Impervium | |
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Impervium is a common material in ship building. | |
Density | |
0.70 lb/in3 | |
Durability | |
~9-10 | |
Flexibility | |
About the same as Durasteel, but with a higher threshold. | |
Thermal Conductivity | |
High. | |
Electrical Conductivity | |
High. | |
Average Price | |
0.38▣/in3 (refined) |
Impervium is a dark, dense, and weighty metal, boasting the pinnacle of tensile strength among stellar metals. Its formidable density and strength provide robust defense against numerous kinetic attacks. However, due to its heft, Impervium finds optimal utility in contexts where weight is not a critical factor, such as in the hulls of spacecraft, treaded tank hulls, bunker plating, and even in the construction of heavier mechs or power armors. In certain scenarios, it even substitutes I-Beams in construction. Impervium is crafted through an intricate process involving the further refining and reprocessing of super-heated Rubium within an inert, high-pressure atmosphere. Throughout its production, electric currents are inducted through the metal, and it is doped with a blend of metals and metalloids, including carbon, various heavy metals, and silver. This procedure forms nano-structures resembling carbon nanotubes within the metal, enhancing its strength and bestowing it with its characteristic black sheen. However, Impervium production is notably challenging and mandates the use of expansive, sophisticated equipment operated by trained individuals.
While Impervium is renowned for its tensile strength, its Achilles' heel resides in its weight and its susceptibility to weakening and dulling when exposed to extreme heat, such as from plasma or laser weapons. This significantly diminishes its tensile strength, even to levels below that of durasteel, compelling military vessels to employ a layer of ferozium plating beneath the impervium hull to safeguard against energy attacks that impervium cannot repel. Additionally, Impervium finds application in certain electronic devices as a conductor, transforming into a highly charged hazard when subjected to sufficient electricity. This attribute renders it useful in constructing entities such as power substations or plants, where the material's weight is a non-issue, yet it remains more economical than other room-temperature superconductors. Impervium melts at around 1300 degrees Fahrenheit.