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The microstructure and mechanical properties of microwave-heated lunar simulants at different input powers under vacuum.
- Source :
- Scientific Reports; 1/31/2023, Vol. 13 Issue 1, p1-14, 14p
- Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- To achieve a sustainable human presence on the Moon, it is critical to develop technologies utilising the local resources (a.k.a. in-situ resource utilisation or ISRU) for construction and resource extraction. In this study, we investigate the viability of microwave heating of two lunar soil simulants (JSC-1A and OPRH3N) under vacuum conditions, to simulate a lunar surface environment compared to previous studies performed at atmospheric pressure. All simulants are thermally treated in a bespoke 2.45 GHz microwave apparatus using three input powers: 1000 W, 600 W and 250 W. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the microwaved samples are analysed to identify their potential applications. Our key findings are: (i) higher input powers generate materials in shorter fabrication times with higher mechanical strengths and higher yields despite the same total energy input; (ii) the microstructures of the microwaved samples under vacuum are very different from those under atmospheric conditions due to the widespread vesicles/bubbles; and (iii) different heating rates caused by different input powers can be utilised for specific ISRU purposes: higher input powers for extra-terrestrial construction and lower input powers for resource extraction. Findings from this study have significant implications for developing a microwave-heating payload for lunar ISRU demonstration missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- LUNAR soil
LUNAR surface
WEATHER
MICROSTRUCTURE
LUNAR craters
POWER resources
VACUUM
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20452322
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Scientific Reports
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 161625721
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29030-z