What term describes the liquid-metal material forming the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day?

The liquid-metal material forming the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day is called mimetic polyalloy.

The T-1000 is a fictional prototype Terminator made from a liquid metal capable of changing shape and imitating people or objects it touches. Its mimetic polyalloy body allows it to form blades, pass through openings, and recover from many kinds of physical damage.

“Mimetic” refers to imitation, which describes the machine's ability to copy appearances. The T-1000 can reproduce clothing and human forms, but it cannot perfectly duplicate complex machinery or firearms. The film also establishes that it cannot separate into multiple independent beings.

The concept was a major visual-effects challenge for the sequel. Industrial Light & Magic combined computer-generated imagery with practical effects and actor Robert Patrick's performance to create the character's flowing transformations. The phrase is sometimes shortened in discussion to “liquid metal,” but mimetic polyalloy is the specific in-universe term.