Steel-fired

Steel-firing is a process used to create highly resilient armor and reactor shielding. Its primary function is to produce armored hulls for star ships; though the technology is occasionally adapted for other purposes. Only the Gudersnipe Foundation possesses both the technological means and the scientific background to create true steel-fired materials, though numerous other imitators are on the market.

Process

Steel-firing is a process by which layers of titanium, steel, and narrite are mixed with carbon and placed under immense heat and pressure, forming a strong alloy. Layers of stable, super-heavy metals sometimes strengthen the mix. The layer is then heavily compressed under artificial gravity and intense pressure. This is done at extremely low temperature to combat heating during the compression process.

The end result is a layer of material in inch thick that may contain as much as five feet of materials. It is one of the densest known substances and orders of magnitude harder than diamonds. It does, however, retain the ability to bend rather than shatter; though most warping occurs between the plate seams.

Most steel-fired layers are five to eight inches in thickness.

Usage

Steel-firing results in extremely strong, immensely heavy armor typically used for the hulls of capitol-class starships. Smaller support vessels might receive an armor band or steam-fired armor over specific sections. Very occasionally, the technology is adopted by mechs, but given the weight of the material it is typically not the best option. Terrestrial vehicles, such as tanks, are never fitted with Steel-Fired armor as it is too heavy.

A ship's hull will include dozens of large, interlocking, overlapping layers; on carriers expected to take fewer hits, its usually three layers, while battleships might have as many as eight. The steel fired layers will be together, but have additional layers of conventional armor on either side, leading to an over-all hull thickness of usually twenty to forty feet.

Mercury Ships in particular use steel-fired armor, sandwiching layers of regular iron and steel between steel-fired layers in the outer hull. The iron is used to allow the steel and steel-fired layers room to bend and compress. Mercury ships are infamous for having armor thicknesses measured in miles.

Manufacturer

Steel-fired armor can be produced at Gudersnipe School, but industrial quantities are manufactured by Absolute Metal, a 95% owned subsidiary of the Gudersnipe Foundation.