Effects of llmenite on the Properties of Microwave-Sintered Lunar Regolith Simulant

摘要

Microwave sintering is regarded as a high-efficiency, energy-saving, and rapid-heating technique for the preparation of structural materials on the Moon. However, the influencing factors (i.e., ilmenite content and sintering temperature) on microwave sintering processes are not well-understood. Herein, five lunar regolith simulants with different contents of ilmenite (i.e., 4.6%, 28.5%, 43.9%, 65.8%, and 80.9% by weight) were used for microwave sintering experiments at 1,050 degrees C, 1,150 degrees C, and 1,300 degrees C. The characterization of the microstructure, mineralogy, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties of the products shows that the ilmenite content and sintering temperature significantly affected the properties of the microwave-sintered products. The sintering product containing 4.6% by weight ilmenite at 1,300 degrees C showed a dense texture, good thermal insulation properties (thermal conductivity of 0.15 +/- 0.005 W m(-1) K-1), and optimal compressive strength (74.0 +/- 7.1 MPa). This suggests that adding ilmenite to lunar regolith does not improve the properties of microwave-sintered products. The results in this paper provide reference for the preparation of structural materials on the Moon in the future. (C) 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.