In-situ resource utilization–feasibility of the use of lunar soil to create structures on the moon via sintering based additive manufacturing technology

Abstract

The feasibility of creation of structures on the Moon using lunar soil as in-situ resource and sintering additive manufacturing technologies is discussed. The use of sintering technologies for additive manufacturing and construction using lunar regolith has already been demonstrated. However, an important point of attention for applying such a process under lunar conditions is the generation of volatiles during heating of the solid particles to the sintering temperature and the possible pyrolysis of the material at temperatures higher than the temperatures required for sintering. The analysis of the available data shows, that the production of constructive elements out of regolith with a guaranteed mechanical performance is feasible by maintaining a precisely tuned process controlling the maximum temperatures reached and minimum times required for the sintering of the particles of lunar soil to solids essential for the formation of parts usable for construction of e.g. temporary habitats.

Investigating the microwave heating behaviour of lunar soil simulant JSC-1A at different input powers

“…Volatiles in lunar soil and simulants, which could be used for producing propellant and life support (e.g. water and oxygen), can be extracted at various temperature ranges 38,[46][47][48][49][50] . Thus, the chamber is connected to a vacuum pump capable of 10 -8 mbar pressure with the mass spectrometer for analysing released volatiles while a specimen is being heated, although they were not used in this work.…”