Technomatter

"Gray? I asked for a black redeco! Sheesh!"

Technomatter describes physiology completely devoid of organic elements. Presumably, any purely mechanical device or being could be described as being made of technomatter, though the term is used exclusively to refer to anything that's specifically been turned into same by the Key to Vector Sigma. Technorganic Transformers who are metamorphosed into technomatter experience pain and insanity, and the condition can be passed on by touch.

Fiction

The Transformers cartoon

The Decepticons stumbled on this particular ability of the Key when Soundwave tripped over while carrying it, and the Key turned the ground under it into technomatter. Proclaiming that the Key would allow them to transform Earth into a new Cybertron, Megatron flew to a forest near Seattle and began converting the area to lifeless metal.

Teletraan I detected the Key's energies and alerted the Autobots, who rushed to the area to stop the Decepticons. During the battle, Silverbolt knocked the Key from Megatron's hand and destroyed it, reverting the technomatter back to an organic state. The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

Beast Machines cartoon

Tankor obtained the Key to Vector Sigma from the Oracle, proclaiming that it had the ability to turn organic matter into technomatter. Tankor attached the Key to a holographic duplicate and sent it to Maximal's cave hideout, where it zapped Nightscream. The Maximals soon established that the technomatter sickness could be cured using organic goo from Cybertron's organic core. While they were obtaining a mole drone so they could drill for more, Nightscream infected Blackarachnia, but the pair were later cured when the Maximals found sufficient quantities of goo. The Key

After Megatron attached copies of the Key to some of the Vehicon drones, they were used to turn a huge vine into technomatter. The infection almost spread to the Maximals' crops, but Optimus Primal was able to sever the vine in time. The Catalyst During the Maximals' assault on the Council Citadel, they were overcome and transformed into technomatter by Megatron's drones. Optimus himself was converted to technomatter by Tankor. End of the Line The conflicting energies of the Plasma Energy Chamber and Keys cured all of the Maximals of their technomatter affliction, except Primal, who disintegrated. Fallout

Megatron eventually used the Key on Cybertron's core, starting to turn it into technomatter, but the process was halted when Primal dragged the pair of them into the core and reformatted the whole planet into a technorganic paradise. Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future

Notes

• Technomatter was first given the name in "The Key".