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Gundarium α

First refined version of Gundarium alloy, used in high-performance mobile suits.
Jenxi Seow Published 23 Feb 2025
Gundarium α

Gundarium α was a refined variant of Gundarium alloy developed from Luna Titanium alloy. It was primarily used in prototype and high-performance mobile suits, most notably the RX-78-2 Gundam.

History

After the success of Luna Titanium in Project V, the Earth Federation Forces refined the material into Gundarium α. The new variant incorporated rare metals and an advanced molecular structure that enhanced its already formidable defensive capabilities.

Development

Engineers focused on improving the original Luna Titanium formula by incorporating platinum and other rare metals. While this enhanced performance, it also made the manufacturing process more complex and resource-intensive.

Technical Information

Composition

Gundarium α used high-purity titanium from lunar sources as its base material, combined with rare metals in a precisely controlled molecular structure. This composition gave it exceptional strength and heat resistance properties.

Manufacturing

Production required:

  • High-purity titanium ore from Luna II
  • Specialized manufacturing facilities
  • Complex processing techniques
  • Precise quality control

These requirements made mass production impractical, limiting its use to prototype and high-performance units.

Properties

The material offered several advantages over standard armor:

  • Superior durability against conventional weapons
  • Enhanced heat resistance
  • Effective radiation shielding
  • Magnetic properties for deflecting beam weapons
  • Lighter weight compared to standard armor materials

However, its extreme hardness made it difficult to work with, requiring specialized tools and techniques for repairs and modifications.

Applications

Gundarium α found limited but significant use in:

  • Prototype mobile suit armor
  • Critical structural components
  • High-stress mechanical parts
  • Shield construction

The material’s cost and manufacturing complexity restricted its use primarily to experimental and commander-type units.

Legacy

While Gundarium α demonstrated superior performance, its production difficulties led to the development of more practical variants. Axis scientists later used it as a basis for developing Gundarium γ, which addressed many of its manufacturing limitations.

Behind the scenes

The term Gundarium α appeared in supplementary materials for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, retroactively establishing it as the material used in the original Gundam.

See also