Affiliations: Dept. C. Materiales e Ingeniería Metalurgica, ETSEIB, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, Diagonal 647, 08028‐Barcelona, Spain | Grupo de Investigación en Ortodoncia, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain
Note: [] Correspondence address: F.J. Gil, Dept. C. Materials e Eng. Metalúrgica, ETSEIB, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, Av. Diagonal 647, 08028‐Barcelona, Spain. Tel.: 34 93 4016708; Fax: 34 93 4016706; E‐mail: gil@ cmem.upc.es.
Abstract: The lack of low friction coefficient for the NiTi superelastic archwires makes difficult the optimal use of these materials in orthodontic applications. In this study, the decrease of this friction coefficient has been achieved by means of nitrogen diffusion heat treatments. The titanium nitride coating has been characterised by means of optical and scanning electron microscopy. Transformation temperatures, critical stresses, hardness and friction coefficient have been determined. Besides, the metallic ion release studies showed that the titanium nitride coating prevents biodegradation.
