Hui Zhao Materials characterization of metallic cardiovascular stents Jan Van Humbeeck, Ludo Froyen, Hui Zhao, This research occurs in close collaboration with the division of cardiology at the academic hospital of KULeuven under the guidance of Prof. I. De Scheeerder. Appropriate cardiovascular stent material has been selected in order to control and optimize the chemical and mechanical properties. Mo, Ta are investigated.
Special attention is given to improve the smoothness of commercial stents by electro-polishing.
The effect of polishing on the mechanical properties, especially the recoil, is one of the major topics in this study. The hardness and the strength clearly increased due to several interacting strengthening mechanisms such as solid solution hardening, grain refinement and dispersion strengthening. These MA powders were subsequently densified by hot pressing or hot isostatic pressing. In vitro tests show that the developed material has good biocompatible properties.