Visco-Gel Fluid

Visco-Gel Fluid is a craftable liquid used primarily as a liquid lock material. It is produced in the Molecular Forge from Isoresin and Petroleum, at a ratio of 35 kg Isoresin + 65 kg Petroleum = 100 kg Visco-Gel Fluid.

Its main practical use is for Liquid Airlocks. Unlike many other liquid-lock setups, it does not require digging a depression into the floor first, which makes it a convenient option for sealing off areas without major excavation. Duplicants passing through a Visco-Gel Fluid airlock will still receive the sopping wet debuff, so it does not eliminate the wetness penalty associated with liquid locks.

Visco-Gel Fluid is fragile in the presence of other liquids. A nearby spill can displace it, and liquids such as Polluted Water can push it out of the bottom tile of the lock, breaking the seal. For that reason, it should be protected from accidental flooding or any setup that can introduce stray liquid into the area.

It also has very low density: 100 kg fills an entire tile, and trying to force 350 kg into a single tile will cause pressure damage to adjacent blocks. This makes it behave differently from more conventional heavy liquids and means that overfilling can have structural consequences.

When frozen, solid Visco-Gel counts as plastic. This allows it to be used to build Plastic Tiles and Plastic Ladders, making it a useful alternative delivery method for plastic construction materials. If you intend to use it this way, it is better to build upward from the bottom rather than suspending it from above, because when the material melts it will fall to the ground instead of sticking to ceilings or walls.