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A word about materials. . .
Pierceit Shop sources ALL jewellery from UK suppliers. We DO NOT import cheap "mystery metals" from India, China or elsewhere. The Blackline™ we sell is authentic (Wildcat) Blackline™ (PVD Titanium) and not cheap, inferior imitation.
STEEL
Stainless steel is the most common material used today for body piercing jewellery. There
are various 'Grades' of stainless steel, the ones that are suitable for piercing
are the '300' grades, more specifically the 316L and 316LVM grades.
The difference between 316L and 316LVM is down to manufacturing processes,
316L comes in stock that is machined to size, whereas 316LVM is manufactured
at the appropriate sizes and needs no additional machining; resulting in a
finer finish with less surface imperfections. As with any purchase always
ensure you purchase body jewellery from reputable suppliers, as there have
been cases of cheap imported 'low grade' materials being 'passed off' as 316L.
 316L is UNSUITABLE for use in Initial piercings
 316L is SUITABLE for use in Healed piercings
316L is SUITABLE for use in an AUTOCLAVE
LOW NICKEL STEEL
The EU Nickel Directive (Directive 94/27/EEC) entered into full force in July
2001. Nickel is limited in jewellery used during epithelization (Healing)
after piercing (nickel content below 0.05%).
Healed piercings:
The EU Nickel Directive (Directive 94/27/EEC) states that jewellery placed
into healed piercings must have a nickel release rate lower than .5mg/cm2/Week.
Low nickel steel is significantly harder to machine than 316 and carries a
slight premium.
LOW NICKEL STEEL is SUITABLE for use in Initial piercings
LOW NICKEL STEEL is SUITABLE for use in Healed piercings
LOW NICKEL STEEL is SUITABLE for use in an AUTOCLAVE
TITANIUM
Titanium is the fourth most abundant element. It is found in North America,
South America, Europe, Africa, China, Australia, Russia, and many other countries
Although first isolated in 1887 it wasn't until the 1950's that Titanium found
it's niche in the aviation industry, mainly due to its low density, high strength
to weight ratio and the protective layer formed which gives excellent resistance
to corrosion.
Titanium is used for medical applications as diverse as:
· Heart valves
· replacement joints
· pacemakers
Titanium is particularly well suited to body piercing for the above reasons,
although it should be noted that as with all metals, a suitable grade should
always be used, 'grade 23' titanium is approved for such use and you should
NEVER take 'shortcuts' with titanium (or any material to be placed in your
body).
TITANIUM is SUITABLE for use in Initial piercings
TITANIUM is SUITABLE for use in Healed piercings
TITANIUM is SUITABLE for use in an AUTOCLAVE
NIOBIUM
Discovered in 1844, Niobium takes its name from the daughter of the Greek
God Tantalus, Niobe. It wasn't until 1866 that a method to chemically separate
Tantalum and Niobium was devised This metal, also known as Columbium in the
Americas, is a wonder of the modern age it is used in projects as diverse
as:
· the space program
· nuclear reactors
· medical imaging
Niobium has also found a more hedonistic niche in the world of body art
because of its excellent characteristics; chiefly it's highly inert when implanted
and forms a layer of dense, stable and adhesive oxide (Pentoxide), which gives
it the distinctive bluish colouring.
NIOBIUM is SUITABLE for use in Initial piercings
NIOBIUM is SUITABLE for use in Healed piercings
NIOBIUM is SUITABLE for use in an AUTOCLAVE
PTFE
PolyTetraFluoroEthylene is a remarkable polymer, which is ideally suited for
medical implantation, or making sure your eggs and bacon don't get stuck to
the pan! PTFE is inert due to the fact that it repels everything. (Even bacon
and eggs!)
Roy Plunkett discovered PTFE at DuPont's labs in the late 1930's since then
PTFE (or Teflon to give its trade name) has found uses in many applications.
Frying pan's, plumbing and Body Jewellery to name just a few.
PTFE is SUITABLE for use in Initial piercings
PTFE is SUITABLE for use in Healed piercings
PTFE is SUITABLE for use in an AUTOCLAVE
BIOPLAST TM
Has the following characteristics:
Biocompatible
Extremely flexible
Can be cut to desired length
Easy to thread
Causes less swelling and irritation than surgical steel
Faster healing times than steel
No allergic reactions (no nickel)
Can be autoclaved
Can be combined with other materials
Biocompatibility Testing of PolySulfones for Medical Devices
BP Amoco have contracted with an independent testing laboratory, North
American Science Associates, Inc (NAMSA), to conduct tests on Udel
polysulfone resins to demonstrate the biocompatibility of this
material
Bioplast is SUITABLE for use in Initial piercings
Bioplast is SUITABLE for use in Healed piercings
Bioplast is SUITABLE for use in an AUTOCLAVE (up to 120 degrees)
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