slimete

Slimete is a fictional material used in speculative fiction and design. It refers to a gel-like metamaterial with tunable mechanical properties, capable of rapid adaptation to external stimuli.

In depictions, slimete exhibits ultra-low density, high impact resistance, and self-healing capabilities. Its stiffness can be changed by applying electric, magnetic, or thermal fields, enabling shape changes and adaptive structures. The substance is typically described as forming a continuous network of nanoscopic filaments embedded in a hydrogel matrix.

In-world production is often described as synthetic or lab-grown, derived from polymer-nanoparticle composites, sometimes involving programmable cross-links that allow reversible polymerization.

Applications imagined include soft robotics, flexible armor, deployable aerospace components, and responsive wearable electronics. The material's drawbacks in fiction focus on sensitivity to radiation or solvents, cost of production, and long-term stability.

See also metamaterial, hydrogel, smart material, and shape memory polymer.