol wire refers to the property that the wire can conduct electricity with zero electrical resistance under certain extremely low - temperature conditions.

Shape memory nitinol wire is usually obtained by a process such as vacuum induction melting. Then, hot processing, such as forging and rolling, is carried out to form it into wire. The diameter is then reduced to the desired size using a drawing technique. Machining operations such as cutting and bending can be further performed to meet specific requirements. Heat treatment is also an important step in optimizing its shape memory and superelastic properties.

Shape memory nitinol wire works based on its unique atomic structure. At a certain temperature (the transformation temperature), the wire can "remember" its original shape. When deformed below this temperature, it changes shape. But when heated to the transformation temperature or above, the atoms rearrange themselves and the wire returns to its original shape due to the phase transformation between martensitic and austenitic phases.

The cost of nitinos is affected by several factors. First, the cost of raw materials is a key factor. High quality nickel and titanium are essential and their price directly affects the total cost. Secondly, the complexity and precision requirements of the manufacturing process play a role.

Nickel titanium ingots are usually made through vacuum arc remelting or induction melting. Vacuum arc remelting helps in purifying the alloy and ensuring a homogeneous structure. Induction melting is also used for its efficiency in melting the metals and controlling the composition precisely. After melting, casting processes are employed to shape the molten alloy into ingots.