Neutronium

Neutronium was a heavy metallic element used in the production of durasteel as well as dura-armor. It was also once used to make strong blades for melee weapons during the Great Sith War. The hull cladding of Acclamator I-class assault ships was impregnated with neutronium, as its ultra-dispersive characteristics allowed for high protection.

Behind the scenes
In popular scientific literature and science fiction, though rarely in formal scientific literature, the term "neutronium" is often used for the extremely dense matter at the cores of neutron stars.

So-called "conventional" neutronium, also known as degenerate matter or "element zero" on the periodic chart, is theorized to consist of nothing but neutrons, with no protons in the atomic nuclei (and thus no electron shell, which prevents it from interacting chemically with other elements or forming molecular bonds with them). Thus, it is commonly hypothesized, something made of neutronium would be virtually indestructible. In practice, however, since neutronium would require immense ongoing pressure to retain its state, it would almost certainly disperse explosively outside of its natural environment.

According to Cracken's Threat Dossier, Star Wars neutronium is a naturally occurring metal that can be found in mineral veins on moons. This would be impossible with conventional science fiction neutronium, as its density would cause it to immediately sink to the center of whatever body it was in, so it seems likely that in Star Wars, neutronium is actually a name for a metallic element higher on the periodic table of elements.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
 * Shatterpoint
 * MedStar I: Battle Surgeons
 * The Hutt Gambit
 * Rebel Dawn
 * Star Wars Galaxies
 * Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor
 * Edge of Victory I: Conquest
 * Edge of Victory II: Rebirth