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Mechanical Properties and Additive Manufacturing of Alkali-Activated Lunar Regolith in Artificial Lunar Environments (2024-07)

10.1007/978-3-031-64269-2_7

Geng Zifan, Zhang Lizhi, Wu Zhiwen,  Tay Yi,  Lim Sean,  Tan Ming
Contribution - Construction 3D Printing, pp. 50-56

Abstract

Lunar base construction has become a cutting-edge and multi-disciplinary research issue worldwide. The development of sustainable lunar infrastructure is essential for future exploration and a major challenge for constructing on the Moon is the availability of suitable building materials. In this regard, the research on alkali-activated lunar regolith simulants (AALRS) is a significant breakthrough. In this paper, the mechanical properties and additive manufacturing of AALRS are investigated with reference to the lunar environments. The study has shown that the type of alkali, curing temperature and vacuum exposure have a prominent effect on the solidification behaviour of AALRS. Furthermore, the acceptable long-term properties of silicate-based AALRS were also revealed after undergoing several lunar diel temperature cycles. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis have indicated the presence of two solidification mechanisms, geopolymerization and dehydration, within AALRS, which have contributed to its microstructure stability. The development of an innovative 3D printer for AALRS is a crucial step towards the future construction of a lunar base. Several conceptualized printers that can extrude, compress, and deposit treated lunar regolith will be presented. Additive manufacturing of lunar regolith has the potential to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of building on the Moon.

1 References

  1. Werkheiser Niki, Edmunson Jennifer, Fiske Michael, Khoshnevis Behrokh (2015-09)
    On the Development of Additive Construction Technologies for Application to Development of Lunar/Martian Surface Structures Using In-Situ Materials

1 Citations

  1. Pederson Federico, Ellersick Liam, Kim Heejeong (2025-04)
    A Review of Lunar Regolith Based Alkali Activated Materials and Sintered Regolith for Use as a Construction Material

BibTeX 
@inproceedings{geng_zhan_wu_tay.2024.MPaAMoAALRiALE,
  author            = "Zifan Geng and Lizhi Zhang and Zhiwen Wu and Yi Wei Daniel Tay and Sean Gip Lim and Ming Jen Tan",
  title             = "Mechanical Properties and Additive Manufacturing of Alkali-Activated Lunar Regolith in Artificial Lunar Environments",
  doi               = "10.1007/978-3-031-64269-2_7",
  year              = "2024",
  pages             = "50--56",
  booktitle         = "Construction 3D Printing: Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference on 3D Construction Printing Conference",
  editor            = "Ming Jen Tan and Mingyang Li and Yi Wei Daniel Tay and Teck Neng Wong and Paulo Jorge Bartolo",
}
Formatted Citation

Z. Geng, L. Zhang, Z. Wu, Y. W. D. Tay, S. G. Lim and M. J. Tan, “Mechanical Properties and Additive Manufacturing of Alkali-Activated Lunar Regolith in Artificial Lunar Environments”, in Construction 3D Printing: Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference on 3D Construction Printing Conference, 2024, pp. 50–56. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-64269-2_7.

Geng, Zifan, Lizhi Zhang, Zhiwen Wu, Yi Wei Daniel Tay, Sean Gip Lim, and Ming Jen Tan. “Mechanical Properties and Additive Manufacturing of Alkali-Activated Lunar Regolith in Artificial Lunar Environments”. In Construction 3D Printing: Selected Papers from the 4th International Conference on 3D Construction Printing Conference, edited by Ming Jen Tan, Mingyang Li, Yi Wei Daniel Tay, Teck Neng Wong, and Paulo Jorge Bartolo, 50–56, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-64269-2_7.