What is the liquid-metal substance used by the T-1000 in Terminator 2?

The T-1000 is made from mimetic polyalloy in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. This fictional liquid-metal material allows the machine to imitate the appearance and voice of people it touches.

Unlike the endoskeleton-based T-800, the T-1000 has no conventional human-shaped mechanical skeleton visible beneath its surface. It can flow through openings, recover from many forms of damage, and reshape parts of its body into blades or other simple forms. Robert Patrick played the T-1000 in the film.

The phrase is often confused with “liquid metal,” which describes the character’s appearance and abilities but is not the material’s formal name. The technology was a major showcase for Industrial Light & Magic’s computer-generated imagery and practical effects.

The T-1000’s unusual construction also explains why ordinary attacks are ineffective. The film depicts extreme heat and industrial conditions as capable of disrupting or destroying the mimetic polyalloy.