Adamantium
Adamantium is a fictional metal alloy in a number of fictional settings, notably the Marvel Universe. The name is derived from the word adamant. Created by Dr. Myron McClain, the iron-based alloy is malleable in its molten state, but is virtually indestructible once cooled. Variants include carbonadium, a malleable form used by the villain Omega Red, and Captain America's shield, which is made of an unknown vibranium alloy that was reverse-engineered to create adamantium, and is the only man-made substance known to be more durable in the Marvel Universe.
True adamantium is used as the key component in several characters' equipment, including:
- Wolverine's claws and skeleton.
- Bullseye's spinal column.
- Some of Ultron's robotic bodies.
- A skeleton and claws that are currently bonded to Sabretooth.
- Captain America's shield is made of an adamantium-vibranium alloy; the Captain America of Ultimate Marvel uses a shield entirely made of adamantium
- Cyber's claws and skin.
- Lady Deathstrike's talons and skeleton.
- Gambit's telescopic staff.
- Armor in Morrowind.
- Weapons in Neverwinter Nights
- The Shield of Battle Star.
Adamantium also exists throughout the universe of Warhammer 40,000. Adamantium is used highly by the Adeptus Astartes (Space Marines), in their armour and vehicles.
Types of Adamantium
Adamantium Plus- There is only one example of an object composed of Adamantium plus, Captain America's Shield. The process that created this shield was never duplicated and is not understood. It is derived from Wakandan vibranium, but was somehow molecularly altered to reach its current state. It is essentially indestructible. A mistake often assumed by readers is that Captain America's shield is simply Vibranium. It is not; it is derived from it but has radically different properties resulting in far, far greater resilience.
True Adamantium- True Adamantium is created through the mixing of certain chemical resins whose composition is a government secret. This process is extremely expensive and as a result True Adamantium is very rare. It was discovered in attempt to duplicate Captain America's shield and resembles Captain America's shield on a molecular level, yet it contains no Vibranium. Though theoretically slightly less durable than Adamantium Plus, True Adamantium is indestructible to the degree that it could withstand a nuclear detonation. Only precise molecular rearrangement or an impact of enormous force with a mystically enchanted object, such as Thor's hammer (composed of magically indestructable Uru metal), could even scratch or dent it.
Secondary Adamantium- As True Adamantium is extremely difficult and extraordinarily expensive to create, some parties found a way to duplicate it on a larger and more cost effective scale, but at the expense of quality and durability. For all practical purposes Secondary Adamantium is indestructible. Conventional weapons, such as ballistic missiles, have no effect on it; it is far stronger than any type of steel. However, extraordinary blunt force (such as a punch from a character with vast superhuman strength) can warp or break it. Unconventional or alien forms of energy discharges have also been known to warp or damage Secondary Adamantium.
Carbonadium- Carbonadium is a resilient, unstable metal that is far stronger than steel but more flexible than Adamantium. It has been implied by writers that it is molecularly similar to or even a variant of Adamantium, but the extent of the relation has not been revealed. The process to create Carbonadium is apparently even more difficult and expensive than that required to produce Adamantium as there is only one Carbonadium synthesizer in the world. It is unlikely that Carbonadium is as durable as True Adamantium due to its malleability. It may or may not have the unique property of stabilizing the condition of life force vampires so that they no longer have to absorb the life forces of living beings to survive.
See also
Categories: Fictional materials