3D Printing of Hypothetical Brick by Selective Laser Sintering Using　Lunar Regolith Simulant and Ilmenite Powders

摘要

As complex ceramic multicomponent materials, the lunar regolith and minerals still challenge people on onsiteutilization technology limited to the lunar surface environment. In this paper, we investigate the suitability of lunarregolith simulants and ilmenite powders for 3D printing (aka Additive Manufacturing) of hypothetical brick aimed atlunar habitat construction. The first generation of laser 3D printing equipment (Lunar 1.0) for our experiments has beendesigned and assembled, which is suitable for selective laser sintering (SLS) process out of many kinds of ceramicpowders to manufacturing samples with different geometrical shapes. The lunar regolith simulants and ilmenite powdersare demonstrated obvious spectral absorbance from ultraviolet to near-infrared spectra, which are successfullyperformed during the SLS process in Lunar 1.0. The 3D printing technologies are constantly improved by adjusting theparameters of laser process and mechanical movement. The morphological features of 3D printed samples, includingsurface and porosity are investigated by using SEM. The evaluation of size and micro-hardness tests are also conductedto reveal the printing qualities of samples. The EDS and XRD results characterize the elements and components of 3Dprinted samples. Obviously, the strong heating process by laser source in Lunar 1.0 has a great impact on materials,because the complex multicomponent materials and solid state reaction in high temperature by SLS process for regolithsimulants and ilmenite. However, this influence of heat treatment by laser source is quite different from continuouslythermal treatment for ceramics such as normal high temperature furnace. In the future, the research for 3D printing oflunar regolith simulants and ilmenite powders for hypothetical brick in vacuum and low gravity will carry out forapproaching the extreme manufacturing environment on lunar surface