Sunday, June 18, 2006

bodypiercing with surgical steel 316L

Piercemania 316L / 316LVM SURGICAL STEEL: The most widely used material in the piercing industry.
Surgical stainless steel jewelry rarely causes allergic reactions.
Surgical Steel does not corrode or tarnish.
There is no nickel content difference between the 316L and the 316LVM.(Ni 11.51)
Stainless Steels are categorised into four general classes, based on composition: 200 series steel contains chromium, nickel and maganese, 300 series contains chromium and nickel, 400 series contains chromium and 500 series contains low chromium. The most corrosion resistant are 300 series steels, hence their popularity for medical implants and body jewelry. However, not all 300 series steels are suitable for invasive body piercing applications.
We use two steels for body jewelry. 316L surgical steel and 316LVM Surgical Steel. Although these high grades all contain nickel, they do not release nickel salts into the body and do not induce contact nickel dermatitis. (nickel evolution is below 0.01 ug/cm2/week).
Surgical Stainless Steels (316L) are used for body pins, bone plates, total joint prosthetics, bone nails, staples, intercranial drainage valves, bone fixation screws, among many other applications. Body jewelry listed here is manufactured from equivalent or higher standard material.
Piercemania steel body jewelry items have been electropolished, which is a sophisticated surface finishing technique, where electrochemical activity slowly erodes a thin layer from the surface of the jewelry resulting in MICROSMOOTHING. The resultant surface is ultra smooth and crevice free. It has a higher surface integrity and efficiency than jewelry polished by other means.
Our 316L/LVM Surgical Stainless Steel meets ISO 5832-1 and ASTM F138 standards.(Chemical Composition & Tensile Test available done 02/03/2006)

piercing with titanium grade 23

Piercemania TITANIUM: The human body is similar in terms of erosion conditions to that of an ocean. The CI- eon and Na+ eon that constitute electrolytes within a living human body tend to foster erosion conditions for metals. Therefore, titanium or titanium alloy is more recommendable than stainless steel or cobalt alloy as primary materials for medical devices for use in the human body since they will not erode even in ocean water.
There are a few reasons why titanium is considered the most appropriate material for medical use, and over other implant metals.
The very highest affinity with human tissue.
Commercial pure titanium and the titanium based alloy, Ti6AL-4V (known as Grade 5) and Ti6AL-4V ELi (known as Grade 23) have a higher degree of biocompatibility than other major medical implant metals.
The essential difference between Ti6AL-4V (Grade 5) and Ti6AL-4V ELI (Grade 23) is the reduction of oxygen content to 0.13% max in Grade 23.
Ti6AL-4V ELI (Grade 23) Used for medical implants since the mid 1950's
The main reason titanium has gained popularity is because it is non-toxic and poses no health risks since it has a great affinity for the conditions of a living human body.
Titanium is a chemically stable and does not get absorbed into the human body. In addition, it does not cause inflammation or toxicants when in contact with human skin.
Also, titanium is about 55% lighter in terms of weight compared to stainless steel, further contributing to its popularity.
All titanium supplied by Piercemania is certified to medical implant specification Ti6AL-4V ELi ASTM F136 and BS7252 Part 3 metallic material for implant use.
All titanium supplied by Piercemania has a nickel content below 0.05%, thus conforming to the European Directive 94/27/EC to avoid nickel sensitization. The average nickel content of titanium body jewelry supplied by Piercemania is 0.01%.
TITANIUM COLORS: All Piercemania titanium color products are made from the same Ti6AL-4V ELi ASTM F136 Grade 23 Titanium as our other titanium products but have been anodized using a computer controlled process to achieve their distinct finish by the formation of an adherent oxide film of controlled thickness / no pigment or other electroplated metals are involved that would compromise biocompatibility. Titanium can be changed into a number of vivid colors without the use of any dye, paint or varnish, the bright colors that appear are simply the result of natural light being refracted by the metal's surface. Some other metals can also be colored in this way, but the reactive "oxide" on the metal's surface (the layer that gives it the illusion of color) is far harder on titanium, so the color will last longer.
Colors will fade with time from friction, wear, but the actual metal does not change its color. keep in mind ,grade 23 titanium is safe ,non toxic and it won’t get absorb by the body.
Ask your supplier if your current color products are anodized on titanium G23 or surgical steel, you will be surprised of what you will find!!

