Visco-Gel Fluid

Visco-Gel Fluid is a manufactured liquid element used primarily as a controllable, low-density barrier and as a temporary construction material in Oxygen Not Included. It is produced in the Molecular Forge by combining Isoresin and Petroleum. The production recipe is 35 kg Isoresin + 65 kg Petroleum = 100 kg Visco-Gel Fluid. Visco-Gel Fluid fills tiles completely at low mass and can be frozen into a solid form that functions as plastic for building.

Visco-Gel Fluid is most commonly used to make Liquid Airlocks because it holds back gases and duplicants without requiring a recessed floor trench. Duplicants that pass through Visco-Gel still receive the sopping wet debuff. Visco-Gel barriers are vulnerable to displacement by other liquids: an adjacent spill of a different liquid, such as Polluted Water, can push Visco-Gel out of a tile and break the seal. Because of its low density, 100 kg of Visco-Gel Fluid fills one tile; attempting to force 350 kg into a single tile can generate enough pressure to cause damage to neighboring buildings and tiles.

When frozen into its solid state, Visco-Gel counts as Plastic and can be used to construct Plastic Tiles and Plastic Ladders. This property makes solidified Visco-Gel a useful alternative delivery method for plastic building materials in bases that lack direct access to Plastic production. When constructing with solid Visco-Gel, it is preferable to build from the bottom upward: if solid Visco-Gel later melts, it will fall to the ground rather than sticking to ceilings or walls and creating inconvenient obstructions.

Practical notes and interactions:

• Visco-Gel Fluid is created only in the Molecular Forge using the stated Isoresin + Petroleum recipe; plan resource logistics accordingly.
• Use Visco-Gel as a liquid airlock where you want a flat floor without a sump; remember duplicants still become sopping wet when crossing it.
• Other liquids can displace Visco-Gel; avoid placing potential spills or drains next to Visco-Gel seals if you need them to remain intact.
• Respect the low-density behavior: do not overfill a tile beyond normal capacity. Forcing large masses into a tile can cause pressure damage at ~350 kg.
• To use Visco-Gel as a construction material, freeze it into solid form and then build Plastic Tiles or Ladders. Construct from the bottom so melting solids fall rather than adhere to ceilings or walls.
• Solid Visco-Gel provides a route to plastic construction where standard Plastic may be scarce, but it requires refrigeration to maintain the solid state.