astringit

Astringit is a fictional material described in speculative fiction and tabletop role-playing game sources as a versatile binding substance. The name derives from Latin astringere, meaning to bind or tighten. In these narratives, astringit forms a networked lattice when activated by moisture or heat, rapidly transitioning from a fine powder to a solid or gel.

Authors commonly depict it as a composite based on aluminosilicate or polymeric frameworks with tunable porosity and functional groups that bind metals or organic molecules. Its properties are typically described as a high strength-to-weight ratio, low density, chemical resilience, and reversible gelation under controlled conditions.

Fictional occurrence includes meteorites, deep crustal veins, or laboratory hydrothermal synthesis using catalysts such as iron oxide and organic ligands. Applications in stories and games range from high-tech armor sealants and spacecraft hulls to biocompatible scaffolds and rapid-field repairs, favored for fast setting and environmental tolerance.

Historically, the term appeared in late 20th-century speculative fiction and has since been adopted by various gaming supplements as a lore-friendly material. Note: astringit has no basis in real-world chemistry and is used only within fictional settings.