IIT-BHU
VARANASI: Scientists at the metallurgical engineering department of Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) have succeeded in making nickel-free surgical grade stainless steel that is cheaper and much safer than stainless steel containing titanium, cobalt-chromium and nickel used in organ transplantation in the human body. The new metal is also lighter in weight and double in strength.
According to them, titanium, cobalt-chromium and nickel-based surgical grade stainless steel metals such as (316L) are currently being used in surgical treatment of broken bones. It is extremely expensive and many problems are also associated with it. Stainless steel (316L) is a nickel-based metal which is cheap but the nickel element present in it causes problems like allergies, cancer, inflammation, discomfort, changes in the skin of the implant area in human skin.