Comparison of lunar and Martian regolith simulant-based geopolymer cements formed by alkali-activation for in-situ resource utilization
| Author(s) | Mills, Jennifer N. | |
| Author(s) | Katzarova, Maria | |
| Author(s) | Wagner, Norman J. | |
| Date Accessioned | 2022-09-01T14:32:11Z | |
| Date Available | 2022-09-01T14:32:11Z | |
| Publication Date | 2021-12-20 | |
| Description | This article was originally published in Advances in Space Research. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2021.10.045, This article will be embargoed until 12/20/2023. | en_US |
| Abstract | Future human space exploration and habitation on the lunar and Martian surfaces necessitates in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for the development of construction materials tailored for infrastructure and environmental protection. Here we explore the use of lunar and Martian regoliths to create construction materials with properties suitable for such structures as landing pads. Alkali activation of a spectrum of lunar and Martian regolith simulants generates geopolymer binders under ambient and vacuum curing conditions as well as exposure to extreme high and low temperatures (600 and −80 °C). Compressive strength is reduced for binders prepared from each simulant after curing under vacuum and exposure to sub-zero temperatures. In lunar simulant binders, the compressive strength is increased after heating to 600 °C, but the opposite effect is observed in the Martian simulant binder. Amorphous aluminosilicate content and percentage of small particles in the simulants are hypothesized to have a positive impact on compressive strength under ambient curing. Iron and magnesium content may be responsible for decreased compressive strength of the Martian binder after heating. This study offers a robust framework for comparing performance of different simulants under the same curing protocols and environmental exposures, as well as offering insight as to the effects of vacuum curing, and exposure to high and low temperature environments on cured binder samples. Developing a landing pad by transporting activator to the lunar surface is shown to be conceptually feasible within current payload constraints. | en_US |
| Sponsor | The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA EPSCoR Grants 80NSSC19M0017 and 80NSSC19M0087). Additional funding support was provided by Delaware Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (NASA Grant 80NSSC20M0045). This work was completed in part with equipment resources provided by the University of Delaware Structural and Geotechnical Lab courtesy of Gary Wenczel and the University of Delaware Energy Conversion Institute courtesy of Prof. William Shafarman. The authors thank Kevin M. Cannon, Robert P. Mueller, and Warren P. Ruemmele for insightful discussions. | en_US |
| Citation | Mills, Jennifer N., Maria Katzarova, and Norman J. Wagner. “Comparison of Lunar and Martian Regolith Simulant-Based Geopolymer Cements Formed by Alkali-Activation for in-Situ Resource Utilization.” Advances in Space Research 69, no. 1 (January 2022): 761–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2021.10.045. | en_US |
| ISSN | 1879-1948 | |
| URL | https://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/31279 | |
| Language | en_US | en_US |
| Publisher | Advances in Space Research | en_US |
| Keywords | in-situ resource utilization | en_US |
| Keywords | regolith simulants | en_US |
| Title | Comparison of lunar and Martian regolith simulant-based geopolymer cements formed by alkali-activation for in-situ resource utilization | en_US |
| Type | Article | en_US |
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