Freelance Traveller

Foamcrete

by Jo Jaquinta

This article originally appeared in Cepheus Journal #014 and was reprinted with permission in the August/September 2026 issue of Freelance Traveller.

This ubiquitous construction material is found almost everywhere. As the name suggests, it is a type of foamed concrete. It comes stored in pressurized containers and can be applied via a variety of devices. On exposure to the environment (air, vacuum or water) the lower pressure causes the cement to expand, inflating the size to many times its original volume. The evaporating or dispersal of the volatile element hastens the setting of it, resulting in a rigid surface within moments.

The resulting material is rigid and firm. A one-­meter thickness is enough to support a medium sized starship or a loaded tractor trailer. It is quite light and will float on most liquids (including lava). It is not very robust, though. Sharp shocks will punch holes in it, although the foam nature means such damage is localized. It does not weather well. A year of exposure to seaside conditions, a decade of general weather, or a century of micro­meteorites will degrade it to the point where it is no longer structurally stable.

Left to itself, it will slowly spread, following local ground contours and gravity. It frequently comes with additives that make it malleable by magnetic or gravitational fields. Projectors can be used to create invisible forms, which will mold the shape of the resulting mass. This can make predetermined structures, or it can create components of a larger structure than can later be moved into place.

Suggested uses:

Emergency Repairs:

for blast damage to habitats, or earthquake damage to a levee, foamcrete can provide a quick, temporary fix.

Landing Pad:

On rough or unstable ground, a quick layer of foamcrete can turn a dangerous landing into a routine operation. Since it floats, it can be used on water or swampy ground. The foam nature makes it a good insulator, so it can also be used to land on lava, albeit temporarily.

Foamcrete Grenade:

in close quarters combat, a grenade-sized canister of foamcrete is enough to swell up and block a doorway sized aperture. It will not have a very high armor rating, but it will slow combatants down and give cover.

Re-entry Shield:

Its rigidity and insulating properties allow for use for emergency reentry protection. It is ablative, and will be single use, but can make a re­entry survivable.

Underwater Escape:

Because it is lighter than water, if activated underwater, it will rise to the surface, taking anything it has adhered to. Once there, it can be used as a lifeboat.