Metamat A

Metamat A, also known commercially as Plasteel, is an extremely high tensile strength meta-material created through high energy manufacturing processes. Metamat A has the ability to deform when extremely high energies are applied and becomes elastic in behavior. However, at this state, the material will not break or shatter unless megaton levels of energy are applied all at once at a single point. The material is dense enough to absorb particle weaponry.

Due to the complexity and energy requirements for assembling Metamat A, much of the main production comes from Sol. The Crucible along with its many orbital fabricators are able to produce enough material for starship construction for the entire Human Empire. However, outer colonies have also demonstrated the capacity to create Metamat A on-world through means of antimatter reactions. These fabricators are much less efficient and cost much more per unit of Metamat A due to the scarcity of antimatter.

Metamat A finds common usage as armor plating for linelayers, military vessels, and orbital structures alike. Its strength and elasticity allows ships to survive light impacts at relativistic velocities with minor damage. Furthermore, it has allowed for the construction of otherwise impossible megastructures.

When faced with micro-meteor impacts, electron beam lances, or nuclear missiles, Metamat A’s strength allows ships to survive incredible amounts of kinetic damage. The material will heat up when a projectile impacts it. It then deforms inwards until either the projectile is disintegrated or the plate is pierced. This feature is a double edged sword, however, as the armor plating may deform into the hull, causing internal damage. The plate is also near impossible to repair without specialized heavy equipment found in shipyards and logistics ships.

Because of the engineering complexities and high cost of production, plasteel is usually reserved for armor caps on the noses of ships and around highly sensitive components such as reactors and ammunition stowage in an all-or-nothing armor scheme.

Thanks to its strength, a half-inch thin plate of plasteel is more than enough for rifle caliber protection. Modern plate carriers and rigs can weigh as little as seven pounds with a front plate, back plate, and side inserts. Plasteel armor is rated at level V, allowing for multiple 12.7mm hits before failing. In most cases, the wearer is knocked unconscious or put into shock long before the armor cracks. Thicker plates, up to an inch, are rated at level VI. These plates are capable of stopping plasteel capped ammo and EE blades, but are extremely expensive. Mechanized power armor troops and O2 warforms are typically the only infantry to use these plates.

Enceladus Energistics uses both Metamat A and D to produce infantry melee weapons. By wrapping a plasteel blade in RDM and then heating it, a blade is created that can cleave through most things with ease. An onboard O1 AI controls the RDM to release the stored energy milliseconds before the blade impacts, allowing a blast of energy to burn through armor and flesh before the physical blade itself cuts through. EE blades are capable of cutting through level V plates.

Likewise, armor piercing ammunition can be coated with a thin layer of plasteel on the tip to increase the power of the round. Compared to traditional full metal jacket or steel core ammo, these plasteel rounds are capable of denting plasteel armor. However, the price is usually many times more expensive compared to traditional ammunition.