Materials Guide

Body Piercing Materials Guide

The materials that are used for body jewellery are selected for their bio-compatibility, or "body friendly" quality. However, some materials are more bio-compatible than others due to their specific compositions, or alloys

Surgical Stainless Steel (Grade 316L)
The Steel used in JoBananas Body Jewellery is 316L Steel, which is comprised of several metals including nickel, to which some people are sensitive. However, the specific composition of 316L allows for very little exposure to the nickel molecules, thus reducing the risk of sensitivity. The Nickel release rate is less than 0.5ug/cm2/week.

The European Nickel Directive states that Steel is not suitable for the initial piercing or for use during the period of epithalization (healing), however it can be used for healed piercings.

Titanium
JoBananas Body Jewellery Titanium is made using 6AL-4V Titanium. Titanium is extremely lightweight and very strong (approximately half the weight of steel and twice as strong), it is the most bio-compatible of all metals due to its total resistance to attack by body fluids and it can also be "anodised" to create a whole range of colours. Due to these factors, Titanium is fast becoming a very popular alternative to Steel body jewellery.

Titanium jewellery is available in a range of colours which are produced through anodising, not dyeing. During the anodising process, the jewellery is submerged in an electrolyte solution and voltage is applied. Anodising creates an oxide layer on the jewellery. The colour results from refraction of light through the oxide layer, and the thickness of the layer determines the resulting colour.

Titanium is suitable for use in initial piercings, and throughout the healing process in accordance with the European Directive 94/27/EU.

Please note that coloured Titanium worn orally may fade due to acidity in the mouth, smoking and certain food and drink substances such as coke, fatty foods, tomato ketchup...

PTFE
PTFE is short for Poly Tetra Fluoro Ethylene - it is a fluorocarbon polymer.
PTFE is very flexible making it extremely comfortable and also ideal for use during pregnancy and for sport.
There is NO NICKEL in PTFE so no allergic reactions
The surface of PTFE is smooth and slippery, therefore hardly any substances, such as the discharge excreted by the wound will stick to the material, making it very suitable for initial piercings and for use during the healing period.
PTFE is resistant even to aggressive chemicals. This is especially important when placing a piercing in the oral or genital area.
PTFE jewellery does not have to be removed for being x-rayed It can be cut to any desired length and rethreaded, so if your bar is too long, you just cut it with scissors and thread the attachment back on.
PTFE can withstand temperatures from -200 to +260 degrees Celcius and is therefore suitable for steraliation or autoclaving.
Attachments can be changed without removing the bar itself PTFE is suitable for use in initial piercings, and throughout the healing process in accordance with the European Nickel Directive.

Bioplast
Bioplast is a Bio compatible material which is safe for body piercing.
Bioplast is flexible making it extremely comfortable
There is NO NICKEL in Bioplast so no allergic reactions
People that get pierced with Bioplast get less swelling and infections than other materials The healing process with Bioplast is faster than with other materials.
Bioplast can be cut to any length and rethreaded with any metal ball closure
Bioplast can be steralised by autoclave.
Bioplast is very competitvely priced and is available in a range of colours
Bioplast bars can be combined with hundreds of combinations of attachments
Bioplast is ideal for initial piercings.