Medproflex medical plastics by www.Piercemania.com

Piercemania Medproflex:MEDPROFLEX: Hypoallergenic medical material (Polymer Medical Flexible Plastic). It is a new development in body jewelry being the most versatile choice. Statement of compliance to regulations of medical use; Product fulfils the requirements on materials used for articles or components of articles intended for medical use as described in: USA: The product has passed the Class VI tests (Bio-compatibility) of the United States Pharmacopoeia XXIV and has been assigned the FDA Drug Master File. Council of Europe: European Pharmacopoeia, 3rd edition (1997), and Supplement 2001,Monograph 3.2.2 - Can be used for initial piercings. - People getting pierced with Medproflex have less swellings and infections. - The healing process with Medproflex is faster than with other materials. There is no temperature difference between the open wound and the Medproflex (like with metal). - No risk of rejection. It reduces the changes of allergic reactions to almost zero (no nickel content). - Flexible and extremely light weight, which ensures ease of comfort and wear while remaining durable. - The color is transparent; you can use Medproflex for initial piercing and to hide it if you need to! All in one item. - Medproflex has an edge on the different uses to the need. What is important, we find is the knowledge of the piercer and creativity to choose the correct type for each piercing (it had to be safe and we had to be able to sterilize it). Types and use: 1. The round ball end bar, best choice for initial tongue piercing if the piercer technique is from bottom to top. The reason being that a fresh piercing is more sensitive at the ball end allow a soft contact on the piercing and do not block any body fluid at the base. Tongue Items come at a 7/8 free size (Imperial System), allowing you extra length in a fresh piercing. Then as the swelling reduces, you can reduce the length. All you need is a pair of scissor to reduce the length as it will self thread by any metal ball closure. 2. The half ball end bar, it is more a fashion mold like a regular "No see um", hide the piercing, unhide it by just a flip over, and protect your gum or teeth while in sport.(Tongue Piercing) 3. The erotic half ball end, let's leave this design to your imagination. (Tongue Piercing) 4. The Retainer flat disc end bar, we really fix a problem from the old fashion acrylic retainer. It is flexible unlike old fashion acrylic retainers likely to break, snap, or crack. Second reason, the material will self thread with any standard 1.6mm metal surgical ball. (NO more O-ring). Mostly used for: Tongue piercing, labret piercing, cheeck piercing, ear piercing. 5. Medproflex navel jewelry advantages over surgical steel: It is hygienic and easy to keep clean. It has a smooth slippery surface, even when it is dry. Therefore easy to move and clean in the piercing. Unlike metal bars, it has an almost zero co-efficient of conductivity. It can be worn comfortably and safely in direct strong sunlight without the sun's heat being conducted to the subcutaneous tissues surrounding the piercing. Healing is not inhibited, and there is no risk of heat damage to healed tissue. You can now enjoy the sunshine. Won't lose its original shape, snag or stretch the piercing wound, thus assisting to quicker and safer healing. 6. -Nose screws retainers 18g (monroe and nostril piercings) - Medproflex can be sterilized by autoclave going above 136 degree Celsius (peaks up to 145) without melting. It will definitely start melting at 170 degree Celsius, might start a bit before depending on conditioning. - Should not be "hot air Sterilized". Hot air is not the proper way to sterilize (old fashion way to sterilize surgical steel clamps) and NO PLASTIC is given to be sterilized by Hot Air

Ear Piercing -- Body Piercing - Body Jewelry metals used

Piercemania wholesale Tattoo and Body Piercing Information including body jewelry, piercing equipment, ear piercing, tattoo equipment and tattoo information.
Body piercing has seen an explosion in popularity over the past few years. This in turn has lead to a huge increase in the range of body jewellery metals available from many different vendors.
I have tried many companies but as I piercer look for the best quality possible. I work with 3 piercing materials :Steel, titanium and Medproflex. On Steel , I look for the polish, it has to be miror finished , the thread has to be outomatic machine made (not manually) to avoid stripping of the ball or problem screwing the ball all the way into the shaft. I use a lot of CBR rings , I lke them with the tips nice and round(not square cut) to avoid tearing of a poor connection with the piercing needle. I recomend you Piercemania Jewelry(www.piercemania.com)
It wasn’t long ago that surgical steel jewellery was the ‘standard’ for body piercings with a small amount of silver and gold jewellery available for healed piercings. However, this has changed and you can buy body jewellery in a huge range of materials that include surgical steel with some designs on silver, gold, titanium, plastic/acrylic, glass,medproflex,ptfe, bone, horn and even wood.
The range may now be extensive but there is a problem… what type of jewellery is suitable for your piercing? Not all of the above materials may be suitable, especially if your piercing is still relatively new and/or unhealed.
For new body piercings there are only a few materials now recommended. It used to be the case that surgical steel jewellery was the automatic choice for new piercings conforming with astm standards. However, it has since been found that a very small minority of people can have a reaction to the small nickel content in most surgical steel, so a directive from Brussels has stopped the use of steel for new body piercings. Although there is a form of surgical steel available that’s nickel free, high production costs and the emergence of newer, more readily available materials have prevented this from becoming popular.
So what is ’safe’ for a new or unhealed piercing? Titanium is perhaps the No1 choice for new body piercings at the moment. Available simply polished or with a very wide range of inert, anodized or PVD coatings it is our jewellery of choice by far. From belly bars and ball closure rings to labret studs are all available in titanium and at a price almost on par with steel.
Another option, especially suited to those who want their piercings a little less visible, is Medproflex manufactured by Piercemania. There are other plastic out on the market but their composition, stability is different. Medproflex, Being a form of plastic the material is very inert making it ideally suited for all piercings and with the ability to flex a little it is usually far more comfortable than conventional jewellery such as titanium. The only drawback for some is that it simply isn’t as attractive as titanium jewellery; especially the coloured or gem set titanium pieces.
Although not as pure or inert as titanium or medproflex by piercemania, sterling silver is also an option for some people on newer piercings although not recommended for brand new piercings or those still ‘weeping’. However, as the vast majority of ’silver’ jewellery features a surgical steel bar that passes through the actual piercing, with only the detailing being made of sterling silver, most silver body jewellery should be treated as surgical steel for use in piercings i.e. not recommended for brand new piercings or those still with discharge but ideal for anything else.
So what is not recommended for newer piercings? It is important to stress that for brand new piercings, or those still weeping, you should only consider truly inert and ’safe’ materials such as titanium or medproflex/medical plastic and all jewellery should be properly sterilized prior to use. Surgical steel is no longer recommended for unhealed piercings in Europe. In the United States metals regulations for piercing are not at legislation level yet, but the metals Certified surgical stainless steel 316L / 316LVM meeting ISO 5832-1 and ASTM F138 standards, Medproflex-medical polymer flexible plastics, titanium 6AL4V-ELI grade 23 astm f136 for implant grade are the 3 best choices for initial piercing. Gold is only ever suitable for completely healed piercings (i.e. usually 6 months+ after the piercing and no weeping or discharge) due to the very high level of impurities most gold carries. Organic materials such as wood, horn and bone should only be used for healed piercings simply because they can carry contaminants and are very difficult to sterilise fully.