Body Jewelry Materials Painful Pleasures is dedicated to bringing you the latest styles of body jewelry. We are committed to the highest quality materials and workmanship that goes into making our jewelry. Body jewelry is made from a wide range of materials, including surgical stainless steel, titanium, gold, sterling silver, niobium, PTFE, silicone, and organic materials such as wood, bone, and horn. Learn more about some of the more popular types of body jewelry materials below. The organizations which set the standards of Materials are ASTM, American Society for Testing and Materials, and ISO, International Organization of Standardization. The ASTM and ISO are standardization organizations that are made up of representatives from government, academia and the private sector. They develop procedures, specifications and criteria to be applied to materials, the manufacture of products and the testing and analysis of those materials and products. These organizations exist to benefit society as a whole and to promote health and safety. 316L Stainless Steel - Much of our jewelry is made using 316L implant-grade surgical steel, unless otherwise noted. 316L is the most widely used because it is affordable, durable and non-corrosive. All of our steel is precision-machined, gently tapered and polished to a mirrored finish. There are two different types of 316L Steel that we sell: 316L ASTM F-138-03 - 99% of our jewelry is manufactured using 316L Implant Grade steel unless otherwise noted. 316L(VM) ASTM F-138-03 * ISO:5832-1 - VM stands for Vacum Melting. It is not part of the ASTM F-138 specification. Vacum Melting means that the metal has been melted or alloyed in a vacuum, thereby limiting outside contaminants and reducing includions within the metal. This makes the metal more pure. VM is not required for 316L to pass implant standards. There isn't a lab test that can be performed to determine whether or not a metal has been vacum melted. There is no definitive, ASTM method to test for vacuum melting. Be sure you are getting 316LVM, buy from reputable dealers. Titanium - We use 6AL4V-ELi grade material in all of our titanium body jewelry. Titanium is becoming the metal of choice for most piercers. Because of its superior machinability and lighter weight (45% lighter than steel), and due to the fact that it's almost completely hypo-allergenic, titanium is most ideal for individuals sensitive to other materials. There are two types of Titanium we sell: Titanium 6ALV-ELI ASTM F-136-02 (Grade 23) - We use 6AL4V-ELI Implant Grade titanium in all of our titanium body jewelry. Titanium 6AL4V ASTM F-136-02 (Grade 5) - The essential difference between Ti6Al4V ELI (grade 23) and Ti6Al4V (grade 5) is the reduction of oxygen content to 0.13% (maximum) in grade 23. This confers improved ductility and fracture toughness, with some reduction in strength. * Titainum can be polished to a high luster resembling that of 316L Implant Grade Stainless Steel. It can also be coloured by a process called ANODIZATION. Anodizing is a process whereby an electrical current is passed through the metal. Oxides build on the surface of the metal, and as light is refracted through this film, a wide specturm of vivid metallic colours are seen. You can purchase an anodizing kit if you would like to start to anodize your body jewelry. Niobium - Niobium is a pure element, not an alloy. In its natural state, it is completely hypoallergenic and easy to bend, making it ideal for use in jewelry applications. Niobium rings work especially well in areas where jewelry is harder to place, like in daith and rook piercings, because of its extreme flexibility. Glass - Glass is a group of materials that are non-organic, super-cooled liquids. Glass is odorless, impermeable, physically and chemically stable, acid and alkali resistant, transparent, easy to clean and hygienic. Different glass types have different chemical compositions and working characteristics. Colorants are added in the form of metal oxides and generally consist of less than 1% of the glass composition. Gorilla Glass uses three types of glass in production. SODA LIME GLASS - The most common glass type with a wide variety of everyday uses, including food and beverage containers, window panes, and art glass. Soda Lime glass comes in a wide range of opaque and transparent colors, and can be autoclaved without problems. Soda Lime Glass is 60-70% silica, 12-18% Soda, and 5-12% lime. BOROSILICATE GLASS - Borosilicate is a specialty glass that has a high resistance to thermal shock and good chemical stability, making it ideal for bake ware and laboratory equipment. Brand names of borosilicate include Pyrex, Kimax, Simax, and Schott-Duran. Borosilicate glass types contain minimum of 5% boric oxide. OBSIDIAN - Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass. Obsidian is usually black, but can also be very dark red, green, or gray. Gorilla Glass uses JET BLACK obsidian from Central Mexico. Sterling Silver - Sterling silver's chemical composition doesn't allow it to be used for components that are inserted into the body. All of our sterling silver jewelry has a surgical steel shaft which the decorative sterling part is then attached to, so that the piece that goes into your body is made of a material safe for internal use. Our silver carries the hallmark .925 stamp, which you can actually see on the silver designs. Unlike imposters out there who only do a silver coating, our silver designs are truly sterling silver. (PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene) - PTFE is an inert, wear-resistant, slippery, and flexible plastic that has been used extensively as a component of permanent and temporary surgical implants. This makes it a highly safe material for use in body piercings. If you have an oral piercing and are concerned about receding gumlines or chipping your teeth, you might consider PTFE as a safer alternative to metal jewelry. Benefits of PTFE: Can be sterilized with autoclave Totally Flexible - It will bend with your body tissues unlike all metal Jewelry. Hypo-allergenic - Being one of the least allergic materials, P.T.F.E. is used in the medical industry to make Heart Valves and other surgical implants. Should there be a problem of allergic reaction or rejection to conventional metal jewelry, it is likely that PTFE Body Jewelry is now a practical choice for that person under any circumstances. Fully Adjustable- A razorblade is all that is needed to adjust the bar to the exact size of your piercing! Self Threading - PTFE bars will fit all threaded accessories that you may already own! Simply screw-on your accessory (balls, spikes, etc...) on to a PTFE bar. It will create a thread on the bar and will hold strongly. Nylong Polymide Monofilament - Monofilament is used in medical applications, in wig making and most commonly known, fishing line. Monofilament is a single strand (hence... mono) of nylon. There is nothing to fragment or splinter. The type of monofilament we use is called monofilament nylon polyamide. It is strong flexible and non-biodegradable (will not break down even with prolonged wear in the human body). This is the same material used in non-absorbable suture material. Monofilament nylon polymide is listed with the FDA as 'non-absorbable suture materials' under nylon - listing no - A 100568. You can find the Material and Mill Certificates for Stainless Steel, Titanium, and Niobium under our Metal and Jewelry Certificates.
