Mimetic polyalloy
From Terminator Wiki
Mimetic polyalloy is a form of liquid metal that is used by advanced Terminator models such as the T-1000 (Terminator 2: Judgment Day), the T-X (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), or Catherine Weaver (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Season 2). Mimetic polyalloy, as its name suggests, allows a Terminator to change into any shape or form that it touches.
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Production History
Mimetic polyalloy was first created by Skynet and used with the Series 1000 Terminator. After Time travel was introduced into the equation, its history becomes muddled with potential Alternate future and new Predestination paradox influences.
During the T2: Infiltrator trilogy, the I-950 Clea Bennet began development of the material under the name Intellimetal to ingratiate herself with the executives of Cyberdyne Systems. The raw prototype material was highly carcinogenic.
In Season 2 of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles it is revealed that the Infiltrator Catherine Weaver, is in control of another high-tech research and development company, dedicated to developing an AI that is either Skynet, or a rival. Being a Series 1000-like Terminator herself, it is possible that she is working to advance development of the material as well.
Known mimetic polyalloy-applied Terminators
T-1000
The T-1000 was not issued with any weapons, but was capable of fashioning any solid metal form, such as knives and stabbing weapons. The T-1000 could not, however, form any complex systems which may have had moving parts or chemicals, like guns or explosives.
The mimetic polyalloy construction of the T-1000 allowed it to replicate any object or person of similar volume that it molecularly sampled by physical contact.
T-X
Like the earlier T-1000 Series, the T-X Series also utilizes mimetic polyalloy. However, whereas the T-1000 Series was constructed entirely from this liquid metal, the T-X Series only has a liquid metal outer sheath covering its endoskeleton.
Like the T-1000, the T-X can take the form of any human it touches, typically terminating the subject upon imitation. Stored within small reservoirs in the cranial casing of the T-X when in endoskeletal form, the mimetic polyalloy not only aids in infiltration, but also adds strength to the overall armor of the T-X Series. Like the T-1000, the T-X's supply of polyalloy can partially absorb the shock of gunfire.
Vulnerabilities
The mimetic polyalloy can be destroyed by the following factors:
Temperature
Temperatures in excess of 1535 degrees Celsius, such as those needed to smelt iron, could physically alter the bonding processes of the mimetic polyalloy. The molten iron (or any other element) could then mix with the elements of the alloy and physically alter its molecular structure, thus rendering it inoperative. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
- Plasma
The mimetic polyalloy can be destroyed by a plasma cannon. Terminator 3: Eyes Of The Rise
Corrosives
Corrosives, such as concentrated Hydrochloric Acid, were also known to damage T-1000's. Terminator 2: Judgment Day - Cybernetic Dawn Malibu Comics
Incapability
The mimetic polyalloy can be impeded in a period by the following factors:
Freezing
The T-1000 is exposed to liquid nitrogen, which freezes it's morphing processes long enough for the T-800 to shatter it with a single gunshot. The effect is only temporary; the heat from a nearby smelting tub is enough to thaw the scattered fragments and the T-1000 is able to reform itself. However, the Terminator also exhibits a glitch caused by the freezing process; it begins to randomly sample nearby objects (a safety railing, a diamond-plated surface). Later, when it imitates Sarah Connor to attract her son, John is able to identify it when it involuntarily imitates the surface it's standing on. Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Magnetic Fields
John Connor is able to temporarily incapacitate a T-X by charging up a particle accelerator and triggering a magnetic field. The mimetic polyalloy is pulled off of her metallic endoskeleton by the magnetic field, until she is able to use her an implanted saw to disable the field. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Notes
- It is unknown how Mimetic Poly-alloy figures into time travel. As time travel requires organic tissue (at least wrapped around the robot), the alloy would have to actually generate a real outer layer of skin and hair (or some other material that is considered "organic" by the TDE) to allow a Terminator to go through time. This would, however, explain why the T-1000 in T2 arrived appearing as a naked human, not as a silver 'Oscar'-like humanoid. This also seems to be true for the T-X, which also had adopted a human form before it arrived.
