*Invited* Workability of Radiopaque Er Doped NiTi

Despite the fact that binary NiTi alloy is one of the most important biomaterials currently used in minimally invasive procedures and indwelling devices, its visibility under and X-ray is poor. The addition of a third, radiopaque element can significantly enhance radiopacity. In the past, noble metals such as platinum or gold have been added to NiTi compound to increase radiopacity. Recently it was demonstrated that the addition of a rare earth element such as Erbium, can obtain equivalent radiopacity at a much lower cost than the equivalent addition of noble metals. This work discusses metallurgical challenges associated with processing such novel ternary systems through traditional vacuum melting routes and recommends heat treatment that can potentially overcome the challenges in subsequent hot working of Er doped NiTi.